Podcast
FINE is a 4-Letter Word
Hosted by Lori Saitz · EN
What happens when fine is no longer good enough?
You’ve got the career, the family, all the outward signs of success. But underneath that competence and capability are quiet questions that won’t leave you alone. How do I build a legacy beyond next quarter’s revenue? Where do I find more meaning? What if I were true to myself?
Welcome to Fine is a 4-Letter Word, with host Lori Saitz. Each week, you’ll hear personal stories blended with practical insight What happens when fine is no longer good enough?
You’ve got the career, the family, all the outward signs of success. But underneath that competence and capability are quiet questions that won’t leave you alone. How do I build a legacy beyond next quarter’s revenue? Where do I find more meaning? What if I were true to myself?
Welcome to Fine is a 4-Letter Word, with host Lori Saitz. Each week, you’ll hear personal stories blended with practical insight from leaders, creators, and change-makers, offering a window into what’s possible when you listen to and honor your heart.
We explore what it takes to lead with empathy, vulnerability, gratitude, and courage, especially when everything isn’t fine. You’ll get grounded perspectives and usable tools for moving from stuck, restless, or successful-but-empty into clarity, truth, and passion.
None of us knows how much time we have here. So we have to make the most of it. It’s time to live a life that feels like it belongs to you.
One thing’s for sure… you’ll never hear—or say—the word “fine” in the same way again., offering a window into what’s possible when you listen to and honor your heart.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
227. Five years of Fine is a 4-Letter Word
1w ago00:42:23Tap to summarizeWelcome to the celebration of five years of fine is a four letter word. I'm your host, Lori Saitz, and man, what a ride it has been. Five years. I don't know that I could have said five years ago that I would expect to be still doing this show five years later. mean, man, that's like another lifetime ago.Think of everything that's happened in your life in the past five years. I mean, I had different cats, I lived in a different state. I've had so many adventures in the past five years and met so many amazing, incredible people and been through so many experiences. Someone asked me the other day, I was a guest on someone else's show, and they asked me what I was grateful for, and I said, all the incredible experiences I have gotten to experience, all the incredible adventures I've gotten to experience in my life. So grateful.You know what else I'm grateful for? Every single guest, more than 200 of them who have been on this show, and especially the first 20 who trusted me enough to give me their time and say yes to being on a brand new show. Because stats show 80 to 90 % of shows never make it past the first 20 episodes. 44 % don't even get past the first three episodes. And here we are at episode 227, five years of weekly publishing. Wow. Sure, there have been some vacation weeks like last year when I was in Tanzania and that year, Panther and I were on our month long road trip sabbatical, but average it out and we've published 45 episodes a year.When I say we, I'm referencing that this show isn't a solo effort from the people who've helped me with strategy before it even launched, specifically Donnie and Mark, to my editors Greg and Chad and Adam and team and Jennifer, who put it all together after it's recorded. I thought for this episode, we do a little review of some especially memorable moments and shows.This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Listen, we all know that no one's reading emails and those all hands meetings and Slack messages can feel a little impersonal. How do you make work feel more human? Leaders who are serious about building real trust with their teams are finding more modern and effective ways to strengthen culture, create connection and foster community. That's where I come in.Forward-thinking companies, and specifically those with new CEOs, are hiring me to produce internal podcasts, to bring leadership and employees together through insightful stories and personalized conversations, and to share information that actually helps you move your career and company forward. Think of it as your old school printed company newsletter, reinvented. I know, what a cool idea, right? If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at lori at zenrabbit.com.As I look ahead, I can’t necessarily promise another five years, but I can promise I’ll keep doing this for as long as it brings me joy. And right now, it brings me SO MUCH JOY to meet all these fantastically interesting people and hold space in my studio for them to be seen and heard and to tell their stories.Thanks for listening to Fine is a 4-Letter Word. If you enjoyed the show, please follow and share it with a friend. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform to help others discover it too.Remember, you do not have to settle for FINE. You have the power to become a leader people respect and want to follow AND create a life you love. Now let’s f-ing go!
