Healing, Vulnerability & the Stories That Set Us Free: Part 1 of the Lead Embodied Series

What happens when the identities and stories we've carried for years no longer fit? In the opening conversation of Lead Embodied: Wisdom for Leading Through Uncertainty, Rhodes Perry sits down with author, keynote speaker, and leadership thought partner Joel Davis Brown to explore the courage it takes to release inherited pain, tell the stories we've learned to hide, and become more fully ourselves. Drawing from his deeply personal memoir, I Had to Become the Father, Joel shares what he has learned about healing, vulnerability, belonging, and the transformative power of telling the truth about our lives. Together, Rhodes and Joel explore what these lessons can teach leaders navigating extraordinary uncertainty and disruption—including what happens when we censor the parts of ourselves that could create the deepest connection and trust. Why Healing Belongs in Leadership Healing isn't simply about repairing ourselves so we can continue navigating the world. It can also be an invitation to know ourselves more fully, reclaim our power, and create a life more aligned with who we are. In this conversation, we explore how: Inherited Stories Shape Leadership. The beliefs and identities we inherit from family, culture, and community can quietly influence how we show up, connect, and lead. Vulnerability Creates Connection. When we stop hiding the parts of ourselves we've learned to censor, we create new possibilities for trust, belonging, and authentic connection. Healing Reclaims Our Agency. We don't have to wait for someone else to give us permission to become more fully ourselves. Healing can begin with telling the truth about what we've been carrying.  Conversation Highlights  In this conversation, you'll hear Joel and Rhodes explore:  The Stories We Carry. How do we begin to recognize which stories belong to us—and which ones we inherited? Belonging to Ourselves. What happens when we repeatedly censor parts of ourselves in order to belong, and what becomes possible when we begin coming home to ourselves? Leading Through Uncertainty. When we don't know what happens next, how can healing and self-awareness help us stay connected rather than reach immediately for control? Embodied Leadership. How can we recognize, in our bodies, when we're moving away from ourselves—and when we're returning to what matters most Show Notes & Resources  🌱 Explore Lead Embodied. Learn more about Rhodes' forthcoming book and the Lead Embodied approach to navigating uncertainty with greater presence, authenticity, and ease: https://www.rhodesperry.com/leadembodied 📚 Join the Lead Embodied Book Experience. Starting next month, paid Substack subscribers can journey through Lead Embodied one chapter at a time, with early access to the book, companion somatic practices, and reflection guides before its retail release in winter 2027: https://rhodesperry.substack.com/p/leadembodied ✉️ Stay Connected with Rhodes. Subscribe to the Rhodes Perry Leads newsletter to be the first to hear when early-bird registration opens: www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe. 🎙️ Follow the Imagine Belonging Podcast. Continue the conversation and explore upcoming episodes in the Lead Embodied: Wisdom for Leading Through Uncertainty author series: www.rhodesperry.com/podcast. Thank You for Growing the #BelongingMovement!