Not All Business

What's it really like being married to a CEO? What workplace dilemmas make it home? We finally let the husbands on the show.

Scott Graham and Nic Widhalm join us in person at our Boulder studio for the real story of what it's like when your partner is running a company. Scott managed a career and life at home while Blakely ran TaskRay. Nic worked with Heather at Cloud Coach, then decided to marry her anyway.

We get into the uncomfortable stuff: the "what's for dinner" debate every working couple knows, why women shouldn't volunteer to take notes in meetings, how to support ambitious partners without taking on their stress, and why the most polished executives eat canned tuna straight from the can at home.

Plus: Nic performs a vocal percussion set (NOT beatboxing—there's a difference) and Scott juggles along to it.

Key Takeaways:

• The Art of Letting Stress Roll Off - How Scott manages his work life balance and never carries work stress home (and why Blakely still doesn't understand it after 20 years)

• Why Supporting Ambitious Women Means Making the First Move - Scott's approach to dinner decisions and why "what do you want?" is actually asking her to take on another decision

• The Gender Gap in Workplace Expectations - Why women volunteer to take notes in meetings and how male allies can change that dynamic and corporate culture without making it weird

• Bonding Through Business Stress - How working together through "powder keg" moments and workplace dilemmas built a strong marital foundation

• The Myth of the Polished Executive - Why the most successful people eat trash food at home and don't need everything to be five-star

Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

Follow Our Guests:

• Scott Graham: Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Front Range Community College, former IBM developer working on Watson
• Connect with Scott: https://www.instagram.com/swg71/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-w-graham/ 
• Nic Widhalm: Founder/Architect of Trade Agent (AI platform for tradespeople)
• Connect with Nic: https://www.instagram.com/nicwidhalm/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-widhalm-a4905929/ 
• Trade Agent: https://www.tradeagent.ai/

Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas:

• Write a note: ⁠https://notall.biz⁠
• Leave a voice memo: ⁠https://notall.biz/home#situations⁠
• Send an email: [email protected]

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Your Audience is Waiting podcast by Eleisha Everett
• YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmpKI9-4ly78GOjDoAGsDAb6eIHIy2WbL&si=yjyU2AG3t3WQ3B6D⁠
• Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5W4srWNqYNE1e4T71wvrMX?si=32effdf1c7e74af9⁠
• Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-audience-is-waiting/id1818965302⁠

Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week.

#Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Real Talk about Work, #Toxic Workplace, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Nic Widhalm #Scott Graham

Building culture—but not the fluffy, feel-good version. We're getting into the practical, uncomfortable workplace dilemmas, and dirty real talk about work that actually makes culture stick.

It's our first in-person episode at Not All Business! Heather & Blakely welcome Nicole Christensen, founder of CrossFit Roots in Boulder, Colorado, to our brand new studio. Nicole has built one of the top-performing CrossFit gyms in the country, but this episode isn't really about fitness—it's about the intentional, sometimes uncomfortable work of building culture that actually lasts.

Nicole doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable parts. She talks about "adult parenting"—teaching grown professionals basic standards like showing up on time and not cheating their reps. She explains why fairness doesn't mean equality, how to have hard conversations without shit sandwiches, and why protecting your culture sometimes means saying no to opportunities and setting boundaries at work.

Key Takeaways:

• Why "You're Not Special" Builds Stronger Teams - Treating everyone equally creates trust; making exceptions destroys credibility and leads to more workplace dilemmas

• The Hard Conversation Formula - How to hold people accountable without being a jerk or one of the bad bosses

• Why Etiquette Matters More Than You Think - In a world where people can go entire days without human interaction, setting behavioral standards is an act of care

• The Teaching Gap - Why most leaders skip the most critical step between defining standards and expecting compliance

• What Makes People Stay 15+ Years - It's not about the product—it's about the standards you refuse to compromise and the company values

  
  

Follow Nicole:

•  Connect with Nicole: https://www.instagram.com/nicchristensen/ 
• Follow CrossFit Roots: https://www.instagram.com/crossfitroots
• CrossFit Roots: https://crossfitroots.com/
• Book Recommendation: Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life (https://a.co/d/66jBncz)

Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas:

• Write a note: ⁠https://notall.biz⁠
• Leave a voice memo: ⁠https://notall.biz/home#situations⁠
• Send an email: [email protected]

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Your Audience is Waiting podcast by Eleisha Everett
• YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmpKI9-4ly78GOjDoAGsDAb6eIHIy2WbL&si=yjyU2AG3t3WQ3B6D⁠
• Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5W4srWNqYNE1e4T71wvrMX?si=32effdf1c7e74af9⁠
• Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-audience-is-waiting/id1818965302

Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week.

#Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Real Talk about Work, #Toxic Workplace, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Nicole Christensen

It's a trust masterclass at Not All Business! Executive coach Carolyn Keyes—the same coach who changed Jamie Cole's life in our very first episode AND Blakely's life years ago—joins us to unpack trust as the invisible currency that fuels collaboration, creativity, and human connection. The same currency that makes navigating workplace dilemmas much easier and effective.

Carolyn breaks down trust into four actionable domains: sincerity, reliability, competence, and care. You'll discover why you can trust someone in one area but not another, how saying "yes" to everything is actually eroding your relationships, and why "the right conversation in the wrong mood is the wrong conversation."

Follow Carolyn:

• Connect with Carolyn Keyes: [email protected]
• Website: velocity.plus
• Book recommendation: The Thin Book of Trust by Charles Feltman

Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas:

• Write a note: ⁠https://notall.biz⁠
• Leave a voice memo: ⁠https://notall.biz/home#situations⁠
• Send an email: [email protected]

Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week.

#Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Real Talk about Work, #Toxic Workplace, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Carolyn Keyes 

Why is Thanksgiving the ultimate leadership stress test?

In this episode, Heather and Blakely break down why the holiday season exposes every leadership skill you think you’ve mastered — from emotional regulation and boundary setting to managing expectations and staying grounded in chaos. They share a practical Thanksgiving Survival Guide that works at home dilemmas and at work dilemmas.

The conversation gets real fast: they explore why adults often struggle with emotional maturity, how old family patterns can trigger reactions, and why managing your energy is just as important as managing others. Heather explains the power of “matching expectations of the day,” while Blakely shows how to navigate family stress without losing your cool.

Key Takeaways:

• How to check your ego at the door before family drama begins.
• Limiting your expectations by observing family dynamics, not trying to control them.
• Staying grounded when stress spikes around the table.
• Leading with curiosity: asking questions instead of reacting to assumptions.
• Using the car ride home to safely process any leftover drama.

Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

Product Mentions:

• Mindsight Lockbox: https://mindsightnow.com/products/timed-lock-box

Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas:

• Write a note: ⁠https://notall.biz⁠
• Leave a voice memo: ⁠https://notall.biz/home#situations⁠
• Send an email: [email protected]

Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week.

#Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Real Talk about Work, #Toxic Workplace, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Thanksgiving

Why do bad managers exist?

Lynda Harvey—the Manager Guru who's built a community of over 587k followers across Instagram and TikTok—breaks down why most people get promoted into management with zero training, and what to do about the ensuing workplace dilemmas.Bad managers aren't born—they're created by companies that skip the training step entirely. Lynda brings 25+ years of leadership experience with a survival and solutions focus whether you're an employee dealing with a bad boss or a manager looking for help, she provides practical tips you can actually use. She shares her own rage quit story that changed how she thinks about leadership, and when Clay makes a mid-recording mistake, Lynda jumps in with a real-time coaching moment that teaches everyone how to own a mistake without over-explaining.Plus, Heather shares an HR firing story involving a bathtub, a Zoom call, and instant termination that proves not everyone understands appropriate work-from-home boundaries.Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

Follow Lynda:

• Lynda Harvey: The Manager Guru - Teaching you how to lead, speak fluent corporate, and protect your peace at work, all without losing your edge

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lynda.leads

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynda.leads

Research Citations:

• Gallup, "State of the American Manager" report: One in two (50%) employees have left a job to get away from their manager to improve their overall life. Additionally, managers account for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement scores. Source: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/232955/no-employee-benefit-no-one-talking.aspx

Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas:

• Write a note: https://notall.biz
• Leave a voice memo: https://notall.biz/home#situations
• Send an email: [email protected]

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Your Audience is Waiting podcast by Eleisha Everett
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmpKI9-4ly78GOjDoAGsDAb6eIHIy2WbL&si=yjyU2AG3t3WQ3B6D
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5W4srWNqYNE1e4T71wvrMX?si=32effdf1c7e74af9
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-audience-is-waiting/id1818965302

Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week.

#Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Real Talk about Work, #Toxic Workplace, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Lynda Harvey

Jody Donovan defended her PhD at the height of her intellectual capacity. Then a sledding accident on a closed ski slope in Breckenridge changed everything. Within 48 hours, she couldn't find her way to church.She spent the next year relearning how to get dressed, grocery shop, and find words. But the hardest part wasn't the rehabilitation—it was the shame.In this raw and essential episode of Not All Business, Jody shares what it's like to go from overachieving female leader tackling complex workplace dilemmas to not being able to name household animals that start with the letter C. She talks about coming back to work with "dead eyes," developing invisible strategies so no one would know about her disability, and the moment she stopped hiding and started owning her superpower.Together, they tackle the uncomfortable truth: corporate America doesn't have patience for invisible disabilities—and that needs to change.Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

Follow Jody:

• Jody Donovan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jody-donovan-7216b427/ 
• The Spoon Theory (Christine Miserandino): https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/full-catastrophe-parenting/202403/what-is-spoon-theory-and-why-is-it-important
• Central Auditory Processing Disorder: https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/central-auditory-processing-disorder/  

Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas:

• Write a note: https://notall.biz
• Leave a voice message: https://notall.biz/home#situations
• Send an email: [email protected]

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Yours, Truly - https://www.itsyourstruly.com/

Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week.

#Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Real Talk about Work, #Toxic Workplace, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Jody Donovan

Welcome to the stickiest Casual Friday yet. Producer Clay flips the script and puts Blakely and Heather in the hot seat to answer YOUR real workplace dilemmas. These aren't theoretical scenarios, these are the uncomfortable, frustrating, and sometimes infuriating situations you're facing at work.

From navigating toxic bosses to handling flirtatious managers on company retreats, from being denied promised promotions to overhearing your boss complain about maternity leave—Blakely and Heather tackle it all with their signature mix of practical wisdom, legal expertise (thanks to Heather's lawyer background), and zero tolerance for workplace BS.

This episode gets real. Blakely admits she became "the most emotional basket case" while answering these questions. Heather introduces her alter ego "The Naked Lawyer" (yes, really). And Clay discovers just how passionate these two former CEOs get when they hear about the workplace dilemmas and the injustices their listeners are experiencing.

Sticky situations covered in this episode:

• Getting blamed for a coworker's mistake

• Presentation reassigned to someone else last minute

• Performance reviews for friends

• Expense account violations

• Denied promotions with unpaid work demands

• Borderline harassment on company retreats

• Pregnancy announcements and maternity leave discrimination

• Leadership concerns during VC due diligence

Plus a lightning round covering:

• A tuna fish debate

• Dating coworkers

We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Submit your story to notall.biz—your question could be featured in an upcoming episode.

Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

Mentions:

• Alden Hultgren episode (breathwork episode referenced): https://youtu.be/aPbGc9qKXdk

• Dreamforce episode (referenced for workplace harassment discussion): https://youtu.be/yNbg2yp_5pU

• J. Albrecht Designs: https://www.jalbrechtdesigns.com/ (Blakely's jeweler celebrating 20 years)

Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas:

• Write a note: https://notall.biz

• Leave a voice memo: https://notall.biz/home#situations

• Email: [email protected]

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Yours, Truly - https://www.itsyourstruly.com/

Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week.

#Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Real Talk about Work, #Toxic Workplace, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Sticky Situations

It's a milestone episode! We made it to Episode 10—putting us in the top 10% of all podcasts. To celebrate, Blakely and Heather tackle a phenomenon that's costing businesses $438 billion annually: quiet cracking.

Guest Maureen "Mo" Berkner Boyt, founder of C2IQ and 2023 Colorado Technology Association Entrepreneur of the Year, explains what happens when high-performing women (and men) hold their families and businesses together through crisis after crisis—until they break.

The average age of burnout is now 25. Two-thirds of workers feel lonely. And with AI anxiety keeping people in jobs they hate ("job hugging"), the workplace mental health crisis is reaching a breaking point. But this episode isn't just about the problem—it's about solutions.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why we get "really dumb" during change (the neuroscience is wild)

• How C2IQ makes human risk as measurable as financial risk

• The imposter syndrome hack that takes 10 minutes in your next meeting

• Why "find your passion" is actually terrible advice

• Mo's journey from trying to be a "middle-aged white guy" to rocking her moxie

• Why growth at all costs is destroying your people (and what to do instead)

• The real story behind Mo's 31-year marriage (hint: they re-up annually)

  
  

**Plus honest conversations about:**

• Blakely's burnout stories—from $50 face cream bribes to corporate bidding wars

• Heather's under-the-desk crying after firing a married couple

• Why being "gritty as f***" isn't always enough

• The loneliness epidemic at work (yes, people want AI buddies)

  
  

Also worth watching for:

• Clay's hair that could literally star in the musical Hair (real pictures included!)

• Blakely's senior photo featuring the iconic wave AND claw combo

• Heather's observation about Casa Bonita's stalactites looking... anatomically suggestive (picture included!)

• Heather's bizarre NyQuil-induced dream about nursing a man-baby on a train—seriously, if anyone can interpret this, please reach out

  
  

Whether you're a leader pushing your team harder out of fear, a high performer who's lost the joy, or someone watching the spark fade in colleagues around you—this episode offers both validation and practical strategies.

