Finding Brave

What if you feel you're doing everything right in your job search and it's still not bringing you results? In today's uncertain market, even highly capable professionals are facing longer searches and lower response rates. On this episode of Finding Brave, we explore what is really happening in today's hiring landscape and why so many smart and capable professionals are struggling. Sam Wright is one of the founding team members of Huntr.co, an AI-powered resume builder and job search platform. Drawing from analyses of over 1.6 million applications and hundreds of one-on-one coaching conversations, he combines data-backed insight with genuine compassion for the emotional toll of career uncertainty. In this conversation, he shares key findings from Huntr's 2025 Annual Job Search Trends Report and what they reveal about the realities of today's market. Together, we unpack the biggest job application mistakes professionals are making, including why tailoring your resume strategically for each job can significant

Our inspiring podcast guest today, Scott Tillema, is an award-winning keynote speaker and negotiation expert who helps leaders navigate difficult conversations with confidence, influence, and trust. Drawing on more than 20 years in law enforcement, including his work as an FBI-trained hostage negotiator and a business negotiator trained through the Harvard University Program on Negotiation, Scott brings rare, real-world insight into what it takes to lead effectively in high-stakes moments. His work focuses on showing leaders how to connect first, influence second, and create outcomes that move people and businesses forward. In this episode, Scott unpacks the psychology behind negotiation and human connection through four key factors: understanding, timing, delivery, and respect. He shares how his early life, career in law enforcement, and deep study of human behavior shaped his approach, why judgment blocks connection, and how problem-solving can sometimes stand in the way of true empathy. We also explore wh

Are you using AI to its full potential to meet your marketing, small business, and branding needs? Today's guest, Alan Stern, is a dynamic speaker, DJ, and marketing expert with nearly twenty years of sales and marketing experience in retail and service industries. His passion for helping small businesses thrive translates into practical guidance on how to leverage AI and freemium apps to create a big impact with your marketing on a small budget. Driven by the belief that people buy from a person before they buy from a brand, his unique approach at Persona Marketing helps his clients leverage humor and education to create marketing that builds trust and truly connects. He also unpacks this in his book, How to Dominate The Newsfeed Without Spending A Dime, which teaches audiences how to attract business through social media. Join us as we unpack the power of integrating simple tech tools into your day-to-day work to improve your reach, help you find your niche, and develop your voice. This is a conversation ab

What if the very traits you've been told to soften, like being collaborative or agreeable, are actually essential to your success, not obstacles to it? In this episode of Finding Brave, we explore why so many professionals, especially women, feel trapped between being liked and being respected, and what it really takes to be both. In this episode, Kathy Caprino speaks with Alison Fragale, an organizational psychologist, professor at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, and bestselling author of Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve. Drawing on her extensive research on status, power, negotiation, and influence, Alison helps individuals understand how respect is formed and how it can be intentionally built without compromising your authenticity. In our conversation, Alison breaks down the two core dimensions that shape how others evaluate and perceive us: warmth and competence. She explains how our behaviors signal, or fail to signal, competence, how feedback like "

What does it really mean to be yourself at work without hiding, performing, or shrinking to fit expectations? In this Finding Brave conversation, we explore why authentic presence is not a soft skill or a personal indulgence, but a powerful leadership practice that builds trust, connection, and impact in today's fast-moving, emotionally complex workplaces.   Today's inspiring guest is Claude Silver, the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, where she partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to shape culture and leadership at scale. A sought-after speaker and the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart, Claude brings a deeply human lens to leadership that is grounded in emotional intelligence, courage, and self-awareness. Her work challenges the outdated belief that professionalism requires emotional distance or self-erasure. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal discussion, Claude shares formative stories from her own life that shape

The world around us has transformed dramatically—but has philanthropy kept up? For our Finding Brave guest today, John Studzinski, American-British investor and humanitarian and the author of the new book A Talent for Giving: Creating a More Generous Society that Benefits Everyone, this question isn't academic—it's deeply personal. His philanthropic journey began humbly, volunteering at a soup kitchen as a teenager. Today, he's recognized globally for transformative work addressing homelessness through London's Passage Day Centre and championing emerging artists through the Genesis Foundation. In the U.S., he serves on the boards of The J. Paul Getty Trust, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In this inspiring conversation, John shares his views on how the true meaning of philanthropy has been lost and how it needs to transform to inspire the next generation to make a more meaningful impact. John tells

Everybody wants to believe in something, but the truth is, if you're a leader who shies away from asking tough questions, you're making it harder for people to believe in you. In this Finding Brave episode, we are joined by Matthew Pollard, known as the Rapid Growth Guy and storytelling expert responsible for five multi-million dollar business success stories. He is the author of The Introvert's Edge and has been featured in Forbes and listed by Global Gurus as one of the Top 30 Sales Professionals. In this conversation, we explore what it truly means to lead through authentic, compelling story, not spin. Matthew unpacks how great leaders don't just communicate vision; they shape a living narrative that helps their people see themselves in it. From uncovering the real problems beneath the surface, to crafting stories that evolve and help scale growth through the organization, Matthew shares a framework for growth rooted in empathy, iteration, and truth. We discuss how data can illuminate emotion, why so few

Protecting your ideas is a critical step for attracting excellent aligned investors. In this episode of Finding Brave, I sit down with intellectual property expert and attorney David Postolski, senior partner at Gearhart Law, to demystify what it really takes to secure funding and safeguard innovation. Drawing on his extensive experience helping inventors, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals, David shares how a strong IP strategy serves as both protection and proof of your business's credibility. A registered patent attorney and professor at Temple University, Parsons School of Design, and Radzyner Law School, David teaches emerging leaders how to navigate intellectual property, ethics, and regulation in today's innovation economy. He is also the author of several books, including Marketing Your Invention, Product, or Journey and IP Strategies for Medical Device Technologies: Be Your Own Incubator. His work spans patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, all of which are essential tools for

Why would someone walk away from a lucrative, 15-year career in software engineering? For Jeffrey Allen, it came down to one thing: learning to prioritize the "spirit mind" over the "material mind.” That perspective shift gave him the inner clarity—and the bravery and courage—to finally move into a life and career of deeper purpose. Jeffrey is a spiritual teacher and energy healer whose work has empowered thousands of people, through Mindvalley’s Healing Programs and through his own courses, trainings and years of individual and group work with thousands of people around the globe. His mission is to make access to our higher consciousness and to energy healing practices available to all—helping people release pain, deepen relationships, and live with genuine purpose. Alongside his wife, Hisami, he co-created Awakening Your Spirit Mind, a five‑week online training designed to help people reconnect with their true essence, tune into their connected consciousness beyond logic, and live more from joy and inner wi

On the surface, you may look like the model employee, partner, or friend: always dependable, always agreeable. But beneath the surface, you may be carrying a lifetime of survival strategies that keep you invisible in your own life. This is the story Dr. Ingrid Clayton knows both personally and professionally, and it’s the story she helps so many of us begin to rewrite. Dr. Ingrid Clayton is a licensed clinical psychologist with advanced degrees in transpersonal and clinical psychology. She has maintained a thriving private practice for more than fifteen years and writes the popular Psychology Today blog, Emotional Sobriety, which has been read by over a million people. Her latest book, FAWNING: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves—and How to Find Our Way Back, unpacks the subtle but profound ways we abandon ourselves by prioritizing others’ approval. In our conversation, Ingrid reflects on her own experience as a childhood trauma survivor and how it revealed the fawning response: the instinct to p

What if the parenting behaviors you dislike most in yourself aren’t really “you”? What if they’re trauma responses your brain learned long ago to survive, and what if you could change them? In this episode of Finding Brave, Dr. Robyn Koslowitz explores how trauma shapes our parenting and what we can do to change the cycle. Dr. Koslowitz is a trauma expert, child psychologist, and author of the new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be. She treats children, adolescents, and families at the Center for Psychological Growth of New Jersey, and hosts the Post-Traumatic Parenting YouTube channel and podcast. In this conversation, she explains how trauma responses can surface in family life through yelling, dissociating, or people-pleasing, and why social media often deepens parents’ shame instead of easing it. She introduces the concept of the “trauma app,” which rewires the brain, and shows how children, unlike bosses or spouses, can reveal these hidden patte

Uncertainty has become the defining condition of our time, yet most of us still struggle to find our footing in it. What if you could reframe change itself as a source of strength? Today on Finding Brave, we’re joined by global change advisor, futurist, and author April Rinne to uncover how to cultivate a “flux mindset” and discover the hidden opportunities within constant change. April, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and one of Forbes’ 50 Leading Female Futurists, is a trusted advisor to organizations from Airbnb and Nike to the World Bank. She is the author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change, a book that helps readers reimagine leadership, success, and well-being through eight powerful practices. Grounded in her global career and shaped by personal tragedy, April’s work invites us to step into uncertainty with greater courage, compassion, and clarity. In this conversation, April reflects on her own journey with flux, beginning with the sudden loss of her parents at age 20 an

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! “Whether you’re on an athletic team, a sales force, or a symphony orchestra, you better be honest about what you think about yourself. What you think about yourself and what you think about all the things that happen day by day, that’s what constitutes your confidence.” – Dr. Nate Zinsser Confidence is a character trait that has relatively little to do with what happens to you, but rather it’s a function of how you think. Today’s Finding Brave guest reveals how you can change your level of confidence, but first you must be aware of certain things. You absolutely can develop confidence for any situation that you care to, and our guest shares the ways that confident performers think differently from the average person in order to do this.​​ Dr. Nate Zinsser is an expert in the psychology of human performance who consults for individuals and organizations seeking a competitive edge. Nate’s book, The Confident Mind: A

Are your thoughts and actions regularly dictated by a harsh inner critic? Do you find yourself filled with feelings of unworthiness and that you are undeserving of love? If so, you may well be dealing with the symptoms of core shame. Our guest, David Jurasek, knows firsthand the devastating impact shame can have on your life and relationships, and he joins us today to shed light on this urgent topic. Drawing on his 25 years of experience as a mentor and therapist, David’s work is defined by his belief that your biggest source of sabotage is driven by core shame. He is the founder of Powerful and Loving, a community helping men and boys become powerful leaders who cultivate thriving relationships. Additionally, he is the author of My Heart Is A Muscle, a book that he wrote with the hopes of moving 500 men in the deepest way possible. In today’s conversation, we unpack the concept of core shame, where it tends to stem from, the devastating impact it can have on our lives, and how we can begin to release and h

Modern life bombards us with stresses our bodies are not physically equipped (or evolved) to handle. It’s no wonder so many of us are overwhelmed and struggling. Luckily, there are effective strategies and tools to help manage and reduce stress. You just need to learn how to tap into them. Here today to help us better navigate life’s stressors is Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, an internationally acclaimed speaker and resiliency expert. With over 18 years of experience in education and psychology, Dr. Robyne is renowned for her transformative approach to stress management and personal wellness. She is also the award-winning author of Calm Within the Storm: A Pathway to Everyday Resiliency and her latest book, Stress Wisely: How to Be Well in an Unwell World. In today’s conversation, you’ll hear Robyne share her expert insights as we delve into practical methods for building resilience and finding balance amidst the chaos. We discuss the five pillars of resilience, from belonging and acceptance to hope and humor,

Too often, the traits we’re taught to tone down are the very ones that can drive our boldest breakthroughs. In this powerful episode, we explore what it truly means to lead and live with wild courage. Dismantling conventional career advice, Jenny Wood champions a more audacious path to success, one built on traits long considered too disruptive or inappropriate to embrace. Jenny Wood is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and former Google executive who built one of the company’s largest career development programs. Her new book, Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, dives into nine controversial traits, from reckless to bossy, that ambitious professionals can reclaim and reframe to be better leaders and reach their full potential. With a background in research at Harvard Business School and features in Forbes, HBR, and Bloomberg, Jenny brings both insight and irreverence to the table, along with a serious talent for cutting through the noise. Through stories both personal and profession

If your go-to stress strategies aren’t cutting it anymore, you’re not alone, and there’s a reason for that. Today on Finding Brave, we’re joined by deeply inspiring The Stress Coach, Jordan Friedman, to explore what really works for managing stress during high-anxiety times and why most stress-reduction methods miss the mark. With over 30 years of experience, Jordan’s science-backed, creative approach has helped thousands reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and regain control. A former Director of Columbia University’s Health Education Program and author of The Stress Manager’s Manual, Jordan is also the voice behind The Chill Factory podcast and app. His unique work blends evidence-based techniques with creativity and humor, including offering guided "chill tours" through Central Park to help groups manage stress in fun, unexpected ways. In this episode, we dig into why so many stress-reduction methods fail us during uncertain times and what we can do differently to support our nervous systems. Jordan breaks down

What if the key to career growth isn’t doing more but recognizing what you’ve already achieved? Today on Finding Brave, we’re joined by inspiring author and career coach Octavia Goredema to discover how true visibility begins with valuing yourself. Octavia is the CEO of Fire Memos, a passionate advocate for helping people unlock their full potential at work, the author of PREP, PUSH, PIVOT, and host of two Audible Originals, Brand Yourself for Success and How to Change Careers. Previously featured on Finding Brave (check out Episode 248!), she returns to share new insights on personal branding, professional visibility, and why it’s more important than ever to own your worth and leverage more fully your amazing talents, abilities and experiences. In this episode, you’ll learn why great work alone isn’t enough to stand out in today’s competitive job market and how many high performers remain invisible despite their incredible contributions. We also unpack the connection between visibility and self-recognitio

If you still think of LinkedIn as nothing more than a job site or somewhere you go to upload your online resume, now is the time to update and expand your approach! Today on the show, we welcome LinkedIn insider Jon Lyndon for a deep dive into the evolution of LinkedIn and why we should all be using it as a human connection tool and a pathway to opportunity at scale. Having spent nearly a decade at LinkedIn, Jon is an expert in how to leverage the true power of the platform. He is the founder and CEO of Lyndon Consulting, where he works with global companies and executive leaders on their LinkedIn strategy, helping them rethink how they show up, connect, and lead in a digital world. He also advises professional athletes transitioning out of sport, guiding them in building strong personal brands. In our conversation, Jon breaks down the biggest misconceptions about LinkedIn. He unpacks how only using it as a job search leads you to lose out on key opportunities and explains powerfully why we can all afford t

The moment you choose to change your relationship to money is the moment you change every single generation ahead of you. In this episode of Finding Brave, top financial wellbeing speaker, multi-award-winning Financial Coach, and international author Catherine Morgan joins us to talk about a vitally important topic: when money feels dangerous and how to heal our survival response to wealth. A Financial Wellbeing Speaker, multi-award-winning Financial Coach, and international author of the bestselling book It's Not About the Money, Catherine presents a trauma-informed psychological approach to money. As the founder of The Money Panel®, Catherine trains financial professionals through her acclaimed Financial Coach Certification program, and works with consumers through empowering courses and retreats.  Recognized as one of the top 32 female entrepreneurs by Business Leader, her expertise has been featured in a wide array of top media and her podcast It’s Not About The Money is in the top 0.5% in the world. Ca