Create Magic At Work®

There is a tension beneath helping others that most people never question. What feels like empathy can sometimes be driven by something deeper, a need to resolve our own discomfort, stabilize our identity, or feel whole through someone else’s experience. In this first part of a two-part conversation, Amy reconnects with returning guest Dr. Aaron Tabacco to explore empathic distress, the hidden patterns of fixing, and the concept of “leaky identity.” Together, they unpack how even our most well-intentioned actions can unintentionally center ourselves, reshaping how we understand empathy, leadership, and emotional responsibility. The conversation invites a more grounded, sustainable way of showing up for others without losing ourselves in the process, creating space for clarity, awareness, and a more honest form of connection.Moments That Create Momentum:1. The Hidden Cost Of Fixing Others – See how the instinct to help can unintentionally disrupt growth and silence others’ experiences.2. Understanding Empathic Distress – Learn how emotional overwhelm often reflects internal discomfort rather than external responsibility.3. What “Leaky Identity” Really Means – Explore how identity becomes dependent on others’ responses and why that creates instability.4. The Shadow Side Of Being An Empath – Uncover how empathy can become self-serving when it is tied to validation and worth.5. Why Compassion Is Not The Same As Empathy – Gain clarity on the distinction that allows for presence without depletion.6. Social Conditioning And The Role Of Caretaking – Recognize how cultural and gender dynamics shape patterns of over-responsibility.About the Guest:Aaron Tabacco, PhD, has spent more than thirty years guiding people through growth and change, often in complex and high-stakes environments. He currently serves as the Director of Staff Experience at a major academic health sciences university. With a background spanning nursing, neuroscience, education, coaching, and mediation, his work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate identity, connection, and transformation with greater clarity and care.Known for his grounded presence and compassionate communication, Aaron works with students, clinicians, faculty, executives, and senior leaders across healthcare and other industries. His approach integrates relational depth, reflective practice, and a commitment to creating more humane, integrated ways of working and living. He works in San Francisco, California, and lives in Vancouver, Washington, where he continues a lifelong engagement with writing, music, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest alongside his husband and three adult sons.https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/https://lucusgroup.com/home https://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ios https://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdges About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work https://www.facebook.com/112951637095427 https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatwork https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGg Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Creativity is not a talent reserved for a few, it is a resource that determines how fully we engage with our work, our ideas, and our lives. Amy is joined by songwriter, producer, and creativity coach Rachel Efron to explore a powerful shift from seeing creativity as something you either have or lack to understanding it as a relationship that must be resourced and tended. Through the lens of five essential elements—inspiration, courage, discipline, rest, and connection—a new framework unfolds for navigating burnout, problem-solving, and leadership. When one of these resources is depleted, creativity stalls, but when restored, clarity and momentum return naturally. The result is a grounded, actionable way to access innovation that feels less like effort and more like alignment.Moments That Create Momentum:1. Creativity as a Root Cause – Reframe common workplace struggles as symptoms of a deeper disconnection from creative energy.2. The Five Creative Resources – Discover the essential elements that sustain creative flow and where depletion disrupts momentum.3. Why Rest Fuels Innovation – Understand how lack of rest limits vision and why recovery is a direct path to clarity.4. Discipline Reimagined – See how creative discipline differs from traditional productivity and requires responsiveness, not rigidity.5. Courage Over Confidence – Learn why creating despite doubt is more powerful than waiting to feel ready.6. Solving Problems Through Resourcing – Shift from forcing solutions to identifying what internal resource is missing.About the Guest:Rachel Efron is an Oakland-based songwriter/producer. She’s released four full length albums of original songs in her signature jazz-tinged art pop style, and toured extensively on both coasts. She produces song-centered albums for artists ranging from pop to jazz to folk to rock, and has a particular affinity for working with developing artists. She has written songs for artists as diverse as R&B legend Narada Michael Walden and stadium rock band Journey.In 2011 Rachel became obsessed with helping other artists write songs. She taught Songwriting at The Berkeley Jazzschool for ten years, gave countless talks and workshops for various arts organizations, started Songwriting Salon, an incubator for committed songwriters, and is a premier songwriting coach for artists around the world. In 2022 Rachel recognized the more extraordinary calling of helping artists — and others — access greater creativity in their lives. She developed a comprehensive methodology for creative development and launched the iPhone creativity app, Muzi.https://www.rachelefron.com/creativityAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Recently I had the pleasure of joining Sandra Bargman on The Edge of Everyday for a conversation about voice, vision, and the courage it takes to bring ideas into reality.We explored the path that led from corporate leadership to founding Create Magic at Work and launching Magic Thread Media, a curated network created to support conscious voices and meaningful dialogue. Along the way we talked about spiritual intelligence in the workplace, the role of edge walkers as bridge builders during times of change, and the shift that happens when leaders stop waiting for perfect conditions and begin moving forward with what they know to be true. At its heart, the conversation is about trusting your voice, honoring the ideas that keep calling you forward, and creating spaces where those ideas can grow into something real.Moments That Create Momentum:The Moment Vision Becomes Action – The internal shift that happens when leaders stop waiting for perfect conditions and decide to bring an idea fully into reality.Spiritual Intelligence in the Workplace – Explore how conversations about purpose, awareness, and inner knowing are beginning to reshape how leadership shows up in modern organizations.Edgewalkers and the Courage to Navigate Change – Discover how bridge builders help individuals and organizations sense what is emerging and respond creatively during times of uncertainty.Moving Forward Without Perfect Conditions – See how the pursuit of perfection can delay powerful ideas and what happens when leaders choose momentum instead.The Power of Finding Your Authentic Voice – Learn how storytelling, podcasting, and meaningful dialogue sharpen a leader’s message and strengthen their clarity.Building Communities Around Meaningful Work – Hear the deeper vision behind Magic Thread Media and the importance of creating spaces where conscious voices can grow and be heard.About the Guest Host:Sandra Bargman is an interspiritual minister, spiritual counselor, leadership coach, actor, and host of the podcast The Edge of Everyday. Seminary trained and ordained through The New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York City, she works with clients around the world through coaching, counseling, and workshops that explore voice, presence, spirituality, and personal transformation.With more than three decades of experience as a professional performer, Sandra holds a BFA in drama and music from Carnegie Mellon University and has appeared in national tours, Off-Broadway productions, and regional theater across the United States. She is also the founder of Sacred Stages, a creative practice that blends storytelling, ritual, and performance to help people explore courage, connection, and the deeper questions that shape everyday life.https://www.sandrabargman.com/https://www.instagram.com/sandrabargmanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabargman/About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Sometimes the most powerful guidance arrives quietly through intuition, synchronicity, and reflection. Join Amy and Dr. Judi Neal, the Founder of Edgewalkers, as they give into the Edgewalker framework and the creation of the Edgewalker card deck, a tool designed to help people navigate change while staying connected to purpose and inner wisdom. Together they discuss how symbols, affirmations, and reflective practices can reveal insight in unexpected ways. From leadership development to spiritual awareness, the discussion highlights how intuitive tools can help people reconnect with their gifts, bring creativity into their work, and move forward with clarity even in uncertain times. The message is simple yet powerful: when people learn to listen to both practical wisdom and deeper intuition, they become the kind of leaders the future needs.Key Takeaways:1. The Edgewalker Mindset – Discover the qualities that define people who bridge practical leadership and spiritual awareness in times of change.2. How The Card Deck Was Created – Learn how intention, creativity, and emerging technology combined to bring the Edgewalker deck into the world.3. The Role Of Synchronicity – Explore why seemingly random messages often arrive at exactly the right moment for reflection or decision making.4. Symbolism As A Source Of Insight – Understand how visual symbols and archetypes can activate intuition and deeper awareness.5. Leadership In Uncertain Times – Reflect on how spiritual grounding and community can help leaders navigate disruption and uncertainty.6. Living Your Gifts With Purpose – See why using your gifts in service to both your life and the world creates sustainable passion and energy.To purchase your own copy of the Edgewalker Card Deck visit https://createmagicatwork.net/shop/ols/products/the-edgewalker-card-deckAbout the Guest:Dr. Judi Neal is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Edgewalkers International. She was the founding director of the Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. Judi is recognized as an expert on spirituality in the workplace and speaks and consults internationally. She received her Ph.D. from Yale in Organizational Behavior. In 1988 Judi began teaching management at the University of New Haven. She focused her research on business leaders who have a strong commitment to their faith and spirituality, and began studying how they bridged the spiritual world and the material world of business. That led to her research on people she calls “Edgewalkers.” Judi was a co-founder of the Management, Spirituality and Religion Interest Group at the Academy of Management, as well as co-founder of the Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion, and the International Association of Management, Spirituality and Religion. She has published widely in the field, and is a popular and inspiring international speaker. She has consulted with major organizations such as Pfizer and General Electric as well as with small entrepreneurial companies and with non-profits.https://edgewalkers.org/https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14345722/https://www.instagram.com/edgewalkersAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our p