New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

LINKS & MENTIONS

• Maureen “Mo” Berkner Boyt on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenberknerboyt/

• C2IQ: Making human risk measurable - https://c2iq.io/

• Podcast Statistics: Top 10% milestone reference - https://riverside.com/blog/podcast-statistics

• KPMG Workplace Friendship Study: Friends at work research - https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/friends-at-work-2025.html

• $438 Billion Cost of Quiet Cracking: Fortune article on workplace burnout and disengagement - https://fortune.com/2025/08/18/quiet-cracking-workplace-culture-employees-burnout-disengagement-mental-health-billions-business-loss-managers-ai-promotions/

• Casa Bonita Restaurant: https://www.casabonitadenver.com/

• South Park "Casa Bonita" Episode: Season 7, Episode 11

• ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! Documentary: Available on Paramount+ - https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/casa-bonita-mi-amor/

• Office Space (1999): Classic workplace comedy film

• CU Women's Basketball: Proud sponsor of CU WBB - https://www.instagram.com/cubuffswbb/

• Submit your sticky situations: https://notall.biz/

• Can you interpret Heather's dream? Send us your analysis!

  
  

We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Share your story at https://notall.biz/home#situations and we’ll tackle it in an upcoming episode.

Women are about to inherit and control unprecedented wealth—$34 trillion by 2030, to be exact. But here's the problem: we still can't talk about it. Not about salaries, not about investments, not even about asking for what we're worth without feeling like we're "bragging."

In this episode, Hayfa Aboukier—Principal at Range Ventures and a female VC in an industry where women make up only 9-15% of partners—sits down with Blakely and Heather to break the silence.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why money is still the last taboo for women—and what that silence is costing us

• What it's like being a female venture capitalist 

• The steps to go from paying off debt to opening an investment account

• How to start uncomfortable money conversations (salary ranges, raises, investments)

  
  

Plus: Why the "Great Wealth Transfer" means now is the time for women to start having these conversations—because the women who talk about money are the ones who'll actually control it.

LINKS & MENTIONS

Guest:

• Hayfa Aboukier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayfa-aboukier/

• Range Ventures: https://range.vc/

Music:

• Roots Music Project: https://www.rootsmusicproject.org/

• Dead Pioneers (Denver band): https://www.deadpioneers.band/

• 2MX2 (San Luis Valley band): https://2mx2.com/

• Banshee Tree (Americana band): https://www.banshee-tree.com/

Books & Documentaries:

• Martha (Netflix, 2024) - Directed by R.J. Cutler: https://www.netflix.com/title/81479059

• "Your First Million: Why You Don't Have To Be Born Into A Legacy Of Wealth To Leave One Behind" by Arlan Hamilton - https://www.amazon.com/Your-First-Million-Legacy-Behind/dp/0593543548

Statistics & Research Cited:

• Women to control $34 trillion by 2030: McKinsey & Company - https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/the-new-face-of-wealth-the-rise-of-the-female-investor

• Women in VC partners (9-15%): PitchBook Female Founders Report - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305135954/en/Venture-Capital-Exits-Increased-for-Female-Founded-Companies-in-2024-New-PitchBook-Report-Shows

• VC funding to female founders (2.3%): PitchBook 2024 data - https://ff.co/women-funding-statistics-2025/

• Women and investment accounts (51%): Citizens Bank Great Wealth Transfer Survey - https://www.citizensbank.com/private-banking/insights/new-era-for-womens-wealth.aspx

New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Share your story at https://notall.biz/ and we’ll tackle it on an upcoming episode.

What if the smartest career move you could make is intentionally climbing DOWN the corporate ladder?

In this episode, Blakely and Heather sit down with Alden Hultgren, a tech executive and founder of the Conscious Leadership Collective who made a radical choice: she's not stepping down—she's creating a new ladder. Alden chose wellness over titles and discovered that "creating a life you don't have to heal from" is the ultimate success metric.

This conversation includes a live breathwork session, real talk about chronic stress and burnout, and permission to redefine success on your own terms. Plus: Heather reports live from Dreamforce, everyone discovers they've been breathing backwards their whole lives, and Clay gets kicked out of an anniversary dinner.

In this episode, Alden reveals:

• The moment she realized she needed to “climb” down the corporate ladder (and why it was the right decision)

• What "creating a life you don't have to heal from" really means

• The physiological sigh: a 3-breath technique to reset your nervous system anywhere, anytime

• Why breathwork in the boardroom could change corporate culture

• How to shift from being a victim to the corporate world to being the creator of your life

• What the Conscious Leadership Collective offers to high-achieving professionals who want both success AND wellness

LINKS & MENTIONS

• Conscious Leadership Collective: Join the waitlist at thealdeneffect.com/conscious-leadership/

• For 1:1 coaching with Alden: Visit thealdeneffect.com 

• Dreamforce 2025 by @salesforce

• Saysh Shoes

• Ozone IV Therapy: Mentioned as treatment for chronic fatigue/Epstein-Barr

• Huberman Lab: Physiological sigh research

  
  

New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Share your story at https://notall.biz/ and we’ll tackle it on an upcoming episode.