PODCAST · education
The Pausecast
by Rachael O'Meara || The Pausecast
The Pausecast podcast helps high-achieving leaders move beyond overwhelm and self-doubt to reclaim their confidence in their next career moves using Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and more. Hosted by Rachael O’Meara, MBA, MA, is a PCC executive coach with over a decade at Google and co-founder of SIC Venture Studio. Her 3 books 'Pause', 'Pause the Journal', and her latest collaboration 'Leading with Self-Awareness' are key resources for career growth. Her work is featured in the NYT, WSJ, HBR, and TEDx.
Episodes
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Ep. 256: When You Let Go of Control: Leadership Lessons from the Field
What if a pause isn’t about taking time off, but about changing how you show up? In this solo episode, I reflect on a series of experiences that took me from San Francisco to Ireland to India, each offering a different lesson about how we navigate life and leadership. 🌍 A wedding reminded me…
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Ep. 255: Leadership Lessons from Kauai: Rethinking What it Means to Lead with Elise Birkhofer
What if the thing missing from your leadership isn't another framework... but your body? 🌺 I reconnect with fellow former Googler Elise Birkhofer, who led Google's Women's Initiative for nine years, supporting 60,000 people across 120 countries. After losing her brother, Elise paused, got...
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Ep. 254 Myth or Fact: There’s No Place For Emotions At Work with Wendy Chin
In Episode 254 of The Pausecast, Rachael sits down with her friend and colleague Wendy Chin, an EQ coach and executive recruiter, to unpack something many high-achieving tech leaders know all too well: the higher you rise, the less your technical expertise alone can carry you. 🧠 Wendy shares...
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Episode 253: How to Know When It's Time to Pivot with VIP Guest
What if the next step in your career isn't about pushing harder... but pausing long enough to hear yourself think? 🤔 In this episode, I sit down with my former colleague Becky van der Werff to explore her journey from Google to entrepreneurship and what it really takes to navigate a career pivot...
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Ep. 252 🎙️ Burnout Is a Two-Way Street with Janice Litvin
"Without the people, there is no company." - Janice Litvin Burnout is often framed as a personal problem to solve. Practice more self-care. Set better boundaries. Become more resilient. In this conversation, burnout prevention expert, speaker, and author Janice Litvin joins me to explore why...
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🎙️ Ep. 251: Olympic Silver Medalist: Finding Your Next Big Career Move with Kate Johnson
What happens when a Silver Medalist, Olympic athlete, F100 leader, women's sports advocate, and cancer survivor shares the lessons she's learned about performance, purpose, and trusting yourself through life's biggest transitions? In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Kate Johnson, a…
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Ep. 250🎙️ Why High Achievers Struggle to Trust Themselves
I share what it's like to go from overthinking to self-trust, and how to navigate career decisions with greater confidence. What happens when you've done everything "right" and still feel stuck? You've built a successful career. You've worked hard. You've checked the boxes. Yet when it comes to...
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Ep. 249 Grow Where You’re Planted: The Power of Intention with Monique Sanchez
You may not be stuck, you may simply need more intention. What if your next career move isn’t a promotion… but a deeper alignment with what actually energizes you? In this episode 249 of The Pausecast, I sit down with longtime tech leader, and Google Director Monique Sanchez , and longtime...
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Ep. 248 From Autopilot to Awe with VIP Saul Blinkoff
What if the shift you desire isn’t about DOING more, but becoming more intentional about who you are BEING as you DO? ✨ I got to sit down with former Disney animator, Hollywood producer, speaker, and host of Life of Awesome podcast, Saul Blinkoff, for a conversation on awe, purpose, and what it...
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Ep. 247 Networking Minus the Dread 🤝⚡
Networking shouldn’t feel like another task on your already full mental stack. And yet for many of us high-achieving leaders, it still does. Or worse, that dark cloudy dread sets in just thinking about it. Not because you don’t know how to do it… But because your energy is already stretched…
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Ep. 246 From Overwhelm to Authority: How To Make Your Next Move 🚀
This one is for you as a high-achieving leader who’s doing everything right on paper… and still feels that quiet disconnect underneath. In this episode 246, I share a real client moment around presence and influence. Not the performative kind. The kind where you stop carrying the emotional weight...
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Ep. 245 You Built the Career… Now What? Purpose & Resilience in Tech Leadership: Ishwar Joshi
You’ve done everything “right.” Career milestones, promotions, accolades. And yet… something still feels off. In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to lead with purpose and stay resilient in tech without burning out. We explore why high performance alone doesn’t create fulfillment…
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Ep. 244 9 Years Later… Pause Matters More Than Ever
Nine years ago, Pause was a helpful idea when the book came out April 4, 2017. Today, it’s essential. In this pause-a-versary episode, I share what's different, and what's the same over the past 9 years pause has been in the wild. I reflect on what’s changed, and why the cost of staying in...
