Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

What if being agreeable is not only affecting your confidence, but it’s also affecting your health? Meet Penelope. She nods as her boss speaks, offering agreement before she can stop herself. Inside, she feels the weight of what she didn’t say. In her bag is a fully developed proposal she spent weeks building, designed to improve engagement and reduce burnout. But in moments that matter, she defaults to staying agreeable. What she wants most is the courage to speak up and become the leader she knows she can be. In this episode, Jay sits down with Shereen Thor, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of Revolutionary Woman. Together, they explore the hidden cost of people-pleasing, how early conditioning shapes behavior, and what it takes to break free and lead with authenticity, courage, and self-trust. Notable Quotes “Your brain is wired for survival, not happiness.” — Shereen Thor “You think you’re making a smart choice, but you’re making a choice that is killing you.” — Shereen Thor “Conflict is change trying to happen.” — Shereen Thor “Be the gift you’re meant to be.” — Shereen Thor About Our Guest Shereen Thor is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of Revolutionary Woman. She helps leaders break free from conditioning, embrace their authentic voice, and lead with confidence, courage, and purpose. Through her coaching and training programs, she supports individuals and organizations in unlocking their full potential. Resources & Links Shereen Thor Revolutionary Woman Book – https://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Woman-Break-Rules-Purpose/dp/1737539403 Website – https://shereenthor.com/ LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/shereenthor Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/shereenthor/ Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay kicks off a special two-part series for his birthday month, sharing 10 lessons he would give his 20-year-old self. These are practical, actionable insights drawn from real experience, designed to help you navigate stress, take meaningful risks, and live with greater clarity and intention.

What if you treated yourself with the same understanding and care you give to others? In this solo episode, Jay explores the science and psychology behind self-compassion and why being hard on yourself may actually be holding you back. Drawing from the research of Dr. Kristin Neff and Kelly McGonigal, he explains how self-compassion improves emotional resilience, reduces anxiety, and even enhances motivation and self-control. Jay breaks down a practical approach to transforming your inner dialogue by acknowledging reality, supporting yourself through difficulty, and reconnecting to what truly matters. If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of self-criticism, this episode offers a powerful and research-backed path to a healthier, more effective mindset. Notable Quotes “With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we give to a good friend.” — Dr. Kristin Neff “Self-compassion, being supportive and kind to yourself, especially in the face of stress and failure, is associated with more motivation and better self-control.” — Kelly McGonigal “I can’t expect to feel good all the time.” — Jay Abbasi “If we keep moving forward, something great is going to happen.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Penelope, a Director of Training in healthcare who is holding herself back from speaking up and sharing her ideas. Jay is joined by Shereen Thor, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of Revolutionary Woman, to explore how leaders can break free from expectations, find their voice, and lead with unapologetic confidence.

Most people don’t lose themselves overnight. It happens slowly… after success. Meet Lauren. A respected VP in tech with over 20 years of experience, Lauren has built a career many would admire. But lately, the work feels hollow. Meetings feel repetitive. Motivation has faded. With her children grown and life shifting, a question she hasn’t asked in years starts to surface… is this really how she wants to spend her next chapter? In this episode, Jay sits down with Colleen Pimentel, former big tech executive turned coach and author, who helps high achievers move beyond success on paper and into a more meaningful second act. Together, they explore identity, purpose, fear, and how to reinvent without burning everything down. Notable Quotes “Confidence doesn’t come when fear disappears. It comes when you take action.” — Colleen Pimentel “You don’t have to burn it all down. You can build your next chapter in parallel.” — Colleen Pimentel “When you live your purpose, you actually gain energy, not lose it.” — Colleen Pimentel About Our Guest Colleen Pimentel is a former big tech executive, author, and coach who helps high achievers redefine success and step into their next chapter with clarity and intention. After spending over 30 years in corporate leadership, she now guides individuals through identity shifts, purpose discovery, and meaningful reinvention. Resources & Links Colleen Pimentel Business Website – https://www.mckennapimentelconsulting.com/ Website – https://www.colleenpimentel.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-pimentel-140790/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@collpimentel/ Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay explores why being hard on yourself feels natural, but is often counterproductive. He breaks down the research behind self-criticism and shares a practical framework, including insights from Eastern philosophy, to help you become more self-compassionate without losing your edge.

