Eckhart Tolle's teachings have completely transformed how I live and lead—that’s why today we’re walking you through 5 powerful leadership lessons after my 4-day retreat with Eckhart Tolle at the Omega Institute. This will help you close out 2025 with more presence and what I call "Big Brave Heart" energy. And each lesson comes with a simple yet practical tool that you can use today, right after listening.

You know we are living through strange times—answering Slack on the toilet, doomscrolling three wars, watching layoff rumors circulate—all while being expected to lead ourselves, our families, and our teams.

The challenge is: most leadership training teaches us roadmaps and dashboards, not empathy, emotional regulation, or how to have hard conversations.

That’s why I made this episode for you, because the wisdom to overcome feeling underwater or directionless or stressed is within reach if you slow down enough to listen. Really listen.

What You'll Learn:

• How to shift from your inner critic to your inner coach
• What can happen if you see your biggest challenge as a portal for growth
• Why presence is the new IQ in the age of AI

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Braving Big Tech

Omega Institute

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Kim Scott Radical Candor

CONNECT:

Follow Julio on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

CREDITS:

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

0:00 Introduction: Leadership in Strange Times

1:55 My Story: Lack of Support Before Getting Fired

3:37 Rock Bottom and Waking Up

4:57 Finding Eckhart Tolle Through Oprah

5:38 Eckhart Tolle at Omega Institute

6:32 Intro to the Five Lessons

7:13 Lesson One: You Are Not the Critic in Your Head

11:59 A Practice for Lesson One

13:23 Lesson Two: Don’t Get Infected by the Insanity

15:59 A Practice for Lesson Two

17:22 Lesson Three: You Are More Than This Role, This Year

19:34 A Practice for Lesson Three

20:43 Lesson Four: Your Hardest Thing is a Portal, Not a Problem

22:47 A Practice for Lesson Four

24:06 Lesson Five: Presence Is the New IQ in the Age of AI

27:08 A Practice for Lesson Five

28:08 Accelerating Our Awakening

30:03 Invitation to Experiment with the Lessons

We often see leadership as a title you hold at work, but today, we're talking with Sue Rae about the leadership you exercise over your personal sanctuary. You know the saying: clean house, clean mind.

I worked with Sue at Google NYC, where she was an elite Executive Assistant—a master of organizing at the highest level. But her own success came at a cost. She reached a point where she was running on fumes just to go to work.

Sue had the courage to listen to the whispers and step away from her role at Google to start Sorted by Sue, a professional organizing business. Today, she works with executives, entrepreneurs, and rockstar public figures.

You'll hear her story of transformation, the system she uses to go from chaos to calm, and the one simple thing you can do today to start treating your home like the powerful sanctuary you deserve.

You ready? Let's go!

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Find Sue: ⁠https://www.sortedbysue.com/⁠

CONNECT:

Follow Julio on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

CREDITS:

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:02:01 How Julio and Sue Met at Google

00:04:40 The Intensity of Being an Executive Assistant at Google

00:07:43 The Breaking Point

00:10:15 Asking for a Sabbatical

00:10:58 Coping Mechanisms

00:18:28 How Sue Spent Her Sabbatical in Asia

00:19:41 The Inspiration Behind Sorted by Sue

00:22:35 Taking the Leap: Leaving Google to Start Sorted by Sue

00:32:50 What Do People’s Spaces Say About Them?

00:35:12 Leap and the Net Will Appear

00:37:33 How Does the Disorganization Make You Feel?

00:39:05 Visual Clutter Ends Up Being Mental Clutter

00:40:37 De-Cluttering is an Emotional Exercise

00:47:53 The Role of Grief

00:51:34 Home Therapy for Individuals and Couples

00:55:08 Putting Systems in Place

00:58:07 Real Life Examples of Chaos to Calm

01:10:42 Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

01:12:33 How to Begin Your Organizing Journey

01:14:22 Valuing Experiences Over Stuff

01:16:14 The 30-Minute Junk Drawer Challenge

01:18:03 Final Thoughts: Organizing’s Ripple Effect

01:19:22 Closing and Credits

Inspired by this year’s Out & Equal Workplace Summit, I share five powerful leadership shifts that surfaced while connecting with over 4,000 Fortune 500 leaders. We’ll discuss how to move from apathy to love, from anger to action, from fear to faith, from division to bridge, and from noise to awareness. Each shift comes with practical tools you can implement immediately, including the Big Brave Heart framework. Whether you're navigating team dynamics, personal relationships, or simply trying to show up with more heart, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable strategies for building courageous, heart-led leadership. Perfect for leaders, ERG members, and anyone committed to creating lasting change through self-awareness and brave action.

