"Most CEOs won't tell you about the years before the title. Nicholas Thompson — CEO of The Atlantic, record-breaking marathon runner, and one of the most influential media executives in the world — spent his twenties being fired, busking on subway platforms in New York City, and wondering if he'd ever figure it out. What he learned in those years is what's running one of the most respected publications in the world today. This is that story."

The CEO Who Was Fired at 22 and Built a Media Empire | Nick Thompson | Real Talk

In this episode of Real Talk, Nick sits down with Chinazom and Ije to talk about what it really takes to lead at the highest level without losing yourself in the process — the mental discipline behind elite performance, what running ultramarathons taught him about leadership under pressure, why he believes moving at an uncomfortable pace is the only way to grow, and how leaders can protect their mental fitness in an era of AI, information overload, and relentless change.

This is a rare, honest conversation with one of the most thoughtful executives in the media today.

In this episode:

• How Nick rebuilt his confidence after being fired at 22

• The leadership philosophy behind The Atlantic's extraordinary turnaround

• What running 50K races teaches you about resilience and mental fitness

• Why "moving at an uncomfortable pace" is his #1 rule for growth

#Leadership #MentalFitness #CEO #TheAtlantic #RealTalk #NickThompson #Podcast

Welcome to another episode of Real Talk - Mental Fitness! Today, we’re diving into the power of connection, curiosity, and the often-overlooked art of networking with our extraordinary guest, Shelly Lombard.

From her high-stakes career on Wall Street and her unique experiences as a Black woman in finance, to the launch of Schmooze Biz—a vibrant networking space uplifting professionals into board opportunities—Shelly Lombard shares her journey and the lessons she wishes she’d known earlier. 

Shelly shares honestly about her time on Wall Street, including what she wished she’d known sooner: relationships matter more than just a stellar work ethic. Despite a successful career in distressed investing (aka “vulture investing”), Shelly opens up about missing the intentional networking piece. She reminds us it’s not just about “doing the work”–it’s also about connecting, following up, and being seen.

This episode explores how intentional relationships, energy management, and challenging labels like “introvert” can open doors and transform careers.

Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, eyeing your first board seat, or just looking to build stronger professional connections, this conversation is packed with insights, real talk, and aha moments. Plus, you’ll get practical advice on nurturing your network, handling the energy drain, and showing up authentically—even when circumstances feel challenging.

Get ready for stories, strategies, and some memorable quotes—like why it’s okay to “take five minutes to feel sorry for yourself, then get back to being a gangster.” Tune in and tap into the wisdom that will help you fuel your own mental fitness and professional growth!

Your Invitation:Want to experience more of Shelly’s wisdom? Subscribe to her newsletter and check out Schmooze Biz, her networking platform designed to help others avoid the mistakes she made and build lasting, impactful relationships.

Welcome back to Real Talk – Mental Fitness. In today’s episode, hosts Ijeoma and Chinazom sit down with the remarkable Jen Fisher, a trailblazer in workplace wellbeing and the former Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte. The conversation dives deep into Jen’s personal journey—from her own experience with severe burnout, to her transformative embrace of hope as a daily leadership strategy. Together, they explore the nuanced challenges high-performing leaders face in today’s workplaces, and Jen shares powerful insights on why redefining success, changing incentive structures, and proactively managing cognitive load are paramount for sustainable mental fitness.

Jen also reveals what inspired her to write her upcoming book on hope, why it’s crucial for leaders to engage with the “ugly stuff,” and how wellbeing must become a core part of leadership accountability—not just another perk. Whether you’re a senior executive, a fast-scaling founder, or someone passionate about reshaping work cultures, get ready for a refreshingly candid and practical guide to making mental fitness the heart of high performance. Let’s jump in.

Practical Steps for Leaders

• Challenge incentive structures that reward burnout behaviors.

• Build trust on your team (sometimes your team needs to call you out!).

• Address cognitive load (not just workload)—think about how meetings, processes, and unclear roles add up.

• Make hope and well-being part of your daily, intentional leadership practice.

💡 Standout Quote:

“Hope is not fluffy or wishful thinking. It’s putting in the day-to-day work that leads to meaningful change.” – Jen Fisher

What’s Next? Jen is publishing a new book on hope as a leadership strategy—keep your eyes peeled in the new year!

If you’re feeling inspired to bring more hope, purpose, and well-being into your work (and your team’s!), let us know how these insights are landing for you. Hit reply or drop your thoughts in our community space.

To listen to the full episode, click here.

