In leadership, as in life, the path is rarely straight—and sometimes the greatest growth comes from the moments that challenge our resilience the most. In this 2-Part episode series of Finding the Upside, I’m joined by Julie McManus, a seasoned leader whose journey spans five continents, countless industries, and a powerful evolution from “corporate tough” to authentically human.

Julie opens up about the career twists she never saw coming—from the excitement of global consulting to the devastation of an unexpected layoff. We dive deep into how she rebuilt her confidence, learned to lead with heart, and embraced the power of simply saying yes—even when the next step was unclear.

This episode isn’t just about career resilience—it’s about owning your worth, navigating the complexities of being a woman in leadership, and breaking the outdated mold of what strong leadership looks like. Julie shares hard-won insights on self-worth, the gender pay gap, and how we can begin shifting workplace cultures that reward hierarchy over humanity.

Tune in for an honest, empowering conversation that will remind you of your strength, challenge you to rethink how you lead, and inspire you to show up fully—just as you are.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

Episode Show Notes  

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Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

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The first cup of coffee is MAGIC - anyone with me?  Well, in today’s episode of Finding the Upside, I am exploring the small yet significant rituals that begin our days—not just as mundane routines, but as foundational practices that bring us calmness and peace. What does the morning coffee ritual and other personal routines offer?  For me, they are more than just comfort; they provide a necessary pause in a fast-paced life.

You've probably heard about the power of simple pleasures—those moments of calm, not extraordinary, but rooted in the most ordinary parts of our day. Perhaps too often we overlook these routines, dismissing them as trivial. But I think they are in fact vital to our emotional and psychological state.

So I am exploring this question -- what are those things that bring calm and are the small things that are the root of what keeps us centered, grounded and ready to take on whatever comes our way? That's exactly what we're diving into today.

Show Notes: 

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:01] Why is the First Cup of Coffee Magical? 

• [2:38] How I Find Calm - My Go To’s

• [5:10] Don’t Underestimate The Power of THIS

• [5:42] It’s Small Habits and Rituals That We Lean On 

Episode Show Notes 

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Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW  My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Encore episode…Today we’re revisiting an inspiring conversation with Mandy Keene on how to break through personal barriers and unlock growth. So often, the biggest thing standing in our way is ourselves—the beliefs we hold, the stories we tell, and the patterns we’ve adopted. We’re bringing this episode back because the insights Mandy shares are just as powerful today as ever. 

Why is it that we often struggle to attain what we desire?  Many times, the answer lies within ourselves - things we believe, stories we have adopted.  And unlocking that is the secret to breaking through and harnessing our own personal growth. Today, my special guest Mandy Keene talks with me about how you can get out of your own way. Mandy is a personal empowerment coach and for 23+ years she has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, athletes and pioneering innovators master their own self-discovery.  Mandy uses personality assessments to help her clients understand themselves and gain a deeper understanding of what is blocking them from moving forward. We discuss how she uses these tools, the methods she uses and how she has helped so many of her high-profile clients.  Tune into this episode to listen in on this intriguing conversation.

Show Notes: 

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [01:00] : Mandy’s Journey to becoming a Personal Empowerment Coach

• [01:40] : Growing Up here Self-Help Was Mandy’s religion

• [21:58] : The Strawberry Shift: Mandy’s Framework when Teaching Coaches

• [46:33] : Supporting Each Other like a Group of Penguins 

• [50:32] : Social Media & Connection is like the bar where you go to order

• [54:32] : The Transformation that comes from the use of Support Groups

• [01:32:08] : The Penguin in the Desert

Mandy Keene | Instagram 

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Get access to Mandy’s personality assessments HERE! 

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Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW  My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Encore episode…Today we revisit  an insightful conversation with Mizuho Kanazawa on the impact of navigating multiple cultures. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, understanding cultural identity and belonging is more relevant than ever. That’s why we’re bringing this episode back—because its message is just as important today as when we first aired it.

Our global society and US culture continues to expand with more and more cultures threaded together and weaved into our country.  Although cities throughout the US have been called a “melting pot”, what we actually see are pockets of cultures that never really merge.  Have you ever considered why? More than ever, there is a need for REAL cultural understanding and the creation of inclusive spaces for all to belong. 

In this episode, I welcome Mizuho Kanazawa (Miho), and we discuss the nuances and layers of this intricate topic.  Miho is dedicated to working with clients whose personality and life experience were shaped by more than one culture. She shares her work focus, empowering individuals who juggle multiple cultures, the one they share with their parents and the one in which they are living and navigating.  I learned that there are individuals that are “third culture.” These scenarios come with challenges for people, navigating to understand, be understood and merge their multicultural parts into a healthy identity. 

Miho works closely with her clients and seeks to empower the multicultural person to work through all chapters of their life; to build confidence and be connected in all their important relationships and valued in their community.  Miho discusses the challenges her clients face, from navigating multiple cultures in their families, to being accepted in their home society, to dealing with issues in corporate spaces. Tune in to this thought-provoking conversation on cultural identity, the importance of creating safe spaces, and the power of TRUE diversity within corporations where everyone belongs. Listen now!

Show Notes: 

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [01:24]: Miho’s Journey to Becoming a Multicultural Therapist

• [6:19] : Third Culture Children

• [12:10] : What Needs to Happen Inside Corporations 

• [28:38] : Why People Need to Share Their Identity and Cultural Stories 

• [48:55] :  These are ALL Human Conditions

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Learn more about Miho’s Drama for Healing HERE

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Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW  My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

We’re continuing the conversation on leadership—what it is, what it isn’t, and why so many leaders still fall into outdated, ineffective models. Part 1 of this special Finding the Upside series unpacked key insights from past episodes, and today in Part 2, we’re diving even deeper.

You’ve heard me talk about Rebel Leadership—not reckless rebellion, but leadership that breaks the mold to create something better. Too often, we see leaders operating from a place of control instead of influence, dominance instead of trust. And when those ineffective styles get recycled and reinserted into our organizations, businesses, and even society, we all feel the impact.

So what does real leadership look like? How do we shift away from outdated approaches and toward leadership that actually drives success, innovation, and lasting change? That’s exactly what we’re tackling in this episode.

If you’re ready to level up your leadership thinking, tune in now. And don’t forget to check the show notes for links to all the episodes we revisited in this two-part series!

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:39] We Don’t Want To Normalize THIS

• [3:43] Leadership Means to Invest In Others

• [6:44] The Most Rewarding Part About Leadership

• [8:49] In Order To Be A Great Leader, You Must Do THIS

Episode Show Notes 

Episodes Mentioned In The Episode: 

Episode #90: CREATING LEADERS: The Power of Rebel Leadership

Episode #114: ONE TOUGH CHICK: Redefining Leadership and Finding Purpose with Marla Corson

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Want to scale your business to the next level?GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready ScoreHERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and reviewHERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

I’ve recently been reflecting on leadership—what it is, what it should be, and why we keep seeing outdated models that simply don’t work. On this special episode of Finding the Upside, we’re revisiting some of the most powerful leadership insights from past episodes. This is Part 1—so stay tuned for Part 2 next Tuesday.

You know I talk about Rebel Leadership—not rebellion for the sake of chaos, but leadership that challenges the ineffective norms we've been conditioned to accept. Too often, leaders follow outdated models that don’t serve their teams, their organizations, or the greater good. And the worst part? These broken styles keep getting reinforced and reinserted into our systems.

Real leadership isn’t about control—it’s about influence. It’s about breaking away from ineffective traditions and building cultures where people can thrive. In this episode, I’m diving deep into key takeaways on what great leadership truly looks like, why the wrong styles persist, and how we can shift toward something better.

If you’re serious about leadership that drives real impact, this episode is for you. Check out the show notes for links to the episodes we’re revisiting—and let’s get into it.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:58] Why Non-Traditional Leadership Works Best

• [3:26] Great Leaders Remain RESILIENT

• [5:49] Sal Rametta’s Definition of Leadership

• [8:53] Finding Comfort in Being Uncomfortable

Episode Show Notes 

Episodes Mentioned In The Episode: 

Episode #39: Rebel Leaders: Why Being Non-Traditional Works Best with Sam Manon

Episode #62:  Leadership in Adversity: Lessons from CEOs

Episode #84: CREATING LEADERS: Cultivating Possibility with Sal Rametta

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Want to scale your business to the next level?GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready ScoreHERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and reviewHERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership—what it means, what it should look like, and why we’re seeing more and more examples of leadership gone wrong. Recently, I contributed to a Business Insider article and I was asked about Trump’s leadership style, and it got me reflecting on a bigger issue. How do we ensure leaders don’t follow this bad model built on division, fear, and chaos that is getting so much attention? WHY would other leaders try to emulate that? Guess what - Great leaders wouldn’t…Good leaders wouldn't.

My stance is clear - a leadership style like that where leaders bulldoze their way through decisions, dismiss opposing voices, and create instability instead of unity. But that's not real leadership. It’s short-term dominance that ultimately leads to long-term failure. Today, I’m breaking down why this approach is so dangerous, why some people might be tempted to follow  it, and what real leadership actually looks like.

Leadership isn’t about power—it’s about influence. It’s about building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating environments where people can thrive. So how do we move away from out-dated, ineffective leadership models and toward ones that create real, lasting collaboration and impact? 

This conversation is too important to ignore. If we want better leadership in business, politics, and society, we have to demand better examples. Listen now to get powerful insights for change on this timely topic.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:08] Why It’s Important to Talk About Trump’s Leadership Style

• [1:22] Rebel Leadership is About THIS! 

• [4:51] Several Key Lessons on Practices To Avoid In Leadership

• [6:04] Collective Success is Key

• [8:26] Transformation is on the Other Side Of Implementation

Episode Show Notes 

Check out the full article in Business Insider! 

Business Insider Article Abstract.pdf

Episode Mentioned In The Episode: #115: WHY REBEL LEADERSHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER IN 2025

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Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW  My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

In this episode ofFinding the Upside, we’re stepping away from our usual topics to shine a light on a devastating crisis—the wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles. These fires have left destruction in their wake, displacing families, disrupting ecosystems, and challenging communities in ways that are hard to imagine.

The reality is, when disasters like this happen, it’s easy to feel helpless. We watch the news, see the devastation, and ask ourselves—what can I do? But even in the darkest times, there are ways to take action. Today, I’m holding space for reflection, sharing resources for those affected, and offering ways that we can all contribute—whether through donations, volunteering, or simply amplifying the right voices.

And beyond the immediate relief efforts, there’s a bigger conversation we need to have. These fires aren’t just random tragedies—they’re stark reminders of the environmental challenges we face and the urgent need for change. So, where do we go from here? How do we not only help rebuild but also address the root causes of these increasing disasters?

I am also addressing some of the failures in leaders that have chosen to push political rhetoric instead of focusing on helping our citizens and real problem solving. This isn’t a time for rhetoric, it's about humanity. It’s about being the leaders for times of crisis, and the responsibility we all have to support those who need help and healing. Join me as I shed light on the power of community, resilience, and what it truly means to come together.

Resources to help are in the show notes. If you’re able, please consider donating, volunteering, or spreading awareness. Every action, big or small, makes a difference.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:30] Drawing Attention To The LA Wildfires  

• [1:22] Why It’s CRUCIAL That We Talk About THIS! 

• [2:25] Resources For Anyone Looking To Lend A Hand

• [6:04] These Fires Are Stark Reminders!

• [9:42] Help Heal Our World

Episode Show Notes 

RESOURCE TO HELP: 

GoFundMe: Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

World Central Kitchen: Help provide fresh meals to communities in need in California

Direct Relief: Donate To California Wildfire Response

CORE: Support communities impacted by the Los Angeles fires

Pasadena Humane: Emergency Help Needed for Wildfire Relief

Baby2Baby: Support Children & Families Affected by LA Fires

Donate to California Wildfires and Help Those in Need

California Volunteers / Wildfire Recovery Resources

Supporting Valerie Chan in Rebuilding Her Life After The Wildfires

Resources for California Wildfires

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Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW  My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 
Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

If you’ve looked around and noticed that there really is no job security, you’re not imagining it. It’s a reality that In the current business climate there really is no loyalty when it comes to the employer/employee relationship.   And today, I’m diving into why.

In this episode of Finding the Upside, I’m breaking down why loyalty and commitment is often elusive—how companies expect employees to stick around no matter what, yet have no problem cutting jobs the moment financials don’t line up. This isn’t how business has to be—it’s a result of a system that shifted over the past few decades, turning layoffs into a normal strategy instead of a last resort.

Of course, we could blame changing economies, but I want to go deeper. Are companies really committed to their people, or are they just committed until? And what about employees—are they truly dedicated to their jobs, or are they just staying until something better comes along? This episode unpacks how we got here and, more importantly, what leaders and businesses can do differently to change that.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

Episode Show Notes 

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Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW  My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Ever had a customer service experience that just left you thinking, “There’s gotta be something they can do to make this better”? I know I’ve been there. In today’s short episode of Finding the Upside, I’m sharing an update on my less than stellar experiences with a car rental company that I talked about a while back. The lines were always long, the wait times were always ridiculous, and honestly, it felt like no one was taking responsibility to make it better. But on my most recent trip, something surprising happened—one employee turned the whole experience around with a simple, but genius move.

No, she didn’t magically make the cars appear faster. But she did something way smarter: I’ll walk you through how this employee’s “under-promise, over-deliver” approach made all the difference, and why it’s a great lesson for businesses that want to keep customers happy, even when things don’t go perfectly. Most of you I am sure have been stuck in a frustrating service situation, so, this one’s for you. Let’s get into it…

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

Episode Show Notes 

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Listen to Episode #29: Want Raving Fans? Focus on Building Systems For Predictable Outcomes  HERE

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW  My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE. 

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now! 

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox!  CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.