Podcast
The Real Intelligence Podcast with Jenny Swim
Hosted by Jenny Swim · EN
In a world moving towards artificial intelligence, what if you could reclaim your real one? Join leadership coach Jenny Swim to explore human intelligence through the lens of neuroscience, conscious observation, and story.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
42: Why Rejection Feels So Personal (And How It Shapes More Than You Think)
Apr 1000:21:31Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailRejection doesn’t just hurt—it trains your system.In this episode, Jenny Swim explores why rejection lands in the brain and body as something consequential—and how, over time, it begins to shape who you trust, how much you risk, and how open you stay.You’ll learn the five common response patterns to rejection, the hidden cost of “just getting over it,” and the difference between true resilience and quiet self-protection.Most importantly, you’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to process rejection without letting it define your identity—or dictate your next move.Because the goal isn’t to avoid rejection. It’s to stay grounded enough that it doesn’t decide who you become.Additional Resources:Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., & Williams, K. D. (2003). Does rejection hurt? Science. University of Southern California. Your brain learns from rejection.University of Southern California. What social rejection teaches your brain.Business Insider. Gen Z and the rise of rejection in modern life.Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →41: Invisible Influence Traps— Urgency, Conformity & Overload
Mar 1300:15:49Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailLeadership isn’t just strategy—it’s discernment.Every day, subtle forces shape how we think, what we prioritize, and the decisions we make—often without us noticing. In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim reveals the hidden pressures influencing modern leaders and why awareness is critical.Learn the three most common influence traps—urgency, conformity, and stimulation overload—and why protecting your ability to think independently may be your most important responsibility.Resources & References from This Episode:Junto Coaching – Learn more: www.juntocoaching.comYouTube Channel – Watch episodes: The Real Intelligence PodcastJames Giordano – The Brain is the Battlefield of the Future: Small Wars JournalThe Shawn Ryan Show, Episode #282 – Nik Seetharaman on AI Swarms: Apple PodcastsTodd Rose – Breaking Cultural Norms that Become Collective Illusions: Stand TogetherCasino Psychology – The Psychology-Gambling Connection: UTPB OnlineConnect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →40: Capacity Over Discipline: Why Pushing Harder Isn’t Working
Feb 2700:13:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailYou’re clear on the goal.You know exactly what to do.You’re motivated.And it’s still not working.If you’re a high-functioning leader or achiever, your first instinct is to push harder — tighten habits, optimize systems, fix your mindset. But what if the problem isn’t discipline?In this episode of the Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim introduces a powerful reframe: most stalled growth isn’t a motivation issue — it’s a capacity issue.When your nervous system is operating at its threshold, expansion feels like threat. And no amount of effort can override a system that doesn’t feel resourced.You’ll learn:Why sustainable change requires surplusThe difference between feeling rushed and feeling resourcedHow nervous system regulation impacts productivity and leadershipOne diagnostic question that instantly reveals what’s really happeningMicro-practices that increase capacity without overhauling your lifeIf you’ve been trying to out-discipline a depleted system, this episode will change how you approach growth.Real intelligence isn’t pushing harder.It’s building capacity first.Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →39: Forgiveness vs Reconciliation: Stop Waiting for the Apology with Ganel-Lyn Condie
Feb 1300:37:14Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailForgiveness vs Reconciliation — and why confusing them keeps you stuck.In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim sits down with speaker, author and mental health advocate Ganel-Lyn Condie to untangle one of the most misunderstood concepts in personal growth: forgiveness.Forgiveness is not access.It is not trust.And it is not reconciliation.Together, they explore how waiting for an apology drains your internal capacity, how resentment quietly erodes leadership and relationships, and why reclaiming your power starts internally — not externally.You’ll learn:The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation Why you can forgive someone who never apologizesWhat to do when old pain resurfacesPractical tools for moving forward without abandoning yourselfThis is a grounded, emotionally mature conversation for leaders, parents, and high-capacity humans who want peace without pretending, and boundaries without bitterness.Forgiveness isn’t about outcomes.It’s about stewardship of your own energy.----------Connect with Ganel-Lyn CondieTo learn more about Ganel-Lyn’s work, speaking, and resources on emotional resilience and relationships, visit:Website: https://ganellyn.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ganellyn/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ganellyn.condie YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ganellynConnect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →38: You Are Here: The Skill of Orienting
Jan 3000:19:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailFeeling unsettled by world events, in the middle of a transition, or unsure of your next step? In this episode of the Real Intelligence podcast, Jenny Swim explores the skill of orienting—the simple but powerful practice of knowing where you are physically, emotionally, mentally, and relationally.You’ll learn how orienting helps you differentiate what’s yours to carry, pause strategically instead of reacting, and calm your nervous system to build capacity. The episode includes practical reflections and simple practices you can use right away. Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from looking ahead—it comes from recognizing where you already are.Additional Resources:• The Orienting Reflex and Behavioral States (PMC) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10010463/• Irene Lyon — Orienting: Its Simplicity and Complexity Explained https://irenelyon.com/2024/04/05/orienting-its-simplicity-and-complexity-explained/• The Orienting Response (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZO3vYrJlaYConnect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →37: Observe First: The Expert Skill Novices Often Miss
Jan 1600:19:27Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of the Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim explores observation as a defining skill shared by experts across disciplines, from leadership and parenting to aviation, medicine, and emergency response. Drawing on neuroscience and the OODA Loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act), Jenny shows how observation creates the critical pause between stimulus and response—and why our bias toward speed and certainty often causes us to miss what matters most.You’ll learn the difference between true observation and judgment, how autopilot and stress distort perception, and what happens when observation is rushed, as seen in the Boeing 737 MAX crisis. Jenny also shares practical, evidence-informed ways to strengthen your observation muscle, including the 10% Slower Rule and separating data from story. Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, or navigating everyday decisions, this episode reveals how observing first leads to clearer orientation, better choices, and more aligned action.Additional Resources: National Research Council (2000). How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (Chapter 5). Read onlineStanford Medicine (2014). Expert pilots process multiple visual cues more efficiently. Read onlineHoffman, K. A., Aitken, L. M., & Duffield, C. (2009). Novice vs. expert nurses: How cue collection drives decision-making. PubMedConnect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →36: Vision Before Goals: A Smarter Way to Enter the New Year
Jan 200:23:55Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailAs we head into a new year, many of us feel pressure to set goals and make resolutions—only to feel overwhelmed, resistant, or unsure where to start. In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, host Jenny Swim introduces a powerful but often overlooked precursor to goal setting: visioning.Using relatable examples from everyday life—like building a home or creating with Legos—Jenny explains why having a clear vision or “blueprint” matters before committing to resolutions or measurable goals. She breaks down the difference between visioning, resolutions, and goals, explains when each tool is most helpful, and shares a neuroscience-informed framework you can use to design the future you actually want.You’ll learn:Why goals and resolutions often fail without a clear visionWhen visioning is the right tool (especially during transitions or uncertainty)The neuroscience behind visualization and neural rehearsalA simple 3-step visioning model you can use right awayHow to move from vision → resolution → goals without burnout or pressureWhether you’re navigating a new year, a career shift, a health reset, or a personal transition, this episode offers a calmer, more intelligent way forward.Additional Resources:https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/study-shows-1-in-5-successful-entrepreneurs-use-vision-boards-backed-by-neuroscience.htmlhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/03/29/a-psychologist-explains-the-power-of-vision-boarding-for-successConnect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →35: Simple is Strategic with Alish Anderson
Dec 1900:32:36Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat if simplifying your life isn’t about doing less—but about living more intentionally?In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, host Jenny Swim is joined by Alish Anderson, a wife, mother of four, former teacher, and longtime practitioner of intentional living, to explore simplicity as a strategy—not a shortcut.Together, they unpack how cutting the non-essential creates clarity, peace, and alignment in both leadership and family life. In a culture that equates busyness with worth, this conversation challenges the belief that doing more makes us more.This episode is for parents, leaders, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by complexity, noise, and constant pressure to keep up.Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →34: The Gift of Pain: How to BE With Discomfort
Dec 500:17:55Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim explores the gift of pain—and why it remains one of our greatest teachers, even though we instinctively try to avoid it. Whether emotional, social, spiritual, or physical, pain often triggers familiar reactions: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.Together, we’ll:Rethink our relationship with painRecognize our automatic patternsExplore practical tools for relating with and moving through discomfort with greater intelligence and intentionIf this conversation resonates, share it with someone who might benefit from a gentler, more empowering way to understand and navigate their own experience with pain.Additional Resources:Salk Institute for Biological Studies. (2023, June 21). From injury to agony: Scientists discover brain pathway that turns pain into suffering. https://www.salk.edu/news-release/from-injury-to-agony-scientists-discover-brain-pathway-that-turns-pain-into-suffering/Truman, K. K. (1989). Feelings buried alive never die. Bantam. https://a.co/d/i4GKjsLConnect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
Transcribe →33: When Progress Feels Slow: Learning to Listen to Your Body’s Timing with Dr. Cynthia Sumner
Nov 2100:40:31Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHigh performers are trained to push, optimize, stay sharp, and deliver. But what if your body is quietly deciding your timeline—and you’re fighting it without realizing it?In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim and Dr. Cynthia Sumner break down why your body is often ahead of your mind, signaling emotional gaps, stress limits, and belief patterns long before you consciously notice them.This episode explores:How physical symptoms can act as your body’s warning systemThe emotional “gap work” needed to move from where you are to where you want to beThe key questions to ask when you aren't getting what you wantHow to partner with time instead of controlling or fighting itReal client stories demonstrating the power of pacing for long-term resultsIf you’re a leader, parent, or professional who often pushes past your body’s signals, this episode shows how trusting timing—and listening to your body—can help you achieve your goals more sustainably, intuitively, and effectively.Connect with Dr. Cynthia Sumner at: www.cynthiasumner.net or on Instagram @thehealingfoodConnect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind
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