Lifting Leaders Podcast

Well, we did it! Season Four is coming to a close, just as we begin our annual Summer break (August, anyway!). In this episode, we share some of the highlights from this season’s show, with fantastic guests, insightful Gem episodes, Coaches Corners and more. We learned and accomplished so much, this season, from offering a series on Coaching from the Heart; visiting our local plant nursery, to learn more about indigenous plants that attract pollinators; and sharing the spotlight during the Hudson Institute Learning Conference. Everything we offered and everything we did this season gave you, our listeners, opportunities to grow and to explore new and different possibilities. Hey! We even learned a bit from and about Chat GPT! We are so grateful that you are part of our listening network, and we look forward to bringing even more in the new season. In fact, we have some ideas for a few new series, in Season Five, and we HOPE you will join us. We are taking the month of August off, as we do, every year. Keep your ears and eyes open for an Season Five announcement, coming in early September. Collectively, we are all making the world a better place. Let’s keep that conversation going, shall we?

As we get closer to taking our annual August break, we want to take a look at ways in which we can have fun, while not overtaxing our environment. Listen in and learn about some simple ways that everyone can make a sustainable difference, while having fun. Interested in learning about how you can save on your energy usage? Did you know that it takes less water to run a full dishwasher than it does to wash dishes by hand? We didn’t. For us coffee drinkers – we don’t have to throw away our grounds anymore. They are great for the soil! When was the last time you took a trip through your local thrift store. You might be surprised to find some true treasures in previously owned and gently used items. We hope you will check it out. In fact, we would love to hear, from you, ways in which you are saving time, energy, and doing things that are sustainable. We will gladly share your ideas on our podcast and on our website. We hope you find some gems in this episode. Listen in!

When you look in the mirror, who do you see? If you’re like many people, you may be a bit self-critical. But is that self-awareness? Spend this Coaches Corner time with us, as we explore something that is foundational for everyone who leads (and that’s everyone!). Leading yourself, with self-awareness, is inspirational and it serves as a model for others to become more self-aware. It leads to higher levels of emotional intelligence and greater decisions. It is also essential for employee engagement. If you’re wondering how to build self-awareness (which is an ongoing process), listen in, and we will share ways in which you can do that. It doesn’t have to be painful. In fact, it can be truly empowering, engaging, and can lead to greater self-confidence and compassion. We hope you enjoy this episode.

Who do you belong to – and, who belongs to you? If these questions just stopped you, in your tracks, listen in to this week’s episode, where we spend nearly an hour with our new friend, Paul Haury, who shares his perspectives on the topic of true belonging. Paul’s vitae includes being a practicing coach, consultant, former Global VP of People & Culture, former IT Director and much more! Hang out with us, as Paul takes us on an expedition, in search of belonging in leadership, belonging as a foundation in culture, self-belonging, and belonging as a key to coping in challenging times. This is a great topic that goes deeper than you may have expected. Ready to rewire your neuropathways a bit? Spend this time with us and drink in Paul’s energy and enthusiasm on this most important topic. Enjoy!

Checking in with ourselves or, said another way, getting grounded was just one of many gems we gained, from Dorothy Siminovitch, PhD., founder and president of Gestalt Coaching Works. Our time with Dorothy was rich with insights and inspiration, much of which we will be unpacking for some time to come. With all the uncertainty that is swirling around us, these days, we felt it was a good idea to check in and see what other experts say about getting grounded and leading with confidence. Listen in, as we unpack an article from Forbes on staying grounded in uncertain times. The steps are foundational in the world of leadership, and they stand up over time. If you’ve listened to previous episodes, you know that leader vulnerability is a quality we value and it shows up, again, when we take steps to stay grounded. Spend this time with us and learn more about how keeping a broader perspective than your own and experimentation can help you lead with greater confidence. Finally, hear about steps we take to gain or regain our grounding, in times of need. Check it out – we believe you’ll be glad you did!

If you listen to our podcast, you know that, at the end of each episode, we promise you future episodes with more fantastic guests. Well, this week, we delivered on that promise. Meet Dorothy Siminovitch, Ph.D., MCC. Dr. Siminovitch is a pioneer and visionary, in the field of Gestalt–based coaching, the founder and president of Gestalt Coaching Works, and co-founder of multiple major coach training programs, internationally. Listen in, as Dorothy shares her journey to now, starting out, without a true career plan, and, by following her interests, landing in the most fascinating roles that helped her find her place, at the forefront of game-changing coaching and development. Learn about resistance to change and the role that presence plays, and how small steps can minimize resistance. You will be introduced to a 2x2 model that can help us understand a bit more about why we experience resistance/reactions, in ourselves and/or from others. Want to hear more about presence as a personal power? This is truly an episode packed with valuable gems you won’t want to miss. We think you’ll be glad you spent this hour with us.

After spending a delightful hour with our friend, fellow podcaster (The Courage Effect) and professional coach, Suzanne Weller, we decided to use courage for this episode, as we wanted to share our thoughts about courage during change. If you are a regular listener of Lifting Leaders Podcast, you know that, in addition to interviews and Gems episodes, we also do Coaches Corners, where we unpack and offer tips and advice on various topics. This week’s episode is really a Gems show with a touch of Coaches Corner thrown in. Listen in as we offer ways in which you can demonstrate courage toward effective change and results. Need a roadmap for moving from concept/idea to effective change outcomes? Looking for a real growth mindset approach for conducting after action meetings that can lead to more engaged next steps? Are you ready to enable greater growth and development for your team? Well, if this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, listen in and learn some fairly simple methods that can change your outlook on change. We hope you feel more informed and comfortable with your current and/or future change steps.

Who says two podcast cohosts can’t interview another podcast host? Not your Lifting Leaders Podcast hosts. This week we are excited to interview Suzanne Weller, leadership coach, speaker, change practitioner, communication strategist, and host of the podcast, The Courage Effect. Suzanne gifted us with her wisdom, stemming from experiences that paved the way for her to help leaders (and everyone is a leader) overcome what gets in their way of leading courageously. Listen in as she shares her story of recognizing her own courage. Want some advice on how to lead with more courage and possibility? If you want to learn more about the role that courage plays in true leadership, join us…meet Suzanne and learn how she defines leadership.

Once again, we had a great time, interviewing Melissa Castro, Millennial Leadership Coach and Author of the newly launched book, Intrinsic Leadership – A Coaching Guide for Millennials Who Want To Lead in All Aspects of Life. Melissa gifted us so many gems related to her book, that it was difficult to settle on just one…but we did! If you listened to the previous episode, you heard Melissa talk about how, many Millennial leaders walk around with a “backpack of crap” – all the stuff that becomes a heavy weight, like doubts, fears, world events, everything…those very things that can stall or prevent leaders from moving forward, doing their best work and that are, most often, the sources of anxiety and fear. Listen in, as we unpack a related article, and lend our own thoughts and ideas to the twelve things you might consider doing, to unload your own backpack of unneeded/unwanted “stuff.” We think you’ll find most steps are pretty foundational, some might even be simple to navigate…all are positive steps toward discovering your own intrinsic leadership self. Check it out!

Attention, Millennial Leaders and Everyone Else! It was so fun welcoming Melissa Castro, Millennial Coach and all-around amazingly creative leader, back to our podcast to celebrate and talk about her newly published book, Intrinsic Leadership – A Coaching Guide for Millennials Who Want To Lead in All Aspects of Life. While Melissa wrote this book, with a specific audience in mind, it is clear that everyone who leads (and everyone leads) will find value within the pages of this book. Listen in and learn what compelled Melissa to write this book, at this time, in the world. Hear her share a bit of her philosophy on leadership and, from that, the questions that help her navigate though greater, intentional living. If you’ve been working within long-subscribed business success formulas that do not offer what you need, to lead in your most comfortable and authentic way, then spend this time with us. We hope you’ll listen in AND we believe you will feel inspired and ready for action.

As we recorded this episode, on the front end of Mother’s Day weekend, we started simmering on the topic of caregiving…something moms know all too well about. So, with a world of respect, to all the moms out there, we are taking a look at caregiving, from a few different angles. The first angle is, of course, all about people who provide care for others. This includes all women AND men, who may be providing ongoing care for one or more parent or other family member(s). It includes the “Sandwich Generation,” who may have kids at home and, just maybe, have older family members living in their homes. Being a primary caregiver is a truly challenging job, and it can be difficult to realize the rewards, while you’re entrenched in the role. Listen in, as we share a few of our personal journeys, as caregivers and what we gained from our experiences. If you’ve ever needed care from others, but found it difficult to ask or accept, you’ll learn more about why it’s okay and courageous to be vulnerable and accept care. Finally, we approach caregiving from the angle of caring for ourselves. This may be the most challenging aspect of caregiving and it’s critically important. So, join us as we hold caregiving “Story Time,” with you. We hope it inspires you to explore your own environment and feelings.

In this Encore Edition, Dr. Pam McLean, Co-Founder of The Hudson Institute of Coaching, talks with us about why this is “a golden moment for us as human beings” and what she has learned, through decades of working with leaders around the globe, about the critical capabilities leaders need to develop to solve the complex issues in the world today. This episode is even more relevant today than when we initially recorded it, prior to the podcast's launch more than three years ago! We hope you enjoy the revisit to this amazing, inspiring episode.

We’ve been in Santa Barbara, California, THRIVING at the Hudson Learning Conference. This is just an introduction to the experiences we’ve had this past week. We made great connections, both new and old and have learned so much about Possibilities, ahead! We are so honored that Lifting Leaders Podcast was spotlighted during the conference and we look forward to welcoming new listeners and followers, as a result! Many thanks to Hudson Institute’s amazing staff, for a world of support they gave us, to make this happen. Listen in as we talk to a fellow Seattle coach, at the conference, and learn how she is Thriving in 25! Also, we are giving a shout out to Corey, our favorite garden center representative, for his expertise and support in teaching us about native plants that attract and nurture birds, bees, and butterflies! Check out the episode…we recorded in the lobby!

This week’s episode seems so timely, as we are digging into the beauty and importance of creating spaces that attract and nurture birds, butterflies and bees. These vital creatures are not only a joy to watch but they play a critical role in our ecosystems – and their populations are declining! Listen in as we share a bit of information and statistics on this topic. Learn how incorporating native plants in your garden space provides the food and shelter these pollinators need to thrive. Whether you garden in a yard or containers, you can create an enticing space for these beautiful and important critters. We would love to hear from you – what are you doing in your garden or outdoor space to support birds, butterflies, and bees?

As we continue on our theme of “Leaders THRIVE in 25,” we look to ChatGPT, to help us show different ways, in which we can all THRIVE, this year. Listen in and learn how we decided to use this AI tool, without bailing on the commitment we have to our own values, knowledge and experience. Learn more about the courage and bold steps it takes to thrive and how reflection helps us grow into an intentional state of thriving. Hear how imagination ignites a contagious energy that can inspire others to dream and thrive as well. Finally, BONUS…we have an AI-inspired poem that wraps all of this up with a bow. We hope you enjoy this episode and that you feel inspired to reach back and share your thoughts about it. We would love to learn what you’re doing to THRIVE in 25. Enjoy!

There were so many gems to be found, during our interview with Carole McCluskey (Episode 132). We decided to focus on Finding Courage as an appropriate gem for this week’s episode. During our interview with Carole, we noticed that she has essentially lived in courage, throughout her amazing career, from being one of the first women leaders in the tech industry, to trekking by bike over long stretches of our country, and so much more! In today’s world, we are experiencing unprecedented change and upheaval and many of these changes are testing our courage in new ways. Speaking up, when it matters, can be seen as truly courageous. Is it courageous to speak up about work matters, on the job? For those who may work in environments that don’t seem psychologically safe, practicing courage may be a bold move. Listen in as we share some essential steps to finding your courage. Learn why we say that courage is a skill.

With our theme of “Leaders Thrive in 25,” we are introducing more practicing formal leaders on our show, to hear their journeys, their ups and their downs and what it took for them to “thrive” in leadership. We are excited to introduce you to Carole McCluskey, tech industry leader/executive with over 35 years in various roles, including board and advisory roles in companies like Redbox/Coinstar, MOD Pizza, TrueBlue, Tealium and TIBCO Software. Spend this time with us as Carole shares why she is an “accidental success story.” You may be able to identify with some of her lessons learned, along her career journey. Learn about what she claims is the best advice she ever received. The story that led to that advice is a real eye-opener. So, if you’re at home, get comfortable. If you listen while commuting…you know what to do! In any event, we think you will be glad you spent time listening to this episode. Enjoy!

What are values and what purpose do they serve? If you have ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to make a very difficult and important decision, you have most likely had to do a bit of soul searching. What you were seeking was the answer that you could believe in or that you felt was the right decision. How did you do that? Well, this episode is about the importance of knowing your values. Listen in, and learn about where they come from, how they serve a purpose in your life and what to do when they aren’t working anymore. Spend this short time with us, as we discuss the foundation that guides our decisions and our behaviors. Looking for ways to determine what your true core values are? Listen in for a simple way to do that.

