The Conscious Leadership Podcast with Gabby Ortega, MA

Feminine Leadership in Media with Elissa Shay

Listen Later

Too often, our culture and media today portray the mental health journey as something to ignore or demonize. But as the rise of social media allows for more diverse perspectives and stories to be shared, it’s increasingly evident that our struggles can also empower us to recognize what’s not serving us, challenge the status quo, and build a more conscious future. To see what’s possible even after going through trauma, this episode offers a deeper understanding of mental health and the arts through a conversation with mental health advocate, actor and filmmaker Elissa Shay.

After going through her own journey of healing, Elissa advocates for mental health in part to destigmatize and take away the shame surrounding the struggles and experiences, leading the way for others as she creates conscious projects in film and the arts. Our conversation dives into the role that healing work plays into leadership, the ways that Hollywood and the arts mirror current power structures, and the importance of building aligned communities to uplift conscious voices and create lasting change.

This episode offers such a nuanced perspective on the ways that our mental health journey impacts our perceptions of leadership, money, success, and even of our own identity. You’ll walk away with a greater understanding of how to lean into your healing and use it to create opportunities to empower and uplift others along the way.

  • [1:50] Introduction to actor and filmmaker, Elissa Shay
  • [4:48] The importance of sharing mental health conversations to take away the shame
  • [6:18] Elissa’s mental health journey and healing from perfectionism and trauma
  • [14:56] The difficulty in recognising and shedding the things that no longer not serve us
  • [20:29] Stepping into leadership after doing the work of healing
  • [24:23] Operating ethically as a leader
  • [26:28] The ways that culture, the arts, and Hollywood ignore and demonize mental health and neurodivergent perspectives
  • [38:40] How to balance the act of being a creative with stepping into others’ lived experiences
  • [43:58] How mirror neurons, empathy, and media can be used to empower change in the future
  • [48:41] Creating space for our stories and power by giving ourselves permission to challenge current rules, systems and limitations
  • [54:35] Reframing perceptions of money and power
  • [57:21] Finding the aligned communities that uplift and empower one another
  • [1:00:28] Elissa's words of wisdom for women who want to step into leadership roles while healing from trauma

    • *The leadership book mentioned in the episode by Gabby is Dare to Lead by Brene Brown.

    This week’s guest was Elissa Shay! Elissa is a mental health advocate, actor, and filmmaker focused on conscious projects, with a mission to spread light and love to the world. Find more from Elissa on Instagram at @elissa_shay.

    We'd love to know what you took away from this week's episode! Please post any takeaways you had on IG and tag us @om_therapy_coaching/@consciousleadershippodcast. If you enjoyed this episode, we'd also love it if you could leave a review! All the who leave a review, screenshot, and DM it to us at @om_therapy_coaching or @consciousleadershippodcast, will receive a FREE copy of our Positive Mindset Workbook as a gift.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    The Conscious Leadership Podcast with Gabby Ortega, MABy Gabrielle Ortega
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    23 ratings