The difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding —whether with your boss, staff, teammate, or loved one—won’t disappear on its own. Silence often costs more: stress, resentment, misunderstandings, and even money. But finding the courage to speak up can strengthen relationships, make work easier, and give us peace of mind.
A former journalist trained to ask tough questions, this renowned International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach turns workplace tensions into transformation through her workshop called Courageous Conversations. From Fortune 500s to global development agencies, she’s helped leaders and teams face the talks we like to avoid.
Ever felt like you didn’t quite fit in — like you were too different to belong anywhere? Maybe it’s in your family, at school, at work, or even in your own circle of friends. That feeling of being different can be lonely, but it can also be a strength—or even a superpower. This episode’s guest has become an expert at that and has great advice.
Known on YouTube TikTok, Instagram and as “Leah with an ‘H’” and HeyoLeah, “your French Filipino bestie,” this creator grew up in Paris, France with a Filipina mom and a French-Algerian dad. She built a following by turning her in-betweenness into content that is entertaining, funny, but thought-provoking and powerful.
Her videos about culture, identity, and humor are personal yet universal—and they have built a global community that resonates with her story of “living between worlds,” as she calls it. She sees her channel as a bridge between her cultures. Through her lighthearted yet meaningful storytelling, she shows that you can find connection, joy, and belonging—even if you don’t fully fit in.
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How can we not feel hopeless when the moment we wake up and turn on our phones, we’re hit with wave after wave of bad news and chaos? It’s no surprise we feel powerless—like nothing’s ever going to change.
But hope shouldn’t just be a feeling but a practice, says certified strengths and action learning coach and design agency Pushpin Visuals co-founder Elbert Or. In this episode, he shows us how to turn hope into action, just as his podcast Drawing on Hope features grassroots advocates, social entrepreneurs, and leaders who inspire us with the change they’re building one step at a time.
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When you’re enraged by what’s happening around you enough to speak up online, the last thing you want is to sound like you’re just ranting or lashing out aimlessly. For more impact, channel that anger into a message that moves others, because choosing the right words and telling your story well is what gets people to notice, listen, and act.
Pola del Monte has long been examining how language shapes public discourse. You’ve seen her posts about writing, communication, and media literacy as @MissChiefEditor on Instagram. A journalist, speaker, former UN Women consultant, and host of the podcast “Discourse with Miss Chief Editor,” she is also a Cosmo Women of Influence 2024 awardee. She works with individuals and partners with organizations to promote writing that includes, empowers, and inspires people to take action. Pola pushes us to rethink how dissent can be expressed with clarity, purpose, and impact.
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When the headlines feel overwhelming and your feed is full of noise, how do you know what’s real anymore? Now that lies and misinformation travel faster than truth, critical thinking isn’t just for journalists but a survival skill.
Sharing the journalist’s playbook for cutting through the clutter is one of the country’s most respected broadcast journalists who’s been in the industry for 36 years. The former chief correspondent of CNN Philippines, she has also anchored flagship programs like News Night, Politics as Usual, Strictly Politics, and Shop Talk, and moderated presidential debates watched by millions. She recently returned to her alma mater, the Ateneo de Manila, to teach broadcast journalism and has a new podcast also with The Pod Network called Let’s Talk.
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What gives some people the courage to say yes without hesitation and dive headfirst into opportunities without overthinking—and to turn brave experiments and into daring adventures?
That seemingly fearless spirit is exactly how our guest today built her amazing life. At just 19, using her own savings from various buy-and-sell side hustles in college, she founded Access Travel, now a luxury travel company crafting personalized experiences for clients in over 100 destinations worldwide in the last 14 years. An IE University Madrid graduate with a Master’s in Customer Experience & Innovation, she was also named one of Cosmopolitan Philippines’ 2024 Women of Influence.
She’s delivered a TED Talk on courage, authored a children’s book called Meet the World, and hosts the Life in Progress podcast. Her online community loves her for keeping it real—sharing both her wins and her struggles—and she’s even frozen her eggs to free herself from the pressure of a ticking biological clock. Angely proves you can design your own path without waiting for anyone’s permission. Here, she shares how to unleash your inner go-getter and find the audacity to “Go Lang Nang Go!”
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Some call them entitled, others see them as game-changers. Like it or not, Gen Z isn’t just the future of work—they’re the present, and learning to work withthem is no longer optional. They may need the wisdom of Gen X andmillennials, but older generations also need the fresh strengths Gen Z brings. Whether you’re leading Gen Z staff or are a Gen Z’er struggling to figure out your bosses, this conversation can help bridge the gap and help you work more effectively with any generation.
