I had to get this urgent episode to you sooner rather than later, given the climate of fear in the U.S. in current times.

For many employees right now, work doesn’t feel like a safe place. It feels uncertain, frightening, and deeply personal. In moments like this, how leaders respond matters more than ever. 

Michelle Feferman has spent decades helping organizations navigate complex DEI and workplace culture challenges in ways that protect people and strengthen the business. 

We talk directly about what leaders can do to support employees in the face of ICE raids and immigration-related fear, how to create real psychological safety at work, and why most DEI efforts are still entirely legal if you’re focused on risk mitigation, clarity, and care.

We also unpack how retention, engagement, and productivity are tightly tied to DEI and empathy work, and the key elements leaders need to think through right now to support their people while capturing the full business benefit.

This is a practical, compassionate conversation for leaders who want to do the right thing without panicking, posturing, or staying silent.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Creating a diverse team that goes beyond old-fashioned quotas.
• Key benefits of having a wide pool of differing viewpoints within your organization.
• Actions to put in place to keep your employees safe and informed about handling ICE raids that could be used as a template for other crises. 
• Tips to create an FAQ that matters 

"If you can take the time now to get these things in place, the majority of people will relax, to some extent, and feel like they can come to work and just focus on work. People will relax more and be much more productive at work." —  Michelle Feferman

Episode References: 

• Michelle's article: It is Imperative to Create Psychological Safety at Work Amidst ICE Raids: https://mfeferman.substack.com/p/12868206_ice-raids-and-psychological-safety
• Book: DO DEI Right: Cut Through the Noise and Drive Lasting Results

About Michelle Feferman, Founder and CEO, Equity at Work, Author of Do DEI Right

Michelle is passionate about helping organizations have a profound impact on their employees, businesses, and communities through their diversity, equity, and inclusion work. She is the Founder and CEO of Equity At Work, known for creating innovative, customized solutions for even the most complex DEI and workplace culture challenges. Her clients outperform their peers in revenue and margin growth, productivity, engagement, and retention.

Michelle is the author of Do DEI Right, co-host of the podcast Your DEI Minute, and on the Investment Committee of RevTech Venture Capital. Before this, she spent 25 years working at Accenture, Kurt Salmon, Macy’s Inc., and The Walt Disney Company.

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Connect with Michelle:

Equity At Work: https://www.equity-at-work.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleebogan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093183559876

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equity_at_work

Substack: https://mfeferman.substack.com/

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

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Internships have changed a lot since COVID, and if done well, they can be powerful tools for both attracting top young talent and fueling your organization’s productivity. But too often, leaders miss the mark, leaving interns underutilized and organizations frustrated.

Amy Mosher Berry shares what's really going on with young professionals today and why mentorship and meaningful work enable your organization to thrive. Amy and I delve into what truly motivates and drives today's young professionals, the biggest mistakes leaders should avoid when hiring interns, and how intergenerational strategies fueled by empathy can enhance collaboration and productivity. We discuss the important role of casual mentorship, how your internship program becomes a marketing strategy, and how effective programs not only benefit interns but also drive your mission and results.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Important facts to know about the rising young professionals.
• Key mistakes to avoid in hiring the right interns.
• The detriments of the purpose gap are with both interns and employees.

"Internships, by law, need to have 51% majority benefit going to the intern. It has to be officially structured with learning objectives, and there needs to be that supportive process." —  Amy Mosher Berry

Episode References: 

Forbes articles: 

• Gen Z And The Empathy Expectation: What Workplace Leaders Need To Know
• 8 Ways Gen Z Can Meet Managers In The Middle And Shine At Work

The Empathy Edge:

• Anna Liotta: Understanding Generational Codes
• Michelle Hoover: Understanding First-Generation Professionals in Your Workplace
• Courage to Advance: Leading Gen Z with Dr. Meisha Rouser
• Rhonda George-Denniston: Why Betting on Your People Leads to Market Domination
• Fact Sheet #71: Government Guidelines for Internships
• Free guide: 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Interns

About Amy Mosher Berry, CEO of Visions Internships:

Amy Mosher Berry is a passionate social entrepreneur with over 20 years of diverse experience in business, government, and the nonprofit sector, including 15 years in workforce innovation, 5 years teaching college, and now as the CEO & Founder of Visions Internships.

