Leadership Tea

By Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson Farrier

On Leadership Tea, we talk about what it takes to reach the executive level, and how to thrive when you get there. Powerful leaders share their journeys, insights, and triumphs in conversations wit

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FAQs about Leadership Tea:

How many episodes does Leadership Tea have?

The podcast currently has 69 episodes available.

Leadership Tea episodes:

November 12, 2025Managing Anxiety in the Age of AI with Soribel Feliz, The AI Therapist | S4 EP13
Belinda and Shelby are joined by tech policy and AI governance expert, Soribel Feliz, also known as The AI Therapist. Soribel tackles the anxiety currently gripping the professional world: fear of being replaced by artificial intelligence. If you're wondering what your kids should study, how to upskill mid-career, or how to maintain your mental health amid constant doom-and-gloom headlines, this episode is for you.
Soribel discusses the legitimate concerns surrounding AI, from plagiarism in higher education to the AI automation impacting white-collar work. She dispels one of the biggest myths—that AGI will be "god-like.” And she offers practical advice on how to manage your anxiety around AI by focusing on what you can control, and how executives can build a collaborative AI adoption strategy.
Also in this episode:
Legitimate concerns everyone should have about AI's impact on work and society
Why learning all the AI tools is an overwhelming and ineffective strategy
Soribel's advice for maximizing your data privacy and security immediately
How leaders can create a vision for integrating AI on their teams
Find Soribel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soribelfeliz/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@soribelaitherapist
You can also watch our conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A-RocnSZfl0
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
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28min
November 09, 2025Part VI: Shutdown, But Not Shut Out - There is Growth in Discomfort | S4 EP12
Finding Growth in Discomfort: Strategies for Transition and Coping

In this episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, hosts discuss the challenges and growth opportunities during a shutdown. Shelby shares her experiences transitioning out of government work, dealing with introversion through networking, and finding new ways to communicate and cope during uncomfortable times. Belinda talks about the importance of focus for entrepreneurs, challenges in self-promotion, and breaking down larger goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed. They both highlight the importance of family communication and maintaining relationships during financial strains. The episode emphasizes finding hope and possibilities even in challenging circumstances, offering practical advice and personal anecdotes.

00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Tea Podcast
00:16 Embracing Discomfort for Growth
00:56 Shelby's Networking Strategies
03:32 Belinda's Entrepreneurial Focus
05:49 The Challenge of Self-Promotion
10:52 Communicating Through Crisis
18:24 Finding Hope and Possibilities
19:56 Conclusion and Community Support

JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE
If you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth. Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
21min
November 03, 2025Part V: Shutdown But Not Shut Out - Resiliency with a Game Seven Mentality | S4 EP11
Shelby and Belinda reflect on managing personal and professional lives amidst the prolonged government shutdown. They discuss its impacts, such as the end of SNAP benefits and continued layoffs at major companies. Shelby and Belinda also draw parallels between the resilience seen in the World Series and the mindset needed to navigate challenging times.
They emphasize the importance of mutual support, filling each other's cups, and maintaining a 'game seven mentality' to stay motivated and impactful. The episode concludes with a call for listeners to share their thoughts and strategies for approaching 2026.
*Please note, the reference to Manuel Rojas was an error; in their excitement, the hosts misspoke and meant to say Miguel Rojas.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Tea Podcast
00:10 Reflecting on the Government Shutdown
01:35 Personal Impacts and Client Success Stories
04:04 Mentees and Restoring Faith
07:42 Lessons from the World Series
14:11 Filling Each Other's Cups
18:15 Conclusion and Call to Action
JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE
If you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth. Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
20min
October 29, 2025Practicing Wellness In Unwell Times: Reflections on Repose 2025 With Ellen Tannor | S4 EP10
Shelby and Belinda welcome a special guest, Ellen Tannor, a former senior diplomat who recently participated in the 'Repose, a Day of Reflection' retreat at Salamander Resort in Middleburg. Ellen shares her rich career experiences, including her service as a special agent and protective detail member for Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Now pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at American University, Ellen reflects on her transition from being a diplomat and the importance of mental and spiritual refreshers. The discussion highlights key takeaways from the retreat, such as the importance of moving with purpose, making 'better mistakes tomorrow,' and the benefits of lifting others as a way to protect one's mental health.
The episode encapsulates the essence of intentionality, community, and forward-thinking, leaving listeners with valuable insights on how to thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to the Leadership Tea Podcast
00:05 Introducing Ellen Tannor
01:40 Reflecting on the Repose Event
04:01 Key Takeaways from the Retreat
06:28 The Importance of Being Intentional
08:00 Executing Big Ideas
11:09 Transitioning from Diplomacy to Journalism
19:20 Maintaining Mental Health and Resilience
22:47 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE
If you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth. Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
24min
October 27, 2025Part IV: Shutdown, But Not Shut Out - Rise Like a Phoenix | S4 EP9
Belinda and Shelby discuss the ongoing challenges of the government shutdown and share personal strategies for maintaining hope and resilience. They reflect on the inspiration drawn from historical figures like Harriet Tubman and the symbolism of the Phoenix rising from the ashes.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of fighting for joy, seeking peace, and building a support system during tough times. They also preview an upcoming episode about their recent experience at 'repose' and how it has reinvigorated their spirit.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Team Podcast
00:25 Embracing the Phoenix Mode
01:54 Drawing Strength from Harriet Tubman
03:38 Celebrating Repose and Choosing Hope
04:03 Fighting for Joy Amidst the Shutdown
07:55 Finding Peace in Unprecedented Times
09:02 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE
If you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth. Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
10min
October 20, 2025Part III: Shutdown, But Not Shut Out - If You Had Nothing to Lose, What Would You Try? | S4 EP8
What if a shutdown could be your reset button? We sat down with digital strategist and communicator Afua Riverson to explore how a forced pause can surface buried passions, heal old narratives, and point you toward work that actually feels like yours. The conversation starts with a candid check-in on grief, time, and why a week of D’Angelo and 90s R&B can do more for your spirit than another round of headlines. From there, we trace a path many first-gen leaders know too well: the pressure to choose “serious” careers, the habit of overperforming to earn love, and the quiet cost of shelving creative callings.

Afua lets us into her turning point - health challenges and the radical question: Who am I without the titles? What she finds looks like a treasure chest: sketchbooks, museums, movement in nature, the old dream of fashion and creative direction. She builds a “joy list,” a simple, repeatable practice that grounds her when anxiety spikes and imposter syndrome knocks. We dig into the leadership skills that emerge from this reset - creative direction, innovation, and culture-building - and how those gifts translate into real value for teams and brands. If you’re navigating the prestige treadmill or wrestling with immigrant expectations, this is permission to pivot without apology.
Connect with Afua on LinkedIn

If this conversation gave you language for what you’re feeling, hit follow, leave a review, and pass it to a friend who needs a hopeful nudge today.
JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE
If you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth. Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
32min
October 15, 2025Managing Professional Grief and Stress with Kimya Imani Jackson, PhD | S4 EP7
Kimya Imani Jackson, PhD, joins Belinda and Shelby to discuss the emotional impact of professional grief. Amid the government shutdown and massive layoffs, it can feel impossible to move forward. How do you begin to build a new career when you're feeling a profound sense of loss?
Kimya shares how she has found the motivation to pivot and reinvent herself throughout her storied career. And she provides science-backed strategies for processing professional loss and professional grief while simultaneously opening the door to new possibilities.
This conversation can help you if you’re experiencing professional loss, corporate grief, and a sense of overwhelm after sudden career-ending changes.
Also in this video:
Practices that include the burden tree, daydreaming, and dream journals
Holistic approaches to calm hyper-activated nervous systems
How professional grief affects not just people who are leaving, but also those left behind
Cultivating community through hobbies and maintaining contact with friends and loved ones
Find Dr. Jackson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimya-imani-jackson-phd
JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE
If you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth.
Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
30min
October 13, 2025Part II - Shutdown, But Not Shut Out | S4 EP6
Shelby and Belinda discuss our personal experiences and emotional journey during the ongoing government shutdown. We share how the shutdown is affecting our households, businesses, and mental health. We talk about the importance of mental resilience and practical steps to cope with financial and emotional stress during uncertain times.
We also introduce the Leadership Lounge, our new initiative created to build a supportive community for personal and professional growth.
JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE
Looking to build your leadership community? Join our exclusive membership area for leadership resources and deeper, unconstrained conversations. You'll get a monthly bonus episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, group coaching sessions for Lounge members, and quarterly Q&A episodes with Shelby and Belinda.
Learn more and join at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge

00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Tea Podcast
00:21 Impact of the Government Shutdown
02:00 Personal Reflections and Financial Concerns
08:46 Coping Strategies and Community Support
17:08 Leadership Lounge and Community Building
20:56 Final Thoughts
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
22min
October 06, 2025Shutdown, But Not Shut Out | S4 EP5
Shelby and Belinda discuss the need to shift focus from operational excellence to survival strategies in difficult times, such as the current federal government shutdown affecting many in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
We emphasize the importance of community, resilience, and mental health, and introduce our new Leadership Lounge on Substack, where you'll find deeper discussions and group coaching. We also highlight the emotional and financial impacts of furloughs on individuals and businesses, and offer advice on staying connected within communities during crises.
This episode is dedicated to all those impacted by the 2025 federal government shutdown in the United States.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_IHTJmvsAL4
Join the Leadership Lounge!

Looking to build your leadership community? Join our exclusive membership area for leadership resources and deeper, unconstrained conversations.
You'll get a monthly bonus episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, group coaching sessions for Lounge members, and quarterly Q&A episodes with Shelby and Belinda.
Learn more and join at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
28min
October 01, 2025Your Next Steps: When “Outwit, Outlast, Outplay” Isn't Working | S4 EP4
In our 50th episode 🎉, Shelby and Belinda discuss why courage is essential in today's professional landscape, and what it looks like when leaders are radically honest with themselves when "outwit, outlast, outplay" isn’t working.
We share personal moments of reckoning, from defining what we don't want, to realizing when to leave work environments that no longer serve us.
If you’re stuck in analysis paralysis and fear of the unknown, this conversation can help you find the courage to move forward, even if you don’t have a perfect plan.
Also in this episode
Should you play the game, try to change the rules, or create your own game?
Being good at something doesn't mean it needs to be your next thing
Finding clarity and clearing the clutter as you plan your next steps
The courage to move forward without a perfectly formulated plan
Resources Mentioned
Leadership Lounge:
https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
Join our exclusive membership area for resources and deeper, unconstrained conversations
Belinda's LinkedIn post where she asks “Will I be the only one brave enough to step up?”: https://bit.ly/4nQlk9m
Send us a comment!
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast

Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.
...more
14min

FAQs about Leadership Tea:

How many episodes does Leadership Tea have?

The podcast currently has 69 episodes available.

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