UNTRAINED

In this episode of Untrained, we flip the script! Olympic gold medalist and performance coachJoe Jacobi joins Whitney and Iris from his home in Catalonia to be this episode’s host. Joeweaves in his expertise on a life worth living and then turns the tables on Whitney and Iris toask the Untrained duo about Season 3; recapping highlights from 3 episodes.This conversation dives into:The Wave Mindset: Joe introduces the concept of "thinking in waves," a powerful metaphor for navigating life's challenges and opportunities with grace and intention.Joe flips the script and interviews Iris and Whitney: The trio recaps episodes includinglegendary coach Kathy Delany-Smith, Olympians Cassidy Krug and Connor Fields.Whitney and Iris weigh in on their current Untraining journey and where it finds them. Untraining for Success: Joe shares a personal story of untraining his competitive mindset,revealing how letting go can lead to unexpected triumphs and greater enjoyment.We had a great time connecting with Joe, wrapping up the season, and reflecting on Untraining as powerful strategy in each of our lives.If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review!Follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.Connect with Joe Jacobi: LinkedIn, Website

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”—RumiStep inside the transformative world of Internal Family Systems (IFS) with Whitney and Iris on the "Untrained" podcast. Joined by IFS experts Barti Bourgault and Guthrie Sayen, co-founders of the Institute for Healing and Awakening, this episode unpacks Dr. Richard Schwartz’s groundbreaking model that’s revolutionizing personal growth, coaching, and therapy. If you are curious about self-discovery, you’ll find practical insights and tools for understanding your inner world and leading your life with greater clarity and compassion.Key Takeaways:IFS’s Three Big Ideas: Discover the foundational concepts that will change how you see yourself and others.Understanding Your Inner “Parts”: Learn how manager parts, protectors, and exiles shape your emotions and behaviors.Accessing Your “Self”: Explore ways to connect with your calm, compassionate core for healing and clarity.Barti Bourgault, PCC and Guthrie Sayen PhD, PCC are the founders of The Institute for Healing and Awakening which offers life-changing training for those seeking to work more deeply in service of healing, presence, and global wellbeing. https://www.healingandawakening.instituteWhitney’s executive coaching is IFS informed.  www.whitneyottocoaching.comBook on IFS: No Bad Parts by Dick Schwartz

 Resurfacing: A Conversation on Life’s Biggest Transitions fwith Olympic Diver Cassidy KrugIn this episode of "Untrained," hosts Iris and Whitney welcome Cassidy Krug, a former Olympic diver and author of "Resurface." Cassidy shares her journey from elite athlete to navigating life after sports, offering insights on the universal challenges of major life transitions.Key highlights include:Cassidy's experience transitioning out of competitive divingThe importance of community support during life changesUnderstanding and processing grief in all types of transitionsThe power of rituals in marking significant life eventsCassidy's story resonates beyond sports, touching on career shifts, personal growth, and finding new purpose. She emphasizes that no matter the transition you're facing, you're not alone.This episode offers valuable perspectives for anyone grappling with change, from career pivots to personal transformations. Cassidy's book "Resurface" provides further exploration of these themes, making it a must-read for those seeking guidance through life's transitions.Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, self-discovery, and the unexpected opportunities that arise when we navigate change.

In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, we sit down with Amanda Smith—former NASA engineer turned coach for high-achieving women navigating chronic illness.We explore what it really means to slow down to speed up healing, and Amanda shares both science-backed tools and deeply personal insights on how to rewire the brain-body connection. Key Takeaways:Functional Neurology 101: How Amanda helps clients retrain their nervous systems for balance and recoveryThe Power of Sound: Humming and singing to stimulate the vagus nerveCurated Playlists: Using music strategically to calm or energizeThe Gutsy Chick Archetypes: Meet the Bruiser, the Brainster, the Stickler, and the Chillster—and how each one relates to healingA real-time reflection on what happens when Iris untrains her habit of going fast through lifeThis episode is a reminder: Slowing down isn’t weakness—it’s a tactical strategy that at some point we will all have to embrace. Amanda Smith is a former NCAA Division I and Division II softball player and  a trained aerospace engineer who has worked on projects for NASA. Now she helps female high performers with confusing health challenges to identify their unique path to clarity, relief, and optimum performance.GutsyChickQuiz.comBodyWhisperHealing.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@Body.Whisper.Healing https://www.instagram.com/amanda.g.smith/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-ritchie-smith/ 

What We Cover:What somatics is and how it's different from traditional approaches to behavior changeHow body-based practices help us build awareness, resilience, and alignmentRedefining resilience: Not grit, but nourishment through nature, creativity, connection, and careDr. J draws from decades of experience in education, athletics, and healing work to illuminate how somatic awareness can shape everything from how we lead to how we grieve.Whether you’re navigating stress, leading through change, or just trying to feel more like yourself again—this episode offers tools and perspective you won’t want to miss.Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And if you loved this conversation, leave us a review and share it with a friend.You can find Dr. J Sikes on he website here: https://strozziinstitute.org/coach/j-sikes/

In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, hosts Whitney and Iris are joined by Travis Thomas, a renowned speaker, author, and coach. Together, they challenge the traditional belief that confidence is essential for success and explore why courage and action may be far more impactful.Episode Highlights:Reframing Confidence and Courage: Travis explains why courage often trumps confidence in high-stakes environments. Actions, not feelings, ultimately drive performance.Creating Psychological Safety: Discover how leaders can foster environments where team members feel safe to take risks and grow, a crucial element for high-performing teams.Responding to Uncertainty: Travis shares strategies for focusing on controllable factors like attitude and effort, maintaining a proactive mindset even in unpredictable situations.The Power of Validation: Understand why allowing individuals to express emotions before guiding them toward solutions enhances leadership effectiveness.Pausing for Conscious Choice: Inspired by Viktor Frankl, Travis discusses the importance of pausing between stimulus and response to make thoughtful decisions.Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that redefines confidence and equips you with practical tools for leadership and personal growth. Connect with Travis Thomas and explore his work through his books, Confidence is Overrated and Three Words for Getting Live.If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.

In this episode of the "Untrained" podcast, we welcome Dr. Lisa and Dr. Richard Orbe-Austin to discuss their insightful new book, "Your Child's Greatness: A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome." The conversation is a treasure trove of strategies for nurturing confidence, resilience, and healthy self-esteem in children, tackling challenges like performance anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressures of toxic academic cultures.Key Concepts: Belonging, Blooming, and BeingIntroduction to the three-part framework for child developmentImportance of fostering a sense of belonging independent of achievementNavigating High-Stress EnvironmentsApplying book principles to high-pressure situations like competitive sportsStrategies for parents to support children in challenging environmentsPerformance Anxiety and PerfectionismTechniques for addressing performance anxiety in children-Understanding the roots and impacts of perfectionism Building Self-Care RoutinesImportance of modeling self-care behaviors as parentsStrategies for incorporating self-care into children's routines Toxic Academic and Sports CulturesAddressing challenges in academic and sports environmentsEncouraging parents to advocate for their children's well-being Curiosity and Understanding in ParentingEmphasizing the importance of curiosity in understanding children's behaviorsEncouraging open communication and data-driven conclusions in parenting Whether you're a parent, coach, teacher or anyone who works with kids, you'll find valuable wisdom in this episode on fostering resilience and confidence in the next generation.Join us for this enlightening discussion and discover how to foster a nurturing environment where children can truly thrive. For more insights, connect with Dr. Lisa and Dr. Richard Orbe-Austin and explore their book, "Your Child's Greatness."Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and co-founder of Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting. She specializes in career advancement, leadership development, and helping high-potential professionals overcome imposter syndrome. Her expert insights have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, NBC News, and more, and she’s been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Careers.Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and author who specializes in imposter syndrome, leadership development, and workplace well-being. He is a TEDx speaker whose insights have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and more.Together they have written, Own Your Greatness and Your Unstoppable Greatness, and  Your Child's Greatness: A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome.

