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I may be cheering you on as you think and play bigger, but my guest for this episode could give me a few professional tips! Charity Barton is the University of Tulsa Cheer coach, a Director at TU's Collins College of Business, and an entrepreneur who believes in the power of storytelling. Not only is Charity a gifted and charismatic speaker, she is a TEDx alumna. Her Talk, “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship”, focuses on the effects of media consumption on mental health and self perception, and how to develop a healthier lifestyle through media literacy — a timely and necessary topic!
While Charity has experienced many shifts in her life, she has also consciously created breathing room that allows her to consider her best next steps. During our conversation, Charity and I dig into the ways in which taking gap years has helped to shape her path forward and allowed her to shift out loud on her own terms. We also discuss Charity’s experiences along the road to TEDx Tulsa and how she is redefining her relationship with mass media for the better.
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Charity Barton is a former University of Tulsa cheerleader and alumna with a B.A. in Communications. She is a Director at TU's Collins College of Business and the TU Cheer coach. She has a Master's in Mass Communications, and recently gave her first TEDx Talk, titled “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship.”
Timestamps:
01:57 Intro
02:51 Meet Charity Barton
04:34 Gap year lessons
06:50 Influences behind her shifts
10:36 Spain & France
15:10 TEDx Tulsa
20:27 Unhealthiest relationship
23:54 Changing the input
26:51 Storytelling shift
33:33 Good/bad storytelling
38:40 Education & leadership
41:18 What’s next?
Links:
Charity Barton
https://cboriginal.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_q01Ym9Fk
Instagram: @iamchar.ity
The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skin-im-in-sharon-g-flake/1100552129
The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren
https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-What-Earth/dp/031033750X
Don't Drop the Mic: The Power of Your Words Can Change the World by T. D. Jakes
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-drop-the-mic-t-d-jakes/1137427897
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com
My resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram:
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My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is definitely playing bigger — she was recently recognized as a 2023 Power List Leader in Workplace Diversity by Oklahoma’s Journal Record! As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial, Janet Huber is responsible for providing leadership, vision, and a team-oriented philosophy to advance diversity and inclusion within the organization.
During our conversation, we talk about the unique opportunities provided by the pandemic, how working in the court system helped Janet to shift out loud and hone her craft, and the amazing books that have enabled us to think and play bigger!
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Janet Huber is a Senior Vice President and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial. She has over 20 years of progressive HR experience and is passionate about establishing relationships and collaborating to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and establish inclusive environments.
Timestamps:
01:48 Intro
03:43 Meet Janet Huber
06:18 North Carolina to Tulsa and back
09:43 Pandemic & remote work
11:39 Wells Fargo to BOK
12:42 “Brag sheets” & thank yous
15:44 Wilkesboro
18:09 Mediation & the empathy gap
22:07 Privilege, gratitude & using your voice
27:02 When to speak & what to say
33:14 Sharing the microphone & mentoring
37:28 Shifting from manager to consultant
42:14 What’s next & DEI
Links:
Janet Huber
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-huber-phr-cm-cpc-0b94542
Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Never-Split-Difference-Lead-Title/dp/B09VCPNDH3
The Power of Thanks: How Social Recognition Empowers Employees and Creates a Best Place to Work by Eric Mosley & Derek Irvine
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Thanks-Recognition-Empowers-Employees/dp/0071838406
Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Troublemaker-Luvvie-Ajayi-Jones/dp/0593298772
Master Mentors: 30 Transformative Insights from Our Greatest Minds by Scott Miller
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Mentors-Transformative-Insights-Greatest/dp/1400221013
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
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Often, our most impactful shifts can take us by surprise or seem to come out of nowhere. My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is mastering the art of recognizing the right opportunities and shifting out loud with intention — whether that means playing bigger in the corporate world, leading her community, or embracing her role at home.
Jessica Lowe-Betts is a Vice President at the PR and leadership development firm Schnake Turnbo Frank, and a former Senior Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at ONEOK. She has had an incredible career and more than her fair share of shifts! For over a decade prior to joining ONEOK, Jessica worked in various roles at the Tulsa Regional Chamber and Tulsa Regional Tourism, has co-chaired the Association for Women in Communications Newsmakers Event, and currently serves as the inaugural Chair of the Board of Directors for Greenwood Rising history center.
Our discussion explores the lessons that Jessica has learned through experiencing a tragic loss in her early childhood, her struggles with overcoming imposter syndrome, and how each of her amazing shifts has led to her current success.
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Jessica Lowe-Betts is a Vice President at Schnake Turnbo Frank’s Tulsa office with 15+ years of experience in government affairs, communications, marketing, leadership coaching, and diversity, equity and inclusion consulting. She is an experienced DEI practitioner, communications professional, event planner, and community leader.
Timestamps:
01:37 Intro
03:36 Meet Jessica Lowe-Betts
06:36 Early years & memories
11:25 Family support
13:50 Shifting to college
17:23 Shifting away from journalism
21:50 Shifts & evolutions
24:08 Imposter syndrome
26:55 Knowing the right opportunity
30:50 Schnake & “beautiful chaos”
35:12 Pandemic, harmony & authenticity
39:24 The pay-off & inclusion
43:07 What’s next?
Links:
Jessica Lowe-Betts
https://www.facebook.com/jessica.lowebetts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lowe-betts-a6023110
Instagram: @jlowebetts
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger? Visit https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
Send a text
Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith is a trailblazer in championing equality, and his passion for playing a bigger game has led him to make legal history… not once, but twice! Chris studied journalism at Oklahoma State University before shifting gears to pursue a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa… and this shift would have a MASSIVE, reverberating impact for his community.
Chris now practices family, guardianship, and adoption law as a partner at McDaniel Acord in south Tulsa. In 2019, he and his husband, Michael, obtained an appeal from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma that recognizes and acknowledges the parental rights of nonbiological same-sex parents on the same basis as their biological parental counterparts. Two years later, he obtained the first nonbinary birth certificate ever issued in the State of Oklahoma.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Chris and I talk about his family’s reaction to his coming out, the importance of paying heed to your internal voice, and his unexpected shift into practicing groundbreaking constitutional law.
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Christopher Uric Brecht-Smit is an Oklahoma boy through and through. Born in Edmond, Oklahoma, Chris attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater for journalism and earned a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa. His law practice heavily emphasizes LGBTQ+ representation. He lives in Tulsa with his husband Michael Brecht-Smith, also an attorney, and their two fur babies.
Timestamps:
01:50 Intro
03:40 Meet Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith
10:07 Shift from journalism to law
16:01 Edmond & OSU
18:39 Coming out to family
28:18 Figuring it out & moving on
35:15 Being present & gracious
43:15 Nonbiological same-sex parental rights
51:53 Shift to diversity
55:47 Nonbinary birth certificate case
1:04:44 Equality gala
Links:
Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith
https://www.ok-counsel.com
https://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Brecht-Attorney-At-law/100069448718521
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools that will help you play bigger in your life? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.
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You’d be surprised by the positive impact you can have on your community in just 45 minutes per week. If you want to learn how to make a huge difference in under an hour, you won’t want to miss this episode of Shift Out Loud!
I speak to Olivia Martin, who is championing students, teachers, parents, and volunteers in the meaningful work of literacy for children in Tulsa and the surrounding areas. As the Executive Director of Reading Partners of Tulsa, she works to provide students with the support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade, partnering with under-resourced schools and pairing kids with volunteer reading partners.
During our conversation, we dig into her experience in the Leadership Tulsa program,
how her daughter’s passion for the theatre led to an unexpected shift in Olivia’s career, and how she’s making an INCREDIBLE difference in her community.
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Olivia Martin is a devoted advocate for education and the Tulsa community who brings more than two decades of experience in teaching, school administration, development, and civic engagement to her role as the executive director or Reading Partners of Tulsa. She envisions a big, bold future for Reading Partners Tulsa and looks forward to nurturing data-driven growth and collaborative partnerships in the service of students’ literacy and a life-long love of learning.
Timestamps:
01:49 Intro
03:04 Meet Olivia Martin
05:25 Leadership Tulsa
09:06 YWCA, Tulsa Dream Center, Theatre Tulsa & Collegiate Hall
12:11 Performance, theatre & extroversion
15:47 Fundraising
17:58 Vital literacy statistics
22:09 Julia Louis-Dreyfuss & Toni Morrison
30:13 Reading Partners
35:58 May Fest, fundraising gala & Stacey Abrams
40:41 Getting involved & what’s next
Links:
Olivia Martin
https://readingpartners.org/location/tulsa
https://readingpartners.org/donate
Wiser Than Me™ with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
https://lemonadamedia.com/show/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.
Send a text
Karen Kiely has played bigger in two hemispheres and multiple industries — and she’s collected amazing insights along the way!
Karen is the Executive Director of Cap Tulsa, an organization that helps children in lower-income families grow up and achieve economic success through a two-generation approach that prepares young children to succeed in school and helps their parents increase their parenting skills and earning potential. Under Karen’s leadership, Cap Tulsa was named Best Nonprofit to Work For by the Nonprofit Times… for seven consecutive years!
Prior to joining Cap Tulsa, Karen built an international career spanning Beijing, New York City, Hong Kong, and Taipei. While working for The Bama Companies, she produced apple pies for the first McDonald’s in China!
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, we dive into the twists and turns of Karen’s incredible career path, the biggest shifts that have led her to success all over the world, and the major influence that first set her on her path to playing bigger.
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Karen Kiely is the Executive Director of Cap Tulsa. She is a passionate, award-winning leader focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, developing shared vision, building a high-performing team, and achieving desired results in the right way. Karen was named a Woman of Distinction by the Tulsa Business & Legal News in 2016, and nominated for Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO by the Journal Record in 2021.
Timestamps:
01:50 Intro
04:17 Meet Karen Kiely
05:17 Booker T. Washington High School
08:16 Mandarin & exploring possibilities
12:24 Studying in Beijing
17:09 Legacy business & biggest surprises
20:24 New York City & Hong Kong
25:36 Taipei
29:33 Bama Companies & apple pies
34:39 Corporate liability & launching McDonald’s
38:37 Shifting to Cap Tulsa
45:29 Cap Tulsa
49:14 Big lessons & what’s next
Links:
Karen Kiely
https://captulsa.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kiely-55444921
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.
Send a text
Dr. Dwayne Jenkins won’t just help you to play bigger — he’ll also teach you how to live fully and authentically. Dr. Jenkins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist recognized for his expertise in advanced laproscopy and robotic surgery.
Twenty years as a cancer surgeon has taught him this above all: the most powerful medicine flows from the heart, not the hands. Now, Dr. Jenkins is on a mission to teach a generation the power of meditation and self acceptance. His own journey of self acceptance took a winding path through the Southern Baptist faith, marriage, and Alcoholics Anonymous, before he finally embraced his identity as a gay man.
Dr. Jenkins shares how he found an oasis of inclusivity in the middle of the Bible Belt, why you NEED to learn about Substack, and what trees can teach us about building community.
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Dr. Dwayne Jenkins is a gynecologic oncologist and partner in a multi-specialty cancer practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He writes about faith, wellness, and spirituality in his Substack newsletter, The Art of No Hard Conversations, and hosts the Words of Love with Dr. Dwayne podcast. He wants to lead a group of high-performing tree huggers dedicated to service and self care.
Timestamps:
01:42 Intro
03:30 Meet Dr. Dwayne Jenkins
06:15 Mycelia
07:59 Healing & embracing identity
12:00 Tulsa & inclusivity
13:34 “Coming out of the gay sober closet”
17:02 Coming in with intention
19:31 Substack & authorship
24:52 Self awareness, spirituality & the subconscious
28:42 Shifting to a new chapter
38:19 Respecting your own humanity
42:34 Personal ecosystems & detaching lovingly
55:18 Find Dr. Dwayne
Links:
Dr. Dwayne Jenkins
https://www.drdwaynemd.com
https://drdwaynemd.substack.com
https://open.spotify.com/show/5hx1EzNkCPT9UlkP6cFoYg?si=6d34efff27af4ed3&nd=1
TikTok: @drdwaynemd
Instagram: @drdwaynemd
The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy by Tricia Brouk
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game!
Send a text
CONTENT NOTE: This episode deals with intimate partner violence and homicide. Listener discretion is advised.
Barb Jordan is not only an excellent example of how to play bigger, she’ll inspire you to move about the world a little bit differently. Barb is a three-time NCAA Division 2 softball champion who also played and coached softball for Team USA for eight years and was part of the 1996 Olympic Women’s Softball team, among other athletic accomplishments.
But Barb’s most important shift has been founding Always Bev, a platform with the mission to educate and empower individuals with the skills that can help them prevent crime and violent attacks. Always Bev was created in honor of her Barb’s sister Beverly, who was tragically murdered by her fiancé.
As an in-demand Personal Safety Expert, Barb helps others recognize warning signs, predict unwanted behavior, and protect themselves. Her podcast, Always Bev: The Ripple Effect, is both a learning tool and an inside look at the reality of intimate partner violence. In this conversation, Barb shares the heartbreaking story of her sister’s death, how she healed from the lingering effects of that trauma, and key insights into the minds of predators.
Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Barb Jordan is the founder of Always Bev, a platform through which she shares her passion of educating others on personal safety at home, on campus, and in social environments. Her commitment to preventing violence against others with her astute teaching style has captivated audiences across the country.
Timestamps:
04:04 Meet Barb Jordan
05:03 Sports & politics
08:58 Dugout story & the Olympics
13:45 Post-Olympics career
15:33 Beverly’s story
20:21 Therapy, trauma & healing
30:09 Always Bev & warning signs
33:22 Building awareness
35:45 The Idaho 4 & predators
41:05 Takeaways & working with Barb
44:21 Remembering Bev & next shifts
Links:
Barb Jordan
https://www.alwaysbev.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barb-jordan-82719180
http://www.facebook.com/AlwaysBeVigilant
Twitter: @BarbJordan_AB
Instagram: @always_bev
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com
Find tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for not
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Shawna Suckow is a coach, consultant, and speaker with some serious knowledge of the customer mindset. As a former corporate buyer, she became fascinated with how organizations marketed and sold to her.
Her first book, Planner Pet Peeves: Straight Talk for Meetings Industry Suppliers to Understand How Planners Really Think, Act and Buy, aimed at helping organizations better understand how their target customers think. Her fifth book, The Roaring Twenties: Marketing & Selling Better in the Post-Pandemic Decade: Creating Strategies for Shifting B2B and B2C Consumer Behavior, was named by Forbes.com as a top marketing book of 2022.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Shawna and I dig into the evolution of buyers and how savvy brands are building authentic connections. We also discuss how she shifted from NEVER wanting to be in front of an audience (even sabotaging her own chance of becoming her high school’s valedictorian) to becoming a full-time Certified Speaking Professional — and joining an elite group of just 17% of the world’s speakers!
Listen now to discover:
Shawna Suckow has 20 years of specialized knowledge in consumer behavior, sales, and marketing, and has built her career around helping humans and organizations stand out, build trust, and inspire action. As a speaker, consultant, and coach, she helps clients and audiences craft and tell their stories through her Story Mosaic Strategy.
Timestamps:
01:42 Intro
03:44 Meet Shawna Suckow
05:12 World Series of Poker & competition
11:15 Certification & shift to speaking full-time
14:40 Shawna’s books
19:14 What buyers want
25:24 Who is getting it right?
27:03 Pandemic shifts
35:01 Ecosystem shifts
38:56 Next shifts
Links:
Shawna Suckow
https://www.shawnasuckow.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnasuckow
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=shawna+suckow&crid=31N2LIUY2JJEA
Instagram: @shawnasuckow
Twitter: @ShawnaSuckow
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
For tools that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community, visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for noti
Send a text
Mimi Brown is an award-winning motivational leadership speaker and the CEO of AMP Up Success. Through her training and coaching services, Mimi works with individuals and organizations to amplify their communication and leadership so they can make an influential impact on the world.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I sit down with Mimi to discuss her transformational journey from working in the corporate world, to running her own successful business, to returning to corporate… on her OWN terms.
Tune in as we explore what she loves most about having accountability partners, what she’s discovered about the unreality of reality television, and how she deals with speaking on some of the biggest stages — including the National Speakers Association!
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
Guest bio: Mimi is CEO of AMP Up Success and the author of three books, AMP Up Your Success: 52 Tips Every Leader Should Know, AMP Up Sales: 71 Tips to Skyrocket Your Revenue, and Be A Communication Rockstar: 52 Tips To Gain Connection, Skyrocket Confidence, Reduce Conflict. She was awarded Michigan’s Elite 40 Under 40 and Michigan Meetings and Events Magazine’s Best Speaker of 2020. She has been a media personality on WDIV’s Live In the D and a contestant on NBC’s Biggest Loser.
Timestamps:
01:39 Intro
02:42 Meet Mimi Brown
03:42 Experience of Tulsa
05:52 Becoming a keynote speaker
08:58 National Speakers Association
10:34 Behind the scenes of The Biggest Loser
17:01 Accountability partners & personal ecosystems
20:42 Setting your boundaries intentionally
22:33 Shifting into entrepreneurship
28:14 Manifestation
30:56 Chipotle story
34:04 Getting clarity on what you want
37:26 Divorce, corporate return & what’s next
43:06 Ghana & final advice
Links:
Mimi Brown
https://www.ampupsuccess.com
Instagram: @heymimibrown
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!
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Hosted by Tracy Spears, speaker, co-author of two best selling leadership books, founder of The Leader Lab, coach, and head cheerleader for anyone trying to play bigger. Shift Out Loud is a podcast…

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