Shine A Light

What if the way you lead could mean the difference between failure and survival?

In this powerful conversation, Christine Miles sits down with retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling to explore leadership under the highest stakes imaginable—from commanding 90,000 troops to writing letters to his sons before going to war, unsure if he'd return. Together, they unpack what truly drives people, how great leaders think, and why understanding—not authority—is the real force behind influence.

This episode goes beyond military leadership—it's about how we show up for others in business, at home, and in moments that matter most.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why one conversation can change the entire trajectory of your life
• The difference between telling people what to do vs. challenging them to think
• How to understand what truly motivates others—and lead from that place

If you want to lead with clarity, build trust, and bring out the best in others, this conversation will shift how you think about leadership forever.

Connect with Christine:

Website: christinemiles.com

Instagram: @christinemiles

Guest: Lt. General (Ret.) Mark Hertling – Author of If I Don't Return

What if everything you've been taught about leadership, HR, and workplace culture is wrong?

In this powerful episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Lauran Starr—a bold, unapologetic disruptor redefining what it means to lead people and build culture. From growing up in poverty to becoming a Chief People Officer with multiple doctorates, Lauran shares how her lived experience shaped her fearless approach to challenging broken systems—and why "people and culture" must replace traditional HR if organizations want to survive.

Together, they unpack the uncomfortable truth: most companies aren't struggling with communication—they're suffering from a lack of real listening, critical thinking, and accountability. And fixing it requires more than good intentions—it requires disruption with purpose.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why traditional HR is becoming obsolete—and what must replace it
• How conflict, when handled right, becomes a catalyst for growth
• The difference between performative change and real transformation in culture and leadership

This conversation will challenge how you think, lead, and listen—and invite you to step into a more intentional, impactful way of showing up.

Because real change doesn't come from staying comfortable. It comes from shining a light on what others avoid.

Connect with Christine:

Website: christinemiles.com

Instagram: @christinemiles

Guest: Dr. Lauran Starr – Chief People Officer, Author, Disruptive Thought Leader

What if the thing you think disqualifies you… is actually the start of your greatest strength?

In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning Officer at BDO, workforce futurist, and author of The Trusted Learning Advisor and Hidden Value. Keith shares his powerful journey from being a high school dropout navigating homelessness and self-doubt to earning a doctorate and becoming a global leader in learning and development.

Together, Christine and Keith unpack why traditional ideas about success, education, and job security are rapidly changing—and why learning may be the most powerful skill you can build for the future.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why "job security" is a myth—and what actually protects your career • How learning can unlock confidence, purpose, and opportunity • The difference between the old knowledge economy and today's value economy

Keith's story is proof that success isn't defined by where you start—it's defined by your willingness to keep learning and keep going.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to pivot, grow, or reinvent yourself, this conversation will change how you see your path.

Connect with Us

Host: Christine Miles – Creator of The Listening Path LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemiles/

Guest: Dr. Keith Keating – Chief Learning Officer, Workforce Futurist, Author Website: https://keithkeating.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithkeating/

What if the biggest problem in our classrooms, companies, and families isn't communication—but the fact that no one is actually listening?

In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with longtime educator and school leader Sue Szczepkowski, who has spent more than 30 years shaping how students, teachers, and families learn and grow. From the athletic fields to the classroom to leadership teams, Sue shares what she's learned about building cultures where people feel seen, understood, and motivated to do their best work.

Together, they unpack the hidden leadership lessons behind great teaching, why curiosity matters more than control, and what parents and leaders must understand about the modern distractions shaping today's kids.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why winning isn't about the scoreboard—it's about the lessons along the way
• How great leaders earn trust by knowing people's stories
• The surprising reason teachers—and leaders—are really in sales
• What parents should know about screens, attention, and raising curious kids
• How listening and curiosity can transform classrooms, teams, and relationships

If you care about leadership, parenting, education, or building stronger human connections, this conversation will challenge the way you think about listening and influence.

Because when you truly understand someone's story… everything changes.

Connect with Host Christine Miles:

Website: christinemiles.com

Instagram: @christinemiles

Connect with Sue Szczepkowski:

Lower School Head, Germantown Academy | Educator & Leadership Mentor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-szczepkowski

What if the real math crisis isn't about numbers — but about identity?

In this powerful episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with national education leader and math expert Beth Zhang to unpack America's math crisis — and why so many of us still believe, "I'm just not a math person." Beth shares her unexpected journey from political science major to leading K–12 math transformation efforts across the country, revealing how mindset, listening, and instructional shifts can radically change outcomes for students.

Together, they explore why math anxiety is often a story we inherit — and how educators, parents, and leaders can rewrite it.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why "listening to" is more powerful than "listening for" answers
• How growth mindset transforms math identity — for kids and adults
• The alarming data behind America's math crisis — and what can actually fix it
• Why math is less about formulas and more about confidence

If you've ever said, "I'm not a math person," this conversation might just change your mind.

Because when we shift the narrative, we don't just improve outcomes — we unlock potential.

Connect with Us:

Host: Christine Miles – Creator of The Listening Path® LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemiles

Guest: Beth Zhang – National Education Leader & Math Expert, Lavinia Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethzhang

Most leaders think they're emotionally intelligent — the data says otherwise.

