Unless you’re from the Northeast of the US chances are the name Wegman’s doesn’t ring a bell. So to get us all on the same page - it’s a grocery store. If a very young Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s had a baby with the feeling of a neighborhood grocery that's an idea of what it's like.

Based out of Rochester, NY, it’s now a decent-sized chain with 111 locations in the northeastern part of the country. (That’s as of February 2025.)

So why am I doing an episode about Wegman’s? No it’s not about nutrition or diets or the ridiculous cost of eggs. It’s not about economics or tariffs or any of that horseshit.

It’s about community, pride … and cornbread.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#wegmans #wegmansmarket #midlothian #chefdoug #brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

It’s funny. The more the world seems to be spinning into a quantifiable, category 5, dumpster fire of a mess, the more people seem to be pointing fingers looking for someone to blame.

Meanwhile, it occurs to me that for every finger pointing in one direction, there’s really only one place where anyone can do anything about anything.

The f*cking mirror.

And yet, when standing in the sh*t storm and getting splattered with all kinds of verbal, emotional and - perhaps occasionally, actually - excrement, staying neutral and moving forward intentionally can feel really f*cking hard.

Because it can be. It also can be easy. Truly. 

And that’s where I go with this week’s episode.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

In 2024 I had a lot to say about the #SuperBowl. Mostly about #TravisKelce and his temperamental sideline meltdown (which included his stepping up on his head coach and screaming in his face - a pretty aggressive move given Kelce’s towering stature). Lots of folks wrote it off saying - oh, that’s just the adrenaline of the game and he’s just being a guy.

Sorry, nope. He was being a dick.

And guess what? No amount of adrenaline or rush of playoff/finals energy justifies being a dick. Zero. I wrote about this a few years ago during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

What does that have to do with this year’s Super Bowl and this podcast episode which is not about the Super Bowl? Well, not much other than the fact the Kansas City Chiefs once again were playing (they lost) and mostly some lessons that I took away from how I experienced people and the conversations AFTER the game.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

In general I don’t watch a lot of TV. Lately, though, I’ve been snacking on reruns ofGray’s Anatomy - not exactly what I’d call mind expanding, erudite content. So imagine my surprise when a lesson about the delicate balance between innovation and not reinventing wheel came from the show.

Mostly I have the show on as background noise - it’s on right now as I’m typing this - but the writing is entertaining, the people are pretty to look at, and I have mad respect forShonda Rhimes.  (Don’t know who she is? A great place to start is her memoir -The Year of Yes - and do yourself a favor, listen to the audio book because she narrates and she’s really fucking hilarious.)

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks createdTalk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not aboutwhat people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast complimentsUnleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help themunleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

Some topics that never get old.

Probably because the lessons never stop coming. Always another layer. That’s the story this week as another perspective arose for me with the topic of boundaries.

Overall they’re important. For individual agency, for partnerships, for groups. They’re the guardrails that enable a society to operate. 

But who chooses which ones go where? Who decides? Especially since not everyone requires the same kind of boundaries in order to thrive. 

Some folks need super rigid, very clear and unmistakable lines. Others can function with borders that are more porous, more fluid.

Finding balance, finding what each individual needs - that’s the trick. And this week I got a great lesson in this from a dog.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

Accountability - there’s a fun word. Right up there with responsibility. But what does it MEAN, anyway? Being accountable … especially these days. It’s really all about my end of the leash.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

Wow. It’s been just over a year this urban-saturated gal has been living in the country. And by in the country, I mean like in the middle of fucking nowhere.

Deep in the woods on the far corner of a massive property surrounded by trees and … silence.

During this time I have come to utterly adore the quiet and peace, and also to appreciate the massive lessons that come from nature.

This week on the podcast, it’s about the moon, but really it’s about noticing things in nature that have deep connections to the lessons that change our lives.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

There are a lot of words that carry strange weight for me.

Submission is one of them.

The socialized experience for me used to be that to submit was to lose, to be weak. The truth, though, is that submission sometimes merely means acknowledging a boundary, recognizing a relationship to something or someone and letting it be what it is.

Who knew I’d learn such a thing from an ice storm.

Mother Nature is no joke. And it's funny to me how humans seem to think that with our super smartypants brains and tech that somehow we can beat her.

We can't.

Recognizing her power, holding a boundary of safety and at the same time giving her space ... that's the lesson I share this week.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

I’ve never been an athletic super star. Decent, sure. Moderately skilled, absolutely. But as someone who spent the majority of her teen years hospitalized and sick, a time when so many of my friends with athletic prowess were engaging in sports at a more serious level, the whole team play thing never really landed for me. 

So joining a work team, largely male, whose lens of perspective come heavily from sports-oriented, masculine energy thinking, it’s been a fascinating journey to discover what playing TEAM means. There is no “I” in team, but there is … “ME”.

That’s where I go this week.

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not. A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

After taking a bit of time off during the holidays, I thought about how I wanted to kick off the New Year with the podcast.

This was the episode that I opted to pull out of my files to post.

It’s something I recorded on a holiday trip to South Carolina and the message - about the deeply impactful lessons from memories triggered by scent - seemed a good way to roll back into your ear-balls.

With that … enjoy … and get ready for an evolution of the podcast in the New Year!

In a world where what passes for radical honesty usually means someone is just letting things fly outta their pie-hole without much care for others, it’s time for radically authentic conversation. Conscious communication is simple, but often isn’t easy. That’s why Cathy Brooks created Talk, Unleashed – a weekly podcast of radically honest conversation about — everything. Whether her own musings or in conversation with industry leaders, each episode invites curiosity. 

Curiosity not about what people do, but why they do it. Who they are and what makes them tick. It’s about digging underneath to reveal the thing that is most true - that we are more alike than we are not.

A mix of solo episodes where Cathy shares her insights and experience or Cathy engaged in conversation with fascinating humans doing amazing things. No matter the format - it’s unvarnished, radically honest and entirely unleashed. 

This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy works with symphony orchestras, corporate clients, and individuals to help them unleash and untether their leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#brutalhonesty #radicalhonesty #consciouscommunication #leadership #Conversation #connection #TalkUnleashed #fiercecompassion #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash