Girl, Take the Lead!
by Yolanda Canny
Each week we explore Womanhood and Leadership with the goal to question the status quo and challenge our thinking so we celebrate every woman as a leader. Our episodes will interview leaders in the field, meet authors, explore books on the subject, hear inspiring stories, or talk with organizations leading the charge for women to lead. We’ll look at the different topics from different generational perspectives as my daughters, a Millennial and a Gen Z, will join me, a Boomer, from time to time. We hope to make you laugh and leave inspired as you hear our voices on this very important topic.
Episodes
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333. SOUND BITE: Is Playing the Game Really Inauthentic?
Have you ever resisted being strategic because it felt like you weren't being true to yourself? I have. For much of my 42-year corporate marketing career, I believed that playing the game meant compromising my authenticity. I didn't want to flatter someone, accommodate an ego, or behave in ways...
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332. Inside the Insecure Male Ego: What Women Need to Know with James Dakin
Have you ever walked away from an interaction wondering: Why didn’t I say something? Why am I questioning myself? Why did I end up managing his feelings when I was the one who was hurt? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I’m joined by James Dakin—leadership transformation specialist,...
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331. SOUND BITE: Why Am I Still Hurrying?
What if hurry isn’t just about having too much to do? What if it’s an old pattern connected to how we learned to measure our worth? In my recent conversation with Bree Katulak, we talked about redefining success and what Bree calls our “invisible scorecard” — the measures we may have inherited...
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330. What If Achievement Isn’t Enough? Let’s Redefine Success with Bree Katulak
What happens when you achieve the thing you thought would make you feel successful…and it doesn’t? Bree Katulak knows that feeling. A seasoned executive, CPA, entrepreneur, and host of the Unstoppable You podcast, Bree built a career that included CFO, CEO, and President roles. When she reached…
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329. AT THE THRESHOLD: Who Are We Now? When Your Change Becomes Our Change
What happens when someone you love crosses a threshold—and suddenly you realize you’re standing at one, too? My husband is making a career pivot, looking for more balance and choice in how he spends his time. Five years ago, I stood at a similar threshold after leaving a 42-year corporate career.…
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328. SOUND BITE: What If Fun Is the Point?
My daughters, Emma and Kiki, had one condition before agreeing to come back on Girl, Take the Lead! for our Slang Challenge rematch: It had to be FUN. That simple request got me thinking. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to value working hard, being productive, getting things right and...
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327. The Slang Challenge Is Back: Can Mom Keep Up?
When I asked my daughters, Emma and Kiki, if they’d come back to Girl, Take the Lead!, they had one request: It had to be FUN. Challenge accepted. Back in 2022, Emma, our Millennial, and Kiki, our Gen Zer, joined me for Episode 22, “The Slang Challenge: How Many Do You Know?” They tested their...
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326. SOUND BITE: Conflict Resolution: Is Intention Enough?
What happens when we’re in conflict with someone who sees things very differently than we do? This Sound Bite (8:41) was inspired by Yo’s conversation with Charlotte Reed, who talked about approaching disagreement with grace—listening to people’s lived experiences and considering the possibility...
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325. Leading with Grace: Making Space for Different Views with Charlotte Reed
What happens when we step toward disagreement instead of away from it? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, Yo talks with Charlotte Reed, a communications professional, community organizer, and candidate for Menlo Park City Council, District 4, in California. Charlotte’s path to public…
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324. SOUND BITE: Caring for Ourselves: What Can Get in the Way?
What does it really mean to care for ourselves? This Sound Bite (9:17) was inspired by my recent conversation with Riana Malia, where we talked about love, identity, the patterns we carry, and what can happen when we get clear about who we are and what we want. I initially thought this reflection...
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323. Clear the Story, Create the Life: Who Are You Becoming? with Riana Malia
What if understanding our patterns isn't the same as changing them? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I talk with Riana Malia, a Board-Certified Integrative Neurosomatic Practitioner and identity architect for high-achieving women. Riana's own journey—and the work that grew from it—invites...
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322. SOUND BITE: Defensiveness: What Is It Trying to Tell Us? (9:14)
What happens when someone says something about us—and before they’ve even finished speaking, we’re already preparing our defense? That’s not what I meant. That’s not what happened. You don’t understand. Defensiveness can show up quickly. We explain. We justify. We shut down. We counterattack. Or…
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321. Hard Conversations: Clarity, Kindness, and Trust with Kerry Siggins
What makes a hard conversation so hard? Sometimes it’s what we need to say. Sometimes it’s what we’re afraid we’ll hear. And sometimes it’s the story we’ve already told ourselves about what will happen if we speak honestly. In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I’m joined by Kerry Siggins, CEO...
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320. SOUND BITE: Why Do I Keep Doing This? Patterns, Beliefs & Change
Why can our own patterns be so difficult to see? You might think repetition would make them obvious. But what if repetition does the opposite—making our patterns feel so familiar that we stop noticing them? In this Sound Bite (12:56), Yo reflects on her recent conversation with Broadway actress,...
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319. The Brave Life: Moving Beyond the Beliefs We Carry with Leslie Becker
What if bravery isn’t something you’re born with? What if it’s something you choose? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I’m joined by Broadway actress, bestselling author, success coach, and host of the Unstoppably Creative Podcast, Leslie Becker, for a conversation about the beliefs we...
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318. SOUND BITE: The Gift of Friendship
What makes a friendship meaningful? Is it how long it lasts? How often we talk? Or could the gift of friendship be something else entirely—the experience of knowing another person and allowing ourselves to be known? This Sound Bite was inspired by my recent conversation with my longtime friend…
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317. There’s So Much Life to Enjoy: Travel, Curiosity & Adventure with Roz Sobel
What if travel isn't simply about seeing someplace new—but about opening ourselves to more of life? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I’m joined by someone very special to me: my longtime friend Roz Sobel. Roz and I met almost 50 years ago when I was assigned to convince her to take a job...
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316. SOUND BITE: What If Grief Is Bigger Than We Thought?
What if grief has been present in more of our lives than we realized? This Sound Bite was inspired by my recent conversation with somatic nurse coach Lisa Ketcham-Hendrickson, who reminded us: “We can’t heal what we don’t feel.” That conversation brought me back to Francis Weller’s The Wild Edge…
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315. We Can’t Heal What We Don’t Feel: Coming Home to Ourselves with Lisa Ketcham-Hendrickson
What if recovery isn’t about getting around our pain—but learning how to be with what we feel? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, Yo welcomes Lisa Ketcham-Hendrickson, somatic nurse coach and founder of Human Recovery. Drawing on more than 30 years in emergency and trauma nursing—as well as...
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314. SOUND BITE: Being a Beginner: The Courage to Be Seen Not Knowing
Why can it feel so difficult to admit that we don’t know something? This Sound Bite was inspired by my conversation with sport and performance psychologist Dr. Darby Bonomi, who reminded us that there is no shame in being at the beginning. But that got me thinking. Maybe being a beginner isn’t...
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313. The Voice That Keeps Women Playing Small — with Dr. Darby Bonomi
Some of the loudest voices we hear aren't coming from other people—they're the ones inside our own heads. That inner critic can convince us we're not ready, that everyone else has it figured out, or that asking for help somehow means we've failed. Over time, those thoughts can quietly keep us...
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312. SOUND BITE: What Resentment Is Trying to Tell Us
What if resentment isn't the problem... What if it's the invitation? Inspired by my recent conversation with communication strategist and CEO Lee Caraher, this Sound Bite explores what often lies beneath resentment—and how a simple pause can help us move from assumptions and "shoulds" toward...
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311. Helping 5,000 Women Be Heard with Lee Caraher
What if one conversation could change the way you lead? Communication strategist, CEO, and author Lee Caraher believes it can. As CEO of Double Forte, Lee has spent decades helping organizations communicate more clearly, build stronger teams, and navigate difficult conversations. Along the way…
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310. AT THE THRESHOLD l What Do Birthdays Measure? Receiving Love with New Eyes
What if birthdays aren't really about getting older? What if they're invitations to discover the stories we've carried about love, worth, and belonging? In this new At the Threshold reflection, I share how a recent birthday became much more than a celebration. It became an unexpected opportunity…
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309. Money Isn't About Money: It's About the Story You Believe Guest: Miriam Castilla
What if your relationship with money isn't really about money at all? In this thought-provoking conversation, Yo sits down with business and money mentor Miriam Castilla to explore the stories we inherit about money, wealth, and self-worth—and how those stories quietly shape the choices we make...