With decades of chasing stories in newsrooms to transforming leaders in boardrooms, journalist-turned-executive coach Nikka Santos understands the generational divide because she’s lived through the evolution of leadership. An ICF Professional Certified Coach and founder of The Future Leaders Program, she’s now unleashing Gen Z potential through her own practice, the BetterUp platform, and as a Senior Coach of Kaizen Leadership Asia—helping companies avoid disengagement and high turnover by unlocking Gen Z’s superpowers.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
Irregular periods, night sweats, insomnia, decreased libido, brain fog, mood swings, hot flashes, belly fat—for many women, these symptoms are all too real. But when they bring them up, too many doctors offering little empathy or solutions, dismissing them as “just part of getting older.” No wonder so many women feel confused, frustrated, and alone during perimenopause and menopause.
Dr Sheree Bondoc a.k.a. The Hormone Doctor, empowers women to navigate menopause with clarity, and confidence so they can live long and live well. She is the co-founder and medical director of The CORE Clinic, dedicated to treating not just the symptoms, but the root causes of health issues. A board-certified Fellow of the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, she is also a Certified Fellow in Metabolic, Nutritional, and Functional Medicine from the Metabolic Medical Institute of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and George Washington University.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
Irregular periods, night sweats, insomnia, decreased libido, brain fog, mood swings, hot flashes, belly fat—for many women, these symptoms are all too real. But when they bring them up, too many doctors offering little empathy or solutions, dismissing them as “just part of getting older.” No wonder so many women feel confused, frustrated, and alone during perimenopause and menopause.
Dr Sheree Bondoc a.k.a. The Hormone Doctor, empowers women to navigate menopause with clarity, and confidence so they can live long and live well. She is the co-founder and medical director of The CORE Clinic, dedicated to treating not just the symptoms, but the root causes of health issues. A board-certified Fellow of the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, she is also a Certified Fellow in Metabolic, Nutritional, and Functional Medicine from the Metabolic Medical Institute of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and George Washington University.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
Why is it so hard to stop overthinking, catastrophizing, or self-sabotaging? “Ang tigas ng ulo ko,” we say as we keep repeating mistakes and get in our own way, so it can feel like our own brain is own worst enemy. But when you understand how your brain works and how to rewire it in a way that helps you, your brain can be your most powerful ally.A TikTok educreator with over 234,000 followers and 2.8M likes, Kia is a globally certified professional neuroplastician (one of only 30+ in the world) and a communication strategist with over ten years of experience in human-centered, brain-based marketing and communication. The founder of Brave Creatives and Brave Creators Lab, she has helped generate over $500M in results for clients from micro-entrepreneurs to global brands.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
Negotiation isn’t just for boardrooms and courtrooms—it’s happening every day, at work, at home, even inside your head. Whether you’re asking for a raise, setting boundaries with a partner, dividing household duties, trying to be a better parent or even bargaining with your parents, you’re in a negotiation. And knowing how to handle those moments well can make a big difference in your life.Sharing practical tools and powerful mindset shifts to help you advocate for yourself like a lawyer in every part of your life is a seasoned practitioner in family, tax, and corporate law. The managing Partner of King & Graido Law, she has guided major corporate deals, IPOs, and tax settlements, and also handles high-stakes matters like annulments, custody disputes, and estate division.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
Do you dread going to work not because of the work itself—but because of that one person—your office frenemy—who just rubs you the wrong way? Maybe they’re overly competitive, passive-aggressive, chismosa, intrigera, or just plain toxic. How do you stay professional when you're forced to work with someone you just don't like?To help us unpack this all-too-common challenge is a seasoned HR and talent consultant, executive coach, and the no-nonsense voice behind CrissyTalksHR. With over 20 years of experience at fast-growth startups like Growsari and GoTyme, and global firms like Ernst and Young and the Boston Consulting Goup, she combines real-world HR insight and deeply human advice on how to build better working relationships—even with the people you don’t like!For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
Do you dread going to work not because of the work itself—but because of that one person—your office frenemy—who just rubs you the wrong way? Maybe they’re overly competitive, passive-aggressive, chismosa, intrigera, or just plain toxic. How do you stay professional when you're forced to work with someone you just don't like?To help us unpack this all-too-common challenge is a seasoned HR and talent consultant, executive coach, and the no-nonsense voice behind CrissyTalksHR. With over 20 years of experience at fast-growth startups like Growsari and GoTyme, and global firms like Ernst and Young and the Boston Consulting Goup, she combines real-world HR insight and deeply human advice on how to build better working relationships—even with the people you don’t like!For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
When life becomes overwhelming and stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or uncertainty make it hard to breathe—how do you come back to yourself? In a culture that rewards constant motion, slowing down makes us feel guilty or selfish. For Teresa Herrera, being present stopped being a luxury—it became her lifeline.