In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, we dive into a conversation that every high performer can likely relate to: Toxic Productivity. We sit down with Israa Nasir, psychotherapist and author of Toxic Productivity, to explore the pervasive mindset in which our self-worth becomes tethered to achievement. We examine the cultural, familial, and emotional roots of this mindset, the rewards and costs it carries, and the long-term impact on our well-being.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The definition of toxic productivityCultural influences that shape our productivity mindsetThe emotional underpinnings that drive overachievementStrategies for untraining from toxic productivityThe role of intentional mediocrity in achieving healthy productivityIsraa shares her personal journey through toxic productivity, provides powerful client examples, and invites us to radically reimagine what productivity truly means. Her approach blends psychological insights with practical strategies, offering a roadmap to breaking free from the achievement treadmill.If you’ve ever felt like you are only as good as your latest accomplishment, this episode is for you.Listen now and start untraining from unconscious toxic productivity.Guest Bio: Iraa NasirIsraa Nasir, MHC-LP, is a New York City-based psychotherapist, writer, and the founder of WellGuide—a digital community for mental health awareness. A Pakistani-Canadian child of immigrants, she has a specific focus on mental health, identity formation and healing for the AAPI first- and second-generation immigrant community.Resources & Links: https://www.israanasir.com/about-israa

Episode Summary:If the February blues are hitting hard, this episode might be just what you need. We’re talking about simple, meaningful ways to bring more goodness into our communities—because even small acts can create powerful ripple effects.Our guest this week is Bryan Driscoll, author of The goodness game and a passionate advocate for kindness. His journey of paying it forward began 20 years ago when a stranger’s small act of generosity changed his life. Now, he’s on a mission to inspire others to spread goodness in ways that feel natural and sustainable.In this episode, we explore:The surprising experiment that sparked Brian’s missionHow to identify your unique "helper style"Tips for giving without burning outThe five rules of The Goodness GamePractical ways to incorporate kindness into daily lifeResearch backs it up—helping others isn’t just good for them; it’s good for us, too. Studies have shown that acts of kindness boost happiness, reduce anxiety, and strengthen social connections across cultures.Brian reminds us that generosity doesn’t have to be grand and offers tips to keep kindness sustainable.This conversation left us with practical tips for getting goodness flowing.Guest Bio: Bryan DriscollBryan Driscoll is an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for kindness. His journey with The Goodness Game began after a stranger’s simple act of generosity changed his life 20 years ago. Since then, he’s been dedicated to paying it forward and helping others find their own ways to spread goodness. When he’s not writing or speaking on the power of kindness, Bryan runs a digital marketing agency, invests in real estate, and enjoys mountain biking and skiing with his family in Pittsburgh.Resources & Links:Check out goodnessgame.com for free resources, including Bryan’s book and the Helper’s Heart Test.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in a sport where a single mistake could cost you your life? BMX Athletes "have to have the explosive power of a 100-meter sprinter, the endurance of a 400-meter runner, the balance of a gymnast, and the mental fortitude of a boxer".In our latest Untrained episode, we explore the mind of an athlete who's experienced the fullspectrum of Olympic outcomes. The first time Connor went to the Olympics he “choked” and earned 7th place. The second time he won an Olympic Gold and in the final Olympics, Connor suffered a life threatening injury. His story is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and the power of perspective in his athletic career and beyond.Here are 3 key insights from our conversation with Connor: Adaptability is Key: BMX racing demands a unique blend of skills. Connor explains how this translates to success in life beyond sports as well as what mindsets he needed to UNTRAIN. Redefining Success: Learn how Connor's sport and life transitions have forced him to continually redefine success and what it means to him now that he is a TV host and Keynote speaker.Unlearning Black and White Thinking: Discover how Connor is navigating the "gray areas" of life after a career of clear-cut wins and losses.This episode offers a raw look into the mindset of an elite athlete transitioning to life beyondcompetition. Hint: it involves a lot of untraining!You can learn more about Connor at: https://www.connorfields.comDon't forget to:- Pass this on to someone who could benefit from these insights.- Subscribe to Untrained for more inspiring conversations!

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Kathy Delaney-Smith, the winningest coach in Ivy League history, who transformed Harvard women's basketball through her innovative approach to leadership.Episode Highlights:Kathy shares her groundbreaking "act as if" principle and reveals how she helped hundreds of female athletes break free from perfectionism to reach their full potential. As an early pioneer of relational leadership, Kathy's approach was ahead of its time.You'll discover her framework for untraining perfectionism and hear the story behind her upcoming book "Grit and Wit: Empowering Lives and Leaders." You'll also hear why it was once humorously titled "Get Your Head Out of Your Ass Because You're Missing Out."Key Insights:The power of relational leadership in building trust and fostering growthWhy celebrating mistakes creates innovation and resiliencePractical strategies for adapting leadership styles across generationsManaging the challenges of coaching in the social media eraImplementing the "act as if" principle in any settingEffective techniques for giving and receiving feedbackDrawing from her 40-year coaching career, Kathy's unique blend of tough love, humor, and genuine care offers valuable lessons for leaders in all fields.Connect & Share:Rate and review us on Apple PodcastsShare this episode with a leader who needs to hear itSubscribe to Untrained for more transformative conversationsFollow us on LinkedIn Resources Mentioned:Kathy’s website and link to her book Grit and Wit: https://kathydelaneysmith.com/

Struggling to get quality sleep? You're not alone. This week on The Untrained Podcast, we sit down with renowned sleep expert Dr. Meeta Singh, who has worked with elite athletes (think LA Lakers and Washington Nationals) and high-achieving professionals to optimize their rest for peak performance.Here's what we cover:Why sleep is a non-negotiable for health, performance, and emotional well-beingKey strategies to optimize your sleep, including:Limit caffeine and stimulants after middayMaintain a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekendsCreate a 30-60 minute wind-down routine before bedAvoid screens at least 30 minutes before sleepingHow to create the ideal sleep environment:Keep your bedroom dark and cool (65-68°F)Use white noise to minimize disturbancesPractice relaxation techniques like deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxationThe connection between daytime habits and nighttime sleep qualityPractical strategies for busy executives, parents, and anyone juggling it allAbout Dr. Meeta SinghDr. Meeta Singh, a leading Sleep Medicine expert, has an exceptional track record of enhancing athlete performance and well-being through advanced sleep science. Her education and training at the Mayo Clinic and Henry Ford Health System, combined with her fellowship at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard McLean, provide a solid foundation for her innovative approaches to sleep and performance.Dr. Singh has been instrumental in the success of numerous sports teams and individual athletes, utilizing bespoke athlete sleep profiling with FDA-approved monitors to revolutionize recovery and performance strategies. Her collaborations have spanned a wide range of sports and organizations, including:Baseball: Washington Nationals (World Series Champions), New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, LA Angels, and Cincinnati Reds.Basketball: LA Lakers, New York Knicks, and Detroit Pistons.Hockey: New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.Football: Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos.Soccer: Belgium National Team.Motorsport: Working with Ferrari race car drivers, highlighting her versatility and ability to adapt her expertise to the unique demands of high-stakes motorsports.Dr. Singh's impact extends beyond team sports, as she has also provided personalized support to individual athletes and coaches across various disciplines, underscoring her commitment to the individual needs of her clients.Her work has not only contributed to major victories, such as the World Series win with the Washington Nationals, but also to the personal and professional development of athletes and coaches. Dr. Singh's dynamic keynotes and leadership consultations have made her a valued asset to any sports program, enhancing team dynamics and fostering a culture of success and well-being.Dr. Singh's broad array of collaborations demonstrates her unparalleled expertise in the field of sleep medicine within the sports industry. Her commitment to excellence and innovation continues to set new benchmarks for athlete care, making her an essential partner for teams and individuals aiming for the pinnacle of performance and health.Connect with Dr. Singh:  http://www.meetasinghmd.com/Connect with Us:Follow The Untrained Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to your favorite shows.Leave us a review to help others find this content and support our mission of helping people make work work.

As we close out 2024, we're taking a moment to reflect on the themes, conversations, and personal transformations that shaped this year on the podcast. In this special year-in-review episode, we explore the relationships that ground us—our relationship with ourselves, with one another, and with the larger community.Listen to hear us review episodes that explored…How mindset shifts and authenticity create lasting change in both leadership and lifeNavigating career transitions with confidenceManaging imposter syndromeDEI and fostering belonging in organizationsTools for managing anxietyFinding your voice in challenging situationsLooking Ahead to 2025: We discuss emerging leadership trends, the evolving workplace landscape, and new tools for personal growth and authentic leadership.Join us as we honor the work of this year and look forward to what's to come!

