The Real Intelligence Podcast with Jenny Swim

In a world flooded with information, curated images, and competing voices, it’s easy to lose track of what’s real. How do you know what to trust—online, in conversation, or even within yourself?

This episode dives into the growing challenge of discernment in both our personal and professional lives. From algorithm-fed narratives to the quiet undercurrents of self-doubt, we explore how distortion—both external and internal—can cloud your clarity.

Through personal stories, metaphors, and practical tools, we’ll explore:

• How to recognize when something feels “off,” even if it looks fine on the surface
• How external and internal distortion might be showing up
• Three practical tools to strengthen discernment: triangulating data, listening with your whole self, and practicing stillness

Whether you’re making leadership decisions, navigating relationships, or simply trying to stay grounded in the noise, this episode offers calm, thoughtful guidance to help you come home to yourself—and move through the world with more clarity, confidence, and wisdom.

🎧 Plus: You can now watch the podcast on YouTube! Just search Come Home to You Podcast and join the conversation in a whole new way.

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

In this episode, we explore the underestimated power of asking better questions—not just of others, but of ourselves. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a tough conversation, or sitting with your own inner conflict, the way you question matters. We'll explore:

• How to shift from judgment to genuine curiosity, 
• Why simple, open-ended questions can be powerful connection tools,
• And what it looks like to tune into the right kind of question for the moment at hand.

This isn’t about having the right answers. It’s about becoming someone who asks the right questions—and in doing so, unlocks insight, connection, and possibility.

Perfect for leaders, coaches, creatives, and anyone ready to bring more intention to how they show up in conversation—with others and within.

Additional Resources:

🎧 Episode 6: Tuning Inward: Unlocking the Answers You Already Have

Listen Here or find it on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Huang, K., Yeomans, M., Brooks, A. W., Minson, J., & Gino, F. (2017). It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: Question-Asking Increases Liking. Harvard Business School.
Read the study (PDF)

Robson, D. (2018). The Science of Having a Great Conversation. WIRED.
Read the article

Layne, R. (2017, October 30). Asking Questions Can Get You a Better Job or a Second Date. Featuring Alison Wood Brooks. Harvard Business School Working Knowledge.
Read the article

Leimbach, C. (n.d.). Why Master Open-Ended Questions. Agon Leadership.
Read the article

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

What does it really mean to be in the driver’s seat of your own life—aware, engaged, and choosing your next move without white-knuckling the wheel?

We often find ourselves caught between what we can’t control and the pressure to manage everything else. On one side is the urge to over-function; on the other, the sense that life is just happening to us. This episode explores that in-between space—the grounded middle where you acknowledge circumstances AND recognize your agency as the leading actor in your own life story.

We’ll explore:

• How a growth mindset can turn every experience into meaningful progress
• Why anchoring to your deeper purpose brings strength—especially when you’re walking into the dark or standing alone
• How small, purposeful actions help ease overwhelm and restore momentum

This conversation invites you to redefine what it means to take action—and reconnect with your power to choose from a place of self leadership, not control.

Additional Resources:

From Doubt to Purpose: Standing Without Applause, Adriano Pianesihttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-doubt-purpose-standing-without-applause-adriano-pianesi-mba-ggsqe/

Mindset, Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

In this episode of Come Home to You, we explore a kind of confidence that doesn’t rely on performance, perfection, or praise. This is character-based confidence—a grounded trust, rooted in who you are, not just what you can do.

We’ll look at how to build confidence anchored in an internal reference point—your inherent worth. You’ll learn how courageous authenticity and integrity align you with your inner guide, and why showing up from a place of coherence—not just competence—is the foundation of effective leadership, both within and beyond.

We’ll also explore the role of courageous action—how doing the things that stretch or scare you expands your capacity for deeper self-trust.

Whether you’re navigating self-doubt, stepping into greater leadership, or craving a steadier relationship with yourself, this episode invites you to build confidence that lasts.

Resources:

https://longevity.stanford.edu/self-efficacy-toward-a-unifying-theory-of-behavior-change/

*If you liked this episode, consider checking out podcast episodes: 5, 16 and 19 

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

In this episode, we dive into “the gap”—the often overlooked but deeply fertile space between where you are now and where you want to be. This in-between can feel uncertain, even disorienting—but it’s also where clarity forms, creativity stirs, and transformation takes place.

We’ll explore the gift within this space by examining three core elements: discomfort, control, and awareness. You’ll learn practical tools to help you navigate these dynamics with greater clarity and ease. Whether you’re in transition, seeking change, or feeling stuck, this conversation will help you reframe the in-between as a place not to fear—but to trust.

Additional Resources:

The Pit of Success, by Dave Jennings and Amy Leishman

Aaronde Seckou Creighton https://www.linkedin.com/in/onlyoneaaronde/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/here-vuca-we-need-see-from-leaders-during-pandemic-creighton-pcc/?trackingId=z2aDJbooLIPACKPQ3ry5LA%3D%3D

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

Feeling torn between what you should do and what you truly want?
In this guest episode, Carrie Dowling introduces The Four Factors—her grounded, values-based tool that brings clarity and confidence to your decision-making.

