Shift Out Loud with Tracy Spears : Recent Episodes
Tracy Spears
Hosted by Tracy Spears, speaker, co-author of two best selling leadership books, founder of Exceptional Leaders Lab, coach, and head cheerleader for anyone trying to play bigger. Shift Out Loud is a podcast designed to inspire you to play bigger. You'll hear from real live people sharing what their shift was, when it happened, and why it was out loud. What you think is true, and when you move from the external locus of control to the internal locus of control, your shift can happen and anything becomes possible. This podcast is your invitation to listen to others who have made the shift, and also serve as a catalyst for you to play bigger.
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Humans require certain things in order to thrive… and once you move beyond food, water, and shelter, the list gets a little complicated. Understanding the full scope of your needs can enable you to shift in ways you didn’t know were possible. In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I’m joined by Dr. Jennifer Clark, a seasoned physician on a mission to heal, educate, and innovate toward the relief of suffering. When not volunteering at Clarehouse, Oklahoma’s first social model hospice home, she teaches at the University of Tulsa and collaborates with organizations fostering cultures of human flourishing.
Our discussion explores the shifts that led her to palliative medicine and the profound lessons she’s learned through this important work. You’ll learn how she built a career that satisfies her right-brain creativity and left-brain desire for structure, how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs serves as a framework for her practice, and why you should pre-order her incredible first book, Suffer.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- The mind-blowing hidden truth about Maslow’s hierarchy (and where that pyramid really came from)
- How the awareness of our mortality can powerfully change the way we live
- What it means to create and participate in true intimacy
Guest bio: Dr. Jennifer Clark has been in the world of healthcare for over 20 years. With Med-Peds training and board certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Dr Clark is a physician and healthcare delivery consultant serving in various roles as a clinician-educator, -administrator, and -innovator. She is the author of Suffer, a book on the power of suffering.
Timestamps:
01:54 Intro
03:25 Meet Dr. Jennifer Clark
09:37 Path to palliative medicine
14:27 Emotional journey
16:17 Maslow’s hierarchy
20:20 Observing the family environment
23:50 “Putting back together”
29:59 The truth about Maslow
36:45 Intimacy
42:16 Shift to mortality salience
45:34 Shift to meditative practice
50:01 TED Talk
54:42 Next shift
58:26 Intense transition
1:01:20 Conclusion
Links:
Dr. Jennifer Clark
thegiftofchoosing.com
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an ep
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Some people know what they’re meant to do from a very young age. For most of us, discovering our gifts can require a little experimentation — but it’s never too late to shift out loud!
Valerie Martinet has been a top seller of Transworld Systems services for over 18 years. A former pool shark, Valerie is now on a mission to make sure that medical providers get paid for their services, through introducing businesses and medical practices to a more effective, less expensive, and more diplomatic alternative to traditional collections.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, we explore Valerie’s fascinating journey from tending bar to breaking sales records and running a thriving business — and the massive shifts that she experienced along the way. Tune in as we discuss the conversation that led Valerie to get serious about her career and future, what sets entrepreneurs apart from wantrepreneurs, and the exciting new endeavor that keeps her creatively fulfilled!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- What entrepreneurship has taught Valerie about personal development and goal-planning
- How to create a decision tree that will help you avoid bad decisions and break bad habits
- How to zero in on the things that truly fulfill you and get you into your zone
Guest bio: Valerie Martinet has a company that has represented Transworld Systems across the US for the last 20 years, and has been on the leadership team for 18 years. She was the recipient of the peer-nominated Above and Beyond Award in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Valerie is a consultant to medical practices of all sizes throughout the US, and a national speaker on revenue cycle management best practices.
Timestamps:
01:55 Intro
03:45 Meet Valerie Martinet
08:37 Becoming independent
14:10 Getting serious
18:16 Estrangement
19:30 Shift to sales & entrepreneurship
26:44 Doctored tag story
29:30 Entrepreneur v. wantrepreneur
33:47 Fake it till you make it
36:00 Awards & goal-planning
40:47 Big goal shift
45:55 Decision trees
48:07 Shift to yoga journey
50:12 Getting into your zone
55:36 Mantra
Links:
Valerie Martinet
etsy.com/ca/shop/CisnetDesigns
tsiagents.com/valeriemartinet/my-bio
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
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Ever wanted a sneak peek into the world of comedy? My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud has appeared on Conan O’Brien, @Midnight, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Chelsea Lately, Arsenio Hall, and Last Call With Carson Daly, so you’ve likely already seen (and enjoyed) her work!
Erin Foley is a talented comedy writer and comic who has been making waves in the world of women’s sports, recently providing 2024 Olympic coverage on Sirius XM. During our conversation, we dive deeply into how joining an improv troupe derailed her plan to become a teacher, why she fell in love with stand-up comedy, and how she dealt with comic burnout.
Erin is not only insightful, she’s also hilarious — you won’t want to miss this entertaining episode! Want more Erin? Her Herlights podcast tackles everything women’s sports, offering hot takes, interviews, and more.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- A behind-the-scenes look at the pandemic’s effect on the television industry
- Why Erin loved performing stand-up comedy on Zoom during lockdown
- Why she believes softball will be the next sport to explode
Guest bio: Erin Foley is a comedy writer and seasoned stand-up comic who has appeared on numerous late night shows, Comedy Central Presents, and at comedy festivals all over North America. She’s written for multiple TV shows including That 90’s Show and One Day At A Time, NPR’s Live From Here, the comedy website Funny Or Die, and was a consulting producer on Ellen DeGeneres’s unscripted comedy show Little Funny. Her humor writing has been published in The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts.
Timestamps:
01:47 Intro
03:19 Meet Erin Foley
06:27 Shift to improv
10:14 NY, Rhode Island & following her passion
17:29 Industry inspiration
19:10 Burnout
22:10 TV writing & pandemic comedy
26:48 No regrets
29:09 Herlights
35:01 The Olympics & softball
42:51 Erin’s trajectory
45:43 Dog parenthood
50:47 Touring & creative process
57:33 Wally, Joan Rivers & notebooks
1:02:59 Promo & Provincetown
Links:
Erin Foley
erinkfoley.com
herlights.com
Instagram: @ErinKFoley
Good Game with Sarah Spain
iheart.com/podcast/1119-good-game-with-sarah-spai-185664375
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Send us a text
The way that many of us work and live can tire us out and hold us back from playing bigger. If we want to show up strong for our teams and communities, we need to show up strong for ourselves! In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I sit down with Kara Mohr, a performance coach and internationally recognized keynote speaker specializing in health, wellness, and habit and behavior change. For over 25 years, she’s inspired people to transform their understanding of personal energy and purpose, and use mindset, fitness, and nutrition strategies as fuel to engage their best selves.
During this inspiring conversation, Kara reveals why she left academia to carve out her own niche — and how she found her voice as one of her field’s most dynamic speakers. Kara also shares the simple hacks that can help you disrupt unconscious bad habits, how to know when you’re making a shift for the right reasons, and how a childhood nickname sent her down the path to discovering her gifts.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- What running a fitness boot camp taught her about the power of cultivating emotional well-being
- Why we should approach life as an ongoing process of self-discovery
- The #1 message she wants her audiences to walk away with (and how it can change their lives)
Guest bio: Kara Mohr PhD is a performance coach and dynamic keynote speaker known for her expertise and experience in behavior change, exercise, and motivation. She has held faculty positions at the University of Louisville, the University of Pittsburgh, and Eastern Michigan University, and served as the assistant director of the University of Pittsburgh’s NIH-funded Physical Activity & Weight Management Research Center.
Timestamps:
01:27 Intro
03:10 Meet Kara Mohr
05:28 Finding her passion
09:40 Shift to teaching & research
14:44 Shift to speaking & coaching
16:52 Making your own weather
19:12 Shift to fitness boot camps
21:16 Shift to staying at home
24:20 Change & discovery
28:55 #1 message for audiences
32:39 Audience feedback & response
35:08 Disrupting patterns
39:30 Inventorying
43:54 Mantra & next shifts
Links:
Kara Mohr
mohrresults.com
linkedin.com/company/mohr-results-inc
Instagram: @mohrresults
Signature Leaders
signatureleaders.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
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True leadership requires more than knowledge and expertise. Being vulnerable and authentic can have a huge impact on the connections you build with your team, and enable your entire organization to play bigger!
Among his achievements as an athlete and coach, Kirk Walker has helped UCLA to seven NCAA Championships and 18 Women's College World Series appearances, earning the title of the “winningest” coach in UCLA history. In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Kirk and I discuss how he learned to play bigger while living authentically, and how this challenging shift transformed his leadership. Tune in as we explore his incredible career and his work to promote inclusivity in sports.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How Kirk navigated coming out in the world of sport and how it sparked his shift into advocacy
- How he embraced the challenge of returning to UCLA in an assistant coaching role
- How he partnered with Nike to raise the profile of LGBTQ+ athletes — and why trans issues need more attention!
Guest bio: Kirk Walker just finished his 23rd season on the UCLA coaching staff where he is the Associate Head Coach. He was honored as part of the NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021. He is the Bruins' third base coach and also plays at a highly competitive level. He is a visible and vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in sports.
Timestamps:
01:47 Intro
04:34 Meet Kirk Walker
08:46 Meeting Kirk
10:58 Umpiring
13:04 Shift to coaching & Oregon State
18:44 Coming out & Outsports
22:50 Strengthening leadership
25:31 Shift to UCLA
29:21 Guiding the transition & leaving the team
34:05 Embracing the challenge
39:35 Shift to advocacy
44:45 Sports Equality Foundation
49:06 Political climate
52:38 Get involved
54:28 Oklahoma Sooners
56:45 Mantra & next shifts
Links:
Kirk Walker
uclabruins.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/kirk-walker/3957
Instagram: @kirkwalker23
Outsports
Sports Equality Foundation
I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Mónica Guzmán
penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691561/i-never-thought-of-it-that-way-by-monica-guzman
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifica
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Movies are a powerful way to tell stories, change perspectives, and shine a light on different lived experiences. Empowering filmmakers can lead to massive shifts, for both individuals and communities.
Joining me for this episode of Shift Out Loud is Amy Janes, a brilliant creative whose filmmaking journey has been fueled by a love for storytelling that began in an editing room. She’s the co-founder of Filmmakers Ranch, a thriving, first-of-its-kind studio and training academy that fosters creativity and trains future filmmakers.
During our conversation, Amy shares her journey to kick Oklahoma’s film and television industry up a notch, how filmmaking has evolved since her days as an editing intern, and how a literal dream gave her the confidence to pursue her passion.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- Why Filmmakers Ranch is perfectly positioned to turn filmmaking into a substantial Oklahoma industry
- How Amy’s digital media agency Fanology has evolved in a changing social media landscape
- The project that gave her the opportunity to spend four days writing a script with Dr. Maya Angelou!
Guest bio: In 2010, Amy Janes co-founded digital media agency Fanology, which helps celebrities like Shay Mitchell and Nas connect with audiences and partner with brands like Toyota to create impactful content. In 2018, she co-founded Filmmakers Ranch, a film studio and academy poised to become a hub for filmmaking, producing films, and training crews.
Timestamps:
01:50 Intro
03:00 Meet Amy Janes
08:06 Amy’s dream & moving to Penn State
12:08 Moving to Oklahoma
13:47 Editing internship
17:01 Shattered Glass & Dr. Angelou
24:25 ‘Preditors’ & Valentine Road28:36 Adrenaline rushes & The Rolling Stones
31:35 Shift to Fanology
37:50 Amy’s ideal clients
42:15 Fanology Labs & the hunger for truth
46:44 Opening the Ranch
53:24 The next shifts
55:23 Quantum physics
Links:
Amy Janes
filmmakersranch.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Many people play bigger by working to better the lives of those who may have been forgotten by society. The most transformative work often happens in places most of us will never visit — but its effects ripple far beyond their walls.
This episode of Shift Out Loud features 2018 CNN Hero of the Year finalist Ellen Stackable. Ellen is the Executive Director and co-founder of Poetic Justice, a non-profit organization that has helped over 4000 people incarcerated in women’s detention centers the opportunity to process trauma, rewrite personal narratives, and heal through restorative writing and creative arts.
