Girl, Take the Lead!

Sometimes life's biggest transitions don't announce themselves. They arrive quietly. Not through one dramatic event... ...but through a collection of moments that slowly reshape us until one day we realize something inside has changed. In this personal At the Threshold reflection, Yo shares an unexpected experience of grief that surfaced seemingly out of nowhere. As she stayed with the tea...

What happens when the world around us changes—and we're left wondering how to move forward? In this thoughtful and timely conversation, I sit down with Kristine Frost—former Chief Human Resources Officer, attorney, executive advisor, and founder of Shattered Glass Advisory—to explore leadership, transition, identity, and the courage to remain true to ourselves during times of profound change....

Welcome to Sound Bite—a short reflection inspired by conversations on Girl, Take the Lead. This week is a special one. It's our 300th episode. As I reflected on the past four years, I found myself asking: What evidence do we have that hope is justified? We live in a world where fear often makes the headlines. But what if there is another story unfolding quietly around us? In this Sound Bite, I ref...

A Sound Bite is a short reflection inspired by a recent Girl, Take the Lead! conversation—an opportunity to explore one idea a little more deeply. In this Sound Bite, host Yo Canny reflects on a question that emerged from her conversation with Andrea Mein DeWitt: What is the difference between trust and faith? Together, they explored generosity, boundaries, trust, and the challenge of holding life...

What happens when giving begins to feel heavy? In this thoughtful return to Girl, Take the Lead!, Professional Certified Coach and author Andrea Mein DeWitt joins Yo Canny to explore a question many caring people wrestle with: How do we remain generous without becoming resentful? Drawing from her essays, The Generous Heart and Open Hands , Andrea shares why generosity without integrity often leads...

What if the goal isn't fitting in? What if the goal is belonging? In this Sound Bite, I reflect on a question that emerged from my conversation with Teresa Gregory in Episode 296: What's the difference between fitting in and belonging? Drawing on the work of Brené Brown and Teresa's insights about "fit" in organizations, I explore how many of us spend years learning how to ad...

What if the biggest factor influencing your leadership isn't what you know—but what you don't realize is influencing you? In this episode, Executive Leadership Strategist, Keynote Speaker, and Executive Coach Teresa Gregory joins us to explore what she calls our hidden mindsets —the labels, assumptions, and unconscious thinking patterns that shape how we lead, communicate, evaluate others,...

After my conversation with Sheryl Robinson in Episode 293, I found myself sitting with an unexpected feeling: Hope. Not because everything is suddenly okay. Not because the challenges facing our communities have disappeared. And not because the future comes with guarantees. Instead, I found myself wondering: What exactly is hope? Is it optimism? Is it trust? Or is it something else entirely? In Th...

What gives you hope for the future? In this inspiring episode, Yo Canny sits down with Sheryl Robinson—author, podcaster, speaker, and longtime Girl Scout volunteer—to explore how the Girl Scout Gold Award helps young women develop confidence, leadership skills, and the belief that they can make a difference in the world. As a troop leader for more than 20 years and a member of the Girl Scouts of...

What happens when the way we've measured our importance no longer fits our lives? In this first Girl, Take the Lead! Sound Bite, I reflect on a question that surfaced after my conversation with Marisa Handler: If I am no longer defined by my title, accomplishments, or responsibilities, what makes me important? After 42 years in corporate leadership, retirement invited me into a different kind...

What if the shame you've been carrying isn't evidence that you're broken—but an invitation to discover your worth? In this deeply moving conversation, award-winning author, poet, singer-songwriter, and creative coach Marisa Handler joins Girl, Take the Lead! to explore authenticity, creativity, leadership, and the journey from shame to a deeper sense of worthiness. She is the author of...

What if AI wasn’t about replacing people… but helping us carry less? In this thought-provoking and surprisingly human conversation, Dawn Andrews joins Yo to explore the emotional side of AI, leadership, creativity, and the mental load so many of us carry every day. Dawn is the Founder & CEO of Free Range Thinking , a boutique business strategy consultancy helping entrepreneurs and leaders buil...

