Taking Back Monday

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Dr. Kimberly Harden to explore a hard truth: too many leaders build for their own comfort instead of building real connection. Kimberly shares her experiences in corporate America, the moments that pushed her to write Cultural Intelligence: A Blueprint for 21st Century Leadership, and why servant leadership is more important than ever. Together, Alyssa and Kimberly dig into what it takes to create workplaces where everyone can thrive...not just survive.

If you’ve ever questioned why leadership often feels out of touch, or wondered how to lead with courage and care, this conversation will give you the insight (and push) you need.

3 Key Takeaways
→ Leadership built for comfort protects the status quo, not people.
→ Servant leadership means seeing your team’s success as your own.
→ Real leaders create psychological safety by admitting what they don’t know.

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Kirstin Carey to explore what happens when your strength becomes your biggest obstacle. From growing up in a “walk it off” culture to burning out while helping others heal, Kirstin shares how her identity as a high performer masked deeper patterns of overgiving, undercharging, and self-sacrifice.

Alyssa and Kirstin talk about what it means to lead, price, and live with integrity - especially for women who were raised to prove their worth by carrying more than their share.

If you’ve ever felt like your hustle was hurting more than helping, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways
→ Being a martyr at work isn’t noble...it’s exhausting, and it sends the wrong message to your team
→ Undercharging doesn’t help your clients - it keeps them disengaged and keeps you depleted
→ Your childhood patterns don’t have to dictate your business model or your worth

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Christelle Biiga - speaker, coach, and founder of Exposure Maven - to explore the unexpected power of visibility and the journey that led her to podcasting as a path to purpose.

Christelle shares her unbelievable origin story, from arriving in the U.S. without speaking English to being wrongly detained for nine months, and how that experience shaped her mission to help others find their voice. Together, Alyssa and Christelle unpack why visibility isn’t about ego...it’s about impact.

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t “qualified enough” to share your story, this one’s for you.

→ Your story can change lives, even if you think it’s not “big enough”
 → Visibility builds trust faster than a polished website ever could
 → The first step isn’t finding your why—it’s making sure it’s yours

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Johanna Sanchez to talk about what it really means to build a business—and a life—on your own terms.

From working 70-hour weeks in child protection to building a six-figure business and still burning out, Johanna shares the pivotal moment that forced her to rethink everything. Together, Alyssa and Johanna explore how to set real boundaries, reject hustle culture, and redefine what success looks like.

If you've ever felt like rest had to be earned, this episode will challenge that mindset. It's a reminder that you don’t need to do more to be enough—and that taking care of yourself is good for business.

Key takeaways:

→ You don’t need to earn rest—rest is the standard, not a reward
 → Boundaries work better when they’re tied to your real values
 → Burnout isn’t the cost of ambition, it’s a sign to realign

Listen in for a conversation that’s honest, human, and a little bit rebellious—in all the right ways.

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Jenny De Leon—IT consultant, reluctant inventor, and founder of Repeatable Travel Systems—to unpack what it really takes to bring an idea to life...especially when no one else sees the vision.

From small-town hardware stores to fighting the U.S. Patent Office for six years, Jenny shares the gritty truth about staying the course when the odds (and your own self-doubt) are stacked against you. Together, Alyssa and Jenny explore what it means to take yourself seriously—even before the world does.

Key Takeaways:

• Unreasonable belief is a requirement. You can’t wait for permission to solve the problem only you see.
• Quitting is easy. Not quitting is a decision you make every day.
• The next step is always enough. Big visions are built one small, logical move at a time.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:17 Jenny's Origin Story
02:00 From IT Consulting to Skincare Solutions
07:40 The Challenges of Invention
16:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Andrea Mohamed, co-founder of Quantum Bloom, to explore what it really takes to build a career, and a company, on your own terms.

From boldly quitting her boss (but not the company) to helping early-career women in STEM navigate systems that weren’t built for them, Andrea shares personal stories and powerful insights on how to lead with courage, clarity, and self-worth. Together, Alyssa and Andrea unpack why women are still waiting to be chosen...and how to stop doing that.

Key Takeaways:

Don’t wait to be picked...own your power. Agency starts when you stop asking for permission.

Courage is contagious. Speaking up and advocating for yourself inspires others to do the same.

True progress means making it easier for those who come next. Leadership means opening doors, not guarding them.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:17 Andrea's Origin Story
03:39 Bold Moves and Career Challenges
05:44 Empowering Women in STEM
16:40 Future of Work and Final Thoughts

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

What if the key to better leadership isn’t another tool or framework, but your own nervous system? In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Natalie Alesi unpacks the science behind heart-brain coherence and how leaders can use it to build trust, reduce stress, and create more connected, high-performing teams. We talk about neuroscience in plain English, why consistency matters more than charisma, and how intuitive intelligence can be a strategic advantage in today’s remote world. Whether you're leading a global team or just trying to show up better for the people around you, this conversation will make you think differently about what leadership really requires.

Key Takeaways:

→ The science behind “heart-brain coherence” and why it matters at work
→ How to build trust in a remote, distracted world
→ Why stress isn’t just a feeling, it’s a barrier to innovation and performance

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:18 Natalie's Origin Story
02:26 Discovering Heart Brain Coherence
03:25 Mind-Body Connection in Leadership
07:26 Building Trust and Authentic Connections
09:42 Remote Work Challenges and Solutions
12:07 Techniques for Heart Brain Coherence
15:44 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership
18:42 Neuroscience and Business Success
25:23 Influential Figures and Resources
27:10 Conclusion and Contact Information

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

What if your customer growth problem isn’t a product issue but a people one?

In this episode, Alyssa Nolte sits down with leadership strategist Charles Browne to unpack why so many organizations chase the wrong customers, build bloated offerings, and burn out their best people in the process. From his early days in martial arts and the Navy’s nuclear program to leading transformational change at Los Alamos, Charles shares how clarity, consistency, and personal values are the real accelerators of growth.

They explore why high-performing teams start with empowered individuals, how to build trust through decision-making frameworks, and what happens when companies forget their core value proposition.

If you’ve ever added more features to justify your price, or overloaded your customers with choices, you need to hear this.

Key Takeaways:

→ Stop jumping to solutions. If you don’t define the real problem, even your best ideas won’t fix it.
→ Empowered teams and clear values create scalable momentum; micromanagement kills it.
→ Your customers don’t want more options...they want clarity, confidence, and connection.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Charles
00:07 Charles' Origin Story
02:16 Current Roles and Responsibilities
03:39 Common Blind Spots in Leadership
06:57 Defining Leadership Roles
08:50 Customer-Centric Strategies
11:53 Personal Values and Leadership
16:24 Core Values in Organizations
19:29 Micromanagement and Organizational Values
19:42 Customer, Product, and Operations Focus
20:30 Southwest Airlines: A Case Study in Values
22:06 The Importance of Consistency in Leadership
25:33 Aligning Personal and Professional Values
28:40 Serving the Customer with Integrity
30:37 Identifying and Serving Your Ideal Customer
34:26 Final Thoughts and Resources

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

What do falling holiday decorations, dirty dishes, and single parenthood have in common? For Rebecca Link, they became unexpected metaphors for letting go of perfection, surviving the unimaginable, and rewriting the rules of leadership.

In this episode, Rebecca gets real about grief, toxic positivity, and what it actually takes to rebuild after everything changes. From therapy breakthroughs to the surprising power of delegation, she unpacks the invisible standards we chase and how to finally put them down.

If you've ever felt like you’re failing at an impossible game, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Perfection is a myth - especially in grief, parenting, and leadership.
  Letting go of unrealistic expectations (like fixing Santa in the bushes) creates space for what actually matters.
• Delegation isn’t just a productivity tool - it’s a survival skill.
  Sometimes you’re not just offloading tasks, you’re reclaiming mental capacity and teaching others to step up.
• You don’t need to bounce back fast.
  Whether you’re dipping, swimming, or soaking in the “pool” of hard emotions, the magic happens when you stop pretending everything’s fine and start redefining what’s enough.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:24 Rebecca's Origin Story
02:24 Navigating Trauma and Toxic Positivity
03:13 Challenges of Motherhood and Work-Life Balance
06:09 Coping with Loss and Redefining Life
14:00 Delegation and Leadership Insights
21:31 Finding Support and Resources
25:11 Conclusion and Contact Information

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

Tom Whalen didn’t set out to be in sales - he just needed a job. Fast forward a few decades, and he’s built his entire career (and even a college course) around it. In this episode, we talk about how modern sales has evolved past cheesy scripts and high-pressure tactics. From building trust with customers to staying human in hybrid teams, Tom shares real stories and practical wisdom on what it means to lead, teach, and sell in today’s world.

Key Takeaways:

• Why reluctant sellers often make the best long-term sales leaders
• How to keep remote and hybrid teams connected through small, intentional rituals
• The real value of AI in sales (hint: it’s not doing your job for you)

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:21 Tom's Origin Story
04:09 The Evolution of Sales
08:57 Teaching and AI Interests
18:01 Team Dynamics and Remote Work
24:28 Conclusion and Contact Information

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod