Boundaries. There are so many places that this word plays into our lives. There’s the boundary between nations, the boundaries between people’s properties (whether that’s fencing on the back 40 or the wall between two apartments), and of course there are the sometimes confounding and occasionally elusive emotional boundaries in relationships. Regardless of the form, boundaries serve to show where one thing ends and another begins. In today’s episode of Talk Unleashed, the boundaries are even more personally literal. Skin. And it all began with a hike in Northern California, and a case of poison oak.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#boundaries

#relationships

#respect

#poisonoak

#MotherNature

#leadership

#TalkUnleashed

#UnleashedConversation

#UnleashedLeadership

#FixYourEndofTheLeash

For all the talk of being “authentic” in today’s business world, it still seems to be a pretty rare thing. So when I caught sight of a post on LinkedIn from an old friend that was utterly raw and vulnerable – and was getting serious traction – my interest was piqued. Myles Weissleder and I first met not long after he and some friends started the event platform Meet-up. As part of testing his own platform, Myles began an event called SFNewTech, which would become the very first (and 500 pound gorilla) of geek gatherings in San Francisco. Myles had always been a community-oriented guy and this event and its momentum supersized his role in building the SF Tech community. Things changed, the market shifted and Myles moved on to other community-building roles. Then things changed again, and more shift. By the time of his recent LinkedIn post he was in a pretty interesting spot and the response to his post was amazing. In this episode of Talk Unleashed, Myles and I talk about vulnerability, authenticity and the role they really should be playing in today’s business world. And yes, we also talk about his pets.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#SFNewTech

#MylesWeissleder

#MeetUp

#LinkedIn

#leadership

#TalkUnleashed

#UnleashedConversation

#UnleashedLeadership

#FixYourEndofTheLeash

There’s no place for feelings in business, right? Stick with strategy, measurable results, spreadsheets and data. Well, none of those things matter if the heart and soul of a business – aka the PEOPLE – are off kilter.  Today’s guest, John Hagel III, is one of the leading management and business consultants in Silicon Valley. For the last 40 years he’s focused heavily on working with top companies and executives focused on strategy. Lately, though, he’s realized that there’s something even more powerful underneath the challenges businesses face – fear. So he wrote a book about it. In today’s episode we talk about the Journey Beyond Fear and the path that John took to get to these insights.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#JourneyBeyondFear

#PowerofPull

#JohnHagelIII

#BusinessConsultant

#leadership

#TalkUnleashed

#UnleashedConversation

#UnleashedLeadership

#FixYourEndofTheLeash

It seemed only logical after last week’s discussion about being messy and how that can lead to commitment that this week we pick up where we left off and keep digging. Surrender. Yep. That word that seems to strike fear or at least palpitations into the hearts of most folks. Surrender. Common thought is that it means to fail, to lose. Turns out that couldn’t be farther from the truth. True surrender actually is a critical step on the path to winning. Make sure you have a notebook handy or at least something to jot notes. This week is going to be juicy. And there may be homework.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#SurrendertoWin

#ComfortableBeingUncomfortable

#LifeCoach

#leadership

#TalkUnleashed

#UnleashedConversation

#UnleashedLeadership

#FixYourEndofTheLeash

What might it look like to stop worrying about looking good and be authentic. Really authentic. Nothing like having people in your life who refuse to cosign your bullshit and keep you honest. That’s what you’ll get with Cathy in this week’s episode. It’s a snack-sized offering that is decidedly unvarnished and definitely unleashed.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. This podcast compliments Unleashed Leadership, the coaching business through which Cathy helps clients unearth and untether their own internal leadership and connect with others in a way that truly engages.

#decisions

#Curiosity

#LifeCoach

#leadership

#TalkUnleashed

#UnleashedConversation

#UnleashedLeadership

#FixYourEndofTheLeash

One of the most powerful and important pillars of democracy in the United States is freedom of speech – the privilege granted a right in the US Constitution is a shield. It also can be a sword. Eugene Volokh is a Professor of Law at UCLA. His specialty, the First Amendment. What’s a canine behaviorist and life coach talking about with a First Amendment expert? Simple. Cheap Speech. It’s a phrase Professor Volokh coined back in 1995 as he predicted the massive impact the Internet would have on democratizing information and empowering free speech. He was, of course, correct. And the dark side of that process is what I wanted to talk about with him. This idea that technology’s silos is removing our curiosity and interest in people and things that are different. What Professor Volokh replies to this might surprise you. It caught me a bit off guard. I have to say I don’t know that I wholly agree with his view, but I can tell you that the discussion was utterly fascinating, and I cannot wait to have him back on the show again.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a new podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast will feature guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world.

#EugeneVolokh

#UCLALaw

#FirstAmendment

#FreeSpeech

#CheapSpeech

#Curiosity

#LifeCoach

#leadership

#TalkUnleashed

#UnleashedConversation

#UnleashedLeadership

#FixYourEndofTheLeash

Family. It means lots of different things to different people. For today’s guest, Broadway Star Brent Barrett, it especially means connection and support. Despite perceptions of the cutthroat competition of performance, from where Brent sits, the truth is that every performance is really about the family of people who come together to create it. Whether it’s a one night concert or an extended run, the camaraderie and connection is something that lasts. Knowing him as long as I have, I can attest to that since I’ve seen first-hand the relationships he retains from performances – some more than 20 years ago. Brent has had the fortune to perform in some of the most well-known shows in Broadway history – Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, Grand Hotel, West Side Story, Camelot – and the list goes on. No matter what the show, though, Brent brings a particular flavor of humility and generosity to his work – coming from a perspective that it is only in truly supporting each other that the show can truly go on.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed– a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more powerful and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership.

#BrentBarrett

#Broadway

#Actor

#Singer

#PhantomoftheOpera

#leadership

#TalkUnleashed

#UnleashedConversation

#UnleashedLeadership

#FixYourEndofTheLeash

When I asked today’s guest what leadership means to him, his immediate response was listening, which makes perfect sense. After all, the sound is the very thing that drives John McClain. It has since he was 10 years old. And he’s not just good at it. He’s great. Companies like Chevrolet, Dodge, Intel, and MGM Resorts think so. And the Emmy Awards and Grammy on the shelf at Monster Sound and Picture (the studio for which he’s co-owner and sound designer/mixer) aren’t such shabby proof either. He also has chops on the other side of the microphone and works steadily as a Voice Actor. Growing up as a military brat, John learned early the art of listening as a means to connect with people wherever he went. It was reinforced powerfully by his father, who retired a Colonel from the Marine Corps. In today’s unleashed conversation John and I talk about the impact his dad had on his leadership, the power of sound, and there’s also an entirely random debate on the value of oatmeal cookies.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed– a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how all those things can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more powerful and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership.

#JohnMcClain #MonsterSoundandPicture #SoundEngineer #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

Adapt or die. Always seemed a pretty aggressive statement. It’s true though. Especially when it comes to technology. Trends of new platforms and services have shifted our world in remarkable ways in the last 20 years and for those who’ve leaned into those changes with curiosity, well, they’re still around. One of those people is Jim Louderback. He’s one of the most trusted and respected voices in digital media. Starting back with his time at PC Week Magazine and then on to its parent company, Ziff-Davis, Jim has had a front-row seat to the massive changes technology has brought to our world. He hasn’t just been a passive observer, though. He takes the role of leadership seriously and plays intensely and hard in the space – often guiding not just how people learn about new technologies but how they ultimately use them. He’s someone who has no problem taking the path less traveled, and typically when he does that, he’s just getting on that path before everyone else gets there.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business to technology to food to activism to politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned, and how they can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more powerful and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership.

#JimLouderback #TechTV #ZiffDavid #Media #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash

Having vision, clarity, and the right circle of trusted advisors. Sounds like a no-brainer for success, right? Funny how not simple it actually is. What IS a trusted advisor? Who are the people who trust and how do you engage with them? Today’s guest, Lori Michele Leavitt is a consultant and coach who guides organizations and the people who lead them to engaged leadership and the ability to pivot. If the last few years have taught us anything it’s that the ability to adapt quickly can mean the difference between life or death – literally. She has created a community for leaders to find the peer support they need to lead well, and her latest book, Pivot to Clarity, takes the lessons from her first book to the next level. In this unleashed conversation, Lori talks about experiences she’s had to navigate challenging business situations, finding the vision to move ahead and most of all the way you treat others determines precisely how they will behave with you – a lesson she learned well over the years … from her cats.

What does leadership actually mean in today’s world? Good questions, right? That’s what Cathy Brooks, thought. And it’s why she created Talk, Unleashed – a podcast of entirely candid conversations with fascinating people doing remarkable things. This weekly podcast features guests from arts and entertainment to business, technology, food, activism, and politics (well, we’ll see on that last one). Talk Unleashed invites these influencers to consider the things that have led to them to where they are, the lessons they’ve learned and how all those things can come together to create a better world. Talk, Unleashed’s special sauce – how people’s connections to lessons they learned from animals are the foundation of everything they do. When she’s not engaged in unleashed conversation with her guests, Cathy is a life coach – leading her clients (corporate and individuals) to more robust and engaged communication and up-leveling leadership.

#LoriMicheleLeavitt #PivotToClarity #ThePivot #leadership #TalkUnleashed #UnleashedConversation #UnleashedLeadership #FixYourEndofTheLeash