In this powerful episode of The Untrained Podcast, we're joined by Clara Bingham, award-winning journalist and author of The Movement: How Women's Liberation Transformed America. Together, we delve into one of the most transformative decades in history—1963 to 1973—a period that reshaped women's possibilities in education, sports, and the workplace.Clara shares compelling stories from her interviews with over 120 women, giving voice to the pioneers who fought for gender equality. From Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, to Billie Jean King’s iconic "Battle of the Sexes," and the legislative efforts of leaders like Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisholm, this episode honors the trailblazers who paved the way for generations to come.What You’ll Learn:The major milestones in the women’s liberation movement between 1963–1973.Personal stories of courage and activism that led to historic changes.The ongoing relevance of these battles in today's fight for equality.

Elizabeth DeMaso currently serves as the president of an independent advertising agency and is the founder/host of the "More Everything" podcast. Her tagline: "For anyone thinking there must be more to life than this, there is more of everything." As a working mom who has faced health challenges and divorce in the last few years, she has had to learn new skills and let go of ones that weren’t serving her.  Her life doesn’t look much different on the outside than it did 5 years ago, but on the inside so much has improved. Join us in this conversation of how reorienting towards taking better care of ourselves, can create profound change over time.  Find out what that looked like for Elizabeth's journey, and be invited into how to make changes in your own life. We will cover how Elizabeth:Realized she was competing for things that didn't truly matterHealth scare forced her to rely on othersShifted focus from achievement to meaning and alignmentFocuses on moving through challenges rather than "fixing" everythingHer More Everything podcast was born from desire to share authentic stories of life's messiness and meaningConnect with Elizabeth:https://www.more-everything.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-demaso-29963b6

In this episode of Untrained, hosts Iris and Whitney welcome Sarah Cusick, founder of Meeting House and expert in executive coaching with a DEI lens. Sarah brings her extensive experience from her roles at the Atlantic, the Obama Foundation, and Teach for America to discuss the nuances of belonging and bias in professional settings. We sat down with her to learn more about her work with corporate executives UNTRAINING unconscious bias in the workplace. We share with you in this episode what that looks like in her coaching and the tools and strategies that anyone can practice.Episode Highlights:We explore how women in male-dominated spaces can navigate leadership transitions up the ladderSarah shares a reframe around  "executive presence" vs "leadership presence" We explore the difference between true belonging and pseudo-inclusionSarah shares her experience working with leaders to recognize and address unconscious bias and its impactSarah shares how bias can affect opportunity distribution and career advancementWe explore research around how we can intentionally feed our brain more diversity of dialects, stories, etc to give it more data which can reduce unconscious biasWe discuss the value of self-awareness in leadership developmentAbout Sarah CusickSarah Cusick provides executive coaching and consulting with a DEI lens. She has held senior roles in diversity, equity, inclusion, and learning development at prestigious organizations. Sarah is a Professionally Certified Coach (PCC) and has presented at Columbia University's International Coaching Conference on cultural competency for coaches and leaders.If you love the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.

 Aquil Abdullah, OLY is a trailblazing athlete and accomplished professional in the tech industry. As a member of the United States Rowing Team from 1999 to 2004, Aquil made history as the first African-American male to qualify for the Summer Olympics in rowing, competing in the 2004 Athens Games. His journey to the Olympics was marked by dedication and resilience, overcoming setbacks, including narrowly missing qualification in his first attempt by just 33/100 seconds. Beyond his athletic achievements, Aquil is currently a Principal Software Engineer at Hydrow, Inc. (think Peloton but for rowing). As a featured athlete at Hydrow, he advocates for those on the fringes of sports, inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams.Aquil is also a musician, a surfer, a deep thinker, a big personality and husband and father. In this episode we discussThe courage and self-trust it takes to leave a path when it doesn’t feel like hard work and tenacity can save the dayStrategies and benefits of maintaining connection and empathy as a leader in high-pressure environmentsThe untraining he had to pursue to be the best version of himselfThe challenges of identity shifts when transitioning between careers. The rich personal growth and self-trust that can evolve out of our deep disappointments if we are open to itEncouragement to view setbacks as part of a larger "masterpiece" in one's life journey Connect with Aquil on LinkedIn.Aquil's Medium article that Whitney referenced in the episode If you love the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review!Also, follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.

We are thrilled to be chatting with Megan Jo Wilson in today’s episode. Megan Jo is a certified coach, leadership trainer, musician, and founder of Rockstar Camp for Women. Megan Jo shares her unique journey from being a musician, farmer, and chef to the development of her innovative leadership program that combines music and self-expression to empower women.We chat about Megan Jo's 20-year coaching career, her insights on overcoming fear and imposter syndrome, and the profound impact of her Rockstar Camp, which fosters confidence and community.We dive into themes of unlearning societal expectations, authentic self-expression, and creating a supportive sisterhood. We also touch on the importance of redefining success and playing big by aligning actions with personal values and desires.What we will explore in this episode: The transformative power of music. Experiential learning, being in the spotlight, and facing your fears! Playing big vs. playing small.Building a better relationship with yourself.The complicated relationship of wanting to be seen and heard. Guest Bio:  Megan Jo Wilson is a mother, a feminist, a Certified Professional Coach and author of the best-selling business books, “Who the F*ck Am I To Be A Coach", and “No More Playing Small." A singer and performer since she was a young girl, Megan Jo is also the founder of “Rockstar Camp for Women”, a somatic experiential Leadership Development Program based in Portland, Maine. She believes that confidence can be learned and teaches it by putting untrained shower-singers on stage for one night to perform one song with a live band and audience.In 2020 she worked as a Master Coach and curriculum writer for Spiritual Teacher and Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson, and is a regular Co-Conspirator with Feminist Icon and Author Regena Thomashauer aka “Mama Gena.”Her mission to amplify the voices and stories of women is expressed through her work as a coach and artist. Whether she is painting, writing poetry, or leading women to embrace their erotic genius, she loves to challenge the status quo norms in a Patriarchal World Culture and teach other women to do the same.Connect with Megan Jo: https://www.meganjowilson.com/ "Who the F*ck Am I To Be a Coach" Book Download: https://megan-jo-wilson.mykajabi.com/coach-book If you love the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.

We were excited to chat with our friend and colleague, Inga Stasiulionytė about two important topics that are evolving in the corporate and athletic world: feedback and grit. As a performance and leadership coach and former Olympic javelin thrower, Inga has compelling perspectives on these topics. For Inga, “grit” means “character-building.” She had a coach who taught her not only that she could train her body but that she could train her character. She now coaches clients to learn how to pursue grit as it relates to their personal leadership journey.  We explore perseverance and rest and grace as key elements of grit.What we will explore in this episode: Inga’s definition of grit.How to break limits in a sustainable way.Learning what pain signals growth and what pain warrants rest.Understanding your capacity and how to use it Guest Bio: 14 years of working with executives in demanding industries has given Inga profound insights into resolving intricate leadership challenges. With years of experience as a competitive Olympic athlete, in business and leadership studies, working as a business analyst, building startups, and leading the first MIT Sports Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, provided Inga Stasiulionyte with a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of striving for self-realization on and off the field. Inga founded OFOUNDERS to provide the best coaching support to ambitious leaders who strive to scale their leadership growth and impact. Connect with Inga:  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javelingaworld/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/javelingaworld/ Website: https://ofounders.com/  If you love the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review!Also, follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.

We were excited to chat with our friend and colleague, Inga Stasiulionytė about two important topics that are evolving in the corporate and athletic world: feedback and grit. As a performance and leadership coach and former Olympic javelin thrower, Inga has compelling perspectives on these topics. In our episode about feedback, we examine the results-focused and fear-based feedback approach that many have experienced, and explore the benefits of a strategy aimed at understanding and strengthening relationships. What we will explore in this episode: How to better give feedback AND receive feedback.Listening to your body when giving and receiving feedback.Feedback isn’t a straight line – it’s more of a loop.Giving feedback to different generations. Guest Bio: 14 years of working with executives in demanding industries has given Inga profound insights into resolving intricate leadership challenges. With years of experience as a competitive Olympic athlete, in business and leadership studies, working as a business analyst, building startups, and leading the first MIT Sports Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, provided Inga Stasiulionyte with a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of striving for self-realization on and off the field. Inga founded OFOUNDERS to provide the best coaching support to ambitious leaders who strive to scale their leadership growth and impact. Connect with Inga: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javelingaworld/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/javelingaworld/ Website: https://ofounders.com/  Radical Candor by Kim Scott: https://www.radicalcandor.com/  If you love the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review!Also, follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.