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226. This Wasn't Supposed to Happen with Nicole Milone
2w ago00:42:11Tap to summarizeWhat would you do if your business partner, the woman who recruited you, trained you, and believed in you before you believed in yourself, didn't come home from vacation? That's exactly what happened to Nicole Milone, wealth advisor and founder of Solaris Strategic Wealth.Raised as the oldest of three in an entrepreneurial family, Nicole Milone internalized the values of compassion, curiosity, and resilience from an early age. Helping run her family’s shoe store, she learned firsthand the value of hard work, adaptability, and the complexities of money. After studying finance and spending years in the banking industry, Nicole was invited by her mentor and financial advisor to move into the world of financial planning. What began as helping with processes and paperwork grew into a deep calling to empower others around money. She recognized from her own experience how few people truly understand or feel confident in their financial lives.Nicole’s world was turned upside down when her business partner and mentor, Debbie, passed away unexpectedly, suddenly leaving her in charge. There was a succession plan — on paper. But the real knowledge, the day-to-day operations, the payroll, the bank accounts — all of it lived in Debbie's head. Overnight, Nicole became the owner of a business she didn't fully know how to run. She was forced to hold it all together for her team and clients, without ever really stopping to grieve.She was waking up at 3am, making massive decisions with a brain that grief had essentially rewired. She still can't fully recall that entire first year. She thought she had to do it all. That was the only model of business ownership she'd ever seen. But she finally realized she couldn't — and more importantly, she didn't have to.With her husband by her side, and professionals she learned to trust and delegate to, Nicole rebuilt both the business and herself. She did the deeper work around her own complicated relationship with money, the fear of losing it, the silence around it she grew up with, and how all of that quietly drives our financial decisions without us realizing it. Now she's on a mission to make sure no one else gets caught as unprepared as she was.Hype Song:Fireball (feat. John Ryan) - song and lyrics by Pitbull, John Ryan | Spotify Resources:Nicole Milone’s website: Strategic Wealth Management Services | Solaris Strategic WealthLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-milone/Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/solarisstrategicwealthInstagram: @thenicolemiloneTwitter (X) @Solaris_SW Episode with Kristi StrawInvitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage.
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225. Sued for $60 Million. Not Guilty. with Shane Barker
3w ago00:48:02Tap to summarizeWhat would you do if you woke up one day to find the California Attorney General was suing you for $60 million — and you hadn't done anything wrong? That's exactly what happened to Shane Barker, digital marketing expert and founder of TraceFuse.ai, and the way he navigated it says everything about who he is.Shane was shaped by the loving, free-spirited energy of his family in Sacramento, California. It was a household with hippie leanings where kindness and connection were valued above all. Though he acknowledges that no childhood is perfect, Shane credits his upbringing with teaching him resilience and the ability to view life’s challenges through a lens of growth and learning. He’s a big believer that every experience, even the tough ones, is an opportunity to evolve.This mindset was severely tested when Shane found himself at the center of a high-profile, $60 million lawsuit from the California Attorney General. He was the owner and marketing leader of a real estate company created to fight predatory lending and help vulnerable homeowners after the 2008 housing crash. The company grew rapidly, making waves by standing up to big banks and brokers who had exploited countless families. But the very system he sought to challenge turned its sights on him, launching a very public PR battle, freezing his bank accounts, and painting him as a villain in the court of public opinion.The experience was a brutal, wild ride. He was working 18-20 hours a day, 40 pounds heavier, running on energy drinks and determination, endlessly battling negative narratives online and in the media, trying to protect his family from the chaos while simultaneously fighting for his reputation and his business. He was showing up and arguing with strangers online who weren't even customers and confronting the reality that truth isn’t always what gets broadcast or believed.He thought he was winning. But he finally realized he was losing. Losing his health, his time, his energy, and his opportunity to be at his son's baseball games.Throughout it all, Shane remained steadfast, refusing to flee or hide. He eventually realized that other people were living rent-free in his head, and he was handing them the keys. He stopped fighting every battle on the internet, started walking 10 miles a day, and began asking a very different question: what can I learn from this?When we spoke, Shane and his family were beginning a 45-day vacation in a small little beach town in Oregon. He’s come a long way from what he called Shane 1.0 who was in a room with coffee, going to war every day. Now he’s looking at animals and enjoying life and continuing to grow.Hype Song:Shane’s hype song is "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill WithersResources:Shane Barker’s website: https://shanebarker.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebarker/Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage.
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224. Do It Scared with Vanessa McDowell Atlas
Apr 1600:37:55Tap to summarizeWhat if the secret to being an exceptional leader isn't about being stronger, working harder, or having all the answers — but about being the first one in the room to say *I need a break*?Sounds counterintuitive, right? Maybe even a little reckless. But stick with me here.Vanessa McDowell-Atlas grew up deeply rooted in the values of faith, family, and community, shaped by her upbringing in Madison, Wisconsin. The McDowell household instilled a strong connection to God, encouraged giving back, and fostered authenticity. These ideals were lived out every day.Authenticity, though often overused in today’s cultural landscape, holds a deeper resonance for Vanessa. She notes that the pressure to perform and conform is magnified by technology and social media, where curated lives and even AI-generated content can make “real” feel elusive. The craving for genuine connection, she believes, is stronger than ever because so much of what’s presented isn’t authentic at all. Growing up without the noise of constant screens, Vanessa learned the value of face-to-face relationships and the grounding that comes from truly being seen and heard.From these foundations, Vanessa’s journey into leadership and service was anything but random. Each step in her career was guided by faith and an intentional sense of purpose. She describes her path as a series of conscious choices—listening, reflecting, and praying to discern where she was meant to serve. Even when the path was uncertain or intimidating, she adopted the mantra “do it scared,” understanding that courage grows in the doing, not the waiting.She's a natural introvert. She deals with anxiety. And somehow, she ended up as the CEO of a century-old organization — becoming the first Black woman in its entire history to hold that role. No pressure or anything.She didn't stumble into it either. Her boss announced she was leaving, tapped Vanessa on the shoulder for the interim role, and Vanessa thought, *sure, six months, I can hold it down.* Spoiler: it became permanent. And what she inherited? Her words — a mess. On top of that, she was carrying what she calls "three isms" — racism, sexism, and ageism — every single day, before she even opened her laptop.So she did what a lot of leaders do. She worked twice as hard, carried the load silently, and told everyone she was fine.Burnout came for her anyway… because it always does. But here's where Vanessa's story takes a turn most leaders never make: she told her team the truth, took two weeks completely off, and came back so recharged that her staff literally noticed the difference and asked why she didn't do it sooner.By giving herself permission to pause, rest, and ask for support, Vanessa not only transformed her approach to her own well-being but also modeled a new kind of leadership for her team and community. As she puts it, being a “strong Black woman” is not about never taking a break. It’s about having the wisdom to know when to recharge, so you can serve from a place of wholeness.Oh, and did I mention she's also a DJ on the side? Yeah. DJ Ace is in the building.Vanessa is now a transformational leadership coach, and in this conversation, she's about to share what it actually looks like to lead from your values, do it scared, and give yourself, along with everyone watching you, permission to be human.ResourcesVanessa McDowell-Atlas’ website: vmatransformationalcoaching.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vanessarmcdowellHype SongVanessa’s hype song is You've Been So Faithful by Eddie James & The Phoenix Mass Choir https://youtu.be/m28IBrcgSIo?si=kE2OV_-o0msqb7vCInvitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage.
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223. I Can't Get Off the Highway with Melissa Coloton
Apr 200:37:04Tap to summarizeWhat happens when your life looks successful and you keep telling yourself it is… but then you find yourself pulled over on the side of the highway with clammy hands and unable to breathe? Growing up in a loving, hard-working family deeply rooted in farming traditions, Melissa Coloton learned early on the importance of honesty, compassion, and the power of expressing love. Unlike most families, hers openly verbalized affection. “I love you” was the punctuation to every goodbye. This warmth, however, was balanced with discipline and high expectations. Because Melissa’s mother became a parent at sixteen, she was vigilantly determined to give her children the best possible chance, insisting on hard work, achievement, and a relentless pursuit of success. Melissa spent 20 years building a successful career in sales. She was really good at it. The kind of good that keeps you locked in. Promotions, performance, steady income… all the things that say, “stay right here.” And for a long time, she did. But underneath that success was constant pressure to get it right. To not mess up. To keep proving herself. What looked like ambition on the outside was really a fear of failure she didn’t even recognize at the time. That panic attack on the highway left her feeling lost, disconnected, and unraveling, fearful that she’d die without ever honoring her true purpose. With the help of a life coach and the practice of self-compassion, Melissa learned to listen to her own needs, confront the chronic sources of anxiety, and eventually gained the tools to manage and move through challenging emotions. Eventually she was able to unlock the “golden handcuffs” of her sales career and step into work that centers around honoring yourself and creating aligned success so you can avoid the kind of burnout that she experienced. We’re talking about how technology and societal shifts have fostered loneliness and a loss of communal support. But our conversation is optimistic about the resurgence of retreats, gratitude dinners, and analog gatherings. Listen in to hear the whole story.Resources Website: www.melissacoloton.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-coloton-coach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_coloton/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568472840753 Hype Song Unstoppable by Sia https://open.spotify.com/track/1yvMUkIOTeUNtNWlWRgANS?si=a2507f11148f41b1 Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage.
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222. Unshakeable Relief with Janice DaCosta
Mar 2600:38:35Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the thing you pride yourself on most… is the very thing quietly breaking you? Janice DaCosta grew up in a world where excellence wasn’t optional. You hold it together. You don’t fall apart. You make it work—no matter what. Until one day, standing in front of a mirror with scissors in her hand, she couldn’t hold it together anymore. What followed was a complete Control, Alt, Delete reset. Raised in a family of serial entrepreneurs with deep roots on Wall Street, Janice DaCosta grew up learning values centered around excellence, rigorous work ethic, and community upliftment. Love was at the core, but hustle was integral too. Janice’s professional journey began in the corporate world, navigating high-pressure environments across multiple continents as a global logistics leader. She excelled in male-dominated environments, but behind the scenes, it was a different story. She was holding together a marriage that wasn’t working. Showing up strong, being everything to everyone in every role she played. And quietly, she was unraveling. That pivotal “mirror moment” happened on a regular day when the façade finally cracked. It became the catalyst for radical change. She realized true failure wasn’t in letting go and not being perfect. It was in sacrificing herself at the altar of perfection. Thus began her long, messy, honest healing process. She started recording raw, unfiltered conversations with herself on video through which she allowed herself to unpack, witness, and process what she’d been holding back for years. This practice of speaking aloud, instead of shoving the emotions down, helped her cultivate self-trust and gave her the courage to finally seek support from others. Through this introspective journey, Janice unlocked the transformative power of “unshakable relief.” She learned to define her worth outside productivity, to let go of shame, and to give herself permission to feel all the emotions that make us human. That journey and its hard-won wisdom are now at the heart of her latest book on emotional wealth, which reimagines the concept of “pay yourself first.” Keep listening to hear what it sounds like when someone who “has it all together” finally admits… yeah, I don’t—and can’t keep pretending I do. Because you might recognize yourself here. Hype Song Janice’s hype song is Run the World (Girls)- Beyonce https://youtu.be/Xqo08TXbxWQ?si=jvYs5OeWT25608Wr Resources Janice DaCosta’s website: iamjaniceclaire.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicedacosta Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjaniceclaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjaniceclaire Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage.
Transcribe →221. Connection Is the Real Life Hack
Mar 1600:18:35Tap to summarizeWe’re more connected than ever… and more lonely than ever. Because connected online is very different than connected offline.In this solo episode, I'm exploring the quiet epidemic of loneliness and why it shows up in places most leaders overlook.If you’re interested in being successful – whether you’re running a business or working for someone – no matter what your definition of success is… and you want to amplify or upgrade your abilities, this episode is for you. If you’re interested in living longer without having to eat kale and work out two hours a day, seven days a week, this episode is for you.More than 10 years ago, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy uncovered an epidemic of loneliness in the U.S. What surprised him the most was the degree to which people described feeling lonely. And the diversity of people affected – all genders, all ages, all levels of education and professionalism and wealth.People were reporting they didn’t feel like they belonged. And people felt embarrassed and ashamed to admit they felt lonely. Because they didn’t want to appear needy or inadequate. Because of course, in America, we’re all about independence and self-sufficiency.Nothing has changed since then. If anything, these findings have only intensified in the past decade and were especially exacerbated by pandemic times.When people don’t feel seen, known, or supported, collaboration suffers, trust erodes, and work becomes heavier than it needs to be.The truth is, humans aren’t designed to operate like machines behind screens all day. Real connection fuels creativity, resilience, and engagement. It also plays a surprising role in how long and how well we live.If you want a stronger culture, better communication, and a team that actually enjoys working together, this episode will give you a place to start.Resources:My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.meInvitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage.
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220. Broke Built Me Better with Barry Bradham
Mar 500:40:00Tap to summarizeShaped by a childhood of resourcefulness and grit, Barry Bradham’s story moves beyond your usual rags-to-riches narrative. Raised in a family where money was often scarce, his parents displayed both strong work ethics and unconventional life choices. Barry started honing his sales skills at just eight years old; he was trading toys and selling bubblegum and baseball cards from a table on the corner. These formative experiences not only instilled the value of integrity but also introduced him early to both the highs of self-sufficiency and the lessons that come when the money in play isn’t as innocent as it first appears.From those humble beginnings, Barry followed an untraditional but ambitious route, blending work ethic with curiosity. His adolescence and entry into adulthood were marked by a succession of odd jobs, guided mentorship from community figures, and a constant drive to improve his financial footing. It was this drive, combined with the influence of books like "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and real-life examples of side hustles and entrepreneurship, that sustained his hunger for financial autonomy. But it was also a journey fueled by necessity and wanting a sense of control over his life that he didn’t always see modeled at home.In college, Barry took those scrappy entrepreneurial skills to the next level, helping launch new student organizations and eventually moving into a career in banking and real estate. By outward appearances, things looked, well, fine.He had an expanding portfolio, social credibility, and an impressive track record managing both businesses and teams. And yet, beneath the surface, Barry was making decisions in isolation, he no longer had the mentorship and strategic counsel that are vital when navigating high stakes. This was his first “fine but not fine” phase.It all came to a head during the economic downturn, when his calculated risks unraveled. He lost properties, financial security, his fiancée, and his sense of direction. And still, he kept the front up. Smiling. Positive. “I’ve got this.”But as often happens, those lowest moments became catalyzing ones. One day he was on a bus in the rain in Manhattan Beach, whispering to his sister through the phone that he felt like he was living out the movie The Pursuit of Happyness in real time.He was determined not to stay in that place though. He taught himself graphic design and studied Adobe programs late into the night. Slept on his office floor when he had to. Sold his car. Kept showing up to meetings with a belief that he could still create value.Barry credits his resurgence to humility, learning to ask for help, and embracing community instead of going it alone. His second “fine” season taught him something even bigger. And that story? Tune in to hear him tell it.Resources: Website: https://digilink.global/barrybradham-entrepreneur LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrybradham/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrybradham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrybradham_entrepreneur/ Hype Song: Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines ft. T.I., Pharrell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU&list=RDyyDUC1LUXSU&start_radio=1 Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart leaders know trust is the backbone of a thriving workplace, and in today’s hybrid whirlwind, it doesn’t grow from quarterly updates or the occasional Slack ping. It grows from steady, human communication.Plenty of companies think they’re doing great because they host all-staff meetings, keep “open door” policies, and throw the occasional team-building event. Meanwhile, leaders who truly care about culture are choosing better tools.That’s where I come in. Forward-thinking organizations bring me in to create internal podcasts that connect people through real stories, honest conversations, and genuine community—your old printed newsletter reinvented for the way people actually work now.If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.
