Raised in a hardworking, Catholic family that seemed picture-perfect from the outside, Andrew Quebbemann learned early on the value of self-reliance and doing things for yourself. But it was during a pivotal moment at age sixteen—choosing not to get confirmed into the church—that he first exercised the courage to honor his own convictions over societal or familial expectations. That decision, viewed as rebellious by his parents, was also his first bold step toward living authentically and questioning what really worked for him, rather than simply following the script laid out for him.

This early demonstration of independent thinking set the stage for a pattern that has defined Andrew's adult life. Whether leaving corporate America after looking around and finding no one he wanted to emulate or choosing to go plant-based overnight simply because it felt right for his body, Andrew developed what he calls psychological agility—the capacity to make swift decisions and take action when something no longer serves him.

However, this same strength became a source of deep conflict within his family, where relationships had always been transactional and understanding seemed impossible to achieve. After years of trying to navigate increasingly difficult family dynamics that affected both him and his wife, Andrew made the painful decision to request a three-month break from his parents to reevaluate their relationship as adults. Their response was a brutal phone call filled with insults, which marked the beginning of a three-year estrangement that continues today, despite Andrew's willingness to engage in family therapy.

The loss of his parents while they're still alive has required Andrew to mourn a relationship he thought he had. He candidly shares how stepping away from toxic dynamics allowed him to embrace self-care, protect his marriage, and redefine how he wants to show up in the world.

Through therapy and a daily meditation practice inspired by Indian mystic Sadhguru, Andrew has learned to find peace within himself rather than seeking validation from those who may never be capable of providing it. His story illustrates the heartbreaking reality that sometimes loving someone means accepting that a healthy relationship with them may not be possible, and making decisions that honor your well-being is necessary for survival.

Hype Song:

Andrew’s hype song is One Step Closer by Linkin Park

Resources:

1. Andrew’s Website: https://goldbookfinancial.com/our-team/andrew-quebbemann/
2. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-quebbemann/
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewquebbemann/

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.

Stef Warlick grew up with the kind of values that leave a lasting imprint. Guided by a mother who came from a strict Catholic upbringing and believed deeply in championing the underdog and showing relentless kindness, Stef was immersed from a young age in principles of empathy, hard work, and accountability. “If you can’t change something, change your mind about it” was a guiding family mantra.

Those early teachings became the blueprint for how Stef approached life and work. Stef's career in government contracting and corporate environments taught her invaluable lessons about gathering complete information before making decisions, thanks to a mentor who emphasized that "there are more than two sides to every story." This wisdom became crucial during a devastating personal tragedy involving her beloved pets, which left Stef walking through life in a fog. It was a period of numbness so acute it felt like an out-of-body experience.

Worse still was overhearing people, unaware she was within earshot, harshly judging her character based solely on this single, painful event. That incident carved a groove in her understanding of empathy: you never know what someone else is carrying, and judgment without context is more than unfair—it’s destructive.

Stef became even more attuned to the stories people keep hidden and the resilience they muster just to keep going.

Now focused on building inclusive teams and communities, Stef has learned that diversity isn't just about checking boxes but about creating environments where people feel genuinely seen and valued. Her approach to working with people with disabilities exemplifies this philosophy. Rather than tiptoeing around differences or making assumptions, she advocates for direct, respectful communication that treats everyone as a whole person worthy of authentic connection. Her story illustrates how our most painful experiences can become our greatest teachers if we're willing to learn from them.

Hype Song:

Stef’s hype song is Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys

Resources:

1. Stephanie Warlick’s website: https://www.stephaniewarlick.com/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniewarlick/
3. X: https://x.com/5FTV_Consulting
4. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579261754103

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.

Kathryn Eipl spent much of her professional life doing exactly what she was trained to do: keep everything together, move forward no matter what, don’t feel too much, and definitely don’t let anything fall apart.

Raised in a household where emotions were weaponized as jokes and communicating risked having your vulnerabilities shared with the entire extended family, Kathryn learned early to guard her feelings. She joked that she had "a black heart" and simply "didn't feel."

This emotional armor served her well in the notoriously cutthroat entertainment industry, where she thrived managing complex projects while navigating an environment that demanded perfection and offered little room for human vulnerability.

Not surprisingly, the constant stress and emotional suppression took their toll, leading to burnout and an unhealthy relationship with alcohol as her primary coping mechanism. Despite achieving professional success, Kathryn found herself caught in a cycle of reactivity, letting her emotions run the show while simultaneously denying they existed.

The turning point came when friends convinced her to try hot yoga. Despite her initial resistance, the fast-paced vinyasa classes in heated rooms provided the perfect entry point for someone accustomed to constant motion, allowing her mind to finally quiet as she moved through poses too quickly to overthink. This practice became her gateway to emotional awareness and regulation, teaching her the crucial difference between reacting to life's challenges and consciously responding to them.

