Leaders Lead Even When It Hurts

If you freeze in the moment or say yes when you really want to say no, this episode gives you words you can use and a way to stand behind them.

You will learn why freezing is a trauma response, why pausing is the first move, and how to use one simple line to buy time: let me get back to you. Barb Nangle also breaks down the difference between a boundary and control so you can stop managing other people’s feelings and focus on your responsibility. You will hear scripts like that is not going to work for me and not at this time, plus how resentment can be your signal that it is time to set or shore up a boundary. You will leave with a grounded next step you can practice today.

Subscribe to Leaders Lead and leave a 5 star review. It helps the right people find the show.
Listen here: leadersleadthepodcast.com

Community
Join the Leaders Lead Community: flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0
Join for support grounded conversation and a place to connect without the online noise while you navigate real life.

Resources
National Mental Health Support Lines: 988 or 1 800 273 8255
Podcast website: leadersleadthepodcast.com
Leaders Lead Community: flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0

I have watched estrangement hit like a full-body shock, not just a sad season.

I have felt that disbelief where it seems like I am in the twilight zone, replaying every conversation, asking what I did, and getting nothing but silence back. In this conversation, I sit with Nancy McCartney as she explains why estrangement feels so cruel, why rumination starts, and how walking on eggshells trains the nervous system to stay on high alert.

I keep coming back to one truth that changed how I move through this: awareness is the first act of liberation. You will leave with a clearer way to stop the loop and start moving again.

Subscribe to Leaders Lead and leave a 5 star review. It helps the right people find the show.
Listen here: leadersleadthepodcast.com

Community
Join the Leaders Lead Community: flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0
Join for support grounded conversation and a place to connect without the online noise while you navigate real life.

ResourcesNational Mental Health Support Lines: 988 or 1 800 273 8255
Podcast website: leadersleadthepodcast.com
Leaders Lead Community: flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0

Feeling overwhelmed by physical, digital, or emotional clutter?

In this episode, my guest Barbara Hemphill breaks it down with a simple truth: clutter is postponed decisions.

Barbara shares how clutter isn’t just “stuff,” it can be a symptom of emotional, spiritual, and mental weight that keeps people stuck, especially after loss, fear, or grief.

She explains a practical decision-making approach that helps you sort what’s in front of you, build systems that last, and create a productive environment where you can actually breathe again.

If clutter stress is draining your energy at home or at work, you’ll walk away with a clear way to decide, start small, and build momentum in 90 days.

Subscribe to Leaders Lead and leave a 5 star review. It helps the right people find the show.
Listen here: leadersleadthepodcast.com

Community
Join the Leaders Lead Community: flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0
Join for support grounded conversation and a place to connect without the online noise while you navigate real life.

Resources
National Mental Health Support Lines: 988 or 1 800 273 8255
Podcast website: leadersleadthepodcast.com
Leaders Lead Community: flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0
Barbara Hemphill's Website: productiveenvironment.com

I have been so pissed that I stopped publishing the podcast for a minute because I did not trust my words to land with care.

I kept watching what I am seeing around immigration enforcement and the way people talk about human dignity like it is negotiable, and it showed up in my body.

I felt it in my sleep, in my anxiety, and in the way I moved through the day.

I could not stop seeing it, and every comment section pulled me into a back and forth that left my mind racing at night. It made me feel bad.

The lesson I received was that I can protect my mental health without shutting down by limiting intake, grounding my nervous system, and using my voice without debating, and you will get clear steps to do that.

Subscribe to Leaders Lead and leave a 5 star review. It helps the right people find the show.
Listen here: leadersleadthepodcast.com

Community
Join the Leaders Lead Community: Join for support grounded conversation and a place to connect without the online noise while you navigate real life. flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0

Resources
National Mental Health Support Lines: 988 or 1 800 273 8255
Podcast website: leadersleadthepodcast.com
Leaders Lead Community: flowcode.com/p/cSHVgIMAa?fc=0

If you have ever been blindsided by someone you trust, you know that betrayal isn't just a regular trauma. It is a psychological earthquake that shatters your identity and worldview. In this episode, Dr. Debi Silber, founder of the PBT Institute, breaks down her groundbreaking PhD research on Post-Betrayal Syndrome.

She reveals why betrayal causes unique physical symptoms like digestive issues and extreme fatigue and provides a predictable, 5 stage roadmap to move you from survival mode into a completely transformed version of yourself.

• [05:41] Why Betrayal is a Unique Trauma: Dr. Debi explains why betrayal differs from other traumas because it forces you to question your ability to trust and trashes your sense of belonging and worthiness.

  
  

• [09:38] Defining Post-Betrayal Syndrome: A look at the collection of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms including hypervigilance and low energy that affect those who haven't fully healed.

  
  

• [15:19] The 5 Predictable Stages of Healing: Introducing the evidence based roadmap that takes you from the initial shock to the rebirth of a new worldview.

  
  

• [19:56] The Stage 3 Trap: Why most people stay stuck for decades in survival mode because it feels safe, often leading to numbing behaviors like emotional eating or overworking.

  
  

• [39:19] Rebuilding the Brick Wall of Trust: A powerful analogy explaining that trust must be rebuilt brick by brick by the person who broke it, while the betrayed person's only job is to observe.

  
  

About Dr. Debi Silber:Dr. Debi Silber is the Founder and CEO of The PBT (Post Betrayal Transformation) Institute and National Forgiveness Day. She is a 2-time #1 International bestselling author and has been featured on FOX, CBS, and The Dr. Oz Show.

Her PhD study revolutionized the understanding of betrayal recovery by identifying the specific stages required for full transformation.

Connect with Dr. Debi:

• Take the Quiz: Do You Have Post Betrayal Syndrome?

• Official Website: The PBT Institute

• Watch the TEDx: Do You Have Post Betrayal Syndrome?

• Listen to the Podcast: From Betrayal to Breakthrough

If you were just diagnosed with dyslexia and don’t know what it really means, this episode is for you.
We talk about how dyslexia is misunderstood, how it affects confidence, and what actually helps moving forward.

Full description:

A dyslexia diagnosis can bring relief, confusion, grief, and fear all at once. Many people are left wondering whether this explains years of self doubt, overworking, or feeling behind, and what it means for their future.

In this episode of Leaders Lead – Even When It Hurts, Tony Taylor sits down with Willie Blake to talk honestly about what dyslexia really is and what it is not. Willie shares what it was like growing up dyslexic, being misunderstood in school, and internalizing the belief that he was less capable than others.

Together, they unpack why dyslexia is often misread as laziness or inconsistency, how it impacts confidence and self trust, and why so many people develop coping strategies like people pleasing, overworking, or staying quiet. This conversation also explores how understanding your wiring can shift shame into clarity and help you move forward without trying to fix yourself.

This episode is not about motivation or pushing harder. It is about understanding dyslexia with compassion, rebuilding confidence from the inside out, and learning how to work with your brain instead of against it.

If you were just diagnosed, support someone with dyslexia, or quietly suspect this might apply to you, this conversation is a place to start.

Former Marine Susannah Rose Stokes joins me to talk about psychedelics, trauma, and healing.
We go deep into what actually happens when people use mushrooms or LSD for trauma recovery and how these experiences can rebuild your mind, body, and soul.

You’ll hear:

• What psychedelics do for emotional healing and self-awareness

• The importance of set and setting before any psychedelic experience

• How to integrate after a journey so the healing actually sticks

• Who psychedelics can help — and who shouldn’t take them

• Why leading with love creates real transformation

If you’re curious about psychedelic therapy, mushrooms for trauma, or healing through consciousness, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation on the go and join the community at LeadersLeadThePodcast.com.

This is the official announcement of the new direction for Leaders Lead Even When It Hurts. The show started with conversations about entrepreneurship, but every guest had one thing in common: they were leading while carrying something heavy.

In this episode, Anthony talks about why the podcast is expanding into mental health, healing, and the real journey leaders face behind the scenes. You’ll hear why the shift happened, what to expect moving forward, and how this community will grow with you.

If you’ve been looking for real conversations about leadership, purpose, pain, and healing, this is where we’re going next.

Subscribe, leave a review, and join the community at LeadersLeadThePodcast.com.

At just five years old, Hillary Momberger-Powers became the voice of Sally Brown in the beloved Peanuts cartoons..the bright, funny sister of Charlie Brown who made the world smile.
But behind the laughter was a story of trauma, addiction, and healing that would take decades to unfold.

In this powerful episode of Leaders Lead, Hillary shares her journey of addiction recovery, inner-child healing, and faith-based transformation.
She opens up about early fame, family dysfunction, forgiveness, and the inner work that helped her rebuild her life from the inside out.

If you’ve ever struggled with pain, perfectionism, or the weight of your past, Hillary’s story will remind you that redemption is possible and your voice still matters.

👉 Follow Hillary’s ongoing journey and find more inspiration at HilaryMombergerPowers.com

🎧 Listen now on LeadersLeadThePodcast.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you hear stories of resilience and renewal.

Have you ever felt your body betray you when it’s time to speak in public ?
Your heart races. Your hands shake. Your mind goes blank.

That used to be me — every single time.

In this episode, I share how I used podcasting to face my fear of public speaking and how each rep behind the mic helped me find my voice again. From my first nervous recordings in a closet to lessons learned through hundreds of interviews, this one’s about courage, repetition, and learning to breathe through the fear.

You’ll learn:

• How to reframe stage fright as energy, not failure

• Why repetition builds rhythm and confidence

• The power of hearing your own voice

• Simple tools like box breathing and grounding to calm your nerves

• Why courage is built in reps, not in perfection

Takeaway:
You don’t have to be fearless to be heard. Every time you face the mic, you shrink the fear.

Links Mentioned:

• Guided Meditation for Anxiety: https://youtu.be/wNpvALOKXlw?si=4JSbpKTg04BGN0yZ

• Box Breathing Exercise: https://youtu.be/pobbcE7Ov3o?si=nns62irf-ZvIAV8R

Join the Community:
LeadersLeadThePodcast.com – Click Free Community Signup and connect with other leaders who are learning to speak, serve, and lead even when it hurts.