Shine A Light

What happens when being great at your job is no longer enough to be great at leading others?

Ashley Rudolph went from individual contributor to VP in just five years, leading multimillion-dollar deals and teams of more than 250 people. But her fastest growth came with some of her hardest lessons, including learning how to lead someone who once outranked her, stop micromanaging, and shift from an executor mindset to an executive one.

In this episode, Ashley and Christine explore:

• Why being a high performer does not automatically make you a great leader • How friction at work can be a signal that you are ready for growth • Why relationships are the foundation of leading without authority • How self-reflection can transform your leadership style • Why the right role, industry, timing, and relationships can completely change your career trajectory

Your next level may not require working harder. It may require stepping back, listening differently, and getting honest about what you really want.

What if the life you're looking for begins when you stop trying to control it? What if the biggest thing holding you back as a leader isn't your ability—it's the authority you're unintentionally giving away?

In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Leigh Toomey, founder and CEO of Lead Her Ship Educational Solutions, to unpack the subtle ways women can undermine their own authority without even realizing it. Drawing on more than 25 years across education, nonprofit, and business, Leigh explores why women often feel they need one more certification, one more accomplishment, or one more title before they're truly ready to lead—and why that mindset can keep them stuck.

Together, Christine and Leigh explore: ● The hidden ways women "leak" authority: From people-pleasing to how we communicate, frame ideas, and carry ourselves in the room. ● Why you don't need the title to be a leader: If you're already doing the work, waiting for someone to validate your leadership can keep you from recognizing the authority you already have. ● Delegation as a leadership skill: How learning to delegate intentionally can reduce exhaustion, strengthen teams, and ultimately help shift organizational culture. ● Imposter syndrome and worthiness: Why confidence isn't always the issue—and how the feeling that you need to continually prove yourself can quietly hold you back. Leigh's message is not about becoming someone you're not. It's about taking a closer look at where you've been giving your power away—and making intentional choices to reclaim it.

You don't have to wait until you feel completely ready to lead. Sometimes, the first step is simply recognizing that you're already doing it.

Connect with Leigh Toomey: Website: https://leadhershipeducationalsolutions.com/ Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com

What if the best way to help your teenager is to stop solving their problems for them?

In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine talks with educator, teen coach, and author Ashley Radzat about the often misunderstood "third stage" of parenting, when kids move from childhood toward independence and everything that worked before suddenly stops working. Ashley explains why the teen years are a critical period of brain development, identity formation, and separation from parents, and how our instinct to protect and problem-solve can actually undermine a teenager's confidence and sense of capability.

They explore: • Why teens need parents to shift from being the "pilot" to being the coach • How natural consequences help kids develop confidence and problem-solving skills • Why parents need to regulate their own emotions before they can help their teens regulate theirs • How focusing on "what works" can change the way parents and teens communicate

If you're raising a teenager, working with teens, or simply trying to build healthier relationships, this conversation offers a hopeful reminder: sometimes giving someone space to figure things out is the most powerful way to show up for them.

What if the life you're looking for begins when you stop trying to control it? In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with writer, storyteller, and intentional-creation advocate Tim Shields for a fascinating conversation about consciousness, energy, and the stories we tell ourselves. Tim shares how a lifetime of curiosity, meditation, travel, and unexpected experiences led him to question the narratives that shape our reality—and ultimately to embrace a more intentional way of moving through the world.

Together, Christine and Tim explore: ● The stories that quietly run our lives: How early experiences can create conditioning that feels like truth, even when it may simply be a story we've learned to believe. ● Getting out of your head and into your life: Tim explains how meditation helped him reconnect with his body and become more aware of what was happening beneath the constant noise of the mind. ● Letting go of control: From traveling alone through unfamiliar places to embracing uncertainty, Tim shares why some of life's most meaningful experiences happen when we stop trying to dictate exactly how things unfold. ● Intentional creation: Tim describes his approach to becoming more deliberate about what you want, how you think, and how you show up in the world.

This is a conversation about curiosity, courage, and the possibility that the answers we're searching for aren't always somewhere out in the world—they may begin by becoming quiet enough to hear ourselves. If you're ready to question an old story, loosen your grip on control, or simply become more intentional about the life you're creating, this conversation with Tim offers plenty to sit with.

Connect with Tim Sheilds: Website: https://timshields.com/author/photoacademy/ Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com

What if becoming a better leader had less to do with having all the answers—and more to do with embracing the adventure?

In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Jen Recla, leadership coach, trainer, and founder of Recla Coaching and Consulting, to explore what it really takes to lead through uncertainty, change, and growth. With more than 15 years of experience in leadership development and organizational growth, Jen shares how her own experiences of being thrown into leadership—and learning along the way—shaped her approach to helping leaders build confidence, connection, and high-performing teams.

Together, Christine and Jen explore: ● Why so many leaders are asked to lead before they're actually prepared—and how coaching, mentoring, and support can change that experience. ● The power of fun, adventure, and curiosity in leadership, especially when navigating uncertainty and difficult conversations. ● Why vulnerability and sharing the messy parts of success matter, reminding us that growth rarely happens in a straight line. ● How leaders can move beyond simply managing people to creating teams that are engaged, resilient, and ready to grow.

