Leading With Heart

Have you ever found yourself saying, "I don't have time for self-care" while continuing to say yes to everyone else? In this episode, Christina shares a personal story from a recent work trip that challenged her to choose what her body needed over what her ego wanted. It sparked a powerful realization: the biggest barrier to self-care isn't always a lack of time. More often, it...

In this episode of the Leading With Heart podcast, Christina Mattison explores the connection between boundaries, communication, and self-respect, and why so many of us struggle to clearly express what we need. From people pleasing and overexplaining to shutting down, fixing, and passive-aggressive communication, Christina breaks down the protective patterns many women develop to stay safe, accept...

What if the thing you’ve been calling “resilience”… is actually what’s burning you out? In this powerful conversation, Christina and Liz chat about the hidden patterns keeping high-achieving women stuck in exhaustion, from people-pleasing and perfectionism to the belief that pushing through is the only way forward. We talk about my story of burnout and recovery, and I share an honest look at what...

What actually happens when women are given the space to slow down, soften, and truly be seen? In this deeply personal episode, Christina shares a heartfelt recap of her recent retreat at Milk and Honey Ranch, a powerful experience filled with connection, vulnerability, healing, and growth. From creating intentional space for stillness, to moving through emotional blocks, to practicing one of the m...

Are you getting everything done… but internally you feel fried? If you’re productive on the outside but operating in survival mode on the inside, snapping more easily, feeling scattered, exhausted, or quietly burned out, this episode is for you. Christina gets real about energy management in the middle of real life (including a week of solo parenting) and unpacks why so many high-functioning women...

Have you ever done all the “right” self-care things, taken the bath, bought a planner, scheduled the massage, and still felt completely exhausted? In this episode, we’re unpacking why that happens. Most women aren’t bad at self-care. We’re just investing in practices that don’t actually restore us. In a culture that praises hustle, sacrifice, and pushing through (hello, military life), it’s easy t...

Hey friend, in today’s episode, we’re talking about something I see all the time (and yes, I do it too): white knuckling change. You know the drill, forcing new habits with pressure, discipline, rigid rules, and a whole lot of self-criticism… and then wondering why it never seems to stick. If you’re capable, driven, committed to growth, and maybe just a little Type A (hello, same), this episode is...

In this episode of Leading With Heart , Christina shares a personal life update and invites you into a quieter, more reflective conversation about transition, identity, and what it means to lead yourself well in demanding seasons. After a major move, a new role, and a full family transition, she opens up about resisting the urge to rush, hustle, or “figure everything out” and instead choosing to l...

How many times have you declared a New Year’s resolution, only for it to collect dust by the end of January? Many of us are guilty of this - me included! In fact, only about 9% of people who create a resolution follow through with it. The problem? We often set unrealistic goals for ourselves that ultimately set us up for failure.  In this episode I am sharing why I no longer set resolutions, and w...

In this rich and heartfelt conversation, I’m joined by the incredible Misty Moreno, 20-year Air Force veteran, marketing manager at Vets2PM, podcast host, instructor, author, and a woman who has mastered the art of designing a life on her own terms. Misty’s story is one of courage, clarity, and deep self-awareness. After a powerful turning point in her military career, she made the bold decision t...

Today I am joined by MY coach Chrissy Marie! Chrissy is an embodiment coach who helps high achievers let go of people-pleasing and perfectionism and find joy in their lives. Her coaching incorporates inner child healing and the Internal Family Systems model to foster trust and communication among different aspects of oneself.  Today Chrissy dives into common parts that her clients often struggle w...

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Christina and guest Criss Moody continue exploring what it means to lead people, not just processes, through change. Picking up where Part 1 left off, this episode dives deeper into the human side of leadership: how emotions, empathy, and psychological safety influence whether change succeeds or falls apart. Criss shares insights from her research on the Br...