Our thoughtful conversation digs into unconscious biases, racial justice, isolation, code-switching, and the power of storytelling and community to change lives. Tune in as we discuss how Ellen became interested in the carceral system, the role that hip-hop played in her first programs, and the importance of trauma-informed practice.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- What Ellen experienced as a member of the Mercy Farm cult and how she healed after breaking free
- How the AIDS epidemic profoundly shifted her perspective and her path
- How Poetic Justice adapts their programs for different groups and institutions
Guest bio: Ellen Stackable is the Executive Director and co-founder of Poetic Justice, which offers restorative writing and creative arts programs to individuals incarcerated in women’s prisons and jails in Oklahoma, California, Oregon, and Tijuana, Mexico. In 2018, she was one of 10 finalists for CNN Hero of the Year. In 2019, she received the Courage Award given by the University of Oklahoma. In 2024, she was a recipient of the Newsmaker Award from the Tulsa American Women in Communication.
Timestamps:
01:41 Intro
03:01 Meet Ellen Stackable
06:19 Joining & leaving a cult
10:03 The AIDS crisis
14:03 Returning to Tulsa
17:50 Mercy Farm reunion
21:36 Carceral system & the Tulsa Race Riot
24:37 Healing through writing
27:03 Building curriculum
32:45 Code-switching & distance learning
36:28 Creating shifts for others
40:46 Shift to Poetic Justice
44:57 CNN Hero
49:28 What’s next
Links:
Ellen Stackable
poeticjustice.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ellen-stackable-11480684
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Cheri Kempf is no stranger to playing bigger — she’s made incredible moves in the infield, in the dugout, on the mic, and at the boardroom table. A celebrated leader in women’s fastpitch softball, the four-time National Champion and six-time Hall of Fame Inductee pitched for Team USA during their 1992 World Cup victory. Today, she works tirelessly to promote women’s sports through Athletes Unlimited, a player-centric network of women’s pro leagues.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Cheri and I sit down to discuss her inspiring athletic journey, how she learned the value of honoring her commitments, what she thinks about women’s sports coverage and the Caitlin Clark effect, and how she became a respected trainer who literally wrote the book on pitching!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- What made Cheri an amazing sports analyst — and why she decided to leave the broadcasting booth
- The corporate and network buy-in required to elevate the popularity of women’s sports to the level they deserve
- How Athletes Unlimited is changing the game for women’s softball, indoor volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse
Guest bio: Cheri Kempf is a Senior Vice President and executive producer at Athletes Unlimited, a network of professional women’s sports leagues. She also serves as Director of Pro Softball, working with the Player Executive Committee to shape the league. She’s been recognized as a Sports Business Journal Game Changer (2022) and an Adweek’s Champion of Change (2023). She was Commissioner of National Pro Fastpitch for nearly 15 years.
Timestamps:
01:48 Intro
04:08 Meet Cheri Kempf
08:47 Choosing a school
12:50 Shift to Maryville College
16:39 New school & 3-foot shift
20:49 Film school dream & Austin Peay
26:04 Shift to teaching
30:31 Women’s sports coverage
34:35 Softball’s tipping point
38:20 Shift from broadcasting
42:55 Shift to Athletes Unlimited
49:03 Caitlin Clark
56:02 Corporate & network buy-in
1:01:46 Being in-studio
1:05:04 Shift to writing
Links:
Cheri KempF
auprosports.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cheri-kempf-683605227
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
In this important and timely episode, I’m thrilled to sit down with a woman who has been playing bigger for as long as I’ve known of her… and may just be Tulsa’s next mayor. Karen Keith is currently serving her fourth term as Tulsa County Commissioner for District 2, and before entering public service had a fascinating series of career shifts, working as a news anchor, reporter, documentarian, executive producer, and host of Oklahoma Living.
Throughout the time I’ve been following her work, I’ve been impressed by Karen’s deep compassion, forward-thinking vision, and strong commitment to uplifting her community. We explore her accomplishments in the broadcasting industry and shift into public service, how she learned to work successfully across the aisle, and why she has been such a gift to Tulsa. Listen now and register to vote!
Listen now to discover:
- How Karen made her mark as an international reporter and respected documentarian — and how it changed the way she sees the world
- The exciting goals and iconic triumphs of Tulsa’s Vision 2025 project
- Karen’s mayoral to-do list and how she plans to serve
Guest bio: Mayoral candidate Karen Keith is serving her 16th year as Tulsa County Commissioner for District 2. The projects she is most proud of include the completion of the Family Center for Juvenile Justice and the Tulsa/West Tulsa Levee system. Over the last four years, she’s worked with community partners on issues related to homelessness and justice reform and the ongoing work cleaning up neighborhoods, along with tackling legislation for greater abatement authority.
Timestamps:
01:45 Intro
04:08 Meet Karen Keith
08:26 Exploring the world
11:13 Tahoe & the 5-jellybean tip
12:57 Shift to marriage & broadcasting
14:59 Reporting abroad
19:25 Shift to public service
22:04 Vision 2025
23:04 Shift to politics & working across party lines
28:21 Shift to mayoral candidacy
31:11 Running for the job
34:29 Reaching out & looking forward
Links:
Karen Keith
karenkeith.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karen-keith-8a3192133
Facebook: facebook.com/voteKarenKeith
Vision 2025: vision2025.info
Voter Registration: okvoterportal.okelections.us/Home/RegWizard
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
While the residential real estate market post-pandemic has been marked by soaring prices and fierce bidding wars, owning a home is still a great investment. In this episode of Shift Out Loud, you’ll not only discover insights that will help you think and play bigger, you’ll find tips that may smooth the path to securing your dream home.
Over the last 20 years, Shawn Peters has built a stellar reputation in the Tulsa real estate market and strong relationships with her clients, who sing her praises wherever and whenever they can. Full disclosure: Shawn helped me find a house that I love!
Our conversation explores why Shawn made the move from paralegal work to real estate, the biggest changes she’s seen in the real estate market, and the psychology of hopeful house-hunters.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- The #1 mistake that people make when looking to purchase residential real estate
- How Shawn made a shift into cultivating balance in her life — and what that can look like
- An insider look at how real estate agents think about their clients
Guest bio: Shawn Peters is celebrating 20 years as a Realtor in the Tulsa real estate market, with a focus on building lasting client relationships through personal attention, experience, and execution. She’s consistently featured in the Top 100 Realtors by Tulsa People, the top 1% of Realtors in Oklahoma, and is a member of the Board of Regents, a network of luxury real estate professionals with international recognition.
Timestamps:
01:36 Intro
02:36 Meet Shawn Peters
04:40 Shift into real estate
07:40 Big changes in the real estate market
09:17 Real estate clients & decision-making
13:26 Do’s & don’ts
17:07 Shift into finding balance
25:25 Shift into “savoring”
30:55 Deepening relationships
33:12 Taking action & treating yourself
37:47 Shawna’s sons
41:48 Conclusion
Links:
Shawn Peters
speters.ccoklahoma.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
As the world around us changes in unsettling and dangerous ways, we need more people to stand up, speak out, and advocate for the rights of others in their communities.
Janet Levit is passionate about doing exactly this type of important work. In addition to serving on the Tulsa Women’s Commission and the Human Rights Commission, she is an Executive Consultant to repro46, a not-for-profit devoted to educating Oklahomans about the consequences of the state’s overreaching reproductive healthcare laws on the health, safety, and well-being of women and girls.
In this inspiring episode of Shift Out Loud, we dig into the major shifts that led Janet to explore law, academia, community leadership, and advocacy over the course of her impressive career. Tune in as we discuss Janet’s strategic decision-making process, how she’s stayed flexible when unexpected changes altered her trajectory, and the experience that instantly changed her mind about becoming a diplomat.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How Janet shifted from pursuing a path she thought was expected of her into wholeheartedly following her passion and calling
- Why it’s important to “get dirty” as a leader
- How she embraces her identity as a Tulsan and her role in serving her community
Guest bio: Janet Koven Levit concluded her term as interim president at The University of Tulsa in 2021 and returned to the College of Law in 2022 as a professor. She serves on the Tulsa Women’s Commission and the Human Rights Commission, on the Take Control Initiative Advisory Board, and as Vice Chair of the Center for Reproductive Rights Board of Directors.
Timestamps:
01:40 Intro
03:37 Meet Janet Levit
06:16 Janet’s background
07:47 Cubs or White Sox?
10:23 Princeton & diplomacy
13:59 Shift into law
16:04 Yale, international law & learning Portuguese
19:40 Shift into partnership & moving to Tulsa
23:06 Team decision-making
28:16 Shift into academia
33:33 Strategic thinking & female leadership
39:08 Shift into advocacy
42:38 Oklahoma & women’s rights
45:59 repro46 & creating change
51:09 Politics v. advocacy
52:35 Shift to empathy & hope
58:00 Conclusion
Links:
Janet Levit
utulsa.edu/people/janet-levit
repro46
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
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Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud has appeared in publications ranging from the Harvard Business Review to Glamour UK, was named one of the Top 10 Most Powerful Women Leaders in HR, and has been hailed as a “cultural competency genius” — praise that is definitely well earned!
Risha Grant is an international speaker, bestselling author, and sought-after diversity & inclusion consultant who is currently mapping out the next incredible phase of her business. Our candid discussion explores what led Risha to found Oklahoma’s very first diversity communications firm, the ‘shift out loud’ moments that have changed the way she moves through the world, and her fascinating thoughts on the WNBA, marketability, and the Caitlin Clark effect. We also dig into about the ongoing evolution of DEI work — you won’t want to miss it!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How a 24-year-old Risha built a business case for diversity & inclusion in a corporate world that was totally disinterested
- Why a business downswing has shifted the way that she approaches the hustle
- How she’s thinking bigger when it comes to her next chapter, and adapting her work to a new political landscape
Guest bio: Risha Grant helps executives and their teams, politicians, civic leaders, and academic directors around the world learn how to behave, lead, and manage businesses more inclusively. As a speaker and CEO of Risha Grant LLC, her award-winning coaching, speaking, and training firm, Risha has shifted the hearts and minds of audiences and clients including Google, Levi Strauss, and Nestle Purina.
Timestamps:
01:36 Intro
03:42 Meet Risha Grant
05:09 DEI in Oklahoma
06:42 The WNBA & Caitlin Clark
14:43 Leaving basketball
18:02 Launching her firm
25:15 Family support
30:45 Shift into a downswing
35:47 Putting the shift into context
37:29 Mentor story
39:42 How she’s thinking bigger
44:37 Adapting to changing world
49:45 Friendship, debate & politics
Links:
Risha Grant
rishagrant.com
Facebook: facebook.com/RishaGrantLLC
Instagram: @risha.grant
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
While many find fulfillment in mastering one craft, others thrive when exploring new worlds and challenges. My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud has excelled at playing a bigger game in a variety of sectors, from business to academia to politics.
Kathy Taylor is a woman with an incredible body of work. Her past roles include corporate EVP, Dean of the Collins College of Business at the University of Tulsa, and the 38th mayor of Tulsa, to name just a few. Currently, she’s dipping her toes into the retail world and unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs through VEST, a peer network and investment fund.
In this conversation, Kathy and I talk about her shift from aspiring journalist to successful securities and franchise law attorney, the calling that brought her back to Oklahoma, and her recent transition into network and community-building.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- Why Kathy ran for office, how she won the election, and why she loved the role
- The story behind Mother Road Market, a multicultural food hall that supports and promotes Tulsan entrepreneurs
- How a toxic, male-led work culture led Kathy to launch her law practice
Guest bio: The Honorable Kathryn L. Taylor most recently served as the Dean of the Collins College of Business at the University of Tulsa. Her previous positions include Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce, Tourism & Workforce, CEO of ImpactTulsa, and Executive Vice President & General Counsel of Dollar/Thrifty Car Rental. She is a founding member of VEST, a network for expanding the pipeline of women in positions of influence.
Timestamps:
01:42 Intro
04:00 Meet Kathy Taylor
08:40 Mother Road Market
13:13 Thrifty Car Rental
15:58 Cooking & Julia Childs
17:49 Workplace toxicity & advocacy
22:24 Running for mayor
25:44 Accomplishments & challenges
30:56 Shift into academic leadership
34:06 Dubaian student & mentee stories
36:07 Shift into VEST & Goods Together
41:20 Personal mantra
43:47 Time with the grandkids & final tip
Links:
VEST
Mother Road Market
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at tracyspears.com
For insights that will help you play bigger in your life, work, and community, visit my resource library: tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
The strongest leaders often come from humble beginnings, because these early hardships are instrumental in the development of grit.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I talk to community leader Kian Kamas. As the Executive Director of PartnerTulsa, Kian is passionate about creating long-term, institutional change in how Tulsa pursues its economic and community development objectives, and is committed to building a sustainable, world-class operating model that builds strong and stable long-term revenues for this important work.