Workplace culture did not disappear. It became disconnected from the systems meant to support it. When only 21% of employees worldwide report being engaged, and managers are disengaging faster than their teams, the issue is not motivation. It is a misalignment.In this conversation, leadership expert Tiffany Connauton challenges the outdated workplace systems, HR structures, and performance models that no longer serve a modern workforce. She explores burnout, accountability, emotional intelligence, experiential learning, and the quiet erosion of leader capacity in a “more for less” economy. The path forward is not softer leadership or looser standards. It is human leadership with accountability built in. Change does not require a revolution. It requires one percent shifts practiced consistently. That is how stability is rebuilt from the inside out.Threads We Pulled On:Is Workplace Culture Still Relevant? – Examine why culture is not optional and how every group of humans naturally creates an environment, whether intentional or not.The Engagement Crisis Leaders Cannot Ignore – Understand what current workforce statistics reveal about burnout, disengagement, and the strain on managers.Outdated Systems, Modern Expectations – Discover how legacy HR policies and performance structures may be undermining both people and profit.Human Skills as Competitive Advantage – Explore why emotional intelligence, decision-making, and experiential learning are becoming essential leadership capabilities.Burnout in the Age of AI – Consider how efficiency tools may be amplifying pressure instead of creating breathing room.The Power of One Percent Change – Learn how small, consistent shifts create stability, momentum, and meaningful long-term transformation.About the Guest:Tiffany Connauton is the CEO of Beyond Diversity Inc., creator of Uncharted™, and co-creator of the R.E.N.E.W. Edge change management model. Her work focuses on helping organizations build the human skills needed to perform, adapt, and grow in today’s evolving business environment. Through experience-based learning and practical, people-centered strategies, she moves insight into lasting action.Known for her trailblazing leadership in the people space, Tiffany challenges outdated workplace approaches and redefines how work gets done. She is recognized for championing the idea that human experience and strong business results are not competing priorities, but mutually reinforcing drivers of success. Across industries including mining, energy, finance, education, legal, and the public sector, she partners with leaders and teams to navigate complex change with clarity and strength.Connect with Tiffany:https://beyonddiversityinc.com/www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-connauton-773a69196https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-diversity-inc/?viewAsMember=trueAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Something is shifting again, and this time it feels subtle enough to miss. We are using AI to negotiate our bills. To draft our emails. To guide our conversations. Scripts are talking to scripts while we sit in the middle, repeating words we did not fully form ourselves.Most of us have not stopped to ask what that does to us.In the second part of this AI conversation, Amy and guest, Bill Kirst, go deeper into the grief of living in a world that no longer feels fully real. What happens when our conversations are optimized instead of lived? When conflict is copy pasted instead of worked through? When music moves us, only to discover no human voice ever stood behind it? When art is polished into perfection without the trembling hands that once created it?What is the cost of editing out the pause, the breath, the crack in the voice? What happens when debate is replaced with algorithmic agreement? When we slowly outsource the friction that once shaped our character, our creativity, our leadership?This conversation is not anti technology. It is a call to discernment. A call back to vinyl scratches and imperfect storytelling. A reminder that inspiration does not live in speed or scale. It lives in depth. In effort. In presence.If we hand over too much of ourselves, we may wake up one day asking a harder question.Who am I, if I no longer sound like me?Listen closely. Notice what rises in your body. Then decide what parts of your humanity you are willing to protect.Threads We Pulled On:The Collapse Of Trust In A Deepfake Era – Confront the grief that surfaces when you can no longer distinguish what is real and begin questioning what you once trusted.Creativity Without Imperfection – Consider what happens to art, music, and storytelling when machines remove the friction that gives creative work its meaning.The Habit Of Disconnection – Notice how repeated reliance on AI tools slowly conditions you to outsource tension, conflict, and authentic expression.Nostalgia As Resistance – Reclaim tangible artifacts and embodied experiences as a way to anchor yourself in what feels undeniably human.The Reverse Renaissance – Envision a future where you deepen discernment, return to richer wells of inspiration, and choose to create with intention. You can listen to Bill’s episode - AI & The Poetry of Our Existence with Bill Kirst here - https://create-magic-at-work-r.captivate.fm/episode/ai-the-poetry-of-our-existence-with-bill-kirst/About the Guest:Bill Kirst is an author, technology leader, podcast host, military veteran, mentor, educator and mindfulness practitioner. He has been writing stories, poems and lyrics for as long as he can remember. He hails from a long line of storytellers and educators who are deeply inspired, moved and healed by the power of the written word. Mixing in melody, chords and a chorus generate a powerful response toward healing. This is why he sees the world through a songwriter's eyes, and why his first published work was a collection of poetry. And his second book is focuses on how we hold on to our humanity in this era of AI.In addition to writing, he hosts The Coffee & Change Podcast which went into its tenth season this year. Bill helps people thrive and break through common obstacles that seem to be holding them back so they can reach their true potential. His career as a change leader has been rewarding, impactful and inspirational, reminding him of the importance of this work, all while understanding the human condition.Follow Bill on Substack - https://open.substack.com/pub/everward/p/the-buying-of-our-breath?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=weblinkedin.com/in/billkirstinstagram.com/coffee.and.changeinstagram.com/journeyeverwardAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enj

Something is happening in our lives, and we can all feel it. Voices can be cloned. Stories can be automated. Images can be generated. And most of us are moving through it without fully stopping to ask what that does to our humanity..In this first part of a two-part conversation, Amy sits down with returning guest Bill Kirst to explore what it means to live in a world where we are beginning to question what is real. Bill reads from his Substack piece, The Buying of Our Breath, and the conversation goes straight to the human cost.What happens when you discover the voice that moved you didn’t belong to a human body? When narration exists without presence? When we start editing out the very things that prove we are alive — the pause, the breath, the crack in the voice, our human “imperfections”?The things we once tried to erase may be our last undeniable proof of life.Take a listen. Hear the plea. Then decide for yourself — how far will we let the buying of our breath go?Threads We Pulled On:Rest Versus Restlessness – Explore why productivity tools promise freedom yet leave us feeling more unsettled and emotionally depleted.The Commodification of Voice – Understand what it means when Olympic narration, news reporting, and podcasting can be replicated without the human present.Proof of Life in Imperfection – See how coughs, pauses, filler words, and breath may become the rarest markers of authenticity.The Grief of Artificial Reality – Recognize the subtle but profound emotional toll of discovering something you believed was real was AI-generated.Discernment as a Leadership Skill – Consider why the future may demand deeper emotional intelligence and conscious filtering rather than faster consumption.Rebellion Against the Autofill – Exercising discernment and agency in a culture engineered for automation. You can listen to Bill’s episode - AI & The Poetry of Our Existence with Bill Kirst here - https://create-magic-at-work-r.captivate.fm/episode/ai-the-poetry-of-our-existence-with-bill-kirst/About the Guest:Bill Kirst is an author, technology leader, podcast host, military veteran, mentor, educator and mindfulness practitioner. He has been writing stories, poems and lyrics for as long as he can remember. He hails from a long line of storytellers and educators who are deeply inspired, moved and healed by the power of the written word. Mixing in melody, chords and a chorus generate a powerful response toward healing. This is why he sees the world through a songwriter's eyes, and why his first published work was a collection of poetry. And his second book is focuses on how we hold on to our humanity in this era of AI.In addition to writing, he hosts The Coffee & Change Podcast which went into its tenth season this year. Bill helps people thrive and break through common obstacles that seem to be holding them back so they can reach their true potential. His career as a change leader has been rewarding, impactful and inspirational, reminding him of the importance of this work, all while understanding the human condition.Follow Bill on Substack - https://open.substack.com/pub/everward/p/the-buying-of-our-breath?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=weblinkedin.com/in/billkirstinstagram.com/coffee.and.changeinstagram.com/journeyeverwardAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings a