(Encore edition) This week we launch our special series, Opening Your Heart, with guest Peter Block, who challenges us to shift our mental framework from scarcity to abundance and enough. He shares a new organizing principle and paradigm for our culture, the Common Good which relies on all of us opening our hearts to connect and create relationships in our communities to have a positive impact on the world (it starts with you!). Find out the 7 key areas that every community universally cares about and new ways to measure our well-being. In this powerful and vulnerable interview, Peter shares his own perspectives on story, place, impact and why he still asks himself, have I done enough? We invite you to grab a warm cup of tea or coffee, sit back and enjoy the unique pace of this episode that invites you to pause, slow down and soak it all in.

In this episode we talk with Andrea Lucky, CEO and Founder of Silver Fern HR Consulting, to help leaders navigate through this tricky time in our workplaces. Andrea shares the impact she is seeing right now in our organizations by the division, uncertainty and chaos in our country. What if we could create havens of harmony for our employees in our teams and organizations? It is possible. Andrea shares with us practical steps we as leaders (and we are all leaders) can take to make this a reality.

Springboarding off of the great visit (#128) we had, with Jeff McAuliffe, we are revisiting something we spent some time unpacking…dealing with overwhelm. While overwhelm is a state of being that most of us face, from time-to-time, it seems to be hitting more and more people, right now. Life has presented one challenge after another, since 2020, and we barely navigate through one issue, before another one, two, or twenty present themselves. Listen in as we Zoom Out, for a moment, to look at what is happening these days that may be unsettling for some (and certainly is, for us). Then learn what we are doing and what you can do to Zoom In, and boulder through some of life’s challenges, and find new ways to Thrive. It’s not about just surviving, although, if that is all you can do, right now, do it. It’s about Thriving, and we strive to be there now and moving forward. Enjoy!

We are so happy to welcome back, our friend, Jeff McAuliffe, accomplished consultant, coach and author of the bi-weekly environmentally focused newsletter, “52 Weeks of Earth Day” If you live on this planet, you may have been experiencing confusion or any one of several emotions around what is going on, locally, nationally, and globally. We are facing a tremendous amount of change (and challenge), politically, environmentally, economically, and personally. All of this is having an impact on how we navigate our own feelings, how we interact with others, and how we look at the ways in which we must now plan for our futures. While all this can feel very heavy, we have choices. Listen in and learn about some of the choices that Jeff has been making, that are helping him navigate through this new climate we are finding ourselves in. Find out how Zooming out to take a more global view of our current world can help us, as we Zoom in toward acting with greater intention, on a more local level. Want to learn more about how to build resilience as a change agent? This episode is packed with true gems that will help us all THRIVE, in 25 and beyond.

How are you feeling? If you’re like us, you may be feeling the stresses of all the recent upheaval and uncertainty that has confronted us, over the past few weeks. We have to admit that it feels different and uncomfortable…like nothing we have experienced before. We want you to know that we are, as always, committed to our Vision, Mission/Purpose and, with that in mind, we are launching a new theme for this year – “Leaders THRIVE in 25.” Listen in and learn about our plans for keeping all of us on tract to THRIVE, this year. Want to know more about how you can THRIVE now and in the future? Have an interest in keeping your mind in growth mode, during times where the stories in your head may be steering you toward a more fixed and polarized way of thinking? Well, come along with us, this year where, together, we will explore hope and discover new possibilities.

This is Part Two of our encore episode with Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley, two Organizational Development professionals who talk with us about Human Flourishing. We discuss how the collective power of individual mindset and behaviors, even coming from varying states of mental/emotional wellbeing is what it takes to achieve more systemic Human Flourishing. Want to know more about why Judy sees Human Flourishing as a “big, hairy, amorphous challenge?” Listen in to find out. Knowing that Human Flourishing is seen as not so much of a “nice to have” state of being but, rather, a new imperative for all of us, it seems important for us to learn as much as we can so we can decide how it might fit into our worlds. One of the many takeaways from this rich episode has to do with ways in which leaders can help further and foster Human Flourishing in their organizations. We hope you will listen in on the entire episode. You will find a wealth of information on this important topic, and we believe it will be an insightful mining journey.