Our discussion explores the many shifts that have led Kian to her current professional success, including her time at the University of Edinburgh, her shift into the world of politics, and her transformation from doer into strong leader. We also dive into her post-University struggles, the hardest job she’s ever had, and how growing up on a farm helped to strengthen her incredible work ethic.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- The biggest challenges Kian has faced while shifting from doer into leader — and how she works through them
- How she navigates a self image of herself as an inexperienced “small-town girl”
- The exercises she uses to help her team find joy and potential in what they do
Guest bio: Kian Kamas serves as the Executive Director of PartnerTulsa, leading Tulsa’s comprehensive community and economic development strategy and a team of talented professionals dedicated to increasing economic opportunity for Tulsa residents. Prior to this role, Kian served as Mayor G.T. Bynum’s Chief of Economic Development. She and her husband Lathen have lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma since 2009, and are raising their son Leith as a proud Tulsan.
Timestamps:
01:45 Intro
03:22 Meet Kian Kamas
05:54 Early work experience
08:24 “All hands on deck”
10:52 Grit
13:10 Building a strong team
16:27 Hardest job & University of Oklahoma
19:10 University of Edinburgh
21:45 Return to the US & finding her place
26:09 Self-perception
28:44 Biggest challenges
34:22 Team-building tips
40:00 Team retreat
45:40 What’s next?
Links:
Kian Kamas
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiankamas
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
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Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
I may be cheering you on as you think and play bigger, but my guest for this episode could give me a few professional tips! Charity Barton is the University of Tulsa Cheer coach, a Director at TU's Collins College of Business, and an entrepreneur who believes in the power of storytelling. Not only is Charity a gifted and charismatic speaker, she is a TEDx alumna. Her Talk, “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship”, focuses on the effects of media consumption on mental health and self perception, and how to develop a healthier lifestyle through media literacy — a timely and necessary topic!
While Charity has experienced many shifts in her life, she has also consciously created breathing room that allows her to consider her best next steps. During our conversation, Charity and I dig into the ways in which taking gap years has helped to shape her path forward and allowed her to shift out loud on her own terms. We also discuss Charity’s experiences along the road to TEDx Tulsa and how she is redefining her relationship with mass media for the better.
Listen now to discover:
- How Charity’s ‘why’ changed in terms of seeking her degree, and how this shift affected her decision
- Charity’s TEDx process and how she prepared for this prestigious stage
- Powerful tips for interacting with media in a healthier way
Guest bio: Charity Barton is a former University of Tulsa cheerleader and alumna with a B.A. in Communications. She is a Director at TU's Collins College of Business and the TU Cheer coach. She has a Master's in Mass Communications, and recently gave her first TEDx Talk, titled “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship.”
Timestamps:
01:57 Intro
02:51 Meet Charity Barton
04:34 Gap year lessons
06:50 Influences behind her shifts
10:36 Spain & France
15:10 TEDx Tulsa
20:27 Unhealthiest relationship
23:54 Changing the input
26:51 Storytelling shift
33:33 Good/bad storytelling
38:40 Education & leadership
41:18 What’s next?
Links:
Charity Barton
https://cboriginal.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_q01Ym9Fk
Instagram: @iamchar.ity
The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skin-im-in-sharon-g-flake/1100552129
The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren
https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-What-Earth/dp/031033750X
Don't Drop the Mic: The Power of Your Words Can Change the World by T. D. Jakes
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-drop-the-mic-t-d-jakes/1137427897
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com
My resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
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My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is definitely playing bigger — she was recently recognized as a 2023 Power List Leader in Workplace Diversity by Oklahoma’s Journal Record! As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial, Janet Huber is responsible for providing leadership, vision, and a team-oriented philosophy to advance diversity and inclusion within the organization.
During our conversation, we talk about the unique opportunities provided by the pandemic, how working in the court system helped Janet to shift out loud and hone her craft, and the amazing books that have enabled us to think and play bigger!
Listen now to discover:
- The importance of taking the time to appreciate our achievements (and those of the people around us!)
- Why privilege is so often misunderstood and the power of conscious gratitude
- How to know when you need to speak out — and what to say when you don’t know what to say
Guest bio: Janet Huber is a Senior Vice President and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial. She has over 20 years of progressive HR experience and is passionate about establishing relationships and collaborating to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and establish inclusive environments.
Timestamps:
01:48 Intro
03:43 Meet Janet Huber
06:18 North Carolina to Tulsa and back
09:43 Pandemic & remote work
11:39 Wells Fargo to BOK
12:42 “Brag sheets” & thank yous
15:44 Wilkesboro
18:09 Mediation & the empathy gap
22:07 Privilege, gratitude & using your voice
27:02 When to speak & what to say
33:14 Sharing the microphone & mentoring
37:28 Shifting from manager to consultant
42:14 What’s next & DEI
Links:
Janet Huber
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-huber-phr-cm-cpc-0b94542
Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Never-Split-Difference-Lead-Title/dp/B09VCPNDH3
The Power of Thanks: How Social Recognition Empowers Employees and Creates a Best Place to Work by Eric Mosley & Derek Irvine
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Thanks-Recognition-Empowers-Employees/dp/0071838406
Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Troublemaker-Luvvie-Ajayi-Jones/dp/0593298772
Master Mentors: 30 Transformative Insights from Our Greatest Minds by Scott Miller
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Mentors-Transformative-Insights-Greatest/dp/1400221013
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
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Twitte
Often, our most impactful shifts can take us by surprise or seem to come out of nowhere. My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is mastering the art of recognizing the right opportunities and shifting out loud with intention — whether that means playing bigger in the corporate world, leading her community, or embracing her role at home.
Jessica Lowe-Betts is a Vice President at the PR and leadership development firm Schnake Turnbo Frank, and a former Senior Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at ONEOK. She has had an incredible career and more than her fair share of shifts! For over a decade prior to joining ONEOK, Jessica worked in various roles at the Tulsa Regional Chamber and Tulsa Regional Tourism, has co-chaired the Association for Women in Communications Newsmakers Event, and currently serves as the inaugural Chair of the Board of Directors for Greenwood Rising history center.
Our discussion explores the lessons that Jessica has learned through experiencing a tragic loss in her early childhood, her struggles with overcoming imposter syndrome, and how each of her amazing shifts has led to her current success.
Listen now to discover:
- Why Jessica shifted away from her first love, broadcast journalism, and toward local government and business organizations
- How she knew when it was time to play bigger — and how she recognized the right opportunity
- How she is nailing her core as a mother and wife, and being intentional about where she is in her life right now
Guest bio: Jessica Lowe-Betts is a Vice President at Schnake Turnbo Frank’s Tulsa office with 15+ years of experience in government affairs, communications, marketing, leadership coaching, and diversity, equity and inclusion consulting. She is an experienced DEI practitioner, communications professional, event planner, and community leader.
Timestamps:
01:37 Intro
03:36 Meet Jessica Lowe-Betts
06:36 Early years & memories
11:25 Family support
13:50 Shifting to college
17:23 Shifting away from journalism
21:50 Shifts & evolutions
24:08 Imposter syndrome
26:55 Knowing the right opportunity
30:50 Schnake & “beautiful chaos”
35:12 Pandemic, harmony & authenticity
39:24 The pay-off & inclusion
43:07 What’s next?
Links:
Jessica Lowe-Betts
https://www.facebook.com/jessica.lowebetts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lowe-betts-a6023110
Instagram: @jlowebetts
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger? Visit https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith is a trailblazer in championing equality, and his passion for playing a bigger game has led him to make legal history… not once, but twice! Chris studied journalism at Oklahoma State University before shifting gears to pursue a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa… and this shift would have a MASSIVE, reverberating impact for his community.
Chris now practices family, guardianship, and adoption law as a partner at McDaniel Acord in south Tulsa. In 2019, he and his husband, Michael, obtained an appeal from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma that recognizes and acknowledges the parental rights of nonbiological same-sex parents on the same basis as their biological parental counterparts. Two years later, he obtained the first nonbinary birth certificate ever issued in the State of Oklahoma.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Chris and I talk about his family’s reaction to his coming out, the importance of paying heed to your internal voice, and his unexpected shift into practicing groundbreaking constitutional law.
Listen now to discover:
- How he won a paradigm-shifting, landmark appeal as a new lawyer
- The unfortunate human cost of his history-making case
- A step-by-step overview of the civil rights lawsuit that led Oklahoma to issue a nonbinary birth certificate
Guest bio: Christopher Uric Brecht-Smit is an Oklahoma boy through and through. Born in Edmond, Oklahoma, Chris attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater for journalism and earned a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa. His law practice heavily emphasizes LGBTQ+ representation. He lives in Tulsa with his husband Michael Brecht-Smith, also an attorney, and their two fur babies.
Timestamps:
01:50 Intro
03:40 Meet Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith
10:07 Shift from journalism to law
16:01 Edmond & OSU
18:39 Coming out to family
28:18 Figuring it out & moving on
35:15 Being present & gracious
43:15 Nonbiological same-sex parental rights
51:53 Shift to diversity
55:47 Nonbinary birth certificate case
1:04:44 Equality gala
Links:
Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith
https://www.ok-counsel.com
https://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Brecht-Attorney-At-law/100069448718521
cbrecht@ok-counsel.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools that will help you play bigger in your life? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
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If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.
You’d be surprised by the positive impact you can have on your community in just 45 minutes per week. If you want to learn how to make a huge difference in under an hour, you won’t want to miss this episode of Shift Out Loud!
I speak to Olivia Martin, who is championing students, teachers, parents, and volunteers in the meaningful work of literacy for children in Tulsa and the surrounding areas. As the Executive Director of Reading Partners of Tulsa, she works to provide students with the support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade, partnering with under-resourced schools and pairing kids with volunteer reading partners.
During our conversation, we dig into her experience in the Leadership Tulsa program,
how her daughter’s passion for the theatre led to an unexpected shift in Olivia’s career, and how she’s making an INCREDIBLE difference in her community.
Listen now to discover:
- How to get more comfortable asking for money while in a fundraising role
- Why we’re currently experiencing a crisis in youth literacy — and what needs to happen in order to fix it
- How to play a role in the Reading Partners mission, in just 45 minutes per week
Guest bio: Olivia Martin is a devoted advocate for education and the Tulsa community who brings more than two decades of experience in teaching, school administration, development, and civic engagement to her role as the executive director or Reading Partners of Tulsa. She envisions a big, bold future for Reading Partners Tulsa and looks forward to nurturing data-driven growth and collaborative partnerships in the service of students’ literacy and a life-long love of learning.
Timestamps:
01:49 Intro
03:04 Meet Olivia Martin
05:25 Leadership Tulsa
09:06 YWCA, Tulsa Dream Center, Theatre Tulsa & Collegiate Hall
12:11 Performance, theatre & extroversion
15:47 Fundraising
17:58 Vital literacy statistics
22:09 Julia Louis-Dreyfuss & Toni Morrison
30:13 Reading Partners
35:58 May Fest, fundraising gala & Stacey Abrams
40:41 Getting involved & what’s next
Links:
Olivia Martin
https://readingpartners.org/location/tulsa
https://readingpartners.org/donate
Wiser Than Me™ with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
https://lemonadamedia.com/show/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
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Twitter: @tracylspears
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If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.
Karen Kiely has played bigger in two hemispheres and multiple industries — and she’s collected amazing insights along the way!
Karen is the Executive Director of Cap Tulsa, an organization that helps children in lower-income families grow up and achieve economic success through a two-generation approach that prepares young children to succeed in school and helps their parents increase their parenting skills and earning potential. Under Karen’s leadership, Cap Tulsa was named Best Nonprofit to Work For by the Nonprofit Times… for seven consecutive years!
Prior to joining Cap Tulsa, Karen built an international career spanning Beijing, New York City, Hong Kong, and Taipei. While working for The Bama Companies, she produced apple pies for the first McDonald’s in China!
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, we dive into the twists and turns of Karen’s incredible career path, the biggest shifts that have led her to success all over the world, and the major influence that first set her on her path to playing bigger.
Listen now to discover:
- How Karen channeled an aptitude for languages into a thriving international business career
- How she shifted seamlessly from banking to consulting to manufacturing before the age of 26
- How she successfully managed a major product launch… with zero manufacturing experience!
Guest bio: Karen Kiely is the Executive Director of Cap Tulsa. She is a passionate, award-winning leader focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, developing shared vision, building a high-performing team, and achieving desired results in the right way. Karen was named a Woman of Distinction by the Tulsa Business & Legal News in 2016, and nominated for Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO by the Journal Record in 2021.
Timestamps:
01:50 Intro
04:17 Meet Karen Kiely
05:17 Booker T. Washington High School
08:16 Mandarin & exploring possibilities
12:24 Studying in Beijing
17:09 Legacy business & biggest surprises
20:24 New York City & Hong Kong
25:36 Taipei
29:33 Bama Companies & apple pies
34:39 Corporate liability & launching McDonald’s
38:37 Shifting to Cap Tulsa
45:29 Cap Tulsa
49:14 Big lessons & what’s next
Links:
Karen Kiely
https://captulsa.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kiely-55444921
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community: https://tracyspears.com/blog
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Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.
Dr. Dwayne Jenkins won’t just help you to play bigger — he’ll also teach you how to live fully and authentically. Dr. Jenkins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist recognized for his expertise in advanced laproscopy and robotic surgery.
Twenty years as a cancer surgeon has taught him this above all: the most powerful medicine flows from the heart, not the hands. Now, Dr. Jenkins is on a mission to teach a generation the power of meditation and self acceptance. His own journey of self acceptance took a winding path through the Southern Baptist faith, marriage, and Alcoholics Anonymous, before he finally embraced his identity as a gay man.
Dr. Jenkins shares how he found an oasis of inclusivity in the middle of the Bible Belt, why you NEED to learn about Substack, and what trees can teach us about building community.
Listen now to discover:
- How he shifted away from his Southern Baptist upbringing and continues to cultivate a self-affirming space
- How letting go of shame has allowed him to heal and to make a bigger impact
- How to strengthen your subconscious mind — and how it will benefit you!
Guest bio: Dr. Dwayne Jenkins is a gynecologic oncologist and partner in a multi-specialty cancer practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He writes about faith, wellness, and spirituality in his Substack newsletter, The Art of No Hard Conversations, and hosts the Words of Love with Dr. Dwayne podcast. He wants to lead a group of high-performing tree huggers dedicated to service and self care.
Timestamps:
01:42 Intro
03:30 Meet Dr. Dwayne Jenkins
06:15 Mycelia
07:59 Healing & embracing identity
12:00 Tulsa & inclusivity
13:34 “Coming out of the gay sober closet”
17:02 Coming in with intention
19:31 Substack & authorship
24:52 Self awareness, spirituality & the subconscious
28:42 Shifting to a new chapter
38:19 Respecting your own humanity
42:34 Personal ecosystems & detaching lovingly
55:18 Find Dr. Dwayne
Links:
Dr. Dwayne Jenkins
https://www.drdwaynemd.com
https://drdwaynemd.substack.com
https://open.spotify.com/show/5hx1EzNkCPT9UlkP6cFoYg?si=6d34efff27af4ed3&nd=1
TikTok: @drdwaynemd
Instagram: @drdwaynemd
The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy by Tricia Brouk
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
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If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game!
CONTENT NOTE:This episode deals with intimate partner violence and homicide. Listener discretion is advised.
Barb Jordan is not only an excellent example of how to play bigger, she’ll inspire you to move about the world a little bit differently. Barb is a three-time NCAA Division 2 softball champion who also played and coached softball for Team USA for eight years and was part of the 1996 Olympic Women’s Softball team, among other athletic accomplishments.
But Barb’s most important shift has been founding Always Bev, a platform with the mission to educate and empower individuals with the skills that can help them prevent crime and violent attacks. Always Bev was created in honor of her Barb’s sister Beverly, who was tragically murdered by her fiancé.
As an in-demand Personal Safety Expert, Barb helps others recognize warning signs, predict unwanted behavior, and protect themselves. Her podcast, Always Bev: The Ripple Effect, is both a learning tool and an inside look at the reality of intimate partner violence. In this conversation, Barb shares the heartbreaking story of her sister’s death, how she healed from the lingering effects of that trauma, and key insights into the minds of predators.
Listen now to discover:
- What it was like to make history as part of the first Olympic Women’s Softball team
- The warning signs you shouldn’t ignore and why you need to trust your intuition
- Her experience speaking to the student body at Washington State University after the Idaho 4 murders
Guest bio: Barb Jordan is the founder of Always Bev, a platform through which she shares her passion of educating others on personal safety at home, on campus, and in social environments. Her commitment to preventing violence against others with her astute teaching style has captivated audiences across the country.
Timestamps:
04:04 Meet Barb Jordan
05:03 Sports & politics
08:58 Dugout story & the Olympics
13:45 Post-Olympics career
15:33 Beverly’s story
20:21 Therapy, trauma & healing
30:09 Always Bev & warning signs
33:22 Building awareness
35:45 The Idaho 4 & predators
41:05 Takeaways & working with Barb
44:21 Remembering Bev & next shifts
Links:
Barb Jordan
https://www.alwaysbev.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barb-jordan-82719180
http://www.facebook.com/AlwaysBeVigilant
Twitter: @BarbJordan_AB
Instagram: @always_bev
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com
Find tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so y
Shawna Suckow is a coach, consultant, and speaker with some serious knowledge of the customer mindset. As a former corporate buyer, she became fascinated with how organizations marketed and sold to her.
Her first book, Planner Pet Peeves: Straight Talk for Meetings Industry Suppliers to Understand How Planners Really Think, Act and Buy, aimed at helping organizations better understand how their target customers think. Her fifth book, The Roaring Twenties: Marketing & Selling Better in the Post-Pandemic Decade: Creating Strategies for Shifting B2B and B2C Consumer Behavior, was named by Forbes.com as a top marketing book of 2022.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Shawna and I dig into the evolution of buyers and how savvy brands are building authentic connections. We also discuss how she shifted from NEVER wanting to be in front of an audience (even sabotaging her own chance of becoming her high school’s valedictorian) to becoming a full-time Certified Speaking Professional — and joining an elite group of just 17% of the world’s speakers!
Listen now to discover:
- How she launched her speaking career — and the key insight that helped her become a successful speaker
- How story marketing has shifted and why brands need to create a Story Mosaic
- How she navigated MAJOR shifts during the pandemic and came out even stronger
Shawna Suckow has 20 years of specialized knowledge in consumer behavior, sales, and marketing, and has built her career around helping humans and organizations stand out, build trust, and inspire action. As a speaker, consultant, and coach, she helps clients and audiences craft and tell their stories through her Story Mosaic Strategy.
Timestamps:
01:42 Intro
03:44 Meet Shawna Suckow
05:12 World Series of Poker & competition
11:15 Certification & shift to speaking full-time
14:40 Shawna’s books
19:14 What buyers want
25:24 Who is getting it right?
27:03 Pandemic shifts
35:01 Ecosystem shifts
38:56 Next shifts
Links:
Shawna Suckow
https://www.shawnasuckow.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnasuckow
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=shawna+suckow&crid=31N2LIUY2JJEA
Instagram: @shawnasuckow
Twitter: @ShawnaSuckow
28pants@gmail.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
For tools that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community, visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Mimi Brown is an award-winning motivational leadership speaker and the CEO of AMP Up Success. Through her training and coaching services, Mimi works with individuals and organizations to amplify their communication and leadership so they can make an influential impact on the world.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I sit down with Mimi to discuss her transformational journey from working in the corporate world, to running her own successful business, to returning to corporate… on her OWN terms.
Tune in as we explore what she loves most about having accountability partners, what she’s discovered about the unreality of reality television, and how she deals with speaking on some of the biggest stages — including the National Speakers Association!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How Mimi became an in-demand keynote speaker and the importance of identifying your core messages
- How to create your ideal boundaries and “slay your demanding dragons”
- What Mimi learned from her experience appearing on The Biggest Loser
Guest bio: Mimi is CEO of AMP Up Success and the author of three books, AMP Up Your Success: 52 Tips Every Leader Should Know, AMP Up Sales: 71 Tips to Skyrocket Your Revenue, and Be A Communication Rockstar: 52 Tips To Gain Connection, Skyrocket Confidence, Reduce Conflict. She was awarded Michigan’s Elite 40 Under 40 and Michigan Meetings and Events Magazine’s Best Speaker of 2020. She has been a media personality on WDIV’s Live In the D and a contestant on NBC’s Biggest Loser.
Timestamps:
01:39 Intro
02:42 Meet Mimi Brown
03:42 Experience of Tulsa
05:52 Becoming a keynote speaker
08:58 National Speakers Association
10:34 Behind the scenes of The Biggest Loser
17:01 Accountability partners & personal ecosystems
20:42 Setting your boundaries intentionally
22:33 Shifting into entrepreneurship
28:14 Manifestation
30:56 Chipotle story
34:04 Getting clarity on what you want
37:26 Divorce, corporate return & what’s next
43:06 Ghana & final advice
Links:
Mimi Brown
https://www.ampupsuccess.com
Instagram: @heymimibrown
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
When you decide to play bigger, you can create positive impact that ripples far and wide and empowers others to play bigger, too. In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I speak to someone who has built the heart of her community — and works every day to keep it beating strong.
Onikah Asamoa-Caesar is the founder and owner of Tulsa-based Fulton Street Books & Coffee, which she created as a safe space for Black and Brown folks to build community, change their city through civic discourse, and increase intergenerational literacy. Before opening this incredible space, Onikah worked on criminal justice policy initiatives under the office of Colorado state senator Mike Johnston, then helped to launch the George Kaiser Family Foundation’s Birth through Eight Strategy, which focused on creating a cycle of opportunity for Tulsa’s most vulnerable families.
During this conversation, we dig into the importance of inclusive spaces, the nuances of effective allyship, and the beauty of loving your identity.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- Why Onikah chose to return to the United States after falling in love with traveling
- Why she decided to open a bookstore in the middle of the pandemic — and how her space vitally serves her community
- How Onikah will continue to shift out loud and create amazing impact in Tulsa and beyond
Guest bio: Onikah Asamoa-Caesar is the founder and owner of Fulton Street Books & Coffee in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fulton Street Books & Coffee was created to center the stories, narratives, and lived experiences of Black folks, Brown folks, and marginalized communities.
Timestamps:
01:41 Intro
03:05 Meet Onikah Asamoa-Caesar
05:28 Loving Black identity
07:04 Traveling as a Black woman
10:44 Returning to the States & Teach for America
15:59 Evolving life’s work
19:23 Why open a bookstore?
25:53 Expanding in Tulsa International Airport
27:15 The Ally Box & Book Club For a Cause
30:55 What’s next?
33:34 Family history
38:38 Little & Lit
Links:
Onikah Asamoa-Caesar
https://www.fultonstreet918.com
Instagram: @fultonstreet918
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
When you begin to think and play bigger, it can transform not only your own life, but the lives of those around you — your family, your team, your community, and even beyond.
As the founder of the transformative global nonprofit Women Empowering Nations (WEN), Carlisha Bradley is playing bigger and making a difference on a global stage. She’s served as a trusted advisor to aid organizations, nonprofits, schools, leaders, foreign governments, and diplomats around the world, and has learned how to effect powerful change for the women and girls that she serves.
In this conversation, we talk about the incredible impact of Carlisha’s international work, her inspiring background in public education, and why I would love for her to run for office someday!
Listen now to discover:
- How struggling with her identity suppressed Carlisha’s voice — and the influential events that helped her find her identity and purpose
- How to advocate effectively so that you can achieve your desired results
- How to best support WEN as they empower girls around the world
Guest bio: Carlisha Williams Bradley is an acclaimed nonprofit leader, education advocate, and social enterprise consultant. Carlisha lends her spirit, expertise, and voice as an advocate for women and girls worldwide as the founder of Women Empowering Nations, a nonprofit devoted to the educational and leadership development of girls. With her consultancy, Amplify for Women, she calls other destiny-driven women to follow in her footsteps and be the change. She is the bestselling author of Choosing Faith Over Fear: 14 Days of Life-Changing Lessons.
Timestamps:
01:39 Intro
04:28 Meet Carlisha Bradley
07:50 Hallmark movies & twin motherhood
15:11 Journey of self-discovery
19:08 Igniting her passion
22:28 Surprising stories
25:10 How to support WEN
26:28 Why Carlisha does this work
29:22 Working for the Board of Education
36:06 Emotion, passion & presence
39:50 Politicians & regaining our progress
44:43 What’s next
Links:
Carlisha Bradley
https://carlisha.com
http://wenations.org
https://www.amplifyforwomen.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential.
When you’re surrounded by people telling you what you should be doing, feeling, or working toward, it’s hard to hear the inner voice that is telling you what you truly want — and even harder to speak your truth. How do you know when the path you’re on is one you’ve chosen for yourself… and how do you make a shift to one that better reflects your goals?
Dr. Mrinalini Garv is a bestselling author and career coach who helps South Asian professional women master their careers, so they can thrive as immigrants and achieve the success they didn't even know was possible.
Mrinalini found her own incredible success after leaving an arranged marriage, moving to a new continent, completely changing her career, and embracing her most authentic self! Our conversation covers cultural expectations, courageous shifts, speaking up, and speaking out.
Listen now to discover:
- Why we need to stop listening to the voices of others and tune into our own
- How Mrinalini stays aligned with her higher purpose — and helps other women connect to theirs
- Why running into an obstacle may actually be a sign that you’re on the right path!
Guest bio: Dr. Mrinalini Garv is America's only career coach for South Asian professional women. A bestselling author and multiple-time career changer, Dr. Garv has worked as a physician, a leadership coach, and a business professor in world-renowned organizations. Having had to maneuver her career success without a mentor that looks like her or had experiences similar to hers, Dr. Garv has become that mentor to South Asian professionals.
Timestamps:
01:46 Intro
02:55 Meet Dr. Mrinalini Garv
05:54 Fairness creams & beauty standards
09:41 Why we are held back
14:16 Moving to the United States
18:34 Cultural expectations
22:17 Aligning to your higher purpose
27:09 Recognizing the signs in your life
29:37 Mrinalini’s work as a coach
32:09 Cultural differences & similarities
34:39 What’s next
Links:
Dr. Mrinalini Garv
https://unshackledcareerwoman.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rapidcareertransformation
Instagram: @unshackledcareerwoman
The 1 Thing That Changed Everything: Powerful Stories Written By Women Who Now Have It All
https://www.amazon.com/Thing-That-Changed-Everything-Powerful/dp/B08X5ZC5QP
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Dr. Meg Myers Morgan shared so many fascinating insights during her last appearance on Shift Out Loud that I had to invite her back! Meg is a keynote speaker, professor, and coach who works with people seeking clarity in times of overwhelm. Her award-winning books include Everything is Negotiable: The 5 Tactics to Get What You Want in Life, Love & Work.
In this episode, we discuss the key factor that can turn a passable coach into a great coach, why you shouldn’t be discouraged by yawning audience members, and what it means to be a lighthouse and stop chasing after the “boats” in your life (whatever they may be).
You’ll also hear Meg and I get into a mini coaching session of our own and explore how our negative perceptions can keep us playing small — definitely a must-listen for anyone who isn’t experiencing the results and recognition that they deserve!
Listen now to discover:
- Why the solutions to your problems may sometimes show up in disguise — and the power of letting go of your expectations
- How differentiating between causes and symptoms when it comes to your feelings will help you make better shifts
- How Meg navigates writing about her life as a mother while respecting the privacy of her family
Guest bio: Dr. Morgan is an award-winning author, college professor, and certified executive coach. Her latest book, Everything is Negotiable, is a bestseller and has been translated in multiple languages. She is an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma and leads the graduate programs in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management on the OU-Tulsa campus. She is currently the chair for the Tulsa Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women.
Timestamps:
01:42 Intro
02:47 Meet Dr. Meg Myers Morgan
05:25 The lighthouse lesson
10:12 The lighthouse results
13:53 Disney World story
22:27 Get into the flow
25:16 James Comey & ethics
31:57 Symptoms & causes
36:54 From mentoring students to coaching executives
39:10 What is good coaching?
42:49 Writing, privacy & perception
47:29 Coaching session
Links:
Dr. Meg Myers Morgan
www.megmyersmorgan.com
Instagram: @megmyersmorgan
Shift Out Loud #2: Everything is Negotiable with Dr. Meg Myers Morgan
https://tracyspears.com/2022/08/22/everything-is-negotiable
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey
https://www.amazon.com/Higher-Loyalty-Truth-Lies-Leadership/dp/1250192455
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
For tools and insights that will help you play bigger, visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Carol Seymour may be playing bigger than anyone I’ve ever interviewed — and her bold moves have helped me to play much bigger in my own life.
Carol is an accomplished business leader, one of Real Leaders Magazine’s Top 40 Women Keynote Speakers for 2020, and the founder of Signature Leaders, an organization that accelerates women into next-level leadership through its outstanding professional development programs. Signature Leaders was recognized as one of Inc.’s 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in 2022 and has helped more than 3000 global leaders create greater impact and influence.
In this conversation, we talk about the biggest shifts that led Carol to leadership development, how a single program led to massive market-leading success, and how selling Girl Guide cookies helped a pre-teen Carol uncover one of her greatest superpowers.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How Carol shifted from growing someone else’s company to building her own — and the key piece of advice that helped her make the leap
- How she masterfully handled a tricky product recall at the age of just 27
- Why facilitating a high-pressure Q&A with an Italian business leader led to one of her biggest shifts
Guest bio: Carol Seymour is a sought-after business leader and seasoned global executive of large and mid-cap size companies and private-equity backed turnarounds.
Her personal brand is all about catalyzing growth. She took her business success and married it with her passion for leadership, founding Signature Leaders in 2013. She is a Founding Member of Paradigm for Parity.
Timestamps:
01:36 Intro
03:16 Meet Carol Seymour
05:28 Networking & London
07:51 Women, competition & community
11:30 The sales shifts
13:49 Product recall story
17:22 Shifting into new chapters
21:59 Sergio Marchionne interview story
26:20 Starting Signature Leaders
28:41 Board of advisors & key advice
34:32 Burnout & core capabilities
36:50 Leadership takeaways for women & men
43:50 What's next
48:10 Wisdom Warriors
Links:
Carol Seymour
https://signatureleaders.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-seymour-40897614
Wisdom Warriors: Women with the Courage to be True to Themselves
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Warriors-Journeys-Leadership-Themselves/dp/0998261564
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
For tools and insights that will help you play bigger, visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Love the podcast? Consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game!
I’m issuing a heartfelt thank-you to all of the listeners who have supported the Shift Out Loud podcast in 2022. Our first season was wildly successful, reaching thousands of people who aspire to think and play bigger in their own lives. I’m thrilled that I was able to sit down with a variety of amazing people to dig deeply into their biggest shifts, challenges, lessons, and triumphs — including a groundbreaking stand-up comedian, a softball legend, an intuitive guide, Michelle Obama’s favorite puppeteer, and many more.
In this episode, we’re looking back on some of the most surprising, most inspiring, and most resonant moments from our first season, with guests Tricia Brouk, Dr. Meg Myers Morgan, June Miller, Pam McKissick, and Wally Schmader. Tune in to hear their powerful tips and insights, and remember to subscribe, so that you won’t miss a single episode of Season 2!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How to effectively negotiate for MORE — and why so many women hesitate to do so
- Why you need to stop focusing on the “how” when it comes to making a shift
- How to stop buying into other people’s stories about you — and why controlling your own narrative is crucial
Timestamps:
00:55 Intro
01:48 Getting hung up on the ‘how’
04:37 Visioning
08:24 Naming your price
10:55 Shifting out of playing small
13:41 Getting over scarcity consciousness
16:32 Co-creating your existence
17:39 Psychedelics
19:20 What holds women back?
23:25 Thoughts, energy & reality
24:17 Goal-setting
Links:
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
The guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is… me, Tracy Spears.
Due to audience demand, this episode is flipping the script a little bit — my Exceptional Leaders Lab partner, co-author, and long-time friend Wally Schmader is stepping up as my guest host and putting me in the hot seat to talk about my own big shifts, and how I’ve learned to think and play bigger throughout my life.
If you’ve ever wondered why I shifted away from softball or why I chose to remain in Tulsa, Oklahoma, you won’t want to miss this episode!
During our discussion, we dive deep into the finer points of goal-setting, the complementary traits that have made our partnership so successful, which of my shifts I’d like the opportunity to re-do, and the monumental shift that fully cemented our incredible friendship.
Listen now to discover:
- The childhood conversation that first lit my motivational fuse (and how I keep it burning)
- The limiting beliefs that can hold people back from playing bigger and the top source of decision regret
- Where I see myself in 30 years — and the #1 piece of advice that Future Tracy would share
Guest host bio: Wally Schmader is a highly sought-after leadership coach, thought leader, trainer, and facilitator based in Norfolk, Virginia. He‘s developed programs and content that have influenced thousands of leaders worldwide. Wally’s innovative strategies, ideas, and recommendations have been featured in dozens of publications and media outlets. He‘s coached and advised hundreds of top executives.
Timestamps:
01:36 Intro
03:07 My motivational fuse
06:54 Why Tulsa?
08:52 Keeping things in flux
09:49 Sensitivity & big feelings
13:43 Shift re-dos
16:12 What holds people back
18:00 Goal-setting & decision-making
23:08 Looking into the future
27:49 Mutual appreciation
29:51 Coming out
Links:
What the Bleep Do We Know!?
https://whatthebleep.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
What happens when you get caught up in the ‘how’ of your dreams? You may impose hidden limitations on the ‘what’ and the ‘when’. Tricia Brouk has mastered the art of (co-)creating her own destiny. She is the founder of The Big Talk Academy, where she helps people transform their stories into an industry-leading media presence. She’s also the author of The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy — and the very first guest to appear on the Shift Out Loud podcast.
In this conversation, we unpack one of the most resonant and thought-provoking quotes from her first appearance on the show, explore the differences between dreamstorming and brainstorming, and discuss what happens when you stop trying to control outcomes and remain open to the possibilities.
Listen now to discover:
- What it means to be in the ‘how’ business — and how to stop creating roadblocks on your own path
- How we co-create our outcomes and where to look for signs of divine connection
- Real-life examples of the magic that happens when you get out of the ‘how’ business
Guest bio: Tricia Brouk helps high-performing professionals transform into industry thought leaders through the power of authentic storytelling. She is the founder of The Big Talk Academy, the executive producer of Speakers Who Dare and TEDxLincolnSquare, and the producer and host of The Big Talk, an award-winning podcast and YouTube Channel. She curates and hosts the Speaker Salon in NYC and is featured in a new documentary called Big Stages.
Timestamps:
01:37 Intro
03:08 Meet Tricia Brouk
04:20 Getting out of the ‘how’ business
06:53 Tricia’s ‘how’ stories
09:52 TED masterclass story
13:07 Revisiting the vision board
14:52 Dreamstorming v. brainstorming
17:30 Presence & action
18:41 The Knowing
22:07 Book signing story
24:39 Detaching
26:29 Lost project story
28:15 Co-creation & finding signs
Links:
Tricia Brouk
https://triciabrouk.com
https://www.thebigtalkacademy.com
https://www.theinfluentialvoicebook.com/chapter
Magic City Books
The Knowing: 11 Lessons to Understand the Quiet Urges of Your Soul
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-knowing-saje-dyer/1137250916
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
From keynote speaking for Coca-Cola in Buenos Aires to inspiring teenagers at a non-profit summer camp, Greg Hawks is a master at conquering stages of all sizes.
Greg wears a number of different hats, from corporate culture specialist to keynote speaker to virtual conference producer, but the common threads that run throughout his work are his infectious enthusiasm, his creativity, and his love of costumes.
Press play to hear his insightful and often hilarious stories about shifting from non-profit to for-profit, experimenting with message mash-ups on the fly, pursuing a career in music with zero musical talent, and launching his own innovative culture specialist agency.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- What made Greg realize he was made for the stage — and how he uses his message to make a difference
- The counter-intuitive qualification he looks for when growing his team
- The business growth lessons that he learned through working with a coach
Guest bio: As a Corporate Culture Specialist, Greg Hawks shapes environments where everyone gets to contribute their best daily. For two decades he has mentored leaders, developed teams, crafted culture, and empowered employees. As a Keynote Speaker, he is an enthusiastic character. As a Virtual Conference Producer, he fashions turn-key experiences that produce virtual conferences that rival in-person gatherings.