Carrie unpacks how roles and expectations can cloud your judgment, how core growth-oriented values help reveal who you are and what you really want, and how to move forward when you're feeling stuck.

Bring a real decision you’re wrestling with—we’ll walk through it together using the Four Factors. I'm so glad you joined us!

Connect with Carrie: [email protected] or The4factors.com

Additional Resources: 

Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck

Culture Code by Dan Coyle

*All client experiences shared in this episode were done so with permission.

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

Your window of tolerance is more than a stress gauge—it’s a reflection of your current capacity to engage, respond, and lead with presence. In this episode, we explore your window of tolerance, why it matters, and what it reveals about how you're relating to stress, challenge, and change.

You’ll learn how to spot the signs of nervous system overload, why pacing is essential for sustainable growth, and how true capacity is built—not by pushing harder, but by honoring rest, rhythm, and awareness. We’ll also share a simple somatic tool, a leadership practice, and a cultural tradition that recognize rest as a powerful catalyst for resilience.

Join us to explore how you can live and lead from a deeper place of inner sustainability—where capacity is honored, not drained.

Additional Resources: 

Overview of the Window of Tolerance with a focus on children https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Education/ID%20The%20Window%20of%20Tolerance%2020%2006%2016.pdf

https://drdansiegel.com/

https://irenelyon.com/free-resources/

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

Ever wonder why you keep repeating the same patterns, even when you know better? In this episode, we dive beneath the surface of conscious awareness to explore the subconscious mind—your internal autopilot that drives up to 95% of your behavior.

We'll talk about how subconscious beliefs are formed, how they shape our behaviors and emotions, and why bringing them to light is key to creating inner unity and lasting change. We'll also explore techniques to start listening to your subconscious self with curiosity and compassion.

If you're ready to understand the hidden scripts running your life—and rewrite them—you won't want to miss this conversation.

Additional Resources:

https://leadershipcircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/About-Belief-Systems.pdf

https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2020/08/03/how-your-subconscious-mind-is-running-your-life-and-how-to-fix-it/

https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/the-subconscious-mind-of-the-consumer-and-how-to-reach-it

Thinking, Fast and Slow, Dr. Daniel Kahneman (Psychologist, Nobel Laureate) 

Belief Excavation Activity: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_DLHtqBRpgxKM4wpuO9L7ty8uOq1ukEn/view

**Shout out to Jenni Orton, who first introduced me to the idea of asking the subconscious questions. https://www.jenniorton.com/

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

What does it really mean to value yourself, and how does your sense of worth shape the way you treat yourself? In this episode, we’ll unpack the key differences between value and worth and explore where you fall on the self-worth spectrum—from self-doubt to overinflation. More importantly, we’ll share practical, easy-to-apply skills to help you build a deep, genuine sense of worth—one that isn’t tied to external validation or outcomes.

If you struggle with self-doubt, people-pleasing, or guarding against vulnerability, this episode is for you. Bring a sense of gentleness and self-compassion as we explore these tendencies and gain insight into our shared human experience.

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

In this intriguing episode, we dive into the world of espionage — not to uncover international secrets, but to better understand our own minds. Joining us is David, a former CIA and FBI counterintelligence expert, who helps us explore the surprising parallels between spycraft and mental health. Together, we unpack how the same tools used to detect deception and foreign threats can help us challenge our own thinking, confront cognitive dissonance, and become more aware.

David shares how understanding the balance between convenience and security — a key consideration in national defense — also applies to the choices we make in our daily lives. He invites us to “know our enemy,” whether that enemy is external or the quiet voice of self-doubt and destructive habits within us. Tune in for a conversation that’s part spy thriller, part self-discovery, and entirely eye-opening.

David B. Bio:

David is a dedicated veteran, intelligence professional, and cancer survivor with a lifelong commitment to service. He earned a degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Underwater Archaeology from Longwood University while serving in the United States Navy Reserve (USNR) as an EOD Clearance Diver. During this time, he participated in numerous diving operations, one of which nearly cost him his life.

After graduation, David worked as a contract underwater archaeologist for NOAA before being recruited into the CIA in 1995. He served for seven years, starting as a CIA Police Officer and later joining the Protective Operations Cadre (POC), now known as the Global Response Staff (GRS). He provided critical security and operational support in Eastern and Northern Africa and was later recruited into the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, specializing in counterproliferation, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism.

In 2002, David transitioned to the FBI, where he served for 20.5 years as a Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent in multiple field offices and divisions, including Portland, San Juan, Washington D.C., and the FBI Academy. Throughout his career, he and his wife, Lynlee, raised three sons — Noah, Jonah, and Elijah.

Following his retirement in December 2022, David joined System High Corporation as a Counterintelligence Referent. In June 2023, he was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a latent consequence of his USN service. Through aggressive treatment and the support of his church and loved ones, David achieved remission and returned to work in April 2024.

David is now creating the Blue Ridge Angler Veteran Endowment (B.R.A.V.E.), a nonprofit supporting veterans who can’t afford cancer treatment and offering therapeutic angling experiences for those coping with PTSD. He is also writing a book about his healing journey, titled "Reel River Therapy."

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind