THIS Leader Podcast

In this episode, I explore how physical fitness serves as a powerful laboratory for leadership development—and why the lessons you learn pushing your body are the exact skills you need to lead yourself and others well. The Translation Between Fitness and Leadership If you're like most leaders I work with, you've heard yourself say: "I don't leave my desk for lunch." "I don't take breaks." "I don't...

Welcome to Episode 48 of THIS Leader! As we step into 2026, I'm inviting you to pause before diving headfirst into another year of endless demands and obligations.  In this episode, you'll hear: The Power of Intentional Reflection: Why getting clear on what you truly want - not what you think you should want - changes everything about how you lead and live  Your Multiple Roles as Opportunities: Ho...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jared Fujishin—who wrote his PhD dissertation specifically on nonverbal communication—to explore how leaders can close "the trust gap" between their good intentions and actual connection with their teams. You might spend hours crafting the perfect message, but if your nonverbal signals are sending a different story, your carefully chosen words won't land. Jared...

Welcome to Episode 46! After the incredible response to my recent episode on leading change, so many of you reached out asking, "But what about when people resist anyway?" This episode is for you.  In this episode, you'll hear about: The many faces of resistance and what those behaviors are really telling you The most common sources of pushback (and why they're usually legitimate) How to lead chan...

Welcome to Episode 45! In this episode, I'm sharing my all-time favorite end-of-year ritual, a powerful reflection process that transforms lessons learned into actionable guidelines for the year ahead. In this episode, you'll discover: The three essential reflection questions that reveal meaningful patterns in your year  How to turn lessons learned into memorable "guidelines"—short, powerful state...

Last week, we explored how change affects you personally. This week, we're focusing on YOUR ROLE as a leader when change is happening—because your team is looking to you to guide them through their transitions.   In this episode, you'll hear about: Managing Your Team's Threat Responses (The SCARF Model) Status: How to provide reassurance without making promises you can't keep Certainty: Sharing wh...

Change is exhausting - even when it's a good change. In this episode, I share a story about my own recent emotional roller coaster ride and walk you through the neuroscience and psychology of why navigating change hits us harder than we think. You'll learn practical frameworks to understand what's happening in your brain and a simple exercise to map what you're actually carrying so you can take be...

Just days before Thanksgiving, I'm sharing something deeply personal—a practice that keeps me grounded, energized, and honestly, keeps me from becoming a grumpy old person. This episode is about the power of soaking in what's right and good, even when life feels overwhelming.  In this episode, you'll hear about: Why gratitude can feel complicated – and why this isn't about toxic positivity or pret...

In this episode, I explore the tension between capability and genuine desire with Stephanie Sonnenshine—a former CEO who led one of California's most influential organizations through a pandemic and major transitions, then made the intentional choice to step away and pursue coaching and consulting work that truly lights her up. If you're a high-achieving leader who finds yourself saying yes to opp...

Do you wake up Monday mornings with subtle dread—not because you hate your job, but because you've stopped growing? You're competent, maybe even excellent, but you've plateaued. Meanwhile, opportunities surround you, but you're not sure how to position yourself to seize them. Sherri Thomas has successfully rebranded herself four times across different industries—from radio DJ to Fortune 100 career...

In this personal episode, I share my journey from chronic people-pleaser to assertive leader and reveal practical frameworks for finding your voice. Growing up too agreeable cost me career opportunities and wrong relationships. The key insight: when nothing is important to you, it's easy to get pulled into anything important to others.  Key Concepts: Three Communication Styles: Passive - Avoiding...

How much of your day do you spend trying to control things that are actually outside your control? As leaders, we plan and strategize, but often find ourselves spinning our wheels on things we simply can't influence. What if recognizing the limits of our control isn't a weakness, but the key to building stronger teams and achieving better results? Kate Terrell, former Chief Human Resources Officer...