Timestamps:
02:02 Intro
02:48 Meet Greg Hawks
04:07 Working with a coach
07:34 Non-profit to for-profit
11:42 Greg’s shift to the stage
14:42 My shift to the stage
16:37 Taking risks on the Coca-Cola stage
22:13 Current aspirations
25:23 Third-grade energy
26:39 Ohio to Oklahoma & Hawks Agency
31:18 Building the team
41:19 Giving back
47:12 What’s next
Links
Greg Hawks
https://www.hawksagency.com
https://linkedin.com/in/ghawks
Twitter: @greg_hawks
Instagram: @greghawks
Shift Out Loud #15: When Life Pitches Curveballs with Hall-of-Famer Cindy Bristow
https://tracyspears.com/2022/11/22/ep-15-when-life-pitches-curveballs-with-hall-of-famer-cindy-bristow
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
When you’re leading through a time of change, it isn’t enough for your team to believe in your plan. They need to believe in you.
Dr. Joanne Culverhouse has enjoyed an award-winning, 41-year career in education, taking on the roles of teacher, coach, principal, and assistant superintendent, and said farewell to full-time employment in 2022 as the superintendent of the La Habra City School District — but not before fully reconfiguring the district’s nine schools and modernizing its format.
Joanne has a rare and valuable talent for creating strong and authentic connections with and between people in her community. In this conversation, we dive into the power of telling people who you are, the process of developing a personal leadership style, and the art of leading people through change with intention.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- Joanne’s inspiring shifts along the path from elementary teacher to district superintendent
- The brilliant system that she used to form incredible connections within her school community
- How she restructured a 45-year-old school system to make it better for its students
Guest bio: Dr. Joanne Culverhouse’s distinguished career in education spans 41 years in various capacities, including a teacher, coach, and principal, and retired as the proud superintendent of the La Habra City School District in 2022. In 2018, she was recognized as one of the 100 top influencers of Orange County by the OC Register for her overhaul of the La Habra schools. In 2019, she received the Superintendent of the Year Award from the ACSA Region 17. In 2022, she was selected as the California 29th Senate District’s Woman of the Year by Senator Josh Newman.
Timestamps:
01:56 Intro
03:44 Meet Joanne Culverhouse
06:38 From teacher to principal
14:25 Choosing her leadership style
18:01 Connecting with the community
20:55 Reconfiguring the school district
26:39 Leading & uniting people through change
33:37 Sharing who you are
46:19 Retiring & coaching
53:14 What’s next
Links:
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
How do you know when you’re following your true passion… and when you’re just walking the path others have set for you? My guest Maria Stanfield has cracked the code.
Maria is a speaker, bestselling author, and executive coach who is committed to empowering people with the tools to thrive in business and in life. Through her nonprofit My Sister’s Closet and her executive coaching practice My Sister CEO, she offers support and resources to women seeking professional success. Her organization The Future Face of Law promotes diversity in the legal industry.
In this conversation, we explore Maria’s experience with imposter syndrome and the inspiring vision that led her to become a values-based serial entrepreneur on a mission to make a difference!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- The vital question you need to ask yourself before pursuing or accepting new opportunities — no matter how prestigious they may be
- The tool that helps Maria set her intentions regarding where and how to create impact
- A powerful book recommendation that is sure to inspire you!
Guest bio: Maria Stanfield is an Empowerment Speaker, Certified Executive Coach, and a bestselling author with a heart of service. She is the founder of My Sister’s Closet, My Sister CEO, and The Future Face of Law, an organization built to bridge the diversity gap in the law industry. She is the author of From the Front Desk to the Corner Office.
Timestamps:
01:36 Intro
03:50 Meet Maria Stanfield
06:34 Modeling industry
08:10 Rollercoasters & adrenaline
11:34 Imposter syndrome & dream job
16:48 Ego or impact
23:13 Founding My Sister’s Closet
25:20 Riding in the impact lane
27:41 Vision boards
30:31 Think and Grow Rich
34:57 Staying in the process
37:46 Shifting to The Future Face of Law
43:06 Maria’s vision & promoting belonging
47:23 Final thoughts
Links:
Maria Stanfield
https://mysisterceo.com
https://www.futurefaceoflaw.com
Shift Out Loud #2: Everything is Negotiable with Dr. Meg Myers Morgan
Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice by Dennis Kimbro and Napoleon Hill
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Please consider leaving a rating and review — this helps others discover how to play a bigger game. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Eryn O’Brien has a passion for implementing programs that unlock people’s full potential. Over the course of her career, she’s created big impact for companies such as American Express and Bristol Myers Squibb, and is now Vice President of Global Talent and Inclusion for Eastman Chemical Company.
When Eryn felt the need to boldly shift out loud in 2022, she didn’t seek out a new job. Instead, she took a journey of 8000 miles and discovered a wild new way to play bigger — one that taught her so much more about the world we live in.
Tune in to hear our candid discussion about the challenges of navigating new terrain and the game-changing lessons we can learn from surprising pivots.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- Why Eryn chose to take a 3-month wildlife conservation internship in South Africa — and what she learned from her time in the program
- The shifts in practice and perspective that her experience has inspired
- How reluctantly shifting to a new role after an acquisition opened up powerful growth opportunities
Guest bio: Eryn O’Brien is the VP of Global Talent and Inclusion for Eastman Chemical Company and leads a team of talent acquisition, talent management, organizational effectiveness, and inclusion and diversity professionals. She is a founding member of Acres of Hope - Uganda which provides financial, health, and educational support to orphans, on the Board of the United Way of Greater Kingsport, and Vice-Chair of their Human Resources Committee.
Timestamps:
01:42 Intro
02:45 Meet Eryn O’Brien
04:11 Unexpected shift to new role
07:34 Resiliency & trusting the process
10:06 Why Eryn loves her job
12:10 Bringing out the best in people
14:15 Pandemic shift
16:24 Driving interactions
19:54 Internship overview
27:14 Animal stories
34:42 Internship extension
37:37 GVI & sustainability
41:37 What’s next
Links:
Global Vision International
https://www.gviusa.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Since leaving the corporate world, Jennifer Bennett has brought her cross-functional leadership experience in Fortune 500 companies to academia. She’s taught subjects including negotiation and enterprise risk management as an adjunct professor, and now serves as Chief of Staff and Lead of the Transformation Management Office of The University of Tulsa.
In this episode, we dig into the magic that happens when leaders create a culture where stakeholder opinions are truly acknowledged, why it’s crucial to construct relationship maps for your business partnerships, and how teaching others has helped her reflect on her own performance throughout her career.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How to negotiate agreements that offer impactful wins for all parties — and why negotiating with empathy is a real-life superpower
- How to understand and deal with people who are not open to compromise
- How to propose and implement major organizational shifts more collaboratively and effectively
Guest bio: Jennifer Bennett is the Chief of Staff and leads the Transformation Management Office of The University of Tulsa. She has extensive experience delivering aspirational and sustainable business results through Strategy Development and Implementation, Innovation and Transformation Leadership, Change Management and Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, Service Delivery, and Operations Management.
Timestamps:
01:37 Intro
02:30 Meet Jennifer Bennett
04:40 Shifting from corporate to academia
06:21 Collaboration during change
09:12 When leaders neglect stakeholders
10:55 Creating relationship maps
14:15 Negotiating with empathy
16:54 Emotional negotiation story
18:50 Understanding perspective & motivation
21:37 Fight v. negotiation story
24:03 Preparing for negotiation
27:22 “Letting the mud settle”
28:45 Think bigger
30:33 Adjunct professor experience
33:37 Work-life balance
39:10 Looking back
45:54 What’s next
Links:
Jennifer Bennett
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bennett-8292116
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
This is a special episode of Shift Out Loud, because my guest is someone who has inspired me to think and play bigger throughout my life — and has done the same for countless women around the world.
To say that Cindy Bristow has been a game-changer for the sport of softball would be an understatement. Among other career accomplishments, she’s coached multiple college teams and served as the President of the National Softball Coaches Association, Director of National Teams and Coaching Development for USA Softball, and Director of Development for the International Softball Federation, the world governing body for the sport. She’s played for the Santa Ana Lionettes, serves as a color analyst for ESPN's college softball coverage, and has written books and produced videos teaching others how to excel at the sport that she loves.
Cindy has been a trailblazer for her sport, carving her own professional path and reshaping how softball is coached and played worldwide. In this conversation, we dig into a few of the amazing shifts and stories she’s experienced throughout her historic career — you won’t want to miss it!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How she landed her role as the National Director of Junior Olympic Softball for the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) — a position that hadn’t previously existed
- The value of undergoing shifts that pull you back down to the novice level
- The training, lifestyle, and mindset shifts that set this generation of athletes apart
Guest bio: Cindy Bristow has been involved in virtually every facet of softball throughout her 30+ year career, as a player, coach, leader, and educator. She’s been inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame and travels the world to help increase the level of coaching and play on a global level.
Timestamps:
01:28 Intro
03:09 Meet Cindy Bristow
04:41 Goal-setting
07:03 The ASA shift
08:42 Public speaking story
14:06 Speaking & teaching tips
16:30 World Series story
19:04 The Olympic shift
23:03 Mother & travel stories
30:53 Monetizing as a creative & shifting as a novice
36:42 Regrets & superpowers
40:57 Modern athletes
49:29 What’s next
52:04 Looking back
Links:
Cindy Bristow
https://www.softballexcellence.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Over her 30-year career as an executive VP in the entertainment industry, Dana Arnett has delivered over 6000 television shows to audiences around the world — but these days, she is focused on creating a different kind of impact.
Motivated by the psychological effects of discrimination in the industry, she has since retired from entertainment and founded Wicked Bionic, a marketing and advertising agency built around promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, both internally and externally.
Dana is passionate about creating positive change through inclusive marketing, advocacy, and supporting women-owned businesses. Tune in to learn about the differences between multiculturalism and cross-culturalism, the link between non-inclusive workplace cultures and quiet quitting, and why true advocacy involves turning over the mic.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- The biggest lessons Dana has learned while building her business and her top advice for entrepreneurs
- What sets inclusive marketing apart from the traditional, whitewashed style of marketing — and one major non-inclusive marketing nightmare
- When you should start hiring in your business — and what you should get off your plate first
Guest bio: Dana Arnett encourages the diverse team at her Wicked Bionic marketing and advertising agency to push beyond conventional ways to reach into communities by seeking to fundamentally understand cultural nuances and the minds and hearts of consumers. She graduated from Cornell University's Diversity and Inclusion Certification program and serves on the board of Fulfillment Fund, a 40-year non-profit in Southern California.
Timestamps:
01:50 Intro
03:29 Meet Dana Arnett
06:26 Leaving entertainment
11:13 Tips for transitioning to entrepreneurship
14:44 When to start hiring
16:27 Los Angeles Public Library story
18:50 Advocacy & standing up
20:12 Inclusive marketing
22:12 “Hand me the mic”
24:13 Diversity & emotion
26:52 Gilligan’s Island
29:59 Multicultural & cross-cultural
31:42 Corporations & equity
36:01 What’s next
43:07 WEBENC
Links:
Dana Arnett
https://wickedbionic.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcarnett
WEBENC
http://wbenc.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Husband-and-wife team David and Cassie Bizzaro are no strangers to shifting out loud. Their journey has included moving from Tulsa to New York (and back again), taking a professional leap of faith, and strolling down Sesame Street (yes, that one!).
After 15 years of experience in higher education marketing and communications, Cassie is crushing it in her role as Director of Communications at the NYU Stern School of Business, while puppeteer and funny man David currently stars alongside Michelle Obama in Netflix’s delightful Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant — an educational children’s show that mixes puppetry with cooking.
Tune in for a candid, often hilarious, and occasionally poignant conversation about dating reluctantly, auditioning for roles as a POC, faking it till you make it, being haunted by an entertainment legend, and dealing with intimate personal loss during a time of intense uncertainty.
Listen now to discover:
- How the couple have defined their strengths and roles in order to shift TOGETHER more effectively
- How David built an Emmy-winning puppeteering career from the ground up with zero experience
- A behind-the-scenes look at the puppeteering world (and Michelle Obama)!