Growth often begins the moment we admit the current container can no longer hold what wants to emerge. Amy shares the behind-the-scenes evolution of Create Magic at Work and the birth of Magic Thread Media, a podcast network created to give expansive voices the space they deserve. Rooted in spiritual intelligence, creative courage, and deep listening, the reflection honors what has been built while allowing form to change, making room for new rhythms, new shows, and a broader constellation of conversations. What remains constant is a commitment to conscious work, soulful inquiry, and following the discernment that says it is time.About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Most professionals believe their work should speak for itself until they realize opportunity favors those who are understood, not just competent. In a grounded, candid conversation, Shauna Van Mourik explores why personal branding is no longer about self-promotion, but about clarity, connection, and translating internal value into external opportunity. Together, the discussion reframes personal brand as a deeply human practice rooted in values rather than vanity, offering leaders a realistic path to visibility that feels aligned, sustainable, and true to who they already are.Key Takeaways:When Competence Stops Converting – Understand why expertise alone no longer guarantees recognition, advancement, or trust.Internal Value vs External Signaling – Learn how unseen impact creates frustration and how to bridge that gap with clarity.Why Soft Skills Are Performance Skills Now – Discover why human connection has become a differentiator, not a bonus.Personal Branding Without Self-Promotion – See how visibility can be built without chest-beating or burnout.The Reality of Being Seen at Work – Explore why even high-level leaders can remain invisible inside large organizations.Talking About What Matters – Notice how sharing what’s already alive inside you creates momentum and resonance.About the Guest:Shauna Van Mourik is a marketing strategist, speaker, and host of Marketing Rebels, a podcast with 150+ episodes challenging outdated marketing norms for coaches and therapists. A #1 international bestselling author and featured expert on 22+ stages and podcasts, she’s helped 100+ women service-based entrepreneurs clarify their messaging, streamline their marketing, and grow businesses that actually feel good to run. Shauna blends marketing psychology, neuroscience, and bold creativity to help clients attract aligned clients, charge their worth, and build brands that feel like home.Website: https://www.shaunaleigh.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@ShaunaLeighVMTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sla.marketingconfidenceInstagram: www.instagram.com/sla.marketingconfidenceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunavanmourik-slamarketingconfidence/Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SLAMarketingConfidenceFacebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/PrettyChicken/About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Something breaks when devotion outpaces reciprocity, and many high-performing women do not realize the cost until the collapse is unavoidable. In this conversation, Alexandra Norris traces her journey from decades of HR leadership into a profound reckoning shaped by codependence, ambition, and identity loss. Together with Amy, she explores how care becomes self-erasure, why boundaries fail where standards succeed, and what emerges when women transition from relentless responsibility into the clarity and authority of crone wisdom. The result is an honest examination of leadership, power, fairness, and the quiet transformation that occurs when women stop managing outcomes and start standing in truth.Key Takeaways:When Success Becomes Self-Abandonment – Understand how high achievement can quietly evolve into emotional and financial overextension.The Hidden Mechanics of Codependence – Learn how belief, loyalty, and knowledge can become traps rather than strengths.Why Boundaries Fail and Standards Hold – Discover a reframing that restores personal agency without control or blame.Fairness Versus Justice in Relationships – Gain a new lens for evaluating partnerships without collapsing into moral absolutes.The Crone as a Leadership Archetype – See how post-caretaking wisdom offers steadiness, truth, and cultural repair.Strategic Culture as Human Alignment – Explore how belief systems, not strategy decks, determine execution and trust.About the Guest:Alexandra Norris has spent 30 years building a successful HR leadership to strategic culture consultant career when everything crashed around her. Now she shares her expertise and lessons learned to (1) help executives reach $10m, $40m, and $100m ARR milestones, (2) help Gen Zers define and navigate their careers in corporate, and (3) help women transition from Mother to Crone.www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraknorrishttps://www.youtube.com/@StrategicCulturePartners-x3www.strategicculturepartners.comhttps://career-navigation-mastery-studio.mn.co/About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Finding Treasures in the Trash has always lived between what we hide and what saves us, and this moment marks its most honest turning point yet. Cari Jacobs-Crovetto shares why the show is stepping out on its own and moving to the newly formed Magic Thread Media, a network devoted to weaving conscious voices into business, creativity, and spiritual life. As she reflects on the early episodes, Cari names the deeper work that has quietly emerged: inner truth work. She explores how anxiety, shadow, and disowned parts of ourselves become survival strategies, why truth often freezes in time, and how unexamined insight can slip into self-justification and managed presence.This episode grounds the future of the Finding Treasures in the Trash podcast in coherence and congruence, where nothing essential is pushed away and nothing is performed. This evolution invites you into a deeper relationship with yourself, where the treasure is found only by staying with what once felt unbearable.Key Takeaways:Truth Can’t Be Reached Through Performance – Learn why looking good, being right, and staying safe block real self-truth.Shadow Is Adapted Truth – See how shadow reflects parts of you that learned to survive, not parts that are broken.Why Truth Freezes in Time – Understand how safety, shame, and belonging force parts of us underground.When Insight Turns Performative – Learn how values and spirituality lose depth when disowned parts stay hidden.Coherence and Congruence – Discover the difference between looking aligned and actually being whole.Why Trust Frays in Relationships – See how self-betrayal quietly erodes trust long before words do.About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is a coach, secular meditation teacher, and somatic healing practitioner who blends decades of senior corporate leadership with deep therapeutic training to support meaningful personal and professional growth. After a successful career spanning global brands, media networks, consulting, and multiple Bay Area startups, she now works full-time with business leaders and individuals navigating transition, anxiety, disconnection, and the desire for deeper fulfillment. Cari offers one-on-one and relationship coaching, group work, retreats, organizational alignment, conflict resolution, and strategic future-visioning, helping clients cultivate clarity, resilience, and more conscious ways of leading and living.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_jacobs_sfThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Welcome to Create Magic At Work®.This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership, spiritual intelligence, and quantum awareness — where leaders stop sleepwalking through inherited systems and begin leading from the edge.Create Magic At Work® explores:Leadership as a consciousness practiceSpiritual intelligence in real organizational lifeThe ripple effects of leadership on people, culture, and the planetHow leaders can sense what is emerging instead of clinging to what is familiarIf you feel called to lead differently — more consciously, more courageously, more truthfully — you are in the right place.Subscribe and walk the edge with us.www.createmagicatwork.nethttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amylynndurham/

Why high achievers keep chasing and still feel unsatisfied often has little to do with effort and everything to do with where attention is placed. In this conversation, Amy and Harper A. Bailey unpack how driven people become conditioned to equate movement with progress and achievement with worth, slowly losing connection to their internal signals along the way. They explore how performance mode, urgency, and the need to prove keep leaders stuck in a cycle of doing more while feeling less fulfilled. Rather than offering another strategy to optimize output, the discussion points inward, revealing how awareness, presence, and listening to the body restore clarity and direction. When achievement stops being the primary compass, work becomes more intentional, decisions feel steadier, and satisfaction stops living somewhere in the future.Key HighlightsWhy high achievers confuse constant movement with real progress - See how staying busy can mask a deeper lack of clarity and direction.How performance mode quietly replaces self-trust - Understand why proving your value externally makes it harder to hear what you actually need.Why achievement stops delivering satisfaction over time - Learn how success can lose its impact when worth becomes tied to outcomes.How ignoring the body leads to misaligned decisions - Discover why physical signals often reveal burnout and misdirection before the mind does.What keeps driven people stuck in urgency and pressure - Explore how the need to stay ahead prevents reflection and recalibration.What shifts when clarity replaces chasing - Notice how slowing down creates steadier decisions, cleaner boundaries, and more grounded leadership.About the Guest:Harper A. Bailey is the pen name of Tiosha Bailey, a Chicago native, public health leader, and powerful storyteller who challenges the status quo. She was the first Black woman to lead a prominent national women's healthcare nonprofit, where she prioritized health equity and amplified the voices of underserved communities.Her first book, It Was Her: A Memoir—featuring a foreword by renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols—invites readers into a deeply personal story shaped by loss, resilience, and transformation. Through honest and compelling storytelling, Harper explores identity, healing, and thecourage it takes to reclaim your narrative.As a speaker, Harper brings clarity, depth, and humor to conversations about leadership, purpose, and the lived experiences of Black women. She connects with audiences through truth-telling and a passion forCreating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered.Grab a copy of Harper's book - It Was Herwww.harperabailey.comhttps://www.instagram.com/harper_abailey/https://www.facebook.com/harperabaileyAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Something shifts when joy stops being a side effect of success and becomes a conscious way of living and leading. In this episode, Amy explores the idea of Exponential Joy with Kristin Joy Ekkens, founder of Exponential Joy™ movement, and how choosing joy on purpose can transform the way we work, communicate, and show up in our lives. Together, they unpack how joy is not about bypassing difficulty, but about developing the awareness, presence, and courage to meet life honestly without losing yourself in the process. Kristin shares how exponential joy grows through small, intentional choices that reconnect you to your voice, your body, and your truth, even in high-pressure environments. This conversation invites you to rethink productivity, success, and leadership through a more human lens, where joy becomes a renewable resource that deepens connection, expands impact, and creates work that feels aligned instead of draining.Key Takeaways:Why Exponential Joy Is a Practice, Not a Personality Trait – Understand how joy grows through intentional choices rather than circumstances or temperament.How Joy Changes the Way You Show Up at Work – Learn how choosing joy affects presence, communication, and how others experience you.The Difference Between Performing and Living in Joy – See how chasing approval or productivity blocks joy and creates quiet exhaustion.How Awareness Creates Space for Joy Under Pressure – Discover why noticing your internal state is the doorway to sustainable joy, even in demanding environments.Why Joy Expands Impact Instead of Diminishing It – Learn how grounded joy strengthens leadership, trust, and influence rather than making work feel less serious.Returning to Your Natural State of Joy – Understand how reconnecting to your voice, body, and truth allows joy to grow exponentially over time.About the Guest:Kristin Joy Ekkens is the visionary founder of the Exponential Joy™ movement and creator of the Joy Operating System (JOYOS™)—a blueprint for conscious leadership, wellbeing, and human flourishing. A TEDx speaker, executive coach, and social entrepreneur, she blends emotional and connectional intelligence, well-tech, and ancient wisdom to help leaders and creators upgrade their inner operating systems. After overcoming severe burnout and autoimmune illness, Kristin developed the EPIC Joy Codes™—Energy, Purpose, Intention, and Connection—to help others transform stress into vitality and purpose into joy. Her mission: to rewire humanity for exponential joy.http://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjoyekkenshttps://exj.global/joyos-accelerator/About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

