What would you do if your organization became the center of a national crisis? In this episode, strategist and cultural architect Jen Randle takes us inside a five-week sprint to design a company-wide intervention for Starbucks’ 175,000 employees—and how it changed her understanding of leadership, trust, and repair forever. Jen shares what it means to build trust at the micro (self), meso (teams), and macro (systems) levels—and why most leaders wait until a full-blown crisis to start thinking about it. She explains why trust isn’t a “soft skill” but a business multiplier, how storytelling with integrity builds psychological safety, and why true repair starts with aligning your head, heart, and gut. Whether you’re leading through disruption, guiding a team after layoffs, or simply trying to rebuild confidence in your culture, this conversation is a masterclass in becoming the signal in the noise. In this episode: The inside story of Starbucks’ 2018 trust-repair initiative Why trust isn’t performative How leaders can embody their company’s stated values The power of storytelling with integrity Jen’s framework for trust mapping and “intrinsic wayfinding” Helpful Links: A Story of Access Stanley Nelson film for Starbucks Jen Randle - SGNL Advisory; and connect with her on Instagram, Substack WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addresses player criticism, CBA, officiating, job security, The Athletic

Last week, in Part 1 of this series, we talked about the broken workflow most of us use to prepare for presentations — the one that looks like this:procrastinate → panic → recycle an old deck → cram → survive. Sound familiar? The good news: great presenting isn’t as binary as innate talent — it’s about having a workflow that brings out the best in you and your ideas. And today, I’m giving you the full workflow — the step-by-step system I’ve refined over 20 years coaching leaders at NVIDIA, Zoom, LinkedIn, Cisco, Stanford University, Pixar, and more. It’s also the same process that’s helped over 140 speakers deliver game-changing TED, TEDx, and TEDGlobal talks. Need free detailed shownotes with the framework all in one spot? Head over to https://bronwyncommunications.substack.com/ See you there!

If you’ve ever found yourself procrastinating until the night before a big presentation, frantically cramming slides together, and then white-knuckling your way through the delivery…you’re not alone. The truth is, most of us were taught (or fell into) a broken workflow for preparing talks. We procrastinate, panic, recycle old decks, and overload our audiences with information. No wonder presenting feels stressful — and no wonder audiences struggle to stay engaged. But here’s the good news: great communication isn’t about innate talent. It’s about having the right workflow. In this week’s episode of 20 Minutes with Bronwyn, I share the first three steps of a system I’ve honed over 20 years coaching leaders at NVIDIA, Zoom, LinkedIn, Cisco, Stanford, Pixar, and more. I’ve also used this exact approach to help more than 140 people give TED, TEDx, and TEDGlobal talks that change the way audiences see the world. Here’s what you’ll learn in Part 1: Why procrastination + panic is its own (terrible) workflow How today’s shrinking attention spans demand a new way of preparing Step 1: The Logistics Check — the baseline questions that save you from nasty surprises. And here’s a PDF of that checklist handy and printable. Step 2: Audience Empathy — the mindset shift that changes everything about how your message lands. Step 3: The Sandbox — a game-changing way to collect ideas, inspiration, and data so your subconscious can work with you instead of against you. This is the foundation for upgrading how you show up as a communicator. Whether you’re presenting to your team, pitching an idea, or stepping onto a big stage, these simple shifts will make the process less stressful — and your talks infinitely more powerful. Need a quick breakdown of the episode? Here ya go … 00:00 Introduction to 20 Minutes with Bronwyn 01:23 Debunking the Myth of Innate Talent in Communication 03:20 The Old Workflow: Why It Fails 04:41 Introducing the my 24k Workflow 05:23 Step One: The Logistics Check 12:05 Step Two: Audience Empathy 17:23 Step Three: Creating a Sandbox 21:05 Conclusion and Next Steps And stay tuned — in Part 2, I’ll show you how to move from a pile of ideas to a structured, compelling presentation that actually lands. Shine on. We need your light!Bronwyn

✨ We’re Back! Season 6 is Here ✨ Friends, I’m thrilled to share that the podcast is back for Season 6 — and we’re kicking things off with a powerhouse conversation that I cannot wait for you to hear. This season is about sharpening our communication edge, nourishing our creativity, and finding new ways to thrive in a world that seems busier (and noisier) than ever. And who better to launch with than Natalie Nixon? 🎙️ Episode 134: Move, Think, Rest: The Anti-Hustle Framework That's Replacing Productivity Culture My guest today is Natalie Nixon, PhD — creativity strategist, president of Figure 8 Thinking, and one of the most generous, provocative thinkers I know. Natalie has spent her career helping leaders and organizations unlock creativity as a strategic advantage. She’s the author of The Creativity Leap and her brand-new book Move. Think. Rest.:Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time, which reframes how we think about productivity, burnout, and flourishing. In our conversation, we dive into: Why “real rest” is a radical act — and why most of us have never actually witnessed it. How daydreaming and procrastination aren’t signs of laziness but tools for sharper thinking. What Taylorism (the stopwatch-on-the-factory-floor era) has to do with our guilt around taking breaks. The Motor Framework — Natalie’s elegant approach to work rooted in move, think, rest. The difference between Chronos time (clock time) and Kairos time (time outside of time — the magic moments). Why intuition is not woo-woo, but actually grounded in neuroscience and the vagus nerve. Practical rituals to bring creativity back into your workflow: from Bill Gates’ “think weeks” to gamifying daydreaming. How rethinking meetings can transform culture (Zapier’s no-meeting week, question-storming, the law of two feet). The power of collective effervescence — how joy with others fuels our best work. Want links to resources mentioned in the show? Head on over to my Substack! Shine on, my friend. We need your light!

Today I am talking with the sensational Shira Gill about her  gorgeous new book, Lifestyled: Your Guide to a More Organized and Intentional Life. Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert and bestselling author with a minimalist philosophy. She has inspired thousands of people to clear clutter from their homes and lives, and developed a process and toolkit that anyone can employ, regardless of budget, space, or lifestyle. In addition to LifeStyled, Shira is the author of Minimalista and Organized Living, and has been featured in 100+ print and media outlets including Good Morning America, Architectural Digest, Vogue, Real Simple, and The New York Times.  For her latest book, Shira interviewed some of the most intentional, organized people on the planet and found there were three KEY themes running through each of their lives. Fascinated, and inspired by what she had learned, she began to apply these same themes in her own life, and watched the subsequent transformation. Lifestyled gives us access to these themes, along with the systems and habits that will unlock a more intentional life. Here’s how to find Shira: Links: www.shiragill.com  @shiragill Newsletter + Community   Books: Organized Living Minimalista LifeStyled This conversation with Shira was so clarifying, I’ve decided to wind down Season 5  in order to regroup and recharge on the podcast front. I will pick it up again in early 2025.  So grateful for your time and your presence. Shine on, my friend. We need your light!B

DR. MARTHA BECK IS ON MY SHOW THIS WEEK!!!!!!   Sorry. I have ZERO chill about this episode.   If it were a Friends episode, it would be called:   The One Where Bronwyn Meets Her Hero and Learns to Stop Being So Anxious.   Or maybe   The One When Dr. Martha Beck Changes All of Our Lives and Cures Our Anxieties.   But, because I am trying to act like a grown up and not a teenage fangirl, the episode is actually called Beyond Anxiety: My Conversation with Dr. Martha Beck.   Every few years, Martha Beck publishes a book that melts my face off with its insight and warmth (ahem The Way of Integrity, The Joy Diet, Steering by Starlight), and I am THRILLED to share that she is about to do it again.    This time, Dr. Beck is tackling the issue of our modern age with her new book Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose, which will drop January 7, 2025.   This conversation was everything I hoped it would be and has profoundly impacted the way I move through my life. My hope is that it does the same for you.   In case you’ve been living under a rock and you’re not familiar with her work, let me break it down …   Dr. Martha Beck, PhD, is a New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker. She holds THREE Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.” Martha is a passionate and engaging teacher, known for her unique combination of science, humor, and spirituality. Her recent book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was an instant New York Times Best Seller and an Oprah’s Book Club selection.   Here’s where you can find her on the Interwebs … (and I can personally recommend her online courses. I’m still using the skills I learned from a writing course I took years ago):   Dr. Beck's Website:  https://marthabeck.com Dr. Beck's upcoming book: Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose IG: https://www.instagram.com/themarthabeck/   Shine on, my friend. We need your light.