In this transformative episode, I show you how to escape the Drama Triangle pattern that exhausts leaders and robs them of power. If you've ever said yes when you want to say no, then felt resentful about your obligations, and then got angry at others for your situation, congratulations! You've just cycled through all three Drama Triangle roles: Rescuer, Victim, and Persecutor, and you've given yo...

In this  conversation with parent coach Allison Livingston, we explore how high achievers get emotionally hijacked in difficult situations and learn a 5-step framework to stay connected without getting hooked.  Why High Achievers Get Emotionally Hijacked High-achieving people often struggle with emotional regulation because they expect to be good at everything, including relationships. They have h...

In this conversation with communication expert Salvatore Manzi, we explore how analytical minds and introverted leaders can transform technical brilliance into authentic influence. The Foundation: Presence = Comfort + Authenticity Salvatore defines presence as the intersection of comfort and authenticity—being comfortable being yourself while knowing your topic, understanding your audience, and co...

In this personal episode, Claire shares how her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis became a wake-up call about the urgency of living authentically. She explores why your values, not productivity systems, are the key to fulfillment and effective leadership. The Personal Wake-Up Call Claire opens with a touching note her father wrote: "Claire, I want to go to the grocery store with you." A year later, h...

In this practical episode, I reveal specific skills that transform ordinary meetings into powerful collaborative sessions where everyone contributes fully. The difference between meetings where leaders do all the talking versus those where everyone leaves energized isn't personality, it's facilitative leadership skills.  Understanding Work Flow  All meaningful work follows predictable stages: Idea...

In this conversation with Jessica Deakyne, we explore how she accelerated from transportation coordinator to Chief Operating Officer through servant leadership and intentional community building. The Power of Community and Connection Jessica's career transformation wasn't a solo journey. She emphasizes that successful leaders understand advancement happens through community, not isolation. Her app...

This episode explores why most leaders are unknowingly operating at only 70% of their potential and how aligning with your natural strengths can transform your leadership impact. The Research on Strengths The data from Marcus Buckingham, Don Clifton, and the Gallup Organization is compelling. People who use their strengths daily are three times more likely to report an excellent quality of life an...

In this episode, I share four core strategies that will help you consistently add more value, and make yourself indispensable at work.  In this episode, you'll hear about: The Current Landscape Forbes reports that 77% of people are concerned about AI causing job loss within 12 months, but there's a crucial flip side: wages are rising twice as quickly in industries most exposed to AI. The people ad...

In this episode, Theresa Phillips, a veteran HR professional who has conducted over 700 workplace investigations, we explore how challenging workplace conflicts can become opportunities for transformation and trust-building.  From Fact-Finding to Healing Theresa's journey evolved from simply gathering facts to truly seeing people in their pain and fear. She discovered that when people feel genuine...

In this episode, I explore how our brains are wired to misinterpret others' behavior and I share the life-changing principle that everyone acts from their own  "good reasons." I begin with a painful personal story of being falsely accused of "stealing" a client by a colleague. This experience illustrates how we all "tell stories" about what's happening around us, but real as they may seem, they're...

In this conversation with Irene van der Zande, founder of Kidpower International, we explore how to set and respect workplace boundaries with confidence and kindness. The Boundary Bridge Technique Skilled boundary-setters always start with something positive—what Irene calls a "boundary bridge": Connect first with something positive Use 'and' not, 'but'—bridges don't cut off communication  Be spec...

In this episode, I expose the sneaky forces that gradually erode team culture—subtle issues that well-meaning leaders overlook until significant damage is done. The biggest threats aren't obvious disasters but silent forces that creep in slowly, robbing teams of energy, focus, and trust. These culture killers are correctable, but first, you need to spot them. In this episode, you'll hear about: Th...

In this conversation with Stefka Anderson, HR Director for Global R&D at Driscoll's, we dive into how Driscoll's Global R&D is training leaders to increase  change agility . Together, they designed and delivered a comprehensive 10-month "Change Agility" program, that transformed how their entire function (which includes hundreds of employees and spans multiple disciplines and time zones) engages i...