🎧 Episode Summary:

In this co-hosted episode of The Contagious Leader, I sit down with Jelena Illich, Stress and Burnout Recovery Coach based in Perth, to explore the connection between leadership, self-care, and people-pleasing.

We dive into how leadership ripples out to those around us, and why prioritising your own well-being isn’t selfish — it’s essential. Jelena and I share our own perspectives and personal stories on breaking cycles of hyperactivity, finding moments of silence in a busy world, and the transformative power of saying “no.”

This conversation is a reminder that contagious leadership starts with self-love and self-awareness, and that the way you care for yourself shapes how you care for others.

You’ll hear about:

• How people-pleasing can drive stress and burnout

• Why silence and reflection are essential for productivity

• Self-care as a leadership superpower, not a luxury

• The journey of self-discovery and embracing authenticity

• Challenging assumptions and finding your voice
  

Whether you’re leading a team, a business, or just yourself, this episode gives practical insights and inspiration for showing up with courage, clarity, and balance.

👤 About the Guest:

Jelena Ilic is a Stress and Burnout Recovery Coach and the creator of Life Food Balance™. After 15 years in corporate leadership support, Jelena experienced burnout firsthand, and used her background in nutrition and nervous system regulation to rebuild her energy and resilience from the inside out.

Today, she works with leaders, teams, and organisations across Australia, helping them reduce stress, prevent burnout, and create sustainable energy—not by doing more, but by learning to do things differently. Through workshops, keynotes, and coaching, Jelena brings science, strategy, and heart to leadership, self-care, and wellbeing.

• Follow On Instagram @lifefoodbalance

• Follow On Linked-In →  Jelena Ilic

• Learn More About Jelena’s work → Life Food Balance

  
  

  
  

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Follow on Instagram → ⁠⁠@coachlaurathain⁠⁠

• On LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Laura Thain | LinkedIn⁠⁠

  
  

Work with Laura Thain → ⁠⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠⁠💬

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leadership, self-care, people-pleasing, stress, burnout, self-love, courageous leadership, personal development, coaching, women empowerment

🎧 Episode Summary:

I’m joined by Perth-based nutritionist and gut health educator Dr Angela Giannone for a conversation that bridges science, self-care, and sustainable leadership.

We explore how your gut health is doing far more than just digesting lunch — it’s impacting your clarity, confidence, energy, and ability to lead. Angela shares the why behind the gut-brain connection, the power of a diverse microbiome, and how small, intentional changes in what we eat can shift how we show up at work and in life.

Whether you're constantly 'on' or just tired of running on fumes, this is a conversation about nourishment as a leadership tool — not a diet plan.

You'll hear about:

• What the gut microbiome actually is — and why diversity matters

• The link between nutrition, energy, mood, and confidence

• Why food isn’t just fuel — it’s feedback

• Leading yourself well so you can lead others better

• How to build habits that last without going all-or-nothing
  

If you're looking for more grounded energy, sharper focus, and a healthier relationship with how you care for yourself — this one’s for you.

👤 About Our Guest:

Dr Angela Genoni is a nutritionist, gut microbiome consultant, and the founder of Gut Science. With a PhD in human nutrition and the gut, Angela brings both scientific depth and real-life experience as a mum of three to her work — making her guidance both evidence-based and deeply relatable.

Through Gut Science, Angela supports individuals and corporate clients to improve their energy, focus, and wellbeing by transforming gut health — without fad diets, gimmicks, or flashy supplement upsells. Her approach blends cutting-edge research with genuine compassion, helping people shift not just their health, but their mindset.

Angela is based in Perth, Australia, and leads her practice with one mission: to make the science of gut health practical, personal, and powerful.

• Get 20% off Angela’s Book & Course with code gut25 -  A Peaceful Gut, Mind & Body

• Follow On Instagram: @angela_genoni

• Learn More Angela’s work at Gut Science → Gut Science

  
  

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Follow on Instagram → ⁠⁠@coachlaurathain⁠⁠

• On LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Laura Thain | LinkedIn⁠⁠

• Work with Laura Thain → ⁠⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠⁠

  
  

💬 Loved this episode?

Please rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more women find conversations like these. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

gut health, nutrition, microbiome, energy, performance, well-being, bacteria, diversity, diet, confidence

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this deeply inspiring episode, I’m joined by Maryam Zahid, community leader and founder of Afghan Women on the Move. Maryam shares her remarkable journey — from arriving in Australia as a young refugee to becoming a powerful advocate and changemaker for Afghan women.