Visions Internships primarily helps organizational leaders design and manage customized, impactful internship programs without the overwhelm. Amy's social enterprise also empowers young professionals with the skills and support to succeed.

A certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® with a Master's degree in Community Development and Planning and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies/ Spanish, she enjoys bringing a project management approach to program development for maximum results.

Amy lives in Central MA and is deeply dedicated to Co-Creating a World that Works - especially with her young daughter inspiring her every day.

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Connect with Amy:

Visions Internships: visionsinternships.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amymosherberry

Facebook: facebook.com/visionsinternships

Instagram: instagram.com/visions_internships

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/visionsinternships

INTERNSHIP INSIDER™ Training (IIT): A live virtual 5-week program development course teaches 2-4 key staff members how to design a customized, impactful internship program as part of your organization's overall growth strategy. visionsinternships.com/internship-insider

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

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What if creating championship-level performance has far less to do with the team you inherit and everything to do with your own mindset and how you lead, design systems, and set standards from day one? That question came up again and again in my conversation with Donzel Leggett, a leadership strategist, executive coach, and the award-winning author of Make Your Destiny Happen. 

We dive into what leaders can learn from one of the most talked-about leadership turnarounds in sports this season: Curt Cignetti and the remarkable transformation of Indiana Hoosiers football. We unpack why turnaround success isn’t about inheriting the “right” team, it’s about setting expectations, creating belief, and installing systems that allow people to perform at their best. 

With more than three decades of leadership experience at Fortune 200 companies, Donzel helps leaders and organizations build clarity, capacity, and intentional leadership. He’s also a former Academic All-America football player, which makes his perspective on leadership, discipline, and performance especially powerful.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• What leaders need now to stay grounded, adaptable, and effective amid rapid change and disruption.
• How to translate big ideas into repeatable behaviors that actually create change over time.
• Helping individuals take control of their lives and make their destiny happen through life planning and consistent action.

"In most cases, the majority of people have the talent and have the capability. They just need to believe, and they need some tools and some processes to go along with that to allow them to win." —  Donzel Leggett

About Donzel Leggett, Founder, Destiny Development Delta, LLC, and Author, Make Your Destiny Happen:

With more than three decades of leadership experience at Fortune 200 companies, Donzel is the Principal of Destiny Development Delta, LLC, where he focuses on executive leadership development. He is also the award-winning author of Make Your Destiny Happen: Take Control of Your Life with the Destiny Development Delta Model for Transformational Success.

Recognized for his strategic vision and commitment to mentorship, Donzel is passionate about coaching and developing leaders worldwide. His purpose is clear: to help people unlock their full potential and become the best leaders they can be. A proud Purdue graduate and former Academic All-America football player, Donzel now splits his time between Florida and Chicagoland with his wife, Tracy.

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Connect with Donzel:

Destiny Development Delta: destinydevdelta.com

Book: Make Your Destiny Happen

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donzelleggett

Facebook: facebook.com/destinydevdelta

Instagram: instagram.com/donzel_leggett

YouTube: youtube.com/@DonzelLeggett

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

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What if everything you believe about advocacy is incomplete? What if the real work of changing the world isn’t just about fixing problems, but about transforming ourselves in the process?

That’s the heart of the work of Sam Daley-Harris, Founder and Principal of Civic Courage, and author of Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy.

