Charisse interviews Kellye Mazzoli, who shares her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming an assistant city manager and eventually transitioning into coaching. She discusses the significant influences in her life, the importance of education, and the role of mentorship in shaping her career. Kellye reflects on the challenges faced in city management, including navigating media scrutiny and the personal battles of leadership. She emphasizes the need for resilience, emotional intelligence, and intentionality in leadership roles. As she looks to the future, Kellye expresses her desire to help others in the field of city management and to create a supportive community for leaders.

Takeaways

• Kellye's childhood was marked by instability, but also strong influences from her mother and grandfather.
• Education was seen as a pathway to stability and success for Kellye.
• Mentorship played a crucial role in Kellye's career development.
• City management involves navigating complex relationships and media scrutiny.
• Leaders often face personal battles that are not openly discussed.
• Burnout is not just about workload, but also about emotional and mental fatigue.
• Resilience is critical for leaders to manage their responsibilities effectively.
• Kellye transitioned to coaching to have a broader impact on city leaders.
• Intentionality in leadership is essential for personal and professional fulfillment.
• Kellye believes that circumstances do not define one's path; choices do.

Chapters
00:00 The Journey Begins: Kellye's Early Life
04:51 Education as a Path to Stability
08:58 Navigating City Management: Challenges and Lessons
13:20 The Personal Battle of Leadership
20:36 Transitioning to Coaching: A New Chapter
23:41 Aspirations for the Future
30:13 A Lesson for Leaders

Kellye interviews Charisse Deschenes, exploring her journey from childhood in a small town to a career in public service. Charisse shares her experiences in local government, the challenges she faced, and the importance of taking a sabbatical for personal growth. She discusses her new venture, Lead from Center, which focuses on health coaching for leaders in local government, emphasizing the need for support and connection in the profession. The conversation highlights the significance of knowing one's values and the impact of community service.

Takeaways

• Charisse's diverse upbringing shaped her perspective on community.
• Her early passion for sports reflected her drive for excellence.
• Public service became a calling during her college years.
• Charisse's career path evolved from journalism to urban planning.
• She experienced significant challenges during her tenure in local government.
• The importance of community support was a recurring theme in her life.
• Taking a sabbatical was a crucial step for her mental health.
• Charisse aims to support local government leaders through health coaching.
• Her new venture, Lead from Center, focuses on leadership and wellness.
• Building connections and supporting one another is vital in public service.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Charisse's Journey
01:03 Early Life and Childhood Memories
05:35 Path to Public Service
09:28 College and Early Career Decisions
13:27 Highlights of Public Service Career
16:48 Challenges in Local Government
19:12 Navigating Turbulent Times in Leadership
19:21 Stepping Up in Leadership
22:45 The Importance of Mental Health
24:20 Taking a Sabbatical for Self-Discovery
26:45 Launching Lead from Center
32:15 Hope and Resilience in Local Government
33:30 Creating a Lasting Legacy
36:49 The Power of Support and Values

Kellye and Charisse explore the concept of discomfort as a necessary component of growth, particularly in leadership roles. They discuss the allure of comfort and its potential to stifle innovation and progress. The conversation delves into various types of discomfort—identity, skill, and relational—and how embracing these challenges can lead to personal and professional development. The hosts share personal anecdotes and practical strategies for reframing discomfort as a pathway to growth, emphasizing the importance of recognizing signals that indicate it's time to step out of one's comfort zone.

Takeaways

• Discomfort is essential for growth and leadership.
• Comfort can lead to stagnation and lack of innovation.
• Embracing discomfort can build community trust.
• Identity, skill, and relational discomfort are key areas to explore.
• Reframing discomfort as a signal for growth is crucial.
• Building tolerance for discomfort is a gradual process.
• Recognizing personal signals of coziness can prompt growth.
• Discomfort can be seen as a professional currency.
• You don't need to be fearless to embrace discomfort.
• Small steps toward discomfort can lead to significant growth.

Chapters

00:00 The Cost of Cozy: Understanding Discomfort
07:23 The Many Faces of Discomfort
16:38 Navigating Identity, Skill, and Relational Discomfort
21:46 Reframing Discomfort as Growth
24:00 Embracing Discomfort for Growth
29:06 Building Tolerance to Discomfort
34:02 The Cost of Staying Cozy
37:52 Choosing Growth Over Comfort

Charisse and Kellye discuss the critical role of support systems in leadership. They explore the consequences of isolation, the different types of support available, and how to build and maintain these systems effectively. The conversation emphasizes that leadership is not a solo endeavor and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Takeaways

• Leadership doesn't mean doing it all alone.
• Independence isn't always strength without support.
• Without support, even the strongest leaders burn out.
• Isolation distorts perspective and decision-making.
• Trusted peers and mentors are essential for clarity.
• Burnout accelerates without a release valve.
• Strong leadership is about creating connections.
• Support systems must be built intentionally.
• Healthy support systems leave you feeling lighter.
• Leaning on others is a sign of wisdom.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Support in Leadership
04:11   Personal Experiences with Support Systems
06:24 Types of Support Systems
09:57  Building and Maintaining Support Systems
14:06  Identifying Healthy vs. Draining Support Systems

Charisse and Kellye discuss the critical importance of attending conferences for city managers and leaders. They explore the value of networking, the return on investment, and the personal and professional growth that comes from engaging with peers. The conversation emphasizes the need to overcome guilt associated with attending conferences and offers practical tips for maximizing the experience. Ultimately, the hosts encourage listeners to embrace opportunities for connection and recharge their morale through these events.

Takeaways

• Conferences provide essential networking opportunities.
• Connection is vital for city managers.
• Attending conferences can lead to fresh ideas.
• It's important to have candid conversations at conferences.
• Conferences can recharge your morale and prevent burnout.
• Planning sessions backwards helps prioritize networking.
• Building relationships at conferences is crucial for career growth.
• Overcoming guilt about attending conferences is necessary.
• Engaging with peers can lead to innovative solutions.
• Conferences are a valuable investment for personal and professional development.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Getting Out of Town
05:26 Connection and Collaboration
11:21   Professional Growth and Visibility
17:04 Tips for Maximizing Conference Experience
22:20 Encouragement to Attend Conferences

Kellye and Charisse discuss the implications of the 'Open to Work' banner on LinkedIn, exploring its significance in the job market and the messages it sends about employee engagement and leadership. They emphasize the importance of understanding the motivations behind this public declaration and how leaders can respond effectively to such signals from their employees. The conversation also touches on the need for empowerment and ownership in career decisions, encouraging individuals to reflect on their professional paths and the environments they work in.

Takeaways

• The 'Open to Work' banner is a significant signal.
• Employees often post it after feeling undervalued.
• Leaders should approach the situation with curiosity.
• Retaliation against employees who post the banner is counterproductive.
• Having open conversations can lead to better understanding.
• The banner can represent a moment of empowerment.
• It's important for leaders to reflect on their own roles.
• Career transitions should be approached with clarity and intention.
• The banner is not a solution but a signal for deeper issues.
• Creating a supportive environment is essential for employee retention.

Chapters

00:00  Introduction to the Green Banner on LinkedIn

05:16  Leaders' Misinterpretations and Responses

10:36  Conversations That Matter: A Leader's Responsibility

Kellye and Charisse discuss the pervasive issue of perfectionism among leaders. They explore how perfectionism manifests as high standards and fear, leading to stress and isolation. Through personal anecdotes, they highlight the hidden costs of striving for perfection, including mental and physical health impacts. The conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity in leadership and the need to detach self-worth from outcomes. They encourage listeners to embrace vulnerability and lead without the pressure of perfection.

