What do hostage negotiation and leadership have in common? A lot more than you'd think. In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Scott Harvey shares what 20 years in law enforcement taught him about communication, influence, and why good leadership starts with listening - not talking.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing tough conversations, or just trying to show your people you give a damn, this episode is packed with practical advice and powerful storytelling.

3 Key Takeaways:
→ Silence without rapport feels like you don’t care, why trust is built long before it’s tested.
→ The best leaders talk less and ask better questions, influence comes from listening, not lecturing.
→ Feedback is a gift (when delivered with care), uncomfortable conversations are the most generous thing a leader can do.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:14 Scott's Origin Story
00:31 Lessons from Law Enforcement
02:02 The Power of Communication
05:49 Leadership and Listening
17:37 Building Rapport in Remote Work
25:36 Conclusion and Contact Information

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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, Pamela Dale and Alyssa Nolte dive into why the dreaded “Sunday Scaries” are just a symptom of a larger problem: a work-life system that values conformity over individual fulfillment. Pamela shares her journey—from teaching ESL in Korea and struggling with self-doubt to building million-dollar funnels and becoming a sought-after coach. The conversation challenges the traditional mindset that equates success with a “good job” and instead champions the importance of following your true path, leveraging new tools, and setting your own priorities.

Key Takeaways:

• Reframe the “Sunday Scaries”: Understand that Monday’s dread is a signal to rethink an outdated work culture and reclaim your time.
• Embrace Your Unique Journey: Your path doesn’t need to mirror the traditional route—use new tools and trust your instincts to build your personal brand.
• Align Work With Values: True fulfillment comes from pursuing goals that resonate with who you are, not from adhering to conventional expectations.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Pamela
00:15 The Sunday Scaries and Modern Work Culture
02:29 Rethinking Education and Career Paths
06:02 Pamela's Journey: From ESL Teacher to Coach
10:12 The Power of Intuition and Unspoken Communication
12:53 Navigating Corporate Politics and Personal Growth
14:53 White Labeling and Initial Client Assessment
15:30 Mindset and Overcoming Challenges
16:12 Branding and Personal Presentation
17:40 Coaching and Accountability
18:15 The Dip and Perseverance
20:47 Balancing Business and Family
22:24 Empowering Women in Business
26:46 Health and Women's Bodies
29:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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 sits down with Bob Mathers—Customer Success coach, keynote speaker, and host of The Growth Mixtape—to talk about what happens when life forces you to rethink work. From personal wake-up calls to the everyday burnout creeping into modern careers, they unpack how to set boundaries, protect your energy, and find meaning in what you do (without losing yourself in the process).

Key Takeaways:

• Burnout isn’t just about being busy—it’s about being misaligned. You need to know when you do your best work and protect that energy at all costs.
• Customer Success is breaking under the pressure of vague expectations. It’s time to stop carrying the weight of everyone else’s work and redefine the role.
• Life doesn’t wait for the perfect time to teach you what matters. Sometimes it takes a crisis to realize what truly deserves your time and attention.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:26 Personal Stories of Overcoming Challenges
03:36 Work-Life Balance and Boundaries
07:38 Customer Success Insights
17:18 Productivity and Energy Management
23:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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 transformation strategist Dawn Holly Johnson to unpack why traditional hierarchies are crushing innovation—and what to build instead.

With over 20 years of experience across industries, Dawn shares how she helps companies design for value, scale with purpose, and create cultures that don’t just talk about empowerment—they live it.

If you're tired of bureaucracy, burnout, and broken systems, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

➤ Structure drives behavior: Culture can’t thrive inside systems that were built to control, not empower.
➤ Process matters: Without well-designed systems, even the best teams struggle to deliver value.
➤ Purpose over profit: Alignment around mission—not just money—fuels better decisions and better results.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Taking Back Monday
00:12 Journey into Lean Six Sigma
01:07 Common Issues in Leadership
01:32 The Impact of COVID-19 on Work Culture
01:49 Questioning Traditional Business Practices
02:09 Writing the Transformational Book
05:46 The Importance of Happy Employees
06:34 Challenges of Organizational Hierarchies
13:10 Empowering Teams and Building Trust
20:31 Aligning Purpose and Process
23:14 The Role of Process in Business Success
31:45 Gary Vee and Inspirational Leadership
33:08 Conclusion and Contact Information

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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

Customer Success isn’t dying—it’s evolving. In this episode of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Sabina Pons, CEO of Growth Molecules, to explore the shifting role of Customer Success in today’s business landscape. They discuss why Customer Success professionals need to embrace their role as revenue drivers, the power of storytelling in leadership, and how building strong relationships can lead to long-term customer retention—even when customers leave.

Plus, Alyssa and Sabina dive into the importance of making work easy—for your customers, your team, and yourself.

Whether you’re a Customer Success leader navigating change, a SaaS executive focused on retention, or an entrepreneur looking for inspiration to take back your Mondays, this conversation is packed with actionable insights from one of the industry’s most experienced voices.

Key Takeaways:

➝ Customer Success isn’t dead—it’s evolving. The best CS teams are shifting from advocacy alone to driving measurable revenue impact.

➝ We’re all in sales. Whether or not a CSM owns renewals, every interaction influences retention and expansion.

➝ The best CS leaders make work easy. Reducing friction—for customers, teams, and partners—is key to long-term success.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:11 Discussing Work Relationships
00:29 Sabina's Career Journey
02:25 Navigating Career Challenges
07:28 Transition to Consulting
12:03 Customer Success Insights
21:18 Leadership and Personal Growth
23:39 Conclusion and Farewell

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

CS teams are stuck in a cycle of busy work, but what if the real problem isn’t the workload - it’s how they work? Alyssa Nolte and Alex Turkovic break down the one shift that can transform Customer Success: taking control of your workflow. They dive into the power of templatization, leveraging AI for efficiency, and why the best CS pros don’t wait for tools...they build their own. If you’re tired of playing defense in CS, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

1. Optimize for Future You – Investing extra effort today in templates, documentation, and repeatable processes saves exponentially more time in the long run.
2. AI is Your Augmented Intelligence – AI won’t replace CS, but those who learn how to use it effectively will outperform those who don’t.
3. Own Your Workflow – The best tools won’t save you if they don’t fit how you work. Build systems that work for you, not just what your company provides.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:27 Introducing Alex and the Topic of Customer Success
01:36 The One Thing for Customer Success
03:41 Practical Tips for Efficiency
09:06 Using AI to Enhance Productivity
12:11 The Role of AI in Customer Success
14:27 Best Practices for Implementing AI
22:00 Tools and Hacks for Success
22:40 Connecting with Alex
23:24 Conclusion and Call to Action

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

You wouldn’t sit at a blackjack table, ignore the odds, and hope for the best—so why do leaders do that with their teams? Employee disengagement, customer churn, and burnout don’t happen overnight. The signs are there… if you’re paying attention.

In this episode, Alyssa Nolte and Danielle Roberts break down why companies gamble with their people, customers, and bottom line—and always lose. We’ll cover:

• The "silent quitting" problem—when employees mentally check out before they actually leave
• Why leaders ignore red flags and how to train yourself to see them before they escalate
• How unspoken resentment leads to costly turnover and brand damage
• Lessons from companies that waited too long and the ones that course-corrected in time
• Simple strategies for getting ahead of problems instead of playing a losing hand

If you're leading a team, running a business, or just tired of watching the same mistakes play out over and over, this episode is your cheat code. Stop rolling the dice with your company’s future—tune in now.

Key Takeaways:

• Problems don’t appear overnight – Employee disengagement and churn have warning signs; leaders just need to pay attention. 
• Ignoring red flags is costly – Avoiding tough conversations leads to turnover, brand damage, and lost revenue. 
• Proactive beats reactive – The best leaders spot issues early and take action before they spiral.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:15 Danielle's Origin Story
01:39 The Turning Point: Personal Loss and Career Shift
02:42 Founding Anti Career Coaching
04:19 Challenges in Modern Leadership
05:40 Empowering Self-Leadership
07:26 Building Trust and Belonging in the Workplace
18:25 The Importance of Culture Change
23:11 Inspiring Leaders and Final Thoughts
25:55 Conclusion and Farewell

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

For decades, women have been fighting for equality, breaking barriers, and proving they can do it all. But at what cost? In this powerful and eye-opening talk, Angie Besignano dives into the silent epidemic of burnout among high-achievers—why it happens, how it manifests, and what we can do about it.

Drawing from her own experiences and years of coaching top executives, Angie explores the unrealistic expectations placed on professional women, the pressure to juggle multiple roles flawlessly, and the emotional toll of always striving for more. Through engaging storytelling and actionable insights, she challenges the myth that success must come at the expense of well-being and introduces the concept of “healthy selfishness”—a mindset shift that allows women to reclaim their time, energy, and purpose.

Whether you’re a rising leader, a seasoned executive, or someone who feels like they’re constantly running on empty, this talk will leave you with the tools and permission to prioritize yourself—without guilt, without compromise, and without burning out.

Key Takeaways:

→ Burnout Isn’t Just Work—It’s Overloading Every Role
Juggling all the roles—leader, partner, parent—without prioritizing yourself leads to burnout. Identify where your energy drains before it takes over.

→ “Healthy Selfishness” Is a Power Move
Success isn’t about doing it all—it’s about knowing when to say no. Choosing yourself first isn’t selfish, it’s survival.

→ Success Shouldn’t Feel Like Survival
If ambition is draining you, it’s time to rethink success. Set boundaries, drop the guilt, and build a life that fuels you.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:19 Meet Angie: A Longtime Friend and Coach
01:15 Angie's Journey: From Coaching to Burnout Advocacy
02:23 Understanding Burnout: Personal Experiences and Insights
05:16 Healthy Selfishness: Prioritizing Yourself
06:41 Historical Context: The Burning Bras Movement
08:11 Modern Challenges: Balancing Multiple Roles
12:14 Making Choices: Embracing Change and Self-Discovery
21:18 Conclusion: Taking Back Monday

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 Joanne Lockwood to tackle a hard truth...exclusion isn’t just an ethical issue; it’s a business risk. Joanne shares her journey from IT entrepreneur to inclusion advocate, breaking down what leaders think they’re getting right about DEI, and what they’re actually getting wrong. We discuss why performative diversity efforts fail, how exclusion quietly erodes company culture, and why belonging is more than a buzzword (it’s a competitive advantage).

We also explore the concept of conscious inclusion—the practice of actively considering who’s missing from the conversation. Joanne offers a fresh perspective on why DEI initiatives shouldn't just be about compliance or PR but about creating positive people experiences that fuel engagement, innovation, and long-term success. If you think diversity is just a box to check, this episode will change your mind.

Key Takeaways:

• Exclusion is expensive. A lack of belonging leads to disengagement, high turnover, and lost innovation.
• DEI isn’t a policy—it’s culture. Leaders must connect emotionally, not just logically, to create real impact.
• Who’s missing from the table? Conscious inclusion means proactively seeking out voices and perspectives you haven’t considered.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:41 Joanne's Origin Story
02:29 The Journey of Gender Transition
04:01 Becoming an Advocate and Educator
08:20 Building Positive People Experiences
11:53 Creating Inclusive Cultures
16:58 Challenges and Conscious Inclusion
22:45 Leaders Standing Strong
24:36 Connecting with Joanne
25:38 Conclusion and Farewell

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 happens when you give everything to a job—only to realize you’re working for a toxic, gaslighting boss? Lindsay White knows this story all too well. After a 20-year corporate career in HR and strategic talent management, she made the bold decision to walk away from a job that was making her miserable. In this episode, we dive into what finally pushed her over the edge, the grief that comes with leaving behind a career path you thought was yours forever, and how she turned that moment into an entirely new future.

Lindsay also shares her no-BS philosophy on leadership, why self-awareness is the difference between success and failure, and how to build a workplace culture where people actually want to stay. Plus, we tackle the myth of the “natural-born leader” and why being charismatic doesn’t mean you’re cut out to lead.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a toxic work environment or wondered whether it’s time to bet on yourself, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Toxic Work Environments Take a Toll – Staying in a toxic workplace, especially under a gaslighting boss, can drain you emotionally and physically. Recognizing when enough is enough—and having the courage to walk away—can be life-changing.
• Leadership Is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait – Being a great leader isn’t about being the loudest person in the room or having natural charisma. True leadership requires self-awareness, intentionality, and the ability to create an environment where others can thrive.
• People Strategy Is the Missing Piece – Businesses focus on sales, marketing, and operations, but often neglect the most critical element: their people. A strong people strategy connects talent to business goals, fosters belonging, and ensures that culture is more than just a buzzword.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:31 Lindsay's Career Turning Point
01:25 Toxic Work Environment
02:20 The Decision to Quit
03:22 Transition to Coaching
05:41 Reflecting on Leadership
09:13 The Role of Coaching
16:49 Challenges in Coaching
22:41 Influential Thought Leaders
25:39 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