What if one of the hardest parts of podcasting isn't consistency, strategy, or growth... but grief?

Returning from a family holiday in Italy and I reflect on the bittersweet feeling of leaving behind moments that can never quite be recreated. That experience opens the door to a conversation most podcasters never have.

Because every podcast journey asks us to let go.

Whether you're just getting started, questioning your direction, celebrating milestones, or wondering why something still feels unexpectedly heavy despite your success, this episode explores an emotional side of podcasting that often stays hidden.

Today I want to share six (surprising!) ways grief can show up as you build your voice, your platform, and your leadership. You may recognize yourself in more than one of them.

This isn't an episode about loss.

It's an episode about growth, identity, change, and what it really means to keep showing up with your voice over time.

If you've ever wondered why podcasting can feel so deeply personal, this conversation might put words to something you've been carrying for a long time.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why podcasting can stir emotions that have nothing to do with microphones or downloads.
• The hidden side of building a public voice over many years.

• How letting go may be one of the most important skills every podcaster develops.

Whether you're an experienced host or still thinking about starting your podcast, this episode is an invitation to see your journey (and yourself!) with a little more compassion.

Mentioned in this episode:

#impact - A Podcast about stuff that matters

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

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What if the thing your audience has been looking for wasn't your expertise... but your voice?

I recently looked back at my podcast analytics. Not just the download numbers, but the comments, the messages, and the moments where people stayed with me the longest.

And I noticed something.

The episodes that resonated most weren't the ones filled with podcasting strategies or technical advice.

They were the ones where we talked about something much deeper: what it means to find your voice, trust it, and keep choosing it—even when life changes you.

In this episode, I'm reflecting on what that taught me. About podcasting, yes. But even more about leadership, identity, and why our relationship with our own voice is never really "finished."

If you've been feeling disconnected from yourself lately, questioning your direction, or comparing your path to everyone else's, I hope this conversation feels like a gentle reminder to come home to your own voice.

In this episode, we explore:

• why the conversations that matter most often aren't the ones we expect
• what podcast analytics revealed about the work I'm really here to do
• why growth can feel uncomfortable (and why that's not a sign you're on the wrong path)
• the two habits that quietly pull us away from our own voice
• how comparison becomes louder than intuition
• a simple practice to reconnect with the version of you that's already there
• why your voice isn't something you find once—but a relationship you keep nurturing

Your voice will keep changing.

The question isn't whether you've found it.

The question is: Will you keep listening?

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

If you've been thinking about starting a podcast for months—or even years—but still haven't hit record, you're not alone.

"Just do it."

It's probably the most common advice aspiring podcasters hear. It's well-intentioned, but what if it's also the reason so many people stay stuck?

After spending the weekend at a podcast festival and speaking with dozens of incredible people who all shared the same dream—starting a podcast "one day"—I came home questioning the advice I've given for years.

In this episode, I explore why motivation and more information aren't the missing pieces, why waiting to feel ready rarely works, and the surprising mindset shift that can finally help you move forward.

If you've ever wondered why you keep putting your podcast idea on hold despite knowing exactly how much you want to do it, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why "just do it" isn't always helpful advice
• The real reason so many aspiring podcasters stay stuck
• A powerful mindset shift that changes how you think about launching a podcast
• The one question to ask yourself if you've been waiting for the "right time"

Whether you're dreaming of starting your first podcast or you've been talking yourself out of it for years, this episode might change the way you think about taking that first step.

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://reginalarko.com/newsletter/

A sudden Facebook account closure made me reflect on something most of us don’t like to think about when we’re building our presence online.

We are not actually building on platforms we own.

And yet, so much of how we measure success is tied to them . Just think of the way you approach followers, likes, reach, downloads.

It feels real. It feels like growth. But it’s fragile in ways we often only notice when something disappears.

In this episode, I explore what it really means to build a voice in today’s digital world and why visibility alone is not enough if it isn’t anchored in ownership.

Because the deeper work isn’t about chasing more attention.

It’s about building something that lasts beyond the algorithm.

Something that stays with you, even if a platform changes overnight.

In this episode I talk about:

• voice leadership in a world obsessed with metricspodcasting and podcast growth beyond algorithms
• authentic communication as the foundation of trust
• thought leadership as a long-term body of work, not a content sprint
• visibility vs. building an audience you actually own

And I share why your podcast is not just content, it’s infrastructure. A living archive of your thinking, your leadership, your perspective.

This episode is for you if you’re in that in-between space:

You’re showing up. You’re building. But part of you is starting to ask what actually lasts.

I hope this episode gives you a new lens on your work and that my passionate call to action (yes, you'll hear my voice picking up) to ask yourself some different questions about what it is that you’re currently building. And what you are building on.

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

How do you keep showing up when no one is making you?

In this episode of Lead With Your Voice, I sit down with podcaster, creative, coach, and wonderfully curious human TJ Bennett, host of the Desuckify Work podcast.

For nearly three years and more than 130 episodes, TJ has shown up week after week to have meaningful conversations about making work more human, more fulfilling, and yes, a little less sucky.

We talk about what drew him to podcasting in the first place, how he launched his podcast alongside his coaching business, and the simple act of public accountability that helped him begin before he felt fully ready.

This conversation is really about something bigger: what happens when you trust your curiosity enough to follow it. TJ shares why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills, how decades in the advertising world shaped his approach to coaching, and why creating space for other people's stories has become central to both his work and his podcast.

We also explore the tension many of us feel between being professional and being human online, the importance of playfulness and experimentation, and why your voice matters long before you have everything figured out.

If you've been waiting for the perfect moment to start your podcast, share your ideas, or put your voice out into the world, this episode is a reminder that the people making the biggest impact are often the ones willing to begin before they're ready.

Connect with TJ Bennett:

Website | Desuckify Work Podcast | TJ on LinkedIn

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

In this episode, I’m speaking about the question so many podcasters quietly carry:

“Why isn’t my podcast turning into real opportunities?”

If you’ve ever felt like your podcast has become just another thing on your to-do list… if you’re creating content consistently but still wondering how it all connects back to your work, your visibility, or your business… this episode is for you.

I’m sharing:

• the mindset shift that completely changed how I approach podcasting
• the difference between building a podcast on top of your business vs inside it
• and why your podcast may already be doing more than you realise

This is a look into voice, leadership, sustainability, and creating a podcast ecosystem that actually supports the life and business you want to build.

Plus, I’ll share more about my Shift series with 4 quick but powerful shifts to help you rethink your podcast strategy and relationship with your voice.

Listen now — and access the Shift series here: www.reginalarko.com/shift

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠

In this conversation, I sit down with a geophysicist-turned writer and podcaster Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge who’s done something many of us quietly long for. She’s learned how to move from future anxiety into genuine curiosity about what’s ahead.

We look at how her voice has evolved since starting her podcast back in 2020. Not in a polished and linear way but through showing up before she felt ready, building confidence gradually, and making some uncomfortable decisions along the way.

One of those shifts? Moving her podcast from Norwegian to English to open the door for more conversations. It wasn’t an easy call. It came with doubt, discomfort, and the very real risk of losing part of her audience. And still, she chose it.

We also get into what it actually looks like to run a business this way. Not rigid. Not overly strategic.

But experimental.

Following what feels alive.

Letting go of the pressure to be consistent just for the sake of it and instead returning to the mic when there’s something real to explore.

Because for her, the podcast isn’t the end product. It’s part of a bigger platform. One that connects to her writing, her book work on Substack, and her thinking as it evolves in real time.

We talk about resisting the pressure to niche down, simplifying tools and workflows, and finding aligned guests. And she shares the four pillars shaping her next chapter: energy transition, entrepreneurship, the future, and health.

It’s an honest conversation about finding your own pace, trusting your voice, and building something that actually fits your life and work, not the other way around.

Featured Guest:

Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge: ⁠Stories for the Future (Podcast+ Substack) | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠⁠Community⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | Resources⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠[email protected] 

Mentioned in this episode:

PodMatch: A great platform to find and book guests for your podcast. You can join here: JoinPodMatch.com/regina 

Event podcast recordings can feel exciting…and a little intimidating.

You’re in the middle of a busy event, conversations are short, energy is high and it’s easy to think the recording itself is the main thing.

But what if the real opportunity goes far beyond that moment?

In this episode, I’m sharing a different way to approach live podcast recordings. One that helps you create deeper connections, extend your visibility, and turn a single appearance into something that keeps working for you long after the event is over.

If you’ve ever considered recording your podcast live (or said yes to an opportunity and wondered how to make the most of it), this episode will give you a new perspective.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why event live podcast recordings are about more than just hitting “record”
• What most people overlook when recording at events
• Simple ways to stay connected with the people you meet
• How to create momentum that continues after the event ends
• A more intentional approach to showing up with your voice in live settings

Loved this episode?
Take a screenshot, share it, and tag me. I always love seeing where you’re listening from.

Connect with Regina Larko: www.reginalarko.com/start

⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠

Mentioned in this episode: Zoom H4N (love to record with this one at events) 

If you’ve ever had the idea to start a podcast, but something in you said “not yet”, this is for you.

Maybe you’ve already recorded a few episodes. Maybe work got busy. Maybe that mic you ordered is still sitting in the box.

Or maybe life just keeps happening and you’re still waiting for the “right moment” to begin.

I had the idea for this episode at 10:30pm.
I hit record at 11.
Edited it by 11:30.
And now it’s almost midnight as I’m writing this, about to press publish.

I don’t usually work like this.
But sometimes something feels so heavy on my heart, it just needs to get out.

This is one of those.

It’s what I wish I had heard when I first wanted to start.
And maybe it’s exactly what you need to hear today.

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

Mentioned in this episode: Regina's flagship production #impact - A Podcast about stuff that matters.

Ever felt like you don’t quite fit in? But what if this was exactly where your power is? In this episode, I talk with Fyiona Yong, author of How to Thrive as a Misfit and host of the The Thriving Misfits Podcast, about turning what makes you different into your superpower.

Fyiona shares how her cross-cultural journey, born in Malaysia, raised in Germany, navigating a career in oil & gas, and living as an expat in Asia, taught her that inclusion isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential. 

She opens up about launching her podcast from her book, moving past self-limiting beliefs, and shining a light on the inner stories of resilience that help listeners feel less alone.

We dive into the cathartic process of writing her book during the pandemic, why misfits don’t have to wait for the world to change, and how you can shape your own environment. Plus, Fyiona gives a behind-the-scenes look at her evolving podcast seasons, what’s coming next on Asian leadership and breaking the bamboo ceiling, and her practical advice for starting a podcast.

This episode is for anyone ready to embrace their quirks, speak their truth, and turn resilience into action.

Featured Guest:

Fyiona Yong: ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | The Thriving Misfits Podcast

Connect with Regina Larko:

⁠⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠⁠Community⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]