All Episodes - Talk, Unleashed
What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a podcast of candid conversation. Sometimes as commentary. Sometimes as discussions with fascinating people doing remarkable things. Topics range widely and all of them have one thing in common. Dogs.
View Podcast Details178 Episodes
No Bad Dogs
One of the most irritating cliches in dog training is this - there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.Talk about trying to shame people into changing their behavior.And shame as a lever for shifting how folks behave has worked … never. At least not with anything remotely resembling a healthy change.That said, there are dogs that may behave “badly” … and it’s in those moments when we humans have a great opportunity to look where it matters, make some changes and get miraculous results.When animals are uncomfortable, they behave badly - HUMANS INCLUDED. And in this week’s episode I explore how there really are NOT bad dogs. Truly. There are behaviors that may be challenging and there are always ways to shift them.Provided we’re open to changing ourselves.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#dogbehavior #baddogbehavior #dogtraining #shiftingbehavior #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Hierarchical Thinking is Bullsh*t
Disclosure - the idea of this podcast episode isn’t new. It’s the Peter Principle. What is new is looking at the concept of rising to a level of incompetence’s flaw, as seen through the naturally occurring order in a group of wolves.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#ThePeterPrinciple #hierarchicalthinking #organizationalbullshit #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Feedback
There’s a line in the film “A Few Good Men” where Tom Cruise’s character, a lawyer, demands the “truth” of Jack Nicholson, a General who’s on a witness stand.“The TRUTH!?” Nicholson bellows. “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!”Feedback. It's a bastardized concept in society today and that’s a shame. Because feedback is a privilege. Feedback - a neutrally delivered, radically honest perspective - enables growth, progress and change.No one sees themselves clearly, really. It takes outside perspective for any of us to truly see ourselves as others see us. To grow. To do better. To BE better.But what happens when people SAY they’re open for feedback, and they’re not? What happens when people weaponize the language of personal growth and use feedback as a cudgel?That’s what I talk about this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#feedback #truth #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Leadership = Relationships = Trust
Nothing like mass market exploitation of words to render them near useless.Let’s take “leadership” for example. Bandied about mercilessly these days, and somehow what the word even MEANS has been lost.It’s simple - leadership is about RELATIONSHIPS, and in order for those to exist, you have to have TRUST.So, put simply - No trust. No leadership. Period.This week’s nugget shares a recent figurative 2X4 on the topic, swung and landed of course, by my dogs.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#leadership #trust #relationships #truth #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Clarity
In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#clarity #truth #paying attention #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
FOMO and Grief
I’ve talked before on the podcast about FOMO - the Fear of Missing Out. How interesting it is that people will go so far as to co-opt other people’s drama, misery and grief just in order to be in line with whatever meme or topic is hot at the time.Yeah, when you think of it that way it sounds pretty awful.But is it?Or is it just another sign that people’s sense of self has gotten so far outta what that we’ll do anything to belong?In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#FOMO #cooptinggrief #selfassurance #honesty #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Afraid of the Dark
Oh the irony. We are taught - largely through entertainment and media sources - that monsters come in the dark. To be afraid. Be alert and know that danger lurks around every corner.Why irony? Because the truth is that the darkness isn’t danger. Usually that danger IS human-driven and the reality is that we NEED darkness. To reset our bodies, to rest and as I’ve come to discover by living deep in the woods - to find the light.ALSO - There is a small irony in this episode - as I’m talking about deep darkness and isolation - there is a sound in the background that you don’t expect … I wonder which of you will catch what it is?! When you do, shoot me an email - and I’ll send you a t-shirt from The Hydrant Club - our members-only “Puppies, Better than Prozac” t-shirt!In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#dontbeafraid #peaceindarkness #darkness #light #woods #honesty #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Loose Leash Walking - Kind of.
It’s among the most frequently sought after and common asks for any dog trainer: "How the f*ck do I get my dog to walk NICELY on the leash?"Loose leash walking. It’s a critical skill.And that’s not what this episode is about, really. It’s about the concept of attachment and obligation - “no strings attached” - which typically isn’t actually the case. As per usual it relates to dogs and dog training, and the lesson that applies to relationships between humans? Well that’s per usual too.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#looseleashwalking #connection #nostringsattached #relationships #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Delivering Happiness
If your goal in life is to be happy, I hate to break it to you, but your life is going to be pretty f*cked up. Because happiness isn’t goal. It’s a feeling. And feelings are not permanent. They shift. They change. They’re always in motion. So if the goal is a thing that doesn’t stick, I’m always going to be in some state of dissatisfaction, of failure.Perhaps a bit ironic a view from someone whose main investor in her business, Tony Hsieh, wrote a book called “Delivering Happiness.”. Truth is, Tony and his “goal” are the perfect example of just how twisted and wrong it is to believe that happiness is the goal.He sought it. He struggled for it. In the end, the inability to find it, to be lonely, isolated and utterly cut off amidst being surrounded by an army of people, was a big part of what drove his death.Don’t worry, this week’s podcast isn’t a macabre view of death, rather it’s a view of how by paying attention to our dogs, we can get the view of happiness that can stick, that CAN serve as a path to a happier life.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#tonyhsieh #deliveringhappiness #happinessnotagoal #addiction #tonyhsiehdeath #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Sh*t
I find scatological humor delightfully amusing. Probably because not so deep inside I’m really a 10-year-old boy. Yes, I find poop and fart jokes hilarious. So when I found myself confronted with the unmistakable aroma of chicken sh*t, I realized there was a lesson for this week's episode.Even if some of you may think it’s a crappy one, I’m dumping it on you anyway. Yep, just going to pile it on. Okay. Okay. I’ll stop. Just go listen to the episode, will you?In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them level-up their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#fartjokes #chickenshit #poopjokes #crappyhumor #dadjokes #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Just Let Them
Okay. I get it. In today’s world the value of good content has become embarrassingly commoditized. It’s more about clicks than quality. The idea of co-opting someone else’s idea and passing it off as one’s own has become de rigueur.Or has it?It’s been practice in the art world for centuries that artists and creators are inspired by those who come before them, and begin their craft by modeling it after others.Those who rise above and create their own distinct voice, those are the ones we remember. Those are the ones who influence.So what of those who take others’ content and pass it off as their own? Should we, as Mel Robbins might suggest, “Just let them”? Funny enough, that’s why I did this episode. Because Mel Robbins stole that idea from someone else - and failed to credit them. That realization leads to this week’s lesson and meander in the woods. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#justletthem #melrobbins #poetry #plagiarism #accountability #attribution #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Change Isn't Slow
Ah, humans. We’re such funny creatures. Someone says a story often enough and folks believe it to be true. Kinda like that story about how if you put a frog in a pot of water and slowly bring it to boil, the frog will die. It’s a story shared when folks want to emphasize about the slow boil that leads to big change.Here’s the thing - big change, it’s not sudden. Evolution isn’t like a volcanic eruption or big earthquake. It’s not tectonic. It’s slow. And each time there’s a shift, humans adapt, normalizing to the abnormal and eventually everyone acts surprised.In this week’s episode, debunking the frog myth and how that applies to everything happening right now.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#change #adaptation #froginboilingwater #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Baking Patience
You can’t un-bake a cake. Seems a silly statement, because - of course you can’t. Once it’s done, it’s done. Same with those words that may fly outta your pie-hole without thinking - those words that leave a mark. Those words that can’t be taken back.That’s not what this episode is about.This episode is kind of about the opposite of that. That in order to avoid an error in baking, it takes patience. You gotta let it sit. You can’t turn up the heat and expect that the cake will bake faster. It won’t. In fact if the oven is too hot that cake or pie or cookies or whatever you’re making - will be pretty f*cking awful.Baking soothes me. It always has. It goes back to childhood and the passion in baking instilled in me by my dad’s mom. And for the last year or so I’ve been unable to bake due to what can only be described as a conflict with my oven.A conflict, I’ve finally resolved. With patience. Per usual, some big lessons came … along with some goddamn great cookies.And THAT is what this week’s episode is about.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#baking #patience #cookies #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Anticipation and Expectations
Anticipation. It’s one of those words that cuts both ways. Anticipating something delightful and delicious, or waiting for the other shoe to drop. Sadly, there seems to be much more of the latter in the world lately. Feels like everyone is running around either like Chicken Little (proclaiming the sky is falling) or a chicken with its head cut off (and if you’ve never seen such a thing, suffice to say it’s gross - the body races around as the nervous system exists after the head’s been lopped off). In either case - crisis-o-rama.So let’s take a deep fucking breath, shall we? That’s what I’m trying to do and thankfully between the onset of spring and ah ha moments related to working with dogs, this week’s episode offers a few nuggets that may just help.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#anticipation #expectations #springtime #patience #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
False Spring Complacency
Ah the human condition. We’re just fucking lazy. Truly. Okay perhaps a bit nicer to call it complacency - that sense of resting on our laurels, settling back and assuming just because something has been a way, it’ll stay. Of course that’s a load of horseshit.It’s everywhere. Especially when I look in the mirror. It’s about how easy it is to assume things will just go along, that the work I’ve done is sufficient. Except, that’s not how it works.And courtesy of weather and dogs, that’s where this week’s episode meanders.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#springtime #springequinox #complacency #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Scattered Diamonds
As winter wends its way to a close, a few experiences remain that I’ll be carrying into the spring. Most of it is about perspective. And in this week’s episode it’s the awareness from seeing that where I am in relation to anything determines everything. It’s possible to be too close to something to see it clearly. It’s also possible being too far back skews the view incorrectly.It’s not either/or. It never is. It’s both/and. It’s being able to immerse in a thing to know it and then to back up and see it in the context of the bigger picture.Funny the things that can happen when someone decides to make a snow angel.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Crunch Crunch Crunch
What happens when you’re SO attached to the path you’re on, SO committed to being right it is the only way, that anything else becomes impossible?What happens? Take a look around, friends. The dumpster fire sh*tshow in which we’re meandering is case in point.What if the path is erased? What if you cannot see where it lies? There’s only one choice. Well, technically there are two, one could just be paralyzed by it and not move, but let’s assume that’s not an option. The option then is to forge forward, making a NEW path and perhaps in the process creating some change. The good kind.And such are lessons from walking in a snowstorm.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Wegman's
Unless you’re from the Northeast of the US chances are the name Wegman’s doesn’t ring a bell. So to get us all on the same page - it’s a grocery store. If a very young Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s had a baby with the feeling of a neighborhood grocery that's an idea of what it's like.Based out of Rochester, NY, it’s now a decent-sized chain with 111 locations in the northeastern part of the country. (That’s as of February 2025.)So why am I doing an episode about Wegman’s? No it’s not about nutrition or diets or the ridiculous cost of eggs. It’s not about economics or tariffs or any of that horseshit.It’s about community, pride … and cornbread.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#wegmans #wegmansmarket #midlothian #chefdoug #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Standing in the Sh*t Storm
It’s funny. The more the world seems to be spinning into a quantifiable, category 5, dumpster fire of a mess, the more people seem to be pointing fingers looking for someone to blame.Meanwhile, it occurs to me that for every finger pointing in one direction, there’s really only one place where anyone can do anything about anything.The f*cking mirror.And yet, when standing in the sh*t storm and getting splattered with all kinds of verbal, emotional and - perhaps occasionally, actually - excrement, staying neutral and moving forward intentionally can feel really f*cking hard.Because it can be. It also can be easy. Truly. And that’s where I go with this week’s episode.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Not About the Super Bowl
In 2024 I had a lot to say about the #SuperBowl. Mostly about #TravisKelce and his temperamental sideline meltdown (which included his stepping up on his head coach and screaming in his face - a pretty aggressive move given Kelce’s towering stature). Lots of folks wrote it off saying - oh, that’s just the adrenaline of the game and he’s just being a guy.Sorry, nope. He was being a dick.And guess what? No amount of adrenaline or rush of playoff/finals energy justifies being a dick. Zero. I wrote about this a few years ago during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.What does that have to do with this year’s Super Bowl and this podcast episode which is not about the Super Bowl? Well, not much other than the fact the Kansas City Chiefs once again were playing (they lost) and mostly some lessons that I took away from how I experienced people and the conversations AFTER the game.In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Grey's Anatomy
In general I don’t watch a lot of TV. Lately, though, I’ve been snacking on reruns ofGray’s Anatomy - not exactly what I’d call mind expanding, erudite content. So imagine my surprise when a lesson about the delicate balance between innovation and not reinventing wheel came from the show.Mostly I have the show on as background noise - it’s on right now as I’m typing this - but the writing is entertaining, the people are pretty to look at, and I have mad respect forShonda Rhimes. (Don’t know who she is? A great place to start is her memoir -The Year of Yes - and do yourself a favor, listen to the audio book because she narrates and she’s really fucking hilarious.)In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks createdTalk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not aboutwhat people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast complimentsUnleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help themunleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Boundaries, Again.
Some topics that never get old. Probably because the lessons never stop coming. Always another layer. That’s the story this week as another perspective arose for me with the topic of boundaries. Overall they’re important. For individual agency, for partnerships, for groups. They’re the guardrails that enable a society to operate. But who chooses which ones go where? Who decides? Especially since not everyone requires the same kind of boundaries in order to thrive. Some folks need super rigid, very clear and unmistakable lines. Others can function with borders that are more porous, more fluid. Finding balance, finding what each individual needs - that’s the trick. And this week I got a great lesson in this from a dog. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Accountability
Accountability - there’s a fun word. Right up there with responsibility. But what does it MEAN, anyway? Being accountable … especially these days. It’s really all about my end of the leash. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Nature Signs
Wow. It’s been just over a year this urban-saturated gal has been living in the country. And by in the country, I mean like in the middle of fucking nowhere. Deep in the woods on the far corner of a massive property surrounded by trees and … silence. During this time I have come to utterly adore the quiet and peace, and also to appreciate the massive lessons that come from nature. This week on the podcast, it’s about the moon, but really it’s about noticing things in nature that have deep connections to the lessons that change our lives. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Submission
There are a lot of words that carry strange weight for me. Submission is one of them. The socialized experience for me used to be that to submit was to lose, to be weak. The truth, though, is that submission sometimes merely means acknowledging a boundary, recognizing a relationship to something or someone and letting it be what it is. Who knew I’d learn such a thing from an ice storm. Mother Nature is no joke. And it's funny to me how humans seem to think that with our super smartypants brains and tech that somehow we can beat her. We can't. Recognizing her power, holding a boundary of safety and at the same time giving her space ... that's the lesson I share this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Big Players, Big Plays
I’ve never been an athletic super star. Decent, sure. Moderately skilled, absolutely. But as someone who spent the majority of her teen years hospitalized and sick, a time when so many of my friends with athletic prowess were engaging in sports at a more serious level, the whole team play thing never really landed for me. So joining a work team, largely male, whose lens of perspective come heavily from sports-oriented, masculine energy thinking, it’s been a fascinating journey to discover what playing TEAM means. There is no “I” in team, but there is … “ME”. That’s where I go this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
The Scent of a Human
After taking a bit of time off during the holidays, I thought about how I wanted to kick off the New Year with the podcast. This was the episode that I opted to pull out of my files to post. It’s something I recorded on a holiday trip to South Carolina and the message - about the deeply impactful lessons from memories triggered by scent - seemed a good way to roll back into your ear-balls. With that … enjoy … and get ready for an evolution of the podcast in the New Year! In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Black Friday
Yes. I'm aware. This episode is posting WAY after the actual Black Friday, but the message is certainly one that carries pretty much any time of year. It’s just that somehow that time period between Thanksgiving and Christmas seems to put a hyper sensitive filter on pretty much everyone, pretty much everywhere. Especially when it comes to shopping. Anyone who goes shopping during this time and is in a rush should probably have their head examined. Unless, of course, one is someone who loves people watching and uncovering lessons about how to navigate a world that seems utterly saturated in dumpster fire rhetoric most of the time. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
No Crickets
It’s funny how sometimes you don’t notice something until it’s gone. It’s like you don’t realize just how damn loud the city is, until you’re not there. And then you don’t realize how noisy the country is, until one of its constant sounds, goes away. This week - the realization of how the absence of something can be more important than its presence In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Big Horses
If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch. You’ve probably heard that along with any number of other animal-related metaphors that all mean the same thing. Size matters and if you’re the little guy, get the f*ck out of the way. SO much posturing bullshit these days. Doesn’t seem to matter whether win or lose. If win, there’s gloating, bullying and entitlement. If lose there’s pointing blame, complaining and catastrophizing. Newsflash - both are bullshit. What if the answer isn’t this or that but this AND that? What if the answer is equity that doesn’t mean everyone is precisely equal, but that everyone gets what they need? What if the answer is standing for the one who’s being crushed and hold steady in the onslaught of the perceived power from the one that is crushing? That’s where we go this week - courtesy of a Percheron (draft horse) named Ariel, and a teensy pony-sized Bay horse named Pocket Rocket. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #horses #horsebehavior #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
We Are Okay
After taking off the month of October intention was to come back the first Wednesday in November. That day was the day after the 2024 Election. I recorded this before election day, and fully intended to post it for Nov 6. The day came and it was clear there was way too much noise and too much raw emotion for this to have any hope of landing. So ... I waited a week. As usual - I’m NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICS IN THIS PODCAST. I am talking about taking a deep, collective f*cking breath and remembering the TRUTH. WE ARE GOING TO BE OKAY. But not if we spend our times saturating in disaster, talking about hate and pointing fingers OR mocking, gloating and steeping in ego and arrogance. THESE are the time for big work. Deep work. Hard work. That work begins now. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
The Big Lie
Some things merit talking about more than once. This week is an example of that and it carries on from last week. If you missed it, here’s the gist - the bullshit perspective that in order to enjoy success, one first must suffer. Load of horseshit. What’s not horseshit, though, is the other bit of today’s epsiode - a heads-up on some changes in our upcoming programming. So make sure you listen alllllll the way to the end. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Who Said it Had to Be Hard?