Kicking off Season 3!!!! Woohoo! The first episode of the third season is a conversation between Iris and Whitney reflecting on the full circle moments they each had this summer (Iris went to Paris! Whitney finished writing a book!).Iris talks about her full-circle experience at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She reflects on the foundation she laid when she was an Olympic fencer and the idea that sometimes we don’t get to see the impact we make until years later.Whitney discusses her forthcoming book Body Image Inside Out, exploring its core messages that can be applied to more than just body image and the lessons learned in the creation and completion process. Connect with us:Whitney’s LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneylpost/)Body Image Inside Out Pre-order Link (https://www.amazon.com/Body-Image-Inside-Out-BodySelf/dp/1399816217)Iris’s LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/iriszimmermann/)

In this episode, we chat with former professional soccer player, keynote speaker, and performance coach Joanna Lohman. Bonus: we recorded on her birthday! Jo shares her journey from a college soccer star engaged to a man to a self-identified “celesbian” who travels the world inspiring global organizations. We discuss the value of stepping out of the boxes people put you in and giving others the space to do the same.We explore a form of allyship rarely discussed.! We chat about bringing your whole self to work, how to release and rebuild an identity, and what we can learn from crabs molting (it is Cancer season, after all!)  This conversation is full of wisdom and heart, and we are so excited to share it with you as our grand finale episodes of Season 2.Untraining: The idea that we have one identity to fit into.Training: We change throughout our lives and rather than fearing these changes, they can lead to greater confidence.What we will explore in this episode: Being in a constant state of “becoming.”Why working from the inside out is the greatest point of impact.How trust is the opposite of putting someone in a box.Identity as an orientation, not a destination. How to adjust the dials as the DJ of your own life. The misperception of authenticity – it doesn’t mean showing up the same way all the time!Identifying your values and acting in a way that aligns with them. How to intentionally practice self-reflection (hint: it’s about consistency over intensity!)Finding a new part of your identity in parenthood. What is one step you can take today to explore a different dimension of who you are?  Guest Bio: Joanna Lohman is a global keynote speaker and performance coach building a new generation of authentic leaders who redefine success. She is a former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team.During her 16-year professional career, she built a platform for social impact and became the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired. She is the author of "Raising Tomorrow's Champions", a parenting and life lessons book as told through the eyes of the greatest women's soccer players of all-time.Joanna is also a human rights activist and a Sport Diplomat traveling the world to run programs in less developed nations. As a performance coach and professional speaker, she has shared her message with organizations all over the world, including: The Minnesota Vikings, The Human Rights Campaign, Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Qualcomm, Lifetime Television, American Staffing Association, and schools and universities nationwide.She has been featured on national television and radio across the globe including CNN, Fox 5 DC, and Sirius XM as a leading voice in sports, equality, inclusion, and leadership. According to tennis legend Billie Jean King, "Joanna is a bold and dynamic force for good. Her courage to fight for social justice, live authentically and inspire others to do the same is at the core of her commitment to create tremendous positive change."She now takes on her greatest adventure yet as wife to Melodie and parent to her daughter Luna and dog, Dewey. Connect with  Joanna:https://joannalohman.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalohman/ https://rtcsoccer.com/

In this episode, we get candid about confidence with Collin Henderson. One way to build confidence? Knowing your story and owning it. Collin opens up about his own struggles with speaking in public and how he evolved from an anxious adolescent with a stutter to a vibrantly successful public speaker who commands audiences all over the world.We dive into the definition of confidence. Collin shares how confidence can be trained and cultivated through mindset, self-talk, and practice. We chat about our mind as a junk drawer that needs to be reorganized in order to arrive at the right mindset. This conversation is valuable for anyone who wants to up their game and begin their journey toward a more confident version of themselves.If anything in this episode resonates with you, we recommend checking out Collin’s podcast, Master Your Mindset, and his books.Untraining: You either have confidence or you don’t.Training: Confidence is something we can cultivate in ourselves and an ongoing practice.What we will explore in this episode:How to own your origin story in order to rewrite your current one.Nature versus nurture in public speaking – it’s a skill you can nurture!Why your desire for growth has to be stronger than your fear.What does “belief beyond” mean?The four dimensions in which our brain thinks and processes.Why quieting your mind is the new currency of success.What influences a belief?Finding an environment for your confidence to thrive and grow.Being scared and doing it anyway.Raising children with positive internal self-talk.Guest Bio:Collin Henderson is the founder and CEO of Master Your Mindset, LLC, an industry leader in the field of mental conditioning. He is a Fortune 500 speaker and the author of five books dealing with peak performance. Collin’s podcast, Master Your Mindset, has thousands of downloads helping performers of all types win the inner game. Since starting his company in 2016, Collin’s trainings on mindset, culture, and high performance have been utilized by world-renowned organizations and institutions including: Nike, Zillow, Microsoft, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Lululemon, as well as universities across the country including Tulane, Oregon State, and Miami University.Collin is also a regular mental conditioning contributor to Russell Wilson’s innovative company Limitless Minds, who provide elite mindset training to the nation's top corporations including Johnson & Johnson, GE, and Goldman Sachs.Connect with Collin:https://www.thecollinhenderson.com/Master Your Mindset Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mindset-tools-to-win-the-inner-game/id1384571565Collin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ACollin+Henderson&s=relevancerank&text=Collin+Henderson&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinhendersonmindset/

Public speaking is an important skill to have but one we are rarely taught. Our guest today is Amanda Hennessey, an actor, writer, teacher, and public speaking coach. She is quick to point this out: There is an educational gap in the realm of public speaking! In this episode, we chat about all things public speaking.Amanda shares the process she takes her clients through when preparing, performing, and recovering from a presentation. We chat about executive presence, the importance of mindset in public speaking, stepping on Lego pieces and much more in this episode of Untrained.Untraining: We’re all supposed to be naturally good public speakers. Training: There’s an educational gap in public speaking, and it is something you can learn to do. What we will explore in this episode: Why it’s ok to be nervous during public speaking.Shifting the perspective from focusing on yourself to serving the audience and why this is helpful. The definition of “executive presence” varies in different cultures. Why it’s crucial to fall in love with your topic (even if you think it’s boring). How to practice your presentation and with whom. Combatting imposter syndrome in public speaking.Guest Bio: Amanda is an actor, writer, and acting teacher and it informs all that she does from facing stage fright, creating scripts, working on camera - to getting ready to fully engage an audience! She has coached a wide variety of individuals who are making waves in their industries - scientists, entrepreneurs, executives, activists, doctors, chefs, lawyers, artists, a top dog trainer, and also a mountaineer who completed the Explorer’s Grand Slam (think Everest, the Poles, and more!) A number of her clients have appeared on The Today Show, Dr. Oz, and a few can be seen regularly on Cook's Country/America's Test Kitchen. She is also the author of, Your Guide to Public Speaking - Build Your Confidence, Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience.You can grab a copy where books are sold - including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.Connect with Amanda:https://linkedin.com/in/amandahennessey/https://www.bostonpublicspeaking.com/ https://sandiegopublicspeaking.com/

Welcome to the episode where (each season) we define what we mean by, “Untrained”! Our guest this week is “the definition of Untrained.”That is to say, it’s us (Iris and Whitney!) talking about what untraining has meant to us personally, where we are in our own “untraining process,” and where the podcast conversations are headed in the future. We’ve had a season full of powerful, insightful, and informative interviews with experts on topics including imposter syndrome, career transitions, anxiety at work, and vulnerability in leadership.Speaking of vulnerability, we both share our own Untrained cycles and invite you to do the same with the worksheet you can download here: http://www.lifealivecoaching.org/resources What we will explore in this episode:What does “success” look like to you? How has this changed throughout your life?What “Untrained” means to us.Power and ownership in creating a more aligned life.Surfacing our invisible patterns -- until we see it, we can’t change it.How messy it is to be a human!Cultivating networks to nurture your truest, most-aligned self.Evaluating the systems that are ingrained to see if they still serve you.Training: New cycles that don’t involve always working for some future reward. Untraining: The cycles that are no longer serving us in the pursuit to get what we want.PS: We are starting a newsletter beginning in June! You can sign up at www.lifealivecoaching.org

 By popular demand, Dr. Amanda Blake is back as a guest on Untrained! We are so excited to continue our conversation from January and cover new ground.  We have something in common with Amanda – all three of us have backgrounds as elite athletes. Iris was a fencer, Whitney was a rower, and Mandy was a synchronized swimmer.In this episode, we talk about the relationship between our bodies, our performance (both athletic and at work), and belonging. As former athletes, we discuss how our training at a young age influenced our sense of belonging throughout our lives. Mandy brings human evolution to the topic – we are wired to seek safety, connection, and dignity.But at what cost? Oftentimes, in a sports setting or a work setting, striving for perfection is what’s rewarded, making mistakes is punished, and the cycle of overwork is reinforced. Join us for this episode of Untrained as we examine our behavioral patterns, how they manifest in the body, and what we can learn from children exploring tide pools. Untraining:  The invisible pathways and behaviors to achieve belonging.Training: A wider variety of options for creating a sense of belonging. What we will explore in this episode: How we train our bodies (or our bodies train us) around performance and belonging.Being present to combat anxiety and overwhelm. The cost of high performance. Performing from a place of relaxed readiness. How intense sports training can show up in other parts of your life.Why it’s important to “love your typos” and feel safe making mistakes. Taking care of yourself and getting the outcome. Our brains are on autopilot to find safety, belonging, and respect.How do we get our sense of belonging at work? Is it by neglecting our own needs? Guest Bio: Dr. Amanda Blake is the author of the award-winning book Your Body Is Your Brain, and creator of the Body = Brain(TM) course on the neurobiology of experiential leadership learning.  In addition to teaching about the art and science of embodiment, she works with leaders worldwide to help them become their best self, enjoy life more, and make a bigger contribution.Once an internationally competitive athlete, Mandy is skilled at cultivating high performance in herself and others. As a Master Somatic Leadership Coach, she is known for supporting pragmatic yet profound transformations in her clients. She holds a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and a doctorate in Management from Case Western Reserve University. She’s also a longtime yoga enthusiast, mountaineer, and musician.You can find her here:Website: https://embright.org/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Body-Brain-Intelligence-Relationships/dp/0999368117

PART 2 of 2 We are thrilled to invite Dr. Ellen Vora to the show today. Ellen is the author of, The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response. Anxiety is often regarded as a “neck up” problem, but Ellen debunks this in her book and in our conversation.  Guest Bio: Ellen Vora, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher, and she is the author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. She takes a functional medicine approach to mental health—considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root. Dr. Vora received her B.A. from Yale University and her M.D. from Columbia University.Ellen approaches anxiety and mental health from a holistic perspective, acknowledging that talk therapy and meds can be helpful, but they’re not the only solution. Small, incremental lifestyle changes can make a huge difference for some people in dealing with false anxiety, thereby clearing the way to treat true anxiety.  Ellen breaks anxiety into two categories, true anxiety vs. false anxiety, and we explore how to manage both of them. Join us as we broaden the conversation around anxiety and talk about the other paths up the mountain of healing with Dr. Ellen Vora. Untraining: The mindset that the presence of anxiety means there is something wrong with us that needs to be fixed and that our only two options are psychotherapy or medication.Training: The idea that some anxiety is rooted in the body, and that through teaching, experimentation and listening to ourselves, we have more options when it comes to resourcing ourselves and alleviating anxiety.

PART 1 of 2 We are thrilled to invite Dr. Ellen Vora to the show today. Ellen is the author of, The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response. Anxiety is often regarded as a “neck up” problem, but Ellen debunks this in her book and in our conversation.  Guest Bio: Ellen Vora, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher, and she is the author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. She takes a functional medicine approach to mental health—considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root. Dr. Vora received her B.A. from Yale University and her M.D. from Columbia University.Ellen approaches anxiety and mental health from a holistic perspective, acknowledging that talk therapy and meds can be helpful, but they’re not the only solution. Small, incremental lifestyle changes can make a huge difference for some people in dealing with false anxiety, thereby clearing the way to treat true anxiety.  Ellen breaks anxiety into two categories, true anxiety vs. false anxiety, and we explore how to manage both of them. Join us as we broaden the conversation around anxiety and talk about the other paths up the mountain of healing with Dr. Ellen Vora. Untraining: The mindset that the presence of anxiety means there is something wrong with us that needs to be fixed and that our only two options are psychotherapy or medication.Training: The idea that some anxiety is rooted in the body, and that through teaching, experimentation and listening to ourselves, we have more options when it comes to resourcing ourselves and alleviating anxiety.

Dr. Jim Hall has worked in continuing education for 20 years. He’s worked with students from ages 17 to 70 and every life stage in between. There have been countless changes in education innovation throughout his career, especially with the advent of EdTech, but one thing remains the same: you can make a change in your career, and there are plenty of resources to help.The key to navigating these big changes is knowing yourself and what you’re looking for. Do you need a new credential for what you’re trying to achieve? What kind of learning environment will you thrive in? Why do you want to make a change in the first place? These questions can be daunting, but you have people in your network and beyond who can help you find the clarity to answer them.Iris and Whitney discuss all of this and more with Dr. Hall in this informative, thought-provoking, and inspiring episode of Untrained. Guest Bio: Jim Hall currently serves as the Dean and Executive Director at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is passionate about innovating education for all kinds of students in any type of learning environment. Over the past two decades, Jim has worked with educational trailblazers to create opportunities for students to earn credentials, utilizing a wide range of hands-on experiences and educational tools. Collaborating with educators, government officials, and businesses, Jim’s work focuses on promoting student-driven and student-centered change.Untrain: The idea that our career pathways are linear and we cannot shift or pivot later in our careers.Retrain: We can pivot in our careers and survive.What we will explore in this episode:How AI and EdTech are impacting education and career paths. What kinds of continuing education options are available and how to choose the best one for you.How to determine if you need a credential to make a change.The people you can turn to when considering a career change. What to be conscious of when choosing a career coach.One simple question that can lead to determining exactly what you’re looking for.Navigating “conventional” retirement age if you feel like you’re just getting started.Making big career changes vs. a consistent career path.Recognizing that career transitions are a team sport (you’re not alone!)Jim Hall’s LinkedIn

Guest bio:Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin is a psychologist and a founding partner of Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting LLP, a career and executive coaching consultancy. Dr. Orbé-Austin has worked in the field of diversity, equity, & inclusion and executive coaching for over 15 years.He was the Founding Director of NYU’s Graduate Student Career Development Center. Prior to his tenure at NYU, Dr. Orbé-Austin served in a variety of leadership roles, including as the Chief Diversity Officer at Baruch College-City University of New York and as President of the NY Association of Black Psychologists. In his practice, Dr. Orbé-Austin works with executives, senior leaders, and mid-career professionals to identify their best-fit career options, advance their career goals, and strengthen their leadership skills. He also regularly consults to academic institutions, corporations, and nonprofit organizations on issues related to leadership, career development & transitions, diversity, equity, & inclusion, anti-racist practice, burnout, impostor syndrome, communication, and conflict.We cover a range of topics in today’s episode with Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin. Does that name ring a bell? We chatted with his wife and business partner, Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, last season (part 1 and part 2!)There are many factors at the intersection of toxic workplaces, imposter syndrome, and DEI. For example, do I have imposter syndrome or does my boss? Or rather, is my discomfort due to the fact that this is a toxic workplace?And further, how does my identity play into all of this? No matter the answer to these questions, at the end of the day, work should not be hazardous to our health. Dr. Orbé-Austin shares the US Surgeon General’s formal definition of a toxic workplace, tools for overcoming your imposter syndrome, and what DEI actually means in this illuminating conversation.What we will explore in this episode:How the pandemic allowed us to have more expansive conversations about toxic workplaces and burnout.What your imposter syndrome can tell you about your environment.The signs that your boss might have imposter syndrome.Managing up and modeling boundaries.How does a remote work environment impact imposter syndrome?What is double impact imposter syndrome?Masking (or “covering”) pieces of your identity at work.The first step that leaders need to take to shift company culture.Where to find Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin and his work: Website and LinkedIn Profile Books: Own Your Greatness & Your Unstoppable Greatness

Dr. Tanya Raquel is a self-described “recovering joyful workaholic.” In this episode, Tanya discusses how she’s undone (and is currently undoing!) her scarcity mindset. The scarcity mindset can be tricky to identify. Oftentimes, it comes in pretty packaging and can look like success. The key difference is, this mindset results in burnout or chronically feeling a sense of, “not enough”. You rarely get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.Whitney, Iris, and Tanya engage in a vulnerable and enlightening conversation about living with a scarcity mindset: Where does this mindset originate? How are these scarcity thoughts trying to protect us? And most importantly, how can we slowly shift to a more abundance mindset.Join our hosts along with Dr. Tanya Prewitt-White as they discuss normalizing ambivalence, healing through coaching, and what we can learn about rest from tigers.Guest Bio: Dr. Tanya Raquel is a performance and executive coach and trained survivor advocate. She spent 12 years working as a professor, researcher, author, and certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) working with individual athletes, sports and corporate teams. For two decades, she has been intimately invested in social justice research and embodied advocacy work in both society and the field of sport psychology and serves as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair for the American Psychological Association Society for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology.What we will explore in this episode:What behaviors are present when the scarcity mindset is at play.Exploring your “Yeah, but…” thoughts and what they mean on your journey.Deciding how you want to feel and taking immediate action toward it.The value of normalizing ambivalence in making decisions.How to address self-sacrifice, people pleasing, and jealousy while in the scarcity mindset.The importance of adding “yet” to your thoughts to achieve an abundance mindset.Getting unstuck in your body can help you feel unstuck in your mind.Showing up with vulnerability to get the support you need for your growth.Surrounding yourself with the right people (hint: they have an abundance mindset and think highly of you!)

