437: How to lead yourself before leading others - with Riunita Martin
Release Date: 10/13/2026
438: How to turn your accent into an asset - with Nammy Sirur
The Simplifiers Podcast
Have you ever shared an idea at work, only to wonder if people were hearing your accent more than what you were actually saying? Maybe you’ve been asked to repeat yourself. Or you’ve felt pressure to change the way you speak so you’ll sound like everyone else in the room. Over time, that can shake your confidence and leave you feeling like an outsider. But what if your accent isn’t something you need to erase? What if it’s part of the perspective, experience, and identity that makes your voice valuable? My special guest today is communication strategist Nammy Sirur, and...
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437: How to lead yourself before leading others - with Riunita Martin
The Simplifiers Podcast
Picture this: You get promoted. Suddenly, you’re responsible for a team. The decisions come faster. The expectations get bigger. And people want answers... even when you’re still figuring things out yourself. You might not have received much training on how to lead people. But before you look for a quick fix, my guest today says there’s another question that deserves your attention: Who are you becoming as a leader? You say you value honesty, but what happens when telling the truth might upset your boss? You want your team to speak up, but how do you respond when someone...
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B174: How to calm your nerves (ALL-STAR - guided visualization)
The Simplifiers Podcast
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to calm your nerves, especially if you’re about to do something big in life. Maybe you’re about to take the stage and deliver a presentation… or maybe you’ve got to have a crucial conversation and want to get your point across calm, cool, collected and confident. I mean, there are so many times our emotions and anxiety get the best of us, so how do you get yourself centered? It has everything to do with your central nervous system and today’s episode is especially good to listen to 20-30 minutes before that big moment happens. So,...
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436: How to develop future-ready leaders - with Dr Kevin Fleming
The Simplifiers Podcast
What’s the old career advice you’d get? Choose a path. Work hard. Move up. Stay there. But for the next generation of leaders, my special guest today thinks that careers may look less like climbing a ladder and more like rock climbing... moving sideways, changing direction, and finding a new route when the old one no longer works. AI is changing jobs. Career paths are becoming less predictable. And the skills that helped someone land their first role may not be the same skills they’ll need five years from now. So, how do we prepare emerging leaders for a future that none of us...
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435: How to stop chasing & start creating at work - with Justin Jones-Fosu
The Simplifiers Podcast
You can be dependable, hardworking, and successful at what you do… and still feel unseen. You keep delivering. Keep saying yes. Keep chasing the next goal, the next bit of recognition, or the next sign that your work matters. But when does meaningful work become chasing approval? And what does that cost you as a leader? My special guest today is Justin Jones-Fosu and he’s simplifying how to stop chasing & start creating at work. We’ll talk about why managers shape the meaning people find in their work, often more than the organization’s mission. Justin will also share how...
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434: How to future-proof HR in the age of AI - with Amy Dufrane
The Simplifiers Podcast
HR leaders are being asked to help everyone navigate AI at work. But many are still figuring out what it means for their own roles. How do you guide an organization through a change you haven’t been trained for yourself? And what happens to the future talent pipeline if the work that once helped people start their careers begins to change? My special guest today is Amy Dufrane, CEO of HRCI, and she’s simplifying how to future-proof HR in the age of AI. We’ll talk about why HR professionals feel vulnerable, what leaders need to learn now, and why job design and succession...
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433: How to be a compelling storyteller at work - with Eric Harris
The Simplifiers Podcast
What makes a compelling storyteller at work? Someone who’s an excellent communicator, warm, captivating, and understands the value of being clear and concise. But what if there’s more at play here than what meets the eye? My special guest today is author Eric Harris and he’s simplifying how to be a compelling storyteller at work. If you’ve got a big presentation soon and really need to effectively get your point across, this one is for you! Know your audience Craft your story Know yourself Leverage your environment ---- Show notes available with all links...
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B173: How to reframe anything (guided visualization)
The Simplifiers Podcast
Time for a guided visualization exercise: how to reframe anything. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed or simply have a bit of writer’s block that’s keeping you from doing the thing, my hope is that today’s episode will help you hit the reset button, find clarity, and get yourself in a position to make positive movement forward. And so… to kick off the month, today is another guided visualization episode, which we release on the first Tuesday of every month this season. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your...
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432: How to build a leadership legacy - with Rhoda Banks
The Simplifiers Podcast
Think about the leaders who’ve shaped you. Some made you feel seen, supported, and capable of more. Others left you questioning yourself long after you stopped working with them. Because every leader leaves something behind. A mark. Or a scar. Your leadership legacy isn’t simply what you accomplish or the results you deliver. It’s the imprint you leave on people and how they feel, perform, and lead others after you’re no longer in the room. But we don’t lead from a blank slate. We bring our experiences, beliefs, fears, and personal stories into every decision we make....
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431: How to rethink your job search + career path - with Mike Peditto
The Simplifiers Podcast
Let’s talk about your career. Because for a lot of people right now, work feels shaky. Maybe you’ve been laid off, applied for dozens of jobs with no response, or you’re quietly wondering whether your current career path still makes sense. The rules have changed. AI is reshaping jobs. Hiring technology is filtering candidates before a human ever sees them. And the traditional corporate ladder feels more and more, totally and utterly disconnected from reality. So, how do you stay grounded through the uncertainty? And how do you build a career that can evolve with you? My...
info_outlinePicture this: You get promoted. Suddenly, you’re responsible for a team.
The decisions come faster. The expectations get bigger. And people want answers... even when you’re still figuring things out yourself.
You might not have received much training on how to lead people.
But before you look for a quick fix, my guest today says there’s another question that deserves your attention:
Who are you becoming as a leader?
You say you value honesty, but what happens when telling the truth might upset your boss?
You want your team to speak up, but how do you respond when someone challenges you?
Those moments tell people whether they can trust you.
My special guest today is Riunita Martin, and she’s simplifying how to lead yourself before leading others.
Her book, Build the Leader. Transform the Trajectory., challenges “the leadership lie.” The belief that becoming a better leader is simply about acquiring more skills, knowledge, or frameworks.
Because pressure doesn’t create character. It reveals it.
Becoming a leader people trust starts with taking a good, honest look at yourself first.
Here’s how we simplify leading yourself before leading others:
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Start with who you’re becoming. Why leadership development needs to go deeper than learning another skill or framework.
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Define what you stand for. How to clarify your identity, core values, and non-negotiable standards... and what conviction looks like when those standards are tested.
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Look at your values in practice. What moral leadership means and how to recognize when organizational pressure is pulling you away from your principles.
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Uncover your blind spots. How to use assessments and reflection exercises to examine the gap between the leader you intend to be and how you’re actually showing up.
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Turn awareness into action. What a practical growth plan should include to help you make real, sustainable changes.
Whether you’ve just stepped into management or have been leading people for years, this conversation invites you to consider a deeper question: Are your everyday decisions building the trust you want your team to have in you?
Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/437-how-to-lead-yourself-before-leading-others---with-riunita-martin