CONNECT:

Follow Julio on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

CREDITS:

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

00:00 Welcome Back from Out & Equal

00:53 The Stakes: Why This Moment Matters

02:42 Shift 1: From Apathy to Love

04:30 Why We Drift Into Apathy: Fatigue & Fear

06:34 The Big Brave Heart Tool

07:55 Shift 2: From Anger to Action

08:18 Larry Kramer: Anger Transformed

10:56 Channeling Your Indignation

11:57 Shift 3: From Fear to Faith

12:37 Harvey Milk's Message of Hope

16:00 Shift 4: From Division to Bridge

17:43 Professor Kenji Yoshino: From Cancel Culture to Coaching Culture

19:19 Finding the Bigger Win for Everyone

21:14 Allyship is a Behavior

22:16 Zooming Out: Equality Always Advanced

22:52 Shift 5: From Noise to Awareness

24:01 Why Leaders Need Coaches

24:51 Impact Over Action

25:23 Create Time Where None Exists

26:54 Closing: Gratitude, Queer Magic, & Choosing Courage

If you're a high-performing leader sensing that it’s time for a break, that there has to be a better way—one that doesn't sacrifice your health, relationships, or sense of self—this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we’re going deep with D.J. Johnson, Program Manager for Global Employee Engagement & Experience at Amazon, to talk about his most recent act of courage: taking a sabbatical.

DJ shares the lessons he learned during this time of recalibration, how he discovered who he was beneath the hustle, and his intention to break generational cycles. Together, we explore the meaning of heart-centered leadership and it’s role as the ultimate differentiator in an age where AI is leveling the intellectual playing field.

Key takeaways:

• How to spot the signs that you need to slow down and recalibrate
• The key qualities of heart centered leadership and what to start practicing now
• The difference between intent and impact
• The importance of de-stigmatizing therapy and mental health medication

Ready to start leading from your heart? If this episode resonated with you and you're ready to do the inner work to become a more aligned, effective leader, I offer 1:1 coaching for tech leaders navigating transitions, burnout, and the journey to heart-centered leadership. Visit letsgowithjulio.com to learn more.

Where to find D.J.: LinkedIn

CONNECT:

Follow Julio on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

CREDITS:

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

00:00 Introduction

02:38 Finding Community in Heart-Centered Leadership

05:50 Are You Willing to Look Inward?

13:16 How D.J. Knew it was Time to Take a Sabbatical

19:29 Spotting the Signs: Know When You're Moving Too Fast

22:52 Exploring Hobbies & Natural Hair Curl Journey

24:25 Body Image & Self-Acceptance

27:56 Pressures to Be Productive During Time Off

29:51 Uplifting Heart Centered Leaders in Tech

34:12 Managers vs. Leaders

35:17 Emotional Intelligence in the Age of AI

38:34 What Is Heart-Centered Leadership?

47:33 Self-Care Tools from D.J.’s Book

50:59 Skills From a First Generation Upbringing

56:36 Intent Does Not Erase Impact

58:21 How Growing Up With Instability Impacts Professional Life

1:00:34 Mental Health: De-stigmatizing Therapy & Medication

01:04:16 Understanding Your Purpose & Living Fully

01:06:52 Forgiveness: The Most Powerful Tool We Can Give Ourselves

01:08:33 Fire Round: Courage, Hope & Accountability

01:10:33 Closing Thoughts: Sharing the Journey

If you ever feel like you don't belong, or are struggling with the confidence to show up authentically, this episode is for you. Chris Mossiah, Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase, Out & Equal board member, and Navy veteran, offers hard-won wisdom about what it takes to show up in spaces that weren’t built for you. Chris shares their experience serving during "Don't Ask, Don't Tell”, what prompted them to leave their electronics job, and navigating corporate as a non-binary, Black leader. This conversation goes deep—exploring the power of knowing yourself, reading the room, and leading with both caution and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Why reading the energy in the room is not “woo woo”
• The distinction between confidence and arrogance, and what it means for marginalized leaders
• The difference between failure and lessons
• Practical strategies for owning your career progression and using your manager effectively
• How joy can be a form of resistance

CONNECT:

Follow Julio on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

CREDITS:

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

00:00:00 Introduction to the episode

00:03:16 Do I Want to Be On a Ladder or in a Chair?