This episode is a collective pause at the edge of 2025, gathering voices from across the year to name what is quietly changing in how we lead, work, and relate to one another. Through reflections on presence, play, courage, compassion, wisdom, and humanity, the conversation invites a different way of moving forward. One that values being grounded over being rushed, connection over control, and truth over performance. As these voices come together, a deeper invitation emerges to lead with awareness, to stay human in the face of uncertainty and technology, and to step into 2026 willing to challenge old patterns while creating work that feels more alive, meaningful, and whole.Key Takeaways:00:55 – Paul Haas – Rediscovering presence as the doorway to meaning, aliveness, and everyday magic03:25 – Dr. Josh Plaskoff – Healing the split between systems and soul in how organizations are built07:09 – Tracy Clark – Using play to unlock creativity, challenge assumptions, and open new possibilities09:53 – Doy Charnsupharindr – The quiet power of staying with someone in uncertainty instead of rushing to answers11:36 – Marcy Moriconi – Rewriting how women relate to one another at work and what it really takes to rise13:04 – Dr. Mark Rittenberg – Leading bravely through dialogue, storytelling, and radical kindness17:18 – JC Carr – How simple conversations can become turning points for growth and mentorship19:07 – Jenn Ayala – Leading as a real human being, not a role, and why trust starts there20:19 – Brian Gorman – Moving from intelligence to wisdom in leadership and collective decision-making23:18 – Dr. Shonna Waters – Standing at the crossroads of AI and humanity and choosing the future we’re creating27:13 – Sandra Bargman – Ferocious compassion, self-truth, and the courage to stop betraying yourself to belongAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

In a world that often rewards silence over truth, this conversation invites us into the radical possibility that courage can be compassionate and compassion can be ferocious. Sandra Bargman joins Amy to explore how choosing authenticity over approval transforms the way we lead, speak up and refuse the quiet self-betrayal that so many of us have normalized. Together they peel back the layers of social conditioning, especially for women and leaders, and show how the simple act of pausing, breathing and telling the truth becomes a liberating spiritual practice. This episode reminds us that real compassion begins with ourselves and that the courage to be disliked is sometimes the most loving choice we can make.Key Takeaways:The Paradox of Ferocious Compassion - Learn how strength and tenderness can coexist and why true compassion sometimes requires uncomfortable honesty.Why Self-Betrayal Happens in Leadership - See how people pleasing, approval seeking and silence accumulate and undermine your integrity and confidence.The Courage to Be Disliked - Discover why speaking your truth is an act of self respect and how developing this muscle changes every room you walk into.Reclaiming Your Voice in Moments That Catch You Off Guard - Find approaches for pausing, breathing and responding instead of freezing, laughing it off or internalizing harm.Confrontation as Presence, Not Conflict - Understand how facing a moment directly, without attack or avoidance, becomes a deep expression of integrity.Practicing Boundaries With Compassion - Explore ways to assess your safety, values and intentions so you can decide when to stay, when to speak and when to walk away.About the Guest:Sandra Bargman helps leaders unlock truthful presence with a blend of vocal mastery, storytelling skill, and deep emotional intelligence. Drawing from decades as an actor, singer, director, and life counselor, she teaches people to express themselves with clarity, authenticity, and intention. Her holistic B.I.G. Approach brings together breath and body work, vocal strength, diction, silence, mindfulness, and story craft, giving clients the tools to communicate with confidence and purpose. Whether she’s coaching one-on-one or leading groups, Sandra guides people of all ages and professions to access their inner truth, sharpen their message, and step into bolder, more grounded communication.https://www.sandrabargman.comhttps://www.sandrabargman.com/podcastAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:🌐Create Magic At Work💼Connect with Create Magic At Work on LinkedInhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Gen Z was never the problem child of the workplace as much as a mirror showing leaders how our parenting and leadership habits shaped the next wave of employees. In this conversation, Amy talks with psychologist and author Dr. Andrea Mata about why the gentle parenting movement has unintentionally fueled the youth mental health crisis and how that shows up as “the American corporate tsunami” inside our teams. You’ll hear how overfocus on feelings, avoidance of consequences, and treating kids like peers can create adults who crumble after feedback, call in sick after small mistakes, or expect promotion on day one. Dr. Mata walks leaders through a better path built on high expectations with high support, frequent coaching style check-ins instead of once a year reviews, and scaffolding that builds emotional strength instead of enabling fragility. You’ll also hear how to respond when someone calls in sick after a breakup, how to work with parents who step into workplace conversations, and how to turn your own anger and frustration into a clear sense of passion and purpose in your career.Key Takeaways:Why Gentle Parenting Backfired - See how overfocus on feelings and partnership parenting can weaken emotional strength in young adults at work.Inside the Gen Z “Corporate Tsunami” - Learn why managers fire Gen Z faster, struggle with basic expectations, and feel blindsided by new workplace norms.High Expectations With High Support - Explore how clear behavior standards plus real coaching create confident, capable Gen Z employees instead of collapse.Feedback Without Fragility - Hear how to replace yearly reviews with short cycles, normalize discomfort, and use “exposure” to build feedback muscles.Scaffolding Skills Instead of Saving People - Get simple tell show do steps for teaching presentations, ownership, and independence without throwing people to the wolves.Turning Heartbreak and Hard Days Into Growth - Discover how to honor mental health days with empathy while still protecting results, planning, and team trust. About the Guest:Dr. Andrea Mata, PhD, is on a mission to throat-punch the youth mental health crisis and equip parents, educators, and leaders with the tools they need to raise emotionally strong kids and build resilient communities. Statistically, she shouldn’t be where she is today, growing up as the daughter of a Mexican immigrant in a gang-infested neighborhood on the Southside of Chicago. But Dr. Mata transformed her challenging upbringing into a source of strength, becoming a nationally recognized psychologist and speaker.She is the author of The No. 2 Parenting Book: Practical Tips for the Pooped-Out Parent and a leading voice in promoting authoritative parenting: a research-backed approach that combines high expectations with emotional warmth. Her insights have been featured on CNN, The Tamron Hall Show and in The Wall Street Journal, where she offers real-world strategies for navigating parenting, behavior, and mental health with clarity and confidence.With advanced degrees from Valparaiso University and Kent State University, Dr. Mata founded BrightSpot Families and partnered with the Anxiety Treatment Center of Greater Toledo. Known for her direct, relatable style, she delivers practical tools with just the right mix of science, humor, and real-life grit.https://www.andreadmata.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drdremata/https://www.instagram.com/drdremata/About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new

