“Great leaders do not just share information. They create enough safety for real dialogue.”

In this special episode of Business is Human, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession shares a conversation from her appearance as a guest on Marketing B-Sides, the podcast hosted by Tom Hootman, Founder & CEO of Mixtape Digital. Together, they break down what leadership really looks like beneath the surface, from burnout and communication to nervous system regulation, self-awareness, and the patterns that keep high performers stuck. Through honest reflection, practical insight, and real examples from business, Rebecca offers a grounded perspective on how leaders can care for themselves, communicate more effectively, and lead with greater clarity and humanity. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why burnout is often tied to misalignment, not just workload  
• How better questions and real dialogue create stronger buy-in and trust  
• Why caring for yourself is not separate from leadership, but central to it

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:26) Rebecca joins Tom on Marketing B-Sides

(05:06) The songs that tell Rebecca’s story

(11:53) What dysregulation really means

(13:34) How leaders’ needs have changed over time

(21:05) Running from pain or moving toward purpose

(23:50) Why familiar pain can feel safer than change

(26:25) What real self-care looks like for leaders

(29:55) The trap of external validation

(31:55) Understanding the two kinds of tired

(35:36) Why top performers burn out

(37:37) Communication is more than talking

(44:12) The one-on-ones that build trust 

Connect with Tom:

Website: https://www.mixtapedigital.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashootman/ 

Listen to Marketing B-Sides: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-marketing-b-sides/id1832517490 

Connect with Rebecca:

https://www.rebeccafleetwoodhession.com/