00:03:59 In the navy during 9/11 and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

00:12:25 You Shape a Child by What You Give Them

00:14:33 Failure is a Grade You Get in School

00:18:22 I Don’t Know vs Let’s Find Out

00:19:43 Insights from Mentoring

00:20:46 Moving with Caution But Not Fear

00:22:30 Reading the Energy in the Room

00:24:47 Kindness as a Virtue

00:29:30 Coming Out to Family

00:34:05 Overcoming Intimidation

00:37:02 Confidence vs. Arrogance

00:42:38 How to Read the Room

00:47:03 How to Stay Grounded

00:49:21 Career Ownership: Using Your Manager Well

00:52:27 Compartmentalizing Frustration

00:59:24 Different Responsibility vs. Extra Responsibility

01:01:06 You’re the Only One Who Can Give You What You Need

01:03:26 Joy Will Cleanse Your View

01:04:46 Courage and Hope

All of us leaders are in the midst of transition right now — and what separates those who do it well is your capacity to stop resisting, to have the hard conversations and to lean into experimentation. That’s why we’re talking with Adrian Nuño, filmmaker, co-host of the Twin Spin podcast, and senior video editor at Motorola. Adrian is a leader that’s been on a journey of growth and self reflection, and my hope is that his story helps unlock more courage in your own life.

Adrian takes us to the moment he knew he wanted to try therapy and how he broke generational patterns around mental health and anti-LGBTQ+ stigma in his family. He shares lessons from his journey of deep reflection that started during COVID and continued during his 2 year break from filmmaking. He reflects on his ERG leadership, including the importance of listening and empathy. We talk about our shared search for belonging being first generation in tech.

You’ll learn practical lessons and insights around:

• How do you prioritize relationships over endless hustle?
• How can you re-engineer your brain to handle failure differently?
• Why is play essential for creativity and success?
• How do you pursue passions both inside and outside your day job?
• What's the difference between focusing on speed versus direction?
• How do you find courage to do things that scare you?

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Twin Spin:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7G7DTDiWqY21Kci0dOHQMN

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/twin-spin/id1524237388

National alliance on mental illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/

Final Frame: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32660376/

Learn more about Adrian:

https://www.adriannuno.com/

CONNECT:

Follow Julio on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

CREDITS:

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠⁠Nick Deutsch⁠⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠⁠Rikki Gunton⁠⁠

00:00:00 Introduction to Adrian and the Importance of Reflection

00:03:44 Deciding to Go to Therapy

00:08:50 How Breaking the Stigma Around Therapy Transformed Adrian’s Family

00:15:40 Making Time to Pause and Reflect

00:20:47 Taking a Terrifying 2-Year Break from Filmmaking

00:22:16 Rediscovering Fun in Life00:28:28 Prioritizing Direction Over Speed

00:29:51 "Final Frame": The Story Behind Adrian’s Latest Film

00:32:59 Valuing the Relationships in Your Life

00:35:20 You Are Bigger Than Your Job

00:37:10 Lessons from Leading an LGBTQ+ ERG: Listening, Empathy and Community

00:42:07 Holding Space for Each Other’s Stories

00:43:40 Re-Engineering Your Brain to Handle Failure

00:46:47 Do More Things That Scare You

00:49:23 The First Time Approaching Someone at a Bar

00:52:39 Making Human Connections

00:54:22 Authenticity and Presence Are Becoming Scarce

00:56:11 First-Gen Latino Experience in Corporate America

01:05:03 It’s Not Just Who You Know But Who Knows You

01:06:18 Be Flexible, Our Career Path’s Aren’t Always Linear

1:07:39 Lightning Round: Courage, Hope, and Self-Appreciation

The data is staggering: 84% of tech workers are burned out, and only 26% consider their managers highly effective. But there’s hope—there's a small group of professionals who've cracked the code on sustainable high performance.In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Noam Segal (psychologist, coach, and Head of UX Research at Zapier) to unpack the groundbreaking findings from the worker sentiment survey he conducted with Lenny Rachitsky. We dive deep into the fascinating mix of emotions tech professionals are experiencing in 2025 and, more importantly, the strategies used by "burnout conquerors”—the 16% who are thriving despite the chaos.

You’ll learn:

• Why burnout isn't a personal failing but "organizational warfare" that requires strategic defense
• The ARMOR framework: 5 research-backed shields against burnout
• The different types of breaks to take for rest and reflection
• What we should focus on instead of time management
• The importance of this work, especially in the time of AI

This episode is meant to validate that you are not alone in this and to inspire hope that there’s a way forward. Tune in for a practical roadmap from someone who's not only done the research, but walked this path alongside thousands of tech professionals.

Mentioned in the episode:

Research Findings

Kim Scott / Radical Candor

Pomodoro Technique

Big 5 Personality Traits

Lenny’s newsletter

Where to Find Noam: Linkedin

Maven courses: https://maven.com/ux-quests/uxr-missing-foundationshttps://maven.com/the-disruptive-coach/peak-performance

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

Connect: Follow the journey on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

This episode is for anyone dealing with job loss, having anxiety about layoffs, or managers navigating these difficult conversations.

I offer perspective and real talk from someone who's been on both sides of that table. I share my own journey getting fired 4 times — from Apple, Google, Tumblr, and Airbnb and give some compassionate guidance for navigating this particular type of trauma.

You’ll walk away with:

• A reality check that you are not alone, and the data to prove it
• Practical advice on dealing with difficult emotions, including my Big Brave Heart framework
• A leader’s checklist for handling layoffs humanely—and why it protects your legacy

This is just one chapter in your journey and you don’t have to go through it alone. It can be your greatest teacher—if you let it.

Share this episode with a friend, teammate, or manager who needs a human‑first take on layoffs. Together we’re building a braver, kinder world—one open‑hearted leader at a time.

Listen to Braving Big Tech

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

Connect: Follow the journey on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

Do you feel like the pace of change is faster and more intense than anything you've experienced before? You're certainly not alone. Join me and Bill Kirst, a change management expert at Adobe and former military officer, as we dive into his powerful framework that “change happens to you, through you, and for you.” We explore trust as the cornerstone of any social contract, why leaders are burning out, and what it really takes to lead change in the age of AI. Bill shares practical advice for leaders and reveals the question every leader should ask their team.

Mentioned in the episode:

Deloit Survey

Tides book

Where to find Bill:

Substack

Everward book

Linkedin

Coffee & Change

Theme song: "You Are The One" by ⁠Nick Deutsch⁠

Produced + edited: ⁠Rikki Gunton⁠

Connect: Follow the journey on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at ⁠letsgowithjulio.com

Did you know that every 45 seconds, at least one LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. attempts suicide? I know. It almost happened to me. That’s why I’m sitting here today, on the couch with my mom, Gigi, at the start of Season 3, as we close out Pride Month with an intimate, powerful conversation about acceptance and love.

You’ll hear both sides of my coming out story—the fears, the struggles, and the unwavering love that ultimately saved me. My mom, a cis, straight white woman, openly shares her journey of navigating my queerness with compassion and strength, despite the resistance around her. She offers invaluable insights for parents who may be unsure of how to support their queer children, emphasizing the vital importance of acceptance.

This episode is for leaders, advocates, parents, and anyone who wants to better understand and support LGBTQ+ youth. Our dialogue provides practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement, demonstrating how acceptance isn’t just life-affirming—it can be life-saving.

For more information on the Trevor Project, visit https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Theme song: "You Are The One" by Nick Deutsch

Produced + edited: Rikki Gunton

Connect: Follow the journey on Instagram and LinkedIn

Book Julio to speak, coach, or consult at letsgowithjulio.com