Empowered Team Podcast

Ever had one glass of wine and thought, "Ah, screw it," then finished the bottle? Or eaten one donut and said, "What the hell, might as well have four"? Welcome to the What the Hell Effect—or as Kari’s calling it in this episode, the far more satisfying Fck It Effect*. In this episode, Kari Schneider unpacks the sneaky psychology behind why one small slip often turns into a downward spiral. Backed...

In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider delivers a concise, high-impact playbook for handling the toughest conversations with clarity and confidence. Drawing on years of coaching leaders and high performers, Kari introduces the three advanced filters you must apply before you open your mouth—whether you’re confronting a team member, negotiating a boundary, or navigating personal conflict. 💡 Key...

What does it take to live an adventurous, purpose-driven life—and still stay deeply connected to who you really are? In this powerful episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari sits down with Waldemar Franco—award-winning boutique hotel entrepreneur, lifelong adventurer, and the creator of Find Your Wild Flow. Waldemar has spent decades guiding whitewater expeditions, climbing mountains, and buil...

We’ve all done it — made a mistake, promised ourselves it would never happen again… and then bam, we’re right back in the same pattern. 😩 In this solo episode, Kari breaks down the real reasons we keep making the same frustrating mistakes and what to do about it. 🔥 What you'll hear: The 3 big traps that keep you stuck in mistake-mode Why 70% of people repeat their mistakes — and how to not be on...

In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider takes us into the world of self-talk—that subtle (or sometimes loud!) internal dialogue that shapes our emotions, behaviors, and ultimately, our results. Sparked by earlier episodes on procrastination and the inner critic vs. champion, Kari pulls together research from experts like Kristin Neff, Ethan Kross, and Timothy Pychyl to show how self-talk influen...

In this solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider shares a powerful reframe on a concept we often misunderstand — discipline. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey and years of coaching high performers, Kari explores why true freedom only comes when we have structure, systems, and boundaries in place. Key topics in this episode: Why Kari turned down medical school to s...

Strength of Belief & Caveman Delegation with Dallas Burnett In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider sits down with the multi-talented Dallas Burnett — bestselling author of Move, Lift, and Caveman Delegation, founder of Think Move & Thrive, and a speaker whose career has taken him from patenting water tech to speaking at the Pentagon. Dallas opens up about what i...

The Leadership Blind Spot That’s Costing You More Than You Know Leaders make one costly mistake over and over: they polish broken systems. In this episode, Kari Schneider shows you how to tell if you’re facing a harmless refinement or a high-impact red flag that demands urgent action. With stories from real business transformations, jaw-dropping stats, and her 3-step “Red Flag Radar” method, you’l...

"You can’t be in performance mode all the time… unless your goal is burnout."   In this solo episode, Kari pulls back the curtain on a quiet epidemic: burnout in high performers. While everything may look "successful" on the outside, many high-performing leaders and professionals are running on fumes behind the scenes.   What You’ll Learn: The crucial difference between a high performer and a high...

Are you falling into the delegation trap? You hand it off. It seems handled. But weeks—or months—later, it turns out it’s a total mess. Sound familiar? In this episode, Kari Schneider unpacks why even well-intentioned delegation can go sideways—and shares a powerful, research-backed 1-2-3 framework that helps leaders delegate smarter. Whether you're leading a team, managing a household, or running...

In this solo episode, Kari tackles a challenge that plagues even the most driven leaders — procrastination. But it's not what you think. It’s not about time management or laziness — it's an emotional trap that quietly sabotages your progress. Kari breaks down: The surprising science behind why we delay important actions The true cost of procrastination (hint: it's deeper than missed deadlines) The...

What does it take to exit your business with style, grace, and more money? In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with business transition expert John Martinka, known as “The Escape Artist,” to explore the world of small business exits, mergers, and acquisitions. With over 30 years in the buy-sell space, John shares what most business owners get wrong when trying t...

In this thought-provoking solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider dives into a powerful leadership paradox: why embracing both your inner champion and devil’s advocate is the key to high-stakes decision-making, resilient confidence, and empowered leadership. 🌉 Through a vivid parable and practical strategies, you’ll discover: How to challenge ideas without spiraling into self-d...

Curiosity isn’t just a personality trait. It’s the currency of leadership influence in today’s uncertain world. In this solo episode, Kari unpacks why curiosity is a game-changer in a VUCA world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) and how you can harness it to fuel innovation, strengthen connection, and build trust in every part of your life and leadership. You’ll discover: The 3 elements of...

In this empowering solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider unpacks one of the most requested leadership topics: Confidence and why most of us are doing it wrong. Using humor, a deeply relatable (and slightly humbling) story about weed-eating 😅, and the psychology behind the Dunning-Kruger effect, Kari breaks down the real journey of confidence from overconfidence and the V...

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with executive coach and leadership mentor Valarie Sandjivy, founder of Ellipsus. With over 20 years of experience coaching C-suite leaders and entrepreneurs, Valarie offers a rare glimpse into the inner world of high-performing leaders. Together, they explore: Why “it’s lonely at the top” and how to find space for yo...

In this solo episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider issues a heartfelt and powerful call for presence. In a world dominated by tech, AI, and endless distractions, why do we feel more disconnected than ever before? She explores why presence is the most critical leadership skill today and how it fuels trust, creativity, and authentic connection. You’ll learn the 4 dimensions of p...

In this solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider reveals the five non-negotiable habits she commits to every single morning, no matter the time zone, weather, or environment. Whether she’s in a cabin by a frozen lake or traveling internationally, these core practices set the foundation for her mental clarity, physical energy, and laser-sharp focus. Kari dives deep into how these...

In this solo episode, Kari unpacks the Motivational Triad - a powerful psychological model explaining why we avoid things we want to do. We’re wired to avoid pain, seek pleasure, and stay comfortable. But here's the twist: that wiring often sabotages our goals, habits, and even our identities. Kari shares: How our brain’s default setting creates resistance—even to the things we love The effort par...

This week on The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari is joined by one of the most sought-after leadership experts in North America—Steven Gaffney, CEO of The Steven Gaffney Company and author of Unconditional Power. With 30+ years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies and organizations ranked #1 in their industries, Steven reveals what it actually takes to build consistently high-achieving teams....

Saying no shouldn't come with guilt — but for high-achievers and people-pleasers, it often does. In this episode, Kari breaks down five powerful, practical ways to say no with clarity, integrity, and connection — without sacrificing relationships or self-respect. Learn how to: Break the cycle of burnout and resentment Set boundaries that build trust (yes, really!) Spot a “dirty yes” before it drai...

We’ve all heard the phrase: “It’s just business.” But in this episode, Kari blows the lid off this outdated myth—and exposes how suppressing emotions in leadership isn’t just cold... it’s costly. Drawing from over 20 years in business and coaching high-performance leaders, Kari unpacks: The hidden emotional labor leaders carry every day. Why suppressing emotion leads to poor decisions & burnou...

In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider welcomes Manny Fiteni, founder of Mind Growth 360 and a leadership transformation expert from Australia. With over 35 years of experience leading teams of up to 300 people, Manny has seen firsthand why most managers fail — and how real leadership is cultivated from the inside out. Together, they explore: The difference between mana...

In this solo episode, Kari Schneider, life strategist and host of the Empowered Team Podcast, dives deep into a question every leader faces: Do I need a fresh start… or is it time to let go? You'll discover: What the Fresh Start Effect really is (backed by psychology!), How unrealistic expectations sabotage even the best goals, A 3-part framework to reboot your momentum with clarity and courage, A...

In this high-impact solo episode, leadership expert and life strategist Kari Schneider drops a truth bomb: your future isn’t waiting for you—it’s being built right now. Through the powerful Triple Vision Framework—Now, Next, Far—Kari reveals how presence is your greatest superpower. From endurance races to personal setbacks, she shares raw stories that prove one thing: you can’t reach what’s next...