Brenda Mariah is the president for the National Resume Writers’ Association, the past president of the Resume Writers & Coaches Association, and is certified in Interview Coaching, Compensation Negotiation, Job Search Strategy, Resume Writing, Career Management, LinkedIn Profile Development, and Employment Law. She works with major brands to provide corporate outplacement services during layoffs and her prior engineering and project management background uniquely qualifies her to help even the most technical professionals.Untraining: The idea that you need to hang on to the job you have because the unknown is too scaryTraining: How to break down the career transition process and not go it alone What we will explore in this episode: What are the first steps to making a big change in your career? The value of intentional daydreaming. Why feeling stuck can actually feel comfortable. What it looks like to reinvent yourself.Why it’s important to let yourself be scared during your career transition. How to make networking work for you, especially on LinkedIn. * How to find and leverage your “Army of Advocates.” Why you should stop writing your own resume. *Check out Brenda’s free ebook How to Use LinkedIn in 15 Minutes Per Day.Website:https://www.pushcareermanagement.com/interview-course

Guest Bio: Dr. Amanda Blake is the author of the award-winning book Your Body Is Your Brain, and creator of the Body = Brain(TM) course on the neurobiology of experiential leadership learning. In addition to teaching about the art and science of embodiment, she works with leaders worldwide to help them become their best self, enjoy life more, and make a bigger contribution. Once an internationally competitive athlete, Mandy is skilled at cultivating high performance in herself and others. As a Master Somatic Leadership Coach, she is known for supporting pragmatic yet profound transformations in her clients. She holds a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and a doctorate in Management from Case Western Reserve University. She’s also a longtime yoga enthusiast, mountaineer, and musician.Untraining: The idea that our mental intelligence is our greatest asset. Training: There are ways to tap into our embodied intelligence that we haven’t been taught to access or value. Dr Blake will share with us her strategies for retraining from a body centered approach. What we will explore in this episode:Everyday we leave money on the table by underestimating our bodies intelligence - how can we change this?Greater understanding of how the body is involved in perceiving information and broadcasting information. The body is a lens of perception working 24/7.We don’t tend to train our embodied intelligence. Luckily the part of our brain that helps make sense of our embodied experience is as trainable as the intellectual parts.A lot of tapping our embodied intelligence is about coming to embody new behaviors that are more resourceful and better meet the moment.Embodiment practices can help widen our window of tolerance.It can be life altering to learn to listen to your body.Good news Dr. Blake is working on a book helps people learn HOW to put this work into practice.You can find her here: Website: https://embright.org/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Body-Brain-Intelligence-Relationships/dp/0999368117

Guest Bio: Chinazom Sunny Nwabueze is the founder and managing director at Dreamcatchers Performance LLC, a high performance coaching consulting company. Drawing from two decades of experience as a leadership coach and performance psychologist, he recently authored his first book "Real Talk: A New Approach To Men's Mental Fitness,” an Amazon Best Seller. He also just launched a corresponding podcast, "Real Talk: Conversations on Mental Fitness.” Chinazom often says, “There is no sustainable high performance without well-being”Chinazom is a former colleague of ours from our time working at Valor Performance. We sat down with him to learn more about his work around men and well-being.Untraining: We want to untrain the idea that men’s and women’s mental health issues look the same and need the same resourcing. Men and women are trained by the culture in different ways so it makes sense their untraining and retraining will look different. When we use the terms men and women we are referring to people who identify as men and women. Training: What do men do with their sensitivity and their emotional challenges? Men are not often given emotional toolkits to manage the challenging emotional terrain of maturing through life. The toolkits of men and women and what they need are different. What you will learn from this episode: Some of the ways men are struggling at midlifeTaking time to acknowledge and shift the paradigms of traditional masculine and feminine roles at home The value of “banter” or superficial conversations and silenceConnection and group work can be powerful to share similar experiences You can find him here: Website: https://www.dreamcatchersperformance.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamcatchers_performance/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinazomsunnynwabueze/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@snwabueze

Guest Bio: Dr. Bonnie Zucker is a clinical psychologist located in Los Angeles, CA. She received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UCLA, where she developed a specialty in the research, prevention, and treatment of anxiety disorders. A teacher, researcher, and clinician, Bonnie brings 25 years of experience with anxiety disorders to her mission of giving people tools and skills to diminish the negative impact of anxiety and panic attacks.While 3% of the population experiences panic disorder, which requires clinical interventions, at least 25% of the population will experience at least one panic attack in their lifetime. And…. in between those extremes are many variations and subclinical experiences with panic attacks. Iris and Whitney have dealt with them both in their athletic and corporate years. We sat down with Dr. Zucker to discuss these unwanted visitors to learn more about how to understand and respond to them.Untraining: You have to control anxiety and panic attacks and manage yourself to avoid them or get through them. Training: Panic attacks are common, deeply uncomfortable experiences and by experimenting with different mental and physiological responses to them, we can often diminish their frequency and severity. What you will learn from this episode:What a panic attack isWhat the common responses are to panic attacks and why some of them perpetuate How to get curious about the message your panic attack may be trying to communicateUseful mindsets and responses to experiment with Publications: Psychology Today blog: Liberate Yourself Insider article on electronic surveillance of kids and anxiety Scary Mommy article about mother blamingScroll down on this webpage to see selected professional journal publications and educational materials for the VA. Website: Psychologist | Bonnie Zucker Ph.D. | Los Angeles (bonniezuckerphd.com)Panic attacks course: https://bonniezuckerphd.mykajabi.com/break-the-cycle-of-panicUntrained Audience can use this coupon code (20% off) for the Dr. Zucker’s course: UNTRAINED20 LinkedIn:Bonnie Zucker, Ph.D. | LinkedInTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bonniezuckerphdInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonniezuckerphd/Please consider subscribing to get the latest! Thanks to the Untrained Tribe for the support!

In this episode we talk about how to take ownership of the way we operate, and consequently what our ideal rhythms are in our days. We challenge you to be your own best teammate and advocate.Untraining: The idea that the ideal way to work is to throw ourselves into our day and try to cross as many things off the list as we can as fast as we can.Training: The idea that when we get clear on our natural tendencies and rhythms, we can focus on our ability to prepare and recovery from elements of our day with more intentionality. What does it look like to orient towards presence and sustainability of our energy vs just getting things done?