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308. SOUND BITE: When Anxiety Takes the Wheel
What if anxiety isn't trying to defeat us? What if it's asking us a question? In this Sound Bite, inspired by my recent conversation with Lisa Woodruff, I explore the role anxiety plays in our everyday lives—especially when we're trying to lead our homes, our work, and ourselves. We often think…
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307. Be the CEO of Your Home, Not Its Employee | Lisa Woodruff
Have you ever finished a busy day wondering where all your time and energy went? The meals were made. The laundry was folded. The appointments were scheduled. The emails were answered. Yet somehow, it still feels like there was so much more to do. In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I sit…
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306. SOUND BITE: The Nature of Peace - What Changes When We Stop Looking Outward?
We all say we want peace. But what do we really mean? After my conversation with leadership coach and author Erika Alessandrini, I found myself reflecting on a question we never actually defined: What is the nature of peace? For much of my life, I thought peace was something waiting for me...
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305. Pressure, Peace & the Hidden Cost of Always Being the Responsible One | Erika Alessandrini
Have you ever found yourself being the one everyone counts on? The one who says yes. The one who steps in. The one who carries the weight because you know you can. From the outside, it can look like strength. But what if the very qualities that helped you succeed are quietly costing you your…
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304. SOUND BITE: Compassionate Curiosity - Leaving Room for a Different Ending
What if one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves—and the people we love—is the willingness to leave room for a different ending? Inspired by my conversation with Wani Iris Manly in Episode 303, this Sound Bite explores the quiet shift from trying to control outcomes to practicing...
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303. Let Life Surprise You: What Happens When You Stop Controlling Everything
What if the life you're meant to live begins when you loosen your grip on the one you've carefully planned? In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Wani Iris Manly—TEDx and award-winning speaker, intellectual property attorney, change expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author—whose...
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302. AT THE THRESHOLD SERIES: Who Am I Now? The Hidden Gift Inside Every Transition
Sometimes life's biggest transitions don't announce themselves. They arrive quietly. Not through one dramatic event... ...but through a collection of moments that slowly reshape us until one day we realize something inside has changed. In this personal At the Threshold reflection, Yo shares an...
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301. When Our World Changes – Finding Our Way Forward
What happens when the world around us changes—and we're left wondering how to move forward? In this thoughtful and timely conversation, I sit down with Kristine Frost—former Chief Human Resources Officer, attorney, executive advisor, and founder of Shattered Glass Advisory—to explore leadership,...
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300. SOUND BITE: The Evidence of Hope
Welcome to Sound Bite—a short reflection inspired by conversations on Girl, Take the Lead. This week is a special one. It's our 300th episode. As I reflected on the past four years, I found myself asking: What evidence do we have that hope is justified? We live in a world where fear often makes…
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299. SOUND BITE: Trust, Faith, and the Courage to Let Go
A Sound Bite is a short reflection inspired by a recent Girl, Take the Lead! conversation—an opportunity to explore one idea a little more deeply. In this Sound Bite, host Yo Canny reflects on a question that emerged from her conversation with Andrea Mein DeWitt: What is the difference between...
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298. The Generous Heart: Boundaries, Trust, and Letting Go of Resentment with Andrea Mein DeWitt
What happens when giving begins to feel heavy? In this thoughtful return to Girl, Take the Lead!, Professional Certified Coach and author Andrea Mein DeWitt joins Yo Canny to explore a question many caring people wrestle with: How do we remain generous without becoming resentful? Drawing from her...
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297. SOUND BITE: The Courage Not to Fit In
What if the goal isn't fitting in? What if the goal is belonging? In this Sound Bite, I reflect on a question that emerged from my conversation with Teresa Gregory in Episode 296: What's the difference between fitting in and belonging? Drawing on the work of Brené Brown and Teresa's insights…
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296. Hidden Mindsets: The Labels, Assumptions, and "Fit" with Teresa Gregory
What if the biggest factor influencing your leadership isn't what you know—but what you don't realize is influencing you? In this episode, Executive Leadership Strategist, Keynote Speaker, and Executive Coach Teresa Gregory joins us to explore what she calls our hidden mindsets—the labels,...
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295. SOUND BITE – Hope, Trust, and the Leaders Who Are Coming
After my conversation with Sheryl Robinson in Episode 293, I found myself sitting with an unexpected feeling: Hope. Not because everything is suddenly okay. Not because the challenges facing our communities have disappeared. And not because the future comes with guarantees. Instead, I found…
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294. Girl Scout Gold Award: Building the Next Generation of Leaders
What gives you hope for the future? In this inspiring episode, Yo Canny sits down with Sheryl Robinson—author, podcaster, speaker, and longtime Girl Scout volunteer—to explore how the Girl Scout Gold Award helps young women develop confidence, leadership skills, and the belief that they can make…
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293. SOUND BITES | Your Worth Was Never the Problem A Reflection Inspired by Ep 292 with Marisa Handler
What happens when the way we've measured our importance no longer fits our lives? In this first Girl, Take the Lead! Sound Bite, I reflect on a question that surfaced after my conversation with Marisa Handler: If I am no longer defined by my title, accomplishments, or responsibilities, what makes...
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292. From Shame to Worthiness: Living Your Creative Genius with Marisa Handler
What if the shame you've been carrying isn't evidence that you're broken—but an invitation to discover your worth? In this deeply moving conversation, award-winning author, poet, singer-songwriter, and creative coach Marisa Handler joins Girl, Take the Lead! to explore authenticity, creativity,...
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291. Can AI Lighten the Heaviness? with Dawn Andrews
What if AI wasn’t about replacing people… but helping us carry less? In this thought-provoking and surprisingly human conversation, Dawn Andrews joins Yo to explore the emotional side of AI, leadership, creativity, and the mental load so many of us carry every day. Dawn is the Founder & CEO of…
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290. Shattering the Mirror — What Breaks Can Also Heal with Lena Fein
Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we explore leadership, healing, identity, and the stories that help us reclaim our voice and lead with intention. In this deeply moving episode, Yo welcomes author Lena Fein to talk about her memoir, Shattering the Mirror, and the healing...
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289. What Do You Want? Reinvention, Gratitude & the Courage to Choose Yourself with Carmell Clark
What if the most important question in your life isn’t what should I do next… but: “What do I truly want?” In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, I’m joined by Carmell Clark, founder of the Center for Transformational Influence, executive coach, and global leader in advancing…
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288. Becoming Who You Are—Even as You Grow | Marques Ogden on Authenticity
A powerful conversation on authenticity, resilience, and rebuilding after rock bottom—why becoming who you are is a lifelong journey. In this episode: Living with authenticity—not perfection From the Jacksonville Jaguars to losing everything—and rebuilding Motivation vs. inspiration (and why it...
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287. After the Moment — What Stayed With Me: Confidence, Connection & Love (Part 3)
What happens after the moment you’ve been preparing for? In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m reflecting on what stayed with me after my daughter’s wedding—and how the experience brought together a lifetime of growth, healing, and self-discovery. What I didn’t expect was just how present I...
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286. The Quiet Grief We Carry: Identity, Loss & Letting Go - At the Threshold Series (Part 2)
Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead!—where we explore leadership not just in our work, but in the moments that shape who we are. This episode is part of my 3-part series, At the Threshold, created during a deeply personal time as I prepare for my daughter’s wedding. And what I didn’t expect to...
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285. The Good Daughter — When Pleasing Hurts At the Threshold Series (Pt 1)
This episode is part of a special 3-part series I’m calling At the Threshold—a real-time reflection on what this season of life is bringing up for me as I prepare for my daughter’s wedding. And what surprised me most… was how much it brought me back to my own experience as a daughter. 💛 Why This...
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284. When Pushing Through Becomes Breaking — Rethinking Burnout with Lynn Blades
What if burnout isn’t something that suddenly happens to us… but something that quietly builds over time? In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with executive leadership coach and author Lynn Blades to explore what she calls “The Quiet Burn”—the slow, invisible erosion of...
About this show
Each week we explore Womanhood and Leadership with the goal to question the status quo and challenge our thinking so we celebrate every woman as a leader. Our episodes will interview leaders in the field, meet authors, explore books on the subject, hear inspiring stories, or talk with organizations leading the charge for women to lead. We’ll look at the different topics from different generational perspectives as my daughters, a Millennial and a Gen Z, will join me, a Boomer, from time to time. We hope to make you laugh and leave inspired as you hear our voices on this very important topic.
Hosted by
Yolanda Canny
Categories