She was a top model, acclaimed stage actress and TV host, art curator, internationally recognized wellness facilitator, and a yoga and meditation teacher for over 20 years. When she faced loss and uncertainty in recent years (the passing of her brother John, and her son’s life-threatening illness), she found her anchor in radical presence. Here, she shares how we can use it to bring more calm, clarity, courage, and meaning into our everyday lives.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
You’ve got the job, the title, and the recognition, but are feeling burnt out, unfulfilled, or disconnected. It’s never enough, and you feel like you need to keep proving yourself just to keep up with expectations. If you keep asking, “Is this really what I want?”, a this episode is for you.
This executive and life coach, lawyer and former prosecutor knows exactly what that pressure feels like. After years of pushing herself to the limit and wrestling with anxiety, she shifted careers in her mid-40s, and now helps people break free from that cycle and define success on their own terms—as they achieve their personal and professional goals. As an involved mom to a child with special needs, she deeply values intentional living and making a positive impact.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
What could drive you to perform at your absolute best—under the most intense pressure, against the odds, and with the world watching? Whether you’re chasing Olympic gold or striving to meet your personal best in your own goals, there’s a science and strategy behind showing up powerfully with an Olympian mindset.
This Australian-licensed occupational therapist and elite sports performance coach played a pivotal role in gymnast Carlos Yulo to win two gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics by blending neuroscience, biomechanics, mental conditioning, and strategic coaching. Her work spans Olympic athletes, UFC fighters, esports world champions, and high-performers from all walks of life. She’s also a Harvard trained Ergonomics Specialist and an MIT Data Science Professional.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
Why is it easy to talk to some people—and painfully awkward with others? Whether it’s small talk with strangers, joining a group, or speaking to intimidating VIPs, many of us worry about saying the wrong thing—or worse, saying nothing at all.
This episode can help you get better at talking to anyone, just like once-shy class torpe Chris Cantada did. He proves you don’t need to be the loudest or most polished in the room you just need to be curious, present, and a little brave.
The former Sponge Cola drummer and cosplayer is now one of the Philippines’ most recognizable fan creators, having interviewed stars like Pedro Pascal, Evangeline Lilly, and Jennifer Lopez— and just about anyone who’s ever played a superhero or Star Wars franchise character. With 2 million
followers as Chris Cantada Force, his new podcast Once and
Always a Fanboy debuted at #7 on Spotify.
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Putting yourself out there can feel terrifying—whether it's speaking up in a meeting, telling others about your secret passion, posting something about yourself on social media, or simply letting yourself be seen. Because we fear of being judged, rejected, or misunderstood, we hold back and stay under the radar—even if we know that being more visible and showing the world whatwe can do can only help us achieve our dreams.
Kia Abrera is a certified neuroplastician and communication strategist who combines brain science, storytelling, and self-leadership to help people break through those fears and start showing up with confidence. This top TikTok EduCreator with over 229,000 followers is the founder of Brave Creatives, where she works with change-makers and mission-driven brands to tell theirstories with honesty and courage.
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
If you really want to understand yourself, look back. In a country where many of us grow up knowing little about our family or national history, discovering where we come from can help us feel more grounded, confident, and proud of who we are. And in this age of misinformation and historical revisionism and distortion, learning how to tell truth from propaganda has never been more important.
Genealogist and historian Mona Veluz, a.k.a. TikTok viral educreator Mighty Magulang, the “ninuno hunter,” makes Philippine history accessible and fun. A former corporate executive, she now dedicates her time to helping us Filipinos explore our roots, understand our identity, and reconnect with the powerful stories that define us.
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If you’ve ever felt the need to suppress your true self and watch every
word and move just to fit in, this episode might set you free.
Wilma Doesnt didn’t just break the mold—she smashed it to pieces and turned it into her success story: The supermodel who reigned on the runways in her true colors and comedienne who never held back has become a food entrepreneur whose hit “carinderia na sosyal” Chicks Ni Otit is featured globally on Feed Phil on Netflix. Through it all, she’s stayed 100% real and proves that being your full, authentic self is the secret ingredient para sumakses.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