Stay mentally fit, The Real Talk Team

00:00 Leadership Insights and Mental Fitness

06:19 Struggling with Burnout in Silence

09:08 "Transformative Burnout Recovery Journey"

10:46 "Leading with Hope and Change"

16:39 Workplace Burnout and Leadership Challenges

18:37 Reimagining Workplace Dynamics

23:30 Leadership Loneliness and Mental Health

26:45 Redefining Success Beyond Work

29:01 Rethinking Success and Work Culture

31:47 "Vacation Email Policy Resistance"

37:31 Understanding Burnout in Leadership Systems

39:29 Mastering Cognitive Load Limits

43:56 "Embrace Async Work for Wellbeing"

47:24 Recognizing External Cognitive Load

49:29 Engaging and Impactful Communication

Honored to have spent time in a truly open, honest conversation with two people I call my brothers - Steven Rzezuski, and Lee Aaron Smart (both professional coaches and dedicated fathers) for a recent episode of #RealTalk -  “Unlocking Men’s Emotional Strength: Real Conversation on Mental Fitness and Connection”.

Our focus was on the realities of men’s mental fitness—what we do to show up for ourselves, our families, and our communities, especially in a world that often tells men to “toughen up. this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really means for men to take care of themselves emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Through personal stories of struggle, vulnerability, and growth, the trio explores the challenges men face in expressing emotions, breaking free from old conditioning, and truly showing up for themselves and their loved ones. They discuss everything from the power of safe spaces and the importance of asking for help, to balancing masculine and feminine energies and practicing self-acceptance. You’ll hear reflections on grief, fatherhood, and the ongoing journey of personal growth—complete with insights, laughter, and a lot of real talk.

Building mental fitness is a continuous journey—not about having all the answers, but staying open, connected, and willing to do the work.

If you’ve ever wondered how men keep their mental fitness in check, or if you’re seeking inspiration to deepen your own emotional wellbeing, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready for an open, relatable, and deeply human conversation that shines a light on the paths men walk toward living fuller, healthier lives.

Grateful to everyone who’s walking this path. To all the men (and those who care about them): You have choices, and you never have to do it alone.

Please I have a favor to ask everyone. This episode really came from the heart and is packed with amazing insights, I need your help sharing this message. Engage with the post, comment, like and share with others you feel you need to hear this message 🙏🏾. Thank You !!

Quote of the Episode:“Tell the people that mean the most to you how much they mean to you. Tell them that you love them. That could be uncomfortable. And it’s exactly the work that is unbelievably powerful.” —Aaron Smart

Hey Real Talk community,

We’re thrilled to bring you the highlights from our latest episode of Real Talk – Mental Fitness, featuring the incredible Elaine Lin Hering—author of "Unlearning Silence." It was an absolute privilege to enjoy this dynamic and heartfelt conversation, trust us you will want to tuck into the full episode, probably more than once.

🎙️ Episode Spotlight: Elaine Lin Hering on Unlearning Silence and Living Fully💡

Elaine joined us to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her book—a project almost a decade in the making. Her journey is a masterclass in perseverance and the importance of sharing your voice, even (maybe especially) when you don’t feel ready.

Key Insights from Elaine:

• You’re Never “Ready”—Do It Anyway: Elaine got real about overcoming the myth of “readiness.” Waiting only prolongs your silence. Sometimes it’s about honoring obligations, community, or the promise you make to yourself.

• Silence as Strategy & Survival: Not all silence is bad—sometimes it’s necessary for self-preservation or chosen out of agency. Elaine draws the important distinction: Are you choosing silence, or is it being forced on you by your environment?

• The Power of Community: Just like marathon runners rely on strangers’ cheers, we need others to pull us through those tough corners in life. Mental (and social) fitness isn’t a solo endeavor.

• Unlearning Patterns for Mental Fitness: Recognizing and unlearning the ingrained patterns of silence—whether inherited from culture, family, or past workplaces—is crucial to living fully. Creating space for your own voice (and others) is at the heart of building sustainable mental fitness.

• Practical Tips: Struggling to hold space for your own or others’ voices? Try intentional “question time”—a family favorite of Elaine’s—or reflect on what truly helps people bring their best selves forward in your workplace or community.

• For Leaders & Parents: Elaine offers game-changing advice on agency, authenticity, and the subtle costs of the status quo. Leaders especially, take note: How you reward vulnerability and risk-taking sets the tone for your entire culture.

💡 Elaine’s Call to Action:

Ask yourself before every meeting or interaction:

• “What do I think?”

• “What do I need?”

It’s not about being loud. It’s about moving through the world with intention, agency, and respect for your own voice.

