Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast
For People Leaders Leading Bold Conversations | Ivna Curi · Ivna Curi - Assertive Way Institute
Show overview
Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 452 episodes. That works out to roughly 220 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 19 min and 40 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 days ago, with 18 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2022, with 155 episodes published. Published by Ivna Curi - Assertive Way Institute.
From the publisher
Speak Your Mind Unapologetically is the leadership communication podcast for people leaders — managers, directors, and VPs — who want to speak up, lead bold conversations, and influence outcomes that matter. Whether you're addressing conflict, delivering feedback, leading meetings, or navigating difficult conversations, this podcast gives you practical strategies to: 👉🏼 Communicate with clarity, confidence, and conviction= 👉🏼 Influence decisions and build trust across functions 👉🏼 Speak up under pressure — without sounding aggressive or backing down 👉🏼 Encourage your team to share ideas, concerns, and feedback 👉🏼 Tackle conflict, disagreement, and misalignment early and effectively You'll hear insights, frameworks, and stories from real workplaces — all designed to help you grow your leadership impact through communication. 🎙 With 400+ episodes, the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast is trusted by people leaders across Fortune 500s, healthcare, tech, startups, and global organizations. ABOUT THE HOST Ivna Curi is a Fortune 500 speaker, TEDx speaker, and host of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast. She's a Forbes contributor, author of Unapologetic Voice, and founder of the Assertive Way Institute. A former corporate leader with an MBA from INSEAD and over 20,000 leaders trained, Ivna brings global experience and real-world strategies that help leaders drive results through bold communication. ABOUT THE COMPANY Assertive Way Institute helps organizations empower people leaders to lead bold conversations, influence outcomes, and build courageous speak-up cultures. Our workshops and talks help people leaders become confident, clear communicators — and turn workplace communication into a competitive advantage.
Latest Episodes
View all 452 episodesShe Didn't Know Who to Pitch Her Idea To, So She Pitched Everyone. How an AWS Leader Built Alliances and Attracted a Sponsor by Talking to Anyone Who Would Listen
Speaking Up Doesn't Have to Be Heroic: How PVH VP Shatabdi Uses Small Moments of Courage to Shape Cultures, Careers, and Global Teams
On Her First Day, They Dismissed Her Idea. Six Months Later, She Had the Budget, the Buy-In, and a Legacy That Outlasted an Acquisition. CHRO Deepashri on Getting Your Ideas Heard
She Trembled for 60 Minutes Straight in Front of 60 Students. She Went Back the Next Day. Thomson Reuters CTO Anuradha on Facing Fear and Disrupting Yourself First
They Said No — Here's Exactly What to Say Next (8 Steps to Overcome Workplace Resistance)
She Waited for Someone to Offer Her a Promotion. Nobody Did. Ceridian SVP Geetanjali on Owning Your Career
"Success Isn't About Who You Know. It's About Who Knows You." How a J&J Senior VP Went from Waste Picker to the Top
She Told Both Job Interviewers She Wanted to Be CIO. They Hired Her Anyway. Calendly's Head of IT Darlene Reina on Being Unabashedly Ambitious
She Was a Shy, Introverted Child Who Became a Chief Strategy Officer. The Realization That Changed Everything. (with Lisa Martinez, CSIO at Lee Health)
Every Man in the Room Ignored Her and Started the Meeting. She Interrupted. What Happened Next. (with Lisa Martinez, CSIO at Lee Health) — Part 2
Years of Being Called "Hardworking and Quiet." How Revolut's Head of Strategy Daisy Xia Rewrote Her Professional Brand
Be Brief, Be Bright, Be Gone: How Newell Brands VP Malvika Jhangiani Challenges Senior Leaders, Manages Type A Executives, and Turns Conflict Into Opportunity
Your Job Title Can Evaporate Overnight. Your Internal Power Can't. Leadership Lessons from Equifax SVP Alejandra Torchia
"I'm Not Responsible for How You Feel": How Melissa Dill Stood Her Ground With an Intimidating Executive and Changed Their Relationship Forever
Crying at Work, Called Polarizing, Still Made It to the Top: Executive Presence Lessons with Wendy Delmolino
Socialized to Stay Silent: How Autodesk VP Mary Hope McQuiston Found Her Voice and Learned to Hold Anyone Accountable
How to Handle Pushback and Difficult Conversations at Work Without Getting Defensive
Find out the real reason difficult conversations feel so hard at work, and how our mindset hurts our conversations and relationships. This episode gives you four internal switches you can flip in real time, so that you can have calm authority to fix conversations that go sideways. You'll discover what confident communicators do differently in difficult conversations. Because you don't need to say the perfect thing. You just need to stay stable enough to say something useful in that moment so that you can keep your influence. You'll learn how to: Stop taking pushback personally and stay detached under pressure Regulate your emotions so you don't interrupt, over-explain, or get defensive Bring clarity to conversations that feel messy or overwhelming Keep progress happening when discussions get tense, repetitive, or uncomfortable If you want to: Handle difficult conversations at work with confidence Respond to pushback without shutting down or getting reactive Increase your influence with managers, peers, or senior leaders Speak up clearly, even when situations aren't perfect …this episode will give you a practical internal system you can use immediately. 🎧 Listen now and learn how calm, clear communication moves decisions forward. 🎁 Free Resource: Download the 30 Power Shifts Guide — a free, practical cheat sheet with real-life "weak vs. powerful" word swaps for meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations. Replace soft, hesitant phrases with powerful, natural ones. Speak with clarity, conviction, and calm authority. Be heard without apology. 👉 Get your free guide here: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/30power ✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ ✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader ✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915 ✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2 ✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story: https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/ ✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/ ✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected] Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
Speaking Up With Intention: A Smarter Way to Set Your Goals
A new year doesn't require a long list of aspirational, feel-good goals. It requires the right specific goals — especially when it comes to speaking up at work. In this first episode of the year, you'll reframe goal-setting for speaking up at work — away from vague intentions like "be more confident" and toward specific, observable communication behaviors that actually change your impact, credibility, and influence at work. In this episode, we cover: Why most speaking up goals fail by February The difference between wanting to speak up and deciding when and how to speak up Three practical assertive communication goals you can set for the new year: What to say more of What to say less of What to say earlier — not perfectly You don't have to change who you are, become fearless, or extroverted. If speaking up at work, self-advocacy, and career advancement matter to you this year, this episode will help you start with clarity instead of pressure. 00:00 Speaking Up Goals That Actually Work 04:28 Understanding Situational Responses 05:40 Don't Wait To Feel Ready, Instead Plan Your Speaking Up Moments 06:48 Speaking Up When You're Not Confident, Not Extroverted, Not Fearless 09:35 Specific Speak Up Goals 10:48 What Will You Say More? 24:58 What to Say Less Of 32:12 Speaking Up Earlier 38:05 Conclusion 🎁 Free Resource: Download the 30 Power Shifts Guide — a free, practical cheat sheet with real-life "weak vs. powerful" word swaps for meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations. Replace soft, hesitant phrases with powerful, natural ones. Speak with clarity, conviction, and calm authority. Be heard without apology. 👉 Get your free guide here: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/30power ✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ ✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader ✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915 ✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2 ✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story: https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/ ✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/ ✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected] Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
Boundaries During Holidays: How to Say No Without Guilt or Drama
As we navigate the holiday season, setting boundaries can be challenging. Find out how to respond confidently to intrusive questions and requests without guilt or drama. Learn why boundaries are hard to set during the holidays and discover effective strategies to assert your needs while maintaining relationships. From common boundary mistakes to real-life examples, this episode offers practical tips to help you protect your energy and priorities, enhancing both personal and professional interactions. Tune in to develop the skills to speak up with confidence and authenticity. Happy holidays! 00:00 Introduction: Navigating Holiday Boundaries 00:52 Why Setting Boundaries is Challenging During Holidays 08:56 Common Boundary Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 12:52 Effective Communication for Firm and Warm Boundaries 13:56 Handling Pushback on Your Boundaries 16:12 Conclusion: Strengthening Your Unapologetic Voice 🎁 Free Resource: Download the 30 Power Shifts Guide — a free, practical cheat sheet with real-life "weak vs. powerful" word swaps for meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations. Replace soft, hesitant phrases with powerful, natural ones. Speak with clarity, conviction, and calm authority. Be heard without apology. 👉 Get your free guide here: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/30power ✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ ✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader ✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915 ✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2 ✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story: https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/ ✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/ ✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected] Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
Accountablity: How to Stop Carrying the Team (Without Becoming "the Difficult One")
If you've ever felt like you're the one holding everything together at work — following up, reminding, double-checking, fixing last-minute mistakes, and caring more about the outcome than everyone else — this episode is for you. Because you shouldn't have to sacrifice your time, your sanity, or your career reputation just to compensate for other people's lack of follow-through. And you also shouldn't have to choose between: staying silent and doing it all yourself or speaking up and being labeled "difficult," "demanding," or "not a team player." There's a better way, and it starts with assertive accountability. You'll learn: why holding others accountable feels so uncomfortable how to stop chasing and reminding without sounding controlling how to protect your boundaries without damaging relationships how to speak up early (before resentment builds) how to get colleagues and partners to follow through, without nagging or apologizing We'll walk through 10 accountability conversations you can use with anyone you work with peers, project partners, cross-functional teams, even leaders to get results while maintaining respect and likability. If you want to be known as someone who is reliable, respected, and not walked over, this episode will give you the exact language and confidence to make it happen. 🎁 Free Resource: Download the 30 Power Shifts Guide — a free, practical cheat sheet with real-life "weak vs. powerful" word swaps for meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations. Replace soft, hesitant phrases with powerful, natural ones. Speak with clarity, conviction, and calm authority. Be heard without apology. 👉 Get your free guide here: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/30power ✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ ✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader ✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915 ✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2 ✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story: https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/ ✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/ ✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected] Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2