I first heard the phrase “Embrace the Suck” from Brene Brown, But Lowentheil uses it here too in reference to the tough negative emotions that we tend to ignore and push down so we don’t feel.

Brene talks about F*&^ing First Times, which can often send us into a shame spiral. She presents a strategy for addressing these which involves naming it so you can normalize it, put it into perspective and reality check your expectations.

We have a strong tendencies to expect perfectionism from ourselves. Lowentheil has two great podcasts which address the dangers of perfectionism.

This special on Netflix is a fantastic overview of Brene Brown’s work. She shares many of her stories and research on vulnerability, courage, shame and leadership. A great introduction to explore before digging deeper into the rest of her work.

Anytime you can combine Brene Brown & Simon Sinek, I’m in (and it’s going to be a great listen). In this podcast, Brene Brown interviews Simon Sinek about his new book, The Infinite Game, and about how to develop an Infinite Mindset, and the difference between your Why and your Just Cause.

In his hilarious Ted Talk, Achor cites various studies about the importance of happiness to success in life and at work. He argues that happiness creates success and not the other way around. With facts like “your brain is 31% more productive at positive, than at negative or neutral,” you can’t help but buy into what he says. He also shares several strategies proven to improve happiness.

An almost follow up to her TED Talk on vulnerability, she goes on to describe the extreme vulnerability she felt after her first TED Talk. She digs deep on shame and the impact it has on our lives. She differentiates shame from guilt. She claims that shame is an epidemic in our culture and discusses how to get past it.

In her first TEDtalk, Brown digs deep and talks about shame, courage and vulnerability. She explains that vulnerability is at the core of shame and fear, but also what gives us courage, joy, a sense of belonging and love. She speaks about this hard topic with frankness and humour that leaves you wanting to watching it over.

A great overview of her Radical Candor model and book, Scott reviews the four quadrants of feedback: Ruinous Empathy, Manipulative Insincerity, Obnoxious Aggression and Radical Candor. She challenges bosses to ask for honest feedback from their team as well.

I’ve watched this TED Talk so many times, that I’ve lost count. Each time, however, it still hits home and reminds me to go back to my WHY. A quick summary of his book, Start with Why, the talk gives a great overview of the Golden Circle and how communicating from the inside out changes everything.

Lowentheil is a master coach and her podcasts are often about 20 minutes, which is the perfect length for my walk around my neighbourhood. She gives tangible advice about changing my mindset and reframing my thoughts that I find essential when I am struggling in a challenging mental loop.

I’m a fan of every book of Lencioni’s that I’ve read so far (which is almost all of them), so listening to him is an awesome extension of what I read.

Sinek’s podcast started during a global pandemic when it is easy to focus on the darkness and challenges surrounding us. Listening to him speak with others about leadership, gratitude and optimism always turns me towards the sun and makes me smile, in addition to helping me learn and grow.

I am a fan of how Brown believes we “who we are is how we lead” (Brown. 2018. Dare to Lead p. 11) Her Dare to Lead podcast helps me recognize who I am so that I can grow my weaknesses and become a better leader.

I love how Brown can always pull a concept or piece of research and make it just hit home. Through a mix of interviews and personal musings, each podcast makes me pause and reflect. They are full of gems which help me be a better leader, but even more important, how to be a better version of myself.

Daniel Pink investigates what we believe about motivation and challenges much of those beliefs. While research shows a disconnect between motivation and rewards & punishments (what he calls carrots and sticks), business is still stuck in this outdated and ineffective model.

Kim Scott creates a quadrant with a horizonal axis which measures how much someone challenges directly and a vertical axis which measures how much someone cares personally. The quadrant where someone cares personally and challenges directly results in Radical Candor.