This conversation reframes what it means to participate in democracy. It’s not just about agonizing or protesting or turning off the news. It’s about awakening to our own power and using empathy to bridge divides and build the kind of future we actually want. It’s about sharing personal stories, engaging in deep listening and conversation, and making bold asks of leaders and volunteers.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Why sharing your “story of self” matters and how knowing your why becomes your anchor in meaningful leadership and advocacy.
• What transformational advocacy truly is, and why it has the power to change both the issues and the advocates themselves.
• The essential role of empathy in advocacy and the three questions volunteers ask when meeting with an opposing elected official that can turn conflict into connection.
• Why leaders and organizations must move past their fear of asking volunteers to do big, bold things, because that’s where transformation happens.

"Transformational advocacy is where you're trained, encouraged, and succeed at doing things as an advocate that you never thought you could do. When you do those kinds of things, you see yourself differently." —  Sam Daley-Harris

Episode References: 

• Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness by Jamil Zaki
• Citizens Climate Lobby
• Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill McKibben

About Sam Daley-Harris, Founder, Civic Courage, and Author, Reclaiming Our Democracy: 

Sam Daley-Harris started as a symphony musician and then founded the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS in 1980, co-founded the Microcredit Summit Campaign in 1995, and founded Civic Courage in 2012. The paperback edition of his book Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy was named an editor’s pick by Publishers’ Weekly BookLife. Daley-Harris has been interviewed on NPR’s Here and Now and on PBS’s Laura Flanders and Friends.

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Connect with Sam:  

Civic Courage: reclaimingourdemocracy.com 

X: x.com/samdaleyharris 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sam-daley-harris-b8bb796 

Facebook: facebook.com/sam.daleyharris 

Instagram: instagram.com/samdaleyharris 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

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What if empathy wasn’t something we talked about, but something we actually trained, practiced, and scaled?

My guest today, Ed Kirwan, is doing exactly that. Ed is the CEO and Founder of Empathy Studios, a creative education organization using the power of film to develop empathy as a real, learnable skill. He’s also the founder of Empathy Week, now the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, reaching more than 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020. 

In this conversation, we explore why film is such a powerful catalyst for empathy, what Ed has learned from years of working with students around the world, why empathy is becoming a critical skill in the age of AI, and how developing empathy can boost well-being and help create a better world.

This is a hopeful, practical, and deeply human conversation about what empathy looks like when we stop treating it like a soft skill and start treating it like a core capability.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The emotional power of film to supercharge feeling and connection.
• Why empathy and related skills are necessary to reap the benefits of AI.
• How humans are adapting, seeking things that are real and authentic, and why making something look worse may actually be better.

"That's the power of film. It can really supercharge emotions; it can supercharge feeling; it can supercharge connection." —  Ed Kirwan

Episode References: 

• Ed Kirwan: Empathy Week: Using the Power of Film to Build Empathy

About Ed Kirwan, CEO and Founder, Empathy Studios

Previously a science teacher in London, Ed founded Empathy Studios, an education and creative organisation using the power of film to develop the skill of empathy in all. A director, filmmaker, and educator for 10+ years, Ed also started Empathy Week, the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, which has reached 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020. Their framework for empathy development is backed by the University of Cambridge, and Ed’s team now works across teams and leaders in the business world to help develop and embed the skill of empathy - foundational to high-performing and thriving teams.

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Connect with Ed Kirwan:

Empathy Studios: empathystudios.com 

Empathy Week: empathyweek.org

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ed-kirwan 

Instagram: instagram.com/edkirwan 

YouTube: youtube.com/@Empathy-Studios

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

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Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Did you know that 53% of Gen Z, the rising workforce, identifies as neurodivergent? If that’s the future of work, what does it mean for how we lead, collaborate, and connect? It means if we don't learn how to lead for the needs of neurodiverse employees, we could be facing a huge hiring and unemployment gap.

Julia Armet, people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader, is on a mission to humanize work.

Julia shares her own powerful personal journey navigating her own neurodivergence, and we discuss why relationship-building is the heartbeat of modern work. She debunks myths around autism and empathy, and introduces the concept of the “double-empathy problem” - reframing how we see inclusion and communication across differences. 

You’ll also hear why listening to neurodivergent voices elevates everyone, why the outlier is often the source of innovation, not friction, and how empathy can activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Different ways people exhibit and experience empathy. 
• Approaches to unmasking neurodiversity and empowering neuroinclusion.
• What you may be missing/misunderstanding about your autistic coworker’s social differences.
•  The importance of planting new seeds and redefining modern leadership through empathy.
• How to integrate your team’s outliers to unlock greater levels of empathy. 

"Solving for empathy for the most marginalized populations is what's going to actually benefit all populations." —  Julia Armet

Episode References: 

The Empathy Edge podcast: 

• Molly McGrath: Fix My Employee! No, Fix My Boss!
• Parissa Behnia: How Badass Leaders Convert Raw Power into Real Influence

About Julia Armet, Founder of Higher Playbook

Julia Armet, PCC, ELI-MP, is a people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader on a mission to humanize work. As Founder of Higher Playbook, she partners with visionary leaders and progressive organizations to design workplace cultures where all people — and all minds — can thrive.

With a career spanning media, technology, and professional services, Julia brings deep expertise at the intersection of relationship-building, leadership development, and culture transformation. From scaling a mission-driven tech company to leading global leadership programs, she empowers organizations to foster psychological safety, unlock talent potential, and drive culture change.

Through experiential keynotes, leadership retreats, and high-impact workshops, Julia equips leaders with socially innovative approaches and relational strategies to cultivate inclusion and conscious leadership. Her signature programs — Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion — harness the power of empathy to activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

Connect with Julia:

Higher Playbook: higherplaybook.com 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliaarmet 

Facebook: facebook.com/julia.armet 

Instagram: @higherplaybook

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/higherplaybook 

Check out her signature neurodiversity programming: Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion: higherplaybook.com/leadership-programs 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Sign up for Optionality now! Go to opt

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Managing up is one of the most powerful career accelerators you can master—and it all starts with empathy. Not just empathy flowing downward from leaders to teams, but empathy for your leaders: understanding their pressures, challenges, and decision-making context so you can build trust, influence outcomes, and create mutual success.

Given multiple generations in the workforce, we need empathy flowing up for leaders dealing with added pressures and mental health issues right now. Today’s guest, Catherine Ducharme—Founder of Fluency Leadership, award-winning communicator, certified coach, and TEDx speaker—has spent over 30 years helping leaders and teams lead with heart, curiosity, and inspiration. She shares her own story of learning to manage up, the mindset shifts that change everything, and practical ways to anticipate needs, respond more effectively, and position yourself as a strategic leader.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• How to shift your own perspective, rather than trying to change others.
• Ways to hold your boundaries, while still meeting people where they are.
• The team building skills you cultivate when you engage in everyday activities with coworkers.
• Why is there nothing small about small talk or soft about soft skills? 

"A little vulnerability goes a long way. And it doesn't mean you're pouring your heart out, your woes and everything to your team, but giving them insight to what you're juggling or what's on your mind will tip the balance toward compassion." —  Catherine Ducharme

Episode References: 

• Catherine’s article on managing up: www.fluencyleadership.com/2024/07/17/the-crucial-art-of-managing-up
• Fluency's Trust Breakout exercise: http://bit.ly/4lqTBun
• Book: Seen: The Untapped Power of Appreciation - coming in 2026 - Find out more here
• TEDx Talk: The Untapped Power of Appreciation

About Catherine Ducharme, Founder, Fluency Leadership 

Founder and Principal of Fluency Leadership, a leadership + team development and coaching practice, Catherine is a certified coach and facilitator with 30+ years of professional communications and leadership experience. She works with leaders and teams to build relational skills, empowering them to lead and influence with heart, empathy, curiosity, and inspiration. She’s been recognized as Regional Leader of the Year by the International Association of Business Communicators. She’s passionate about the need for more appreciation in the workplace and did a TEDx talk on that topic.