We explore what it means to lead from the margins, the power of backing yourself when no one else does, and why creating spaces for women to connect, be seen, and rise together matters more than ever.

Maryam’s story is one of courage, conviction, and community. Her message? You don’t have to wait for permission to lead.

✨ In this episode, we talk about:

• Navigating identity, culture, and leadership as a young refugee

• The origin and mission of Afghan Women on the Move

• The power of self-belief and why action matters more than approval

• Why community is a lifeline for women feeling isolated or unseen

• What Maryam wants future generations of women to know

  
  

  
  

👤 About the Guest:

Maryam Zahid is an award-winning Afghan-Australian human rights champion and community leader. After arriving in Australia as a refugee, she founded Afghan Women on the Move — a not-for-profit dedicated to helping Afghan and multicultural women build confidence, independence, and belonging through programs like skills training, financial literacy, and creative therapy, all grounded in healing and empowerment.

With over 20 years of experience in community development and refugee resettlement, Maryam brings lived experience, advocacy, and visionary leadership to every initiative she leads.

Stay Connected?

• Follow On Instagram: @_awotm

• Learn More About Afghan Women On The Move → Afghan Women On The Move

  
  

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Follow on Instagram → ⁠⁠@coachlaurathain⁠⁠

• On LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Laura Thain | LinkedIn⁠⁠

• Work with Laura Thain → ⁠⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠⁠

  
  

  
  

💬 Loved this episode?

Please rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more women find conversations like these. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Maryam Zahid, Afghan Women on the Move, refugee leadership, women's empowerment, community support, overcoming challenges, self-belief, advocacy, cooking classes, social impact

Grief doesn’t clock out when we walk into the office.
In this heartfelt conversation with grief coach Amy Rosso, we explore why leaders can’t afford to overlook grief in the workplace — and how to create a culture of compassion without losing sight of results.

Amy shares her personal journey through loss, what grief really looks like beyond the clichés, and practical ways leaders can acknowledge and support their teams during life’s hardest seasons.

Whether you’ve experienced grief yourself or lead others through it, this episode will equip you with the insight and empathy to show up as a truly human leader.

Takeaways

• Grief is often silenced in corporate environments.
• Returning to work after a loss can be challenging.
• Leaders need to proactively support grieving employees.
• Vulnerability in leadership can foster connection.
• Grief can trigger unexpected emotions at work.
• It's important to check in regularly with grieving team members.
• Support should be offered without waiting for requests.
• The first year after a loss is particularly difficult.
• Creating a supportive environment can reduce workplace stress.
• Finding purpose in pain can lead to personal growth.

👤 About the Guest:

Amy Rosso is a former corporate leader turned grief-conscious coach and speaker, on a mission to humanise the workplace. After years of pushing through boardroom meetings with a broken heart and silencing her own grief to meet KPIs, Amy realised the professional world had no space for sorrow, only performance. Now, she helps organisations and individuals create compassionate environments where people can be seen, supported and allowed to just be human. Through her signature programs and raw, relatable voice, Amy advocates for grief awareness in leadership and teams empowering others to stop burying their pain and start showing up with courage, compassion and truth.

• Follow On LinkedIn

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Follow on Instagram → ⁠⁠@coachlaurathain⁠⁠

• On LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Laura Thain | LinkedIn⁠⁠

• Work with Laura Thain → ⁠⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠⁠

  
  

💬 Loved this episode?

Please rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more women find conversations like these. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

grief, workplace, leadership, support, coaching, mental health, vulnerability, employee wellbeing, loss, corporate culture

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Contagious Leader, I’m joined by top functional nutritionist Shelley Gawith, for an eye-opening conversation about adrenal health, burnout, and how we can better support our bodies to lead and live well.

Shelley shares her personal story of being brought to her knees by corporate burnout — and what it took to heal from the inside out. We talk about what adrenal fatigue really is (and what it’s not), the misunderstood role of cortisol, and the subtle signs women often ignore until they hit a wall.

This conversation is both educational and empowering — especially for high-achieving women who’ve been running on empty and wondering why willpower isn’t working anymore.

We explore:

• The early signs of adrenal fatigue and why most women miss them

• Why cortisol isn’t the enemy — but imbalance is

• The nutrition hacks to support your energy, focus, and stress levels

• Specific nutrients that can support your recovery

• How to begin listening to your body before it screams at you

If you’ve ever said “I’m just tired” and pushed through anyway, this episode will help you rethink what your body has been trying to tell you — and how to work with it, not against it so you can keep performing at the level you know you want.