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we explore leadership, healing, identity, and the stories that help us reclaim our voice and lead with intention. In this deeply moving episode, Yo welcomes author Lena Fein to talk about her memoir, Shattering the Mirror , and the healing journey that unfolded after a lifetime of living behind distorted beliefs formed through childhood trau...

What if the most important question in your life isn’t what should I do next… but: “What do I truly want?” In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, I’m joined by Carmell Clark, founder of the Center for Transformational Influence, executive coach, and global leader in advancing women’s leadership and sustainability. Together, we explore what it really means to reinvent ourselves across...

A powerful conversation on authenticity, resilience, and rebuilding after rock bottom—why becoming who you are is a lifelong journey. In this episode: Living with authenticity—not perfection From the Jacksonville Jaguars to losing everything—and rebuilding Motivation vs. inspiration (and why it matters) How ego can derail success—and what it takes to recover Why rock bottom can become a turning po...

What happens after the moment you’ve been preparing for? In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m reflecting on what stayed with me after my daughter’s wedding—and how the experience brought together a lifetime of growth, healing, and self-discovery. What I didn’t expect was just how present I could be… not managing, not controlling… but truly in it. This episode is about what remains when everyt...

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! —where we explore leadership not just in our work, but in the moments that shape who we are. This episode is part of my 3-part series, At the Threshold , created during a deeply personal time as I prepare for my daughter’s wedding. And what I didn’t expect to surface in this moment… was grief. Not just grief as loss—but grief as change. As identity. As what we...

This episode is part of a special 3-part series I’m calling At the Threshold —a real-time reflection on what this season of life is bringing up for me as I prepare for my daughter’s wedding. And what surprised me most… was how much it brought me back to my own experience as a daughter. 💛 Why This Episode Matters Now As I look back on my own wedding, I can see how much of it was shaped by my desir...

What if burnout isn’t something that suddenly happens to us… but something that quietly builds over time? In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with executive leadership coach and author Lynn Blades to explore what she calls “The Quiet Burn” —the slow, invisible erosion of energy, identity, and self-worth that so many women experience. Drawing from both her personal experienc...

Families carry stories — some we share openly and others that remain hidden for years. In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead! , Yo Canny sits down with award-winning author Leslie A. Rasmussen to talk about her latest novel, When People Leave , and the powerful role family relationships play in shaping who we become. Leslie’s newest book follows three sisters who return to their childhood home af...

What if happiness wasn’t something we waited for—but something we could intentionally energize ? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead! , Yo welcomes back Michele Phillips , leadership coach, speaker, and author, who first appeared on the podcast in Episode 130 . Since then, Michele has continued her mission of helping individuals and organizations shift from operating on adrenaline to alignment...

In this deeply moving conversation, Yolanda welcomes  Michelle Madrid — author, speaker, and midlife coach for women —  to  Girl, Take the Lead! . As a former foster child in the UK and an international adoptee, Michelle has spent a lifetime opening pathways toward her truest sense of identity and purpose. Today, she supports women navigating what she calls  midlife grief  — the quiet, often hidde...

What if one of the most important leadership skills… is the one we’re rarely taught to name? In this episode, Yo Canny sits down with Jessica Pryce-Jones — executive coach and author — for a grounded, research-informed conversation on intuition as a legitimate leadership capability. Jessica shares what she’s learned after 25 years in learning and leadership development, why intuition becomes more...

How women leaders build influence that lasts Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we explore stories of reinvention, resilience, and the courage it takes to lead lives that break old cycles and create new possibilities. Today’s guest brings clarity, strategy, and grounded leadership wisdom to a powerful conversation about influence, visibility, and career ownership. Meet Dr. Ka...

What if influence doesn’t come from proving yourself — but from being seen? In this episode, Yo sits down with leadership coach and founder of  Lead Out Loud ,  Sara Anderson , to explore why so many capable women leaders feel like they’re acting their way through success. From imposter syndrome and perfectionism to nervous system triggers in high-stakes conversations, Sara explains how leaders of...