Seems like there was a handbook or instruction manual that I missed. The one that says in order to achieve success, one must first suffer. Newsflash. Not true. And somehow the attachment to trauma persists. Don’t get me twisted here - bad things happen. People have experiences. All true. AND there is this insidious push - typically by larger forces whose foundation is based on perpetuating chaos around them. This week … a rant in the woods that hopefully lands like a friendly two by four. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Vanessa Woods - The Truth about Developing Service Dogs
In the wild and wooly world of dog behavior, research and education there are lots of folks promoting themselves as experts. Blessed few of them actually are. And then there are those whose legitimate scientific research has grounding in evolutionary anthropology and canine cognition. One of those folks is Vanessa Woods - she’s an accomplished author and her most recent book Puppy Kindergarten: The New Science of Raising a Great Dog - lays some very important information about the world of Service Dogs. In this wide ranging conversation about what a Service Dog *actually* is, how the misinterpretations and misunderstandings confuse matters, and most importantly how - by using SCIENCE - we can better identify the dogs that will be the best candidates for Service work at an earlier age. You can find more about Vanessa’s work through Canine Companions and see a fascinating example of one of the cognitive tests they use to gauge a dog’s potential In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Open Mouth, Insert Pie
With all the talk in the world there seems to be less and less listening and even less understanding. Ridicule and mocking have become bloodsport, going far beyond the pale. Don’t get me twisted, I’m all for well-intentioned and harmless chirping and challenging. That’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about people who talk about how bad others are … and in so doing, are being precisely the same. That’s this week’s pondering - what it means to think before letting words fly outta your pie hole. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
When a Tree Falls
Ah the joys of watching people hurling mud at each other online. Commentary threads saturated with finger pointing, name calling and utterly awful commentary. I don’t know that I’ll ever understand it. People’s need to spout off with insults, name calling or otherwise engage in a fight in the comments of a social media post. It’s like spitting into the wind. For starters, if you’re seeing a person or organization’s post in your feed, that’s your responsibility. If you don’t like what someone says, unfollow or block them. It’s that simple. It’s like me turning on the TV and then screaming at a program that I hate, when I have a remote control that allows me to watch anything else I like. If you don’t like it, don’t follow it. What’s that have to do with a tree falling in the woods? You’ll just have to listen to this short thought nugget of an episode to find out. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Fraudulent Selflessness
eing selfless. Generous. Of service to others. These are good things, right? Sure, unless the motivation behind them isn’t on the up and up. There is such a thing as fraudulent selflessness and it can take many forms. And that’s what I talk about this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Slow Roll
As a morning person I don’t really need coffee to get up to start the day. My eyes open and the engines are on and going. Most of the time, that is. There are those days when waking in the morning can be a struggle. Historically, I’ve just lit a fire under that damn day and made it go go go. What if I didn’t. What if I paused and took a breath? What if I let the day just be? What if? What if I put down the resistance and got curious about what’s underneath it? That’s where we go in this week’s episode. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Slow Roll
As a morning person I don’t really need coffee to get up to start the day. My eyes open and the engines are on and going. Most of the time, that is. There are those days when waking in the morning can be a struggle. Historically, I’ve just lit a fire under that damn day and made it go go go. What if I didn’t. What if I paused and took a breath? What if I let the day just be? What if? What if I put down the resistance and got curious about what’s underneath it? That’s where we go in this week’s episode. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Lynne Sheridan - Radical Fairy Godmother and Badass
What if there are no sides? What if there is no other? This what if lies at the heart of the mindset, philosophy and work of this week’s guest, Lynne Sheridan. For three decades, Lynne has been committed to transforming people’s view of the world, of themselves and of others. She’s a sought-after transformational leadership trainer and coach, has a thriving practice working with couples, collaborates with another leading transformational trainer, Lisa Kalmin (who’s also been on this podcast AND with whom Lynne has been best friends for years) focusing on empowering and catalyzing women in leadership. She is a singular spirit - someone whose very DNA is steeped in compassion, equity and freedom. I mean, come on, anyone who describes herself as a “Radical Fairy Godmother” has to be pretty badass, right? In this week’s episode Lynne challenges me more than once to push beyond what most of us would call an open view of the world, to see the possibilities that truly exist when people are given the opportunity to love and be loved unconditionally. You can find her in a bunch of places including: Inspire Coaching (one collaboration with Lisa Kalmin) Her LinkedIn Profile Her Facebook page Instagram In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
YATA
Aren’t acronyms fun? I sure think so, and this one in particular - YATA - is one with which near every person is familiar … though most tend to avoid admitting it. So as usual, I will start by outing myself and admitting it. Sometimes, I am. What does that mean? You’ll just have to listen to this episode to find out what this acronym stands for … and why it relates to the preposterous idea of lone wolves. And if after this episode you’re ready to dig in deeper on the topic, I was interviewed by Elisa Camahort-Page and Jory DesJardin on their #Optionality podcast and you can listen to that here. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #YATA #lonewolf #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Attention and Perception
It’s not what happens to you. It’s how you choose to view it. That sounds nice, but when life throws a shitstorm at your noggin, it feels impossible. Take that to macro scale, look at what’s happening in the world and it’s pretty easy to say - everything is going to hell in a hand basket and there’s no two ways about that. I call bullshit. To be clear - I’m not suggesting we smack on rose-colored lenses and pretend things aren't going sideways. They are. What I AM saying is it’s entirely how we PERCEIVE events. It’s WHERE we put our ATTENTION. Like that time I got stranded without any means of communication for a day in a foreign city where my grasp of the language was minimal at best. Could have been a shit day, instead it turned into magic. And that is what I talk about this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #perceptionrequiresparticipation #attentioneconomy #perspective #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
The Deep End
After taking a week off for the July 4th holiday, we're back with some swimmingly interesting perspectives. When learning to swim, typically one doesn’t just leap into the deep end right off. So why is it that we believe that people should just jump in and learn things and not make mistakes? Oh wait, maybe that’s just me. I was this year year’s old when the light bulb blinked on. Being in that deep end, it doesn’t mean that you can’t ask for someone to jump in and help you learn to swim. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #takingachance #thedeepend #learningtoswim #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Leaves on a Stream
It’s one of the most common visuals one hears in guided meditations. The concept of visualizing yourself sitting by a stream, and any time an errant thought pops into your head, to imagine it as a leaf on the stream, and allow it to drift by. It’s a visual I’ve always loved. It’s always worked. Thing is, I never really spent much time by streams. So imagine my surprise when I found myself creekside recently and realized that this metaphor is a bit more complicated than I’d thought. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #leavesonastream #guidedmeditation #visualization #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Thirty Four
Though this relates to a specific incident a week or so ago, the troubling truth is that whenever you’re listening to this episode, it’s likely there’s been another incident that had the same result. A thing happened. One group of people celebrated it. Another group of people decried it as travesty, a disgrace. Both responses are bullshit. Saturated with ego, conditionality and resulting in more of the same. More friction. More confrontation. More opposition. More chaos. One of my trusted mentors pointed to a commentary by a specific well-known person. Someone who was speaking to a crowd and - in response to the day’s news - stated “So, anything going on today?” My mentor noted it as being neutral. That this person didn’t “comment” on the news. Oh, but she did and the small statement was anything BUT neutral. It was saturated with a sense of satisfaction. It was very cat that ate the canary. Remaining neutral doesn’t mean seeking justice. Remaining neutral doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be consequences for actions. Remaining neutral is all about how we think, speak and act about it that matters - and that’s where I go with this week’s episode. So buckle up :) In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Jaime Konzelman
Jaime Konzelman is the kind of woman whose story will stop you in your tracks. It’s also the kind of story that, at least probably until somewhat recent years, most folks would have avoided telling. I mean, it’s not often that a high-power, deal-making corporate executive admits to having gotten her start as a stripper. She’s not the first woman I’ve met who established a financial foundation and negotiating skillset in the adult entertainment industry. She is the first one I know who wrote a book about it, and in the book reveals truly jaw-dropping and stomach twisting tales of a path that almost should have led somewhere else entirely. In fact, most who travel the path the way that Jaime did don’t live to tell the tale. But she did and tell the tale she does. In this episode of Talk Unleashed, Jaime shares more of the insights and why behind her story and as usual I drop some questions that catch her off guard and result in some truly untethered moments. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #raisingthebar #levelingup #nextcut #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Want a pig?
When I was 9 years old I convinced one of my neighbors that my mother would allow me to have one of their Guinea Pigs. I brought it home. Needless to say, it didn’t go so well. Had the little guy long enough to name him Cornflake, and then return him. That's the last time I randomly brought home an animal for which I wasn’t properly set up to provide care. So when a guy at a gas station offered me a piglet from the back of his truck, I flashed back briefly to that moment in my childhood. I said no, but of course not before some random thoughts wove together into this week’s episode. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Country Courtesy
One of the most irritating things about driving in most American urban and suburban areas is the utter sense of entitlement and disregard for anything even remotely resembling courtesy. Head to Paris or most any city in Europe where complex roundabouts and other traffic control exist, and watch as what seems to be chaos, orchestrates perfectly. It’s because folks know the basics and are minding the rules. They are literally staying in their lane. Country roads very much have a sense of courtesy. There are mostly winding, two lane roads, some of which do have limits up to about 60mph and there is a way that you handle passing others, minding limits, all of it. So when I had two back-to-back experiences that were polar opposites, I got inspired. And now you get to hear about it. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #commoncourtesy #countrycourtesy #manners #nextcut #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Road Kill
Driving around in the country you see a lot of times when some woodland creature just didn’t make it across the road. I do my best to not be the person leaving that collateral damage behind me. In this week’s episode - a case of stopping in my tracks - and in the process engaging with someone whose politics and views lay just about as far from mine as possible. Except here’s the thing. We got along. Because of a Box Turtle. Road Kill - maybe the thing we should leave behind is hatred. And that’s where I go with this week’s episode. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Don't Ask. Just Do.