🧠 Your Mental Fitness Challenge:

Elaine’s top two mental fitness tips for those with subordinated identities (and honestly, for all of us):

1. Rest. Recovery isn’t earned, it’s essential.

2. Build Your Team. Support for your voice doesn’t have to come from your org chart—find those who nudge you toward your best self.

This episode is all about embracing the awkward, leaning into experimentation, and unlearning silence to live more fully. Ready to get inspired? Listen to the full conversation here!

Let us know what resonated with you, and don’t forget to leave a review if this opened up new perspectives for you.

With gratitude,Chinazom & Ije - The Real Talk Team

🚨 Tune in to discover how Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of Luminary, Survived the Pandemic, Built Inclusive Community, and Why “Never Waste a Good Crisis” Is Her #1 Leadership Rule 🧵👇

💡 Meet Cate Luzio, founder of @Luminary, who built a thriving community space for women in just 14 months—then was forced to shut down her NYC location overnight as COVID hit.

“It was less about me… and so much about the feeling I had for our community. The sadness, the fear, people being so fearful of what would happen.”Cate found herself sick with COVID, physically closing the doors on everything she’d worked so hard to build.

“My biggest goal was making sure the community knew that no matter what happened, we would be there for them.”This radical commitment to showing up became her North Star during chaos.

🎯 Why she adapted instead of “pivoted”:“I’m an athlete—a pivot means you switch directions. We never changed direction. The mission stayed the same, but how we met our community—like moving everything online—adapted.”

The lesson?Adapt > Pivot. Stay true to your mission, but evolve how you serve.

Cate’s 3 keys to leadership in a crisis:

• “Never be afraid to ask for help.”

• Radical honesty & transparency (with her team, community, & mentors)

• Let your team fly: “Allow my team to make mistakes and find new strengths.”

💪 On Mental Fitness:Raised by an FBI agent and a teacher, Cate learned resilience.“You just show up. Some days better than others. Everyone is dealing with something—so give grace & keep moving forward.”

Giving herself permission to be real:“My team hears me jokingly say, ‘I quit!’—because I’m not a doctor, so some levity helps. But the point remains: Find moments of light & brightness, even in hard times.”

 🧩 On building for inclusion—Cate refuses the “exclusive club” model:“Why should I decide who gets in? The problem with this world is always asking, ‘Do we have the right people in the room?’ I want anyone who believes this is their community in.”

👫 Why our biggest crisis now is “disconnection.”Cate sees this everywhere—in companies, culture, and society. The fix?More intentional dialogue. “Communication is the way to bridge the gap.”

Pro tip for entrepreneurs & leaders:Never waste a good crisis.“It’s your time to show up, get creative, and think outside the box.”

🏆 Final wisdom:“Show up every day with the best intentions—and think the same of those around you. Seek middle ground. If you seek it, you will find it.”

👏 THANK YOU @CateLuzio for keeping it honest, human, and inspiring as ever.

Get ready for inspiring stories, honest lessons, and actionable advice on leading with compassion, building stronger teams, and finding hope (and common ground) even when it seems out of reach. Let’s get into it!

Dave is a true visionary and matchmaker, connecting people, bringing communities together and driving change in our society. 

As a child of Taiwanese immigrants, Dave shares his journey from growing up in New Jersey to finding his purpose and voice during times of social upheaval. You'll discover how he turned pivotal moments, such as the George Floyd incident and rising Asian hate crimes, into opportunities to galvanize his community and invest in the future of Asian American founders. 

We dive deep into the concept of the "infinite game" - finding your purpose and harnessing your superpowers. Dave shares the importance of building your network and not waiting for permission to create the change you want to see.

The big lessons we took from this conversation were: 

If you want power to be used for good, more good people need to have power.

Until the lion learns to write the hunter's story will always be glorified - Own your story and tell it the way you want it to go.

Stop waiting for permission, go out and build your community.

Be ready to stick your head out for what you believe in.

Dave reveals his approach to mental fitness, emphasizing the importance of recognizing your superpowers and forging a network rooted in genuine relationships. 

Get ready to be inspired by Dave Lu's story of courage, empowerment, and the infinite game we all play in life. Dive in with us for this enlightening conversation!

