Welcome to the
Leading Below the Surface Podcast

About the show

Welcome to the Leading Below the Surface Podcast — a space where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by LaTonya Wilkins, award-winning executive coach and author of Leading Below the Surface, this podcast goes beyond business as usual. Through honest, courageous conversations, LaTonya and her guests explore what it really means to lead, connect, and thrive in a world that often feels broken. 

Topics include:

  • Inclusive leadership and psychological safety
  • Emotional strength and resilience
  • Coaching across differences
  • Wellbeing and authentic relationships 
  • Redefining success in today’s workplace and beyond

Whether you’re a leader, coach, or simply someone navigating life with more intention, this show is for you. LaTonya’s upcoming book on emotional strength and connection in a chaotic world will also be featured—so think of this space as part leadership lab, part self-help sanctuary. ✨ If you’re tired of surface-level conversations and craving real, human-centered insights—you’re in the right place. 👉🏾 Subscribe and tap the 🔔 to get notified about new episodes. 📚 Learn more at https://changecoaches.io #EmotionalIntelligence #AuthenticLeadership #InclusiveLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #SelfHelp #LeadingBelowTheSurface

To stay in touch with Change Coaches, follow us on LinkedIn.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast player. And watch the podcast on our YouTube Channel.

Ep 68: HR Is Not Your Friend. Or Are They?

Ep 68: HR Is Not Your Friend. Or Are They?

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Ep 67: Who Are You, Really? Astrology, Identity & Grounded Leadership

Ep 67: Who Are You, Really? Astrology, Identity & Grounded Leadership

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Ep 66: Money Below the Surface: How Our Stories, Systems, & Nervous Systems Shape Financial Choices

Ep 66: Money Below the Surface: How Our Stories, Systems, & Nervous Systems Shape Financial Choices

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Ep 65: Why Many Leaders and Coaches Feel Ready for Something Different

Ep 65: Why Many Leaders and Coaches Feel Ready for Something Different

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Ep 64: Trauma-Informed Coaching—What It Is, and What We Often Get Wrong with Lion Goodman

Ep 64: Trauma-Informed Coaching—What It Is, and What We Often Get Wrong with Lion Goodman

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Ep 63: How to Reflect on a Year of Quiet Growth — and Move Forward With Intention

Ep 63: How to Reflect on a Year of Quiet Growth — and Move Forward With Intention

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Ep 62: Breaking Dominant Leadership Standards: From Big Tech to Conscious Living with Executive Coach Kvon Tucker

Ep 62: Breaking Dominant Leadership Standards: From Big Tech to Conscious Living with Executive Coach Kvon Tucker

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Ep 61: Webinar Replay — Grounded Leadership: Daily Mental Health Rituals for Uncertain Times

Ep 61: Webinar Replay — Grounded Leadership: Daily Mental Health Rituals for Uncertain Times

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Ep 60: Everyday Mental Health Practices for Leadership and Life (with Dr. Caroline Adelman)

Ep 60: Everyday Mental Health Practices for Leadership and Life (with Dr. Caroline Adelman)

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Ep 59: The Dominant Leadership Standards: Why They are Failing Us

Ep 59: The Dominant Leadership Standards: Why They are Failing Us

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Ep 58: 10 Ways Your Organization Will Benefit from Leading Below the Surface

Ep 58: 10 Ways Your Organization Will Benefit from Leading Below the Surface

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Ep 57: Is Psychological Safety Enough? Rethinking How We Lead and Work

Ep 57: Is Psychological Safety Enough? Rethinking How We Lead and Work

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Ep 56: Selling Yourself Without Selling Out: Navigating the Tension Between Self-Promotion and Staying Grounded

Ep 56: Selling Yourself Without Selling Out: Navigating the Tension Between Self-Promotion and Staying Grounded

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Ep 55: How to Really Listen — and Why It Matters in Leadership, Life, and Everyday Connection

Ep 55: How to Really Listen — and Why It Matters in Leadership, Life, and Everyday Connection

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Ep 54: Attached or Avoidant? Why Your Patterns Matter in Love, Leadership, and Life

Ep 54: Attached or Avoidant? Why Your Patterns Matter in Love, Leadership, and Life

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Ep 53: Staying Ahead of the Curve: How to Upskill with AI and Emerging Tech

Ep 53: Staying Ahead of the Curve: How to Upskill with AI and Emerging Tech

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Ep 52: Create Your Summer of Wellbeing: How to Prioritize Wellbeing and Avoid Burnout This Summer