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Connect with Catherine:

Fluency Leadership: fluencyleadership.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catherineducharme

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

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Technology has always been a double-edged sword. As the workplace and culture shift, we as humans are seeing more collaboration, access, and the ability to communicate across borders. But, it's also leading us to more stress, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Those dopamine hits are no joke!

This all impacts how we need leaders to show up and lead. We have to upskill our leaders for more connection, conversation, and collaboration. AI will be taking over a lot of the drudgery, so leadership now looks different from what it did 20 or 30 years ago. And for some leaders, there is a big skill gap between intent and impact. Something my guest today calls the Awkward Zone as she helps leaders to Own the Awkward.

Today, Jen Marr shares the three forces behind our fundamental workplace shifts and how this has changed the role of leaders. She talks about that Awkward Zone and how to navigate through it. She shares the Barbell concept, necessary to build up healthy, productive employees. We have an interesting discussion about time  - how leaders track it, spend it, and can find more ways to spend it on their people rather than on useless tasks.  And Jen shares what may finally shake us up from the unhealthy ways tech has taken over our lives at the cost of real connection, and what that flashpoint might be for us. 

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The three major trends that are fundamentally shifting the workplace.
• How to foster a healthy workplace with operational empathy and actionable steps.
• Why actions, not nouns, frame lasting change so we can better handle our emotions.
• How time tracking can help you be a more supportive leader.

"The awkward zone is that gap between our intent and our impact. Within that is a whole series of different habits, mindsets, and behaviors that get in our way." —  Jen Marr

About Jen Marr, Founder & CEO, Showing Up LLC

Jen Marr helps leaders Own the Awkward - the high-stakes moments that decide whether people stay or stray. As founder of Showing Up LLC, she built the first research-driven framework that turns relational skills into repeatable business practice. More than 150 certified facilitators now deploy her process across Fortune 50 tech, major-league sports, healthcare systems, and even the White House Leadership Program.

Her programs replace awkward and nuanced relational issues with clear, confident skills and conversation frameworks. Freeing managers’ time, boosting collaboration, and anchoring cultures where people want to stay and do their best work.

A former healthcare and business development executive, she blends three decades of frontline experience with partnered research. Her books—Showing Up and the new Lifting Up package, the playbook.

Jen’s message is timely and actionable: relationships run results. When leaders lift people, performance follows, and every metric that matters moves with it.

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Connect with Jen:

Showing Up LLC: showing-up.com 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenmarr 

Book: Lifting Up showing-up.com/lifting-up 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

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What if the key to self-advocacy wasn’t being louder—but rewiring how you think, feel, and connect with empathy?

Today, I’m joined by executive coach and podcast host Jamie Lee, who specializes in helping women and underrepresented leaders rise through the ranks without compromising their integrity. 

We dive into how empathy and neuroplasticity form the foundation of effective self-advocacy — and how rewiring internal narratives can lead to greater confidence, deeper connection, and clarity when speaking up. Jamie shares evidence-based techniques for regulating the nervous system so you can show up with presence and poise in high-stakes conversations. Plus, we touch on the six types of intelligence you can access to build connections and ask for what you want.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-advocacy or want to communicate with more impact and empathy, this episode is for you.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Defining self-advocacy and neuroplasticity in terms of empathy. 
• Compassion as an action is the key to rewiring your brain. 
• Ways to access your parasympathetic nervous system in your thinking brain and get out of your automatic stress response.
• Leveraging mirror neurons with empathy and compassion. 