As we think about Leaders Thriving in 2025, the concept of Human Flourishing as shared by Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley this time last year, is foundational and worth revisiting. We hope you find this encore edition as inspiring and informational as we do. While it seems like forever that experts have been concentrating on negative human behaviors, burn out and depression, there is a rising buzz in the world of psychology and organizational development that is shifting much of the focus toward something called Human Flourishing. Join us, as we welcome Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley, two Organizational Development professionals who bring their expertise to the podcast and share their journeys to this complex world of Human Flourishing. Learn how they define flourishing and how it differs from fixing what’s wrong. Discover the PERMA model and how it’s linked to Human Flourishing. Learn how flourishing differs, in different countries and cultures and why Judy and Sasha say that Human Flourishing is a team sport. This topic is so important, during this time we are living in, and there is so much information to share, that we are bringing Judy and Sasha back, for our next episode, as well. Don’t miss this episode, though, as it sets the foundation upon which our next conversation will be based. We know there are a lot of gems to be found in this episode, and we think you will be glad you spent time mining with us.

We are just a few weeks into 2025 and the number of people who are experiencing burnout is staggering! The reality is that those of us who are in that mode were feeling that way, before the new year. So, what’s going on? And why is it that, when we have free time at work, we feel compelled to fill that time? It’s a long-standing belief in American business that being busy means you are showing value. But is that really true? Listen in as we unpack an article, written by Martha Beck, called “Making Time for Nothing.” Does just reading that make you uncomfortable? It doesn’t have to. Learn a bit about what Martha calls Empty Time Deficiency Syndrome and how that presents in our day and our life. Learn about the value of doing nothing and what that really looks like. If you need a nudge around what to do, if you have a free minute, hour, half-day, and so on, we’ll share that, from Martha’s article, as well. We hope you enjoy this episode and that, after listening, you feel a little more comfortable and, perhaps compelled, to explore doing nothing. You may just find that burnout is a much smaller challenge. Enjoy.

We are a few weeks into 2025 and, already, resolutions are being ditched and forgotten. Want to know why 80% of our New Year’s resolutions fail by February, each year? If you have ever had trouble sticking to your annual New Year’s resolutions, you will want to listen to this week’s episode! We are excited to welcome back speaker, facilitator, wife of Jon Ondrasik (aka: Five For Fighting), and soon-to-be best-selling author, Carla Ondrasik. If you’ve followed our podcast over the past year, you may recall that Carla was with us, in March of 2024 (Episode 89) where she talked about the book she was starting to write. Well, it is being printed as we type and will be on bookshelves, everywhere, in the Fall. Listen in and learn more about Carla’s journey to publishing her book and hear her advice for anyone who is interested in writing. Find out about the neuroscience behind trying, and how that impacts our attitudes and behaviors. Spend some time with us and we think you will feel energized and inspired to “Stop Trying…” and just start doing. Enjoy.

Are you ready to Ditch the Ditty? What in the World is a Ditty, anyway?? Join us for this first episode of the new year, that we are calling “Leaders Thrive in 25!”, with two of the three authors of the book, Ditch the Ditty, which launches this week, Lindsay Godwin and Molly McGuigan (with Miriam Novotny, here, at heart!). Do you ever find yourself responding “yes,” to tasks, that no one else will take on (or are ever asked to)? Have you ever wondered how important these tasks that you really don’t want or (maybe) need to do, really are? While this phenomenon may not be exclusive to women, it is much more prevalent and, interestingly, it is often quietly, culturally endorsed. We hope you will listen in, as we believe you will find this episode to be richly insightful and will leave you wanting more…we did! Luckily, their new book launches on January 7th!

Yes! It is Wrapping Season – beautiful paper, ribbons, tons of tape and tags, everywhere! Oh! But WAIT! We’re wrapping up a few other things, as well!! If you have been listening to our podcast, you know that we have been doing a series on Coaching for a Better World. We have officially wrapped up our series, with a beautiful two-part interview, with Hudson Institute of Coaching leaders. We had interviews with several other amazing coaches who are making a power impact in the world, through out-of-the-box thinking and coaching. Listen in and learn about some of the gems we found through these interviews…they’re inspiring! Hey! We are also wrapping up our podcast year! Before we take a few weeks off, we want to share our gratitude for this 2024 gift trip we’ve been on. And you, our listeners are the reason we call it a gift. Learn just a snippet of what is to come, in the New Year. In the meantime, however you celebrate this season, we wish you health and happiness and we look forward to bringing new episodes for you, in 2025!