Not sure when it happened but at some point doing nice things for people became suspect. You do something for someone and they think you want something. Sad, really. Result is that most folks keep to themselves, don't share when they need help and end up floundering around in this world trying to get shit done. Or take it to the other extreme and become overly dependent on others. That balance. That fine line. That stepping forward to offer help before it’s requested. Being of service. That’s what I dive into this week. Courtesy of a neighbor and his dogs. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #bekind #beofservice #dogoodthings radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
The Whistle
If you were an 80s kid you recall the whole going out to play after dinner and coming home before the street lights come on thing. You may also recall that most folks’ parents had some sort of whistle or call, a code that said - get your a$$ home. My father has been dead for 24 years. And the other night I heard part of his whistle. In the woods. So obviously that gave me an inspiration for this week’s episode. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #thewhistle #80skids #genX #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Raising the Bar
I’m not sure when it happened but at some point, good healthy competition and the drive for self-improvement and growth became a zero sum game where one person’s success was only valued at the cost of someone else. That the climb to the top became based on climbing over others. As if there’s only one ladder, one mountain. Thing is, there isn’t. We all have our own hurdles to jump and raising it to challenge yourself? That’s a good thing. And it also can come with some serious discomfort. Which I found out doing a high jump. And that’s what I talk about this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #raisingthebar #levelingup #nextcut #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Taking a Stand or a Position
I grew up in a family where I was taught that speaking up and using your voice matters. That having beliefs and standing by them, matters. Today’s world, though, seems saturated with folks who are so focused on doing that, they lock into wherever they are, double down and become very committed to how right they are - and how wrong others are. It was recently that I learned this isn’t taking a stand. It’s taking a position. And that doing so, by definition means there will be something or someone in op-position … aka conflict. Coming across a strange thing in an overgrown wooded path sparked the topic and this episode is what came of it. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #takingastand #conditionality #connection #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Ain't Over Till It's Over
Ah the joy of musical memories. Experiences, thoughts and phrases that trigger some song or another in my head. In the case of this week’s episode, though I reference Kate Smith and the whole “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings” thing, the song I’m really hearing is by Lenny Kravitz. It ain’t over, till it’s over. Either way, the point is this - just because something *seems* settled, just because an accomplishment is unlocked, doesn’t mean the push is over. It doesn’t mean coast. This week’s episode delves into that, sparked by ice hockey. Of course. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #notovertillover #neverstop #commitment #dedication #resilience #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
The Problem is How You See the Problem with GUEST Lisa Kalmin
This is a very special episode. Both because I diverge from my usual format and because of the incredible guest whose wisdom you get to experience. Her name is Lisa Kalmin and she is among the elite in the world of Transformational Leadership. In this wide ranging conversation, Lisa shares how she came to the world of Transformational Leadership, and why a specific part of the process is so meaningful to and for her. This conversation, recorded on the day of the Winter Solstice in 2023, is evergreen in its relevance. Below is a bit more about Lisa with links to her website, Instagram, Facebook Page, LinkedIn profile and - most importantly - to her book. Lisa Kalmin is a transformational trainer, coach and author. She is a mindset coach, speaker, corporate trainer and at the age of 51 became the mother of twin boys! Lisa is the principal and founder of WorldWorks Trainings, a premier coaching and training company dedicated to personal growth and transformational workshops. From 2000 to 2016, WorldWorks Leadership teams have raised over $2.4 million for Southern California Charities. Lisa is also the Co-Founder of Inspire Coaching and iNSPIRE BUSINESS SUCCESS , Corporate Leadership Training with Lynne Sheridan. Lisa is a founding member of The Association of Transformational Leaders and a member of the Transformational Leadership Council, a premier organization founded by renowned author Jack Canfield. Lisa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas in Austin, as well as an MBA from the same university. Lisa makes her home in Costa Mesa, California with her twins, Aidan and Levi and pups, Chester and Cooper. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #lisakalmin #transformation #transformationalleadership #leadershiptrainer #theproblemishowyouseetheproblem #perspective #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Take the Red Pill
It’s one of the key moments in the movie The Matrix. That moment when Neo chooses the “red pill”. Now if you haven’t seen the movie, that makes no sense. So if that’s the case, here’s a metaphor that might work - the idea that you cannot un-bake a cake, cannot un-ring a bell. Once a thing is seen or known, it cannot be otherwise. What on earth does that have to do with this week’s episode of the podcast? Everything. It’s about the huge ah-ha that arrived for me years ago when I began training dogs. The catastrophic experience that led to my starting down that path in the first place. A thing, that once known, I couldn’t un-know it. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #thematrix #taketheredpill #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Falling Down
When you’re learning to walk, no one berates you for falling down. Somehow, once we get older, falling down is seen as humiliation. Embarrassment. And that applies whether that falling down is literal or figurative. Last thing you want to do is make a mistake, fall down. Problem is, we all do it, and so having shame around it doesn’t really serve. What might it look like if we could embrace the falling down and see it instead as falling forward? That idea, sparked by a face plant into a large pool of deep red mud, is what I talk about this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #fallingdown #humility #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Don't Ask Why
We’re taught to listen to authority. Kids learn to ask “Why?” and parents respond “Because I said so.” Over time, we question, query and dig underneath. Today’s culture - saturated by psychotherapy and coaches - encourages people to ask “What’s underneath that?” Questioning and digging underneath every action’s motivation. It’s exhausting. It’s also often a waste of time. There’s also a very real and deeply damaging impact of the constant querying. Truth is, sometimes the why doesn’t matter. Sometimes the best path forward is realizing that there’s a different path and just choosing to take it. Letting go of needing to know the why. In this episode - letting go of needing to know and the power that comes when you do. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #question #why #answersdontmatter #choice #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Burn Baby Burn (Book)
When I heard Kara Swisher was writing her memoir, Burn Book, I couldn’t wait. Besides being one of - if not the - most influential Journalists covering Silicon Valley and tech at the rise of the Internet Age, she’s a stupendous writer, and is never one to shy away from calling bullsh*t. Admission - at this recording I've only read the introduction. Mostly because it’s already clearly a page turner and deserves clearing some time and reading it cover to cover … so I’ll report back. But already one point landed. One of the most influential Journalists - someone who now serves as a pundit and analyst of the industry she once near-revered - admits that we were asleep at the wheel. My words, not hers. Here’s the thing - with voices like Kara’s we are now wide awake, and there’s still time to get hands back on the wheel and straighten the course. Question is, will we? In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #BurnBook #KaraSwisher #siliconvalley #journalism #memoir #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Balance
When you think about balance, what comes up for you? Do you go immediately to the ever-present impossible expectation of life/work balance? If so, this episode is absolutely for you. It’s about a terrifying experience I had with literal balance that made me take a good, hard look at just how out of what my internal balance was. And more importantly the fact that I’d had tons of warning signs that things were heading that direction. Those signs, they’re around us ALL THE TIME, if we pay attention. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #balance #connection #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Where Do You Belong?
Where do YOU belong? Where is the place you just fit, no matter what? The whole idea of “home is where the heart is” has such value - and it’s not just about the heart. Those online “quizzes” that ask the question - “where would YOU prefer to live?” With images of mountains, the desert, forest, beach and cities - implying that the choice determines what kind of person you are (along with images of cars, different animals, houses and the like). Of course there are preferences, but what do those preferences mean and what happens if you make a choice that goes against it? In today’s episode, a lesson from a meander during a road trip - along with a few big a ha moments. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #home #energy #balance #connction #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Currency of Gossip
This week, inspired by a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, I ponder the value that society places on one of the most toxic behaviors around communication - gossip. Let’s be clear - we all have done or do it. Everyone. So let’s take a deep breath. The person who truly and honestly NEVER does is a rare creature indeed. It’s not new behavior - people have talked about others probably since we started talking. And before you say “BUT CATHY” … yeah, I get it. Of COURSE in conversation people will come up. I’m not talking about THAT. You all know precisely what kind of talking I’m talking about. And again, we’ve all done it. And today it’s been turned into currency - with a value that has a huge cost. Social and societal well being. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #gossip #toxicgossip #gossipascurrency #EleanorRoosevelt #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Power in PAWS
Some topics just like to stick around. Pausing. Silence. The power that comes from taking … a … breath. This week, the power of the pause (but that’s always PAWS for me). How do dogs stay in the moment and what can we learn from that and how does communication shift? In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #powerinpause #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Poetry and POWER of Silence
This week another meander into a concept that everyone seems to “get” and plenty of people talk about. But for some reason, most folks have their heads shoved squarely up their a$$ when it comes to what it *actually* means. The power of silence. Silence is the most informative, instructive and valuable place when it comes to making decisions and finding paths to resolution. In the dumpster fire that is today’s world, where he or she who shouts loudest and most offensively gets the most attention, what might it look like if there was a large popping sound as we yanked our heads free, and allowed the power of silence to do its job? In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #powerinsilence #silenceisgolden #sometimesbesttojustshutup #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnlea
Brutal Honesty is Bullsh*t
Last week I talked about how context is bullsh*t. Since there’s so much shit around these days, figured taking on the ridiculous premise of “brutal honesty” would be next. Put simply, #brutalhonesty is a load of horsesh*t. The word brutal literally means savage, violent and destructive. So by association anyone who would be “brutal” with honesty? Yeah they’re probably kind of an a$$hole. Or at least behaving like one. This week diving into how what we really need these days is RADICAL and it’s easier to do than you’d think. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #contextisnothing #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Context is Nothing
Amazing how words and concepts get hijacked and bastardized. Because OF COURSE communication has a level of context to it. Saying “I love you” for example in one setting (like to a friend) has an entirely different meaning when looking into the eyes of someone you’re dating. (The latter sometimes even giving rise to a sense of nausea if if the first time you’re saying it.) BUT - to imply that somehow “context” allows for some things or that some things can be excused by a perceived context? In that sense, context is bullsh*t. Yes. I said that. And this all comes to rise after getting a great text from my mentor Dr Judith Rich with a quote about dogs, context and how to them context matters not at all. In fact, context can get in the way of connected communication. And that is where we go this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #contextisnothing #behonest #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
I Am An Oak Tree
If you were a tree, what kind would you be? It’s one of the oldest urban legend interview stories. It’s said that Barbara Walters famously asked that of Katharine Hepburn. Turns out the actual interview didn’t go that way, but Hepburn DID note that she’d lived her life as an Oak tree. What on earth does that have to do with communication? Everything. It has to do with the balance between being steadfast, committed and strong while simultaneously being flexible and bending … a bit. In this week’s episode, the lessons from trees and how you can branch out, pun intended, in your own life. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #betheoaktree #resistanceisfutile #oaktree #nature #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Getting Baked
This is about cookies. Bet you saw the title and thought this was about something else. Sorry to disappoint, but this is about cookies. Also it’s about complacency. It’s about what happens when you get so “comfortable” with a skillset you’ve “mastered” you take your foot off the gas. Stop pushing yourself. Stop reaching for excellence. During holiday season many people shift into neutral, lulled into a state of hibernation by the extended run of holiday season. Suddenly WHAM it’s “a new year” and we’re expected to launch forward. So when a lesson was delivered by unexpected challenges in creating a batch of Peppermint Bark Cookies, I had to share. And as promised - here’s the link to the recipe. In keeping with my Mom-Mom Frieda, this recipe isn’t precisely how I make them. I’ve modified it to reach my results. But stick with how this one is written and you won’t be disappointed. Worth noting - not all Peppermint Bark is created equal. My go-to choice is the peppermint oil infused dark chocolate magic sold every fall by Trader Joe’s. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #excellence #baking #peppermintbarkcookies #traderjoes #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Like Riding a Bike
Kicking off a New Year felt like this particular topic was apt. Getting back on the horse. Starting again. Most skills we develop require some level of practical application or practice to maintain. Learning an instrument as a kid doesn’t mean you’ll be able to just play it later if you don’t keep up with practice. Other things may be a bit rusty but with a bit of focus, the old skills come back. For some reason, it’s not like that with riding a bike. In fact the phrase “It’s just like riding a bike” is meant to imply that once you’ve learned it, it’s learned. Don’t do it for a while and then hop on, and off you’ll go. In this week’s episode - sparked by a video posted by a friend - a bit of reminiscing about the day I learned how to ride without training wheels. It was about freedom and in hindsight it is clear that the lessons from that day actually became how I have moved through the world since. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #ridingabike #trainingwheels #consciouscommunication #leadership #thomasguide #gps #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Lessons Shopping at Target
Going shopping during holiday season can be a bit like a full contact sport. Which is precisely why it’s my favorite time of year to go shopping. It’s when the best and most powerful lessons about human behavior and communication are writ large. This year was no different, and this time around - courtesy of a high-traffic Target Superstore - the lessons are all about home. And that’s where we go this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #holidayshopping #meaningofhome #consciouscommunication #leadership #thomasguide #gps #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
GPS For Communication
There’s something romantic about an old school map - those things made out of paper folks used to use to navigate from one spot to another. Technology made these obsolete. Navigation built into cars or on your cell phone - plug in your destination and GPS does the rest. It’ll even immediately re-route if the system detects traffic or issues. Far more efficient and convenient … but there is a cost. Context. In this week’s episode - a look at old school navigation and the parallel to communication. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #communicationmap #consciouscommunication #leadership #thomasguide #gps #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
The Wisdom of Weather
Mother Nature sure has a way about her. Damn smart, really. Not that this should be new information, I guess, but there’s something remarkably powerful when she lands messages that are relevant for every aspect of life. In this week’s episode - lessons from nature that relate deeply to heat of conversation and how to cool it down. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #weatherwisdom #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Don't Look Back
Those who don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it. I always found that statement to be dark. It also can sometimes create a whole new problem. Spending time saturated in the past not only doesn’t prevent things from happening again, it almost guarantees that you’ll attract precisely that which you’re paying attention to. That creates something of a bind. If we ignore the past, it happens again. If we focus on it too much, it happens again. As so often is the case - and especially when it comes to how the past impacts storytelling and communication - it’s about the balance. You can LOOK at your past. Just stop STARING at it. And that’s where we go this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #lookforward #rememberthepast #neverforget #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Square Peg, Round Hole
Making it work. Getting it done. Powering through the problem. This way of thinking has its value AND it’s also a colossal contributor to the mess that is our world. After all, if someone doesn’t speak a language, talking more slowly and loudly in that language to them, doesn’t work. If you hit an obstacle, backing up and running at it harder MIGHT get you through - but at what cost? In this week’s episode a discussion of what it means to find the way that actually GETS the square peg into the round hole. Or in this video that I reference in the episde, a star-shaped peg. It’s about being a generalist in a seemingly specialized world. It once was a given that we’d grow up with broad knowledge and experience and specialize over time. Then someone figured out that getting specialized early got you ahead - faster, earlier. A good thing, right? Maybe. Studies show that this works early and in the long run, doesn’t. In his book “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World”, Journalist and Author David Epstein explores this very point - with some very powerful conclusions. He’s not a guest on this episode (but yes, I intend to fix that for a future episode). In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #Range #davidepstein #beageneralist #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Does a Bear Sh*t in the Woods?
Well, I can confirm it’s true. Bears DO sh*t in the woods. I know because I came across a very very very very very fresh pile of bear scat during a hike. The good news - I didn’t step in it. The better news, though incredibly fresh (and likely meaning the bear wasn’t far off), I didn’t actually meet the bear. The even better news - the whole experience was a great lesson in responsibility, accountability and … cleaning up my sh*t. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #doesabearshitinthewoods #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
When Words are Masks
Advertising is a funny thing. Words and phrases become identified with a brand based on artful and consistent use. “Just do it”. “We love to fly and it shows.” “Where’s the Beef?” What happens when words feel weaponized? What happens when words that appear to be celebratory or positive have a darker meaning? What happens when words are used to splinter and divide? What happens? Just turn on the news and you’ll see it. But what happens if we look past the words? A recent experience at a truck stop gas station showed Cathy a good example and that’s what we go into this week. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #ritual #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Rituals - NOT the Creepy Kind
The word ritual has a lot of weight to it. Its main definition designates it as being about religious ceremony. Pretty sure that’s where my resistance to it comes from. Truth is, though, that ritual doesn’t have to be heavy, or religious. Ritual, having some sort of consistent process or practice, can be a source of comfort, solace and a beautiful way to connect with others. In this week’s episode we explore how the onset of fall is a reminder of powerful rituals - rituals that remind us where we come from, including DENDROFEMONOLOGY - an historic view of feminism as brought forward by filmmaker and artist, Tiffany Shlain. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #ritual #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #tiffanyshlain #DENDROFEMONOLOGY #LetItRipple #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Communication Looking Forward
COME ON CATHY LIGHTEN UP! That started out as a CAPS LOCK error, but seemed pretty apropos to keep. So I did, because that was very much on my mind in putting together this week’s episode. How to come from a lighter place in times that feel so darn dark? That’s the key, though, in compassionate communication. So in this week’s episode, an attempt to find not so much levity as a way forward and how that applies to the fierce compassion imperative for radical honesty and communication. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Finding the Words in Horror
The last weeks have been trying times for anyone with a pulse. Feelings from fury to fear. People from all walks of life letting fly with words of fury and over-amplified emotion or remaining silent, feeling they have nothing they can say. When someone’s work IS communication that presents an interesting situation. How to enter the conversation and create an upward spiral, a productive direction? This episode doesn’t provide a complete solution, but it does start things in a useful direction. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Power and Peace in Chaotic Times - Judith Rich
No sooner were we back from hiatus with an episode on minding my own business, boundaries and respect of space, when the world seemed to go even further sideways into hatred. And so, rather than trying to make sense and speak about it, this week - for OUR 100TH EPISODE - it felt appropriate to repeat one of our most powerful episodes — An interview with Transformational Leader, Coach, Mentor and Wise Woman, Dr. Judith Rich. This episode - that dives deeply into living in purpose with humility - seems all the more necessary now. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for some radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but sometimes isn’t so easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #thenewbeyond #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Minding My Own Business ... and Yours.
WELCOME BACK listeners! After a delicious summer hiatus, Cathy is back with a new season of Talk, Unleashed and kicking off with thoughts that percolated from a recent trip to New York City. The thing that came up? Mind your own @#(*&$ business - and how that, and statements like it, masquerade as “being honest”. Here’s the thing - it’s not honest. It’s a defense mechanism. Get outta my space. Not exactly what I’d describe as mindful. Granted being in a City that is as jam-packed with humans as Gotham gives a whole new view Spending a few days in Manhattan is enough to really give a framework for what it means to honor and respect others’ space while simultaneously being stacked up on each other. It’s an adventure … among other things. So buckle up and let’s GO - in to Season 3 of Talk Unleashed! In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for some radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but sometimes isn’t so easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
What's the Point?
Being at a loss for words is a rarity for our host. So when she found herself at loose ends for what to talk about this week, suddenly the loss of words became pausing and being still, and in the stillness, the liminal space of a season change, this week’s topic emerged. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for some radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but sometimes isn’t so easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Strong As F*ck
If clothes make the man (and woman) I wonder what that says about folks who have a penchant for provocative t-shirts. I’ve always been a fan of such things, and over the years have had quite a few shirts and some hats that did just that. What I didn’t expect was that wearing one such shirt in a Wal-Mart in the middle of Virginia would spark a conversation about respect, authenticity and strength. But that’s what happened. Never know where the lessons are going to come and this week it was aisle 16A. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for some radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but sometimes isn’t so easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #strongasf-ck #talkunleashed #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Form and Function - Finding Balance
How do you find ease, flow and comfort in life, go with the flow AND at the same time have some sort of structure, order and plans? If you’re like me the latter can sometimes get in the way, but without it nothing gets done. Thus the conundrum. What I came to and found in this week’s #unleashedtalk is that the key to bringing the two together is based entirely in the language I use - to myself. The things I say in my head, how I talk about what I’m doing and how I define it. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for some radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but sometimes isn’t so easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #formandfunction #creativeprocess #talkunleashed #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Dr. Judith Rich - Living in Purpose and Humility
Bold. Fierce. Wise. Just a few of the words that come to mind when thinking about Dr. Judith Rich. Deeply involved in transformational leadership for nearly 50 years as a coach, trainer and mentor, Dr. Rich also is author of the best-selling book “Beyond the Box: Lean Out, Break Free, Rise Up”. In her book, and related podcast “The New Beyond”, Facebook Group and all her teachings, Dr. Rich does more than just talk about how people can change and what the world would be like if they did. She is all about empowerment, encouragement and evoking. It’s not about telling people what to do or creating a fear-based driver for what happens if they don’t. It’s absolutely about making every individual the center of their own growth and in the process, they create the momentum in the world around them. She’s led trainings on pretty much every continent and her network effect reach, by now, is massive. In this week’s very special episode, Cathy and Judith dive deeply into the why that fuels her work and how there is just as much excitement looking forward as there is looking back. In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for some radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but sometimes isn’t so easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #DrJudithRich #TheNewBeyond #BeyondtheBox #humility #transformationaleadership #leadership #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #consciouscommunication #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Meaning of Goodbye
Conscious communication. Seems that it should be a no brainer, right? I mean, words coming out of your mouth have to come from somewhere. Thing is, we live in a such a numb world that more often than not words not only have lost their meaning, in many cases they have lost their way. Don’t worry, this isn’t a gloom and doom episode, it’s actually hopefully; because in this week’s episode of #TalkUnleashed Cathy digs into what happens when a specific incident or experience points a spotlight on a word, giving the opportunity to sink into a powerful meaning, and a truly connected moment. In other words, sometimes getting slapped upside the head by the universe isn’t a bad thing. Even if it might stink in the moment. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #consciouscommunication #goodbye #communication #wordsmatter #meaningofgoodbye #leadership #community #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
New Metaphors Take Root
The magic of metaphors. It’s a graceful way to relate, land a message and connect. We all have our favorites, areas that map to our lives. For me the magic trio is ice hockey, dogs, and music (specifically classical and jazz). Since hockey season is now formally over (another hearty HUZZAH for the Vegas Golden Knights on their Stanley Cup Championship), internet algorithms have shifted and are feeding me all kinds of dog and music content. So given the idea that came up for me today I’m wondering how long before gardening content shows up. Because this week’s episode gets to the root of the matter, or more aptly said, is about rooting out old stuff. You can try to cover it over, you can try to do a superficial fix - that doesn’t work. There are drastic measures to take - involving deeply toxic chemicals - with short term gain that deliver serious long term problems. For a long-term solution that doesn’t create other issues, it takes time and effort and ongoing effort to keep things clear. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to get your hands dirty. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #gardening #roots #weeds #patience #consciousness #metaphors #leadership #community #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
This is Not About Hockey
This is not about hockey. It’s not even about sports. It’s about what it means to find heart in something entirely unexpected. It’s about what it means to give people hope, healing. That it involves the story of a six-year-old NHL team is kind of besides the point. If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a hot second you know my passion for the Vegas Golden Knights. You also know that hockey, for me, is a metaphor. The lessons in the last weeks have come fast and furious as the 2023 hockey season made it’s way into Stanley Cup Playoffs and then the final run for the cup. There was the massive lessons learned in round 3 when the captain of a team failed his teammates. A pair of lessons that came courtesy of the Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice in the Finals - about his responsibility (or lack of it) and the price his team paid. Finally it’s about me being legit Internet famous - like to the tune of 40 million views. You’ll have to tune in to learn more on that. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #stanleycupfinals #stanleycupchampions #vegasgoldenknights #floridapanthers #paulmaurice #leadership #community #internetmeme #icehockeydancing #goldenknightsfan #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Do Not Push
The more you resist a thing, the more it persists. That’s a common phrase used in lots of places - transformational coaching, recovery, Eastern philosophy. It’s all about energy, the flow of it. That things have an order and flow. Ever try to rush to do something and it becomes impossibly difficult and then you slow down, breathe and suddenly it flows? Or how about when you are rushing to get out the door and no matter what you do, there are obstacles. Slow your roll and things move smooth and easy. It’s a message that’s not new to me, and yet like everyone else when I get wrapped up in the DOing of things, I forget. And sometimes it takes signs - literally - to whack the message back into place. That’s where I go in this week’s episode. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #donotpush #signseverywhere #whatyouresistpersists #gowiththeflow #energy #flow #communication #radicalauthenticity #radicaltransparency #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Feelings, Nothing More Than ... What the???
We all have them. Feelings. Learning how to have them without having them ON other people seems to be a much lacking skillset in the world these days. Lots of effusive display (especially on social media) but how connected is it to real emotion? How authentic is it, really? That’s where I go this week. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #feelings #leadership #communication #radicalauthenticity #radicaltransparency #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Death and Yoga
The topic sounds serious, right? Death. Week. Truth is, we folks in western culture seem to have this fear-based relationship with death. What if it’s not scary? What if it’s just about shifting from one place to another and what if as we approach it, the veil between the two draws thin enough that we can be in both? Haven’t had a near death experience, thankfully, but I have had some experiences of folks who are further along towards that veil and I gotta say, there is something to it. With the death of a beloved uncle this past weekend I’m reminded of these things and how rather than being in such a hurry that perhaps we get to savor each step. Oh, and there’s an interesting perspective that hit me in the head - literally - that I share. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #consciousbusiness #consciousness #PAUA #PAUAParis2023 #PAUAStartUpAwards #Kogis #Kogiwisdom #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
What is Consciousness
Lots of talk about consciousness and the seemingly serious lack of it around these days. Can’t say that I overall disagree, but having just spent a week in Paris, primarily for a conference specifically focused on bringing ancient “technology” of indigenous culture to create a more conscious business world, gotta say there’s some real movement. The event was PAUA Paris 2023 and I had the great honor of curating and hosting the very first StartUp Award Showcase for the event. Over 40 companies applied in less than three weeks and seeing how entrepreneurs are integrating consciousness - both in terms of what they’re creating as well as how they’re creating it - well, it gives hope. And that’s where I go in this week’s episode. I’m working on a longer post about the conference. I’ll drop the link here when I do! What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #consciousbusiness #consciousness #PAUA #PAUAParis2023 #PAUAStartUpAwards #Kogis #Kogiwisdom #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Can't Get There From Here
If I do what I’ve always done. I’ll get what I always gets. Bet you’ve heard that before. It’s a pretty solid perspective on why it’s important to break beyond usual convention, try new things and stretch into uncomfortable places in order to truly rise to the next level of … whatever. It’s bigger than that, though. There are two thoughts in particular that came up for me this week: The first is around the practice of adapting even the most mundane and habitual activities so that there’s a freshness every time. The other, and this is a bit deeper, is about the idea that if I’m looking at a thing for how it’s always been and how I want it to be, and talk about what I want, what I’m doing is actually perpetuating the not having of it. Because the very act of putting it in future tense, means that there’s a lack of it now. The trick is being so committed to the belief of what WILL be that it exists for me in the present, even if there isn't any substantial, tangible, physical proof of it. Sound a little woo woo for ya? Kind of is, but ... it works. And Mother Nature taught me the lesson this week. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #cantgettherefromhere #newhabits #tinyhabits #transformation #adaptability #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Talking About Feelings
Nothing like getting an inspired thought while in the shower, and jumping out buck naked to record a podcast episode about it. Okay, so I wrapped myself in a towel first (it was a little chilly). You’re welcome for the visual. What was that important? I’ve been spending a lot of time going through some emotional excavation and in the process finding myself thinking about my feelings. It occurred to me that it was precisely the wrong thing to do. In fact it’s precisely the opposite of what one should do with feelings. Feelings are meant to be felt. Thing is, I grew up in a family where feelings were dismissed. Instead there was a tendency towards dramatic emotional outbursts after which the expectation was that the “feelings” were over, the situation done and never to be spoken of again. For a highly sensitive empath, that was hell. It has taken lots of work and time to come to the understanding that feelings are meant to be felt, and the trick is to not sit in them so long that they take over. It’s about sitting with the feelings, not in them. And that’s what I talk about today. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #authenticity #feelings #getoutofyourhead #radicalhonesty #selfawareness #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Go With the Flow
So I’m a results gal. Always have been. Made a career of it, actually. Nearly ground myself to a nub in the process. Taking a break to work with dogs, I thought was going to be the new path entirely. Turns out that it was that work, and getting to be really clear about what it means to be in the flow of an intention, in the process of creation and not letting the output (goal) muddy the path. I’ve been spending some time consuming lots of content about neuroscience, the science of positive mindset and even dipping into slightly more “woo woo” perspectives like energetic frequency. Turns out when I stay connected to my purpose and vision and take the necessary actions, pretty magic shit happens. And that’s where we go this week. Buckle up buttercups. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #positiveintelligent #abrahamhicks #leadership #vision #frequency #nature #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
No Short Cuts
In our instant gratification, short attention span world there’s SO much effort spent on efficiency, streamlining and using technology to replace or speed things up. In some ways that’s great. Overall, though, especially when it comes to the things that make us human, it’s a load of horseshit. Specifically, you cannot rush a relationship with another human being. That being said, it actually *doesn’t* take long to establish a meaningful connection with another person, but that’s assuming that both people are showing up radically authentic, vulnerable and open. Barring that, the path to connection isn’t as simple as checking boxes and asking a specific set of questions. It’s about HOW you do it. And while swinging in a hammock that’s what I talk about this week. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #relationships #connection #leadership #noeasybutton #authenticity #vulnerability #nature #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
What is Real(ity)?
What is real? I’m reminded of that question in a favorite children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit. That story tells that being “real” is about being loved, well-worn, and so authentically connected that being messy is more than just okay, it’s guaranteed. So what of today’s world? What of this time when Artificial Intelligence is the hottest topic of discussion? In a Twitter chat with my friend Philip Rosedale he posited that it’s about people becoming “comfortable” speaking and being as avatars. Philip knows about such things, being the fellow behind Linden Labs’ Second Life - truly the first major step into virtual worlds as viable economies and places. Made me think. With how deeply curated most online presences are, isn’t that already kind of the case? An “artificial” representation of self? Before you think that I’m launching into hating on technology - pump the brakes. Because it’s clear it’s not about a yes or no about technology - it’s about responsibility in using it. To go there, we have some of the greatest assets to remind us. One of my favorite voices in personal development these days is Mel Robbins and on her inspiration this episode came to life. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good question. That’s what Cathy Brooks thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of radically honest conversation about ... well ... everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, this weekly podcast invites curiosity. Curiosity about not what people do, but why they do it. It's about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and CEO of North America. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #PhilipRosedale #SecondLife #virtualreality #augmentedreality #artificalintelligence #melrobbins #nature #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Spring
Transitions. It’s amazing how nature has them. More odd that we humans seem so set on homogenizing everything. All things the same. Taking one place and whitewashing another with it. Missing the point entirely about exploration and discovery. What gives rise to the perspective? Being in a place where Spring is a real, actual thing. There’s a deep sense of transition and evolution to something new. That I’m here from a place where stark separation is more the norm, I’d forgotten. Funny that. So this week, a look at Spring with some insights on what that means in terms of acceptance. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #Springtime #seasons #transition #discovery #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Trust
Funny thing, trust. Seems that people believe it is built and grown over time. Truth is, trust is binary. It is or isn’t. Kinda like being pregnant. Inspired by this blog post from my friend Loic LeMeur I decided this week to dig into the crux of where trust lies - with oneself. In a world where we can no longer necessarily trust even what we see (frightening and powerful images that caught my eye this week were 100% generated by AI) if I can trust ME, at least I have a foundation. So on another of my woodsy-wanderings with the dogs this week, we dismantle trust - hopefully to find again. "Trust. Either you have it in total or you don't have it in total; either it is nil or it is one hundred percent. You cannot divide it into slices. It is indivisibly one, organically one." -- Osho What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #honesty #trust #responsibility #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Puck You
Oops. Well, for the first time in over a year - I dropped the ball. Okay, in the case of this week's episode, the puck. Guess that's fitting given the general theme this week. DON'T BE SO FUCKING SERIOUS. Took a minute and looked back at the most recent episodes and ... holy shit. It's been a heavy and serious ride this year so far. I mean, makes sense. It's been a tectonic time and I share what's going on and the lessons that arise. The lesson this week? Sometimes you gotta take a breath, a step back and give yourself a fucking break. That would be me talking to me. So, this week, an amusing interlude, which includes my getting to see my beloved Vegas Golden Knights and visit some places that really ground me. It also includes me deflecting a hockey puck with my kneecap. (See previous link to that.). In any case ... humor and knowledge nuggets abound in this week's episode. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #puckyou #icehockey #responsibility #dontbesoserious #vegasgoldenknights #thegoldenage #vegasborn #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Honesty
Do or do not. There is no try. And that, friends, could be all I need to say when it comes to honesty. Do or do not. There is no try. There is no “brutal” honesty. There is no qualifier in front of it. You are, or aren’t. There is, however, something called discretion. There is a time when unvarnished, forthright communication gets to be tempered, consider the context and whether the person is in a place to hear the information. That said, the other thing that came up for me this week around honesty is that Being honest seems now also to require Gladiator-level courage. Musing on that and how honesty and vulnerability are powerfully connected. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #honesty #communication #responsibility #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
International Women's Day - Taking a Stand
Hate is an interesting thing. The immediate reaction of response is defensive, right? And in my experience that defensive energy comes with its own level of reciprocal hate. Perhaps different words or intention. Perhaps justified as necessary because it’s protective, but hate all the same. And thus the cycle of hate is perpetuated. In this week’s podcast, a close look at a very personal example of this in my own life - an example that took place 7 years ago this week. For more details on that experience, here’s the post that I reference. I was targeted for a hate crime after a media appearance for #InternationalWomensDay. My own response to it - was filled with hate. Looking back I see how this didn’t serve and how, by glancing backwards we can better inform the path ahead. Oh and I also talk about Moses. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #homophobia #misogyny #responsibility #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
The War of Northern Aggression
If we do not pay attention to the past, we are bound to repeat it, right? Well, sometimes paying too much attention isn’t good either. I mean, when driving a car it’s best to look forward through the windshield AND ensure that you pay some mind to the side and rear mirrors to be clear on what’s going on behind you. To be aware. To avoid problems. Thing is, the view I have from my rearview mirror is different than what someone sees in another car. Same thing for the windshield, actually. And so too it is with history. It’s told from the view of those who “win”. Doesn’t mean there aren’t other views. And the truth is what falls in between. In this week’s episode another view of some historic experiences in the middle of Virginia and how the place that nearly tore the country in half, actually is the place that brought it back together. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #warofnorthernaggression #civilwar #civilrights #responsibility #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Don't Talk to Strangers
There are likely few who haven’t heard the warning at some point when they were young. “Don’t talk to strangers.” It’s not an altogether unusual premise. There are some logical dangers in the world of which to be aware. AND at the same time creating a fear-based view of the world doesn’t exactly do us any favors. The irony is that if I move around the world with intention and belief of fear, I end up creating the very situations that I fear. Odd how energy works that way. Top that off with the weaponization of tribalism fostered by social media and you have something of a shit show. What if we pop the bubble? What if we shred the conventions. What if (GASP) we TALK TO STRANGERS. In a powerful campaign by the Kind Foundation, this premise of “popping the bubble” is put forward in an impactful way. Inspired by KIND and catalyzed by my own clients, I'm doing my own version. It's called "Breaking Through the Bullshit Of..." It's a monthly, live, online event (free) that is equal parts educational seminar, open coaching and debate/discussion. We grab a topic - something that's a persnickety problem in the realm of communication - and we discuss, debunk, deconstruct and (hopefully) even discard it. If you'd like to join a future session, head to this link and drop in your email and I'll toss a reminder your way when we're setting up the next one. I'm also offering up some free 30-minute brainstorm consults at that same link so grab it while you can! And for now, this week's episode of Talk Unleashed, where I dig into debunking the bullshit of "Don't talk to strangers"and what might happen if we do. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #talktostrangers #kind #burstthebubble #responsibility #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Haters (Not) Gonna Hate
On any list of criteria for people in my life you’d think “must love dogs” would be top of the list. You wouldn’t be wrong. That said, there are people in my life who don’t particularly care for them. Some of them had bad experiences as kids. Others are allergic. And some just don’t like them much. They’ll tolerate well behaved dogs but generally speaking given a choice they’d rather not have dogs around. What they don’t do is HATE dogs. Hate, it’s a substantive word that has a lot of heat to it. It’s also a deeply wasteful energy. Especially since underneath the hate usually is some sort of discomfort or fear. So this week we dig into what’s actually underneath hate, how curiosity is the key to domestication and most of all how that same curiosity can make us better people. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #hatersgonnahate #compassion #responsibility #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Beaver
Home. It’s a four-letter word that brings up a lot of things. As a gal who was voted “most likely to move away and never come back” in high school, the idea of home has never been about a birthplace. Okay so I wasn’t actually voted that, but I never felt like Philadelphia fit. Odd to say, considering it’s where I was born and spent the first 18 years of my life. Went away to college and loved Chicago, but that never felt like home either. The feeling of home, truly solid feeling of it, didn’t land for me until later. What does that have to do with the title of this week’s episode? It was after an encounter with a Beaver - Buc-ee to be precise - that my trip took a (literal) turn that brought up substantive fear, replaced by the kind of deep knowing-ness of what home means and how it feels. So Buc-kle up… What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #Bucees #Beaver #Home #Tolerance #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Detours, Distractions, and Jurassic Park
There are a a few fascinating things about Southern Florida. One of them - the wildlife. Specifically a particular Iguana that isn’t actually from here, but ended up here due to … well … human error. This week Cathy found herself playing Iguana wrangler and in the process connecting with a substantive message about responsibility, tolerance and that topic that was mentioned last week, the difference between detours and distractions. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #jurassicpark #detoursanddistractions #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Be Blessed. Be Safe.
