Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

“A great presentation uses slides to support the message, not compete with it.” In this solo episode, Jay shares seven practical, field-tested techniques to help your PowerPoint or keynote presentation truly shine. Drawing from years in learning and development, as well as his work as a keynote speaker, Jay explains how to design slides that enhance your message rather than distract from it. From...

Anxiety doesn’t mean you’re not ready. It often means you care. Meet Gloria. Confident one-on-one but anxious in high-stakes rooms, Gloria freezes when presenting to senior leaders. Despite being capable and respected, anxiety hijacks her focus, causing her to avoid visibility and stall her growth. What she wants most is presence, confidence, and the ability to speak up when it matters.  In this e...

A meeting without a clear desired outcome is a scheduled chit chat devoid of purpose. In this solo episode, Jay breaks down why so many meetings feel exhausting, unproductive, and unnecessary, and what to do instead. Drawing from his corporate background and years of leadership experience, Jay shares a 7-step blueprint for running meetings that are focused, efficient, and actually move work forwar...

Being a top performer doesn’t mean you’re ready to lead. Meet Gerard. A successful sales representative turned manager, Gerard knows how to execute, but struggles to earn buy-in from his team. Meetings feel heavy. Feedback feels forced. The harder he pushes, the quieter the room gets. He feels like his team just doesn’t trust him. In this episode, Jay sits down with Damon Lembi, a former Division...

The leaders who win aren’t the strongest or smartest; they’re the most adaptable. In this solo episode, Jay kicks off 2026 by breaking down the three skills every leader must develop to stay relevant, influential, and effective in a world shaped by rapid change and AI-driven disruption. Drawing on research, leadership experience, and real-world examples, Jay explains why adaptability is now the de...

The illusion of security is often more dangerous than uncertainty. In this Unstuck Classic, we revisit the story of Jonah, a seasoned SaaS leader with over 20 years of experience who feels trapped in a role that once inspired him and now drains him. Jonah has ideas, talent, and ambition, but fear keeps him stuck. Fear of failing. Fear of financial risk. Fear of disrupting the life he’s built. Each...

In this Unstuck Classic, we revisit the story of Veronica, a leader who deeply cares about culture, connection, and people, yet feels worn down by an organization that prioritizes performance metrics over humanity. Her ideas to reignite morale are repeatedly delayed, leaving her questioning whether purpose and joy still have a place at work, and how she can reconnect with the spark that once drove...

“It’s not just the goal that matters, it’s the quality of life you experience along the way.” In this solo episode, Jay breaks down why most people get goal setting wrong and how leading with emotion, excitement, or long wish lists often leads to burnout and discouragement. As the year winds down, Jay offers a simple, grounded framework to help you set goals that actually stick and support the lif...

"Perceived risk and perceived stability are both illusions." Most people believe they’re choosing between safety and uncertainty. But as you’ll hear in this episode, neither is as real as we think. Meet Alexandra. By late morning, her workday felt finished, not because the work was done, but because it no longer stretched her. As an analyst at the Federal Reserve, she had stability, structure, and...

“The lessons that resonate most are the ones we’re meant to carry forward.” In this solo episode, Jay shares the top five lessons he’s taking into 2026, insights shaped by his keynotes, workshops, coaching sessions, and personal experiences throughout 2025. These lessons explore how to channel anger for meaningful change, prioritize social connection, improve inner dialogue, recharge consistently,...

What if the problem isn't that there's too much change, but that you're looking at it all wrong? In this episode, we revisit the story of Dylan, who's stepping into a new role, fearing he'll be in the same situation as in his last position. His last role burned him out, and Dylan's unsure how he could approach this new opportunity with a fresh perspective. We're returning to one of the most impact...

“The lessons we carry forward shape who we become next.” In this solo episode, Jay reflects on 2025 and shares the first five lessons he found most impactful, both from his own growth and from what resonated most with audiences, workshop participants, and coaching clients. These lessons highlight where leaders are growing, where they’re struggling, and what is most needed to thrive in 2026. From e...

Your child’s first addiction might come from their screen… not a substance. Most parents don’t know it. Most media companies won’t tell you. But the brain science is clear, overstimulating content changes the developing mind. Meet Daniel. It’s nearly 8 p.m. when he walks through the door, exhausted from back-to-back meetings and a demanding day. His three-year-old son, Leo, is sitting on the couch...