👤 About the Guest: Shelley Gawith is a leading functional nutritionist and former corporate high-achiever whose own experience with burnout led her to completely transform her health—and her career. Now, she helps individuals and organisations understand how to restore energy, balance hormones, and build resilience through functional nutrition and practical lifestyle change.

• Follow On Instagram: @shelleygawithfn

• Work with Shelley → https://shelleygawith.com/

  
  

  
  

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Follow on Instagram → ⁠⁠@coachlaurathain⁠⁠

• On LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Laura Thain | LinkedIn⁠⁠

• Work with Laura Thain → ⁠⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠⁠

  
  

  
  

💬 Loved this episode?

Please rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more women find conversations like these. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

If you know you're running yourself into the ground fast and are in need of a circuit breaker come and join my FREE 21 Day Experience:

21 Days Of Prioritising You

We start Monday 11 August 2025→ Claim your spot here

adrenal fatigue, nutrition, cortisol, magnesium, chronic fatigue syndrome, functional nutrition, wellness, self-care, corporate burnout, health tips, highachievingwomen

In this honest and empowering episode of The Contagious Leader, I sit down with Mel Jean Rodda — a confidence and body image coach whose work centers around being Courageous, Curvy, and Confident.

Mel shares her deeply personal story of moving from shame to self-celebration — and how that transformation became the foundation of the work she now does with women around the world.

We explore how body image, confidence, and leadership intersect — and the quiet, everyday courage it takes to show up in a world that often tells women they need to shrink to belong.

Together, we unpack:

• The power of rewriting self-talk and internal narratives

• How confidence is built (not bought) through intentional micro-moments

• The hidden impact of societal conditioning on women’s self-perception and leadership

• The role of community, connection, and authentic representation in healing body shame

• Why women need to lift each other — not compete — in the face of unrealistic beauty standards

Mel brings humour, honesty, and heart to the conversation, and this episode is a must-listen for any woman who's ever felt like her body had to change before she could lead, be loved, or take up space.

If you’ve been waiting until you feel “ready” to be seen — this episode is your reminder: you’re already enough, and your presence matters now.

👤 About the Guest: Mel Jean Rodda is a coach helping women to embrace their curves, step into leadership and build the confidence to thrive in the boardroom, the bedroom, and everywhere in between.

🔗 Connect with Mel Jean Rodda:

• Follow On Instagram: ⁠@meljeanrodda

• Facebook: Mel Jean Rodda
  

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Follow on Instagram → ⁠⁠@coachlaurathain⁠⁠

• On LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Laura Thain | LinkedIn⁠⁠

• Work with Laura Thain → ⁠⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠⁠

  
  

💬 Loved this episode?

Please rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more women find conversations like these. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

self-worth, body image, leadership, empowerment, women, confidence, societal conditioning, community support, personal growth, coaching

In this episode of The Contagious Leader, I sit down with the brilliant and grounded Philippa Sutherland — a woman whose leadership journey has been shaped not just by her career, but by her experience as a mother, a founder, and a community-builder.

Philippa is the founder of WellSpirit, NZ's #1 Career Network for Mums, a movement born from her own lived experience navigating the complex intersection of motherhood, identity, and purpose. Through her story, we dive into what leadership looks like when you're holding so much — a business, a baby, a sense of self you're trying not to lose in the process.

From the outside, women like Philippa often seem like they’re holding it all together. But as we talk, she shares the quieter truths — the shifts in self-worth, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and the fierce commitment to building spaces where women feel seen, supported, and safe to grow.

Together, we explore:

• What it really means to work and lead as a mother

• The pressure of perfection that so many women carry

• How community and connection can lift the weight of silence

• Why sharing your experience can become someone else’s permission slip

• And the courage it takes to stay open — even when you're still figuring it out

  
  

This is a powerful, affirming conversation for any woman who’s ever wondered if she’s doing enough — or questioned who she is becoming in the juggle of work, motherhood, and meaning.

If you’ve ever felt alone in the mess, the magic, or the in-between moments — this episode is a reminder: your story matters, and you’re not the only one figuring it out as you go.

🔗 Connect with Phillipa Sutherland & Wellspirit:

• Follow On Linked-In: ⁠Philippa Sutherland

• Check out Wellspirit, NZ's #1 Career Network for Mothers www.wellspirit.com
  

  
  

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Follow on Instagram → ⁠⁠@coachlaurathain⁠⁠

• On LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Laura Thain | LinkedIn⁠⁠

• Work with Laura Thain → ⁠⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠⁠

  
  

  
  

💬 Loved this episode?

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🎧 Episode Summary:

In this heartfelt episode of The Contagious Leader, Laura Thain sits down with her friend and powerhouse entrepreneur, Laura Stevens — a business owner, volunteer firefighter & surf life saver, and the founder of Bounce Down, a swimwear brand designed for active women with larger busts.

From the outside, Laura Stevens is the picture of confidence — bold ventures, brave roles, and big ideas. But behind the scenes, she reveals a very different reality: a daily battle with imposter syndrome, fear of failure, and questioning her moves.

Together, the two Lauras explore what it really means to lead when you don’t always believe in yourself. They unpack how self-perception shapes our leadership, why external success doesn’t silence internal doubt, and the courage it takes to keep showing up anyway.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that even the most capable women can feel like they’re winging it — and that leadership isn’t about never doubting yourself, but about moving forward in spite of it - for the broader impact & legacy you're here for.

You’ll hear about:

• How imposter syndrome shows up in unexpected places

• The emotional cost of “keeping it together” on the outside

• Building a business while battling inner critics

• The power of vulnerability, courage, and a strong support network

If you’ve ever looked at a high-achieving woman and thought, “She must have it all figured out,” this episode will challenge that belief — and leave you feeling a little less alone.

• Follow On Instagram: @bouncedown_swimwear

• Check out the Bounce Down swimwear range → www.bouncedown.com.au

  
  

🔗 Connect with Laura Thain, Executive Leadership Coach

• Work with Laura Thain → ⁠www.optimitsetalent.com.au⁠

💬 Loved this episode?

Please rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more women find conversations like these.
And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

leadership, imposter syndrome, entrepreneurship, women in business, self-doubt, courage, volunteering, bouncedown swimwear, product-based business, support networks

Elle Thorne had the title, the impact, and the external success — but it came at a cost. In this honest and powerful conversation, Elle shares why she chose to step away from a traditional leadership role after it pushed her personal wellbeing too far and how that decision led her to redefine what leadership truly means.

Together with Laura, she explores the role of self-compassion, the importance of asking for support, and the unexpected strength in choosing your wellbeing over expectations.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep pushing or follow the 'shoulds', this episode is a reminder that real leadership starts with honoring yourself.Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Journeys

05:21 Elle's Leadership Crossroads

10:30 Facing Self-Doubt in Leadership

14:23 Seeking Support and Professional Help

18:28 The Importance of Team Dynamics

22:26 Navigating Career Decisions and Leadership Roles

23:41 Exploring Leadership Opportunities

25:40 The Importance of Support in Leadership

28:05 Reflecting on Past Leadership Experiences

30:16 Building Confidence and Psychological Safety

34:19 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

38:20 The Power of Self-Compassion

41:23 Finding What You Truly Need

46:20 Introduction to the Contagious Leader Podcast

46:22 Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace

CONNECT WITH LAURA THAIN:

• Instagram: ⁠@coachlaurathain⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠Laura Thain⁠

  
  

WORK WITH ME:

⁠Optimise Talent Coaching / Career & Leadership Coach

CONNECT WITH ELLE THORNE:

Instagram: @ellethornecoaching

Linked-In: Elle Thorne

Don't quit your job just yet.... !!

Ever have one of those days (or weeks) where you wonder if quitting your job would be easier than dragging yourself through one more meeting?

Where did your mojo go that you once had oodles of?!

Whether you're feeling totally over it, stuck in a rut, or just lacking that usual spark, in this episode of The Contagious Leader Podcast, I’m sharing 3 simple and practical ways to reignite your motivation and get your work mojo back — no dramatic career changes required (unless you want to, of course!).

In this episode, I’ll share:

✅ How to reconnect with your unique "why" (and make it actually exciting)

✅ How to focus on what lights you up — even when work feels dull

✅ Why looking at life as a whole can uncover what’s really draining your drive

Plus, I’ll share real-life stories to help you see how small shifts can make a huge difference.

If you've been feeling unmotivated or wondering if it's time to throw in the towel, listen to this first.

CONNECT WITH ME:

• Instagram: ⁠@coachlaurathain⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠Laura Thain⁠

  
  

WORK WITH ME:

⁠Optimise Talent Coaching / Career & Leadership Coach