EP83: What Kilimanjaro taught me about doing hard things
Leadership Live
This isn’t an episode about endurance or bucket lists. It’s about who you become under pressure. When your body is exhausted, your mind starts bargaining, and the usual ways you lead, cope or push through stop working. In this episode, I share what climbing Kilimanjaro revealed about pressure, identity, the voices that show up when things get hard and the moment I didn’t think I could take another step. This is a reflection on fear, asking for help, the unseen cost of coming back down and why the real transformation often only becomes clear after the climb is over....
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EP 82 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about the Loneliness of Leadership
Leadership Live
What if one of the greatest challenges in leadership isn’t decision-making or managing stress but loneliness? In this Unfiltered Series conversation, leadership experts Amy Riley and Daphna Horowitz get real about the isolation that often hides behind confidence and success. Even the most connected leaders can feel unseen when everyone’s looking to them for answers. Amy and Daphna explore how this quiet loneliness shows up at every level of leadership and why it’s not a flaw but a signal—a call to pause, reflect, and reconnect. They...
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EP 81 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Anger and What your fire is trying to tell you
Leadership Live
UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Anger and What your fire is trying to tell you In this episode of UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Anger and What your fire is trying to tell you, Daphna and her co-host explore the misunderstood emotion of anger, an experience many of us are taught to hide or downplay. Together, they unpack why anger is often labeled as “unprofessional” or “unproductive” and instead reframe it as a natural, informative and deeply human emotion. They discuss how anger can signal our values, highlight boundaries and even serve as a catalyst for...
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EP 80 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about The Cost of Being in Control
Leadership Live
UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about The Cost of Being in Control We all want to do things well — to be responsible, stay on top of it, make sure nothing slips through the cracks. But when does that turn into control? In this episode of UNFILTERED, Daphna Horowitz and Amy Riley get honest about the fine line between responsible leadership and the need to control everything. They unpack why leaders grip so tightly, what it costs in terms of energy, creativity, and trust, and how letting go can actually be a deeper form of wisdom. Join Daphna and Amy for a raw, relatable...
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EP 79 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Focus and Presence in a Distraction-Heavy World
Leadership Live
UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Focus and Presence in a Distraction-Heavy World In today’s world of endless notifications, overflowing inboxes and constant noise, focus and presence feel harder than ever to hold onto. In this episode of UNFILTERED Courageous Conversations about Focus and Presence in a Distraction-Heavy World, Daphna and Amy take an unflinching look at the cost of distraction from information overload (the equivalent of 16 movies a day!) to the hidden toll of multitasking. This isn’t about productivity hacks or quick fixes. It’s about courageous conversations....
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EP 78 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Grief and the Loss of Loved Ones
Leadership Live
UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Grief and the Loss of Loved Ones Grief isn’t neat, predictable, or something to “get over.” In this deeply moving episode of UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations, Daphna and Amy explore the raw, human side of grief. What it really feels like to lose someone, how society often rushes the grieving process, and why true healing begins with acknowledgment, not avoidance. From awkward condolences to moments of unexpected laughter, this episode invites listeners to embrace grief as a natural, messy, and profoundly human experience. Join...
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EP 77 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Being an Introvert in an Extroverted Workplace
Leadership Live
UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Being an Introvert in an Extroverted Workplace You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to be a powerful leader. In this UNFILTERED episode, Daphna Horowitz and Amy Riley get real about what it means to be an introvert in an extroverted workplace. They unpack common misconceptions, explore how different energy styles show up at work, and reveal the quiet superpowers that make introverted leaders so effective. This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to create space for deeper thinking, balanced conversations, and the brilliance that...
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Ep 76 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Menopause
Leadership Live
UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Menopause Is it hot in here, or is it… Menopause? In this powerful episode of UNFILTERED, Daphna and Amy crack open one of the most misunderstood and under-discussed life transitions: menopause. From brain fog to emotional turbulence, night sweats to shifting identities, they share their raw, personal experiences and invite you into a conversation that too often happens in whispers, or not at all. This isn’t about medical jargon or “grin and bear it” advice. It’s about real talk: how menopause shows up in our bodies, our moods, our...
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EP 75 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Morning Routines
Leadership Live
UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about Morning Routines Feel guilty for not joining the 5 am club? You’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong. In the latest episode of the UNFILTERED Series, Daphna and Amy break down the myth that success has to start before sunrise. Explore why early wakeups aren’t a magic formula and how tuning into your natural energy leads to more focus, creativity, and confidence throughout the day. Morning routines aren’t about checking off boxes. They’re about anchoring yourself with what feels right for you. Whether it’s a cup of coffee in silence,...
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EP 74 UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about... Imposter Syndrome
Leadership Live
Ever feel like a fraud—even with all your achievements? You’re not alone. In this first episode of UNFILTERED, Daphna Horowitz and Amy Riley explore imposter syndrome: what it is, why it shows up, and how to move through it. Discover: The 5 types of imposter syndrome Why it hits women and minorities harder How to reframe self-doubt as a sign of growth Tools to name it, normalize it, and own your value Raw, real, and relatable—this is the conversation we all need to hear. 🎧 Listen now. Share with someone who needs it. Connect with Your Co-Hosts Daphna...
info_outlineThis isn’t an episode about endurance or bucket lists. It’s about who you become under pressure.
When your body is exhausted, your mind starts bargaining, and the usual ways you lead, cope or push through stop working.
In this episode, I share what climbing Kilimanjaro revealed about pressure, identity, the voices that show up when things get hard and the moment I didn’t think I could take another step.
This is a reflection on fear, asking for help, the unseen cost of coming back down and why the real transformation often only becomes clear after the climb is over.
If you’re leading, navigating change or in a season that’s quietly demanding more of you than before, this episode will meet you where you are.
Just like the climb, clarity doesn’t always arrive at the summit — it often comes when you stop and really look at where you are. The Life Clarity Quiz helps you reflect on what’s aligned, what feels heavy and what support could change the way you move forward.
Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Lead-Leadership-Lessons-Kilimanjaro/dp/B09F1CGQTR/
Join our community to continue the conversation:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/CKtF2WR1frH6aW2jr40UTQ
Take the Life Clarity Quiz here:
https://daphnahorowitz.com/life-clarity
Connect with Your Host Daphna Horowitz:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphnahorowitz/
https://www.facebook.com/PEACSolutions
https://www.youtube.com/@daphnahorowitzleadership
For more resources and coaching:
www.daphnahorowitz.com
Timestamps
00:00 Why doing hard things changes us
03:20 Saying yes before you feel ready
11:00 Identity disruption begins in preparation
21:10 What you carry and what weighs you down
26:40 Barranco Wall and learning to accept help
30:45 Summit night - fear, voices, and the breaking point
44:30 The moment the internal switch flipped
51:00 The descent no one prepares you for
58:00 The seven leadership lessons that stayed with me
Thanks for listening!
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