Self Smarter

When the only thing we can expect in life is the unexpected, emotional agility is vital for us as humans and as leaders. In this episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan define emotional agility and share what they’ve been learning about this practice in order to help us all feel empowered during life’s twists and turns. Stay tuned for the music moment to hear Dan’l and Megan’s thoughts on a popul...

Why do we fear pressing “send” on the email? Why do we touch up our pictures before we share them on Instagram? Whether we like to admit it or not, we can all relate to the struggle of perfectionism. In today’s episode, Dan’l and Megan share why it’s important to actually choose imperfection in order to live more connected and authentic lives. Stay tuned for the music moment to hear Dan’l and Mega...

Have you ever thought about how your journey to become “Self Smarter” is influencing those around you? On this special episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan are joined by Mackey Payton, Dan’l’s daughter, to discuss what it was like to grow up in a home where self-knowledge and self-awareness were being practiced. Stay tuned for today’s music moment to hear about the most unique room in the Almy...

In this episode of Self Smarter, we’re talking about the cringy topic of “imposter syndrome.” But don’t worry, we’re not just talking about it, we’re sharing how you can overcome this state of mind that most people confront in life. Stay tuned for our music moment to hear some fun history on Elvis Presley, the new movie, and his impact on Dan’l and Megan’s lives growing up as kids in the 70s. 

“Servant leadership” has been a popular term for a while, but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Self Smarter, we’re discussing the meaning and characteristics of servant leaders to validate and/or motivate listeners to better lead the people in their lives. In today’s music moment, you’ll hear which genre of music we think is the best. Spoiler alert: it’s the 80s and that’s the only r...

We’re celebrating our 20th episode and taking a walk down memory lane by highlighting important lessons and learning moments we’ve experienced along the way.  We hope this episode will encourage you, make you laugh, and help you think differently (in a good way) about leadership. Listen along to this special episode and stay tuned for Megan’s music moment to hear the new genre of music her teenage...

  The word “toxic” is commonly thrown around these days but what does it actually mean regarding culture? In this episode of Self Smarter, we’re discussing the damn truth about toxic cultures – how to spot them, how to stop them, and how to learn from them as a leader or a member of an organization. Stick around for today’s music moment where we’re talking all things Taylor Swift after Dan’l heard...

In this episode of Self Smarter, our resident Enneagram expert, Marci Allen, is joining Megan to share how you can identify your “Enneagram wing.” If you don’t know what that means, you’re in the right place. Welcome and come on in! In today’s music moment, Megan and Marci share the highs and (hilarious) lows of live concerts they’ve attended.

You’ve likely heard the phrase “EQ” or “emotional intelligence” used in editorial and pop culture lately, but what do these words actually mean? In this episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan discuss all things emotional intelligence and EQ - what it means, why it’s important, and the resources and lessons they’ve applied along the way. In today’s music moment, find out Megan’s current “music cr...

In this episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan share why you need to be reading Abby Wambach’s New York Times Best Selling book, Wolfpack . This book is full of actionable, memorable, digestible leadership lessons that readers can apply in the journey to becoming “Self Smarter.” In today’s music moment, Dan’l and Megan talk “go-to” karaoke songs.

In today’s episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l is sharing the damn truth about “work-life balance.” Spoiler alert: she thinks it’s bullshit. Learn how we can put down the perception of having a perfectly balanced life and work toward giving ourselves the grace to find passion in both. Dan’l and Megan remember Naomi Judd’s legacy in today’s music moment.

Tune in to this must-hear episode of Self Smarter as Raina Nelson, the President & CEO of Westfalia Fruit USA, joins Dan’l and Megan to share her powerful story. You’ll hear how Raina persevered in the midst of intense adversity as well as inspiration for listeners on their own leadership journey. Raina, Dan’l, and Megan share their love for three artists who embody perseverance in today’s Mus...

You could say that Dolly Parton was “Self Smarter” before it was cool. She has stood the test of time as a songwriter, singer, performer, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, all while remaining true to herself. In this episode, Dan’l shares leadership lessons we can all learn from Dolly Parton. In today’s music moment… well, you can probably guess! 

Are you a humble leader? Think again… In this episode, Dan’l and Megan share the importance of humility in leadership and a checklist for listeners to use as they work on cultivating this necessary trait. In today’s music moment, hear about a special performance Dan’l and Megan experienced during Megan’s Passover celebration.

Some listeners have a healthy relationship with delegation while others hear the word and immediately cringe. In today’s episode, Dan’l and Megan share how they overcame the delegation dilemma in their organization and the steps you can take to master this practice as well.

Whether you completely shy away from conflict or just need tips to communicate more effectively, this episode is for you! Dan’l and Megan share actionable next steps to help you overcome the fear of conflict and the benefits you’ll see in your organization or relationships by following through. Stay for the music moment at the end of the episode to hear the songs Dan’l is resonating with as she en...

In today’s episode, Dan’l and Megan break down the truth about vulnerability. They cover what vulnerability is vs what vulnerability isn’t, the barriers that surround this topic, and the myths involved. It’s time to get real about a topic that’s easier to avoid. In today’s music moment, hear Dan’l’s vulnerable stories about her true passion, karaoke.

In this special episode of Self Smarter, the team takes over the podcast while co-host, Dan’l is away celebrating her 50th birthday.  Listen as each guest shares stories about the birthday girl including heartfelt messages, letters, SNL references, and music by the Beatles.  Enjoy and happy birthday, Dan’l!

Patrick Lencioni’s book The Ideal Team Player defines the ideal teammate as someone who is hungry, humble, and smart. Today, Dan’l and Megan break down each of these characteristics and discuss how they’ve put them into practice to transform company culture and the hiring process. In today’s music moment, Dan’l and Megan talk live music and performances as we head into a post-pandemic world.

Dan'l and Megan are devoted students of the Enneagram and have transformed the business they manage utilizing this tool as a key component. Join them as they dive into this resource, how it helps further develop EQ in the workplace, and explore each Enneagram type and how they individually bring value to teams. Walk away with next steps to put this resource into practice in your own life whet...

In order to be a better, more empathetic leader, understanding all of the different emotions is critical. This week, Dan’l and Megan share why it’s imperative for leaders to be reading Brené Brown’s most recent book Atlas Of The Heart NOW. The New York Times best-selling author breaks down 87 different emotions in this book and gives readers a language to share those emotions more clearly and effe...

Building and establishing trust is no simple task. It’s hard work, tedious, and requires intention… but it’s worth it. As leaders, deciding to be intentional about building trust vs crushing trust will be the game changer within our organizations, companies, families, and communities. Stick around for today’s music moment as Dan’l and Megan discuss the halftime show of the Big Game and announce a...

Whether you’re leading a culture or a part of one, we all have a role to play in creating a healthy, functional environment. This week, we’re sharing the details of our culture remodel to help listeners and leaders remodel theirs faster, and perhaps, more effectively than we had to do and are still working to do. Dan’l shares the six attributes of a healthy culture as well as details her favorite...

The word “culture” has become such a buzzword in our society. But what does it actually mean? We're diving deep into “culture” over the next two weeks. We believe culture is one of the most misunderstood and undervalued assets in a business or organization. No matter where you are in your leadership journey, grasping the understanding and appreciation for culture is key. In today’s “music mom...

Before we can dive into the weekly application of becoming self smarter, you need some background. Why did we start this podcast? Why is it called Self Smarter? We’ll share the context and backstory of our journey in becoming better leaders in the office, in our home, and our community. You’ll hear in the episode that we believe everyone has the opportunity to be a leader, however, they must choos...