Change is inevitable, especially in leadership. But how we lead through change determines whether our teams grow stronger or fall apart in the process. In this first part of a two-part conversation, Christina sits down with Criss Moody, an Air Force officer turned small business owner and researcher, to explore what it really means to lead people, not just processes, through transition. Drawing fr...

For many women in the military community, service becomes more than a career, it becomes an identity. The rank, the mission, the structure, and the pride of wearing the uniform can shape who we believe we are. But what happens when that role changes… or ends? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Leading With Heart, I’m exploring the concept of identity beyond the uniform, how to redisco...

Have you ever felt stuck, unfulfilled, or on the edge of burnout, wondering if this is really what life is supposed to look like? I’ve been there. And the turning point for me came when I sat in my car with my first life coach and did a simple core values exercise that completely changed the trajectory of my life. In this episode of Leading With Heart , I’m pulling back the curtain on how uncoveri...

What really drives you? What lights you up and makes you feel aligned, and what leaves you drained and disconnected? In this week’s episode of Leading With Heart , I’m diving into one of the most powerful tools for self-awareness and leadership: anchoring into your core values. I share my own story of the first time I did a values exercise, and how it was a complete wake-up call. I realized that s...

For the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside women in the military community, helping them prioritize self-care, strengthen resilience, and become powerful advocates for themselves. What started as an online yoga community during the pandemic has since blossomed into retreats, workshops, challenges, and the Strong and Resilient Women Facebook community. But I’ve always drea...

Some journeys change us so deeply that we can hardly recognize the person we used to be. That’s the story of today’s guest, Audra Carpenter. Audra first joined me on the podcast two years ago, at a time when she was simply trying to survive. Since then, she’s walked through the fire of inner work, healing, and transformation, and has emerged stronger, braver, and more herself than ever before. In...

If you’re waiting to feel like the woman you’re becoming before you act like her… you’re doing it backwards. Welcome to the final episode in our 4-part “Interrupt the Pattern” series, where we close the loop on what it really takes to shift your habits, beliefs, and identity, for good. This week, we’re talking about identity-based change and why it’s the key to lasting transformation. We’ve spent...

We’ve named the pattern.  We’ve practiced the pause. Now it’s time to rewire. In this episode, I’m sharing the real-life next step in our “Interrupt the Pattern” series, and it’s the part where true change begins. Because awareness is powerful, but action is what rewires the brain. I get a little personal in this one and open up about a pattern I’ve been working on in my own life, how it shows up,...

Ever find yourself stuck in the same frustrating loops, overcommitting, spiraling into self-doubt, or working yourself to the edge of burnout, and wonder why you keep doing it? It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because you’re wired that way. But here’s the good news: your wiring can change. In this powerful kickoff to our July series, I’m talking about the habit loops and mental patterns that r...

Ever find yourself stuck in the same frustrating loops, overcommitting, spiraling into self-doubt, or working yourself to the edge of burnout, and wonder why you keep doing it? It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because you’re wired that way. But here’s the good news: your wiring can change. In this powerful kickoff to our July series, I’m talking about the habit loops and mental patterns that r...

If the idea of rest makes you feel guilty, unproductive, or just plain uncomfortable… this episode is for you. In this eye-opening conversation, Christina flips the script on everything you thought you knew about rest, and explains why it's not just a luxury, but a leadership essential. Too often, we wait for burnout to force us to rest. But what if rest could be strategic? What if it could a...

We’ve been sold a version of leadership that’s breaking us. In this fiery, unfiltered episode, I’m calling out the leadership lies that are burning brilliant women out, especially in the military world. From the glorification of hustle to the pressure to be everything to everyone, we’re unpacking the toxic systems that were never built for women like us… and talking about how to lead differently....

Welcome to the final episode of our 4-part mini-series on energy management! If you’ve been with me from the beginning, then you’ve already learned how energy influences your leadership, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We’ve talked about energy zones, how to restore what’s been depleted, and what to do when burnout looms. In this powerful closing episode, we’re bringing it all...