A Heartfelt Thank You!
Can you believe it’s been a whole year since the launch of Leading Below the Surface? Time flies when you’re having meaningful conversations! I want to thank you all for your overwhelming support and the motivation to keep this podcast going. Your enthusiasm and engagement are what fuel this journey.
From the casual listener to the die-hard superfan, your presence means everything – especially as I’ve learned how to add “podcaster” to my list of titles. I’ve learned a lot over the past year, but one of the most important takeaways is that building an audience is hard work. Whether you’ve listened to every episode or just one, you’ve played such a key role in getting the podcast off the ground.
Podcasting with Purpose
Podcasting isn’t easy. Sitting down to record an episode is probably the easiest thing to drop from your schedule, but you have to keep going. To justify making time, you need a strong purpose. The goal of the Leading Below the Surface Podcast has always been to make our Change Coaches’ concepts more accessible, helping listeners invoke real changes in your organizations and within yourselves. I’m really proud of the way clients have been able to use the podcast to continue learning after working with Change Coaches. It’s a great way to cement those key concepts, drive deeper innovation, and encourage productive brainstorming.
How Can You Use the Podcast as a Resource?
- Introduce Leading Below the Surface to Someone New: Whether it’s your boss or colleagues, even a single episode can spark ideas for new speakers or ERG topics. I’ve heard from people who have gotten inspiration simply from scrolling down the list of episodes and looking at the titles!
- Reinforce Learning: Say you attended a keynote or connected with me online; the podcast helps to solidify what you’ve learned.
- Drive Innovation and Brainstorming: Use the podcast for ideas and inspiration in your professional and personal life.
Top 3 Episodes to Revisit
- The State of DEI: One of the first episodes recorded right after the affirmative action ruling. I discuss how belonging and psychological safety come into play in a shifting DEI industry.
- Three Coaching Prompts to Close Your Year Out Strong: I explore the questions we often forget to ask ourselves at the end of the year, prompting personal motivation and reflection.
- Is Psychological Safety Overrated?: A candid discussion on the real importance of psychological safety in the workplace.
The Evolution and Future of Leading Below the Surface
So, where do we go from here? Change Coaches is evolving – we have new programming on the horizon, including introducing a coaching subscription model for those who want 1:1 coaching but don’t fit into the typical CXO niche. We’re also going deeper with clients through workshops, keynotes, and leadership academy bundles. It’s an incredibly exciting time.
My amazing producer, Adam Smego, and I have also been reflecting on the topics our listeners want most (shout out to Adam, by the way – I couldn’t imagine a better partner in this project). I’m going to be releasing more solo episodes, sharing my personal insights and takes on current events. We’ve also identified a couple of topics that are top of mind for today’s leaders: coaching tips and prompts, how to navigate U.S. politics at work, the changing landscape of DEIB, and psychological safety.
You’ll see a lot more episodes centered around these themes going forward – starting with our very next episode. I’m going to revisit the question, “Is DEIB here to stay?” A brief spoiler: I think it is, but it will continue to evolve. The “B” – belonging – is becoming increasingly important. For more on that, subscribe to the pod and tune in to our next episode!
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Here’s to another year of Leading Below the Surface, filled with growth, connection, and meaningful change.