VERY few people have appeared on my podcast as many times as my guest this week, Dr. Adam Dorsay. We’ve talked about men and their emotions … we’ve talked about the power of adult friendship … Adam helped guide us during the early days of the pandemic … and NOW he is here to help us become SUPER PSYCHED, which also happens to be the title of his new book. Adam wrote this book in an effort to help us solve the great crisis of our time—disconnection. He makes an incredibly compelling argument that if you look at what ails us the most, it can be traced back to disconnection. But rather than simply worship the problem, Adam has written us a roadmap describing the 4 types of connection, allowing us to find our way back to each other and to ourselves so that we can live lives we love. This conversation will inspire you and unlock a whole new level of joy in your life. In case you’re new around here, let me give you some background on Adam. Dr. Adam Dorsay is a licensed psychologist and executive coach in Silicon Valley where he serves high-achieving adults (including professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes). Adam is the host of SuperPsyched, an award-winning podcast, and he’s given two highly regarded TEDx Talks: one about men and their emotions and the other about friendship in adulthood. His book on the topic of the four ways people connect will be available later this year. Beyond his private practice, Adam is a resiliency expert who co-created an international program for Facebook’s Online Safety employees for several years. He now serves as the resiliency consultant to DigitalOcean and has frequent requests from the media for interviews and corporations to provide keynotes and training.   Resources Mentioned✨ Adamdorsay,com Super Psyched Podcast Super Psyched Book "Friendships in Adulthood: 5 Things to Know" "Emotions: The Data Men Miss" Dr. Adam Dorsay’s Instagram Shine on, my friend. We need your light!

I love having conversations with smart, powerful women about money.    This time, I turn my focus to funding and fundraising. And I am delighted to have Jessie Gabriel as my wingwoman. Jessie Gabriel is founder and CEO of All Places, a first-of-its-kind, mission-driven law firm working to close the gender equity gap in capital markets.   Jessie and I covered a lot of ground, including:   Her “money story” and how this story affected her. How female and female-identifying founders are affected by negative money stories, and how to shift those negative narratives into strategies that get them funded.  How male founders typically think about growth and scale and what we can learn from them (or unlearn from them). How we can focus on those things we can control in fundraising environments that often seem rigged (and NOT in our favor).   What I loved most about this conversation was learning how Jessie was raised by a single working mother in Southern California, a woman who struggled economically to provide for her family. In other words, Jessie's success comes with a deep appreciation of how gender norms and unequal access to capital contribute to a systemic lack of opportunities for women-identifying entrepreneurs and executives. Jessie has worked at some of the country’s most prestigious firms, including Cravath, Swaine & Moore and BakerHostetler, where she was the youngest woman to lead her own team and launched the firm’s first Investment Funds practice. Her wisdom and words are solid gold, and I can’t wait to share them with you.   Resources ✨   Jessie's LinkedIn   All Places Website   All Places Instagram   The Outset Branding Firm   Shine on, my friend! ✨

I am thrilled to bring you a conversation I’ve been dying to have. Ophira Edut is one of the most sought-after astrologers and intuitive advisors of our times. As the longtime resident astrologers for ELLE Magazine and the authors of over 20 books, Ophira and her twin sister Tali are advisors to a roster of CEOs, celebrities, global leaders and successful entrepreneurs including Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, and Emma Roberts. Ophi and Tali have a NEW new book coming out that has been described as “Atomic Habits meets the Wisdom of the Enneagram” and let me tell ya … it delivers on that promise. The book is called The Astrology Advantage: Use Your Horoscope for Personal & Professional Success and it drops NEXT WEEK! I’ve always loved the Enneagram, Meyers Briggs and DISC for understanding our collective differences, but it’s overwhelming to try and remember all of the permutations and personality types as you navigate difficult conversations and situations.  Ophi is here to teach us The I*AM System, a simple, easy to remember framework that distills the energy of your full birth chart into a single archetype, unlocking personal productivity, and team harmony. It's simple (just THREE archetypes to remember), *deep* and shockingly accurate. And if you’re clutching your pearls, wondering what a "serious" business person like me is doing dabbling in astrology … unclutch and give this a listen.  Resources Mentioned ✨ Astrostyle.com The Astrology Advantage Live Events with the Astrotwins Follow Ophi on Instagram Follow the Astrotwins on Instagram Shine on, my friend.

