Dr. Jen Fry is a Sports Geographer, educator, speaker, tech founder, and the force behind JenFryTalks, where she helps organizations navigate the messy but transformative terrain of conflict and culture. She’s also the author of the razor-sharp new book I Said No, a guide to setting boundaries and reclaiming your power without apology.

In this candid and energizing conversation, Jen takes us inside her unconventional journey—from volleyball coach to PhD to tech entrepreneur—and shares how each chapter shaped her understanding of people, place, and power. We explore why conflict isn’t something to avoid, but a catalyst for innovation, healing, and leadership growth.

We talk about:

- How becoming a Sports Geographer unlocked a new way of seeing people and systems

- Why most of us were never actually taught how to navigate conflict

- The harmful patterns leaders repeat when fear drives the culture

- How her book I Said No helps high-achievers break cycles of guilt and overcommitment

- The parallels between managing conflict and building a tech platform from scratch

- The power of no-regret decisions, reinvention, and honoring the hard moments that shape us

Jen is bold, brilliant, and refreshingly honest. This episode is part masterclass, part storytelling, and part pep talk for anyone ready to stand their ground and lead with clarity.

Find Dr. Jen Fry:

JenFryTalks (all platforms)

Book: I Said No (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or signed copies on her website)

Coordle: Her tech platform for simplifying group travel