00:00 Immigrant Drive: Education and Stability

06:38 Startup Journey: Realizations and Risks

10:42 Tackling the Bamboo Ceiling

17:18 "Community Visibility and Awareness"

22:39 "Embracing Life's Infinite Game"

29:19 Empowering Voices Through Shared Words

32:20 "Power Talk with Prof. Pfeffer"

40:20 Finding Purpose Through Empowerment

46:22 Creating Awareness Through Sharing

50:29 Hollywood's Financial Gatekeeping Barriers

54:42 Cross-Cultural Understanding through Education

01:00:55 Discovering and Using Your Superpower

In today's Real Talk - Mental Fitness episode, we sat down with William, a dynamic leader who shared his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global CFO. William delved into the power of mental fitness, balancing work ethic with personal well-being, and the importance of community. He emphasized taking action despite uncertainties, staying hungry for growth, and having a clear purpose. With a focus on mental, spiritual, and physical well-being, William's story highlights perseverance, authenticity, and the impact of mentorship. This conversation is a masterclass in resilience and leadership, perfect for anyone striving to reach their full potential.

Episode Highlights:

This episode is filled with heartfelt stories, profound insights, and actionable advice that will motivate you to carve out your own path to success while maintaining mental fitness.

Don't miss out – listen to the full episode now and immerse yourself in a conversation that promises to inspire and empower.

Timestamp Overview:

00:00 Balancing Work Ethic and Wellbeing

11:12 Never Too Late for Change

12:54 Overcoming Life's Mountains

22:13 Path from Mailroom to CFO

28:37 Personal Growth Through Action

29:59 Charting Nonlinear Career Paths

36:11 Sharing Awards for Community Inspiration

44:39 Prioritizing Giving Back to Youth

51:26 Transformative Leadership Approach

53:58 Cultivating Next-Gen CFO Leadership

01:02:33 Maximizing Time Without Sacrifice

01:06:19 Holistic Spiritual and Physical Growth

📢 Excited to share our first podcast of the year!  “Real Talk - Conversation on mental fitness and leadership” is back with a bang for 2025 🌟 .

We ( Ije & Chinazom) had the privilege of speaking with our guest Neel Singh.

🎙A dynamic and accomplished fractional CMO and brand strategist with a wide-ranging career. Neel opens up about his journey from startup hypergrowth to a variety of leadership roles, shedding light on the critical importance of mental fitness and effective time management.

He critiques the culture of overworking, underscores the need for clearly defined company visions, and emphasizes sustainability in work practices.Neil also shares valuable insights on leadership, coaching, and maintaining personal boundaries. He dives into the evolving role of fractional executives and the benefits of integrating personal experiences into professional life.

Our discussion touches on the need to combat hyper-specialization, adapt to changing business climates, and nurture innovation within company cultures.With actionable advice on managing workloads, prioritizing tasks, and building a resilient mindset, this episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, senior executives, and anyone striving for high performance and personal growth.

Here are three key takeaways from our discussion:

🔑 Importance of Boundaries and Prioritization:

🔑 Sustainable Work Practices and Vision:

🔑 Value of Coaching and Transparent Client Engagement:

Watch the show and share with others 🚀.

#MentalFitness #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #RealTalk

Welcome to Real Talk - Conversations on Mental Fitness. In this special episode we are thrilled to welcome Ed Cook, PhD and Roxanne M. Brown from The Change Decision . Roxanne and Ed combine their expertise in change management and decision analytics to bring a fresh perspective on workplace transformation.

In today's conversation, we'll explore key cultural differences in handling crises, how to revisit and improve past solutions, and the importance of infusing joy into business practices.

We'll uncover how joy has not just served as a differentiator for Roxanne's team but also contributed to thriving client relationships, especially amidst the challenges brought by the pandemic.

Ed will share his personal journey in shifting from a control-oriented to a more empowering leadership style, revealing how fostering psychological safety within teams leads to sustainable success.

We'll also delve into current workplace dynamics, like the tension around remote work versus returning to the office, and the evolving perspectives young people have on integrating work into a fulfilling life. By the end of this episode, we'll leave you with a deeper understanding of realizing joy in your work and the tangible benefits it brings to both personal and team growth.

Join us for an insightful discussion that's bound to inspire positive change in your professional life.

Timestamped Overview: 

00:00 Improving relationships and productivity by fostering joy.

10:20 Establishing leadership intentions through reflective questioning process.

16:02 Open process improved meetings and team ownership.

20:01 Managing inner dialogue to realize potential effectively.

24:55 Creating focus and authenticity leads to joy.

31:07 Incremental steps reduce anxiety and drive progress.

37:31 Company's value depends on the owner's operational independence.

38:54 Accountability, participation, leadership impacts joy at work.

46:31 Unaligned clients lead to efficient focus elsewhere.

51:19 Be thoughtful: Balance electronic and face-to-face interaction.

55:47 Balancing work and vacation with family together.

01:02:44 Take our mental fitness quiz—improve well-being.