Leadership Lore Podcast

“Women supporting women.” We love to say it. But how often do we actually mean it? 👀

In Episode 12 of Leadership Lore Podcast, Natalie Micale and Therese Gopaul-Robinson get into the sometimes complicated reality of women supporting other women at work.

We're talking competition, insecurity, scarcity, mentorship, sponsorship, and the difference between cheering another woman on and actually helping her succeed.

We also share some of the women who've genuinely shown up for us—and why having a few people in your corner who will encourage you, challenge you, and tell you the truth might matter more than expecting every woman to be your biggest fan.

Because supporting women doesn't mean you have to like every woman. And sometimes the most meaningful support isn't the loudest.

Is your workplace actually toxic… or, is it you? 👀

Not every difficult coworker, frustrating boss, or uncomfortable conversation is a sign of a toxic workplace. But sometimes? The label absolutely fits.

In Episode 11 of Leadership Lore Podcast, Natalie Micale and Therese Gopaul-Robinson get into the difference between a genuinely toxic work environment and the everyday frustrations of working with other humans.

Because sometimes the workplace is the problem. And sometimes… well, that's a different conversation.

Leading people you like is easy. The real test is what happens when you genuinely cannot stand someone on your team. 😅

In Episode 10 of Leadership Lore Podcast, Natalie Micale and Therese Gopaul-Robinson talk about the very human reality of leading people you don't like—and why pretending it never happens isn't particularly useful.

We get into the difference between personal annoyance and an actual performance or conduct problem, what happens when a high performer is also making everyone else miserable, and the uncomfortable question every leader eventually needs to ask:

Is this person actually the problem... or is it me?

Because leadership doesn't require you to like everyone. It does require you to make sure your personal feelings aren't driving how you lead them.

And sometimes? That takes a whole lot of emotional maturity and a very convincing poker face. 😅

Leadership Lore Podcast is hosted by Natalie Micale, leadership consultant and executive coach, and Therese Gopaul-Robinson, keynote speaker and leadership consultant.

Nobody really tells you what leadership is going to feel like until you're in it.

Suddenly you're refereeing grown-ass adults, having conversations you absolutely do not want to have, defending decisions you didn't make, managing personalities, denying requests, making termination decisions... and somehow you're supposed to remain the calm, reasonable one through all of it. 😅

In this episode of Leadership Lore Podcast, Natalie Micale and Therese Gopaul-Robinson talk about the parts of leadership that don't make it into the job description - or most leadership training.

We get into the emotional weight of leading people, being stuck in the middle, adapting how you communicate depending on who's in front of you, and why so much of leadership is learned by actually doing it.

And we tackle something we probably don't say enough: leadership isn't for everyone. People leadership especially.

And realizing it's not for you doesn't mean you're stepping down, failing, or somehow less successful.

If you've ever gotten into leadership and thought, "Wait... THIS is what I signed up for?", this one's for you.

Leadership Lore Podcast is hosted by Natalie Micale, leadership consultant and executive coach, and Therese Gopaul-Robinson, keynote speaker and leadership consultant.

We got everything we wanted.

So... why does it still feel like this sometimes?

This week on Leadership Lore Podcast, we're talking about the part of success nobody really prepares you for.

The overwhelm.
The decision fatigue.
The pressure.
The guilt.

The feeling that somehow you've built the life you wanted... and you're still wondering if you're doing enough.

This isn't an episode about productivity.

It's about what success actually feels like when you're living it.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed while simultaneously feeling grateful, ambitious, and a little guilty for feeling overwhelmed in the first place, you're definitely not the only one.

Most leaders genuinely want honest feedback.

So why do so many employees still keep their mouths shut?

In this episode of Leadership Lore Podcast, Therese Gopaul-Robinson and Natalie Micale tackle one of the biggest contradictions in leadership: saying you want feedback while unintentionally creating an environment where people don't feel safe giving it.

Together, they unpack why psychological safety is built through actions, not intentions. From employee engagement surveys and open-door policies to difficult conversations and emotional maturity, they explore what actually happens after someone speaks up... because that's the moment trust is either built or broken.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why asking for feedback isn't enough.
• The biggest mistakes leaders make after receiving honest feedback.
• Why curiosity beats defensiveness every time.
• How employee surveys can build—or destroy—trust.
• Why leadership is mostly learned through experience, not theory.
• The role emotional maturity plays in creating psychological safety.
• What it really means to make people feel heard.

If you've ever told your team, "My door is always open," this episode might challenge you to ask a harder question:

What happens after someone walks through it?

How the F Did You Get Here?

Almost every leader has had the same thought at some point:

"How the f** did I end up here?"*

Maybe you never planned to manage people. Maybe you said yes to one opportunity that led to another. Maybe you still feel like everyone else got a handbook you somehow missed.

In this episode, Therese and Natalie are talking about the winding, messy, often accidental paths that lead people into leadership—and why that's probably more normal than you think.

We're talking about:

• The career decisions that made absolutely no sense at the time
• Why so many leaders feel like they're making it up as they go
• The pressure to have a perfectly planned career
• What confidence actually looks like (hint: it's usually not certainty)

Because the truth is, very few people end up exactly where they thought they would.

And sometimes the experiences that made the least sense in the moment become the ones that prepare you the most.

Most of us have at least one workplace story that makes people say, "Wait... what?"

This episode is full of those stories.

From bizarre healthcare moments and unforgettable job interviews to awkward leadership situations and the kind of workplace chaos you truly can't make up, Therese and Natalie are sharing the funniest, weirdest, and most unbelievable moments from their careers.

But as always, this isn't just about the stories.

We're talking about what these moments taught us about leadership, communication, human behavior, and why working with people is endlessly entertaining (and occasionally horrifying).

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The workplace stories we'll never forget
• The moments that had us questioning reality
• Lessons learned from some truly unforgettable situations
• Why every leader needs a few "you'll never believe this..." stories

Whether you've worked in healthcare, corporate America, or anywhere in between, you'll probably find yourself thinking, "I can't believe that happened..."...and then remembering a story of your own.

Natalie and Therese answer the question: When Did You Lose Respect For a Leader? During this conversation they dive into the impact of a leader's actions on individuals. They share personal experiences and reflections on leadership, respect, and workplace dynamics.

Takeaways

• Leadership actions can impact respect
• Reflection on personal experiences
• The impact of workplace dynamics Respect is a fundamental right for all individuals in the workplace.
• The treatment of employees by leaders has a significant impact on their experience and performance.

Is your company chaotic because the market is chaotic... or because you are? 👀

In this episode, we're talking about the chaos-creating leader—the person who genuinely wants the best for their team but unknowingly creates confusion, instability, and constant fire drills.

We unpack why some leaders mistake urgency for leadership, why founder-led organizations often struggle with chaos, and how good intentions can create exhausted teams and frustrated employees.

We're also discussing:

• Why some leaders are uncomfortable when things are calm
• The hidden cost of changing priorities every five minutes
• The difference between being visionary and being chaotic
• Why every growing company eventually needs someone to provide structure and balance
• Practical ways leaders can create more clarity, consistency, and trust

Because sometimes the chaos isn't happening to the organization. Sometimes it's coming from inside the organization.