In this powerful episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Ekta Vyas, Chief Human Resources Officer at Keck Medical of USC and expert in organizational transformation, to unpack why emotional intelligence is declining at the exact moment leaders need it most. Drawing from global research, real-world leadership experience, and her own personal journey from India to the executive suite, Dr. Vyas reveals why EQ isn't a "soft skill," but the deciding factor in whether people — and transformations — succeed or fail.

Together, Christine and Ekta explore what emotional intelligence actually is, why most leaders misunderstand it, and how listening, awareness, and intentional response can radically change outcomes at work and at home.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why 70% of organizational transformations still fail
• The critical difference between reacting and responding
• How emotional intelligence shapes trust, culture, and leadership impact

If you've ever wondered why smart strategies fall apart — or how to lead with clarity in emotionally charged environments — this conversation will change how you think about leadership, listening, and yourself.

✨ This is your invitation to slow down, listen deeper, and lead with intention.

Connect with Host Christine Miles:

Website: christinemiles.com

Instagram: @christinemiles

Connect with Guest Dr. Ekta Vyas, PhD Chief Human Resources Officer, Keck Medical of USC LinkedIn: Dr. Ekta Vyas Website: https://ektavyasphd.com

What if the decision you're avoiding is the one that changes everything?

In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Amy Lessinger, former President of RE/MAX and creator of The Irreversible Step, to unpack how leaders make bold decisions when the stakes are high and certainty is nowhere in sight. From building a billion-dollar real estate brokerage during the Great Recession to walking away from success to find deeper impact, Amy shares what it really takes to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction.

Together, Christine and Amy explore what happens when leaders slow down long enough to truly listen - to themselves, to their teams, and to what's actually true—before taking action.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why indecision always carries a cost and why it gets heavier over time

• How listening builds performance, trust, and resilience in leaders and teams

• What an "irreversible step" really is and how to take the right one

If you're standing at a crossroads, feeling stuck, or sensing it's time for a change but don't know what comes next, this conversation will help you shine a light on the decision that matters most.

Connect with Host Christine Miles: Website: christinemiles.comInstagram: @christinemiles Connect with Guest Amy Lessinger Former President of RE/MAX | Leadership & Decision-Making Strategist 🌐 https://amylesinger.com🌐 https://theirreversiblestep.com

What if the voice guiding your life isn't the one you should trust?

In this powerful conversation, Christine Miles sits down with bestselling author and intuition teacher Happy Ali, whose life was transformed by a near-death experience at 17—and later tested by unimaginable loss. Happy shares how learning to distinguish between the soul, the mind, and the body can change how we make decisions, heal from trauma, and create a life rooted in clarity instead of fear.

Together, Christine and Happy explore why most people think they're listening—to others and themselves—but are actually following the wrong signals, and how self-awareness becomes the gateway to real transformation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to tell the difference between intuition, fear, and conditioning
• Why your brain is constantly reinforcing what you already believe
• How conscious listening can shift your choices, energy, and direction

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure which inner voice to trust, this episode will help you shine a light on what's really guiding you—and choose differently.

Connect with Christine Website: christinemiles.comInstagram: @christinemiles Connect with the Guest

Happy Ali Bestselling Author & Creator of Soul Tapping 🌐 https://happyinsights.net

A single moment can rewrite everything you believe about life — and Ray Catania learned that firsthand.

After surviving a near-death experience at 20, Ray spent decades wrestling with what he saw, felt, and understood on the other side. That journey eventually unlocked intuitive abilities, a new understanding of consciousness, and a mission to help people break free from the subconscious patterns that limit them. In this conversation, Ray and Christine explore how trauma, belief, and perception shape our lives — and how we can rewrite the story.

In this episode, Ray shares:

• How his NDE shattered atheism and opened intuitive abilities
• Why most of our decisions come from subconscious programming
• His "Say It Three Ways" method for manifesting real change
• How emotion and frequency shape what you attract
• The courage required to pursue your true path

Ray's story is a reminder that you can retrain your mind, reshape your life, and become truly limitless — if you're willing to listen within.

Connect with Ray Catania: Website: raycatania.com Books & Programs: The Atheist and the Afterlife, You're Still Alive—Now Act Like It, Say It Three Ways Course

Connect with Host Christine Miles: Website: christinemiles.comInstagram: @christinemiles

AI may be transforming marketing, but the teams behind it still rise—or fall—on human connection.

In this episode, two-time CMO and AI-driven go-to-market strategist Lisa Sharapata shares how her early dream of becoming an astronaut unexpectedly shaped her leadership philosophy, her career in marketing, and her ability to align teams like mission control. Lisa opens up about using AI responsibly, fostering psychological safety, and the real conversations leaders must have to bring out the best in their people.

In this conversation, Lisa and Christine explore:

• How AI is reshaping the buyer's journey—and why humans matter more than ever
• What great leaders do to build cultures of accountability and trust
• Practical ways to create psychological safety and unlock team innovation

Lisa's story is a reminder that when leaders explore boldly and communicate authentically, teams can achieve lift-off together. Tune in to be inspired.

Connect with Lisa Sharapata: LinkedIn: lisasharapata