Guest bio: Cassie Bizzaro is a film graduate from the University of Oklahoma and the Director of Communications at the NYU Stern School of Business. She loves good emails, organizing, and kind people with big dreams. David is a first-generation American Latinx actor and Emmy-Award-winning puppeteer who has worked for culture-defining companies such as The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Jim Henson Company, SYFY, and The Flaming Lips. They live in Tulsa with their cats and their son, Benny.
Timestamps:
01:36 Intro
03:21 Meet Cassie & David Bizzaro
05:27 Dating without “dating”
12:21 The NYC shift
17:36 Pandemic experience
20:40 Miscarriage & medical insights
28:06 Coming back to Tulsa
33:40 The puppeteering shift
41:51 The Muppet shift
51:11 Immersing yourself in possibility
52:41 The post-Emmy shifts
1:01:12 Michelle Obama & the show
1:07:51 Big moments & making connections
1:11:27 Next big shifts & good emails
Links:
Cassie & David Bizzaro
https://cassandrabizzaro.substack.com
Instagram: @davidbizzaro, @cassandrabizzaro
Tulsa Remote
https://tulsaremote.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? More information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit: https://tracyspears.com/blog
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
The last time that author, artist, radio host, and business leader Pam McKissick appeared on Shift Out Loud, the audience response was overwhelming. Both women and men reached out to let me know how much they enjoyed her fascinating insights.
And I hear you!
The co-author of Grab It Back! Equality, Money, Power & Sex is back for another thought-provoking and inspiring discussion about gender politics, social conditioning, and the keys to enhancing female leadership.
Tune in to hear our in-depth conversation about why so many men have difficulty perceiving the injustice around them, how to counter the QAnon threat, and the two facts that shape Pam’s opinion of Liz Cheney — and if you missed it the first time around, check out Episode #3 for Pam’s debut appearance on the podcast (link below!).
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- Why it’s completely okay to be seen as “abrasive” or “hard to get along with” if it’s for the right reasons
- What we can do to address the serious gender imbalances in our social structure
- The trick to networking with greater success
Guest bio: Pam McKissick is a seasoned businesswoman, marketing executive, and radio host, known for her charismatic personality and uncanny ability to transform traditional thinking and chart new paths toward personal and professional growth.
She resides with her partner, Cheryl Gregory, on an 80-acre horse ranch in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They co-own BossMaresArt.com and are co-authors of Grab It Back! Equality, Money, Power & Sex.
Timestamps:
01:22 Meet Pam McKissick
02:31 Gender energy imbalance
04:49 Standing up & social conditioning
08:55 What we can do better
12:10 Perceiving the issue
15:55 Liz Cheney revisited
19:48 What makes a great politician?
23:05 Leadership & integrity
27:43 Mentors & inspirations
30:22 Networking
37:48 Colleague & mobster story
43:04 Theater
Links:
Pam McKissick
https://bossmaresart.com
https://www.amazon.ca/Grab-Back-Equality-Money-Power/dp/1948232308
Shift Out Loud Ep 3 | Grab Power Back with Pam McKissick
Documentarian Cindy Abel
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Have you thought about what your life will look like after you retire? During her career in the Physician Enterprise world, Sara Larch was known as a skillful leader. As the second woman in 75 years to become Board Chair of a large trade association, she co-founded a women leaders’ forum to prepare other women to follow in her footsteps.
Although Sara is now retired, that hasn’t slowed her down one bit. She continues to learn, grow, and shift, through joining boards, earning new certifications, and working with the Osher Lifelong Learning program to teach a course on creating a joyful life. Sara has not only created incredible shifts for herself through both her career and her retirement — she’s also helped to inspire some of my own shifts.
Listen to learn how retirement has changed the way that Sara thinks about playing bigger, the importance of truly listening to that little voice that says “why not?”, and the possibilities that can open up when you learn how to let go and let things happen.
Listen now to discover:
- How to distinguish between playing small and simply choosing your moment to play big
- The differences between women and men in interview situations
- How to “act from the middle” in order to have your message connect more strongly
Sara Larch brings 35+ years of consulting and real-world industry experience in large physician groups in Integrated Delivery Systems and Academic Medical Centers and eight years at Deloitte Consulting as a Managing Director and National Leader of the Physician Enterprise practice. She has C-suite experience as COO of the University of Maryland’s 900-physician organization and as VP of Inova Health System, leading teams of physicians and other leaders to define the optimized operating model.
Timestamps:
01:37 Intro
03:00 Meet Sara Larch
04:31 What “playing bigger” means to Sara
06:32 Lifetime Achievement Award
08:56 “Only one seat at the table”
10:21 Political activism
11:58 Modern, balanced leadership
14:57 Acting from the middle
17:21 St. Croix & back again
25:16 Osher Lifelong Learning
29:30 Choosing your moment
31:50 Gender differences
37:09 Joy class
44:34 Taking inventory & choosing joy
48:21 The COVID catch-up
52:22 Learning how to let go
Links:
Sara Larch
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralarch2020
Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes
https://www.osherfoundation.org
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Subscribe to never miss an episode!
Watch these episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TracySpearsSpeaker Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Not all shifts are created equal! Shifting with intention requires you to be strategic about what you truly want in your life — even if it takes you off the beaten path.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I sit down with executive coach Rick Hust, an old friend who happens to be one of my biggest inspirations. After a successful 32-year career developing high-performance sales team, Rick left his job as a sales executive and launched his executive coaching firm. Now, he helps people discover their true potential and uncover their most joyful path through leadership development, top performance strategies, coaching, and Biblical counseling.
Our conversation addresses the importance of prioritizing happiness when choosing your professional path, why the traditional career ladder is an increasingly outdated concept, and how Rick bucked expectations and decided to play big through following his passion.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How a major shift at the age of 9 set the tone for Rick’s life and has influenced the way that he continues to positively impact those around him
- Why he was happy to step down as a Vice President and step back into a Regional Manager role
- The spiritual shift that helps him make sense of the world around him and let go of stress
Guest bio: Rick Hust is a former sales executive who specialized in developing high-performing sales teams. He left the corporate world after 32 years and now uses his talents in his executive coaching firm. Rick’s true passion is to help shepherd people through the truths of the Bible in such a way that they can live a better life, excel in their endeavors, have a godly influence on their family and friends, and have an impact on their community and the world.
Timestamps:
01:37 Intro
02:50 Meet Rick Hust
05:21 The first shift
09:18 Rick’s vision & Mercedes story
13:28 Sight v. vision
14:51 The Mother’s Day shift
18:16 Lillian Russell
22:11 32 years of success
25:36 Follow your joy
28:25 What brings Rick joy
31:00 Vacation of a lifetime
31:52 Shift to Christianity
Links:
Rick Hust
rickhust@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhust
https://www.facebook.com/worry2worship
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Watch these episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TracySpearsSpeaker Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
When you truly understand the incredible impact of shifting out loud, you want to encourage everyone around you to think and play bigger. Marissa Levin takes it to the next level—she’s made it her Lifetime Legacy Mission to empower 1 billion people to live their most joyful lives!
Marissa’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1995 when she launched a strategic communications and education firm as a solopreneur with a $35,000 contract and grew it to approximately $13 million in revenue. Since then, she’s become an award-winning trailblazer in leadership consulting through her Successful Culture, Successful Culture International, and Marissa International consultancies.
In this episode, we dive deep into the spiritual side of shifting into your purpose, how to trust in the process of your own transformation, and how Marissa manifested the sale of her company through a dream.
Listen now to discover:
- The big shifts that led Marissa discovering true purpose and how she’s fulfilling her joyful mission
- Why it’s crucial to reclaim our power and not look to others for permission to shift
- How your body will signal when it’s time to make a shift—and why you should pay attention!
Marissa Levin is an entrepreneur, speaker, mindset expert, and globally recognized growth strategist. Through her consultancy Marissa International, she equips individuals and leaders with all that they need to realize their highest potential. She is the best-selling author of Built to SCALE: How Top Companies Create Breakthrough Growth Through Exceptional Advisory Boards.
Timestamps:
03:19 Meet Marissa Levin
05:33 Pandemic & consciousness
07:57 Marissa’s big shift
11:01 Listen to your body
14:01 Manifestating, releasing & trusting
20:02 Overcoming fear & coming up for air
22:08 How to get started
27:02 Operationalizing manifestation
31:02 Permission to think big
36:11 Self Worth Rebirth
43:31 Self-focused v self-centered
45:59 Joyful shifts
Links:
Marissa Levin
marissa@marissainternational.com
https://marissainternational.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissalevin1
Twitter: @marissalevin
Instagram: @marissalevin_official
https://www.amazon.com/Who-Would-Without-Your-Story/dp/1401921795
https://www.miguelruiz.com/the-four-agreements
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit:https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
For tools and insights to help you play biggerhttps://tracyspears.com/blog
LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter @tracylspears
Instagram:@tracylspears
Watch these episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TracySpearsSpeaker Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Stand-up comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer tells the truth. That’s why she could never be in the closet, even as she stepped out on stage as a comedian in the 1990s. Suzanne experienced her big shift at 29 years old, when she was an aspiring actress working as a bartender. After one of her regulars urged her to try her hand at stand-up over a Finlandia martini, Suzanne was skeptical, but entered an open mic contest.
She easily won… and hasn’t stopped making people laugh since!
As an out lesbian comic, Suzanne has been a true pioneer in the industry, opening new doors and shattering stereotypes for decades. She was the first openly lesbian comedian to appear on Late Night with David Letterman and to have an HBO Special. In this conversation, we talk about Suzanne’s incredible legacy, her current big goals, and one unforgettable road trip of a lifetime!
Press play to discover:
- How Suzanne built up a career as a full-time comedian and the challenges she faced during her shift from New York City bartender to Hollywood entertainer
- The behind-the-scenes journey to Suzanne’s groundbreaking and influential HBO Special — and why the gay press ignored it
- Why playing bigger on your own terms can inspire big shifts in those around you
Guest bio: No one ever accused Suzanne Westenhoefer of being subtle — certainly not her audiences. After 25 years of groundbreaking, stereotype-shattering, and brutally honest comedy, she is not about to start pulling punches now. The kid from Amish Country who began her comedy career on a dare is celebrating a quarter century of out, open, no-holds-barred comedy.
Timestamps:
01:35 Intro
02:07 Meet Suzanne Westenhoefer
03:09 Suzanne’s big shift into comedy
08:00 “She’s going to be a lesbian & you’d better be nice”
10:01 Professional jealousy & homophobia
15:00 First out lesbian with an HBO special
19:23 HBO Special legacy
21:38 Road trip story
26:33 When you play big, others play big
28:39 Broadway & drama
29:42 The Ellen effect
32:57 Comedy, business & homophobia
36:19 Pandemic shift
38:24 Next shifts
Links:
Suzanne Westenhoefer
https://www.suzannew.com
https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.westenhoefer
Twitter: @szwest1
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Watch these episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TracySpearsSpeaker Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Making a shift on your own terms in order to play bigger is challenging enough. But what happens when your successful shift is followed by an unexpected game changer?
Lisa Riley’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to leave the corporate oil and gas industry and enter the paint and sip business, becoming the owner of a Pinot’s Palette franchise in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Since taking the leap, Lisa has expanded to four franchises and celebrated her 10-year anniversary of being in business for herself… and she also received a surprise cancer diagnosis while undergoing a preventative mastectomy.
During our conversation, we talk about Lisa’s incredible cancer survival story, her entrepreneurial journey, and how she managed to increase her revenue while undergoing treatment.
Listen now to discover:
- The biggest challenges and successes Lisa has experienced through her shift to entrepreneurship
- The biggest mistake that Lisa made while hiring — and the valuable insight it taught her
- The humbling lesson Lisa learned when she needed to step back during her cancer treatment
Lisa Riley is the owner of 4 Pinot’s Palette franchises in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. Before that, she worked for the QuikTrip Corporation and finished out her corporate oil and gas career at ConocoPhillips. She is a cancer survivor, a mom, a wife and loves living life to the fullest! She has won Women in Business Champion for the City of Tulsa, Small Businessperson of the Year for Broken Arrow and Tulsa, International Franchisee of the Year, and United States Small Business Association Business Person of the Year.