"The brain adapts. The brain grows. It changes according to the practices that you expose it to. Compassion is the missing link that helps us be able to access those self-advocacy muscles for ourselves." —  Jamie Lee

Episode References: 

• Book a free hour-long consultation for 1:1 coaching with Jamie: https://www.jamieleecoach.com/apply
• The Empathy Edge podcast: Dia Bondi: How to Ask Like an Auctioneer
• Melissa Tiers' Anti-Anxiety Toolkit: https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Anxiety-Toolkit-Melissa-Tiers-ebook/dp/B0073HU3EG
• James Tripp's website: https://www.jamestripp.online

About Jamie Lee, Coach, Trainer, Podcast Host 

Jamie is an executive coach who specializes in women and underrepresented leaders who are "allergic" to office politics. She focuses on helping them get promoted and better paid without compromising their integrity or throwing anyone under the bus. In her practice, she blends proven self-advocacy strategies with evidence-based neuroplasticity tools.

Over a decade, Jamie has trained thousands of professionals in effective self-advocacy at leading organizations, including Citi, Unilever, Association of Corporate Counselors, American College of Cardiologists, UC Berkeley School of Business, and Smith College.

She's also the host of the Risky Conversations podcast, where she has honest talks with thought leaders on topics often considered taboo or "too risky" at work -- negotiation, mental and reproductive health, office politics, social injustices, and unconventional ways smart women navigate their path forward despite a flawed workplace. 

From Our Sponsor:

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Connect with Jamie:

Jamie Lee Coach: jamieleecoach.com 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leejieunjamie 

Instagram: instagram.com/jamieleecoach 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

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If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to lead a fast-growing business or team with heart, humor, and humanity, today is your masterclass.

Annalee Hagood-Earl is the CEO and co-founder of Bash Creative Inc. Under her leadership, Bash has become a magnet for some of the biggest names in the world—not just because of its stunning creativity and flawless execution, but because people can feel the company’s values in every interaction.

Annalee’s not just talking about values—she lives them. She’s led her team through seasons of explosive growth and through moments when, as she puts it, “the bottom dropped out.” And she’s done it all while staying grounded in empathy, transparency, and joy. 

In our conversation, we dig into building a thriving business while investing in your team’s self-development, what it looks like to lead through uncertainty, and how to redefine success by what your team feels while they’re producing, not just what they produce. We also dive into some golden leadership lessons: the difference between values and ideals, why Annalee insists on hiring people smarter than herself, what she learned from her worst managers, and why she and her business partner went through a kind of leadership couples counseling to make their company stronger.

It’s like she ticked every box in my Five Pillars of Effective Empathy, and the results on her culture, retention, and revenue speak for themselves.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Why reinvesting a headcount into developing your team means they can grow instead of relying on past experiences and traumas
• Why you should consider counseling with your business partners, your C-Suite, and other leaders
• Ways you can walk the talk and model self-awareness, joy, and learning 
• Why allowing your people to be who they are means they can get further, faster 
• How communication and transparency will take you a long way on so many levels

"We take a lot of time to interview and recruit. We're looking for aligned values, not aligned ideals. I want people with different perspectives on my team. I want to learn from them." —  Annalee Hagood-Earl

Episode References: 

• Follow the Founder: https://followthefounder.co/ 
• The Empathy Edge podcast: Claude Silver: Leading with Heart at Vayner Media

About Annalee Hagood-Earl, Founder & CEO, Bash Creative, Inc.

Annalee Hagood-Earl is the CEO and co-founder of Bash Creative Inc., an agency known for designing world-class events and experiences for global brands. Guided by both her company and personal values, Annalee has led her team through seasons of explosive growth as well as times when the bottom dropped out. Under her leadership, Bash has attracted some of the largest companies in the world as clients — not just for its creativity and execution, but because its values-driven approach creates trust and a culture people can feel. This commitment to values has even inspired clients to reflect on their own, discovering alignment they hadn’t previously articulated. Annalee speaks internationally on values-based leadership and how aligning values with action inspires resilience, clarity, and lasting impact.

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Connect with Annalee:

Bash Creative: bash-creative.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hagood-earl-annalee-78848a6

Instagram: instagram.com/bashcreative

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Sign up for Optionality now! Go to opt

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross