Empowered Team Podcast

What if the biggest risk of AI isn’t the technology—but how we lead through it? In this powerful episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with Dr. Kelly Monahan—organizational psychologist, former leader at Meta, Deloitte, and Accenture, bestselling author of Essential, and upcoming author of Reclaim the Plot. Kelly has spent the last decade studying the intersection of AI,...

 In this milestone 400th episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to stay consistent—not for weeks or months, but for years. Drawing from 8 years of showing up every single week, Kari shares the five most powerful lessons consistency has taught her—lessons that challenge the common belief that discipline and willpower are the answer. This...

In this deeply personal and unforgettable episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider shares the harrowing story of a life-threatening accident that left her with eight fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and a critical wake-up call about leadership, systems, and self-trust. What began as a normal day quickly turned into a fight for survival—and ultimately, a masterclass in leadership...

What if the real reason you’re not taking action isn’t about motivation, time, or strategy—but about who you believe you are? In this powerful solo episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider dives into the hidden force driving every action you take (or don’t take): your identity. Backed by research and real-life experience, Kari unpacks how identity-based thinking shapes behavior, influ...

Are you constantly busy, yet somehow not moving forward on what matters most to you? In this solo episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider breaks down the three powerful (and often uncomfortable) reasons high performers prioritize others over themselves—and how it’s quietly leading to burnout, frustration, and self-abandonment. This episode is part of the Action Game Series, designed...

Welcome to the kickoff of the Action Game series on The Empowered Team Podcast—where Kari Schneider dives into what actually drives results: action. In this solo episode, Kari unpacks the surprising science behind why high achievers and intelligent leaders are more likely to procrastinate—and what to do about it. What You’ll Learn: Why overthinking is a strength (and how it turns into a trap) Lear...

In this powerful episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with Arielle Tayar to explore what it really takes to build a thriving, human-centered business in a world that often prioritizes strategy, scale, and rigid frameworks. Arielle shares her unconventional journey from theater and documentary storytelling to building a seven-figure global creative agency without investor...

In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with Lee Caraher—CEO of Double Forte PR, bestselling author of Millennials & Management and The Boomerang Principle, and a leading expert in leadership communication. Lee has spent decades helping leaders say what they actually mean—and in this conversation, she reveals why most workplace dysfunction isn’t about people… it...

In this powerful episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with Dr. Robin Hills, business psychologist, Director of EI4Change, and global leader in emotional intelligence training with over 500,000 students across 200+ countries. Together, they unpack the real meaning of emotional intelligence—and why it’s not about controlling emotions, but learning how to interpret and use...

Ever catch yourself being abrupt, impatient, or snapping at someone and think… “Where did that come from?” Most high-performing leaders assume it’s a personality flaw or a moment of poor control. But the truth is far more empowering. In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider reveals the three hidden physiological and psychological triggers that quietly drive impatience, irritab...

In this powerful solo episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider — former high-performance coach working with Olympic and national-level teams — reveals the three silent ways you are communicating every single day… and what it’s costing you if you ignore them. Drawing from over 30 years in elite performance environments, Kari shares how culture, trust, and engagement are shaped lon...

In this powerful kickoff to a new series on communication and leadership interaction, Kari Schneider  dives into a topic most leaders avoid: the psychology of lying — and how it impacts trust, credibility, and team performance. Drawing on research from: Dr. Robert Feldman (University of Massachusetts)  Dan Ariely (The Honest Truth About Dishonesty)  Dr. Robert Trivers (The Folly of Fools)  Kari br...

What if the thing holding back your leadership isn’t your strategy… but the emotions you’ve been trained to ignore? In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider sits down with Randy Lyman—physicist, entrepreneur, emotional intelligence teacher, patent holder, and builder of multiple eight-figure businesses (including an Inc. 500). Randy shares the surprising shift that helped...

Kyle McDowell - Former Fortune 500 executive who led 30,000+ employees across multi-billion dollar P&Ls. Author of the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller Begin With We and upcoming Win With We (2027). Now keynote speaker and leadership consultant focused on transforming organizational culture. What You'll Discover: The hidden cost of "successful" leadership - why being good at your j...

What happens when a high-performing leader—someone wired for speed, scale, and big outcomes—gets forced to slow down? In this powerful interview, Kari Schneider sits down with American entrepreneur, engineer, and investor Jason Shipley, founder of Midwest Custom Engineering, to talk about leadership, resilience, and the inner game that keeps a team (and a family) thriving. Jason shares how he’s bu...

Knowing what to do isn’t the problem—taking consistent action is. In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider continues the Inner Game series with a powerful focus on action. Building on the previous episodes about pausing and embracing change, Kari shares three deceptively simple questions that help leaders move forward—even when motivation is low, willpower is depleted, an...

Why is change so hard—even when we know what to do? In this powerful episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider breaks down why awareness alone doesn’t lead to transformation—and what actually does. This episode is part of the Inner Game Series: The Power of Questions, and it introduces three deceptively simple questions that make change easier, more aligned, and far more sustainab...

In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider dives deep into the inner game of leadership and self-mastery—starting with what may be the most underrated tool of all: the pause. This is part 1 of a new 3-part series called The Power of Questions, and it starts by rewiring your reactivity. Kari introduces the three simple but powerful questions that instantly shift your brain from impulsive to intentio...

In this soul-stirring episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider sits down with seasoned entrepreneur Sandy Moll, a woman who has built multi-million dollar businesses, navigated financial collapse, and found peace and prosperity—not just in business, but in life. With a background in finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship, Sandy is the founder of Advanced Business Solutions an...

In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider sits down with powerhouse leader Erica Sinner — multi 8-figure founder of Directory, CEO, and bestselling author of Pets Are Family. Erica’s mission? Revolutionizing leadership with empathy, operational compassion, and high-performance culture that doesn’t burn people out. 💥 With 20+ years in life sciences and biotech, Erica built...

Guest: Anthony Cudjo, aka Coach Cujo — human optimization expert, professional athlete, speaker, spiritual mentor, and 30+ year coach. In this powerful episode, we dive into the untapped potential already encoded in your DNA. From breaking free of societal conditioning to reversing illness and mastering self-leadership, Cujo delivers potent truth-bombs on: Why most people are stuck in “sheep” mode...

You hired an A-player who crushed it at first. Now they're disengaged, missing deadlines, producing mediocre work. Your first thought? "Motivation problem. Attitude issue." Wrong diagnosis. In this episode, I break down why A-players underperform—and it's almost never about the person. It's about the environment, the role, and the authority they're given   You'll learn: The 3 I's that define an A-...

Who you believe you are determines how you lead, how you show up, and what results you create—whether you realize it or not. In this powerful solo episode, Kari Schneider introduces the concept of Identity Architecture—the science-backed framework that explains how thoughts become beliefs, beliefs become behaviors, and behaviors become identity. This episode is for leaders, entrepreneurs, and high...

This is Part 2 of the interview with Peter Swain , where the conversation goes deeper into the real implications of AI. In this episode, Kari and Peter move beyond awareness and into consequence, exploring what the rapid acceleration of AI means for leadership, work, and how we find meaning in a changing world. Peter shares what the next 3–10 years of AI development could realistically look like,...

Guest: Peter Swain — international speaker, bestselling author, and two-time tech pioneer. Founder of PSI, one of the first AI training companies helping individuals and businesses build real AI capability. Episode Highlights: • How Peter went from coding at age six to being personally retained by Steve Jobs, and why his mission today is teaching AI to everyday leaders • The three timelines of AI...