Jen brings an honest and refreshing perspective to leadership: you don't have to have it all figured out to make an impact. Sometimes the most meaningful growth happens when you're willing to embrace the uncertainty, learn from what doesn't work, and keep moving forward.

Connect with Jen Recla: Website: https://www.jenrecla.com/ Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com

What if our obsession with getting faster answers is actually costing us our best ideas? In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Leslie Grandy, author of Creative Velocity: Propelling Breakthrough Ideas in the Age of Generative AI, for a thought-provoking conversation about creativity, innovation, and the role AI should—and shouldn't—play in our thinking. Leslie challenges the idea that creativity belongs only to naturally "creative" people and shares practical ways to build the creative muscle, challenge the status quo, and use AI to expand our thinking rather than replace it.

Together, Christine and Leslie explore:

• Why exploration matters more than speed when solving problems—and what we lose when we rush to an answer.
• How to use AI as a creative partner, including frameworks like SCAMPER to push beyond predictable answers and explore new possibilities.
• Why we shouldn't outsource our creativity to AI, and how human context, judgment, values, and imagination remain essential.
• How organizations can use generative AI not just for efficiency, but for ideation, imagination, and innovation—while helping their people feel elevated rather than threatened by the technology.

If you've ever felt like you're "not creative," or wondered how to keep your human ingenuity alive in an increasingly AI-driven world, this conversation offers a powerful reframe: creativity isn't something to outsource—it's a muscle worth strengthening.

Connect with Leslie Grandy: Website: https://www.lesliegrandy.com/ Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com

What if the patterns you rely on every day are quietly shaping your relationships, leadership, and results?

In this episode, host Christine Miles sits down with Chuck Wisner, author of The Art of Conscious Conversations, to explore how the behaviors we develop early in life can follow us into the workplace—and how awareness can be the first step toward changing them. Chuck shares how recognizing our patterns, understanding the needs beneath our reactions, and creating psychological safety can transform difficult conversations and relationships.

In this episode, you'll discover: ● How unconscious patterns influence the way we lead and communicate ● Why awareness can be the first step toward meaningful change ● How vulnerability and psychological safety create better conversations ● Why slowing down can ultimately help you move faster

Chuck and Christine explore what happens when we replace judgment with curiosity and approach conversations with an "open hand" instead of a "fist." If you're ready to understand your patterns, communicate with greater intention, and build stronger relationships, this conversation is a powerful place to start.

Connect with Chuck Wisner Website: ChuckWisner.com

Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com

What if asking for help isn't a weakness—but one of the smartest things you can do? In this episode, host Christine Miles sits down with entrepreneur and innovator Elizabeth Lawler to explore the power of letting go, building better support networks, and recognizing when doing everything yourself is holding you back. After years of building successful technology companies—including ventures acquired by major public companies—Elizabeth shares the personal pivot that changed how she approached work, leadership, and life.

In this episode, you'll discover: ● Why asking for help can be a strength, not a weakness ● How to build stronger personal and professional support networks ● Why handing things over can create better outcomes for everyone ● What happens when we stop measuring our worth by everything we do

Elizabeth's story is a powerful reminder that success doesn't have to mean carrying every responsibility yourself. Tune in for a candid conversation about vulnerability, community, delegation, and creating a life where you have room to thrive.

Connect with Elizabeth Lawler: Website: https://drelizabethlawler.com/

Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com

In this eye-opening episode, host Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to unpack the truth about human capital, leadership, and why so many high-achievers feel unfulfilled. Drawing from decades of experience in behavioral science and leadership development, Dr. Cynthia explains how our unique talents—shaped by life experiences, not just learned skills—hold the key to meaningful success. Together, they explore how people often "box themselves in" by chasing titles, status, or expectations that don't align with who they truly are.

Key Takeaways:

• Why your natural talents matter more than learned skills
• How chasing titles can lead to misalignment and burnout
• The critical difference between wanting success—and wanting the right success

If you've ever felt stuck in a role that looks good on paper but feels wrong in practice, this conversation will challenge you to rethink your path.

🎧 Tune in and start aligning your work with who you really are.

Connect with the Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer: Website: https://www.dr-cynthia.com/ Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com

In this episode, host Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Suzanne Simpson to explore the profound impact of secure attachment on how we show up in life, work, and relationships. Drawing from her experience as an educator and mental health professional, Dr. Simpson shares how early connection shapes behavior—and how awareness, empathy, and accountability can help us rewrite those patterns. From navigating "toxic" workplace dynamics to raising emotionally secure children, this conversation offers a powerful lens on human behavior and healing.

Key Takeaways:

• Why secure attachment is the foundation of confidence and connection
• How to respond with empathy without losing personal responsibility
• The balance between compassion and boundaries in relationships

If you've ever struggled to understand someone's behavior—or your own—this episode will challenge you to look deeper, respond differently, and build stronger, more meaningful connections.

Connect with Dr. Suzanne Simpson Website: https://www.drsuzannesimpson.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsuzannesimpson/

Connect with Christine Miles: Website: https://thelisteningpath.com