The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan

Most leaders treat anxiety like a problem to eliminate. What if it's actually your sharpest strategic tool and you've just been using it wrong? In today's episode, Lauren covers: Why anxiety gets louder the more you ignore it and what it's actually trying to tell you The difference between fear and excitement (hint: it's one breath) PQ reps: the micro-practice that trains your nervous system to st...

What do you do when the plan keeps changing — and you never had control to begin with? In this episode, Lauren LeMunyan gets real about life as a military spouse and the leadership lessons hiding inside the chaos. From waiting 7 months for orders to navigating a high-risk pregnancy across insurance systems, Lauren shares the five lessons that will change how you lead, adapt, and make decisions whe...

Most managers spend 25–40% of their day managing interpersonal conflict — and most of it could be cut short with two words:  my bad.  In this episode, Lauren shares a personal story of stepping in it big, and walks through the exact accountability framework she teaches C-suite leaders worldwide. You'll learn why defending your intent makes things worse, how to create psychological safety by sittin...

What if the very thing you're gripping so tightly is the reason it's not happening? In this episode of The Spitfire Podcast, we dive into one of coaching's most powerful (and paradoxical) principles: detaching from the outcome. When life feels off-kilter and out of control, our instinct is often to clench tighter—to force results, chase certainty, and obsess over the "right" ending. But what if th...

We've been conditioned to believe that strong leaders always have the answers. But what if the most powerful words in the room are actually: "I don't know." In this episode, Lauren unpacks why "I don't know" isn't weakness — it's the doorway to clarity, growth, innovation, and psychological safety. You'll explore: The four hidden meanings behind "I don't know" When it's a lack of clarity — and whe...

"Stop Trying to Make Lean a Thing!" In this electric conversation with Spitfire Coach Lauren LeMunyan, Santana Inniss shares The Glow Initiative's mission to close the access gap in coaching for women and the nonprofits that serve them. Together they break down The Women in the Workplace 2025 report from McKinsey and Lean In and its problematic language, the myth of the so-called "ambition gap," a...

Ready to torch the burnout and toast to something better? In this reflective (and refreshing) episode of  The Spitfire Podcast , host Lauren LeMunyan gets honest about the chaos that was 2025, and how to reclaim your power heading into 2026. Whether you're a coach feeling stuck, a leader craving more purpose, or a human just trying to keep it together, this episode is your permission slip to rest,...

What happens when two seasoned executive coaches stop playing nice and start telling the truth? In this episode, Lauren LeMunyan and Laurie Battaglia dive headfirst into the murky waters of the coaching industry. Together they unpack the differences (and blurred lines) between coaching, advising, mentoring, and training. From the "broke coach" epidemic and sketchy frameworks to certification gatek...

Middle Management Meltdown: Who's Really Holding Up the House? Middle managers are getting steamrolled and no one's sending in the rescue team. In this fiery episode, we're breaking down the psychological safety crisis facing middle managers, calling out C-suite complacency, fear-based culture, and outdated leadership dynamics. From Harvard Business Review's overdue headlines to the real-world tol...

You've survived the hard parts. Now it's time to honor the one who made it through. In this powerful and introspective episode, Lauren  invites you to revisit your journey, not to relive the pain, but to recognize the strength it took to rise. She shares her own reflections on growth, grief, and the moment she paused to truly appreciate her past self. This is more than storytelling, it's self-cele...

In today's episode, Lauren, explores a powerful shift emerging across leadership landscapes: moving from a mindset of constant doing to one of intentional being. Drawing insights from real coaching sessions and leadership cohorts, Lauren unpacks how relying on external validation can limit growth—and how developing self-awareness and internal measures of success can unlock true leadership potentia...

Tired of the fluffy buzzwords, the NPR coaching voice, and the sea of wide-brimmed hats? Same. Please Don't Coach Me is the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the coaching industry — the good, the bad, and the "did-they-really-just-say-that?" Whether you're a coach, a client, or coaching-curious, host Lauren LeMunyan brings unfiltered truth, real talk, and the kind of insight that only 4000+ h...

Welcome to the debut episode of Please Don't Coach Me — the show that dares to say what the coaching industry won't. Coaching has exploded. But beneath the polished frameworks and "powerful questions" lie some uncomfortable truths. In this series, we strip away the jargon, challenge the sacred cows of coach training, and talk candidly about what actually helps people grow — and what doesn't. This...

You swear it's intuition... but is it really just your judgment in a cute outfit? In this spicy solo episode, Lauren LeMunyan—the Spitfire Coach—uncovers the sneaky ways judgment disguises itself as inner knowing. Spoiler: just because you feel something doesn't mean it's truth—it might just be your bias flexing. Lauren breaks down the science, the sass, and the body signals behind real intuition—...

It's Lauren's birthday (well, sort of), and she's diving deep — and hilariously — into what it means to turn 42. Inspired by The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy , she reflects on motherhood, messy relationships, starting over, reclaiming creativity, and redefining self-worth. This isn't your average "here's what I learned" episode. It's a raw, real, and fiery manifesto for anyone tired of living...

What does financial abundance really feel like—and how do the money stories we inherit shape the way we earn, spend, and save? In this episode of The Spitfire Podcast , Lauren LeMunyan takes you on a deep dive into the beliefs, fears, and habits that influence your financial reality. Through powerful prompts and personal stories, Lauren explores: How generational money stories influence our mindse...

What happens when you spend a decade building a business from scratch? You learn a LOT—sometimes the hard way. In this milestone episode of The Spitfire Podcast , Lauren LeMunyan, MCC, pulls back the curtain and shares the 10 biggest lessons from 10 years in business . From ignoring the "too bold" naysayers to charging what you're worth, from investing in systems early to surrounding yourself with...

This episode of The Spitfire Podcast is a full-on masterclass in reigniting your creative fire—and your life. Host Lauren LeMunyan welcomes transformational coach, award-winning filmmaker, and founder of AudPop, Paige Williams, for a juicy, soul-stirring conversation that covers everything from the power of play to the prison of perfectionism. Together, they dive into Paige's transformative framew...

Ever find yourself overthinking, over-talking, and over-complicating—only to end up further from clarity than when you started? In this episode, Lauren pulls back the curtain on her own process of rediscovering simplicity in her work, brand, and mission. From redefining values to reimagining what it really means to Spit Fire , she shares the mindset shifts and practical questions that helped her c...

What happens when the motivators and drivers that once fueled your success suddenly stop working? In this raw and real episode, I share my own journey of navigating postpartum shifts, caring for my family through crisis, and rediscovering who I am as a leader, coach, and human. From grief over who we used to be, to the hidden gaps in our working years, to the invitation to recalibrate our values a...

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Lauren opens up about life in the in-between—navigating caregiving, business shifts, and the search for purpose after a whirlwind season of crisis. From resisting the urge to "push through" to confronting identity changes when you're no longer in constant hustle mode, she shares the messy, honest process of sitting with uncertainty instead of skipping past it. I...

After an unexpected summer of medical emergencies, emotional whiplash, and personal transformation, Lauren LeMunyan — the Spitfire Coach — returns to the mic to share her most raw and powerful episode yet. From navigating her husband's brain surgery, stroke, and miraculous recovery, to advocating through red tape, caregiving while parenting, and redefining what "self-care" really means, Lauren bri...

When life flips the script, do you crumble—or rise with fire? In this raw and riveting episode, executive coach and powerhouse keynote speaker Lauren LeMunyan, MCC—aka the Spitfire Coach—opens up about the moment everything changed: her husband's sudden medical emergency and the emotional rollercoaster that followed. With her signature blend of vulnerability, sharp wit, and real-world strategies,...

Emmy-winning producer Shannon Malone-deBenedictis joins Lauren for a raw, hilarious, and unfiltered chat about showing up unapologetically in a world full of BS. From surviving Hollywood's image obsession to calling out the epidemic of weak leadership hiding behind subtext, Shannon breaks down why being direct is the ultimate power move. Expect F-bombs, stories of sharks and water buffalo, and a n...

Spitfires, it's confession time. In this episode, Lauren LeMunyan owns up to getting swept away by the feel-good "Let Them" theory — and why she's now calling B.S. Lauren breaks down where the theory falls flat, the danger of oversimplified advice, and why real change starts with critical thinking (not catchy mantras). Get ready for honest reflection, some hard-earned lessons, and a fiery reminder...