I’ve got another banger from the archives … The topic of adult friendship is one we don’t talk about nearly enough, especially given that loneliness is actually as dangerous as smoking. This conversation was deep, real, and vulnerable as Adam and I spoke plainly about our own struggles and wins in the friendship sphere. In case you don’t know him, Dr. Adam Dorsay is a licensed psychologist and executive coach in Silicon Valley where he serves high-achieving adults (including professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes). Adam is the host of SuperPsyched, an award-winning podcast, and he’s given two highly regarded TEDx Talks: one about men and their emotions and the other about friendship in adulthood. His book on the topic of the four ways people connect will be available later this year. Beyond his private practice, Adam is a resiliency expert who co-created an international program for Facebook’s Online Safety employees for several years. He now serves as the resiliency consultant to DigitalOcean and has frequent requests from the media for interviews and corporations to provide keynotes and training.   Resources Mentioned✨ Adamdorsay,com   Super Psyched Podcast   Super Psyched Book   "Friendships in Adulthood: 5 Things to Know"   "Emotions: The Data Men Miss"   Dr. Adam Dorsay’s Instagram   The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm   Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell   Authentic Happiness - University of Pennsylvania   Enjoy, and shine on, my friend. We need your light.

Given the intense amount of travel I am doing this month (both for work and for fun), I’m giving myself a little breathing room and offering you some greatest hits—two of my most popular episodes of all time. Occupying the number one spot on 20 Minutes with Bronwyn is none other than the magnificent Corey Rosen. Corey’s book, Your Story Well Told: Creative Strategies to Develop and Perform Stories that Wow an Audience, is one I recommend to anyone looking to enhance their storytelling skills. Corey hosts The Moth Story Slam and Grand Slams, has been featured on The Moth Radio Hour, and is a company performer in BATS Improv. It’s no wonder this episode was so popular … Corey offers powerful, practical, and (dare I say) fun advice and strategies for telling better stories.   Resources Mentioned✨   Coreyrosen.com   Follow Corey on Facebook   Follow Corey on Instagram   BATS Improv   Your Story, Well Told: Creative Strategies to Develop and Perform Stories that Wow an Audience   The Moth StorySLAM   Ken Adams’ The Story Spine   Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks   Ira Glass on Creativity   Enjoy, my friends and may your summer be full of great stories in the making! ✨ 

This week’s podcast episode* is focused on something that has literally been keeping me up at night— getting my kids into college. My firstborn child is headed to Boston University in the Fall. But I’m not gonna lie … the process was excruciating.    Someone who has been ringing the alarm bells on what has become a “toxic achievement culture” in the U.S. is the amazing Denise Pope, Ph.D.   Dr. Denise Pope is a senior lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, and co-founder/strategic advisor at Challenge Success. She is the author of, “Doing School”: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students (Yale University Press, 2001), which was awarded Notable Book in Education by the American School Board Journal, 2001, and co-author of Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids (Jossey-Bass, 2015).   Denise and I get VERY real on why even the most well-resourced kids are suffering, crashing, and burning in this insane drive to get into the “right” schools.   Gems: ✨How to help your kids define “success” in terms that contribute to actual satisfaction and well being. [4:16] ✨The game changing, life changing magic of sleep … and why most teenagers aren’t getting enough of it. [9:30] ✨The one thing you can do as a parent to cultivate authentic resilience in your teen. [24:11] ✨What the college ratings system does and does not reveal about “top” universities in the U.S. [30:02] Resources: Connect with Denise Pope: https://www.facebook.com/ChallengeSuccess https://www.instagram.com/challengesuccess https://www.linkedin.com/company/895857 https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-clark-pope/ Books / articles: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, Ph.D. A “Fit” Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity “P.D.F. Tips” Challenge Success   *(Note: If you do not have kids, or don’t yet feel any kind of low-grade panic about the College Industrial Complex, this might not be the episode for you. On the other hand, this is affecting so many young people, it is an issue that will eventually touch us all.)