Timestamps
01:48 Intro
02:55 Meet Lisa Riley
05:18 Lisa’s big shifts
08:32 The franchise shift
12:02 Being open to new opportunities
13:25 Saying “no” & delegating
19:12 Biggest challenges & hiring mistakes
24:37 Leading as an empath
26:23 Surviving cancer & stepping back
33:41 Preventative care & check-ups
35:25 Essential service
41:59 Food styling
45:35 Lisa’s next shifts
Links
Lisa Riley
https://www.pinotspalette.com/cherrystreet
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't by Jim Collins
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Watch these episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TracySpearsSpeaker Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Self-improvement is a top priority for exceptional leaders, but the first step is understanding who you are, why you choose the actions you take, and your impact on those around you. Inner work should be thought of as the powerful and reliable growth strategy that it is. If you want to play a bigger game and increase your capacity to lead, then you need to be ready to build a better version of yourself — and my guest June Miller is an expert at providing people with the tools they need to do so.
June is an intuitive guide and transformational teacher who is committed to helping others see themselves and their contribution to the world. Our conversation covers some big topics, including the power of intentionality and why so many people are afraid of doing inner work. I encourage you to tune in if you’re ready to be inspired and shift your mindset!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How to strengthen your deeper, inner listening skills and how it will help you to strengthen your relationships
- How we create our own realities — and why we need to stop creating from a mindset of scarcity
- What the natural world can teach us about contribution
Guest bio: June Miller is a seasoned intuitive guide who has been deeply involved in the personal development space her entire adult life. She is the founder of Raising the World, Inc, a nonprofit working with indigenous communities, as well as the owner/director of Spirit On The Water, a healing retreat center in the US Virgin Islands.
Timestamps:
01:44 Intro
02:33 Meet June Miller
05:24 Setting intentions & strengthening connections
08:03 Building your awareness & listening skills
09:59 Why don’t we trust ourselves?
13:30 The invitation & Spirit On The Water
15:53 June’s big shifts
19:04 Scarcity v. abundance
22:42 Psychedelics & listening
26:08 Trusting the Universe
28:41 Authenticity & wider impact
30:58 Juney Moon: The Journey Begins
35:14 Raising the World
Links:
June Miller
http://www.OhJuneNowWhat.com
https://www.raisingtheworld.com
https://www.spiritonthewater.com
Instagram: @ohjunenowwhat
My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
https://www.amazon.com/My-Stroke-Insight-Scientists-Personal/dp/0452295548
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Watch these episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TracySpearsSpeaker Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
Confronting unconscious biases and creating an inclusive, equitable company culture should be at the heart of your mission as a leader. In fact, these are some of the most serious and important leadership challenges today. My guest Kuma Roberts helps teams and organizations change the world, one encounter at a time.
Kuma is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Arrowhead Consulting, a Tulsa-based boutique project management, leadership development, and executive coaching firm that partners with executives and leadership teams to deepen their commitments to celebrate diversity, champion equity, and cultivate inclusion.
In this discussion, we talk about Kuma’s biggest shift, how she’s building her visioning muscle, and the challenges that people of color face in speaking up, speaking out, and playing big.
Ready for some great insights on how to take more positive action? Listen now to discover:
- What it means to live in “the space between” and how Kuma navigates expectations while bridging different worlds
- The big shift that Kuma wants her audiences to experience — and the #1 takeaway she wants them to walk away with
- What to do when you witness or experience an intentional or unintentional microaggression
Guest bio: Kuma Roberts is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Arrowhead Consulting. She serves on nonprofit boards that align with her passion for ensuring a vibrant and accountable world for us all, including YMCA, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, Philbrook Museum, and #RacismStinks. She was named the 2022 Pinnacle Award Corporate Businesswoman of the Year by the YWCA, City of Tulsa, and Commission on the Status of Women, 2022 Workplace Inclusion Advocate for Oklahomans for Equality, as well as the 2020 Keeping the Dream Alive Award by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society.
Timestamps:
01:39 Intro
03:11 Meet Kuma Roberts
04:57 Kuma’s big shifts
07:58 Assimilation & smallness
11:49 Living in the space between
13:23 Visioning muscle
14:44 The shift Kuma wants for her audience
19:01 “Linchpin” story & microaggressions
22:55 Creating awareness in 2022
26:48 Cultural shift & leaning in
28:24 Kuma’s next shifts
Links:
Kuma Roberts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuma-roberts-iom
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Sometimes, a surprise layoff can be the best thing to happen to your career… and exactly what you need in order to start thinking bigger and shifting out loud.
My guest Wally Schmader is the co-founder of Exceptional Leaders Lab, author of Full Contact Leadership, and co-author of multiple books, including What Exceptional Leaders Know and Leadership is a Verb. Wally and I met and developed our friendship and professional relationship while working in a corporate environment. When a round of layoffs claimed both our jobs, we needed to figure out what we really wanted, make some big decisions — and take a leap of faith.
In this episode, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the development and operations of Exceptional Leaders Lab, as well as the shifts that sparked our determination to think and play bigger!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- The dramatic shift that led to the creation of Exceptional Leaders Lab and how we’ve evolved since 2020
- The biggest shifts and trends in corporate America during the pandemic
- The qualities that make Wally an exceptional leader and business partner
Guest bio: Wally Schmader is a highly sought-after leadership coach, thought leader, trainer, and facilitator based in Norfolk, Virginia. He‘s developed programs and content that have influenced thousands of leaders worldwide. Wally’s innovative strategies, ideas, and recommendations have been featured in dozens of publications and media outlets. He‘s coached and advised hundreds of top executives.
Timestamps:
01:48 Intro
03:02 Meet Wally Schmader
04:44 Growing up in business
08:38 Imagining the shift
10:39 Wally’s goal-setting
12:39 The big shift
17:43 Reacting to the shift
20:18 Know what you want (& what to charge)
22:55 Being a good boss & partner
26:47 Pandemic shift
30:43 Big shifts in corporate America
35:18 Leveling Up: How Managers Become Leaders
36:18 Shifts to come
Links:
Wally Schmader
Twitter: @leaderstweets
Full Contact Leadership: Dynamic New Ideas and Techniques for Today's Leaders
https://www.amazon.com/Full-Contact-Leadership-Dynamic-Techniques/dp/0595405924/
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
If you want to play bigger, you need to learn how to stand up, speak out, and own your truth. My guest Pam McKissick is a businesswoman, artist, radio host, and co-author of Grab It Back! Equality, Money, Power & Sex, a book about owning your power in the home and the workplace.
Over the course of her career, Pam has not only mastered the art of making bold shifts out loud, she just may be the true inventor of the idea of playing bigger!
From the C-suite to the auction house, Los Angeles to Tulsa, Pam has an impressive track record of building organizations into major brands. Tune in to learn how she shifted from silence into advocating for women, how she keeps her teams accountable, and why I’d love for her to run for office.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- The power of challenging self-limiting beliefs, both your own and those of others
- What holds women back from stepping into their power (and how to change it!)
- Why we’re seeing a rollback of hard-won feminist gains — and why we MUST lean in harder
Pam McKissick is a seasoned businesswoman, marketing executive, and radio host, known for her charismatic personality and uncanny ability to transform traditional thinking and chart new paths toward personal and professional growth.
She resides with her partner, Cheryl Gregory, on an 80-acre horse ranch in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They co-own BossMaresArt.com and are co-authors of Grab It Back! Equality, Money, Power & Sex.
Timestamps:
01:58 Meet Pam McKissick
04:49 Pam’s shift-filled journey
08:21 “The lesbian that writes your checks”
12:57 Exploring theology
15:41 Back to L.A.
20:20 TV Guide & auctioneering
22:08 Holding people accountable & caring
25:13 What holds women back?
27:35 Checkbook mistake story
29:14 Challenging self-limiting beliefs & saying your truth
33:23 Our political era
36:05 Incels, Proud Boys & insurrectionists
38:47 BossMaresArt.com
42:09 Mislabeling politicians
45:06 Grab it back & quit trading compliments for cash
Links:
Pam McKissick
https://www.pammckissick.com
https://bossmaresart.com
https://www.amazon.ca/Grab-Back-Equality-Money-Power/dp/1948232308
https://www.facebook.com/PamLMcKissick
Twitter:@PamMcKissick
Feminists: What Were They Thinking? https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5419676
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library:
https://tracyspears.com/blog
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!
Even after finding the courage to up their game and step fully onto their path of power, women often have trouble clarifying their true value, asking for what they deserve, and saying no to opportunities that don’t meet their needs. When you’ve been taught all your life to think and play small, how do you make the shift to living the full and fulfilling life you’re meant to live?
My guest Dr. Meg Myers Morgan is a keynote speaker and executive coach who helps her clients develop their leadership skills and achieve clarity in times of overwhelm and change. She’s also an incredibly gifted writer and the author of Everything is Negotiable, a bestseller based on her notable TEDx Talk.
In this conversation, we discuss the power of standing still, why a scarcity mindset will hold you back from playing big, and how to tap into your inner “lighthouse” (don’t worry, we get into it!).
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- Why sometimes you need to do less in order to achieve more
- The #1 thing that women need to know when entering into salary or pricing negotiations
- An exercise to help you recognize the self-limiting beliefs that may keep you playing small
Dr. Meg Myers Morgan is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and certified executive coach who works with executives seeking to strengthen their leadership capacity through self-reflection. She is the author of the best-selling book, Everything is Negotiable, an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma, and currently the chair for the Tulsa Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women.
Timestamps:
02:50 Meet Meg Myers Morgan
05:27 Early creativity & “sticky” writing
07:50 The Women’s Summit
09:54 The lighthouse & the boats
14:13 Be clear on what you do (and don’t do)
16:22 Pricing
18:03 Everything is Negotiable
20:45 Why don’t we ask for more?
23:10 Shifting into playing bigger
27:02 Self-limiting beliefs
30:10 Introversion & extroversion
32:29 Core values & big fears
35:23 Being “too much”
39:49 Untethering yourself & embracing “more”
43:10 Concierge Key story
46:37 TED Talks
Links:
Dr. Meg Myers Morgan
https://www.megmyersmorgan.com
https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Negotiable-Tactics-What-Want/dp/1580057896
https://www.facebook.com/megmyersmorganauthor
Instagram: @megmyersmorgan
TEDx: Negotiating For Your Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT_Kh-_Nb9o
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library:
https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Love the podcast? Subscribe to never miss an episode!
What does it look like to write your own story? Big Talk Academy founder Tricia Brouk helps her clients become the go-to experts in their fields through tapping into the power of their authentic stories and building industry-leading voices.
Storytelling lies firmly within Tricia’s zone of genius. She’s not only a respected speaker mentor, she’s also a dancer, actress, producer, choreographer, and award-winning filmmaker. Growing up in a small town in Missouri, Tricia knew by the age of seven that she was going to move to Manhattan and become a ballerina—a dream that she achieved at 20 years old, after years of visioning and moving into action. In this conversation, we talk about the power of vision boards, the act of deciding to step into what’s possible, and how Tricia continues to flex her visioning muscle.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- What it means to shift out loud—how Tricia’s shifts brought her to some truly big stages
- Why you need to stop worrying about the “how” and just stay in the flow
- How to create a connection with and give energy to your vision
Tricia Brouk helps high-performing professionals transform into industry thought leaders through the power of authentic storytelling. She is the founder of Big Talk Academy and was the executive producer of Speakers Who Dare and TEDx Lincoln Square. She is the producer and host of The Big Talk, an award-winning podcast and YouTube channel. Her book, The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy, was a #1 new release on Amazon.
Timestamps:
02:53 Meet Tricia Brouk
05:30 Visioning muscle
07:03 The “out loud” piece & Tricia’s big stages
10:57 “How” & risk tolerance
12:55 Vision boards
14:01 New York theater story
17:04 Opening the door & playing big
19:08 Connect with your vision
22:02 Sitting with fear & moving story
24:43 What’s next?
Links:
Tricia Brouk
https://triciabrouk.com
https://www.theinfluentialvoicebook.com
https://youtube.com/thebigtalkwithtriciabrouk
IG: @tricia_brouk
The Big Talk Academy
https://www.thebigtalkacademy.com
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-talk-with-tricia-brouk/id1151802385
Kris Jenner-On the Power of Personal Branding
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/kris-jenner-on-the-power-of-personal-branding
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library:
https://tracyspears.com/blog
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential!