Podcast Summary: The Conscious Entrepreneur — EP 124: Emotional Self-Regulation for Leaders - Part 2: Interrupt Fear With Curiosity (Replay)
Host: Sarah Lockwood with guests Marina, Sue Holutski, and Beck Seidow
Date: January 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode is the second in a series on emotional mastery for entrepreneurs, focusing specifically on the role of curiosity as a tool for emotional self-regulation. Host Sarah Lockwood, alongside coaches Marina, Sue Holutski, and Beck Seidow, dives into practical techniques for transforming moments of fear into opportunities for growth, presence, and leadership. The conversation offers actionable practices that leaders can use personally and with their teams to create psychologically safe, resilient workplaces.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Bridge from Fear to Curiosity

• Fear contracts, curiosity expands: Fear is described as a physiological and mental contraction (tight chest, narrowed perspective), while curiosity opens up possibility and reconnects the leader to choice.
  • Quote — Marina (01:48):
    “Curiosity is that antidote to [fear]. It's sort of the, the expansion that follows after the contraction if you can have awareness.”
• The process:
  • Notice fear as it arises.
  • Pause to cultivate curiosity instead of judgment.
  • Use curiosity to return to clarity and choice.

2. Consciousness and The Power of the Pause

• Moving from the amygdala (fear center) to the prefrontal cortex (decision making and self-awareness) is vital.
  • Quote — Sue (02:45):
    “When we become aware of that, and then we move toward curiosity... we do need to be in the prefrontal cortex to ask that question. The amygdala is not capable of that.”
• The act of pausing is emphasized as a powerful tool to “seed” curiosity in stressful moments.

3. Curiosity Questions: Self-Inquiry as a Leadership Skill

• Sample powerful questions:
  • “What else is true?” (Sue, 03:40)
  • “What story am I telling myself right now?” (Marina, 04:32)
• Not about denying fear, but expanding perspective and possibility.

4. From Judgment to Expansion

• Curiosity cannot exist in the presence of judgment. Leaders should train themselves to recognize and release self-judgment to create space for curiosity.
  • Quote — Marina (07:30):
    “Curiosity can't exist where judgment exists. They don't hold the same space.”
• Turning curiosity into a ‘game’ or enjoyable self-inquiry practice.

5. Making Curiosity Portable: Practical, In-the-Moment Techniques

• These skills and practices are not reserved for reflective solitude but are portable and can be used in real-time, such as during meetings or high-pressure scenarios.
  • Quote — Sue (08:35):
    “What Marina and I help people do is discover portable, practical, and accessible practices.”
• Awareness of body and gaze (“edges exercise”): When in a stress response, your gaze may narrow. Expanding your field of vision physically can help create mental openness.
  • Quote — Marina (13:49):
    “Literally just sitting in a meeting and recognizing how far do I see? What are the edges of my field?... Can I expand my view peripherally?”

6. Modeling Curiosity as a Leader

• Leaders should welcome their present-moment experiences, even difficult ones, with a sense of openness (“this too”), using a gentle, self-encouraging inner tone.
  • Quote — Sue (10:49):
    “It's happening anyway, so the welcome to it is this Too this too, right? This is happening...So it's a softening, right? A smile is not a stiff thing to do. It's actually a welcoming thing to do.”
• Curiosity should be practiced and verbalized in leadership. Sharing self-reflection with the team encourages a safe, collaborative atmosphere.

7. Bringing Teams Into Curiosity

• Invite teams into the leader’s practice: Say out loud, “I’m working on being more curious,” or share what you notice in real time.
  • Quote — Sue (15:23):
    “Actually invite your team into your own practice process to say, I'm working on being more curious. I've noticed that I can get in the meeting, I can get a little tight and I can get rigid and want to move the meeting along...”
• Use open-ended “how” and “what” questions instead of “why”:
  • “How might this look…?”
  • “What can I do to support you?”
  • Avoid “Why did we miss our number?” which is less generative.
  • Quote — Marina (18:04):
    “Why is this happening? Not really helpful. What can we do about it? Very curious. How can I support you? Open ended?”

8. Curiosity as Confidence

• When leaders choose curiosity in tense moments, they demonstrate confidence — both in themselves and in their team's ability to generate solutions.
  • Quote — Sue (19:31):
    “It is an expression from the leader of confidence... that the team can resolve it and that there's possibility here.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Curiosity is that antidote to [fear]. It’s the expansion that follows after the contraction.” — Marina (01:48)
• “What else is true?” — Sue (03:40)
• “Curiosity can't exist where judgment exists. They don't hold the same space.” — Marina (07:30)
• “What Marina and I help people do is discover portable, practical, and accessible practices.” — Sue (08:35)
• “It's happening anyway, so the welcome to it is this too, right?” — Sue (10:49)
• “How can I support you? Open ended?” — Marina (18:04)
• “It is an expression from the leader of confidence... that the team can resolve it and that there's possibility here.” — Sue (19:31)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 00:00–01:48: Introduction; the interplay of fear and curiosity for leaders
• 01:48–02:45: Defining curiosity as expansion; its value in leader self-awareness
• 02:45–05:12: Sample curiosity questions; the shift from judgment to openness
• 07:30–08:20: The relationship between judgment and curiosity; self-inquiry as a ‘game’
• 08:35–09:59: Making self-regulation habits “portable” and “practical” for busy founders
• 10:49–12:23: Modeling curiosity and welcome in high-stress leadership moments
• 13:49–14:59: Somatic exercises — expanding your gaze as a stress-response tool
• 15:17–16:47: Modeling vulnerability and curiosity with your team in real time
• 16:49–18:21: Using better questions (“how” and “what” instead of “why”) to foster team curiosity
• 19:31–20:18: Curiosity as an act of leadership confidence
• 20:19–21:14: Wrap up and next episode teaser: self-honesty

Actionable Takeaways

• Catch Yourself in Fear: Notice physical or emotional contraction as a signal to pause.
• Ask Powerful Questions: Shift from “why” to “how” or “what” — both for yourself and your team.
• Practice in the Moment: Use somatic tools (like expanding your gaze) to ground and reopen perspective during stressful meetings.
• Model and Verbalize Curiosity: Make your self-inquiry visible to your team. It invites psychological safety and collective problem-solving.
• Frame Curiosity as Confidence: Demonstrating curiosity, especially in tough situations, signals strength and generates possibility.

This episode equips conscious entrepreneurs and leaders with practical, science-backed strategies for interrupting reactive patterns. The practices of curiosity and self-inquiry are presented as essential—not only for personal well-being, but for cultivating productive, inspired, connected teams.