Every so often, an interview literally changes the way I see my life.   This is one of those interviews.   Whatever you’ve got going on in your life, I can almost guarantee this conversation will be a blessing to you.   But I’m getting ahead of myself!   My guest this week is the incomparable Shelley Paxton, making her second appearance on my show.   Shelley is the former CMO of Harley-Davidson and is a 26-year advertising and marketing veteran whose legacy is imprinted on iconic brands like McDonald's, Visa, and Harley-Davidson. At the pinnacle of her career as CMO of Harley-Davidson, Shelley was shocked to find herself feeling success empty instead of successful. And that awakening led her on a profound journey that became her mission, business, and bestselling book, Soulbbatical, A Corporate Rebel's Guide to Finding Your Best Life. Now Chief Soul Officer of her own life, Shelley works with leaders and teams to advocate for redefining success in ways that celebrate humanity, well-being, and soul.    Just when I think Shelley can’t get any wiser, she blows me away in a new way.    Gems 💎 How a life threatening and totally misdiagnosed illness forced her to confront the one thing she was “pretending not to know” about her own life. How that single question “What are you pretending not to know?” has the power to transform your life. How the “arrival fallacy” robs us of our joy and energy, and how we might replace that fallacy with a far deeper, richer truth. Shelley’s nightmare moment on a TEDx stage and how she recovered from it.   Resources Read Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel's Guide to Finding Your Best Life by Shelley Paxton here! Learn more about Shelley Paxton    Follow Shelley on Instagram @theshelleypaxton and check out her updates on LinkedIn!

Ah, therapy. The one place we can go to let it allllll spill out. The good, the bad, the ugly. But there seems to be one topic of conversation that doesn’t always feel welcome. God. While the therapist’s office is the ideal spot for excavating the darkest reaches of the mind and the heart, it doesn’t always feel like the best place to explore the divine. The uncanny. The unseen. In this conversation, I speak with the brilliant Dr. Leslie Carr about this very issue.  Leslie and I talk about why there seems to be little room for the spiritual/religious in a therapeutic context, and how we might work to expand the conversation both as the therapist and as the patient (or, depending on the setting, “client”) ). Leslie is a psychologist and an expert in how trauma, stress, culture, and digital technology impact the mind. She's been active in mental health advocacy and public psychoeducation for almost 15 years, and her work in this space has been featured in the LA Times, ABC News, and Ask Dr. Drew, among many other places. She's the host of a podcast, The Nature of Nurture, which explores how people respond to their environments in complicated ways. Learn more about her podcast here, thenatureofnurture.com, or check her out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNatureofNurture I’m hoping this conversation sparks a much broader conversation about how we can collectively cultivate a more active relationship with something bigger than ourselves. The Gems ✨ How do you differentiate between organized religion and spirituality, in terms of personal experience of the divine? [00:17:45] How can we protect our energy from draining people or negative influences in a work environment? [00:21:30] What are some easy ways to begin to explore our spiritual inclinations without feeling weird about it?? [00:26:03] Resources Mentioned ✨ Learn more about Carl Jung and his theory system. Check out Letters From Love with Elizabeth Gilbert. Want to work with me?  Head over to https://www.bronwyncommunications.com/work-with-me/ to learn more.    As always, thank you for the gift of your time and attention, and SHINE ON. We need your light.