As the big journey of 2023 begins and I untether from the City of Las Vegas for a while, there was an interesting set of interactions I had that delivered precisely the message that needed to percolate while I was beginning my cross country drive. Happenstance and serendipity led to a slightly longer than anticipated trajectory for my trip (a story you can read about here), which also gave me lots of time to ponder and what came up for me was a simple message that was delivered to me by a gate guard at the last place I had pitched my tent in Las Vegas before departing. A simple message with powerful intention and a strong connection to a message from my father. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #serendipity #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Tim Schneider
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve had the pleasure of sharing an Unleashed Conversation with an amazing leader here with you and it felt entirely apt to kick it off with Tim Schneider. I met Tim while taking a 5 month leadership intensive he leads through his leadership company for the Vegas Chamber called Leadership Advance. It was a small cohort and considering the brevity of the program we covered a lot of ground. That’s Tim for you - leadership personified. Not a surprise for someone who learned almost immediate on entering the workforce, that working for others just wasn’t going to work, for him. He saw in his first job some big gaps in those who were called leaders. And in true leadership fashion, took it upon himself to sharpen his tools and then teach. Through our conversation I noticed something particularly interesting about how Tim spoke of his work. Listen closely and see if you can hear it too. He’s an accomplished author with sharp wit, no holds barred kind of guy, and as it turns out some of the most powerful lessons of leadership he carries, came from his dogs. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #timschneider #aegislearning #vegaschamber #beofservice #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Detached versus Unattached - Who Knew?
In last week’s episode I spoke about a concept that I dig into today - the difference between between detached … and unattached. Yes, I hear you. “Come on, Cathy. They’re not that different those words.” Perhaps not in literal meaning, but for this gal, the way they land is much different. The latter is about staying present, connected and committed - even in the face of difference. The former is about an attitudinal f*ck you. In today’s episode I share the journey of my last few weeks, the big ah ha and how being smacked in the head with a 2X4 sometimes is just what the doctor ordered. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #standingassource #detachedversusunattached #grounded #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Let's DO THIS
AWAY WE GO!! It’s a New Year. Time to look ahead with the wisdom of months past, take the lessons and be ready to crush it. Every year I pick a word, an intention, and lean into the New Year with it. Last year the word was abundance. And boy did I get to see just how surrounded by abundance I am - an abundance of friends whose support literally held me up in moments where I felt like I might just fall apart. As I pondered the word, I also had a chance to spend some time celebrating my niece’s wedding and seeing, in a full frontal sort of way, the very kind of issues that sparked my word choice in the first place. So that’s what this week’s episode is about. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #standingassource #politics #tolerance #joy #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Family and Joy
Ah, family. This time of year is saturated with all kinds of commercials and expectations around what things are supposed to be like. Truth is, for most folks, family pushes buttons. No big surprise there. The family is the place those buttons got installed. What if getting together with family didn’t have to be stressful? What if the holidays didn’t have to be? What if you actually COULD experience all that joy - and put the stress in its rightful place? Yep. Possible. Just need to be unconditional. Kind of like a dog. How I do one thing is how I do everything and to that end, the relationships with family are the basis for everything else in my life. And the good news? We have a choice. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #standingassource #family #tolerance #joy #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Suicide [**Trigger Warning**]
No easy way to say this. Losing someone to suicide rips a hole in your gut like few other things. Losing someone, it’s never easy. No matter the circumstance. When, however, that loss comes at that person’s own hand - there is something exponentially more gutting. The shock of loss combined with this deep, sick knowing that it just didn’t have to happen. The world was rocked with the sudden suicide of DJ tWitch - a favorite from the Ellen Degeneres show. It was sad that someone who was so publicly seen as positive could somehow be in such hidden pain. Pain hides in plain sight and in this week’s episode Cathy talks about that pain and tries to process the loss of a friend of hers who succumbed to suicide earlier this month. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #standingassource #suicide #NotAloneChallenge #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Sick
Nothing like capping off an exciting whirlwind trip to Paris with COVID. Yep. It got me again. Thankfully seems to be pretty mild this time around and as I muse on wrestling with feeling unwell, it occurred to me that when I’m not feeling well, I don’t always behave well. My temper is short. It’s hard to focus. Overall a sense of malaise impacts everything. Being me, I started thinking about working with dogs and how the first thing I always evaluate when called in to deal with a dog that has “bad” behavior, is making sure there’s nothing physically wrong with the dog. Ear infections, gastric distress, even pulled muscles – dogs can get pretty cranky when they don’t feel well. Kinda like people. From there I started thinking about the neighborhood in which The Hydrant Club has sat for the last nearly 10 years, and how I’m closing the doors in no small part due to the neighborhood just not being safe. Is it unsafe, or is it sick? What’s the difference? And how does that perspective, perhaps, change how things can be addressed? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #standingassource #COVID #SickCity #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Source Code (Not the Kind You Think)
The power of responsibility. It’s something we’ve touched on quite a bit here on the podcast, and today we get to the source – where responsibility begins. Self. Meaning – at the highest level of responsibility I am clear that when it comes to the world around me, my relationships and even my community and the world beyond, I am responsible. Full stop. Whether it’s direct influence or merely the energy I put into the world, when I think of myself as the generator of my own possibilities, some really interesting things begin to happen. So yeah, today’s chat take a bit of a meander through the “world of woo woo”, and lands squarely on some tangible acts (and results) that show just how powerful standing as a responsible source can be. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. Recently Cathy joined Paris-based start-up OpenBubble as Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer. OpenBubble’s mission is to break through issues of isolation and separation in society by creating a powerful way for people to connect and talk – with no agenda. #leadership #responsibility #standingassource #OpenBubble #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Declarations
What does it mean to make a declaration and then ensure it happens? Lots of folks talk about lots of things that they never do. And yet there are others who make audacious statements of things they're going to create and - BOOM - they get 'er done. What's that about? The meaning of the word and what's underneath it has been a pretty hefty aspect of my Leadership Training in the last couple of years and as I committed to a declaration about doing something I'd been talking about for a few months and then made it happen just a few hours later, it landed. Being willing to do whatever it takes. Moving forward when it seems impossible. Most of all, not giving up until I get 'er done. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #declaration #commitment #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Abundance and Gratitude
Seemed fitting given the timing of this week’s episode to muse on the topic of gratitude and another topic that rides closely in the sidecar, abundance. For anyone who’s meandered the path of sobriety, personal development, mindset mastery and the like – it’s pretty common to engage in some sort of gratitude practice. Funny that something that seems as though it should be so simple needs a practice in today’s world in order to be maintained. I mean, I don’t typically have to practice things like breathing, and to me gratitude is the essence of life. So much so that for several years I published an ongoing journal of daily gratitude. That drew to a close a couple of years ago, but when I selected “abundance” as my word for 2022 I had no idea the depth to which the Universe was going to chuckle and then do what the Universe does best. Test me. As the year angles its way towards a close with some major shifts on the horizon, this week’s episode of Talk, Unleashed gets to ponder on that. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #abundance #Thanksgiving #gratitude #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Radical Authenticity and (Gasp) LOVE
Last week’s road show was so much fun, I figured I’d do it again. This time en route from central California back to Las Vegas. While zipping along the same road on which James Dean died (including a pit stop at the last spot he was seen alive) I pondered the discussions I’d had over the previous days – a delicious adventure in San Luis Obispo, CA for a friend’s wedding. In the days before the wedding an array of fascinating encounters gave rise to a fresh perspective of just how closed off so many people are in this world. How deeply committed some are to their beliefs that people and the world are a harsh place. Nothing quite gives as much joy as busting through that bullshit. And bust through it on several occasions I did. And lucky you, here’s some musings for this week’s episode of Talk, Unleashed. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #radicalauthenticity #openness #honesty #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
A Spiritual WHAT?
Nothing says spiritual experience like wolfing down a Wendy’s Pub Burger, fries, and root beer and then recording a podcast episode while whizzing down a freeway. Yeah. That happened. It was while on route back to Las Vegas after a magical weekend that it occurred to me – I’d forgotten to record this week’s Talk, Unleashed. The good news is that my brain was saturated with a series of powerful experiences that were easy peasy to share. It is even better news that I’m an audio nerd podcaster who travels with recording gear. You know, just in case a podcast episode breaks out. In any case, I wasn’t sure how a riff on spiritual experiences would go or how it would tie into leadership, but fueled by fast food and gorgeous scenary it works out okay. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #spiritualexperience #redmountainresort #labyrinth #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Patience is a Virtue
We’re BACK! Funny to think it’s only been a month since the last fresh episode. It feels both a blink and a lifetime. During the podcast’s brief hiatus I took a good long think about where Talk, Unleashed gets to go in its second year. Consensus is that folks enjoy my storytelling ramblings, so you’ll be getting more of that and there’s been some requests for digging even more deeply with the interviews. So I got a bigger shovel. In the development of my coaching curriculum for Unleashed Leadership I’ve also been engaging with some cool folks. So you’ll get tons of that in the coming weeks. In the meantime, today’s welcome back digs in with a big topic. Patience. And how a chance meeting transformed everything. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #Patience #tolerance #acceptance #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Lint (Yes. Lint.)
Pinch me. Talk Unleashed is a year old. Ups and downs. Twists and turns. Embarking on so much exploration and learning. Appreciating all of you who share your experiences. Thank you. So what does lint have to do with anything. It’s something simple. Seemingly innocuous. Something that if you don’t sort out, don’t clean from filters, may actually set something on fire. Like your house. There are metaphors of that in dog behavior too – as you might guess. The little seemingly simple things like pulling on the leash. Things that can lead to more difficulty later. From where I sit, there’s no lint fire to avoid. With some exciting ideas percolating, though, we are going to take a brief pause after this week’s episode. Just a couple of week’s dark and then back with more awesome conversations with fascinating people who do cool shit. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #lint #clearingout #anniversary #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Peeing in the Pool
Being part of a community means behaving in a way that’s responsible and respectful to others. This can be carried a wee bit far, just ask anyone who lives somewhere with an overly militant HOA. That said, there is something about structure and a set of agreements for folks living in community that makes sense. They exist wherever we go – whether it’s a nuclear family, a neighborhood or living space, work environments and of course any sort of shared public space. Some things are codified to law. Many, however, are just the simple agreements that guide and align a civilized society. And you know what? Dogs have them too. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #peeinginthepool #connected #responsible #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Liminal Spaces
When a friend of mine and I had a chat in early 2022 and she asked me about my “liminal plans”, I didn’t get it. She was referring to the preparation I might want to consider making as I was making my way towards some big changes in my life. She asked if I was “prepared” for the transition, for taking the time to “properly” digest the past and look to the future. I scoffed a bit and said I was. Turned out I wasn’t. Turned out that 2022 actually WAS the liminal space – an extended period of twists and turns where, rather than racing to the next, I began to settle in and ponder the in between. It’s been revelatory. Interesting though that this realization lands nearly ¾ of the way through the year, and is an extended lesson from a previous episode’s discussion of airports. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #liminalspaces #transition #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Engage or Avoid
Do, or don’t do. There is no try. Isn’t it fun how binary some things can be? At least when presented by Yoda. Joking aside, when it comes to dogs and dog behavior, while there are some gray areas of feeling/emotion, the truth is that the beauty of a dog is the simplicity of it’s view. This or that. Full stop. The truth is that if we dig down deeply enough into the basics of human behavior the truth is that most things are pretty clear. Feelings and emotions may make things a bit muddy, but pause long enough and the mud settles. In this week’s episode an exploration of a simple choice we make every day that is a core element of dog training. Engage or avoid. It’s a lesson from dogs, learned at an airport. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #eyecontact #engagement #connection #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Words Matter
Words matter. Granted I’m a language nerd so they may matter a bit more to me than many, but whether you like it or not, the words you choose to use (or not use) have impact. Words can lift up and tear down. Incorrect words can set something in motion that can take years to turnaround. The word conventionally used to describe a group of wolves, Pack, for example? It’s incorrect. Literally incorrect. There even have been suggestions by folks with deep understanding of wolves, like Gordon Haber, to use other words that are more accurate. Why, then is it used? What impact has it had and what meaning does it imply? This week we take a meander through language and how it can rock the very foundation of everything. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #language #wordsmatter #wolves #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Choice
The power of choice. As a smarty pants species we humans have all kinds of choices that we tell ourselves we get to make. That’s not entirely inaccurate, of course. When it comes to living in a community, of being a balanced part of society – the truth is that choices get pretty simple pretty quickly. Kind of like how when I teach my dog various things – it gets a choice. The choice to do what I’ve directed, or experience the consequence for not doing so. Now perhaps this episode should have really been about consequence, and in fact that seems like a good topic for next week. But in the meantime, today is about choice, the ones we make (or don’t) and how a conversation with a group of dog trainers catalyzed this whole thing. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #Choice #balancedrewardbasedtraining #balancedtraining #responsibility #DogTraining #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Tolerance and Trolls (The Internet Kind)
Tolerance. Doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of that in the world today, least of all when it comes to the so-called “social” media platforms. While they’re not really designed for actual discourse and connection there is the opportunity to take advantage of these technologies to learn and grow. Teachable moments. So when some junior varsity Internet trolls popped up in response to this Instagram reel, it seemed the perfect opportunity to share some insights and talk about how a moment influenced by #TheMatrix changed Cathy’s life. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #tolerance #responsibility #DogTraining #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Child's Play
Grow up. Stop acting like a child. You’re so juvenile. Amazing how the most important and formative phases of our lives become insults and pejoratives at a later stage in life. Typically they’re used to describe a grown adult who’s behaving irresponsibility or not being accountable or responsible. What if, instead, we could remember that these early stages of our lives are precisely the time when wonderment, discovery and creativity embody nearly everything we do? What if embracing these qualities could become not only encouraged but lauded? Remember the film “Big” with Tom Hanks? No? Go watch it again. The wonderment and clear vision of a child transformed a company, shifted relationships and brought joy. This week we take a trip to visit the inner child, courtesy of playful dogs and a really cool helicopter. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #childsplay #innerchild #responsibility #DogTraining #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
When is Enough, Enough?