Workplace angst is rising, even among high achievers, and Dr. Shonna Waters is here to explain why so many people feel unsafe, unseen or stuck in their growth. You’ll hear how security, significance and growth shape our wellbeing at work and why leaders must design cultures that support those needs. Together, we explore the risks of altitude sickness in leadership, how power can pull leaders away from the truth, and what it takes to stay connected with compassion and clarity. You also get a grounded look at AI and why people need a hopeful vision to move through this moment with confidence.This episode invites you to rethink how you lead, how you support your team and how you create a workplace where people feel valued and able to thrive.Key Takeaways:Why Workplace Angst Is Rising – See what causes discomfort at work even for people who appear to be thriving.The Three Needs Every Employee Shares – Get a clear look at how security, significance and growth shape energy and engagement.How Leaders Lose Perspective – Spot the signs of altitude sickness and what happens when leaders drift away from real insight.Building Psychological Ergonomics – Discover how small shifts in systems and habits create healthier, calmer workplaces.Leading Through AI Without Fear – Explore ways to guide teams through change with clarity and a hopeful message.Creating Cultures That Support Humans – See how connection, trust and simple daily practices help people feel respected and valued.About the Guest:An award-winning organizational psychologist and executive, Shonna is a recognized thought leader in HR, psychology, and business with over 100 articles, technical reports, book chapters, and books and over 100 conference talks, keynotes, and panels. With a background in consulting and executive leadership roles, Shonna has advised organizations on people strategy and transformation across various sectors. At BetterUp, she stood up and led teams in behavioral science, strategic partnerships and alliances, and executive advisory, driving research-backed insights to enhance organizational performance.https://www.drshonnawaters.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonna-waters/About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

What if the strongest culture strategies aren't crafted in boardrooms, but in breakrooms, maintenance closets, and one-on-one hallway conversations?In this episode, Amy Lynn Durham is joined by Todd Wuestenberg, Chief Culture Officer at Haverkamp Properties, to explore how culture becomes tangible when ordinary people are empowered to create extraordinary impact.Drawing from his agricultural roots and over two decades in leadership, Todd offers a grounded, people-first perspective on building cultures that truly care.Together, they unpack three pivotal ideas:Culture as Stewardship: Why true culture means caring for people, not just hitting KPIs.From Posters to Practice: How to move from laminated values to lived behaviors through everyday recognition and leadership modeling.Measuring What Matters: How honest, third-party culture surveys can spark real dialogue, realignment, and renewed trust across departments.Todd and Amy also explore the power of peer-to-peer recognition, redefining the "customer" within departments, and how "work-life harmony" is the new standard for a healthy workplace.Listen if you're ready to stop chasing performance and start cultivating purpose.🎧 Create Magic at Work® is hosted by Amy Lynn Durham, executive coach and founder of Create Magic at Work®, where spiritual intelligence meets modern leadership.Additional Resources:Connect with Todd on LinkedInDiscover Your Spiritual Intelligence at WorkConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Culture means caring for people, processes, and the organization.Leadership must model values, not just display them.Peer recognition builds authentic workplace connection.Culture starts with micro-teams, not top-down mandates.Work-life harmony replaces outdated balance expectations.

Ever ignored your gut and paid the price?Cari sits down with beloved teacher and mindfulness pioneer Trudy Goodman for a soul-stirring conversation about intuition, trust, and healing the parts of ourselves we've hidden away. Trudy vulnerably shares the ways denying her intuition led to deep personal pain, and how reclaiming it helped her rebuild a life of wisdom, creativity, and self-love. 🌱The episode dives into the spiritual paradox of "no-self" vs. self-work, the nuanced dance between confidence and vulnerability, and how the practice of meditation can lead us not away from our messy truths, but straight into them. 🧘‍♀️Trudy's stories will crack you open, make you laugh, and leave you thinking differently about what it really means to "heal."If you're ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you've pushed aside, head to http://www.bravedirections.comFollow along on Instagram @cari_jacobs_sf for more inspiration!Additional Resources:Follow Trudy on Instagram - @trudy_goodmanLearn more about InsightLAConnect with Cari on LinkedInKey Takeaways:Intuition is trustworthy. Learn to listen and retrain it.Self-confidence grows through compassion, not perfection.Healing is messy, ongoing, and incredibly human.Vulnerability fosters true connection and belonging.Meditation uncovers inner wisdom and emotional clarity.

In a world obsessed with artificial intelligence, what if the future of work actually belongs to authentic intelligence?In this episode, Amy Lynn Durham sits down with Brian Gorman, author of Leading Into the Age of Wisdom: Reimagining the Future of Work, to explore how leaders can reclaim humanity at the heart of business.Together, they unpack three essential shifts:💡 Reclaiming the Human Core: What truly separates wisdom from AI, and why empathy and discernment may be our most vital leadership tools.🔄 Rethinking Work: How to move from time-based pay to energy- and results-driven work, and why flexibility creates more humane workplaces.🔮 Leading Into the Age of Wisdom: What wisdom circles teach us about collective intelligence and how to lead from presence, not power.Brian and Amy also discuss how fear of AI can become an invitation to rediscover purpose, how wisdom emerges from collaboration, and how unlearning old paradigms can open us to a more conscious, connected future of work.Listen if you're ready to lead not to control, but to liberate.📘 Grab Brian's book, "Leading Into the Age of Wisdom", and connect with him on LinkedIn.🎧 Create Magic at Work® is hosted by Amy Lynn Durham, executive coach and founder of Create Magic at Work®, where spiritual intelligence meets modern leadership.Additional Resources:Get Brian's new book: "Leading Into the Age of Wisdom"Connect with Brian on LinkedInListen to Brian's podcast: Qonversations: Powered by QuantuvosLearn more about Brian's work!Connect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Wisdom guides how we use AI-driven intelligence.We're entering a transformative Age of Wisdom.Human connection and empathy are workplace essentials.Measure productivity by energy, not hours.Leadership thrives through shared, collective wisdom.

What does it really mean to lead without falling into burnout?In this episode, Amy connects with Ashley Cox, leadership mentor, author of "Transform Your Stories", and host of the Impact Ripple podcast, to unpack three common leadership traps that quietly sabotage even the most well-intentioned leaders.✨ In this conversation, you'll hear about:The "worker bee," "niceness," and "helicopter" traps that drain leadersHow reframing delegation as empowerment changes team dynamicsThe role of self-trust in building high-performance culturesAshley's Fire Mapping method for getting to the root of issuesWhy authenticity and human connection still outperform old-school tactics🎧 Tune in for a refreshing reset on how to lead with clarity, courage, and compassion, without doing it all yourself.Additional Resources:Connect with Ashley on LinkedInLearn more at https://ashleycox.co/roadmapConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Delegation is empowerment, not abdication.Leadership requires self-trust above all.Worker bee habits lead to burnout.Authenticity creates trust and consistency.Clear expectations prevent recurring team issues.

What does it really mean to be a human-first leader in HR?In this episode of Create Magic at Work, Amy connects with Jenn Ayala, a seasoned HR executive with over 25 years of experience, to explore what it takes to transform HR from a rule-enforcer role into a people-empowering force for good.✨ In this conversation, you'll hear about:Why Jenn believes kindness is the core of effective leadershipHow she overcame burnout and reclaimed her own well-beingThe powerful impact of "holding space" for employees in crisisWhat HR looks like across different generationsWhy praising others, especially when unexpected, builds powerful team culture🎧 Tune in for a raw, grounded look at the emotional side of leadership, and how HR can be the heart of your organization.Additional Resources:Connect with Jenn on LinkedInListen to Jenn's DisruptHR talkConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Kindness creates trust and empowers authentic conversationsBurnout is real, self-care must be intentionalEvery employee has a story worth understandingHR must evolve into strategic, human-centered partnersPraise often and unexpectedly to build morale and trust

What does the future of leadership look like through Gen Z eyes?In this episode of Create Magic at Work, Amy sits down with JC Carr — an Territory Account Manager at World Emblem, entrepreneur, and social media influencer — to explore how the next generation is reshaping business, philanthropy, and work culture.✨ In this conversation, you'll hear about:How JC built a successful exotic car brokerage while still in collegeLessons Gen Z is bringing into traditional industries like manufacturingWhy philanthropy and giving back are central to JC's leadership approachLean management principles explained in a human-centered wayJC's words of hope for Gen Z professionals navigating today's workforceThe reminder that you're always one conversation away from a different life🎧 Tune in for a refreshing, candid perspective from Gen Z and discover what the future of leadership might hold.Additional Resources:Connect with JC on LinkedInConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Gen Z brings fresh perspective and identifies overlooked issues.Lean management enhances efficiency without eliminating people.Change creates opportunities for growth and innovation.One conversation can transform your entire career path.

What if the parts of yourself you've tried to hide are actually the keys to your healing? 🌱Cari sits down with her longtime friend and trauma therapist Lisa Danylchuk, founder of the Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery and author of "Yoga for Trauma Recovery." Together, they dive deep into the messy, magical process of turning life's pain into purpose.Lisa opens up about her experience with grief and how yoga became her lifeline, sparking a lifelong mission to help others heal through self-awareness and compassion. The two explore how even the so-called "trash," grief, shame, imposter syndrome, and the parts of ourselves we'd rather ignore, can actually hold the gold. 🧘‍♀️💛If you're ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you've pushed aside, head to http://www.bravedirections.com.Follow along on Instagram @cari_jacobs_sf for more inspiration!Additional Resources:Connect with Lisa on LinkedInLearn more about How We Can HealListen to Lisa's podcast: How We Can HealConnect with Cari on LinkedInKey Takeaways:Healing begins with gently approaching your pain.Avoidance often masks deeper emotions needing attention.Trauma recovery is unique for every individual.Inner healing directly strengthens external leadership impact.Self-awareness fosters genuine connection and resilience.

We've all read the data on how storytelling drives connection and empathy. But what happens when people go beyond storytelling and put their most vulnerable, transformative experiences on the page?In this episode, I sit down with Cynthia Gregory—award-winning writer, journaling advocate, and publisher of "Love Notes from the Soul" and the upcoming "Love Notes 2.0"—to talk about how personal narrative can reshape workplace culture, inspire human connection, and even shift our physical and emotional well-being.✨ Why vulnerability on the page can create power in real life✨ How storytelling acts as a catalyst for healing, empathy, and impact✨ What happens when nonprofit leaders and corporate professionals share their truths✨ The surprising neuroscience behind journaling and emotional regulation✨ How Cynthia's own silent retreat sparked an anthology movement of everyday miraclesThis one hits deep. Together we explore why "Love Notes" isn't just a book, it's a movement for more compassionate leadership.If you've ever wondered whether your story matters, this episode is your sign.📖 Grab your copy of Love Notes 2.0 Here > https://www.coachcynthiagregory.com/Additional Resources:Connect with Cynthia on LinkedInConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Vulnerability creates powerful connections at work and beyond.Personal stories can spark healing and transformation.Journaling improves emotional regulation and empathy.Authentic storytelling builds compassionate leadership.Every story shared gives others permission to share too.

We've all seen the programs promising to "fix" your money mindset. But are they truly helping women step into power, or just selling us the same story in a shinier package?In this conversation with Suzanne Longstreet, master mindset coach, NLP trainer, and co-author of The Millionaire Codes, I ask the questions many of us are secretly thinking:✨ Do women actually need more money mindset coaching, or do we need a new system altogether? ✨ How much of our struggle is "limiting beliefs" vs. systemic barriers like patriarchy and pay inequity? ✨ Why confidence often trumps competence in the workplace (and how that leads to narcissistic leaders). ✨ What it takes to stop apologizing, start owning your authority, and rewrite the rules of leadership.This one gets real. I bring the spice, Suzanne brings the strategies, and together we unpack what it really means for women to lead, earn, and receive with clarity and confidence.🔮 Plus: Suzanne shares insights from The Millionaire Codes, how NLP can shift trauma and phobias, and the one simple daily practice that can rewire your brain to receive more.If you've ever wondered whether "money mindset" is a tool or a trap, this episode is for you.Additional Resources:Connect with Suzanne on LinkedInFollow Suzanne on FacebookGet Suzanne's book - "The Millionaire Codes"Connect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Clear mental blocks with NLP to boost confidence.Confidence often outweighs competence in leadership perception.NLP enables fast transformation and bold action.Systemic barriers still limit women, often reinforced by other women.Practice receiving. Ask for help to prevent burnout.

Red flags. Green flags. And the invisible signs of a toxic workplace that too many of us ignore until it's too late.This episode brings you the powerful story of Kaitlyn Rios — her journey through burnout, the near-breaking point that changed everything, and the creation of Faced With Grace, her nonprofit dedicated to helping women navigate toxic work environments with courage and clarity.🎧 Listen in as Kaitlyn and I dive into:The subtle red flags of a toxic workplace you might be missingThe "green flags" and glimmers that point to healthy, life-giving environmentsHer deeply personal turning point that sparked Faced With GracePractical tools to set boundaries, honor your values, and know when it's time to leaveThis episode is a call to pause, take inventory of where you are, and reimagine what's possible when we lead from integrity and compassion.If something in this episode resonates, let's turn reflection into action:✏️ Journal on your values — are you living in alignment?🔗 Share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that they're not alone🧘‍♀️ Take one micro-step today to protect your energy and honor your worthYour story matters. Your well-being matters. And together, we can create workplaces where people truly thrive.Additional Resources:Follow Faced with Grace on LinkedInLearn more about Faced With GraceConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Red flags aren't always obvious, be sure to trust your gut.Green flags show up as safety, openness, and alignment.Boundaries protect energy and model healthy leadership.Values are the compass for career decisions.Exit with grace: protect your health and professionalism.

What if the parts of yourself you've spent years pushing away are actually the keys to your biggest growth? 🌱Cari sits down with Stanford professor, executive coach, and therapist Henry Most for a deep yet playful dive into shadow work. Together, they explore Carl Jung's framework for how we become our truest selves, why anxiety might just be a sign that hidden treasures are knocking at the door, and how leaders can move from constant "doing" to authentic "being."Henry gets real about his own story, from childhood dynamics to a life-shaking crisis that became a turning point, and shares how everyday practices like pausing, breathing, and listening to the body can transform the way we live and lead.Key Takeaways:Shadow work reintegrates the parts of ourselves we've suppressed.The first half of life builds ego; the second seeks authentic Self.Anxiety can signal suppressed parts pushing to surface.Leadership growth means shifting from doing to being.Transformation can come through small daily practices.If you're ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you've pushed aside, head to http://www.bravedirections.com.Follow along on Instagram @cari_jacobs_sf for more inspiration!Additional Resources:Connect with Henry on LinkedInConnect with Cari on LinkedIn

Four years. 80+ countries. Countless conversations that have changed the way we think about leadership.This episode takes you behind the mic — celebrating four years of Create Magic at Work®, the sparks that started it all, and where we're heading next.🎧 Listen in as I share:The story of how this podcast was born.Favorite moments and guests who brought chills and tearsWhy the human voice is more powerful than ever in the age of AIWhat's next for leaders navigating burnout and changeThis anniversary isn't just about the podcast. It's about you. Every listener, every share, every review — you've helped grow this into a global conversation.If something in this episode resonates, celebrate with me:⭐ Rate and review the show🔗 Share an episode that gave you chills🙌 Bring your own magic into the world of workThe adventure of life continues — and the boldest chapters are just ahead.👉 Join the movement: Register here for From Exhausted to AlignedAdditional Resources: Energetic Alignment registration pageConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Wisdom and compassion are essential to curing burnout.Human connection through voice matters, especially in the AI era.Leadership is about authenticity, not perfection.

Is HR missing its heart?For years, HR has been viewed as a rule enforcer, but what if it could be a source of healing and transformation instead?Samm Smeltzer, HR Intuitive, visionary, and healer, joins Amy to share her journey from corporate frustration to founding The HRart Center, a restorative community reimagining the role of HR. Through her unique blend of intuition, Qigong, and leadership development, Samm helps leaders release old energy, reclaim authenticity, and bring more humanity back into work.This is about restoring HR's true purpose: helping people thrive.🎧 In this episode:How Samm went from aspiring musician to award-winning HR leader and healerWhy embracing intuition changed her leadership and her workThe surprising ways Qigong helps leaders reset and show up differentlyHow organizations can shift from performance-only coaching to whole-person growthWhy presence, authenticity, and energy clearing are the missing links in modern leadership✨ Ready to rethink HR's role in creating healthier workplaces?Samm shows how leaders can integrate both strategy and spirit to create cultures rooted in presence, authenticity, and care.📲 Learn more about The HRart Center: https://hrartcenter.com📲 Join the Energetic Alignment event here: https://www.hrartinstitute.com/share/cXTd68bAgWX32wjv?utm_source=manualAdditional Resources: Energetic Alignment registration pageConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:HR's impact starts with the well-being of its own practitioners.Intuition is a leadership strength, not "woo."Qigong helps leaders release stress and reset.Coaching should include practices that clear energy.Servant leadership builds legacies beyond self.