As Kathryn deepened her yoga practice and completed teacher training, suppressed memories and emotions began surfacing during her sessions. She put a journal beside her mat to process the revelations. This journey of emotional archaeology taught her how to respond instead of react. She also learned to advocate for herself. That meant walking away from the entertainment industry completely after promises made for a prestigious overseas project were broken, even though fear, guilt, and old stories tried to talk her out of it.

Now as a yoga instructor and wellness coach, she helps others develop the emotional intelligence and self-regulation skills that the entertainment industry—and many other high-stress environments—actively discourage, proving that it's never too late to learn a healthier way of being in the world.

Kathryn's Hype Song:

Masterpiece by Able Heart

Resources:

1. https://eiplhealing.com/ (1 Free Neuro-Resonance Strategy Session use code WELCOME at checkout.)
2. LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-eipl/
3. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eiplhealing
4. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eiplhealing/#

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.

Growing up in the Midwest during the 1980s, Kristi Straw was raised with traditional values of being the quiet, grateful “good girl," don’t speak too boldly, and never outshine others. Alongside this mandate to be humble and accommodating came the classic Midwestern lessons in kindness, like let others go first at an intersection, and cook a pot roast for the new neighbors.

But lurking underneath the surface was an undercurrent of self-diminishment. These expectations and beliefs would be both barriers and fuel for Kristi's eventual rise in the corporate world.

Leaning into relentless drive and adaptability, she climbed from individual contributor to bank president and C-suite executive in just a few years. But behind the impressive title and substantial paycheck was a steadily growing sense of inauthenticity. She describes years of “chameleonizing” or masking her true self to fit an environment that wasn’t built for her bold ideas, her height, or her emerging leadership voice.

Ultimately, her success required constant shape-shifting and sacrificing parts of herself, a survival tactic rooted in childhood messages about what women “should” be.

Everything came to a head when, after finally reaching the top, Kristi realized three hours into her dream job that she simply couldn’t conform anymore. She found herself lying on her office floor with the stark realization that this life was no longer "fine." The money, status, and access couldn't mask the fundamental misalignment between who she was becoming and who she wanted to be.

That raw acknowledgment sparked her greatest pivot yet. Now, Kristi is fiercely committed to building communities based on authentic connection, collaboration, and high standards of integrity. As a coach and author, she champions what she calls “psychological agility,” aka the ability to adapt, stay open to surprise, and continually learn regardless of the outcome.

I suspect you’ll relate to her story of realizing that sometimes the most successful-looking life is in fact the one that's keeping you furthest from your true potential. And that no matter what, you have to find the courage to break the rules that never fit you in the first place.

Kristi's Hype Song

All I Do is Win https://youtu.be/GGXzlRoNtHU?si=9dwag_ZqVPmTJhgV

Resources

1. Website: www.LighthouseLeadershipConsultants.com
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kstrawmba/
3. Instagram: @LighthouseLeadershipConsultant

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.

Growing up in a household where freedom was paramount, Pia (Myo Lischter) Mailhot-Leichter was raised by rebellious, artistic parents. From her mother’s escape from small-town Quebec at 19 on the back of a motorcycle bound for Morocco and New York, to her artist father who lived outside society’s lines, Pia inherited both a fierce independence and a romanticized view of constant movement as the solution to life's problems. Education was another cornerstone value, instilled early on as the key to independence, especially for women. The foundational beliefs of freedom, strength, and visionary self-expression became the undercurrents that shaped Pia’s journey. 

By seventeen, Pia had already left home, continuing her mother’s legacy of carving her own path through life. After years of living what appeared to be a successful creative life in London and Copenhagen, Pia found herself caught in a destructive pattern of using movement and busyness to avoid dealing with deeper issues. Following a messy divorce, an unhealthy rebound relationship, and throwing herself completely into building a creative studio, she was maintaining the facade that everything was "fine" while internally falling apart. The wake-up call came when she was fired from her partnership role, leaving her metaphorically thrown through the windshield of the fast-moving car that was her life, staring at the shards of what she thought was working. 

Instead of immediately jumping into job hunting mode, Pia listened to her intuition and made a radical choice to embark on a solo four-week journey across China, Mongolia, and Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway. 

A therapist invited her to learn how to stay instead of running, which became a catalyst for her inner transformation. Pia learned that staying busy and on the move was a form of distraction, a way to avoid sitting with pain and uncertainty. Through stillness, she gradually rewired her nervous system and uncovered the importance of discernment. She built resilience to sit with discomfort, understanding that pain minus the mental story is simply pain, not suffering. 