“Gratitude isn’t about listing more things. It’s about going deeper into the ones that truly matter.” In this solo episode, Jay explores the science behind gratitude and why it can significantly improve your mood, resilience, physical health, and relationships. Drawing from Dr. Laurie Santos’ renowned Yale course The Science of Well-Being, Jay breaks down how hedonic adaptation keeps us from appre...

Discomfort isn’t danger. It’s data. Most people misread that signal and pull back. But discomfort is often pointing us toward growth. Meet Gabriella. After 25 years in marketing, she’s never experienced this much change at once. New metrics. New leadership. New priorities that contradict last week’s priorities. The constant shift has shaken her confidence and left her second-guessing every move. A...

Consistency isn’t hard because we’re incapable, it’s hard because instant gratification keeps winning. Today, Jay breaks down why distractions pull us off track and introduces a five-step framework, inspired by Wayne Dyer, to help you delay gratification, understand your triggers, and follow through on the meaningful actions that create long-term results. If you’ve ever wondered why staying consis...

Meet Trevor. It’s past midnight, and Trevor is still in his office, finishing charts under the dull glow of fluorescent lights. As an oncologist at one of the country’s top hospitals, he carries a heavy emotional load delivering devastating news to families, forcing a hopeful tone for others, and holding the weight of life-and-death decisions every day. On the outside, Trevor is accomplished and r...

In our last episode, Jay spoke with Mitch Bohn, whose story of resilience and refusing to make excuses inspired today’s topic. In this solo episode, Jay explores why excuses keep us stuck, how they limit our potential, and what it takes to break free from the stories we tell ourselves. Drawing from Wayne Dyer’s teachings and a powerful seven-step framework Jay uses in his own coaching, this episod...

Meet Jerry. He wakes to the sound of hospital machines beeping. The ceiling above him feels foreign. There’s a dull ache in his back and panic rising in his chest as he remembers the ladder, the fall, the shouting voices. At 25, Jerry was a proud construction worker, building homes with his own hands. Now, he can’t lift his arm. The doctors say he might walk again, with time, patience, and relentl...

In our last episode, we met Dina, a senior director whose racing thoughts made it hard to slow down and focus. Jay was joined by Maura Thomas, a globally recognized productivity expert and author, who explained that it’s not time we manage, it’s attention. In this solo episode, Jay expands on that idea and shares five powerful strategies to help you reclaim your focus and train your attention. Dra...

Meet Dina. She grips the steering wheel tighter as her phone buzzes in the cup holder. At a red light, she glances down, her daughter’s text flashes on the screen: “How far are you? We’ve been waiting.” Her stomach sinks. She should’ve left the office an hour ago. But one email led to another, and now she’s late for dinner again. Dina is the Senior Director of Customer Service at a fast-growing so...

In this special Halloween episode, Jay explores seven surprising life lessons hidden inside some of the most iconic horror films and characters. From Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees to Michael Myers, Beetlejuice, Frankenstein, Dracula, and Jigsaw, Jay reveals how even the scariest stories can teach us something powerful about self-awareness, resilience, and gratitude. Each character offers a ref...

Meet Natalie. It’s late in the evening, and her office light is still on. Next to her sits a cold cup of coffee as unread emails pile up on her screen. Another meeting looms tomorrow, and her team is stretched thin. Natalie wants to lead well, to be the kind of leader her people deserve, but lately, she feels like she’s pouring from an empty cup. For years, Natalie has thrived as the VP of Busines...

In our last episode, we met Zahir, a leader struggling to inspire his team. Jay was joined by Russ Peterson Jr., who shared insights on how to deliver messages that motivate people and drive real behavior change instead of putting them to sleep. In this solo episode, Jay takes listeners behind the scenes into his personal process for crafting and delivering powerful presentations. He shares his Pr...

Meet Zahir. The conference room is silent as he clicks through his slides. As Director of Global Supply for an international tech company, he’s presenting a new strategy to unify operations across three continents. The numbers are solid, but he can feel the energy slipping away. Eyes drift to phones. Nods are polite, not passionate. Zahir knows his data is strong, but his message is falling flat....