“A.I.”  Those are two letters that stir up a whole lotta conversation. Ever since ChatGPT was unveiled, I’ve been one of those people who won’t shut up about generative AI. I’m enthralled with it. I’m terrified of it. I’m curious about it, and I enjoy playing with AI. I hate it and I think it could be the fall of mankind.  If AI and I had a relationship status, it would be, It’s complicated. Just imagine my joy when I got the opportunity to talk with the marvelous Rimma Boshernitsan, founder of Dialogue, an interdisciplinary strategic advisory group and think tank that helps leaders and companies find the shortest, clearest path to their most ambitious goals. Rimma recently convened a panel at SXSW called “AI Won’t Give You the Chills: The Future Runs on Intuition” that made me curious to talk with her. We covered a lot of ground; I learned a ton and I think you will too. The Gems✨ What is the value of human intuition in the face of AI? [7:33] How might we elevate our thinking when it comes to AI? How might we elevate the way we ponder AI’s role in our communities and in society? [13:01] What role does self-awareness play in honing intuition and making informed decisions? [20:46] What practices can we adopt to develop our intuition and enhance our decision-making skills? [24:34] Resources Mentioned ✨ Check out Rimma and panelists in conversation: AI Won’t Give You The Chills Discover “The Unthinkable,” by Amanda Ripley Learn more about Rimma’s Beauty in Ambiguity program Follow Dialogue on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)  and Youtube, or check out their website! Rimma can be found on Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter)!

Hello, my friends!  It’s been a minute! I’ve been in deeeeep work mode on client projects, necessitating a petite pause on the podcast over the past several weeks. But I’m back in the saddle, and this week’s episode is a special one, as I am rolling solo. I recently had a conversation with someone whose words continue to echo in my mind. She said, “I am sick and tired of not using my voice.” This is someone who is wise, brilliant, and accomplished. And yet … she put words to a common frustration we just don’t talk about enough. We talk a lot about “finding” your voice, but we don’t often talk about how to use that voice once you’ve found it. This episode is practical, powerful, and lovingly crafted for anyone who struggles to speak up when the time calls for it. THE GEMS How to set yourself up for real change … and move towards lasting transformation [3:08] How to get clear about what, specifically, triggers you into silence … and why this clarity matters. [7:29] How to deal with (and outfox) your fear of having alllll those faces staring back at you. [15:18] How to stop cringing at the sound of your own voice. [22:15] There’s OH so much more, but those were especially juicy. This will be the first of a multi-episode series … there’s a LOT to say. ;) As always, shine on my friend. We need your light!

  My friends … you are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE this week’s episode with the legendary wardrobe alchemist, Ms. Lisa Raja.🎙️** Why would I be talking about clothing on this podcast?  Because I’m tired of the way caring about clothing and fashion is still dismissed as being “vain” or “superficial.”  As a communication coach, I help visionary leaders become spellbinding communicators. And, as you may already know, part of that work focuses on language and messaging, but part of that work focuses on  energy, and confidence, and authenticity. And guess what’s a big part of the confidence game? FEELING GOOD IN OUR OWN SKIN.  It’s for exactly this reason that I'll often connect a client with a talented stylist. Because how we feel about ourselves is reflected in how comfortable we are in our second skin. Lisa Raja shares her powerful way of working with her clients—by creating an algorithm for their wardrobes. We discuss: A weekly ritual for setting yourself up with easy, beautiful looks all week long (thereby avoiding the “why do I have NOTHING to wear??” feeling). How clothing can be used strategically as a form of confidence building and claiming your power!  How to construct a capsule wardrobe out of what you already have, and how to be more mindful in your retail adventures. But best of all, we get PRACTICAL and TACTICAL about the styles and looks we’re loving right now. And because I know y’all love clothing links (the stats don’t lie! LOL), here are all of the items we discussed … Slip dresses are back, y’all. Here are a few options … pair ‘em with a blazer, a chunky sweater, or even layer them over a turtleneck or t-shirt:L’Agence Serita Dress in Black Quince Washable Stretch Silk Tank Midi Dress The basic black trousers that work for work, but are cute enough for anything. Are you feeling more of a cropped vibe? These are great too. The Adidas Gazelles that I wear nonstop, all the time. Or if those are too zany, you really can’t go wrong with these in white. Gorjana for lovely, on trend jewelry that doesn’t break the bank. My favorite go-to brand for “keynote worthy” outfits … Scanlan Theodore My newest jean obsession … The Secret Sauce: Memory Lane Jean To get inspired to revamp your wardrobe, find Lisa at www.lisaraja.com.   Shine on, my friend. B   **Dedicated to my beloved Lisa Wamboldt, who we lost on February 4th of this year. Lisa “Shortcake” Wamboldt has been a blessing in my life since 1998, and I could never in a million years have imagined that her life would only continue until 2024. Lisa was hilarious, brilliant, kind, and real. Our lives are so much darker without her in them. Lisa, wherever you are, please keep sending your pixie dust to those of us still stuck down here without you.  In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting her family here.

Hold on tight because this week’s conversation is about to shift into high gear! (I mean, these puns practically write themselves, but trust me, the excitement is real!) I recently had the opportunity for an exhilarating sit-down with Julia Landauer, a trailblazing two-time champion race car driver, motivational powerhouse, and force to be reckoned with on NASCAR's strategy and innovation team. (And her podcast, If I’m Honest, is fantastic). Our girl Julia doesn’t just break barriers; she shatters them.  In this conversation, you will hear her winning strategies for self-advocacy in the male-dominated realm of racing, along with her top tactics for conquering fear. Julia takes us behind the scenes of professional racing, Survivor survival tales, and her work as a professional public speaker, motivating audiences around the world. We also talked about … The unfiltered reality of Julia's journey as a young female racer, and how she navigated biases and stereotypes in the racing world. (Trust me, the lessons here are pure gold!) Raw revelations from her time on Survivor, and how being labeled as "vanilla" shaped her approach to racing and beyond. Julia's battle-tested strategies for conquering fear both on and off the racetrack.  Get ready to be blown away by this conversation. Looking to inject some adrenaline into your next event? Julia Landauer is your go-to keynote dynamo: Julia's Speaking Page.  Eager to witness her TEDxStanford Talk? Hit play here: Julia's TEDx Talk Find her on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She's a force you won't want to miss.

Are you able to fully “own” your expertise?   Or does it feel like bragging?   On this week’s episode I sit down with the sensational Elisa Camahort Page, co-founder of Optionality, which is a community for experienced and talented professionals who believe the world of work needs to be reimagined in general, and who want to re-define work and the workplace for themselves specifically, in community with others.   We covered a LOT of ground … how women can outmaneuver the systems and stereotypes that block our success, but we also talked about the nature of work—what it is right now, what it could be, and how we might imagine a different future together.   A bit about Elisa … Elisa Camahort Page was the Founding COO of BlogHer, Inc. BlogHer scaled from grassroots movement to national women’s media brand. Since leaving the company that acquired BlogHer, Elisa has served in full-time and fractional CxO roles, advising and consulting for organizations across the Media, Tech, Social Impact, and Learning & Development verticals.    Her writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Mashable, San Jose Mercury News, and FoxNews.com. She is now the host of The Op-Ed Page with Elisa Camahort Page podcast and the curator behind the This Week-ish newsletter.   Enjoy this high voltage conversation, my friend.

WELCOME to January, my friends.   I’ve never been a fan of dropping a big rah rah New Year’s resolution episode at the very start of January. In my experience, we are basically still trying to recover from the insanity that was December, and we just … need a minute.   But I do believe now is the time to reflect and plan.    As Gloria Stenham so beautifully said from behind her rad tinted aviator glasses, ““Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”   I bring you Bonnie Wan, who JUST dropped what is going to be a GAME changing book called: The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living.    Just a bit of background on Bonnie:   BONNIE WAN is an author and speaker, as well as partner and head of brand strategy at the world-renowned advertising agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners.    As creator of The Life Brief, Bonnie helps people live with greater clarity, creativity, and courage by teaching them how to write creative briefs for their lives. The Life Brief has evolved from an SHORT FORM BIOGRAPHY agency talk into a workbook, workshops, and speaking appearances at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit, the 3% Conference, SXSW, Accenture, Apple, Google, Change.org, and more.   Take a deep breath, and let this beautiful conversation take you to the higher altitudes where you can see your life clearly, and hold it dearly. Enjoy, my friend.