Dr. Julia A. West is a Clinical Psychologist, executive coach, and the Director of Science & Content at Limitless Minds. With over a decade in Clinical and Health Psychology, she's honed expertise in mental performance, resilience, and holistic well-being. She's adept in behavioral sleep medicine, cognitive therapies, and disordered eating treatments. Untraining: You have to hide your vulnerability as a leader, practitioner, coach, mother. idea that there is no room for vulnerability in leadership or in our best performances.Training: Retrain ideas about how vulnerability fits into leadership.What you will learn from this episode:Dr. West's thoughts and personal and professional experience with perfectionism and vulnerability.How vulnerability and failure piss us off but lead to our strength.How our body can force us to learn to take care of ourselves.How vulnerability can deepen connections and trust.Quotes: “Most of my life I tried with all of my might to be perfect.” - Dr. Julia West“In my imperfection I found my perfect.” - Dr. Julia WestPlease consider subscribing to get the latest! Thanks to the Untrained Tribe for the support!Helpful links and resources from the episode.Dr. Julia West on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-west-phd-73177b22b/https://www.catalyst.org/research/leaders-connect-during-crisis/

This episode is packed with rich nuggets about how to bring out the brand of you. We laughed, we cried, and Andrea let her hair down, literally. The topic of branding leads to conversations around fear, self trust, showing up, and getting uncomfortable to become more of what you want to be. Andrea Holland is an executive coach and founder at Holland Communications, LLC, a consulting and coaching company focused on helping leaders tap into their greatest potential to produce visionary results. Her passion is helping people to live courageously by “daring to find their voice”.Holland has over 20 years of experience working with executives at major brands like American Airlines, U.S. Olympics, Deloitte & Touche, Ford Canada and The Economist, CUNY Institute for Law & Governance, and Wegmans Food Markets. Quote of the day: “Branding is about attracting the people and things that are aligned with who you are becoming.”You will learn:How it is the little thing that can invite people into your storyThe connection between boldness and discomfortWhat we mean by slow and StudyHow to find and align with people who are attracted to who you are becoming In this episode we explore UNTRAINING the belief that high performers should let others determine their brand vs intentionally live into it and or thinking the work will speak for itself. We are TRAINING the promotion of our skills, wins, value, and personality.Links and Resources from this Episode:www.andreaholland.netSubscribe to the Tribe to be the first to know when a new episode is released!

We have had hundreds of conversations with women about finding their voice professionally. Dr. https://www.linkedin.com/in/AC..., professor, Performance Consultant and Coach joined us for a conversation to discuss the challenges and solutions regarding females getting heard in the corporate space. We discuss the habitual ways people who identify as female show up in meetings, and the untraining strategies they can practice. Dr. Rogow helps us provide specific behaviors we can use to train for a different experience in high stakes communication settings. We will be handing out permission slips, talking about meeting hangovers, and exploring the role of authenticity in your training. Ultimately, we created this episode to provide kick ass, knowledgeable, capable, women the tools to have a strong presence and effective voice in meetings. Please consider subscribing to get the latest! Thanks to the Untrained Tribe for the support! Helpful links and resources from the episode.https://hbr.org/2014/06/women-...https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/n...

WELCOME TO SEASON 2 of UNTRAINED! We are back and better than ever! This season, we are starting off the episodes with the mindsets and beliefs we are UNTRAINING and what new mindsets and beliefs are we TRAINING!In this episode of Untrained, we interview Dr. Ruth Gotian who is the Chief Learning Officer at Weill Cornell Medicine and frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes and Psychology Today. She has won numerous mentoring awards and is the author The Success Factor – Developing the Mindset and Skillset for Peak Performance. Her passion and research focus on understanding the secret sauce to success through uber high achievers including - Olympians, Astronauts, Nobel Prize winners, and more.We are UNTRAINING the belief that high performers have to “go it alone” and TRAINING the tools of building a network of mentors and supporters. In this episode, you will learn:What “Hubs of Curiosity” means and why it’s important.The keys to what to do and what not to do as a leader of high performers. How to build a networking team. Hint: It’s about connecting and not asking.Should your boss be your mentor?How to become a mentor.What surprised Dr. Gotian while doing her research of uber high performers.Links and Resources from this Episode:For more tools, go to Dr. Ruth Gotian’s Resources page here: https://www.ruthgotian.com/resourcesFriendtorship Article on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthgotian/2023/08/08/friendtorwhen-your-friend-makes-you-better/?sh=e4b2cd0530bd You can also find Dr. Gotian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgotian/We highly recommend that you subscribe to her newsletter and use her tools (we share them with our clients on a regular basis).

This is the final episode of Season 1 of Untrained. Iris and Whitney dive into a topic we each care greatly about; embodiment. We share how we practice embodiment in our own lives and what patterns of ours keep pulling us of course. We explore the idea of listening to the body as an indicator light that can give us valuable information about how we are doing and what is going on for us.Here are some quotes from our final season 1 episode:👉 “If I don’t listen to the signals my body is sending me, the signals get louder and turn into something else (usually something worse).👉 “It is easier to be uncomfortable in the ways that I am used to being uncomfortable.”👉 “There is not a lot of external safety for slowing down. We have to create safety for it within our own bodies.”👉 “UNTRAINING TAKES A LONG TIME”👉 “For some people oriented to should’s, getting curious about our wants IS an embodiment practice.”A great resource to better understanding the integration of brain and body: Your Body is Your Brain by Dr. Amanda Blake https://www.amazon.com/Your-Body-Brain-Intelligence-Relationships/dp/0999368117

We were thrilled to speak with Dina Bell La Roche, who among many other things is a grief and loss literacy expert. Dina has held several senior leadership positions through her three decades in Canada’s high performance sport sector including the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, the Canadian Olympic Committee and since 2010, as a Partner with Sport Law, a company devoted to elevating sport. Dina’s life changed dramatically in 2001 after the death of her youngest sister Tracy. Since then, her journey through grief has inspired her to advocate for greater grief and loss literacy. As a death educator, integral mastery level coachTM, keynote speaker, and published author, Dina’s commitment to help the bereaved re-imagine a new relationship with loss is unwavering.Join us as we explore many facets of Dina’s expertise as to how cultures of sport have historically discouraged grief literacy, and how we can change that, and the powerful implications of being able to create more compassionate containers for grief and loss.Here are some facts shared in this episode:👉Grief comes in many forms: the loss of a dream or goal, identity, relationship, job, pet, human, etc.👉Loss is an unavoidable part of sport.👉Billions of children and young adults play sports each day, where they have the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons.👉The majority of coaches, athletes, and leaders have no training, permission or models, for holding space for grief.🔗www.griefunleashed.ca🔗Instagram: GriefUnleashed; 🔗LinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/dblaroche 🔗Twitter @griefunleashed

In this episode we interview Henna Pryor, PCC, a colleague of Iris’s through Limitless Minds and of Whitney’s through Chief. Henna is a highly sought after Workplace Performance Expert, an award-winning 2x TEDx, global keynote speaker and coach.She shares the research behind the value of our awkward and unsure moments. It is such good news that the moments we often try to avoid are actually of great value! How do we as people, leaders, and teams embrace and actually “condition” our awkwardness to get closer to confidence and move the dial on our goals and dreams? Henna tells us how.Hennapryor.comThe Good Awkward book is available for pre-order and out on September 26th.For more information go to www.goodawkward.comhttps://hbr.org/2023/05/an-antidote-to-microaggressions-microvalidationsFourteen Talks by Age Fourteenhttps://michelleicard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ICARD_FourteenTalksbyAgeFourteen_HC_BookClubKit_a_r1.pdf

Iris and I sat down in a milestone episode to have a conversation with Dr. Lisa Or be Austin. Lisa is not only a world renowned expert on imposter syndrome, but also Iris’s coach! Lisa herself struggled with imposter syndrome and she shares with us her powerful story of struggle and suffering, and how she created a pathway out. Lisa is one of those powerful and generous souls who has made her life work to create and then share the pathway to freedom. An expert therapist and master storyteller, Lisa shares her strategies for facing imposter syndrome that have already changed the lives of thousands of people. It is absolutely possible to go from the struggles and stuck-ness of imposter syndrome, to feeling like you trust and share your greatness.Links:Dr. Lisa Orbe Austin’s Links:www.dynamictransitionsllp.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/drorbeaustinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaorbeaustin/*FREE* Bonus Chapter from Lisa’s new book!https://www.ownyourgreatness.me/free-creating-healthy-cultures-ebook -- Our new book, Your Unstoppable Greatness - https://a.co/d/1X8z1ojMedia Kit - Bio, Books, and Articleshttps://www.dynamictransitionsllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/lisa-orbe-austin-press-kit-jan-2023.pdf

Iris and I sat down in a milestone episode to have a conversation with Dr. Lisa Or be Austin. Lisa is not only a world renowned expert on imposter syndrome, but also Iris’s coach! Lisa herself struggled with imposter syndrome and she shares with us her powerful story of struggle and suffering, and how she created a pathway out. Lisa is one of those powerful and generous souls who has made her life work to create and then share the pathway to freedom. An expert therapist and master storyteller, Lisa shares her strategies for facing imposter syndrome that have already changed the lives of thousands of people. It is absolutely possible to go from the struggles and stuck-ness of imposter syndrome, to feeling like you trust and share your greatness.Links:Dr. Lisa Orbe Austin’s Links:www.dynamictransitionsllp.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/drorbeaustinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaorbeaustin/*FREE* Bonus Chapter from Lisa’s new book!https://www.ownyourgreatness.me/free-creating-healthy-cultures-ebook -- Our new book, Your Unstoppable Greatness - https://a.co/d/1X8z1ojMedia Kit - Bio, Books, and Articleshttps://www.dynamictransitionsllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/lisa-orbe-austin-press-kit-jan-2023.pdf

This story is so compelling we cleared the decks on our scheduled podcast to record it. In this episode we interview Kelly Owens on her last day of a 5-month intentional break she took from corporate leadership and hustle. In our last episode with Caryn Davies, we talked about how uncomfortable it can be to feel untethered from a clear goal or a busy life. This conversation can serve as a beautiful blueprint for how to untether yourself and be OK in the liminal space of in between.In this conversation we discuss:❔What it looks like to prioritize and normalize rest vs only use it when the tank is empty or we have a crisis.✔️ You can get off the treadmill and it can be more than ok.✔️ The role of a Panic spreadsheet❔ How to get away from the hook of the accomplishment thing after baking 1,000 Christmas cookies?❔Face the question, what is my value as a human if I am not working?❔What does it mean to work “joyfully hard?”❔How to prepare for a new phase of life and take the time to stop and put down the old one.🔗 Links: Tim Butler - The Four Elements, FInding Right Livelihood in the 21st Century🔗 https://www.amazon.com/Four-Elements-Finding-Livelihood-Century/dp/057893258X 4,000 weeks, The Burnout Fix, the upside of stress, mindsetKelly Owens bio:🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellycarsonowens/ Kelly is an experienced leader in the technology and digital marketing space. Most recently, she was the Senior Director of Client Partnerships for Oracle Advertising, where she led a 50+ person sales and account management team focused on increasing adoption of Oracle’s audience, context and measurement solutions with the largest global brands. In this role, Kelly also built and led a Women’s Leadership Development program that impacted more than 500 Oracle employees.Kelly is passionate about building inclusive, empowered teams, in coaching and mentorship practices, and in taking a “whole person” approach to leadership and the world of work. She has served as a speaker at numerous live and digital conferences and webinars and has published blogs and articles on topics ranging from first party data strategy to effective leadership and self-management practices during the pandemic.Prior to her role at Oracle, Kelly held marketing leadership positions in the Automotive and Real Estate industries. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and is a proud undergraduate alumna (and basketball fan!) of the University of Kansas. Kelly lives in Denver, Colorado.Kelly’s areas of expertise include:• Empathetic Leadership• Data-Driven Storytelling• Effective Communication and Presentation Skills• Digital Marketing• Leading High-Performing Teams

Discussion points of Part 2 with Caryn Davies: How do you untrain from the “this achievement will bring me peace and happiness” mindset. How to manage anxiety, not enoughness, desire for belonging, when you feel untethered? For many of us the thought, “right now is enough,” is disarming and can leave us feeling lost at times. It feels like grief to let go of the old mindsets that kept you company for years or even decades. It can feel unsafe to make room for something other than productivity and achievement. How can we prepare for times when we will likely feel untethered? How do you deal with your bad days without it affecting your self-confidence. Diversify your identity by tethering yourself to things other than your one big audacious goal. You may think this detracts from what you bring to the goal, but it actually strengthens it. How belonging was Caryn’s greatest success in her last Olympic bid. Both episodes show Whitney’s uniquely bad hair day!Caryn's short bio:*Caryn Davies has an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a law degree from Columbia, and a business degree from Oxford. She is a lawyer, leader within the rowing community, and an experienced public speaker with special focus on teamwork, goal setting, leadership, motivation, and managing change. When Caryn Davies retired from elite competition in 2012, after having won her second Olympic gold medal, this 3-time Olympian had won more Olympic medals than any other American oarswoman. Caryn came out of retirement and trained for the 2020 Olympics, an experience that has deeply informed her definition of success. Hear her powerful stories and how she defines and measures success for herself.Relevant Links:Link to Victory’s Visit Poem that we reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqW2jZVtLnC/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Link to Caryn Davies' Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caryn_Davies Not mentioned in the episode, but connected: Hidden Brain Episode on Cultivating your Purpose https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happiness-2-0-cultivating-your-purpose/id1028908750?i=1000600685109Follow Caryn on LinkedIn or use LinkedIn to contact her for speaking engagements. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carynpdavies/ Great article and interview with Caryn about effective teams https://www.forbes.com/sites/roncarucci/2017/11/27/how-to-build-amazing-teams-insights-from-a-3x-olympic-medalist/

Caryn is a former colleague of ours, friend (of Whitney’s for the past 25 years) and the most successful athlete we know. At one point ranked the 4th most successful female rower in the world, Caryn knows a thing or two about success. But what she has to say might surprise you. Our conversation was so rich that it lasted an hour. We divided it into two parts. Here is a glimpse of what we discussed in Part 1: Reframing silver medals from failure to success. What is the internal work to find and feel successful? Setting yourself free from resentment and goals that are shoulds vs wants. That the pursuit of the goal is very often what is the most valuable, all the hope and familiarity of the effort. And often the achievement of the goal doesn’t change our happiness over the long term. Why movement towards a goal feels safer and more comfortable than rest. What someone who has achieved immense success has learned about what success does and doesn’t give you. How long does the feeling of relief lasts after winning an Olympic Gold medal? Caryn's short bio: *Caryn Davies has an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a law degree from Columbia, and a business degree from Oxford. She is a lawyer, leader within the rowing community, and an experienced public speaker with special focus on teamwork, goal setting, leadership, motivation, and managing change. When Caryn Davies retired from elite competition in 2012, after having won her second Olympic gold medal, this 3-time Olympian had won more Olympic medals than any other American oarswoman. Caryn came out of retirement and trained for the 2020 Olympics, an experience that has deeply informed her definition of success. Hear her powerful stories and how she defines and measures success for herself. Relevant Links: Link to Victory’s Visit Poem that we reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqW2jZVtLnC/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Link to Caryn Davies' Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caryn_Davies Follow Caryn on LinkedIn or use LinkedIn to contact her for speaking engagements. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carynpdavies/ Great article and interview with Caryn about effective teams https://www.forbes.com/sites/roncarucci/2017/11/27/how-to-build-amazing-teams-insights-from-a-3x-olympic-medalist/Video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/6wXIhIJlUf4

Boundaries have been getting alot of airtime lately in our culture, and for good reason. We need them to survive given all the demands of modern life. We all have them whether we are aware of them or not. Our boundaries reflect our beliefs about the safest, most productive way to move through the world. But what if we can upgrade our beliefs? The cool thing about our boundaries is that like our diet or exercise habits; we can change them. We can experiment with them. So tune in to learn why boundaries matter and some small steps to experiment with making them more aligned with your goals and values.”We make change when we create an environment that creates more support, time and space.” -Author Unknown Conscious leadership group - Whole Body Yes https://conscious.is/excercises-guides/whole-body-yesWende Knapp 5 questionsThe Core Five (You can use these as examples or make up your own)Do I have the time/energy/bandwidth?Does this align with my values, interests, priorities, or goals?What does my gut say on a scale of 1-10?Is this something I want to say “yes” to?Will this get me where I want to be?William Ury positive No https://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-No-Relationship-Still/dp/0553384260

In this Episode we welcome our first Guest, Dr. Michael Otto, Professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University and author of Exercise for Mood and Anxiety. Michael is best known for....being Whitney's husband! There are many aspects of our relationship with exercise that we have had to Untrain (ex: not letting our body have a say in how or when or how much we exercise), AND the habit of exercise has given us countless health and mood benefits over the years. We are honoring the power of exercise in this episode.If you are having trouble exercising or it is taking too much time and energy, you don't want to miss this episode. Discover the value of low moderate exercise for health benefits, as well as powerful tools to invite more motivation to get those workouts going. You will also learn the span of benefits exercise provides us (hint...it makes us smarter!). Tune in to find out why Dr. Otto strategically works out in his jeans. You will witness just how hard it is for an Olympian trained for lightning speed, to break into a conversation with the chatty Ottos.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/exercise-and-moodhttps://www.amazon.com/Books-Michael-W-Otto/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMichael+W.+OttoBDNF https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25455510/