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219. Running Full Speed… Into a Wall with Lindsey Korell
Feb 2600:38:48Tap to summarizeIf your body pulled the emergency brake tomorrow, would you wish you’d slowed down sooner?Growing up on a dude ranch in the remote town of Utica, Montana, Lindsey Korell was immersed in a world where hard work, family, and a curious eye toward the wider world set the tone for her upbringing. Surrounded by international guests drawn by her grandfather's innovative marketing and her father's relentless entrepreneurial drive, Lindsey developed a deep-rooted wanderlust and a respect for building success through grit and persistence. Early lessons included watching her dad make cold calls every evening after family dinner—a practice that became both a source of admiration and apprehension, showing Lindsey the realities, and costs, of uncompromising dedication.Curiosity about life outside Montana led Lindsey far from home, first to England on a Rotary Foundation scholarship and later to Turkey, where she wrote her master’s thesis on a bridge-building project. These adventures expanded her worldview, helping her recognize just how small her perspective had been and igniting what would become a lifelong passion for travel and understanding diverse cultures. A stint in the Peace Corps working with banking co-ops in developing countries taught her the profound importance of flexibility and humility. The world looks a lot different when you experience it on the ground and she learned how vital it is to see life through more than one lens.Back in the U.S., Lindsey’s career spanned real estate, launching her own businesses, and high-level operations in the corporate world. For years she thrived on the illusion that she could handle everything herself. Then came the wake-up calls she never expected. First a serious autoimmune diagnosis discovered by chance and, not long after, a heart attack that forced every assumption about work, life, and health into question.Lindsey’s journey is one of repeated reinvention, and one that includes unlearning the myth of invincibility and gradually accepting that genuine success is as much about surrendering control as it is about seizing it. Today, she helps women create more breathing room in their businesses. Through lessons learned in moments of both triumph and adversity, Lindsey embodies a philosophy that true fulfillment is about presence, perspective, and prioritization.Hype Song: Lindsey’s hype song is “Something's Got a Hold On Me” by Christina Aguilera Resources: Lindsey’s website: dailyprincipal.com LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/lindseykorell Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart leaders know trust is the backbone of a thriving workplace, and in today’s hybrid whirlwind, it doesn’t grow from quarterly updates or the occasional Slack ping. It grows from steady, human communication.Plenty of companies think they’re doing great because they host all-staff meetings, keep “open door” policies, and throw the occasional team-building event. Meanwhile, leaders who truly care about culture are choosing better tools.That’s where I come in. Forward-thinking organizations bring me in to create internal podcasts that connect people through real stories, honest conversations, and genuine community—your old printed newsletter reinvented for the way people actually work now.If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.
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218. The Danger of Handling Everything with Emma Collyer
Feb 1900:36:30Tap to summarizeWhat if the moment you tell yourself “I’m fine” is the exact moment you should be paying closer attention?Rooted in the core values of hard work, family, and emotional restraint, Emma Collyer grew up with the unspoken rule to “just get on with things.” This principle followed her well into adulthood. Raised in the UK and now residing in Canada, she learned early how to be dependable, observant, and low maintenance. The kind of person organizations love. The kind of leader who listens deeply, carries a lot, and rarely asks for help. This early belief of not causing a fuss left Emma wrestling with the tension between being a good listener and risk fading into the background vs speaking up and voicing her ideas.Her tendency to overcommit reached its breaking point during a pivotal leadership assignment. Wanting to prove herself, Emma found herself saying yes to every task. Investigations. Operational work. Emotional labor that wasn’t on any job description.Then one afternoon, she broke down in the middle of a busy city center, unable to maintain the “I’m fine” façade any longer. The emotional moment prompted honest conversations with supportive colleagues and forced her to reconsider the self-imposed pressures behind her relentless hustle.Reflecting on this turning point, Emma candidly admits that old habits sometimes resurface, but now she’s equipped with greater self-awareness and boundaries that keep her from sliding back into overwhelm.A large part of Emma’s work today centers on helping people master difficult conversations in the workplace – the ones most people avoid – the ones about capacity, trust, feedback, and what’s really happening beneath the façade of professionalism. She emphasizes the importance of using frameworks that shift the focus from accusation to collaboration, encouraging leaders to approach issues as shared challenges rather than personal failings. She understands why people disappear in meetings. Why feedback feels threatening. Why managers stop hearing the truth the higher they climb.This episode is about recognizing the quiet patterns that lead smart, well-intentioned people to override themselves and learning how to interrupt them sooner. Let’s shift conversations from transactional to human, from faking it to honesty.Hype Song:Emma’s hype song is “Unstoppable - R3HAB Remix” by Sia, R3HABhttps://open.spotify.com/track/0F3v8p8ZnEGtZDxNcJ5Klq?si=6cHF8iauRkWszhx3gI_mQ&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A2fmxVDpboTzLaLAfj5ZaQWResources: Emma’s website: aspireexecutivecoaching.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-collyer-aspire/Instagram: https://instagram.com/aspireexecutivecoaching/Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart leaders know trust is the backbone of a thriving workplace, and in today’s hybrid whirlwind, it doesn’t grow from quarterly updates or the occasional Slack ping. It grows from steady, human communication.Plenty of companies think they’re doing great because they host all-staff meetings, keep “open door” policies, and throw the occasional team-building event. Meanwhile, leaders who truly care about culture are choosing better tools.That’s where I come in. Forward-thinking organizations bring me in to create internal podcasts that connect people through real stories, honest conversations, and genuine community—your old printed newsletter reinvented for the way people actually work now.If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.
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