Ep 52: Create Your Summer of Wellbeing: How to Prioritize Wellbeing and Avoid Burnout This Summer

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Ep 51: Redefining Masculinity: Coaching Men of Color to Lead and Live Authentically

Ep 51: Redefining Masculinity: Coaching Men of Color to Lead and Live Authentically

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Ep 50: Inclusion Below the Surface: The Hard Truths and Risks of Abandoning Inclusivity

Ep 50: Inclusion Below the Surface: The Hard Truths and Risks of Abandoning Inclusivity

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Ep 49: Coaching Below the Surface: Coaching Across Differences, Building Safety, and Preparing for the Future of Work

Ep 49: Coaching Below the Surface: Coaching Across Differences, Building Safety, and Preparing for the Future of Work

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Ep 48: Watching Each Other Grow: The Long Game of Online Connection

Ep 48: Watching Each Other Grow: The Long Game of Online Connection

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Ep 47: The Leadership Echo: How Childhood Trauma Shapes the Way You Lead

Ep 47: The Leadership Echo: How Childhood Trauma Shapes the Way You Lead

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Ep 46: 8 Keys to Developing a Next-Level Leadership Mindset

Ep 46: 8 Keys to Developing a Next-Level Leadership Mindset

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Ep 45: Navigating Life's Surprises with Confidence: Stories and Strategies from Change Coaches

Ep 45: Navigating Life's Surprises with Confidence: Stories and Strategies from Change Coaches

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Ep 44: Resilient Leadership in Uncertain Times -- Three Strategies for Growth

Ep 44: Resilient Leadership in Uncertain Times -- Three Strategies for Growth

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Ep 43: Strengthening Loose Ties: Rebuilding Community and Social Skills in a Digital World

Ep 43: Strengthening Loose Ties: Rebuilding Community and Social Skills in a Digital World

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Ep 42: The Caregiving Crisis -- Why Workplaces Must Do More

Ep 42: The Caregiving Crisis -- Why Workplaces Must Do More

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Ep 41: Self-Coaching Special Episode: 3 Prompts to Unlock Authenticity, Well-Being, and Your Breakthrough in 2025

Ep 41: Self-Coaching Special Episode: 3 Prompts to Unlock Authenticity, Well-Being, and Your Breakthrough in 2025

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Ep 40: Somatics for Growth: Building Clarity, Calm, and Community

Ep 40: Somatics for Growth: Building Clarity, Calm, and Community

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Ep 39: The Seven Rules of Self-Reliance: Maha Abouelenein on Mastering Independence and Thriving in Times of Uncertainty

Ep 39: The Seven Rules of Self-Reliance: Maha Abouelenein on Mastering Independence and Thriving in Times of Uncertainty

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Ep 38: Embracing Neurodiversity: REAL Relationship Strategies for Leadership and Daily Life

Ep 38: Embracing Neurodiversity: REAL Relationship Strategies for Leadership and Daily Life

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Ep 37: Navigating Leadership Challenges After the U.S. Election Results

Ep 37: Navigating Leadership Challenges After the U.S. Election Results

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Ep 36: From Groupthink to Group Mind: Encouraging Diverse Perspectives

Ep 36: From Groupthink to Group Mind: Encouraging Diverse Perspectives

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Ep 35: Meandering in the Muck: Finding Your Stride after a Traumatic Event

Ep 35: Meandering in the Muck: Finding Your Stride after a Traumatic Event

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Ep 34: How to Make the Most of Your Personal Learning and Development Investments

Ep 34: How to Make the Most of Your Personal Learning and Development Investments

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Ep 33: The Science of Joy and How to Get More of it in Your Life

Ep 33: The Science of Joy and How to Get More of it in Your Life

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Ep 32: Three Coaching Prompts Your Organization Can Use to Navigate the Upcoming Election

Ep 32: Three Coaching Prompts Your Organization Can Use to Navigate the Upcoming Election

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Ep 31: Why DEI is Here to Stay

Ep 31: Why DEI is Here to Stay

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Ep 30: An Update on the State of DEI and the One Year Anniversary of the Pod!

Ep 30: An Update on the State of DEI and the One Year Anniversary of the Pod!