Chapters

00:00 The Hidden Costs of Perfectionism

01:37  Personal Stories of Leadership and Perfectionism

04:43 Decision-Making Under Pressure

08:28 The Physical Toll of Perfectionism

10:56  Unlearning Perfectionism

13:38  The Isolation of Perfectionism

16:14   Embracing Imperfection in Leadership

Takeaways

• Perfectionism disguises itself as high standards.
• Fear of judgment drives perfectionism.
• Leadership requires making decisions with partial information.
• Perfectionism can lead to analysis paralysis.
• Authentic leadership is about being real, not flawless.
• Perfectionism can cause physical stress and health issues.
• Detaching self-worth from outcomes is crucial.
• Real transformation starts with honesty.
• Growth often requires discomfort and vulnerability.
• You are not alone in your struggle with perfectionism.

Kellye and Charisse delve into the complexities of emotional eating and the subconscious behaviors that lead to emotional sabotage. They explore how leaders often suppress their emotions, leading to unhealthy coping mechanisms, and discuss the neuroscience behind these patterns. The conversation emphasizes the importance of awareness and practical steps to break the cycle of numbing behaviors, ultimately guiding listeners towards healing and healthier choices.

Chapters

00:00  Understanding Emotional Eating and Its Impact

08:29  The Neuroscience of Emotional Sabotage

16:23   Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Numbing

Takeaways

• Emotional eating is a way to avoid confronting feelings.
• Leaders often lack safe spaces to process emotions.
• The brain prioritizes familiarity over happiness.
• Numbing behaviors can manifest in various forms, not just food.
• Awareness is the first step towards healing.
• Coping behaviors can create a false sense of community.
• Validation from shared struggles can hinder personal growth.
• Interrupting patterns can lead to healthier choices.
• Breath work and grounding techniques can aid emotional regulation.
• Support from coaches can facilitate personal transformation.

Kellye and Charisse explore the significance of movement and creativity in our lives, emphasizing the importance of presence and play over productivity. They share personal experiences with activities like roller skating, swimming, and dancing, highlighting how these practices reconnect them with joy and self-expression. The conversation delves into the science behind movement's impact on creativity and leadership, discussing the dangers of burnout and the necessity of cultivating creativity in both personal and professional realms. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to reclaim their right to play and find joy in the process of movement and creation.

Chapters
00:00 Reconnecting with Movement and Creativity
05:00 The Importance of Presence in Leadership
09:53 The Science of Movement and Creativity
14:35 Healing Through Play and Creativity
19:17 Overcoming Burnout with Small Steps
24:11 Embracing Joy and Curiosity
26:07 riverside_outro_final 16_9_unmuted_podcast.mp4

Takeaways

• Movement is essential for joy and self-expression.
• Presence is more important than productivity.
• Returning to activities we love can reconnect us with ourselves.
• Creativity is vital for effective leadership.
• Burnout often stems from a lack of movement and creativity.
• Engaging in play can deepen connections with others.
• Novel experiences stimulate the brain's creativity centers.
• The goal of movement should be enjoyment, not mastery.
• Finding joy in small moments can combat burnout.
• Everyone deserves to reclaim their right to play.

Transcript
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Charisse and Kellye introduce their podcast, sharing their motivations for creating a space where public service professionals can openly discuss their experiences in life, work, and leadership. They emphasize the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and community, aiming to connect with listeners who may feel isolated in their journeys. The episode outlines what listeners can expect in future episodes, including personal stories, reflections, and discussions on various topics related to personal growth and public service.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Unmuted: Setting the Stage
03:22 The Journey of Self-Discovery
05:57 Personal Stories and Professional Backgrounds
08:14 What to Expect from Unmuted
11:12 Exploring Uncommon Topics
13:47 Creating a Community of Connection
16:20 Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes

Takeaways

• Unmuted is a space for honest conversations.
• The cost of muting oneself can be significant.
• Sharing stories can help others feel less alone.
• Both hosts have experienced pivotal career changes.
• Expect a mix of storytelling and reflection.
• The podcast will address personal and professional topics.
• Vulnerability is key to authentic conversations.
• Listeners are invited to join a community of support.
• The journey of self-discovery is ongoing.
• Life is about growth and trying new things.

Transcript
Click here to view the episode transcript.