“Whenever you're in conflict with someone, it always starts with you.” In this solo episode, Jay breaks down a practical, experience-driven framework for navigating conflict in the workplace and beyond. Drawing from his own experiences, coaching conversations, and lessons from last week’s episode, he shares a 7-step approach to help you move from reactivity to intentional, effective communication. From managing your emotions and understanding your triggers to practicing conversations, adjusting tone, and leading with vulnerability, this episode emphasizes an inside-out approach to conflict resolution. If you want to strengthen relationships, communicate more effectively, and lead with greater awareness, this episode offers a clear path forward. Notable Quotes “Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” — William James “The default for how we manage conflict is to focus our attention on the other person.” — Jay Abbasi “Every time you're triggered, there is a learning opportunity.” — Jay Abbasi “When you share vulnerably from the heart in a kind and respectful way, you're going to open up the conversation.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Lauren, a VP in the tech industry who has achieved success on paper but feels disconnected, unfulfilled, and uncertain about what comes next. Jay is joined by Colleen Pimentel, tech executive, coach, and author of Second Act, to explore how high achievers can rediscover purpose, navigate transition, and build a meaningful next chapter.

Great leaders don’t react emotionally; they respond logically.  Meet Maya. A Chief Supply Chain Officer at a major beverage company, Maya once had a strong partnership with a senior VP. After one tense disagreement, every conversation now feels loaded. She snaps, avoids conflict, replays meetings in her head, and loses focus. What she wants most is to feel grounded and confident during difficult conversations. In this episode, Jay sits down with Darcy Luoma, leadership coach and creator of the Thoughtfully Fit® model. Darcy shares how leaders can train themselves to pause, think, and act instead of reacting under pressure, and why the skill of responding intentionally can transform careers, relationships, and life. Notable Quotes “Pause, think, act.” — Darcy Luoma “You have to train in the small moments so you can show up in the big ones.” — Darcy Luoma “Ninety-six percent of the time, how a conversation starts is how it ends.” — Darcy Luoma About Our Guest Darcy Luoma is a leadership coach, speaker, and creator of the Thoughtfully Fit® model, a practical framework that helps individuals pause, think, and act with intention. Drawing from her background in public service, business leadership, and personal adversity, Darcy helps leaders navigate difficult conversations, strengthen resilience, and communicate with courage, compassion, and curiosity. Resources & Links Darcy Luoma Website – https://darcyluoma.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcyluoma/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/darcyluoma/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/darcyluomacoaching/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/DarcyLuoma X – https://x.com/DarcyLuoma Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay shares practical techniques for navigating conflict, communicating with strong personalities, and becoming more influential without damaging relationships. These are tools he has personally practiced and taught in coaching, with real results for those who apply them. If becoming a stronger communicator and advocate is a priority, don’t miss this episode.

“Everything we do becomes more meaningful when it connects to something bigger than ourselves.” In this solo episode, Jay introduces three simple but powerful words that can transform how you approach your goals, your work, and your daily life. Inspired by a quote from Nick Vujicic and a reflection on Valentine’s Day, Jay explores how self-focused thinking often fuels anxiety, stress, and dissatisfaction. He explains how finishing the sentence “So I can…” can help you connect your daily actions to deeper meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. When your efforts are rooted in something bigger than yourself, performance improves, resilience grows, and life feels more aligned. Notable Quotes “The greatest rewards come when you give of yourself.” — Nick Vujicic “There’s only one common factor in every one of those situations and it’s this. You are thinking about yourself.” — Jay Abbasi “Everything that we do when rooted in something bigger than ourselves will be done with greater tenacity, with greater resilience and greater performance.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Maya, a Chief Supply Chain Officer navigating growing conflict with a senior VP that is beginning to impact her confidence and leadership. Jay is joined by Darcy Luoma, Master Certified Coach and expert in helping leaders navigate conflict with clarity, to explore how accomplished leaders can advocate for themselves and strengthen relationships even during disagreement.

The biggest threat to meaning isn’t failure. It’s distraction. Meet Randy. It’s 2:17 a.m., and he’s staring at the ceiling while notifications light up his phone. His global team is stretched thin, priorities keep shifting, and motivation is fading. Randy isn’t looking for productivity hacks. He wants his team to believe their work still matters. In this episode, Jay sits down with Greg Bennick, keynote speaker, author, and expert on focus, meaning, and human connection. Greg shares powerful lessons from juggling, performance, and leadership to explain how distraction erodes meaning and how leaders can help people reconnect to purpose, consistency, and impact. Notable Quotes “Keep your eyes on the thing that's most important to you, that if it falls, will cause the most damage.” — Greg Bennick Meaning disappears when we stop realizing the impact we are having.” — Greg Bennick “Genuine power transforms, and authority tends to disrupt.” — Greg Bennick About Our Guest Greg Bennick is a keynote speaker, author, and performer who helps organizations strengthen focus, collaboration, and purpose in an increasingly distracted world. Blending storytelling, psychology, and lessons from decades as a professional performer, Greg helps leaders and teams reconnect with meaning and build stronger human connection at work. Resources & Links Greg Bennick Website – https://www.gregbennick.com/ Greg Bennick’s Book – https://www.gregbennick.com/gregbennickbook LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbennick Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/gregbennick Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gregbennick/?hl=en YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@gregbennickofficial Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay shares three words that can help reconnect you to purpose, strengthen motivation, and help you push forward when things feel difficult.

In our last episode, Jay spoke with Mitch Bohn, whose story of resilience and refusing to make excuses inspired today’s topic. In this solo episode, Jay explores why excuses keep us stuck, how they limit our potential, and what it takes to break free from the stories we tell ourselves. Drawing from Wayne Dyer’s teachings and a powerful seven-step framework Jay uses in his own coaching, this episode guides you through identifying the excuses holding you back and replacing them with clarity, ownership, and intentional action. Jay explains how excuses are often rooted in old narratives, perceived limitations, or protective behaviors,and how shifting your mindset opens the door to a better future. If you’ve ever felt like your excuses were louder than your belief in yourself, this episode offers a practical and empowering path to let go of what’s holding you back and step into who you’re capable of becoming. Notable Quotes “The only thing an excuse gives you is an option out of the life you'd like to live.” — Wayne Dyer  “Where the excuse ultimately comes from is the decision that you made that this excuse is valid.” — Jay Abbasi “You have to be open to the possibility that what you’ve been telling yourself may not be true.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck”Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time In Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Trevor, an oncologist at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country. Despite his dedication to saving lives, he’s been struggling with imposter syndrome, comparison, and burnout from constantly putting others first. Jay will be joined by Leon Thurston Jr., speaker, coach, and author, whose mission is to help people become their own greatest solution. Together, they’ll explore how someone devoted to saving others can learn to start by saving himself. Don’t miss this powerful and deeply meaningful conversation.

Some dreams don’t start with a plan. They start with a feeling you can’t ignore. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what that journey actually required. In 2014, after the sudden passing of Jay’s father, he became deeply curious about how to live better, healthier, and more intentionally. He read relentlessly, attended workshops, worked with coaches, and watched countless TED and TEDx talks. Somewhere along the way, a quiet idea took hold: one day, he would stand on that red circle and share something meaningful with the world. From years of visualization and preparation, to finding the idea for the talk in an unexpected moment, to applying, rehearsing, getting accepted, and navigating setbacks no one plans for. Jay walks through the exact steps he took to land a TEDx talk, what surprised him most about the process, and the lessons he learned along the way. This is not a highlight reel. It’s an honest look at persistence, adaptability, and doing the hard things consistently, long before there’s any guarantee it will work. Notable Quotes “My gift is taking complex ideas and simplifying them in ways that really stick.” - Jay Abbasi “When you can visualize it and feel it, your mind starts acting as if it already happened.” - Jay Abbasi “Do the hard things consistently. That’s where most people stop.” - Jay Abbasi Resources & Links Jay Abbasi Website –⁠ https://jayabbasi.me/⁠⁠ LinkedIn –⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/⁠ Instagram –⁠ https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/⁠ YouTube –⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast⁠ Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. ⁠Submit Your Story  ⁠ Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay goes deeper into persistence and what it really takes to keep going when motivation fades and the work gets hard. The episode breaks down how to build the muscle of follow-through, especially when progress feels slow or invisible.

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.” In this solo episode, Jay shares his personal system for planning life intentionally rather than reacting to whatever shows up on the calendar. As January comes to a close, he invites you to zoom out beyond weekly to-do lists and consider how you’re allocating time across the areas that matter most, including work, relationships, health, and contribution. Jay walks through a practical, flexible process that combines weekly forecasting, daily task setting, and intentional calendar blocking. He also offers alternative approaches for different personalities, reminding listeners that the goal isn’t perfection, but clarity, focus, and refinement. If you’ve ever felt busy but misaligned, this episode provides a grounded reset. Notable Quotes “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.” — Jim Rohn “Are you a wandering generality or a meaningful specific?” — Zig Ziglar “I’m always looking to continue to grow and develop and learn.” — Jay Abbasi “You will be planning your life rather than reacting to life.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story   Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, Jay shares a special solo conversation walking you through the exact steps he took to land a TEDx talk, from the initial idea to stepping onto the stage. He’ll break down lessons learned, mistakes made, and what he’d do differently, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a journey many listeners are curious about. A meaningful and personal episode you won’t want to miss.