In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Lorraine sits down with Leesh Pike—a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and former professional boxer turned women's health advocate. Together, they explore Leesh's journey from struggling with disordered eating, overtraining, and mental health challenges to becoming a coach who empowers women over 40 to build confidence, strength, and resilience—on their own terms.

Leesh shares how her teen years, marked by anorexia, depression, and the search for identity, shaped the work she does today. She opens up about the pressure to seek approval, her journey to self-love and healing, and how boxing became both an outlet and a lesson in knowing when to pivot. Now, she helps women reevaluate their values, align their goals, and find their power through fitness and nutrition.

Lorraine and Leesh also discuss the evolution of success, the importance of mental health support, and how parents and teens alike can benefit from redefining their relationship with achievement, health, and self-worth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Leesh’s personal journey through disordered eating and overtraining

How therapy, fitness, and self-reflection helped her build self-love

The importance of aligning your goals with your values

How societal expectations can distort our definition of success

Tips for teens and parents navigating body image, mental health, and perfectionism

Leesh’s transition from boxing to full-time coaching and her IVF journey

How to access Leesh’s fitness, nutrition, and women’s wellness programs

About Leesh Pike:

Leesh is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach based in Salisbury, MA, who works with clients virtually and in-person. She is passionate about helping women, especially those over 40, reconnect with their strength and embrace confidence without diet culture. She offers 1:1 coaching, custom programming, and a 30-day holistic women’s wellness program.

Connect with Leesh:

💻 Website: https://www.leeshpikefitness.com/

📸 Instagram: @leeshpikefitness

📧 Coaching Info & Inquiries: [email protected]

Resources & Mentions:

Lorraine's teen leadership coaching programs at www.peersnotfears.com

Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans. Every listen helps amplify the voices of those transforming challenges into change.

In this episode of Leaders of Today, I share my personal journey from teaching chemistry to coaching young leaders. What started as a career in science turned into a calling—helping students discover their own leadership potential.

I reflect on the pivotal moments that led me to create Peers Not Fears and the lessons I’ve learned along the way:

Whether you're an educator, a parent, or someone passionate about youth empowerment, this episode is for you. Leadership isn't just for a select few—it’s a skill that can be nurtured in every young person.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired to see leadership in a new way!

Connect with me:

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Lorraine sits down with Diane to explore her powerful journey from a shy and approval-seeking teen to a compassionate advocate for children, families, and conscious parenting. Diane opens up about the struggles she faced with loneliness, perfectionism, and inherited patterns of fear—and how she transformed those challenges into her life’s purpose.

Together, Lorraine and Diane discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for teens, redefining leadership, and the critical role self-awareness plays in parenting. Diane shares candid insights into her own parenting journey, including how her daughter’s struggles became a mirror for her own healing and how that led to deeper emotional connection and growth.

This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership starts within—and that by embracing vulnerability, breaking generational patterns, and showing up authentically, we can create meaningful change for the next generation.

How Diane’s early experiences with loneliness and fear of disapproval shaped her identity

The dangers of perfectionism and the approval trap—and how to break free

Why self-reflection is essential for conscious parenting

How emotional acceptance can heal relationships and build deeper connections

The evolving definition of leadership and how teens can lead without fitting a mold

The importance of mistakes in personal growth and resilience

🎧 Beautiful Behavior Podcast by Diane Sorensen

💬 Diane’s coaching programs on empowered living and connected parenting

🌐 [email protected]

Follow Lorraine on Instagram @peersnotfears

Learn more about Peers Not Fears: www.peersnotfears.com

Order Lorraine’s book A Teacher’s Story

✨ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode if it resonated with you. Let’s continue building a world where today’s teens grow into tomorrow’s powerful, empathetic leaders.

#LeadersOfToday #TeensToTitans #ParentingWithPurpose #EmotionalGrowth #SelfAcceptance #ConnectedParenting #BreakingPatterns #LeadershipRedefined

In this heartfelt episode of Leaders of Today, we dive into the connection between parenting and leadership—two roles filled with challenges, learning curves, and the inevitable mistakes that shape our journeys.

As parents, we often put immense pressure on ourselves to "get it right." But what if true leadership in parenting isn't about perfection, but about how we respond when things don’t go as planned?

In this episode, I explore:

Parenting is leadership, and leadership is about learning. Join me in this candid conversation about embracing our imperfections and leading with authenticity.

🎧 Listen now and discover how embracing mistakes can make you a stronger parent and leader!

Connect with me:

In this powerful episode of Leaders of Today, Lorraine Connell sits down with Alisha to discuss the importance of open and honest conversations about health, bodies, and self-acceptance. Alisha shares her deeply personal journey of navigating her daughter’s ovarian cancer diagnosis and how it led her and her husband to have candid discussions with their young children about health and body awareness.

Beyond her family’s experience, Alisha offers heartfelt advice to her teenage self—embracing self-acceptance and staying true to her inner voice. She emphasizes the significance of creating spaces where kids feel comfortable talking about their bodies and health without shame or fear.

For parents looking to foster these important conversations, Alisha provides resources and guidance on age-appropriate sex education and encourages open, judgment-free discussions with children and teens. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to empower young people with knowledge, confidence, and trust in themselves.

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#OpenConversations #HealthAwareness #SexEducation #ParentingMatters #YouthEmpowerment #BodyPositivity #LeadersOfToday

Show Notes:

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with Courtney, Director of the Center for New Americans, to explore the transformative power of mentorship and leadership for young people—especially those from immigrant backgrounds.

Courtney shares her personal journey from being a high school mentee to becoming a peer leader and eventually dedicating her career to youth empowerment. Together, she and Lorraine discuss the importance of creating supportive environments for young leaders, the challenges immigrant youth face, and how programs like theirs are fostering confidence, resilience, and leadership skills in students.

🌟 Key Takeaways:

Plus, hear about their exciting new initiatives, including the expansion of middle school mentorship programs and a potential partnership with the Choose Love curriculum!

#LeadersOfToday #YouthEmpowerment #MentorshipMatters #TeenLeadership #ImmigrantVoices #ChooseLove #FutureLeaders #Confidence #GrowthMindset

In this episode of Leaders of Today, we explore what it truly means to leave a legacy—not just through grand gestures, but in the everyday moments that shape the lives of those around us. Leadership isn’t about titles or status; it’s about the impact we make through our actions, our words, and the way we show up for others.

I reflect on:

Your legacy isn’t something you build at the end of your journey—it’s something you create every single day. Join me as we dive into the power of everyday leadership and how we can all make a lasting impact.

🎧 Listen now and start shaping your legacy today!

Connect with me:

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell welcomes Olivia, co-founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry, for an insightful conversation on transitions, leadership, and the impact of past experiences on personal growth.

Lorraine opens up about a stressful morning, juggling her child’s school application process while ensuring leadership in her own commitments. This sets the stage for a deeper discussion with Olivia about navigating life’s transitions, both in school and beyond.

Olivia shares her journey from feeling like an outsider in a private school to finding purpose through mentorship, art, and leadership. She reflects on the power of supportive teachers, the role of empathy in school transitions, and the importance of redefining popularity. Together, Lorraine and Olivia explore how connection and mentorship shape young leaders, and how parents and educators can foster spaces where every student feels seen.

The conversation takes a deeper dive into Olivia’s mission with Fresh Starts Registry, a platform designed to support individuals through major life changes. She shares how her personal experiences with transition and resilience inspired her to build a community of support, and why staying true to oneself is key to navigating change.

Join us for this powerful discussion on embracing fresh starts, shedding negative labels, and leading with authenticity.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired to navigate your own transitions with confidence!

Fresh Starte Website

Olivia on Istagram

#FreshStarts #Leadership #TeenLeadership #Empowerment #StudentSuccess #Authenticity #Mentorship #SchoolTransitions

Bonus Episode: What Makes You Confident? A Teen Leadership Coach’s Perspective

In this bonus episode of Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell dives into the true meaning of confidence and how teens can build it in a way that lasts. Drawing from her blog post, What Makes You Confident? A Teen Leadership Coach’s Perspective, Lorraine explores the difference between external validation and inner confidence, and why leadership plays a key role in developing self-assurance.

Tune in to hear practical tips on how teens can step into their confidence, embrace challenges, and grow into strong, self-aware leaders.

For more leadership insights and resources, visit Peers Not Fears.