Throughout this conversation, Pia reminds us that uncertainty is actually fertile ground for creativity and growth. By running “experiments” in life, leaning into discomfort, and treating every chapter as an adventure rather than a test to win or fail, she embraces messy, beautiful humanity.  

Her story is an invitation to break free from inherited scripts, anchor into self-compassion, and write entirely new lines—proving that sometimes, the bravest act is simply to stay. 

Resources:  

• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pia.leichter/ 
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pialeichter 
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pialeichter/ 
• Website https://kollektiv.studio/ 

Pia's Hype Song:  

Messy by Lola Young 

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.

Raised with strong faith values across multiple religious traditions, Meshell Baker discovered early on that the best people she encountered weren't defined by their specific beliefs, but by how consistently they practiced core principles of love, kindness, and service. In the beginning of her career, Meshell was exposed to diverse spiritual communities while selling Yellow Pages advertising in the most racially diverse county in America. Her experience would later become the foundation for everything she built. 

After a period of incarceration that stemmed from personal trauma and lost confidence, Meshell threw herself into rebuilding through corporate success. She became exceptional at climbing the ladder. You know the routine, the one that involves chasing promotions, better cars, bigger paychecks. On paper, she was winning. But she felt like she was running on a hamster wheel, hitting milestones that gave her five minutes of satisfaction before she had to chase the next achievement high.  

The turning point came during a Bible study group where she discovered her gift for helping women transform their confidence and step into their power. She realized this work brought her more joy than any corporate achievement ever had. 

Now as an entrepreneur and confidence coach, Meshell has learned the crucial difference between transformation and transaction. She emphasizes that once you transform internally, the external transactions (success, money, opportunities) naturally follow, but the reverse isn't true. Her story illustrates how confidence isn't something you summon on demand like an Amazon delivery. It’s a way of being that you embody through consistent practice and self-compassion, even when, or especially when, you don't feel like it. 

Resources:

Meshell Baker’s website: https://meshellrbaker.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshellrbaker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeshellRBaker

Instagram: http://instagram.com/MeshellRBaker

Meshell's Hype Song is Confident by Demi Lovato

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.

Holiday solo episode today. On what might be a controversial topic, but what the hell. LFG!

It’s no secret that this girl loves shopping. I inherited this love from my grandmothers. The small state I grew up in has at least 12 major shopping malls. It’s a challenge right now to not get sucked into all the Black Friday sales. Although my favorite protein powder is 30% off and I can’t guarantee some new leggings won’t end up in my shopping cart.

All this to say it’s no surprise that when my two besties from high school and I get together for girls’ weekends, we go shopping.

No matter what city or town we’re exploring, we tend to find ourselves in those cute home décor or specialty kinds of stores. You know the ones with mugs and glassware and candles and soaps and locally packaged food items. And there’s something I’ve noticed in recent years. The more I’ve thought about it, the more it disturbs me.

It’s the dish towels that say “They should put more wine in the bottle. So there’s enough for two people.” Or “Wine, because adulting is hard.”

And the coasters that scream “I’m one glass away from a good mood.”

It seems we live in a culture that promotes drinking as a way to have a good time or wash away all your negative emotions. “Everything’s just fine! Have some wine.” I haven’t seen that one yet, but maybe it’s out there.

Stay with me here because this episode is not about shaming you if you enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail. I’m here to have a chat about how we’ve seemed to normalize drinking as a coping mechanism. And how it’s entirely built into the way we socialize.

Since we’re right in the thick of the holidays now, I thought it would be interesting to look at this concept and ask, is it fine or not fine? Maybe it’s simply about becoming more aware of this social habit and giving yourself the opportunity to evaluate your participation in it.

Thanks for spending part of your holiday with me. Wishing you all the feelings of joy, love, belonging, and gratitude, my friend.

Invitation from Lori: 

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Listen, we all know that work emails from leadership and all staff meetings can feel…a little bit impersonal. How do you make work feel a little more human?

Leaders who are serious about building real trust with their team are finding more modern and effective ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through insightful stories, personalized conversations, and the information you ACTUALLY want to hear that helps you move your career and company forward. Think of it as a way to 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.

Christopher Bylone grew up on a New Jersey family farm where no one was above mucking stalls, and lending a hand wasn’t optional. His grandfather, decades ahead of his time, taught him that inclusion wasn’t a corporate policy; it was just what decent people did.

Those lessons stuck. They carried Christopher from agriculture to analytics to becoming a respected voice in diversity, equity, and inclusion. When his company’s diversity metrics stalled, he spoke up, “We have no strategy.” That bold truth redirected his entire career toward DEI leadership. He went on to build a team from zero headcount and zero budget into a million-dollar operation. On paper, he was thriving. But inside? He was the four letter “fine.”

