Reacting to Growth: Anxious Ears Unscripted

In this reflective episode, Kamila speaks with Pat—a learning designer and mental health advocate—about how journaling and mindfulness practices help us face anxiety, regulate emotions, and rediscover inner stillness. Together, they respond to the 10% Happier podcast episode “Alchemize Your Anger and Anxiety” featuring Suleika Jaouad.

🎙️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Weather, wardrobes, and a warm intro
02:00 – Pat’s story: From archaeology to andragogy & well-being
08:00 – The power of journaling as self-regulation
13:00 – Journaling prompts and journaling together
17:00 – Facing illness, grief, and regaining agency
22:00 – Why we resist pausing—and why we must
26:00 – Safe spaces to feel, reflect, and let go
28:00 – Other practices: MBSR, Zen, and mindfulness tools
30:00 – Meditation misconceptions & letting go of control
33:00 – Micro-exposure to silence and self
35:00 – Final reflection: “Don’t wait until you’re forced to stop”

✨ Listen to hear how pausing can be an act of reclaiming your time, presence, and self.

In this episode, Kamila sits down with Jakub Medrek, a language services expert with over a decade of experience in localization and translation. They react to an episode of the Measurably Better Learning podcast and explore the real differences between translation and localization, and why those differences matter in L&D.

🎙️ Timestamps:
00:00 - Summer strawberries & Polish vibes
01:00 - Meet Jakub: From language training to localization
03:00 - Defining translation vs localization
05:00 - Cultural and technical layers of localization
09:00 - Measuring impact: Engagement, motivation & frustration
13:00 - Strategy 1: Involve localizers early
15:00 - In-house vs vendor localization teams
17:00 - Working with SCORM & XLIFF files
20:00 - TMS systems: Cost, control, and consistency
26:00 - What TMS offers that AI doesn’t
29:00 - Localization as a creative bridge
31:00 - Two metaphors: Travel and music
34:00 - Plain English vs creative writing
35:00 - Jakub’s closing advice: Don’t take things for granted

👂Tune in for a real talk on how L&D teams can work better with localization partners, avoid last-minute stress, and design with cultural awareness from day one.

In this second-to-last episode of our Psychological Safety series, Kamila and Aris unpack Chapter 7 of The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson. It’s all about making it real—translating insights into actions. Join us as we explore the Leader’s Toolkit: setting the stage, inviting participation, and responding productively. Plus, we reflect on failures, feedback loops, and how curiosity keeps us growing.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & DIY podcast setup
02:00 – Psychological Safety series check-in
03:00 – FAQ: Can anyone learn to lead with psychological safety?
05:00 – Meetings, silence & the courage to speak
08:00 – Awareness, mindfulness & breaking patterns
10:00 – Experimenting & self-assessment
12:00 – Setting the stage: changing vocabulary around failure
14:00 – Leader’s Toolkit analogy: building a house
18:00 – Parenting, participation & trust
21:00 – Accountability, patience, and boundaries
25:00 – Responding productively vs being “nice”
27:00 – Following up after feedback: closing the loop
30:00 – The 3 types of failure: preventable, complex, intelligent
33:00 – Embracing intelligent failures & experimenting safely
36:00 – Failure parties & learning together
37:00 – Final reflections: mindful inquiry & minimizing assumptions

💬 “If you practice complaining and nagging, that’s who you become. Practice who you want to be.”

Don’t forget to follow us—next episode wraps up the series!

We’ve reached another exciting episode in our series on Amy C. Edmondson’s The Fearless Organization. In this episode, I’m joined by Aris, our Psychological Safety expert, to react to Chapter 6: Safe and Sound. We explore how organizations can create environments where employees feel secure to express ideas, take risks, and innovate without fear.

🎧 What’s inside this episode?

• 00:00:02 - 00:01:10 | Introduction & Greetings

• 00:01:11 - 00:03:42 | Post-Easter Check-In & Casual Chat

• 00:03:43 - 00:07:28 | Introduction to Chapter 6: Safe and Sound

• 00:07:30 - 00:12:15 | The Importance of Psychological Safety in Teams

• 00:12:16 - 00:17:45 | How Leaders Can Foster a Safe Environment

• 00:17:46 - 00:22:32 | Real-Life Examples of Psychological Safety in Action

• 00:22:33 - 00:27:50 | The Role of Feedback and Open Communication

• 00:27:51 - 00:34:10 | Challenges and Misconceptions

• 00:34:11 - 00:36:50 | Final Reflections & Key Takeaways

💡 Key takeaway: Creating a fearless organization requires more than just policies—it demands a culture where psychological safety is prioritized and practiced daily.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be truly seen by your boss or your organization—and to feel safe enough to show up as your true self?

In this episode of Reacting to Growth: Anxious Ears Unscripted, Kamila and Aris dive into Chapter 5 of The Fearless Organization – The Fearless Workplace. They reflect on what it really means to build psychological safety in the workplace, how rituals can shape team dynamics, and what it looks like to lead with openness and authenticity.

With personal stories, examples from the book, and insights from their own peer-led sessions, they explore how safe spaces are created—and lost.

🕐 Timestamps:
00:00:02 – 00:04:35 | Catching up – Hoodies, home projects, and personal updates
00:04:35 – 00:05:12 | Setting the stage – Chapter 5: The Fearless Workplace
00:05:12 – 00:09:00 | Can psychological safety exist without vulnerability?
00:09:00 – 00:13:00 | Kamila’s team story – When everyone feels safe… except you
00:13:00 – 00:15:00 | Trust and timing – What holds us back from opening up?
00:15:00 – 00:18:00 | Eileen Fisher – Grounding rituals and the Circle Way
00:18:00 – 00:22:00 | Embracing the “I don’t know” – The leadership trait we need more of
00:22:00 – 00:26:00 | Building a team from scratch – Psychological safety in action
00:26:00 – 00:28:00 | Listening with “available eyes” – A Peer Speaking Club technique
00:28:00 – 00:32:00 | Speaking without a script – From anxiety to authenticity
00:32:00 – 00:37:00 | Pixar’s Braintrust – Inviting critique to make ideas stronger
00:37:00 – 00:39:00 | Final reflections – Building the feedback muscle & failing forward

🎧 Tune in to hear what it means to show up fully—and how leaders and teams can make that possible.

In this episode, Kamila and Aris continue their exploration of The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson. They dive deep into the themes of psychological safety, vulnerability, and the consequences of silence in the workplace. Join them as they reflect on their personal experiences and insights, while discussing the importance of open communication in fostering a healthy work environment.

00:00:02 - 00:00:09 | Introduction & Greetings
Kamila and Aris welcome listeners and share updates on their podcast journey, discussing previous chapters of The Fearless Organization.

00:00:09 - 00:01:04 | Catching Up
Kamila asks Aris about his week and experiences of being "in between projects." Aris shares his current focus on personal development and the changing vibe of spring.

00:01:04 - 00:03:02 | Reflections on the "In-Between" State
Kamila and Aris discuss the challenges of transitioning between projects in consulting, including feelings of pressure and the importance of emotional resilience.

00:03:02 - 00:05:36 | Advice on Navigating "On the Bench" Periods
Aris reflects on advice he received during downtime between projects, contrasting it with Kamila's experience of staying proactive and visible in her professional network.

00:05:36 - 00:09:03 | The Dangers of Silence
Kamila and Aris discuss the implications of staying silent during stressful work periods and how this can lead to missed opportunities. They connect this theme to Amy Edmondson's chapter on the consequences of silence.

00:09:03 - 00:12:07 | Introducing a New Segment
Kamila introduces a new segment for the podcast, where they will begin answering questions submitted by listeners or generated by AI to increase engagement.

00:12:07 - 00:14:45 | The Role of Vulnerability in Psychological Safety
Kamila and Aris answer a listener question on the role of vulnerability in psychological safety, especially in cultures where vulnerability is seen as a weakness.

00:14:45 - 00:20:22 | The Power of Emotional Openness
Aris shares insights on the importance of emotional openness for psychological safety and the team's well-being, drawing from personal experience and workplace dynamics.

00:20:22 - 00:23:50 | The Role of Managers in Psychological Safety
Kamila and Aris discuss how managers can foster psychological safety by being vulnerable themselves and setting an example for their teams.

00:23:50 - 00:27:47 | Vulnerability and Well-Being
The hosts continue the conversation on vulnerability, emphasizing its role in mental health and the need for maturity and self-awareness from both employees and managers.

00:27:47 - 00:34:12 | The Silver Lining in Silence
Aris shares an example from Toyota's manufacturing culture, where workers can stop production if something feels wrong, highlighting how a culture of openness can prevent disaster.

00:34:12 - 00:36:02 | Final Thoughts on Chapter 4
Kamila and Aris reflect on Chapter 4 of The Fearless Organization, which discusses devastating consequences of silence, while also introducing the Me Too movement as a symbol of change and the shift toward safer environments.

00:36:02 - 00:37:29 | Looking Ahead to Chapter 5
Kamila wraps up the episode, teasing the next chapter's discussion on creating psychological safety in workplaces.

00:37:29 - 00:37:35 | Closing Remarks
Kamila thanks Aris and the audience, signaling the end of the episode.

Feeling so grateful to continue this journey with Aris, a Psychological Safety expert, as we react to another chapter of Amy C. Edmondson’s The Fearless Organization. In this episode, we dive into Chapter 3: “Avoidable Failure”, where Edmondson explores real-life business disasters caused by a lack of psychological safety. We discuss why teams must create an environment where people can speak up before failures escalate—and how data proves its importance.

🎧 What’s inside this episode?

• 00:00:02 - 00:00:21 | Morning check-in & casual chat 🌅

• 00:00:36 - 00:01:22 | How allergies & coffee affect our voices ☕

• 00:01:22 - 00:02:38 | Why dairy and coffee can be bad before public speaking 🗣️

• 00:02:39 - 00:03:57 | Psychological Safety & my role in Peer Speaking Club 🎤

• 00:04:05 - 00:07:06 | Diving into “Avoidable Failure” – A new perspective on learning from mistakes 📖

• 00:07:10 - 00:12:08 | The problem of silence in organizations—real business failures 🚨

• 00:12:15 - 00:16:45 | What happens when leaders create fear instead of psychological safety?

• 00:16:50 - 00:21:35 | Case studies: Volkswagen, Wells Fargo, Nokia & the Federal Reserve 💼

• 00:21:40 - 00:28:45 | The dangers of unrealistic targets & leaders who ignore concerns 📉

• 00:28:46 - 00:33:57 | Why leaders must embrace feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable 🏆

• 00:34:00 - 00:36:50 | How to challenge the status quo & final takeaways ✨

💡 Key takeaway: Psychological safety isn’t about avoiding mistakes—it’s about creating an environment where teams can discuss issues before they turn into major failures. Organizations that silence employees risk serious consequences.

In this episode, I meet again with Aris, a Psychological Safety expert, to react to another chapter of Amy C. Edmondson’s book, The Fearless Organization. This time, we dive into "The Paper Trail." We explore how data, research, and evidence play a key role in fostering psychological safety and why organizations need a paper trail of trust to create real change.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:02 - 00:00:09 | Greetings & Settling In

• 00:01:11 - 00:02:16 | Aris’s Background & Journey from Greece to Poland

• 00:02:25 - 00:03:42 | Introduction to the Podcast Series – Reacting to The Paper Trail

• 00:04:23 - 00:05:52 | Why Psychological Safety is More Than Just a Buzzword

• 00:05:54 - 00:08:38 | Exploring The Paper Trail: The Role of Data in Workplace Trust

• 00:08:48 - 00:12:15 | The "Epidemic of Silence" – When Employees Hold Back

• 00:12:23 - 00:16:40 | Leadership Fears: Why Some CEOs Struggle with the Truth

• 00:17:03 - 00:20:58 | Measuring Psychological Safety: How Companies Can Track It

• 00:21:53 - 00:26:47 | Psychological Safety Across Cultures – The Global Perspective

• 00:28:31 - 00:30:58 | Learning & Innovation: Why Speaking Up Fuels Growth

• 00:32:42 - 00:36:24 | Final Thoughts & What’s Coming Next

💡 Takeaway: If organizations want to foster trust, learning, and innovation, they need to create a culture where employees feel safe to speak up—and have the data to prove it!

In this episode, I explore the element of listening as a transformative shift in public speaking, based on insights from Lee Leek Stein’s Be Heard Now. I discuss how mutual listening in speaking circles fosters confidence, engagement, and authenticity. Throughout the episode, I reflect on positive mirroring, overcoming speaking anxiety, and practical exercises to cultivate luminous listening for better communication and presence.

🔹 Timestamps:

00:00:02 - 00:00:09 | Introduction & Greetings – Welcoming listeners and introducing today’s topic.
00:00:10 - 00:00:17 | Recap of Previous Episode – Revisiting key takeaways from the last discussion on relational presence.
00:00:18 - 00:00:34 | Overview of Today's Topic – Introduction to the element of listening and why it’s a game changer.
00:00:36 - 00:01:00 | The Foundation of Relational Presence – Understanding the role of listening in speaking circles.
00:01:05 - 00:01:50 | Mutual Listening & Group Dynamics – Exploring the ideal group size and structure in speaking circles.
00:01:51 - 00:03:08 | The Counterintuitive Nature of Speaker Listening – How speakers also engage in active listening.
00:03:09 - 00:04:21 | Early Barriers to Public Speaking – The impact of childhood experiences on speaking confidence.
00:04:22 - 00:06:02 | Breaking Through Speaking Fear – Overcoming the instinct to hide and learning self-trust.
00:06:03 - 00:07:50 | Rewiring the Brain for Safe Speaking – The neuroscience behind forming new confidence pathways.
00:07:51 - 00:09:58 | The Role of Luminous Listening – How neutral, receptive listening transforms speakers’ confidence.
00:09:59 - 00:12:01 | Receiving vs. Demanding Audience Attention – Shifting from seeking validation to embracing presence.
00:12:02 - 00:14:04 | Reflection Prompts for Practicing Listening – Exercises to deepen listening skills and relational presence.
00:14:05 - 00:17:18 | Cultivating Luminous Listening – What it means to hold space for speakers with an open, soft gaze.
00:17:19 - 00:20:24 | Applying Speaking Circle Practices in Daily Life – Transferring these skills to real-life conversations.
00:20:25 - 00:22:41 | Final Thoughts & Next Episode Teaser – Wrapping up and introducing The Element of Gaze.

In this episode, we launch a new podcast series reflecting on Amy C. Edmondson’s book The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. Me and Aris discuss the foundation of psychological safety, common misconceptions, and its crucial role in teamwork, creativity, and innovation.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:02 - 00:00:09 | Introduction & Greetings. Hosts exchange greetings and discuss adjusting schedules for the recording.

• 00:00:12 - 00:01:16 | Weather & Seasonal Preferences. Casual conversation about cold temperatures in Poland and personal experiences with winter.

• 00:02:25 - 00:03:42 | Introduction to the Podcast Series. Overview of the new series focusing on psychological safety in the workplace.

• 00:03:44 - 00:05:38 | What is Psychological Safety? Definition and real-world examples of psychological safety in teams.

• 00:05:55 - 00:08:38 | The Evolution of Psychological Safety Concepts. Tracing back its origins from the 1950s and its relevance today.

• 00:08:48 - 00:11:54 | Why Humans are Naturally Anxious and How it Affects Teams. Discussion on how survival instincts influence workplace behavior.

• 00:11:55 - 00:15:02 | Fear vs. Creativity in the Workplace. Examining how fear inhibits innovation and productivity.

• 00:15:16 - 00:18:50 | Leadership’s Role in Psychological Safety. How leaders can foster a safe environment and why vulnerability matters.

• 00:19:03 - 00:23:36 | Amy Edmondson’s Research on High-Performing Teams. Case study on mistake reporting and team learning in medical settings.

• 00:23:47 - 00:30:58 | Common Misconceptions About Psychological Safety. Clarifying that it’s not about being “nice” or conducting therapy sessions.

• 00:32:03 - 00:34:30 | How to Measure Psychological Safety in Organizations. Using Amy Edmondson’s inventory to assess workplace climates.

• 00:34:42 - 00:36:50 | Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways. Encouragement to speak up and embrace psychological safety for growth.

• 00:36:53 - 00:37:00 | Closing & Preview of Next Episode. Announcing the next topic: The Paper Trail chapter from Edmondson’s book.