321: How to Be a Likeable Badass
Finding Brave
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 , an organizational psychologist, professor at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, and bestselling author of . Drawing on her extensive research on status, power, negotiation, and influence,...
info_outline
320: Be Yourself at Work: Show Up, Stand Out, and Lead from the Heart
Finding Brave
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 , 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 , Claude brings a...
info_outline
319: A Talent for Giving: Creating a More Generous Society for All
Finding Brave
The world around us has transformed dramatically—but has philanthropy kept up? For our Finding Brave guest today, , American-British investor and humanitarian and the author of the new book , 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 . In the U.S., he serves on the boards of The J. Paul Getty Trust, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the...
info_outline
318: How Organizations Need to Change Their Narrative In Challenging Times
Finding Brave
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 , known as the Rapid Growth Guy and storytelling expert responsible for five multi-million dollar business success stories. He is the author of 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...
info_outline
317: How to Attract Great Investors For Your Products and Business
Finding Brave
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 , senior partner at , 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,...
info_outline
316: Taking the Brave Leap to Live Your Life Purpose
Finding Brave
Why would someone walk away from a lucrative, 15-year career in software engineering? For , 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 ’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...
info_outline
315: FAWNING: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves
Finding Brave
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 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, ,...
info_outline
314: You Are Not Your Trauma: How You Can Heal Your Life Experience
Finding Brave
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, 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 . She treats children, adolescents, and families at the , and hosts the Post-Traumatic Parenting and . In this conversation, she explains how trauma responses can surface in family life through yelling,...
info_outline
313: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change
Finding Brave
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 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 , a book that helps...
info_outline
312: How Confidence Is The Key and How You Can Get It, Build It and Keep It
Finding Brave
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...
info_outlineThank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts!
Please note: This is an updated “Holiday Selection” re-release of Episode #210.
“Sit with the idea of what it would mean for you to take on a worthy goal, become the best version of yourself, and unlock your greatness by taking on the hard things. I’m asking not just for you, but I’m asking for me and my world, because it’s a chance for all of us to live a better life.” – Michael Bungay Stanier
I’m very excited to share my “Holiday Selection” re-release of one of our most popular episodes, featuring the great insights of Michael Bungay Stanier.
As an exciting new year is coming, with its fresh energy of possibility, what would it mean for you to find and set a worthy goal, something that is thrilling, important, and daunting at the same time?
Today’s special Finding Brave guest reveals the 3 key components of a worthy goal, what it really means to commit to one, and why we don’t have to travel this path alone, because we can ask for support along the way.
Michael Bungay Stanier helps people be a force for change. He’s best known for his book The Coaching Habit, which has over a million copies and has thousands of 5-star reviews online.
His latest book, How to Begin, helps people find the clarity and courage to take on a Worthy Goal and start something thrilling, important and daunting. He founded Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that helps organizations move from advice-driven to curiosity-led.
They’ve trained hundreds of thousands of managers to be more coach-like and their clients range from Microsoft to Gucci. Michael left Australia about 30 years ago to be a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he shares that his only significant achievement was falling in love with a Canadian. Michael now lives in Toronto, having spent time in London and Boston. Balancing out these moments of success, he was banned from his high school graduation for “the balloon incident,” was sued by one of his Law School professors for defamation, and his first published piece of writing was a Harlequin Romance-esque story involving a misdelivered letter called The Male Delivery.
I encourage you to read Michael’s latest (and very enlightening) book and let us know what lessons you glean from it. How has your energy been shifted, and what did you learn? Please feel free to reach out to Michael or me with your feedback and questions about what we discuss in this episode. Here’s to your joyful pursuit of your worthy goal!
