In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with executive coach and author Susanne Madsen to explore what it truly means to do the inner work. Drawing from her career in high pressure corporate environments, Susanne shares how chronic stress, misalignment with personal values, and ignored emotions can quietly erode well being and performance.

The conversation highlights practical tools leaders can use to regulate their nervous system, challenge limiting beliefs, create space for reflection, and rebuild their energy through simple daily routines. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or simply looking for sustainable ways to show up better for yourself and your team, this episode offers grounded and actionable insights.

Key Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and episode introduction 01:00 Why inner work matters in modern leadership 02:30 Susanne's experience with chronic stress and early warning signs 04:00 Ignoring emotional signals and wearing stress as a badge of honor 05:30 The moment she considered a sabbatical and how it shifted everything 06:30 Self sabotaging patterns and the belief that stress is "part of the game" 07:30 Near burnout and the internal voice that pushed her to take a break 08:00 How coaching opened the door to deeper awareness 09:00 Uncovering limiting beliefs and the process of coaching yourself first 10:30 What clients bring to coaching and how overwhelm shows up 11:30 Understanding values alignment and how people intuitively sense misalignment 13:00 The role of boundaries in preventing overload 14:00 The habit of saying yes and immediate regret 15:00 Why beliefs carry so much power in behavior and decision making 17:00 How to pause and sit with uncomfortable emotions 18:30 Techniques to acknowledge feelings so they dissipate 19:30 Why self compassion is difficult for many people 20:30 Finding your happy place as a foundation for inner work 22:30 How nature and silence support emotional processing 24:00 Identifying the tasks or relationships that drain energy 25:30 Rebuilding energy with small, meaningful activities 27:00 Introducing breathwork as a tool for emotional regulation 28:30 Coherent breathing and why it changes your physiology 30:00 Daily practice and how breath sets the stage for clarity 31:00 Meditation for training the mind and interrupting negative thought cycles 33:00 Using imagery and awareness to return to center 34:00 Combating negativity bias with gratitude 35:30 Noticing the small wins and everyday "miracles" 37:00 Rewiring the brain and shifting perspective over time 38:00 Encouragement to seek external help when needed 39:00 Final reflections and Susanne's closing advice 40:00 Ways to connect with Susanne and learn more about her work

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Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."

About Xenium HR

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/

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