Working at Krispy Kreme, he loved the mission but dreaded the grind. Seventy-five percent of his time was spent executing instead of shaping strategy. Then came the layoff. And with it, the uncomfortable truth that “fine” had become his hiding place.

That pattern didn’t stop at work. After years of insisting he could lose weight on his own, Christopher realized grit wasn’t enough. Well-meaning people told him to “just diet harder,” but he made a different choice and underwent bariatric surgery. It was a turning point that forced him to evaluate not only his habits but his relationships as well.

Now, 90 pounds lighter with 30 left to go, he’s learned that accepting help isn’t weakness: it’s wisdom. The people you surround yourself with can either hold space for your growth or keep you stuck in the old story. As a lifelong gardener, he’ll tell you not everything that looks like a weed needs to be pulled. Sometimes, it just needs to be moved.

Through therapy, reflection, and better boundaries, Christopher discovered that true friends don’t have to agree with your decisions but they do have to respect them enough not to stand in your way.

Christopher’s hype song is “Proud” by Heather Small.

Resources:

• Christopher Bylone’s website: https://www.innovationunbiased.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbylone/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbylone/
• Listen to Christopher’s podcast I Know I Belong When: https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/

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.

What happens when a basketball star loses everything from his NBA dream, his identity, and even his beloved coaching job at his alma mater?

In today’s episode of "Fine is a 4-Letter Word," you get to meet Coach Matt Doherty, who opens up about the masks we wear, the power of vulnerability, and why saying "I'm fine" can be the most dangerous lie we tell ourselves.

Coach Doherty grew up on Long Island with dreams of basketball greatness. He achieved remarkable success as a three-year starter at the University of North Carolina under legendary coach Dean Smith. But his NBA dreams were cut short, leading him to Wall Street during the decade of greed where he began self-medicating with alcohol.

After building a successful coaching career that culminated in his dream job as head coach at UNC, Matt's world came crashing down when he was fired after just three years in a very public manner. This devastating blow, combined with his struggle with alcoholism, forced him into a period of deep self-reflection and transformation. The turning point came through discovering emotional intelligence and the power of vulnerability, leading him to remove what he calls his three masks: the "tough guy mask," the "smart guy mask," and the "I got my shit together mask."

Today, Matt is an executive coach using his hard-earned wisdom to help leaders avoid the landmines he stepped on during his own leadership journey. Through his work with peer advisory groups and his book "Rebound: From Pain to Passion," Matt demonstrates that true strength comes from exposing your struggles to the light instead of hiding them.

Get ready to hear about the morning routine that changed his life, why he believes vulnerability is the new invincibility, and the surprising origin of the word "coach." Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or just trying to get out of bed some mornings, this episode will challenge you to take off your masks and step into who you're meant to be.

Matt’s hype song is Ramble On by Led Zeppelin

Resources:

• Coach Matt Doherty’s websites: https://coachmattdoherty.com/ and https://dohertycoaching.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmattdoherty/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachmattdoherty/
• Claim your copy of “Rebound: From Pain to Passion” at https://dohertycoaching.com/books/

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 meeting 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 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. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Fine is a 4-Letter Word is all about those moments when “fine” is just the mask we wear before life gives us a loud wake-up call.

For Massimo Backus, that wake-up call came wrapped in a leadership 360 evaluation that painted a picture he didn’t recognize. The team he thought he was inspiring and supporting saw someone defensive, unsafe to approach, even a bully. Gut punch, right?

Raised by creative, supportive parents who met in a woodworking class over a three-legged chair, Massimo learned the values of creativity, acceptance, and generosity that would later guide his unconventional career path. He also carried the invisible weight of childhood dyslexia and a lifelong habit of needing to prove himself. That pattern followed him into adulthood and eventually showed up in how he led others.

His relentless pursuit of purpose-driven work eventually led him to a prestigious position as global head of leadership development for a large international consulting firm, where he thought he had finally “made it.” However, that 360-degree feedback assessment came as an unexpected wake-up call.

Massimo first tried to “fix” himself on his own. It wasn’t until he surrendered control and attended the Hoffman Process, a weeklong retreat, that he uncovered the real saboteur: his own inner critic.

Through self-compassion, Massimo finally found the power to stop performing and start being. Listen as we unpack his journey from overactive inner critic to radical freedom.

Massimo’s hype song is Dance Yrself Clean by LCD Sound System

Resources:

• InKind Leaders Website: https://www.inkindleaders.com/
• Massimo’s Personal Website: https://massimobackus.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/massimo-backus/
• Claim your copy of: “Human First, Leader Second” book

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 meeting 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 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.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.