You can’t stay clean today on last week’s shower. Makes sense, right? So, too, it goes with things like personal development and growth … and dog training. Of course we make strides and progress and evolve and – the work is never really “done”. In today’s episode, the parallels between educating a dog … and a human. And why being a work in progress is actually a good thing. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #awareness #DogTraining #relationships #respect #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Awareness and Attention - My End of the Leash
Social skills are delicate muscles that lose their tone quickly when they’re not exercised. It just takes one global pandemic and shutdown with related isolation and separation from society to show that. It’s as though people have flooded back into the world but forgotten they’re no longer in their living rooms. As I’ve been on walkabout for the last months with my dogs, moving around in public has taken on an entirely different experience. I’m in a heightened state of awareness of my surroundings, to keep them safe. The interesting by-product is being witness to all sorts of curious behavior … especially with other dog owners. The lessons from these observations give a pretty clear indicator about which end of the leash needs the help. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #awareness #boundaries #relationships #respect #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Boundaries. More than Skin Deep
Boundaries. There are so many places that this word plays into our lives. There’s the boundary between nations, the boundaries between people’s properties (whether that’s fencing on the back 40 or the wall between two apartments), and of course there are the sometimes confounding and occasionally elusive emotional boundaries in relationships. Regardless of the form, boundaries serve to show where one thing ends and another begins. In today’s episode of Talk Unleashed, the boundaries are even more personally literal. Skin. And it all began with a hike in Northern California, and a case of poison oak. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #boundaries #relationships #respect #poisonoak #MotherNature #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Myles Weissleder
For all the talk of being “authentic” in today’s business world, it still seems to be a pretty rare thing. So when I caught sight of a post on LinkedIn from an old friend that was utterly raw and vulnerable – and was getting serious traction – my interest was piqued. Myles Weissleder and I first met not long after he and some friends started the event platform Meet-up. As part of testing his own platform, Myles began an event called SFNewTech, which would become the very first (and 500 pound gorilla) of geek gatherings in San Francisco. Myles had always been a community-oriented guy and this event and its momentum supersized his role in building the SF Tech community. Things changed, the market shifted and Myles moved on to other community-building roles. Then things changed again, and more shift. By the time of his recent LinkedIn post he was in a pretty interesting spot and the response to his post was amazing. In this episode of Talk Unleashed, Myles and I talk about vulnerability, authenticity and the role they really should be playing in today’s business world. And yes, we also talk about his pets. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #SFNewTech #MylesWeissleder #MeetUp #LinkedIn #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
John Hagel III
There’s no place for feelings in business, right? Stick with strategy, measurable results, spreadsheets and data. Well, none of those things matter if the heart and soul of a business – aka the PEOPLE – are off kilter. Today’s guest, John Hagel III, is one of the leading management and business consultants in Silicon Valley. For the last 40 years he’s focused heavily on working with top companies and executives focused on strategy. Lately, though, he’s realized that there’s something even more powerful underneath the challenges businesses face – fear. So he wrote a book about it. In today’s episode we talk about the Journey Beyond Fear and the path that John took to get to these insights. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #JourneyBeyondFear #PowerofPull #JohnHagelIII #BusinessConsultant #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Surrender - First Step on the Path to Success
It seemed only logical after last week’s discussion about being messy and how that can lead to commitment that this week we pick up where we left off and keep digging. Surrender. Yep. That word that seems to strike fear or at least palpitations into the hearts of most folks. Surrender. Common thought is that it means to fail, to lose. Turns out that couldn’t be farther from the truth. True surrender actually is a critical step on the path to winning. Make sure you have a notebook handy or at least something to jot notes. This week is going to be juicy. And there may be homework. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #SurrendertoWin #ComfortableBeingUncomfortable #LifeCoach #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
F*ck Looking Good - A Confession
What might it look like to stop worrying about looking good and be authentic. Really authentic. Nothing like having people in your life who refuse to cosign your bullshit and keep you honest. That’s what you’ll get with Cathy in this week’s episode. It’s a snack-sized offering that is decidedly unvarnished and definitely unleashed. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages. #decisions #Curiosity #LifeCoach #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Professor Eugene Volokh
One of the most powerful and important pillars of democracy in the United States is freedom of speech – the privilege granted a right in the US Constitution is a shield. It also can be a sword. Eugene Volokh is a Professor of Law at UCLA. His specialty, the First Amendment. What’s a canine behaviorist and life coach talking about with a First Amendment expert? Simple. Cheap Speech. It’s a phrase Professor Volokh coined back in 1995 as he predicted the massive impact the Internet would have on democratizing information and empowering free speech. He was, of course, correct. And the dark side of that process is what I wanted to talk about with him. This idea that technology’s silos is removing our curiosity and interest in people and things that are different. What Professor Volokh replies to this might surprise you. It caught me a bit off guard. I have to say I don’t know that I wholly agree with his view, but I can tell you that the discussion was utterly fascinating, and I cannot wait to have him back on the show again. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #EugeneVolokh #UCLALaw #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #CheapSpeech #Curiosity #LifeCoach #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Brent Barrett
Family. It means lots of different things to different people. For today’s guest, Broadway Star Brent Barrett, it especially means connection and support. Despite perceptions of the cutthroat competition of performance, from where Brent sits, the truth is that every performance is really about the family of people who come together to create it. Whether it’s a one night concert or an extended run, the camaraderie and connection is something that lasts. Knowing him as long as I have, I can attest to that since I’ve seen first-hand the relationships he retains from performances – some more than 20 years ago. Brent has had the fortune to perform in some of the most well-known shows in Broadway history – Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, Grand Hotel, West Side Story, Camelot – and the list goes on. No matter what the show, though, Brent brings a particular flavor of humility and generosity to his work – coming from a perspective that it is only in truly supporting each other that the show can truly go on. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed– a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more powerful and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership. #BrentBarrett #Broadway #Actor #Singer #PhantomoftheOpera #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
John McClain
When I asked today’s guest what leadership means to him, his immediate response was listening, which makes perfect sense. After all, the sound is the very thing that drives John McClain. It has since he was 10 years old. And he’s not just good at it. He’s great. Companies like Chevrolet, Dodge, Intel, and MGM Resorts think so. And the Emmy Awards and Grammy on the shelf at Monster Sound and Picture (the studio for which he’s co-owner and sound designer/mixer) aren’t such shabby proof either. He also has chops on the other side of the microphone and works steadily as a Voice Actor. Growing up as a military brat, John learned early the art of listening as a means to connect with people wherever he went. It was reinforced powerfully by his father, who retired a Colonel from the Marine Corps. In today’s unleashed conversation John and I talk about the impact his dad had on his leadership, the power of sound, and there’s also an entirely random debate on the value of oatmeal cookies. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed– a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how all those things can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more powerful and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership. #JohnMcClain #MonsterSoundandPicture #SoundEngineer #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Jim Louderback
Adapt or die. Always seemed a pretty aggressive statement. It’s true though. Especially when it comes to technology. Trends of new platforms and services have shifted our world in remarkable ways in the last 20 years and for those who’ve leaned into those changes with curiosity, well, they’re still around. One of those people is Jim Louderback. He’s one of the most trusted and respected voices in digital media. Starting back with his time at PC Week Magazine and then on to its parent company, Ziff-Davis, Jim has had a front-row seat to the massive changes technology has brought to our world. He hasn’t just been a passive observer, though. He takes the role of leadership seriously and plays intensely and hard in the space – often guiding not just how people learn about new technologies but how they ultimately use them. He’s someone who has no problem taking the path less traveled, and typically when he does that, he’s just getting on that path before everyone else gets there. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how they can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more powerful and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership. #JimLouderback #TechTV #ZiffDavid #Media #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Lori Michele Leavitt
Having vision, clarity, and the right circle of trusted advisors. Sounds like a no-brainer for success, right? Funny how not simple it actually is. What IS a trusted advisor? Who are the people who trust and how do you engage with them? Today’s guest, Lori Michele Leavitt is a consultant and coach who guides organizations and the people who lead them to engaged leadership and the ability to pivot. If the last few years have taught us anything it’s that the ability to adapt quickly can mean the difference between life or death – literally. She has created a community for leaders to find the peer support they need to lead well, and her latest book, Pivot to Clarity, takes the lessons from her first book to the next level. In this unleashed conversation, Lori talks about experiences she’s had to navigate challenging business situations, finding the vision to move ahead and most of all the way you treat others determines precisely how they will behave with you – a lesson she learned well over the years … from her cats. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business, technology, food, activism, and politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more robust and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership. #LoriMicheleLeavitt #PivotToClarity #ThePivot #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Beverly Ulbrich
It’s a word that’s come up on our podcast before – empathy. Today’s guest, Beverly Ulbrich, highlights it as part of the way she defines her method of dog training. Empathetic. A former Silicon Valley Tech Exec turned dog trainer (sounds a bit like last week’s guest J ), Beverly turned her attention to full-time dog training nearly 20 years ago and much like Talk Unleashed’s host, Cathy Brooks, finds that the core need to bring a sense of empathy to communication applies to both ends of the leash. Regarded as one of the top dog behaviorists and trainers in the San Francisco area, Beverly has leveraged her expertise with dogs on television and in film as well. In this #unleashedconversation, Cathy and Beverly talk about some of the ins and outs of finding the right dog trainer, important things to know before getting a dog, and what Beverly would said to world leaders about leadership through dog behavior if given the chance. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #CathyBrooks #voiceactor #DogTrainer #LifeCoach #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Cathy Brooks
With 36 episodes under our belt, we’re taking a moment to regroup, think about where things are right now and share a little bit about what it is we’re doing here, how that has evolved from our start and where things are going next. The guest is your host, Cathy Brooks. She is a communications professional whose work ranges from radio to television, newspaper and digital platforms. For 22 years she worked in Silicon Valley in public relations, event curation, and business development. In 2012 she turned a life-long passion of canine behavioral study to a career, opening The Hydrant Club in Las Vegas, NV. Through this work Cathy realized she could facilitate connections between people; and launched Unleashed Leadership LLC – a media, event, and coaching business leading people to financial and personal success through effective and powerful communication. Unleashed Leadership includes this weekly podcast, a live event series, and coaching. Her vision is of a world made better by fostering more effective and authentic communication between people. When she’s not educating dogs and humans about communication, serving as media expert on animal welfare topics, or public speaking, Cathy spends time in the recording booth of Whispering Dog Studios – her voiceover business. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #CathyBrooks #voiceactor #DogTrainer #LifeCoach #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Jack de Golia
Audiobooks. They’re among the most intimate of voiceover genres and give a whole new meaning to having voices in your head. A narrator relates the story – including all the characters – and they are directly in your ear. In today’s episode, we hear from someone who may sound familiar. Not surprising, considering that Jack de Golia has brought nearly 175 book titles to life (some of those are coming soon). He’s a voice actor who specializes in audiobooks (though he’s done pretty much every other format for voiceover as well) and who made his way to this career after first exploring life as a park ranger. Acting, though, was a life-long passion and something that came to him early and served as a constant thread. Constancy, patience – good lessons and ones that came early from a dog named Mickey. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #JackdeGolia #voiceactor #audiobooks #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Antonio Diaz
Despite my skepticism at someone who declares themselves “leader of the pack” – especially given the fact that the word pack is actually utterly inaccurate in describing a group of dogs (more on that another time), when I was pointed to the Instagram feed for Antonio Diaz, I found myself pleased. Here is someone who pulls no punches, tells it like it is, and most of all focuses on helping people be better humans to their dogs. In other words, he’s my people. When we finally met in person after months of online chatting it was like meeting an old friend. Our coffee chat was so great, I invited him to join me for this episode of Talk Unleashed because it was a conversation worth having again, and worth your getting to hear it. One of my dog training mentors always told me to beware of dog trainers who post heavily on social media. One reason is that really good dog training makes for really crappy video – because the process of getting from point A to point B is like watching paint dry. Most trainers who show things online make it look like magic, resulting in lots of folks trying things they shouldn’t. So finding someone like Antonio (like me) avoids that error by focused on the why underneath the magic. Do his videos show almost miraculous behavior of dogs? Yes, but that’s just the stuff to catch your attention. What really matters is the solid foundation underneath it. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
There aren’t many people in the world who can say they haven’t faced some kind of trauma or tragedy in life. And while it’s not a competition – there are some whose paths are decidedly more rocky than others. People choose to handle that in different ways. Not all of them decide to climb Mount Everest. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is an explorer, mountaineer, author, survivor and activist. Perhaps even in that order. Her recently published book: “In the Shadow of the Mountain: A Memoir of Courage” weaves a tale of courage, addiction, abuse and triumph. Growing up in Peru, Silvia experienced traumatic events that would fuel her life – in some not altogether positive ways. Circumstances led her to begin mountaineering, a journey that also led to her diving deeply into activism supporting young women. In this journey of healing others, Silvia also healed herself and in this podcast, she shares about this experience, the drivers behind why she does what she does and notes that the absence of deep relationships with pets during traumatic years was a perfect mirror for the problems in the world that she now courageously endeavors to address. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #IntheShadowoftheMountain #SilviaVasquezLavado #Mountaineer #Explorer #Survivor #Activism #MtEverest #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Robin Raskin
When her husband brought home a computer in the 1980s Robin Raskin had two options: learn about the technology or get a divorce. She opted to do the former and to add to that by writing a column about it for InfoWorld Magazine. That column got Robin noticed and launched her into a career as one of the most influential women in technology publishing. Rising through the ranks in Ziff-Davis, Robin was an editor at PC Magazine, where the challenge of being a woman and keeping home and work separately was substantial. So it’s no small irony that after PC Magazine, Robin launched and ran another title for Ziff-Davis – entitled Family Computing. After Ziff-Davis, Robin headed for the Consumer Electronics Show where she spent 15 years driving efforts to bring emerging technology trends into the event – things like Digital Health and the Smart Home. Lately, Robin is running a new venture focused on how events and technology evolve in a virtual world. In this episode, we talk about leadership, curiosity, and tribalism – and how a cool dog named Sam taught her the truth about belonging. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #RobinRaskin #VirtualEventsGroup #ConsumerElectronicsShow #PCMagazine #FamilyComputing #ZiffDavis #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Alice Sauro
Music heals. It always has. It’s one of the few things that is common to all people – regardless of nationality, culture, religion or politics. It’s a binding element. A societal glue that has the power to heal. Today’s guest, Alice Sauro, believes this to the marrow of her bones. Among the first kids in the US to be trained under the Suzuki Method, Alice went on to study at Julliard and then to perform for 29 years. She shifted from performance to management – first at the Fisher Theater in Detroit, then the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and then to a 7 year stint at the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera. It was while there she had the first-hand experience both of the grounding power of music, and truly leaning into that power to bring that orchestra back from the brink of financial ruin and position it for growth and sustainability. In February 2022, Alice took the helm of the Las Vegas Philharmonic as Interim Executive Director. In the short time she’s been in Las Vegas she has proven a steady hand on the wheel for an organization that, like so many in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, had become a bit wobbly. She’s deeply curious and believes that it is curiosity and connection that define leadership. Important beliefs and something that she’s known for a long time, since childhood really, in no small part thanks to a kitten, named Sheila. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #AliceSauro #LasVegasPhilharmonic #LVPhil #violinist #LVPhil #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Ashley Watkins
Finding purpose is pretty much the whole reason any of us meander around on this blue marble on any given day. For some, getting to that “why” takes a minute and some serious navigation. For others, it’s about serendipity. Ashley Watkins is a lawyer who, after spending some time in the corporate world defending insurance companies, realized that the loud sound she heard was her soul being sucked out. Taking a break and taking up the offer of a law school pal to hang her shingle at the firm where he worked, Ashley found her true calling. Lots of folks hear “personal injury attorney” and there’s a pretty specific image or idea that comes to mind. Can’t lie, happened for me too – especially living in a City like Las Vegas where every other billboard is one cheesy firm or another. Ashley and her business partner Sam are no different on the billboard front, but what’s categorically different is the message they send. Doing what’s right. That extends well beyond their law firm practice and deeply into their engagement with the community. The lessons of altruism and selflessness, though, came for Ashley well before law school. Those lessons got put in place courtesy of two dogs in her life – Riley, and Rocky. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #AshleyWatkins #SamandAsh #GetWhatsRight #WhatsRightShow #RockyGoodboyCEO #lawyer #personalinjuryattorney #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Christina Aldan
Imposter. Fraud. They’re powerful words and they both sit in the title of the soon-to-be-released memoir of today’s guest, Christina Aldan. Neither of those words necessarily come to mind when you think of Christina. She’s a respected brand marketing strategist and keynote speaker, she’s graced the TEDx stage, and is a known authority on the topic of emotional intelligence. When her tweet about her Memoir came out, the title landed. Hard. “Imposter: Memoir of a Fraud”. Mic drop. In Christina’s life she’s navigated some interesting twists – from abandonment issues related to her father, to feeling like an outsider where she grew up. Now you might say those things don’t necessarily seem so awful in today’s world. It’s not about the what, but more about how the experiences landed and the lessons that have come and ultimately it’s about how response to trauma can create imposter structures we don’t even know exist. In this episode, Christina talks about her life journey, the challenges she’s overcome and how the powerful lesson about protecting herself while always moving forward came from a Great Dane named Shannon. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #ChristinaAldan #EmotionalIntelligence #TEDxSpeaker #Imposter #MemoirofaFraud #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Rachel Diamond
Most of us remember our childhood pets. On some level, we know they play critical roles in our lives beyond just the fact that they’re cute and cuddly. Some folks though, like Rachel Diamond, not only remember every single pet in their life, but they also are super clear on the lessons that each one brought. Rachel is an architect, designer, and coach and when she’s not creating beautiful things and spaces, she’s working with the women of her industry to support their leadership and growth. She also has had dogs in her life as long as she can remember, and the impact of those pups has been tectonic. As seems to have been a theme lately we talked about unconditionality and the power that being TRULY unconditional can play when one is paying attention. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #RachelDiamond #RadiantArtistryDesign #Architecture #Design #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Jen Williamson
In a world fraught with such conditionality there are few things more unconditional than the love of a dog. It’s probably one of the main reasons folks get them. The lessons we get to learn from the kind of connection we have with our dogs can, if we stay present to it, be life-changing. Relationship and Marriage Coach Jen Williamson knows this first hand. The work she does is about creating powerful bonds through the work she and her husband do with The Unshakable Family. After achieving the “American Dream”, Jen and her husband realized that something was missing, something big. So they ditched it all, moved to Costa Rica, and have found an entirely new way of focus that has catapulted their lives (and the lives of their kids) forward. She’s grounded in a sense of leadership with the strong structure she learned from years in the US Navy. That emotional immunity is built through strong habits and a clear mindset. That connection doesn’t equal time spent but quality and that when it comes to connecting with others there’s a clear sense of how things get to be in order to flow. All these lessons may have been strengthened by her time in the Service and as a coach, but the foundation was laid, thanks to a German Shepherd Dog named Fage. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #JenWilliamson #UnshakableFamily #Startup #Coach #Entrepreneurship #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Katia Ravé
Being present. You’d think that it was a no-brainer in terms of the world, right? Thing is, today’s world is saturated by disconnection. The faux perception is that just because there are myriad digital links that somehow that means connection and presence. Not so. Being present, truly present, is something that takes effort and is a lesson that today’s guest, Katia Ravé, learned as a child. When she was 20 years old, Katia had the opportunity to pull the ripcord on her life as she knew it and come to America. Given that opportunity, she took it and what was supposed to be an 18-month adventure, turned into a watershed moment for her life. A serial entrepreneur and successful business coach, Katia seizes the opportunity with passion and through it all keeps a strong focus on being present, really present. And it’s a lesson she learned, of course, from a childhood pet. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #KatiaRave #Startup #Coach #Entrepreneurship #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Jeffrey Hayzlet
How comfortable are you being uncomfortable? Really uncomfortable. The answer to that for most people is that they’re not. We live today in a world of instant gratification, immediate release, placating, and soothing. None of these things are good for leadership and as far as Jeffrey Hayzlett is concerned, that gets to change. He knows a little about leadership having held the Chief Marketing Officer position with Kodak. He’s presently the CEO of the C-Suite Network, a frequent keynote speaker, accomplished author, and besides sitting on Boards and having launched/supported an array of companies, he’s also done a stint on reality TV. Persevering through challenging times and shifting through discomfort is, Jeff says, imperative for successful leadership and that it is those who treat the crisis as an opportunity to become a business “first responder” that determines whether they are good or great. He’s brash and direct, outspoken, and at the same time deeply compassionate and thoughtful and in this episode shares about how the biggest lessons about doing the hard stuff were forged in making tough decisions about the animals in his life. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #JeffreyHayzlett #CSuite #HeroClub #Entrepreneurship #Kodak #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Darren Lee Cole
All the world’s a stage. If only that actually were true. It might just be a more respectful place. The truth is that the medium of theater is a very particular thing. It’s an art form woefully underserved when shown via other media. The theater is about history. It’s about context. It’s about a very truly ancient understanding of how things will go. People show up to a space. The lights go down. And then, for whatever length of time, there is an agreement. There is a decorum. The audience holds space – and holds their tongue to a certain degree – while stories unfold. You may agree. You may disagree. There is, of course, response (applause, laughter, etc…) and regardless you sit in the dark until it has finished and at the end, there is time to discuss. Good theater is about more than a story. Good theater is about shining a light on where we’ve been, where we are, and perhaps where we may go. Few theater companies understand the depth and breadth of history like SOHO Playhouse. This venerable Off-Broadway theater sits literally in a spot steeped with history from the very start of the United States. Darren Lee Cole, the Producing Artistic Director of SOHO Playhouse speaks all about their historic context and the very exciting expansion for them to what might at first, feel like an unlikely place – Las Vegas, NV. In 2021, in partnership with a local developer, SOHO Playhouse announced that they will be driving the revitalization of the historic Huntridge Theater. In this conversation, Darren talks about the place theater plays in the world, the move to Las Vegas and lessons about boundaries from a cat named Chris. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #theater #offbroadway #huntridgetheater #sohoplayhouse #hamilton #aaronburr #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Sloane Davidson
Selflessness. It’s not about ignoring yourself. In fact, true acts of selflessness, true acts of altruism require that the individual doing the work be utterly saturated in self-care. Think of it this way. If my life is a cup and I’m pouring into others from my cup, eventually that cup is empty. That serves no one. As one of my leadership coaches, Judith Rich, suggests – instead my cup gets to be full and then overflow and it is from that overflow, from abundance, where my giving can begin. That concept lies deeply at the heart of how today’s guest moves through the world. Sloane Davidson is the Founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor, a non-profit based in Pittsburgh, PA that provides a safe and smooth entry for new “neighbors” coming to the US from places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, myriad countries in Africa and so on. She and I met “back in the day” when she was working a the crossroads of philanthropy and digital marketing. Her site, the Causemopolitan and the work she did making sure organizations that were doing good in the world, also could do well and have their voices heard. She was a constant voice at the World Economic Forum in Davos, at the United Nations and in 2015 she returned to her hometown, not sure what she’d do, but knowing that she was meant to help people. The early days of her work had Sloane exhausted and overextended, leaving little energy for her family or herself. She found the grounding of her new direction and the biggest lesson of all about ensuring her own cup was full, from a lovable shelter pup, named Piper. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #sloanedavidson #HelloNeighbor #Causemopolitan #Neighbors #leadership #entrepreneurship #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Kate Schutt
Kate Schutt is powerful singer-songwriter whose narratives tell stories of relationships and life. When she delivered a TEDx talk on grief she became something of an accidental expert on the topic. Not a surprise, really. Her storytelling is masterful and her music always has wended its way through meaningful topics. She’s the kind of person whose quiet countenance is supercharged by a direct and intense gaze that is equal parts power and compassion. So if anyone is going to tackle grief, its meaning and what leadership can look like in the face of it, Kate’s a pretty good bet. In today’s episode, We begin the only way that a conversation with Kate could, and she shares her views on how a better navigation of the grief experience could change our world. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #kateSchutt #singersongwriter #griefcasserole #TEDxWestChester #Storytelling #Storyteller #ArtofStory #entrepreneurship #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Catherine Connors
Storytelling is a critical element of who we are as a species. It’s how we relate to the world – to our place in it, to our worth and value, and to others. Good storytelling is a marrow of the bones sort of thing, and Catherine Connors is a master storyteller. She also is uniquely positioned to understand the true craft of story and specifically how that relates to the role of story in leadership. She was a career academic whose path wended its way into media by way of getting hired as Editor in Chief of Babble. When Disney acquired Babble she then became Head of Content and Editor in Chief of Disney Interactive. Wielding her considerable storytelling acumen combined with her deep bench of knowledge on the power of women and women’s stories, she led the charge to what would become a whole-cloth shift in the way Disney imagined its Princess franchise. No small feat. She speaks of story as a foundational element of her life, and that her first real experience of how stories can heal came from her childhood cat, Pansy. What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #CatherineConnors #Storytelling #Storyteller #Disney #ArtofStory #entrepreneurship #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Michael Shikashio
This week world renowned expert in aggressive dog rehabilitation and education, Michael Shikashio, returns to Talk Unleashed to dig a bit more deeply into the themes of leadership, empathy, compassion and the art of listening. The world of dog training presents a powerful microcosm of the deep divides in society today. What if there were no opposing “camps” of training methods. What if the methods didn’t matter? What if approaching adversity and opposition with empathy and compassion could actually be the answer? Take a listen and find out. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #MichaelShikashio #AggressiveDog #DogTrainer #Leadership #Honesty #integrity #entrepreneurship #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Messy
What do you do when you drop the ball? What do you do when an important commitment just gets … forgotten? If you’re truly in the heart of your leadership, the leadership of your life – you shift. It’s that simple. Really. No fault. No blame. No guilt. No shame. Just shift. Acknowledge, recognize, commit to address it. Move forward. These last weeks have been pretty heavy on that front, struggling to push through change to the other side. Then this week – this episode almost didn’t happen. But it did. Because that’s what leaders do. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #CathyBrooks #Messy #Leadership #Honesty #integrity #entrepreneurship #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Melissa Moats
In a world beset with cynicism and darkness, meeting someone who’s touted as “quite possibly the happiest person on earth” may give rise to skepticism. It would be unfounded. The truth is that Melissa Moats is every bit as joyous as she appears and it’s not an act. It’s not that she hasn’t faced hardship. She has. It’s not that she hasn’t experienced tough times. She has. It’s that she spends her life focused on what she can bring to it rather than what she can take. She spends her timing shining light – both her and that of others – rather than dimming it. A seasoned voice actor with major brands like Best Western under her belt, Melissa could easily sit back and enjoy her lucrative career. Instead she built The Voice Actors Studio and has created an enormous, global community that supports each other. She believes happiness is a practice and in today’s episode talks about grief, joy, the career she loves and the family of felines that have supported her along the way. (Yes we talk about cats too!) What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #MelissaMoats #TVAS #TheVoiceActorsStudio #voiceactor #voiceover #entrepreneurship #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Brian Solis
Responsibility. Today’s world has most folks talking about it as though it were something outside of themselves. Few places exemplify that more than Silicon Valley – a place where brilliant ideas from brilliant people often take on lives of their own since the creators didn’t play the tape all the way forward. What does that mean? It means the “unintended” consequences wrought by technology are still that – consequences. Enter people like Brian Solis. Someone whose career is saturated in the analysis of technology and who today focuses his efforts as a digital anthropologist helping business executives and the companies they run be responsible about what they make, how they use it and how they move in the world. He’s an author, public speaker, former analyst and thanks to a scheduling snafu we ran out of time before we could get to the meat of the chat – talking about his life with pets. But I’ll tell you this. My dog Truman loved him. And Truman didn’t love just anyone. So there’s that. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #BrianSolis #SalesForce #digitalanthropologist #futurist #SiliconValley #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #Unleashed Conversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Sarah Lacy
Unedited. Unvarnished. Unabashedly herself. That’s Sarah Lacy to a T. After a successful career as a Journalist in Silicon Valley – largely doing in-depth, investigative work – she decided to walk away. Why? Misogyny and the bullies who fostered it. That may be something of an oversimplification but in the end, her walking away from the grind of covering the news of the tech industry led her to launch and grow a powerful network that is creating a space where people who seek to change the world can gather to learn, support each other and actually do the big work. Originally called The Chairman Mom, Sarah recently renamed her community to reflect the real WHY of the organization’s purpose more accurately. Now called Chairman ME, this group (over 10,000 strong and still growing) engaged in online courses, live chats and Town Halls with the big picture intent of empowering people to find their own true voice. And there are few better to lead this charge than someone whose utterly authentic sense of self permeates everything she does. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #SarahLacy #ChairmanMom #ChairmanME #author #Startup #entrepreneurship #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #Unleashed Conversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Jen Consalvo and Frank Gruber
Jen Consalvo and Frank Gruber are what I like to think of as Master Entrepreneurs. Not only are the entrepreneurs in their own right having launched and successfully sold their own ventures, they also spend their time identifying and getting visibility for tech startups all across the US. They’re very much the yin to each other’s yang – and which of them is which, shifts. It’s one of the truly amazing and powerful things about their partnership. It’s an ethos that carries into their personal lives as well (they’re not just business partners, they’re also married) and as someone who’s had the great honor and privilege of knowing them for a long time, I can say they just keep getting better. In this conversation, which was part of the inaugural Unleashed Leadership Summit, Jen and Frank talk about the way they came to their particular perspectives, how going inward and being still is imperative and how a fierce and feisty “Yuranian” named Wolfgang changed their lives. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #JenConsalvo #FrankGruber #Established #TechCo #Startup #entrepreneurship #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #Unleashed Conversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Jeffrey Hayzlett/TechFailMonologue
Ahhhhhh. Technology. The sheer magic unleashed by the various and sundry technological marvels in today’s world have transformed our society. The very fact you’re listening to this week’s episode is one of those marvels. It used to be that communicating on anything other than a one to one or one to small group level was relegated to the select few. Elite access to mass communication. Today’s world rips that down and enables anyone to be a content creator. It also has, without question, cloven our society, fractured it into siloed splinters of information in which like and like gather, with walls around them. We are, perhaps more connected as a society, but in many ways have never been so divided. Jeffrey Hayzlett understands this and though he sits at a perch many might never see – senior executive for Kodak, TV personality, CEO of C-Suite Network, author – his feet are very firmly planted in creating connections across divides. Unfortunately the Internet connection where he was based during our interview didn’t have the same view. So in this rather unusual episode of the show, my conversation with Jeffrey gets literally shut down and I got to get creative. This conversation – well, attempted conversation – was part of the inaugural Unleashed Leadership Summit. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #JeffreyHayzlett #CSuiteNetwork #Kodak #Executive #CelebrityApprentice #Trump #Divisiveness #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Tiffany Shlain
We live in a world more hyper-connected than ever, courtesy of any number of digital leashes, but is that really a good thing? Many studies show that the incessant connectivity, exposure to light, messes with humans in more ways than one. Which is what makes this episode so interesting. A conversation with someone who advocates disconnecting – regularly – and has been doing so for 12 years. What’s interesting about that? The person, Tiffany Shlain, is one of the most influential voices from Silicon Valley. Founder of the Webby Awards, award-winning filmmaker, sought after public speaker, author – and advocate of the tech-free Shabbat. Her book, 24/6, explores the way that an ancient practice of stillness can still exist in today’s digitally saturated world. Oh, and she also is now inspired by the newest edition to her family – Rosie, a 70-pound Goldendoodle. I caught up with Tiffany as part of the inaugural Unleashed Leadership Summit. This week’s episode is part of our conversation. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #TiffanyShlain #LetItRippleStudios #TheWebbyAwards #TechFreeShabbat #DigitalUnleashed #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Nikki Fargas
What would the world look like if everyone operated truly on the concept of a win/win? Impossible, right? I mean, at some point someone has to lose. Like in sports. One team wins. The other doesn’t. But if you ask Las Vegas Aces President Nikki Fargas about that, she says that winning isn’t just about the team on which you play, it’s about the bigger team. You may think that a former NCAA basketball star and coach – a woman who has many championship titles to her name can talk easily about “winning” because she has. She also, however, has lost and she says that it’s in taking ALL games in stride – win or lose – and focusing on how to drive forward where champions really are made. She talks about how she is intent on living in her purpose because every day she is striving to be the best version of herself. She operates on the belief that if everyone took a small moment to consider others – if everyone did that – we could fundamentally change the world. And funny enough what happens along the way – is winning. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #LVAces #WNBA #LasVegasAces #NCAAChampion #Coach #NikkiFargas #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash
Faith James
I’m going to go out on a limb and maybe tick some folks off. So buckle up. In my experience, there are few people more judgmental in the world than those who are so deeply saturated in their beliefs that no other beliefs are valid. What I refer to, mostly, are people of “faith”. This applies to pretty much any religious dogma I’ve ever encountered – including the Jewish faith of my own upbringing. When I met Faith James and she began to share the deep faith-based view of her world, my perspective changed. Big time. I realized it’s because she is devoid of something in which so many people – religious or otherwise – are saturated … judgement. To have faith, truly have faith, and to do so with grace – that is varsity level leadership right there. To know that this comes from someone whose career began in the kind of place where authenticity and lack of judgement are the last things most folks consider – advertising – takes that up another notch. She’s a certified Personal and Social Branding Strategist who’s worked at and with some of the most storied brands in advertising – Ogilvy, McCann, IBM - In this conversation – which dives immediately into one of the very topics we are always told never to touch in public – Faith shares why it is that she does what she does, and a bit of the journey to get there. I cannot believe we didn’t even get to touch on one of my FAVORITE sayings of hers that relates directly to lack of judgement - #BeUnbothered. Yeah. That. Like I said, buckle up. This is a good one. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #youareyourbrand #brandyourselfwell #BeUnbothered #Beunapologeticallyyou #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash #FaithJobnes #Ogilvy #McCann
Shirin Etessam
Today’s world is one of silos and divided communities. A place where selecting a single article or topic online can pre-determine any and all information then served to you by one algorithm or another. We are, as a species, designed to live in groups (tribes) and unfortunately as with so many things, taken to an extreme it becomes a bad thing. It all comes back to identity. Who are we? Where do we fit? What is our purpose? In sitting down to speak with Shirin Etessam, the place we begin is with identity. Deeply connected to her Iranian roots and steeped just as deeply in her identity as a lesbian, Shirin’s journey of the last 6 years is one that had her take a long, hard look at all of that. Where had she been and – more importantly – where did she want to go? What was her real life work? In this week’s episode of Talk, Unleashed, Shirin takes us through the deep why of her work and how by sinking even more deeply into our individual selves we can move forward in healing the world. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #ShirinEtessam #OneMoreLesbianMedia #OML #Slay #Entrepreneur #Media #SmallBusiness #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash #LGBTQ #CathyBrooks #HydrantClub
Elizabeth Blau
Elizabeth Blau’s sense of leadership is one steeped deeply in responsibility. It’s the sense that being responsible for a business, for a team, is an all-encompassing, 24-hour thing. It’s an ethic instilled in her early – as is so often the case for those whose roots come from New York and New England. From her very first taste of leadership – managing a team of high school kids at a candy store that made its own chocolates and buttercreams – all the way to helming major restaurant development operations for marquis casino brands like MGM Resorts International and Wynn Las Vegas, Elizabeth never shies from rolling up her sleeves and digging in to work with her team. Today that looks quite a bit different, she’s not scooping ice cream or working on the line in the kitchen, but her drive to move the needle remains. When the global pandemic wiped out her industry and put so many people in dire straits, Elizabeth joined with several other powerhouse “momma bears” and created Delivering with Dignity – an emergency response to provide food to those in need. At their one year anniversary in March 2021 they had served over 328,000 meals. Though her work ethic and drive were baked in from early on, it was Fenway - the first dog she had with her husband (and business partner) Chef Kim Canteenwalla – who really drove home what responsibility truly means. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #BlauandAssociates #HoneySalt #ElizabethBlau #Restauraneur #JamesBeardNominee #KimCanteenwalla #SmallBusiness #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadershi #MGM_Resorts #
De Ann Letourneau
Most people spend their lives trying to figure out their path. Some people, like De Ann Letourneau, land on that path early and then spend the rest of their lives navigating how to make that journey bigger … better. Growing up in the Midwest, De Ann was indoctrinated to music young, first playing the piano by ear picking up sonatas that her mother would play. It was the violin, though, that captured her attention in 3rd grade and has captivated her ever since. Something of a child prodigy, music became her voice, taking an otherwise shy young girl and setting her on a path where she’d win myriad award and competitions and finally end up as concertmaster of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. In addition to her role with the Philharmonic, De Ann also teaches kids, a role in which she has influenced not only many professional musicians but also people who have gone on to lead companies around the world. Her most important role, however, is mother and the journey she’s taken with her three children has been one that has taken her leadership to entirely new heights. So what about dogs? Simple. Her mother trained them and from birth, she was around dogs and not just household pets. Her mother trained for and won the very first utility dog title in Wisconsin and through De Ann’s entire life, dogs have played a central role – including learning the importance of breaking bread with others, and how in her world today music does the same thing. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #LasVegasPhilharmonic #ConcertMaster #ClassicalMusic #DeAnnLetournea #Fearless #Violin #Leadership #NeuroLinguisticProgramming #NLP #transgender #LGBTQ #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadership
Donato Cabrera
For someone like me who grew up on classical music it’s always been super approachable. That is not, however, the experience for many. For most folks, classical music carries an air of something elite, unapproachable and, let’s be honest, stuffy. Donato Cabrera – the Music Director of the California Symphony and Las Vegas Philharmonic – busts up these myths and expectations in many ways. For starters, he’s about as down to earth a guy as you could meet, and he also takes the literal translation of that storied moniker of “Maestro” literally. You see, all that word means – for all its elite sound – is teacher. To Donato, those who lead symphony orchestras have a responsibility to teach – both the orchestras they lead and the audiences they entertain. In today’s episode, I talk with Donato about his perspective on music – how it heals and teaches – and also about the most important qualities of leadership. He has a fearless passion for his work, and he credits that to a Bassett Hound named Samantha. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #LasVegasPhilharmonic #CaliforniaSymphony #Maestro #ClassicalMusic #DonatoCabrera #Fearless #Leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedLeadership
Dr Kiki Sanford
Dr. Kiki Sanford had a choice. Continue with what felt like an increasingly frustrating path in academia, or pivot and turn her passion into power. She chose the latter. With a degree in Conservation Biology and a Ph.D in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, she’d spent her undergraduate and graduate studies exploring learning and memory – specifically through research on birds. She loved the learning. She loved the science. So she opted to spend her time getting other people just as jazzed about science as she is. Since 2015 she’s turned her focus back to her brothers and sisters of science, starting “Broader Impacts” a company that helps researchers and scientists up their communication game making sure that the vast amount of important information being generated in those circles can make it into the world in a meaningful way. Her view of leadership is very much like her view of science – that the mechanisms we use have changed vastly, and the people who use those things, have not. She says it’s imperative that we “vaccinate” ourselves – against misinformation, bad actors and those who would use information in the wrong way. She also believes that connection and empathy may be the keys to the future we all need. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #KikiSanford #DrKiki #DrKikiSanford #ThisWeekInScience #TWIS #ThisWeekinTech #TWIT #Science #research #ScienceCommunication #BroaderImpacts #TalkUnleashed #CathyBrooks #HydrantClub
Al Mancini
In a world beset on all sides with tribalism and “othering” more people than not desperately seek fitting in. The idea of standing out, being conspicuously unique, it’s harder and harder to come by. Al Mancini has never been someone who just goes along, who just fits in. In fact, he’s spent his whole life doing exactly the opposite. Most of the time when someone is the sort who proactively drives towards standing out from the crowd, you don’t think of them as the same people who bring others together. This is one of the many things that makes Al Mancini’s uniqueness something that is so universal. From his time at ABC Radio through his career at The Las Vegas Review-Journal and now into his new endeavors, Al has spent his life using his uniqueness to find ways to bring people together. He is unabashedly himself, never fails to say precisely what’s on his mind and has a distinct sense of responsibility about how is moves through the world – a lesson he learned from a dog. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #UnleashedLeadership #TalkUnleashed #Al Mancini #ABC_Radio #Las_Vegas_Review_Journal #TheHydrantClub #DogTraining #CommunicationsCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #Las_Vegas
Myron Martin
It all began with a fourth grade field trip. Traveling to Jones Hall in Houston, TX, Myron Martin was exposed to the world of performing arts, and his world changed. Moving to Las Vegas to work with the Liberace Museum, Myron’s journey would wend through a number of Las Vegas institutions, ending up with his being part of the team spearheading the effort to build a world-class, state-of-the-art performing arts center in downtown Las Vegas. In 2012, The Smith Center opened and over the first years of its existence changed the face of entertainment in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Then, the pandemic hit and like every other live performance space in the world, The Smith Center went dark. With the re-opening on the horizon, Myron shares what it’s been like to lead a performing arts organization in one of the darkest time in history and how adding a dog to his life changed everything. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #UnleashedLeadership #TalkUnleashed #MyronMartin #TheSmithCenter #TheHydrantClub #DogTraining #CommunicationsCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #Las_Vegas
Genevieve Bell
Accidental influencer – that might be one way to think about Genevieve Bell a one-time professor of Anthropology at Stanford University turned futurist and technology soothsayer for Intel Corporation. While still a “blue badge” employee at Intel, Genevive is now back in her native Australia and back in academia. She operates from a simple and very powerful place – that we all have a deep responsibility to leave the world better than we found it; and she believes that is not about legacy when we’re gone, but a mandate for how we live in the world while we’re here. Now tackling the ever-so-small future of Artificial Intelligence, Genevieve is exploring how to build the foundation today so that a bold future can exist. In this episode, she shares the lessons she learned that formed her beliefs and four requirements for the kind of leadership our world needs. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #UnleashedLeadership #TalkUnleashed #GenevieveBell #IntelCorporation #ArtificalIntelligence #AI #Leadership #TheHydrantClub #DogTraining #CommunicationsCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #Stanford University #Intel
Michael Shikashio
In the world of dog training, there are some who have opted to do the really hard work – focusing entirely on the dogs that everyone else rejects. For many dogs, these dedicated individuals are the last house on the block. If their work doesn’t “take” these are the dogs that end up being euthanized. Going in to this work is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it requires a kind of heart and empathy that goes above and beyond just regular dog education. Enter Michael Shikashio – who came to dog training almost by accident after spending time fostering dogs. Through that volunteer work, he began to see dogs with deep behavioral issues. Dogs that had little chance of finding permanent homes without substantial help. So he decided that he’d do something about it. In this episode Michael talks about his “why” and how a dog named Sarge got him on this path without his even realizing it. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #UnleashedLeadership #TalkUnleashed #MichaelShikashio #AggressiveDogs #TheHydrantClub #DogTraining #CommunicationsCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #Pitbull
Julie Wainwright
Julie Wainwright is one of the most influential and successful players in the world of on-line commerce. She was the face of the colossal growth of this space in 1998 and became the poster child for the industry crash when Pets.com tanked less than a year after its IPO. Seizing this failure and flipping it around, Julie came back with a vengeance in 2011 with The Real Real and now sits on top of the space again – stronger, more successful and with a sense of internal calm and peace that you can feel from a mile away. She’s petite and powerful and in this episode shares stories of how she came to the place she’s in and the monumental lessons along the way. What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. #UnleashedLeadership #TalkUnleashed #JulieWainwright #PetsdotCom #TheRealReal #Ecommerce #TheHydrantClub #DogTraining #CommunicationsCoaching #LeadershipCoaching
Talk Unleashed Trailer
What motivates people? Why do they do what they do? What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. Cathy is a career communications professional whose work has ranged from radio to television, newspaper and digital platforms. Her career path turned through Silicon Valley where she worked in public relations, event content curation, and business development. In 2012 she turned a life-long passion of canine behavioral study into a full-time career, opening The Hydrant Club in Las Vegas, NV. It was through this work that the light bulb went off – and Cathy realized by exploring the dog-human connection, she could facilitate better connections between people. Talk, Unleashed is the first project of Unleashed Leadership – a consulting and coaching practice leading businesses to financial success through effective and powerful engagement (between humans). Unleashed Leadership includes this podcast, a live event series, and private/group coaching. Her mission goes beyond helping businesses thrive, to a vision of a world made better by supporting people in more effective and authentic communication with each other. #UnleashedLeadership #TalkUnleashed #TheHydrantClub #DogTraining #CommunicationsCoaching #LeadershipCoaching ZNXsvBZWBPmsalujJkvi