The Leader in You

In this heartfelt Thanksgiving-week episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and co-host Polina Marian explore a surprisingly common but rarely discussed experience at work— how even a small moment of feeling forgotten or unseen can shake an entire team. Drawing from a real situation (shared with permission) with a CEO and CFO, they walk through how a simple birthday misunderstanding spir...

In this episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and her daughter and co-host, Polina Marian, explore one of the most universal leadership challenges: how to keep your focus during stressful situations . We often believe that staying focused means staying on the problem —the facts, the content, the mistakes, the timeline. But as Lola and Polina explain using the Emotional Connection (EmC)...

In this insightful episode of The Leader in You , Polina and Dr. Lola Gershfeld sit down with Dr. Jamie Goff , author of The Secure Leader , to explore how attachment science shapes leadership, team relationships, and the emotional culture of the workplace.   Jamie shares her personal journey—from teaching emotionally focused therapy (EFT) to stepping into leadership and realizing how her own atta...

In this heartfelt episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola Gershfeld speaks with Niamh Hannan , EmC Certified Trainer in Ireland, about what it truly means to bring people home —to themselves, to one another, and to emotional safety at work. Fresh from leading a two-day EmC Master Class in Ireland, Niamh shares moving stories of leaders and coaches who discovered how to transform disconnection into...

In this episode, Polina and Dr. Lola unpack what happens when workplace conflicts take an unexpected turn — what they call “the curveball.” Whether it’s defensiveness, shutdown, or denial, these moments often derail even our best intentions to connect. Together, they explore how emotional disconnection fuels these reactions and how leaders, managers, and teammates can use the EmC process to slow t...

What happens when two aerospace engineers just can’t get along—and a manager decides not to force a resolution? In this insightful and entertaining episode from Day 2 of the ATD OrgDev Conference , Dr. Lola Gershfeld , Polina Marian , and guest Matt Gjertsen with Better Everyday Studios uncover how a workplace conflict turned into an unexpected story of connection, understanding, and emotional gro...

In this lively conference edition of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and her daughter and co-host, Polina Marian, bring listeners behind the scenes at the ATD OrgDev Conference in Houston — joined by special guest Beth Messick , leadership coach and advisory board member for OrgDev. Together, they unpack key insights from keynote speaker Galen Emanuele , who used the principles of i...

When conflict and loneliness take over your workplace, your body and mind pay the price. In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian explore the powerful link between emotional connection and well-being — drawing from the landmark Harvard Happiness Study and decades of attachment science. Discover how the EmC Process helps you repair relationships, restore safety, and reawaken joy at wor...

What if the key to transforming your team’s culture, connection, and performance wasn’t another system or strategy—but something far more human? In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian reveal the secret ingredient to true team transformation: self-awareness . Drawing from real data in the Team Emotional Safety Assessment (TESA) , they share how one company’s 13% increase in self-awar...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina explore a powerful new framework for understanding conflict and restoring balance - L-TEMPO . Just like dancing, relationships move to a rhythm, and emotions are the music that guides us. El TEMPO stands for: L – Longing for connection T – Triggers E – Emotions M – Meaning P – Protective behaviors O – Organizing Together,...

In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and psychologist Niamh Hannan unpack what happens when workplace dynamics feel like a game of Pac-Man—one person chasing, the other running away. They explore how this destructive pattern shows up in meetings, teams, and leadership, and why it leaves everyone anxious, stuck, and disconnected. More importantly, they reveal how the EmC Reconnection Process helps t...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian respond to the shocking news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination — not with politics or speculation, but with a focus on what truly matters: how leaders, teams, and organizations can process collective trauma and its ripple effects in the workplace. We introduce the Emotional Connection (EmC) process , a step-by-step m...

In this engaging episode of The Leader in You Podcast , we sit down with Dr. Alaina Szlachta, author of Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring . Alaina shares her inspiring journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and why thinking like a researcher can transform the way we make decisions—whether in leadership, learning, or life. Together, we explore: Why data isn’t just about numbers,...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola Gershfeld reveals the secret to creating and sustaining healthy team relationships . Drawing from attachment science and the Emotional Connection (EmC) process, she shares how teams can move beyond surface-level communication to build trust, resilience, and true emotional safety. You’ll discover: Why traditional conflict resolution misses the...

In this week’s episode of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola Gershfeld takes on some of the most common — and challenging — questions about team dynamics and workplace relationships. What happens when one teammate thrives on emotional connection while another prefers to stay task-focused? How do we stop labeling colleagues as “too emotional” or “too shut down”? And what’s the one small action yo...

When a team feels “off,” the damage goes deeper than missed deadlines—it erodes trust, safety, and connection. In this solo episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld reveals how to spot the subtle signs of disconnection, shift the “emotional music” that drives team dynamics, and repair relationships before it’s too late. Learn how leaders can create a culture where people feel safe, valued, and ready to collabo...

In this riveting and emotionally charged episode, dive into a viral workplace scandal that rocked social media—the infamous kiss-cam moment at a Coldplay concert featuring the CEO and Chief People Officer of Astronomer, both of whom resigned. Licensed therapist Jack Gershfeld joins to explore the deeper emotional and relational dynamics behind infidelity, both in personal relationships and in orga...

In this insightful episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina dive into the transformative power of holding two truths —a leadership practice rooted in emotional attunement and attachment science. When workplace conflict arises, the common instinct is to choose sides or find fault. But what if the real solution lies in honoring both emotional truths simultaneously? Together, they...

In this powerful episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola and Polina sit down with bestselling author and leadership expert Ryan Gottfredson to explore what it really takes to become a better leader—and a better human. Drawing from his new book Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation , Ryan shares his personal journey of healing, the difference between horizontal and...

What if your leadership challenges are hidden in the coaching styles you don’t use? In this engaging and insightful episode, we’re joined by David Morelli and Alexandria Scobee from OwlHub to explore their groundbreaking Respect Coaching Styles framework—a powerful tool that helps leaders and teams unlock human connection, improve communication, and drive performance. We talk about how the seven c...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian introduce two transformative techniques— “Slice It Thinner” and “Catch the Bullet” —designed to help leaders and teams foster emotional safety and connection in the workplace. You’ll learn: Why people often shut down or react in conflict—and how to slow things down and make room for vulnerability. How “slicing it thinner” helps transfo...

Making the leap from doing the work to leading the people—it’s one of the toughest transitions in any career. In this eye-opening episode of The Leader in You , Polina and Dr. Lola talk with Matt Gjersten, founder of Better Everyday Studios, about what really happens when high performers step into management. Together, they explore the emotional hurdles new leaders face, like delegation, feeling v...

In this powerful episode of The Leader in You , we unpack the explosive conflict between Elon Musk and President Trump—and more importantly, what it reveals about leadership, emotions, and disconnection at the highest levels. Join Dr. Lola and Polina as they take you behind the scenes of what seemed like a political feud, using the Emotional Connection (EmC) process to explore the emotional underc...

Breakups don’t just happen in romantic relationships—they happen in companies, too. In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina expose the top cause of a culture “breakup”: surprise and emotional disconnection between leaders and their teams. From sudden reorganizations to poor communication, they reveal how these hidden patterns quietly unravel trust—and how to rebuild it using emotional safet...

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Lola and Polina unpack a real-life workplace conflict that began with a simple question — and rippled into a breakdown of emotional safety across an entire team. What seems like a harmless inquiry during a team meeting turns into a deeper exploration of fear, miscommunication, and the hidden impact of emotional disconnection. Discover how leaders and teams can brea...