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Ep 29: How to Smoothly Transition into Your Executive Role with Navid Nazemian

Ep 29: How to Smoothly Transition into Your Executive Role with Navid Nazemian

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Ep 28: Healing to Lead: Why Healing is Critical for Leadership Effectiveness with Kelly L. Campbell

Ep 28: Healing to Lead: Why Healing is Critical for Leadership Effectiveness with Kelly L. Campbell

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Ep 27: An Exploration of Queer Superpowers and How to Support the LGBTQ+ Community During Pride Month with Tara Robertson

Ep 27: An Exploration of Queer Superpowers and How to Support the LGBTQ+ Community During Pride Month with Tara Robertson

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Ep 26: The Future of Organizational Wellbeing with Rebecca Paradiso de Sayu

Ep 26: The Future of Organizational Wellbeing with Rebecca Paradiso de Sayu

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Ep 25: My Mental Health Story and a Three Step Process to Create More Wellness in the Workplace

Ep 25: My Mental Health Story and a Three Step Process to Create More Wellness in the Workplace

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Ep 24: How to have Psychologically Safe Conversations about Difficult Topics (Part 2)

Ep 24: How to have Psychologically Safe Conversations about Difficult Topics (Part 2)

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Ep 23: How to have Psychologically Safe Conversations about Difficult Topics (Part 1)

Ep 23: How to have Psychologically Safe Conversations about Difficult Topics (Part 1)

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Ep 22: Supporting the Trans Community

Ep 22: Supporting the Trans Community

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Ep 21: Exploring What’s Holding Women Back in the Workplace

Ep 21: Exploring What’s Holding Women Back in the Workplace

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Ep 20: Reparations: What they are and how to talk about them

Ep 20: Reparations: What they are and how to talk about them

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Ep 19: Below the Surface Leadership Lessons from an LGBTQ+ Black Mayor

Ep 19: Below the Surface Leadership Lessons from an LGBTQ+ Black Mayor

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Ep 18: Three Myths Surrounding Asian-Americans in the Workplace and How to Navigate Them

Ep 18: Three Myths Surrounding Asian-Americans in the Workplace and How to Navigate Them

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Ep 17:  Black Women in the Workplace, Claudine Gay, and The Glass Cliff

Ep 17: Black Women in the Workplace, Claudine Gay, and The Glass Cliff

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Ep 16: What it Takes to Create Real Change in Organizations -- Three Actionable Tips from an Expert

Ep 16: What it Takes to Create Real Change in Organizations -- Three Actionable Tips from an Expert

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Ep 15: Three Coaching Prompts to Close Your Year Out Strong

Ep 15: Three Coaching Prompts to Close Your Year Out Strong

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Ep 14: What is Trauma Intelligence?

Ep 14: What is Trauma Intelligence?

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Ep 13: How Coaching Can Help You Navigate Today’s Times

Ep 13: How Coaching Can Help You Navigate Today’s Times

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Ep 12: Emotional Intelligence in Color

Ep 12: Emotional Intelligence in Color

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Ep 11: How to Support Employees in Times of Distress

Ep 11: How to Support Employees in Times of Distress

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Ep 10: How to Support the LGBTQ+ Community Beyond Pride Month

Ep 10: How to Support the LGBTQ+ Community Beyond Pride Month

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Ep 9: Is Psychological Safety Overrated?

Ep 9: Is Psychological Safety Overrated?

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Ep 8: How to Hire and Retain a Diverse Workplace

Ep 8: How to Hire and Retain a Diverse Workplace

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Ep 7: What to Do if Your Clients Don't Share Your DEIB Values

Ep 7: What to Do if Your Clients Don't Share Your DEIB Values

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Ep 6: Sobriety in the Workplace: The Diversity that's Often Forgotten

Ep 6: Sobriety in the Workplace: The Diversity that's Often Forgotten

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Ep 5: The State of DEI

Ep 5: The State of DEI

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Ep 4: Life after Affirmative Action According to a Higher Education DEI Leader

Ep 4: Life after Affirmative Action According to a Higher Education DEI Leader

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Ep 3: My Thoughts on Affirmative Action and How it Affects Us

Ep 3: My Thoughts on Affirmative Action and How it Affects Us

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Ep 2: What it Takes to be a Future Leader

Ep 2: What it Takes to be a Future Leader

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Ep 1: Welcome to the Leading Below the Surface Podcast!

Ep 1: Welcome to the Leading Below the Surface Podcast!

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As Seen In....

Leading Below the Surface with LaTonya

Most leadership advice stays on the surface. This is where we go deeper. In this newsletter space, I share thoughts on grounded leadership, executive coaching, identity, and the below the surface work that drives meaningful shifts. If you’re navigating complexity, leading through change, or trying to show up more intentionally in your work, this is a space for you. Looking forward to seeing you there. – LaTonya