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Ep. 243 Getting Real with Sharon Salzberg
In this Ep. 243, I sit down with Sharon Salzberg, renoun author and someone known for helping the western world "learn how to meditate." We unpack what “pause” really means in the business world. Not silence, not shutting your mind off, but learning how to meet your thoughts, your stress, your...
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Ep. 242: Layoffs & AI: The Real Fear No One Talks About
👉 It’s not just layoffs or AI—it’s an identity shift. If your role changed tomorrow… who would you be? 👀 It’s not just layoffs. It’s not even just AI. It’s the quiet question many high achieving leaders are sitting with right now: “If my role changes… or disappears… who am I?” In this episode…
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Ep. 241 🎙️ Ruthless Priorities, Relationships, and Resetting for Tech Careers
"Where do you prioritize, ruthlessly prioritize, and where do you focus your time and your energy? It's about investing in meaningful relationships and creating balance." - Alyssa Stein, Sr. Director, Cisco In this episode, VIP guest Alyssa Stein, Senior Director at Cisco, shares a rare, grounded...
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Ep. 240 Lead Your Career Like a System: SRE Wisdom for Burnout-Free Tech Careers
What if you managed your career, energy, and life the same way elite engineers manage mission-critical systems? In Ep 240 of The Pausecast, I chat with Jennifer Petoff, a former PhD chemist turned SRE leader at Google, to explore how Site Reliability Engineering principles can radically change…
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Ep. 239 How to Recharge Tech Leadership: Full Spirit Workout
Ever feel like your career is moving fast, but your energy and focus aren’t keeping up? What if the secret to leading at your best isn’t doing more, but resetting smarter? In episode 239 of The Pausecast, I talk with Kate Eckman, executive coach, performance expert, and author of The Full Spirit...
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Ep. 235 When Success Isn’t Enough: A Career Wake-Up Call w Sandra Ma
In The Pausecast Ep. 235, Rachael O’Meara sits down with tech entrepreneur Sandra Ma for a refreshingly honest conversation about career reinvention, leaving big tech, leadership, and joy at work. Sandra shares her journey from starting out in finance, to MTV, to Google, to co-founding Jovial, a...
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Ep. 238: From Self-Doubt to Strategic Clarity w Product Manager Chealsea Wierbonski
The path from humble beginnings to tech leadership isn’t linear—and it’s rarely just about working harder. In this honest conversation, I sit down with Chelsea Wierbonski, a 20+ year seasoned product leader and coach in big tech, to unpack the inner work required to lead with clarity when the…
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Ep. 236 Advocate, Influence, and Lead in big tech with Liz Heaney
What if doing meaningful work isn’t enough—you also have to know how to advocate for it? In this episode of The Pausecast, I sit down with my former colleague Liz Heaney, a leader in big tech, for a powerful career conversation about impact, visibility, and resilience inside complex corporate...
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🎧 Ep. 237: Happy for No Reason: A Career + Leadership Convo Marci Shimoff
What if you didn’t have to wait for your job to change… to feel better at work? 😌 This week on The Pausecast VIP, I’m joined by the legendary Marci Shimoff—#1 NYT bestselling author of Happy for No Reason and a global thought leader in personal development. I met Marci a while back at a women's...
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Ep. 234 Exploring New Horizons - Career Convo with Melody Olson
What if the next level of your leadership doesn’t come from pushing harder—but from pausing on purpose? In this episode of The Pausecast, I sit down with Melody Olson, former Senior Engineering Director at Google, for a refreshingly honest conversation about leadership, career evolution, and what...
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Ep. 233: Riding the Wave: Ada Lau on Confident Leadership, Constant Change
In Ep. 233 of The Pausecast, I sit down with my former big tech colleague Ada Lau and we explore her journey from aspiring journalist to successful big tech leader. Ada shares how she built a career bridging technology and people, and the lessons she’s learned leading high-performing teams in a...
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🎧 Ep. 233: AI Read My Book PAUSE... Here's What Happened
Yes, you read that right—AI read my book Pause and pulled out the gold. In this special episode, I share the AI Audio 17 minute synopsis by two completely digital voices as they have coffee chat about the book Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break - from Google’s…
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Ep 232: Dr. Bob Wright on the 2026 Inner Work That Changes How You Lead This Year
How emotional intelligence, unfinished business, and pausing unlock real confidence. As we kick off another new year, this episode is an invitation to slow down—and lead differently. Why listen now:Start 2026 with more self-trust, emotional clarity, and leadership ease—without working harder or...
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🎉 Ep 179: New Year, Clear You: Design Your Vision for 2026 📚
It’s a wrap! ❤️ HAPPY… NEW… YEAR!! 🎉🎉🎉 The new year is your fresh canvas — a moment to breathe, reset, and choose how you want to lead yourself forward. This episode helps you pause with intention so you can set the tone for a powerful and purposeful 2026. (And yes… you can do this any time of...
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Ep. 178: Presence 🎁 Is Your Power
In Ep. 178 of The Pausecast... OMG it's Christmas Week - a time to slow down, connect, and reflect. But as leaders, how do we truly embrace the moment and share that sense of presence with others? In this special holiday seasonal episode of The Pausecast, we’ll unwrap the keys to leading with…
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🎄 Ep. 177: Ditch Stress & Meet Your Joy-full Future Self 🎉
What if this year, you could step into the holidays with calm, clarity, and joy? Join me, Rachael, for this special holiday episode of The Pausecast, where we’ll explore practical and mindful ways to navigate the season stress-free. Here’s what we’ll cover: 🌀 Design Your Vision for the New Year...
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Ep. 228: From Overthinking → Optimal Thinking: Your Guided Reset
Ahhh, it's breathing time, YAY! Join me for this moment to realign and get back to your optimal being (and thinking using the guided technique below. Your Go-To Reset to Realign + Believe in Yourself ✨ In this short but powerful 10 minute Pausecast episode, you’ll join me for an integrative...
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Ep. 227: Dr. Richard Davidson on Neuroscience
🎧 In Episode 227, you’ll discover... This one’s a gift to your future self. If you’ve been sprinting through Q4 feeling stretched, scattered, or secretly wondering, “Is it just me?” — this episode is your pause, your reset, and your reminder that your brain is far more trainable than your stress...
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Ep. 226 Max Your Attitude of Gratitude as a tech leader 🦃💛
If you're a high-achieving leader who’s already mentally drafting Q1 OKRs between bites of pumpkin pie… this episode is your invitation to pause - in service to all your doing! Because here’s the truth: you are more productive, more grounded, and way more inspiring when you unplug from work and...
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Ep. 225: 5 Lessons from Thailand Travels
"We can’t see the forest from inside it. Strategic pauses create the distance required for clarity." — Rachael O’Meara I just released a new episode of the podcast, and it’s a personal one. I’m sharing a few unexpected leadership lessons from my recent trip to Thailand—especially from the Lantern...
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🎧 Ep 224:How Curiosity Fuels Confident Leadership - with Aidan Booth
What if curiosity was your greatest leadership skill? In this inspiring episode, Rachael sits down with Aidan Booth, Director at one of the big techs, to explore how curiosity, reflection, and joy shape powerful, authentic leadership. 💡 Aidan opens up about his career journey — from the lessons...
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Ep 223: Mindfulness for High Achievers — How Kids Teach Leading with Calm + Clarity
High-achieving leaders know how to perform. But do they know how to pause? In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Ariane de Bonvoisin — former management consultant, Tony Robbins coach, TED speaker, and now author of the Giggles and Joy children’s book trilogy — to explore what it really...
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🎧 Ep. 222: How to Lead Big Moves Without Losing Yourself — with Alex Phillips
Landing a new role can feel like a win...and a test of your values. In this energizing convo, Alex Phillips shares what it’s really like to take a bold leap—moving his family across the world for a leadership role in big tech —and how he learned to redefine success from the inside out. We talk...
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Ep. 221 How to Get Into Your Groove—and Stay There with Rich Berta
Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things but still not quite in your flow? In Ep. 221 of The Pausecast, Rachael sits down with her former and inspiring teammate tech leader + mentor Rich Berta to explore what it really takes to get into your groove — and stay there — especially when the...
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🎧 Ep. 220 – Heart Coherence for Tech Leaders: Breathwork to Reboot Clarity + Calm
In this episode of The Pausecast... 💡 Discover how conscious breath creates heart coherence—a science-backed state that enhances focus, intuition, and emotional regulation under pressure. 🧘♀️ Practice an integrative breathwork session to find your own rhythm of coherence. 💬 Learn how to tune...
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Ep. 219 - VIP Christine Comaford : Going from critter brain to clarity
Here’s what you’ll discover in Ep. 219👇 🌱 Why humans are “meaning-making machines” (and how that can help or hurt you) 🎡 The SmartTribe Emotional Wheel —a game-changer for navigating feelings (graphic linked!) 📊 The surprising % of people who actually know what they’re feeling in the…
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Ep. 218: From Overwhelmed to In Control: 3 Boundaries WFH Leader Need
Feeling pulled in a million directions while working remote, hybrid, or even in-office? Boundaries can get flimsy, leaving you drained, stressed, and stretched too thin. In Ep. 218 of the Pausecast, I share a 3-step process to firm up your boundaries — so you can reclaim your time, energy, and...
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Ep. 217: 😭 Don't Panic! How to Stay Calm When Your Manager Pushes Your Buttons
In Ep. 217 of the Pausecast... 🔹 The #1 thing to do the moment frustration hits 🔹 How to move the relationship forward even when things feel stuck 🔹 Why passive-aggressive behavior costs you credibility (and what to do instead) 🔹 Practical steps to stay calm, approach your manager with…
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Ep. 216: From Scattered Stressball To Top Tech Exec - Hacks to Keep Your Cool In The Hot Seat
What Stress? :X Stress usually comes from holding onto fear, anger, sadness, or hurt — and not letting ourselves fully experience or process it. Instead, we often turn to our devices, numb out, and avoid what’s really going on. The result? Feeling tense, drained, and disconnected from ourselves....
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🚨 Ep. 215: Lead Like a Visionary, Not a Taskmaster
Are you leading your team (or yourself for that matter)… or just managing? 🤔 In this episode, we dive into the real differences between managing tasks and leading people—and why learning to lead with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence is what sets the most effective tech leaders...
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🎙️ Ep. 214: The Secrets to High-Performing Teams with Dr. Vanessa Druskat
Why Emotional Intelligence Isn’t Just Personal—It’s Team-Based. 👥🔥 You don’t need another personality assessment or trust fall. You need the right team norms that foster collective emotional intelligence. In this 🔥 conversation with Dr. Vanessa Druskat—renowned researcher and author of The...
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Ep. 213: Reclaim Your Identity Beyond Work + Redefine Success 🚀
In this episode of The Pausecast, we’re continuing the conversation from Ep. 212 and taking it a step further. You’ll learn practical tools to untangle your identity from your job, reclaim your energy, and redefine success on your terms. Here’s what we cover: 🔹 Why over-identification leads to...
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🎙Ep. 212: I Am Not My Job (Part 1): Untangling Work from Identity
You know you’re more than your job… but why does it feel so hard to actually believe it? 🤯 In this first of a 2-part series, we get into the messy truth of why our self-worth gets so tangled up with career success—and why even the most capable leaders can feel “less than” without the title or...
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Ep. 211: Moving beyond the grind: The New Paradigm
Here’s what you’ll get when you hit play: 💡 Why “being” will supercharge your “doing” (and your results) 🤯 The zillion-dollar Q: If you had all the money in the world… would you still be hustling this hard? 🔥 How to ditch outdated success habits that are quietly burning you out 🛑 The price…
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🎙️ Ep. 210: Your To-Die-For Life — A Wake-Up Call You Didn’t Know You Needed
What if your to-do list is actually holding you back from the life you really want? 📝💀 In this powerful and playful episode, bestselling author + behavioral change expert and VIP Karen Salmansohn joins Rachael to explore how mortality awareness can help high-achieving leaders pause, realign…
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Ep. 209: Why Fulfillment at Work Isn’t Fluff—It’s Foundational 💼✨
You’ve crushed goals, led teams, and made an impact—but fulfillment? That still feels… mushy—or like a luxury you don’t have time for. Especially when: ✅ Deadlines are looming ✅ Team dynamics are draining ✅ You’re juggling high-stakes leadership and home life Here’s the truth: What got you here...
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🎧 Ep. 208 — The Surprising Power of Surrender at Work
What if getting unstuck didn’t mean pushing harder — but letting go? When you hit a wall in your leadership or career, your instinct might be to fix it fast, get productive, or double down on strategy. But what if the real breakthrough comes from surrender? 💭 You’ve tried white-knuckling your…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Pausecast podcast helps high-achieving leaders move beyond overwhelm and self-doubt to reclaim their confidence in their next career moves using Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and more. Hosted by Rachael O’Meara, MBA, MA, is a PCC executive coach with over a decade at Google and co-founder of SIC Venture Studio. Her 3 books 'Pause', 'Pause the Journal', and her latest collaboration 'Leading with Self-Awareness' are key resources for career growth. Her work is featured in the NYT, WSJ, HBR, and TEDx.
HOSTED BY
Rachael O'Meara || The Pausecast
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Pausecast have?
The Pausecast currently has 249 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Pausecast about?
The Pausecast podcast helps high-achieving leaders move beyond overwhelm and self-doubt to reclaim their confidence in their next career moves using Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and more. Hosted by Rachael O’Meara, MBA, MA, is a PCC executive coach with over a decade at Google...
How often does The Pausecast release new episodes?
The Pausecast publishes regularly with 249 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Pausecast?
You can listen to The Pausecast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Pausecast?
The Pausecast is created and hosted by Rachael O'Meara || The Pausecast.
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