Not Like Me

Most leaders have a plan for a fire drill. Almost none have a plan for a mental health crisis.That gap is not a values problem. It is a systems problem. And I promise you, it is already showing up in your workplace whether you can see it or not.In this episode of Not Like Me, I sit down with two experts who work where behavior, the brain, and real-world performance intersect. Sarah McFarland is a board certified behavior analyst with over 13 years of experience training teams to respond with skill instead of emotion. Dr. Alicia Hodge is a clinical psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy and wellness innovation, and her work is grounded in one core truth: what we think drives how we feel, and how we feel drives how we behave.We get into the conversation most leaders are not having. And probably should have started years ago.In this episode:What neurodiversity actually means and who it already includes on your teamHow anxiety shows up at work in ways most leaders completely misreadThe perfectionism trap: what it looks like, what it costs, and what to do about itWhy companies have protocols for physical emergencies but almost nothing for mental health crisesWhy rapport is not a soft skill but the foundation of trust, disclosure, and resultsHow to reframe rest as a leadership strategy, not a rewardThis episode is for every leader who has ever misread someone on their team and wondered what they missed.📌 Mentioned in this episode: Ally Leadership by Stephanie Chung → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9ZRMMZH🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Not Like Me. 📲 Follow Stephanie: https://learn.stephaniechung.com/stephanie-chung-social

In this solo episode of Not Like Me, I reflect on my conversation with Dr. Brad Johnson and go deeper on what allyship actually looks like in practice…for men, for women, and for every leader navigating today's complex workplace.I share personal stories from my 40-year career in corporate America, including my time in the airline and private aviation industries, that illustrate why the conversation around workplace inclusion, gender equity, and allyship is not just still relevant, it is more urgent than ever.Women are still making 80 cents on the dollar. Leaders are still staying silent in the moments that matter. And most of us still do not know what to do when we are interrupted, overlooked, or talked past in a meeting.In this episode I cover:Why allyship has a real cost and what leaders need to understand about thatWhat to say when you get interrupted in a meetingHow to show up as an ally without overcomplicating itWhy awareness without action is just noiseThe ALLY framework: Ask, Listen, Learn, You Take ActionWhat real allyship looks like in the moments most leaders missThis episode is for leaders at every level who are ready to stop talking about inclusion and start doing something about it.If this conversation is landing, The Modern Leader’s Toolkit is the practical next step to learn the five disciplines built around A.L.L.Y. Download The Modern Leader’s Toolkit → https://learn.stephaniechung.com/leader-toolkit

Most men believe they are supporting women at work.In fact, studies show about 60% of men think they are strong allies.But only about 30% of women agree.Now I don’t know about you, but to me, that is not a small gap we should be brushing over.To me, that is a major leadership problem.Thankfully, it’s also a problem for others, like my friend Dr. Brad Johnson - who’s doing something about it. In this episode of Not Like Me, I sit down with Dr. Brad to talk about what it actually looks like for men to show up as allies for women in the workplace.Because support is easy when nothing is happening.It gets real when a woman gets interrupted…When her idea gets repeated and credited to someone else…Or when something is said that makes the room go quiet.And here is what the research shows:Men are significantly more likely to speak in meetings and less likely to be interruptedWomen are interrupted more often and have their ideas overlooked or  hijackedAnd in those moments… most people notice, but very few step inSo the question is not “Do you care?”It is: “What do you actually do about it?”Not in theory.Not in a company required training.But in the real-time moments where it counts.Brad and I get into:Why so many well-intentioned men believe they are showing up… and where that breaks downWhat the data actually says about who gets heard, who gets interrupted, and who actually gets creditWhat is happening in your brain in that split-second hesitation and why silence is the defaultHow to step in without making it awkward, performative, or about youThe difference between being a “good guy” and being a leader your team actually trustsWe talk about why men stepping up as allies is not all unicorns and rainbows. It’s uncomfortable. Nobody wants to be “that guy.” But we both know that you do not get judged by what you intend to do. You get judged by what you actually do.And saying nothing is still a decision.Brad brings the research.I bring what I actually see happening in these rooms.And if it makes you a little uncomfortable, good. That usually means we are getting somewhere.If you want to go deeper, Dr. Brad Johnson’s book The Fair Share is a strong next step. It comes out June 30th. Pre-order it HERE.

Most of the challenges you are dealing with right now are not about strategy. They are about people. People who think differently, lead differently, and see the world through a completely different lens than you do.And nobody is talking about that part. Not really.This show is not a leadership lecture series. It is not a highlight reel of things you already agree with. And it is definitely not another podcast where everyone nods along and nobody says anything that makes you put down your coffee and think, wait, did they really just say that?Not Like Me is about what happens when you get genuinely curious about people who do not think, live, lead, or see the world the way you do. That shows up at work, yes. But it also shows up at the dinner table, in your neighborhood, in your friendships, and in the quiet assumptions you carry around without even realizing they are there.Every guest I bring into this conversation has taught me something I would not have learned on my own. Someone whose experience cracked open a blind spot, challenged a belief I did not know I was holding, or gave me language for something I had felt but never quite been able to say out loud.That is what I want for you.I am Stephanie Chung. And I am really, really glad you are here.Episode 1 is coming soon, y'all. And trust me, we are starting with a good one.Follow and subscribe so you are first in line when we drop.