Highlights from this Episode:
- The worthy goal that Michael has for his latest book [5:44]
- Why he is expecting a big shake-up for the coaching industry in the very near future [7:07]
- What Michael means when he says that we unlock our greatness by taking on the hard things [13:52]
- How his childhood influences have contributed to the way that he now sees the world [17:36]
- Some of the ways that Michael “zags” when others “zig” [20:03]
- His approach to coaching and helping others do the thing that really matters to them [21:33]
- Where true growth will happen, plus the 3 components that make a worthy goal [23:45]
- What you can expect to gain by reading Michael’s latest book [25:44]
- A powerful exercise that shows the importance of getting support from others while pursuing your goals [26:33]
- A reminder of why we always need to celebrate our victories, no matter how big or small they may be [32:01]
For More Information:
Michael’s Latest Book, How to Begin: Start Doing Something That Matters [With Bonuses]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbungaystanier/
https://www.instagram.com/mbs_works/
https://www.facebook.com/mbs_works-113849977032317/
His Podcast & YouTube Channel
Michael’s Free Course, The Year of Living Brilliantly
Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World by Jacqueline Novogratz
Kathy’s Resources Mentioned:
STAY TUNED – ‘KATHY AI” IS COMING SOON!
I’m beyond excited to announce the upcoming launch of “Kathy Caprino AI” —my new digital clone!!
Created with the amazing team at Delphi.ai, Kathy Caprino AI brings my career growth teachings, guidance and advice – and answers to your most pressing career questions - directly to you, anytime you need it, 24/7.
Drawing on my 17 years of career and leadership coaching, writing and speaking, I’ve trained Kathy AI using over 2.5 million words I’ve written and that have reached over 41 million readers worldwide.
My goal? To make Kathy Caprino AI your trusted resource for career, leadership, and personal growth, offering real-time strategies, tips, and answers to your most pressing questions.
All subscribers will get tailored support to help their career visions become a reality. Plus, we’re offering some exciting bonuses and benefits when you subscribe in the introductory period.
And it makes a fantastic gift for friends, family and colleagues!
I cannot wait to share Kathy AI with you! Stay tuned at KathyCaprino.com and my newsletter for all the details—it’s coming soon and I so hope it’s helpful to you! (Sign up for my newsletter HERE.)
———————
READY FOR A BIG BOOST IN 2025? TAKE 30% OF KATHY’S TOP-RANKED, 1:1 CAREER, JOB SEARCH, LINKEDIN SUCCESS COACHING PROGRAMS TODAY AND START YOUR BREAKTHROUGH!
Just in time for the holidays – for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member – take 30% off any of these top-rated career, job-search or LinkedIn success coaching programs below and move forward fast with Kathy’s hands-on, one-on-one support!
Use the “HOLIDAY30” coupon code at registration checkout for your holiday savings!
Join me today in one of these top-ranked programs:
POWER UP YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE FOR SUCCESS (2 sessions)
JUMPSTART YOUR JOB SEARCH SUCCESS (3 sessions)
CAREER & LEADERSHIP BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM (6 sessions)
BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM AND IMPACT AT WORK (10 sessions)
———————
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT RESOURCES
Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!
In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.
If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible.
Please share your positive ratings and reviews!
If you enjoy the show, we’d be so very grateful for a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts! These great ratings help us reach more and more people who are interested in boosting their careers, businesses, and their leadership, and keep in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts in the U.S. and around the world and in the top 1.5% of over 3.5 million podcasts! Thank you!
———————
Sponsor Highlight
I’m thrilled that both Audible.com and Amazon Music are sponsors of Finding Brave! Take advantage of their great special offers and free trials today!
___________________________________________________________
QUOTES FROM TODAY’S SHOW:
“For me, there’s an essence of coaching which asks where you can stay curious a little bit longer. Can you rush to action and give advice a little more slowly? [6:10]
“Part of why people would hire you if you’re a coach is because you’ve seen stuff, done stuff, and know stuff. It’s kind of rude not to share what you think could be of best service to that client.” [8:11]
“I want people to be ambitious for themselves and for the world. I want them to be the best version of themselves, but I also want them to contribute to a better world.” [14:07]
“I’m wired in a way that I’ve always been self-confident, and I’ve always had a willingness to zag when other people zag.” [19:58]
“I’m just trying to get people started. I can’t take them to the end of the journey, because the journey will evolve and change, but can I get them across the threshold in taking the first steps.” [28:08]
“Ask yourself what minimum success looks like, but you’re also allowed to dream about what big success looks like as well.” [31:28]
Watch video versions of my interviews on Finding Brave!
Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave interview episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my Youtube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino. And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!
* * * * * *