Is your workplace silently wounding your people?From subtle exclusions to outright abuse, most professionals carry career wounds, but rarely have the language or tools to name them. The result? Burnout, disengagement, and nervous systems stuck in survival mode.Dr. Marie Gervais, leadership coach, author of "The Spirit of Work," and host of the Culture and Leadership Connections podcast, joins Amy to unpack her groundbreaking TED Talk on career trauma and what leaders can do about it.💥 This is about healing the unseen scars that keep people from thriving at work.🎧 In this episode:What career trauma really is (and why almost everyone has it)How workplace loneliness and disconnection feed into deeper woundsPractical ways leaders can "buy time" to respond instead of reactWhy safety, encouragement, and emotional protection are the foundation of leadershipSimple tools, from breathwork to virtues cards, that can transform workplace culture✨ Want more "glimmers" in your workplace?Dr. Marie shares how noticing small moments of safety and connection can rewire our nervous systems and bring more joy back into work.📲 Watch Dr. Marie's TED Talk on career trauma here: https://youtu.be/vRExzK9_0HQ?si=h2mxUresfGfbofbBAdditional Resources:Connect with Dr. Marie GervaisConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Career trauma is real: Workplace wounds affect well-being and performance.Safety first: Healing begins when the nervous system feels safe.Pause to respond: Breath and time prevent reactive leadership.Encourage, don't criticize: Recognition builds trust and connection.Spot the glimmers: Small positive moments fuel resilience and joy.

Are your top leaders quietly burning out?They may not say it — but you're seeing the signs: checked-out energy, decision fatigue, disengagement. And replacing them? Costs more than you think.In this powerful episode, returning guest Samm Smeltzer, founder of The HRart Center, joins Amy to unveil a groundbreaking leadership development experience: Energetic Alignment for Leaders — a transformative new partnership between CMAW executive coaches and HRart Center energy healers.💥 This is burnout recovery and energetic healing journey wrapped in one.🎧 In this episode:The real reason leaders walk away from roles they once lovedWhy "work-life balance" is broken (and what to build instead)What Qigong and Chinese medicine can teach us about leadership capacity A behind-the-scenes peek at the Energetic Alignment experienceHow coaching + energy healing = the support leaders actually need📲 Sign up at www.createmagicatwork.net to meet our team, ask your questions, and get a feel for what real leadership healing can look like.Additional Resources: Use the Energetic Alignment registration pageConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Recover energy before pursuing leadership growth.Qigong + coaching boosts wellbeing and performance.Invest early to prevent burnout.Start with high support, then foster independence.Alignment sustains leaders better than passion bursts.

What if the parts of yourself you've been avoiding are actually the keys to your next big breakthrough? 🌟 In this episode, Cari takes you beyond the theory of self-discovery and into the how with a playful yet powerful five-step practice for "inner truth work."Inspired by the mesmerizing wire sculptures of Ruth Asawa, where light and shadow merge into one stunning whole, Cari shows how embracing every part of yourself can be deeply transformative. You'll learn when to dive in, how to stay safe while exploring your inner landscape, and why your body might be your best guide for uncovering those hidden gems.Plus, stick around for a guided meditation that turns these steps into an experience you can feel in real time. 🪞✨If you're ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you've pushed aside, head to http://www.bravedirections.com.Follow along on Instagram @cari_jacobs_sf for more inspiration!Additional Resources:Connect with Cari on LinkedInConnect with Amy on LinkedInKey Takeaways:Shadow work reveals hidden parts of ourselves for greater authenticity.Use the five-step process: Safety, Listening, Noticing, Expansion, Integration.Safety and embodiment come first before deeper exploration.The body communicates unresolved emotions through sensations.Integration happens over time through reflection and action.

What if the reason your wellbeing program isn't working… isn't the strategy, but how your people relate to wellbeing at work?In this episode, Amy sits down with Chase Sterling, founder of the Wellbeing Think Tank and one of the most respected voices in organizational wellbeing. With over 20 years of experience, Chase breaks down the myths, missteps, and magic behind what actually makes workplace wellbeing work.🎙 What's inside:The difference between wellness programs and true workplace wellbeingWhy "all you need to do is everything" might be the most accurate strategyWhat leaders at the top can do to ignite real changeA breakdown of burnout, boundary-setting, and how to stop causing harmHow Chase's nonprofit is leading with experts over influencersIf your team is wrestling with burnout or disengagement—this is the episode.🌀 JOIN THE MOVEMENT: wellbeingthinktank.orgAdditional Resources:Connect with Chase on LinkedInFollow Wellbeing Think Tank on LinkedInSubscribe to Wellbeing Think Tank on YouTube!Connect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Wellbeing at work is more than perks, it's about meeting real human needs.Programs don't change culture; leadership commitment does.Emotional energy from leaders impacts teams exponentially.Autonomy and psychological safety are essential for thriving.Stop chasing trends, start listening to your people.

Executive coach Traycee Mayer returns to share the story behind her new oracle deck. A leadership tool born from 17 years of travel, reflection, and synchronicity.What started as a collection of paths from hikes around the world became a deck used in executive coaching rooms, leadership retreats, and company workshops. And yes! Even the most skeptical teams are responding to it.In this episode, you'll hear:A horseshoe in the dirt, a message from the Universe, and the card that followedHow Traycee uses the deck in 1:1 coaching and with teamsWhy these cards serve as "permission slips" to speak with honesty at workWhat it means to choose enchanted energy — even in seasons of struggleCreative ways to bring sacred slowness into fast-paced workplacesThe Leader Paths Oracle isn't about bypassing difficulty. It's about noticing the signs — and leading from wholeness.🎴 Order your deck or connect with Traycee at: https://beyouleadership.com/leaderpaths-deck🪄 Tag us with your favorite moment @createmagicatwork and let us know what card you pull.Additional Resources:Get The Leader Paths Oracle Deck!Connect with Traycee on LinkedInConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Pause to notice meaningful signs.Use cards to spark workplace reflection.Intuition is a valid leadership tool.Emotional insight boosts team connection.Nature can guide professional growth.

What if the reason your change initiative isn't working… isn't the strategy, but how your people relate to change?In this final episode of the Archetypes of Change™ Solo Series, Amy wraps the entire framework with real coaching stories, team data, and a call to action for every leader.🎙 What's inside:A quick recap of all 5 archetypesHow one team discovered their blind spots using AOC dataA private coaching story of how an Edgewalker learned to speak to everyone on the teamWhy Create Magic at Work® uses this tool in real-time leadership transitionsA challenge to apply what you've learned this summerIf your team is walking the edge of a big change—this is the episode. DM @createmagicatwork or visit createmagicatwork.net to bring the Archetypes of Change™ to your org.Additional Resources:Connect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Every archetype adds value—collaboration is key.Team data reveals strengths and blind spots.Archetypes turn resistance into alignment.Coaching applied the framework in real time.Knowing your type boosts empathy and clarity.

In this final profile of our Archetypes of Change™ Summer Series, Amy Lynn Durham explores what it means to be an Edgewalker… and why your team needs them now more than ever. Edgewalkers are the visionaries who walk between worlds—grounded in reality, guided by intuition, and driven to shape the future before anyone else sees it.You'll hear:Why Edgewalkers often feel like outliers (and how to support them)How Amy discovered she was an Edgewalker—and what that meant for her leadership journeyThe five Edgewalker skills and qualities (this archetype is the only one with a matrix!)How executive coaching at Create Magic at Work® helps translate visionary ideas into strategyA powerful story about a client whose "wild ideas" ended up saving her companyIf you've ever felt like you don't fit neatly into the box—and that might be a good thing—this episode is for you.Additional Resources: Take the Edgewalker ProfileConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Edgewalkers sense the future before others.They balance intuition with strategy.Risk-taking is core to their nature.They often feel misunderstood or isolated.Teams thrive when Edgewalkers are supported.

