Empathy without boundaries leads to burnout. Intelligence without compassion leads to disconnection. 

 

Somewhere in between is Compassionate Intelligence—and it’s the leadership power most organizations are starving for. 

 

In this episode of The Modern Culture, Cari and Leah unpack what it really means to lead with both wisdom and warmth, presence and precision. This principle is not about rescuing others or softening your standards. It’s about learning to hold space, stay grounded, and lead from your values—without losing yourself in the process. 

 

In this episode, we explore: 

 

If you’ve ever struggled with being “too much” or “not enough”—this principle is your reset. 

It’s not about fixing others. It’s about showing up as the kind of leader who can hold space without losing themselves in it. 

 

Integration Challenge: 

This week, practice staying present with someone else’s discomfort—without rushing to solve it. 

Just witness it. Stay grounded. And notice what shifts in you when you stop managing and start leading.

 

Watch: https://youtu.be/O8s0cblpgQM 

In a world addicted to certainty, the most radical thing a leader can do is get curious. 

 

In this episode of The Modern Culture, Cari and Leah explore Courageous Curiosity—the principle that unlocks innovation, trust, and self-mastery. But this isn’t about asking more questions. It’s about asking better ones—the kind that disrupt old narratives, challenge outdated systems, and spark real transformation. 

 

This principle isn’t just about how you lead others. 

It’s about how honest you’re willing to be with yourself. 

 

In this episode, we explore: 

 

This episode is a permission slip and a challenge. 

You don’t need more answers—you need better questions. 

And you need the courage to ask them. 

 

Integration Challenge: 

For the next 7 days, ask one uncomfortable question a day. 

Start with yourself. Then extend it to your team, your relationships, your strategy. 

Let curiosity do what certainty can’t. 

 

Watch: https://youtu.be/VcDWZMfnfYk 

Conscious Awareness isn’t a buzzword. It’s the foundation of next-level leadership—and the first line of defense against burnout, misalignment, and the performative masks too many leaders are still wearing.

In this episode of The Modern Culture, Cari and Leah expose what really happens when you lead on autopilot—and how to reclaim your influence by thinking, choosing, and acting with clear, embodied intention.

Through real stories and raw truths, they reveal how awareness becomes your most powerful asset as a modern leader. When you start paying attention, everything changes.

 

Watch: https://youtu.be/JneJP6MLy9E 

 

This is not surface-level mindset work. This is about calling your attention back to yourself—so you can lead from the inside out, not the outside in.

For the next 7 days, pause before every key decision and ask yourself:

Then lead accordingly.

What if your purpose wasn’t a single moment… but a series of them? What if it wasn’t something you missed—but something you’ve been living all along?

In this premiere episode of The Modern Culture, Cari Kenzie and Leah Roling open the conversation around purpose, leadership, and what it really means to build a culture that reflects who we are—not just what we do. Together, they share the stories and moments that shaped their own leadership journeys and unpack how purpose compounds over time, experience by experience.

More than just personal reflection, this episode sets the tone for the mission of The Modern Culture—a movement built on the compounding interest of all its parts: every story, every stakeholder, every member who chooses to lead differently.

You’ll hear:

This isn’t a highlight reel.

It’s real leadership, lived and shared.

 

Join us today as we have a conversation around conversations.  We’ve all said it—“Communication is hard.” But what if the real issue isn’t communication itself, but the lack of why behind the what? In this episode, we’re breaking down the silent crisis in how we connect. We assume. We react. We hyperlink to past experiences rather than truly listening. And in doing so, we limit not just our conversations, but our leadership, relationships, and growth.

But what if we could change that? What if we could infuse meaning into every conversation and create deeper understanding?

We’re exploring:
The Why Behind the What – How clarifying intent changes everything
Hyperlinking vs. Communicating – Why we default to assumption instead of connection
Possibility vs. Opportunity – How shifting your lens changes your outcomes
The Meaning Model – A powerful formula for sucessful communication

What if communication didn’t have to feel like a struggle? What if, instead of reacting, we created space for meaning?

In a world where integrity is often just a performance, what does it really mean to live in full alignment with your word? In this episode of iShft Happens, we pull back the curtain on one of the biggest crises in leadership today: the slow erosion of integrity.

 

Integrity isn’t just about honesty—it’s truth in action. It’s the unshakable intersection of commitment (what we say we will do) and character (who we are when no one is watching). Without commitment, integrity is just an idea. Without character, integrity is just performance.

 

In a culture that rewards convenience over conviction, what is the real cost of holding integrity at all costs? And more importantly, what’s the cost of abandoning it?

 

We will unpack these uncomfortable truths:

 

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a wake-up call. If you’re ready to lead with conviction, build unshakable trust, and stand in your truth no matter the cost, this episode is for you.

 

We’ve all heard the same old burnout conversation—self-care, boundaries, and maybe a bubble bath. But what if we told you burnout isn’t just about working too hard? What if it’s a symptom of something deeper?

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s misalignment. It’s not fixed by a nap, a vacation, or another cup of coffee. And here’s the real kicker: burnout isn’t actually the problem—it’s the invitation.

In this episode of iShft Happens, we’re tearing up the rulebook on burnout and exposing what’s really at play. What if burnout isn’t a sign you’re doing too much, but rather that you’re doing too little of what truly fuels you?

We’re diving into:
The dangerous myth of “pushing through” and why it’s keeping you stuck.
How burnout is often a sign of playing small—not doing too much.
The radical shift from burnout recovery to burnout reinvention—using it as a launchpad, not a roadblock.
Why high achievers and visionaries are the most at risk—and what to do about it.

This isn’t another “self-care” episode. It’s a launchpad for those who are done with just surviving and are ready to step into their next level.

Burnout isn’t the end—it’s your invitation to transformation. Are you ready to shift?

 

Watch here: https://youtu.be/wfuVUkx6_Jw

 Join us today as we pick up where we left off last week.  We are starting this episode with a very important question:  What if the biggest limitations in your life aren’t real—just beliefs you’ve accepted as truth?

We are exposing two hidden brain filters that quietly sabotage what we most desire: the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and the Default Mode Network (DMN).

 

Watch: https://youtu.be/R7G7Sqi6g6A 

Join us today as invite you into a conversation about TRUTH, and why we are afraid to find it.  

We like to think we’re searching for truth—but are we really? Or are we just looking for the truth that keeps us right… or righteous?

 

This week we’re getting into the justification loops that keep us stuck. We tell ourselves we’re “thinking things through,” but what if we’re actually just confirming what we already believe? What if the subconscious mind isn’t wired to seek truth, but to protect us from the discomfort of change?

 

Watch here: https://youtu.be/ickWRZdhg5w

 

Join us today as we celebrate something BIG. Our manuscript for Return on Life: Unlocking Fulfillment Beyond Success is officially in the hands of our publisher!  In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the journey of writing this book and the powerful insights that will change the way you think about success.

 

So many of us chase money, time, and achievement, believing they are the ultimate measures of success. But what if we’ve been measuring it all wrong? Return on Life (ROL) is about shifting from accumulating more to actually living more. It’s about investing in yourself—your growth, your relationships, your well-being—because THAT is where the greatest return comes from.

The moment we realized traditional success metrics weren’t enough
Why fulfillment isn’t something you find—it’s something you create
The 7 key areas of ROL: Leadership, Relationships, Health, Purpose, Spirituality, Wealth, and Growth
Practical ways to stop living on autopilot and start designing a life that feels as good as it looks
How investing in yourself unlocks true wealth, energy, and impact

This book isn’t just a roadmap—it’s a permission slip to redefine success on YOUR terms. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or high achiever who feels like “something’s still missing,” this conversation is for you.

Would love to hear what resonates most—DM us on Instagram @themodernculture and tell us what "Return on Life" means to you!