This week, we are thrilled to continue the capstone of our special series, Coaching for a Better World, by bringing you the second part of our two-part interview with Dr. Pam McLean, PhD. and Michael Hudson. In this episode Pam and Michael help us explore the value of self-observation as a practical step in a more developmental leadership model. Listen in as Pam shares the impact of valuing/devaluing the relationship, in leadership. Learn what may be on the horizon for coaches as we acknowledge a unique gift that coaches possess. Whether or not you are a professional coach, as a leader, you will, once again, gain valuable insights from this episode. We invite you to spend this time with us, as we celebrate the close of our series, with two of our favorite leaders. Final Note: Thanks for supporting our Hope Survey. If you have not taken it yet, please visit our website and take the survey. Your voice matters!

This week, we are pleased and honored to begin the capstone of our special series, Coaching for a Better World, with two of our favorite iconic leaders in the coaching industry, Pam McLean and Michael Hudson. Our discussion with Pam and Michael was so rich with highly relevant and timely insights and information about developing leaders, for today and beyond. Listen in and learn about some of the concerns that are prompting many in the coaching and development industries to rethink the way leaders are developed. Hear Pam and Michael talk about new approaches and benefits to critical mass learning that dwarf any other engagement and development efforts practiced, so far. Whether or not you are a professional coach, as a leader, you will gain some valuable insights from this episode. We have so much more information to share that we will conclude this amazing interview with Pam and Michael, in next week’s episode.

We begin this Thanksgiving week by sharing our gratitude and thoughts around things we are thankful for. In light of all things that seem troubling, in today’s world, there are so many amazing reasons to still be thankful. Spend this short episode with us and learn what we are feeling thankful for, this year. Looking for something to be thankful for? Start with your mirror…step outside…look at your family, friends, and a pet. We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday and we look forward to continuing our Coaching for a Better World series, next week. You will find the link to this episode below. Final Note: Thanks for supporting our Hope Survey. Your voice matters!

We are nearing the end of our special series, “Coaching for a Better World,” and, this week, we are bringing back an episode we recorded, last year, with Amy Yip, Somatic Life Transformation and Mental Fitness coach, keynote speaker, and International best-selling author, of “Unfinished Business.” Amy just received The Independent Authors’ Network, Book for the Year, for outstanding non-fiction writing. In this episode you will hear Amy’s story about growing up as a first generation, Asian American, navigating her life journey, with her immigrant parents, who did not speak English. Listen in and learn some of the challenges that influenced the decisions she made and some that purposely didn’t. We Hope you enjoy this episode in celebration of Amy’s great achievement.

We are well into our special series, “Coaching for a Better World,” and, this week, we are delighted to welcome dynamic leadership and team-development coach, author, and Managing Principal of the firm, Intrinsic Lead, Melissa Castro. As a Millennial herself, Melissa focuses much of her coaching and consulting on helping leaders beat burnout, build sustainable teams, and use their influence to create positive change. Did you know that the Millennial generation makes up between 32%-35% of today’s working population? With this in mind, if you work with this generation’s leaders and want to better understand what is important to them and what drives their behaviors, listen in. If you are considered a Millennial and are interested in learning more about the value of coaching for you and your fellow leaders, you are in the right place. This episode is FULL of valuable gems that are sure to spark insights for all leaders, no matter what your generation.

As we continue with our Coaching For A Better World series, we want to share just a little about the wonderful world of coaching. What exactly IS coaching? How is that different from therapy or mentoring? What’s the benefit of being coached? What can I expect when I meet with a coach? These are common questions that often surface whenever a coach introduces themself. If you’ve ever been coached, you may recall asking these questions before you took the dive. If you haven’t been coached, we hope you will find our conversation helps you decide if you would like to explore new ways of working on the challenges you may be experiencing. In any event, we Hope you find this episode informative and inviting.

This week, we continue our special series, “Coaching for a Better World,” by expanding on empathy in leadership, a topic shared by Josh Speraneo, our previous guest, who specializes in working with highly sensitive people (HSP). In our typical “Gems” fashion, we discuss insights from a Center For Creative Leadership article on this topic. Does empathic leadership really matter and is there a place for empathy at work? What’s the difference between empathy and sympathy? What are some of the outcomes of leader empathy and why is that important? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more. This is a relatively short episode AND it’s packed with insightful gems! We hope you find it inspiring!

This week, our special series, “Coaching for a Better World,” continues with Josh Speraneo, a courage coach who specialized in working with highly sensitive people (HSP). In this eye-opening episode, Josh shares the journey that led to him discovering that he is an HSP. Listen in and learn the steps he took, and how this new knowledge impacted his path toward coaching and advising other HSPs. Learn about how, when high sensitivity and empathy show up in leadership, team, and organization engagement increases.

In this Gems episode, as part of our special series on “Coaching for a Better World,” we explore and dig deeper into our courageous conversation last week with Traci Staffen, ADHD Coach, Certified Positive Intelligence™ and Menopause Coach. In that episode, Traci encouraged us to not just accept the stories from our past that form our current mental models regarding menopause, but to get curious, find answers for ourselves, and awaken to the possibilities of what this unique time in our lives may offer. Did you know that most women will spend nearly one third of their lives in menopause? In this Gems episode, we explore the importance of this awakening, challenging the status quo and offer some reflections on how to start your own path of awakening. This conversation is worth listening to not only for yourself, but for all of the women, sisters, friends, co-workers, that we value in our lives. We hope you’ll take a listen.

Ignoring it won’t make it go away. If you say the word, you won’t melt…promise! And, while many dread the word and the condition, it has been here, forever, it is here, now, and it will be here, in the future. What is it? It’s Menopause! We are continuing our special series, “Coaching for a Better World,” with Traci Staffen, ADHD, Menopause, and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach. In this episode, Traci shares her illuminating story about how navigating her own menopause journey sparked a new passion for helping others have more positive experiences. With over 51% of the world’s population being women, menopause, which is with us for 30-50% of our lives, deserves more attention, from the medical profession, insurance companies, organizations, women AND men. So, spend this hour with us. You will leave with greater understanding of menopause, and you may just find yourself inspired to learn more about how to embrace this phase of a woman’s life.

With the first episode of our special series, “ Coaching for a Better World” out for the world to hear, we turn to something that stood out for us during our conversation with Meghan Patino, a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). There were so many gems that emerged during our time with Meghan, and we wanted to do a slightly deeper dive into what can be gained, by venturing out of our safe spaces. Listen in and learn How Travel Spurs Personal Growth, not just for leaders of people but for everyone. Spend this short time with us and get ready to begin envisioning your own growth, through adventure.

Welcome to the first episode, in our special series, “ Coaching for a Better World.” We are excited to bring this series to you, our listeners, as our way of helping you become even more aware of some of the many niche coaching practitioners who are making a better world. In this first episode, we introduce you to Meghan Patino, a Professional Certified Coach, focusing on leadership and life coaching. Listen in and hear Meghan’s fascinating story about metabolizing her own fears and stepping way outside of her comfort zone, as she discovered her own resilience and leadership strengths, while she and her family embarked upon an eleven-month journey to various places in the world. Learn some of the insights she gained about survival, family, resilience, coaching, and life back home. We believe you will find Meghan’s story to be truly inspirational…we certainly did!

We did it! We said we were going on an extended break and we did it! After lots of rest and rejuvenation, we want to welcome you back to Season Four of Lifting Leaders Podcast. We hope you enjoyed your August and that you took some time to refresh and regroup…it is so important! In this episode, we share what we did, over this break – from spending time with loved ones to kayaking and learning new skills…all great ways to refresh our spirits! You will also get just a hint of what is in store for this, our fourth season. Enjoy the listen – we are SO happy to be back and we are even happier to have you with us. If you haven’t taken the Hope survey yet, please take a moment to help us with our research.

It’s that time of year again. We are taking our annual break, from now, until mid-September. This is a great time to rest, relax, have fun, and truly refresh our minds and bodies. When was the last time you took more than a long weekend off? Did you know that there are so many benefits to taking time off? Have you heard about some of the potential consequences, to not taking refresh time? Listen in and learn a bit about that and find out how we plan to spend our time off this year. We wish you a restful, relaxing and fun time, in August and we look forward to meeting you back here, in September! Finally, have you taken the opportunity to complete our HOPE survey yet? We Need Your Voice!

It’s Summer and, if you are like we are, you may be ready to let loose and have some fun! In this episode, we dive into two articles (no surprise!) on the topic of fun. Did you know that incorporating elements of fun, into your work, can elevate creativity and team morale? Listen in a learn what the smell of crayons can do to your brain…it’s true! If you are looking for ideas on ways in which you can infuse fun into your personal Summer agenda, stay with us, to the end of the episode. Finally, have you taken the opportunity to complete our HOPE survey yet? We Need Your Voice!

If you just read this title and asked yourself, “didn’t I just hear about compassion, a few months ago?” you are spot on, and we thank you for being a loyal listener! This episode looks at self-compassion in a slightly different way. In this short Coaches Corner, we dive into a few articles on how self-compassion offers greater advantages, over time, to self-confidence. What can happen when we over value our abilities? How is self-compassion beneficial for our personal growth? What are some ways in which we can boost our self—compassion? Listen in and learn about the three components of self-compassion. We hope you will find what you learn to be insightful and motivating! Have you taken the opportunity to complete our HOPE survey yet? We Need Your Voice!

Having had a week to process our discussion, with author, executive coach and leadership strategist/facilitator, Marita Decker, we bring some of our insights to this episode and unpack just a small number of gems from this inspiring book. If you have read Marita’s book, you know that there are several Boosters and all of them are valuable. If you haven’t, but want to know more about them, check out our previous episode (#104 from June 24th), where Marita covers the list and provides her own descriptions. Listen in and hear about a few of the insightful nuggets we found, within her list of Confidence Boosters and Blockers that stood out for us, as well as some actions we believe leaders should be responsible to do, to minimize discomfort in new leaders. As we stated in last week’s show notes, while the focus of Marita’s book is on women in leadership, we believe there are gems to be mined by all leaders. Finally, if you have not already done so, please take a few moments and complete our Hope survey. We would love to include your responses in our research.

As women leaders, what shakes our confidence and causes us to doubt? What are some blockers that get in the way of career confidence and what do they have to do with our mindset and habits? Join us as we talk to author, Marita Decker, executive coach and leadership strategist/facilitator, and learn what prompted her to research and write about this topic, which is gaining a great deal of interest in today’s Fortune 500 companies. Listen in and learn about the top three actions women leaders can take to outsmart doubt. While this focus is on women in leadership, we believe there are gems to be mined by all leaders. Finally, if you have not already done so, please take a few moments and complete our Hope survey. We would love to include your responses in our research.

Springboarding off Episode 102, when we talked about the differences and (importantly) the similarities that multiple generations feel, believe, and expect to engage in today’s workforce, we decided to visit a common factor that touches all generations…becoming Overwhelmed! We are now at the mid-point in our year and, often, this is a time when we take stock of what we have accomplished, to this point. It’s those goals we had that we haven’t accomplished yet that can lead to a sense of being overwhelmed. Listen in and learn how you can step out of that state of being overwhelmed and take charge of your priorities and time. Explore how focusing on the 3 R’s: Right person, right things, right time can make a huge difference toward taking control and minimizing overwhelm. If you are feeling like your priorities are piling up and your year is racing ahead too quickly, give us 45 minutes of your time…you might just find that gem you’ve been searching for. Have you taken the opportunity to complete our HOPE survey yet? There is still time and We Need Your Voice!

As many organizations are navigating their mid-year performance reviews, we wondered, with five generations currently occupying the workforce, what should leaders keep in mind, with respect to what motivates each of these groups? We consulted a trusted resource and found 10 interesting approaches and a few facts we thought you might find helpful. Listen in, and learn about some of the differences, as well as some motivations/desires that are common, across all working generations. While several approaches may be well understood, you may find a few gems that might just help you move past differences. In any event, we are sharing truly foundational approaches that will help you, whether you lead an individual or navigate the dynamics of a team. Have you taken the opportunity to complete our HOPE survey yet? There is still time and We Need Your Voice!

After ten weeks, seven guests, three Gems episodes and a Coaches Corner, our Opening Your Heart series is coming to a close. Join us, as we reveal some of the gems we mined during the series. Listen in and learn what we recommend leaders do to help inspire and encourage an open hearted organization. You will learn why there really isn’t a set process for creating and maintaining an open hearted organization but we will share what we gleaned that you may want to employ, as you are moving toward open hearted leadership. Finally, we are getting close to completing our Hope survey and we invite you to complete it, if you haven’t already done so.