What if the parts of yourself you've been hiding—your fears, your shame, your past—are actually your greatest source of power? In this episode of "Finding Treasures in the Trash," Cari Jacobs-Crovetto takes us on a deep dive into the shadowy stuff we usually try to ignore: shame, fear, and those not-so-glamorous childhood memories.Cari shares her own journey from debilitating panic attacks to powerful self-awareness, proving that the parts we often want to hide might just hold the keys to our greatest growth.✨Stick around for a grounding 10-minute meditation that'll help you feel more at home in your body… because let's face it, the real treasure is you. 💎🧘‍♀️If you're ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you've pushed aside, head to http://www.bravedirections.com.Follow along on Instagram @cari_jacobs_sf for more inspiration!Additional Resources:Connect with Cari on LinkedInConnect with Amy on LinkedInKey Takeaways:"Trash" symbolizes the hidden parts of ourselves we avoid.Everyone has a shadow, and others can feel it even if we can't.True healing starts by facing uncomfortable truths.Shadow work is ongoing, not a one-time fix.Meditation helps create safety within for deeper self-work.

Every team has one.They don't chase the spotlight. They don't demand recognition. They just quietly carry everyone — while no one notices how much they're carrying.They're the reason birthdays aren't forgotten. They're the one who stays late to make sure it all works. They're the first to ask: "How is this really impacting people?"👉 But when change hits, their invisible labor stacks up… fast. 👉 And burnout starts long before anyone sees the cracks.In this episode of the Archetypes of Change™ Summer Series, we meet The Hearthtender — the soul of stability inside your organization.Inside:Why Hearthtenders are the glue you can't afford to loseThe silent warning signs that leadership often missesHow executive coaching helps Hearthtenders move from quiet service to empowered influence🔥 At Create Magic At Work®, we deploy the Archetypes of Change™ framework inside organizations to help leaders navigate change without losing their people. If you're ready to lead change the right way, let's talk.Additional Resources:Connect with Amy Lynn DurhamLearn More About Create Magic at WorkKey Takeaways:Hearthtenders Keep Teams Grounded: They foster connection, maintain routines, and support team morale during change.They Lead in the Present: Focused on today's needs, they help others stay steady through uncertainty.Unseen Risk of Burnout: Hearth Tenders may disengage if unrecognized or overburdened.Their Voice Matters: Involving them early in change helps avoid pitfalls and boosts team cohesion.Support Is Essential: Recognize their relational work, offer growth, and ensure they don't carry emotional labor alone.

Ever felt like your team is moving so fast you're forgetting why you started?This week on Create Magic at Work®, Amy introduces you to the Flamekeeper—a powerful Archetype of Change™ who protects meaning, mission, and memory during transformation. Flamekeepers aren't afraid of change—but they are deeply committed to keeping the soul of an organization alive.You'll meet Layla, a nonprofit leader whose values-driven leadership helped re-center her team when evolution started to look a lot like erasure.Inside this episode: 🕯 The difference between resisting change and protecting purpose 🕯 Why Flamekeepers are often misread as "too idealistic" 🕯 How this Archetype acts as a moral compass in messy transformation 🕯 What every leader should be asking before rolling out changeAmy also shares how Create Magic at Work® uses the Archetypes of Change™ framework in executive coaching, leadership retreats, and team development to move change initiatives forward with more alignment—and less burnout.🎧 Tune in if: ✔ You've ever rolled your eyes at someone who "talks about the old days" ✔ You're the one constantly holding the torch for values ✔ Your company is in the middle of big change—and forgetting its roots👉 Want to learn more about the Archetypes of Change for your organization? Visit createmagicatwork.net to connect.Key Takeaways:Flamekeepers protect organizational purpose, not resist change.They hold collective memory, tell the founding stories, and anchor teams in mission.When honored, Flamekeepers accelerate alignment and reduce resistance.Their shadow side includes inflexibility and potential burnout from holding ideals.Empowering them early in change processes can unify teams and preserve values.

Ever worked with someone who seems to always spot the risks before you do?Maybe you've even labeled them negative, paranoid, or too intense—but what if they were actually the Guardian of your team?In this episode, Amy breaks down the Guardian Archetype—the ones who scan the horizon for danger, ask the hard questions, and protect people and systems from harm before the rest of us know it's coming.🛡You'll hear:A real-world story of a Guardian in action (and how they saved the day)What makes this archetype indispensable in fast-moving teamsHow to distinguish fear-based reactions from strategic foresightWhy most people misunderstand Guardians—and how to support them better⚡️ And if you're a Guardian yourself? This episode will feel like a deep exhale. You're not negative. You're necessary.🎧 Tune in to learn how to work with (not against) the energy of Guardians—whether you lead one, love one, or are one.— This is art of the Archetypes of Change™ Summer Series on Create Magic At Work®.📬 Want to bring the Archetypes of Change™ into your organization? We'd love to work with you. Visit createmagicatwork.net or email Amy at [email protected] Takeaways:The Guardian archetype sees potential risks and protects organizational integrity during change.Guardians can be misunderstood as resistant, but their concerns are often rooted in deep care and foresight.Teams that ignore Guardians risk repeating past mistakes or missing hidden landmines.Guardians need to be seen and engaged constructively—not just tolerated.

Welcome to the first episode of "Finding Treasures in the Trash" 🗑✨—a brand new mini-series on Create Magic at Work!Host Cari Jacobs-Crovetto kicks things off with her incredible story: from being nearly blind as a child, to growing up in chaos, to becoming a Forbes-recognized CMO, and ultimately turning inward to do the real work. Cari unpacks what "inner truth work" really means and why digging into your so-called "trash" might be the key to real transformation 💥.Listen in every month for soul-grounding meditation 🧘‍♀️ and discover how even the messiest moments can lead to unexpected magic ✨.If you're ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you've pushed aside, head to http://www.bravedirections.com.Follow along on Instagram @cari_jacobs_sf for more inspiration!Additional Resources:Connect with Cari on LinkedInConnect with Amy on LinkedInKey Takeaways:True transformation begins in the places we often ignore or disown.Meditation isn't just for stress relief—it's a gateway to awakened awareness."Inner truth work" means facing and integrating the parts of ourselves we resist.Spiritual growth and career success are not mutually exclusive—they're intertwined.

Ever been told: "We tried that and it didn't work"?Most people hear that as resistance. But what if it's something else entirely?In the 2nd episode of the Archetypes of Change Summer Series, Amy Lynn Durham introduces you to the Placeholder archetype—a vital, often misunderstood role in the workplace. You'll meet Teresa, a steady leader who held her team together during a messy system rollout—not by pushing forward, but by protecting what was already working.🎧 In this episode:What defines the Placeholder Archetype (and why every team has one)The real reason "we tried that already" gets said—and what's hiding underneath itHow Placeholders create safety, structure, and rhythm in times of uncertaintyThe risks of ignoring their wisdom—and how to engage them in change without steamrollingThis isn't a personality quiz. It's a lens for seeing your team—and yourself—more clearly. And it might just change the way you lead your next change initiative.💼 Ready to bring the Archetypes of Change to your org? Create Magic At Work® offers transformational coaching and team experiences for leaders navigating transition.🔗 createmagicatwork.netConnect with Amy Lynn DurhamKey Takeaways:Placeholder Archetype: Focuses on stability and thoughtful change, not resistance.Grounding Transitions: Placeholders bring practical wisdom and honor what works.Shadow Side: Over-reliance can lead to fear, delay, or blocking progress.Realism, Not Resistance: Caution often stems from past poor change experiences.Leadership Insight: Understanding archetypes boosts communication and smoother change.

In this first solo episode of the Archetypes of Change™ summer series, Amy Lynn Durham invites you to rethink everything you thought you knew about change in the workplace.Forget the buzzwords. This isn't about forcing alignment or pushing people to "get on board." It's about something deeper: how we each relate to change—and how that's shaped by our relationship to time itself.You'll learn:Why change efforts often feel personal (because they are)What most leaders miss when they try to "logic" people through transitionThe 5 Archetypes of Change™—and how they show up in every teamWhy giving your people language for how they move through change can transform your resultsHow this framework goes far beyond personality tests—and why it matters now more than everWhether you're leading a reorg, rolling out a new strategy, or just trying to hold the center in a rapidly evolving culture—this episode is your grounding point.🧭 Learn more about executive coaching with Create Magic At Work® and the Archetypes of Change™ at createmagicatwork.net📩 Reach out to Amy directly at [email protected] Resources:Connect with Amy Lynn DurhamKey Takeaways:People don't resist change—they resist being changed without feeling seen.The "Archetypes of Change" reveal instinctive responses to transition based on time orientation.Leading change well requires understanding—not forcing—how individuals naturally move through change.Executive coaching rooted in these archetypes fosters trust, alignment, and innovation.Misalignment during change is often due to misunderstanding, not resistance.