Middle Management Meltdown: Who’s Really Holding Up the House?
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
Release Date: 11/05/2025
The Accountability Move that Changes Everything (and most leaders never do it)
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
Most managers spend 25–40% of their day managing interpersonal conflict — and most of it could be cut short with two words: my bad. In this episode, Lauren shares a personal story of stepping in it big, and walks through the exact accountability framework she teaches C-suite leaders worldwide. You'll learn why defending your intent makes things worse, how to create psychological safety by sitting in someone else's discomfort, and why a clean apology — under 60 seconds — is one of the most powerful leadership tools you're not using. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe...
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Detach to Attract: Reclaiming Your Power by Letting Go of the Outcome
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
What if the very thing you’re gripping so tightly is the reason it’s not happening? In this episode of The Spitfire Podcast, we dive into one of coaching’s most powerful (and paradoxical) principles: detaching from the outcome. When life feels off-kilter and out of control, our instinct is often to clench tighter—to force results, chase certainty, and obsess over the “right” ending. But what if the real power lies in letting go? Lauren shares personal reflections on navigating unexpected life shifts, the illusion of control, and the transformational shift from focusing on...
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The Power of “I Don’t Know”
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
We’ve been conditioned to believe that strong leaders always have the answers. But what if the most powerful words in the room are actually: “I don’t know.” In this episode, Lauren unpacks why “I don’t know” isn’t weakness — it’s the doorway to clarity, growth, innovation, and psychological safety. You’ll explore: The four hidden meanings behind “I don’t know” When it’s a lack of clarity — and when it’s emotional avoidance Why the fear of being wrong keeps smart people stuck How to shift from SMART goals to learning goals A practical journaling...
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We Don't Have an "Ambition Gap", We Have a Support Gap with Santana Inniss of The Glow Initiative
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
"Stop Trying to Make Lean a Thing!" In this electric conversation with Spitfire Coach Lauren LeMunyan, Santana Inniss shares The Glow Initiative’s mission to close the access gap in coaching for women and the nonprofits that serve them. Together they break down The Women in the Workplace 2025 report from McKinsey and Lean In and its problematic language, the myth of the so-called “ambition gap,” and the uncomfortable truth about how the coaching industry mirrors broken corporate systems. If you’re ready to shift from performative allyship to actual change, this episode is your...
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Wrapping Up 2025... and Preparing for 2026
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
Ready to torch the burnout and toast to something better? In this reflective (and refreshing) episode of The Spitfire Podcast, host Lauren LeMunyan gets honest about the chaos that was 2025, and how to reclaim your power heading into 2026. Whether you're a coach feeling stuck, a leader craving more purpose, or a human just trying to keep it together, this episode is your permission slip to rest, reflect, and realign. Lauren dives into: The real toll of high-performance hustle culture Why “work-life balance” needs a rebrand Questions to end your year with intention (and less...
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Real Talk on Coaching, Advising, and Leading Through the Mess with Laurie Battaglia
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
What happens when two seasoned executive coaches stop playing nice and start telling the truth? In this episode, Lauren LeMunyan and Laurie Battaglia dive headfirst into the murky waters of the coaching industry. Together they unpack the differences (and blurred lines) between coaching, advising, mentoring, and training. From the “broke coach” epidemic and sketchy frameworks to certification gatekeeping and emotional burnout, nothing is off the table. They explore what leaders actually need, how to choose the right support, and why personal transformation isn't a checklist. With humor,...
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Middle Management Meltdown: Who’s Really Holding Up the House?
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
Middle Management Meltdown: Who’s Really Holding Up the House? Middle managers are getting steamrolled and no one's sending in the rescue team. In this fiery episode, we're breaking down the psychological safety crisis facing middle managers, calling out C-suite complacency, fear-based culture, and outdated leadership dynamics. From to the real-world toll of managing up and down with zero support, Lauren lays it all bare. Tune in for unapologetic truth bombs, powerful stats, and a roadmap to build trust-based teams that actually work. Spoiler: psychological safety isn’t optional. It’s...
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Telling Your Empowerment Story: From Survival to Self-Celebration
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
You’ve survived the hard parts. Now it’s time to honor the one who made it through. In this powerful and introspective episode, Lauren invites you to revisit your journey, not to relive the pain, but to recognize the strength it took to rise. She shares her own reflections on growth, grief, and the moment she paused to truly appreciate her past self. This is more than storytelling, it’s self-celebration. Whether or not you ever take a stage, your story deserves to be heard—by you first. Tune in for a heart-forward guide to transforming lived experience into lasting empowerment.
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Redefining Success: From Doing to Being in Leadership
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
In today’s episode, Lauren, explores a powerful shift emerging across leadership landscapes: moving from a mindset of constant doing to one of intentional being. Drawing insights from real coaching sessions and leadership cohorts, Lauren unpacks how relying on external validation can limit growth—and how developing self-awareness and internal measures of success can unlock true leadership potential. If you're ready to evolve beyond the checklist and lead with purpose, presence, and impact, this conversation is your catalyst.
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Please Dont Coach Me: The Cringey NPR Coaching Voice
The Spitfire Podcast with Lauren LeMunyan
Tired of the fluffy buzzwords, the NPR coaching voice, and the sea of wide-brimmed hats? Same. Please Don’t Coach Me is the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the coaching industry — the good, the bad, and the “did-they-really-just-say-that?” Whether you're a coach, a client, or coaching-curious, host Lauren LeMunyan brings unfiltered truth, real talk, and the kind of insight that only 4000+ hours of experience (and a little sass) can deliver.
info_outlineMiddle Management Meltdown: Who’s Really Holding Up the House?
Middle managers are getting steamrolled and no one's sending in the rescue team. In this fiery episode, we're breaking down the psychological safety crisis facing middle managers, calling out C-suite complacency, fear-based culture, and outdated leadership dynamics.
From Harvard Business Review's overdue headlines to the real-world toll of managing up and down with zero support, Lauren lays it all bare. Tune in for unapologetic truth bombs, powerful stats, and a roadmap to build trust-based teams that actually work.
Spoiler: psychological safety isn’t optional. It’s the foundation.
Learn more about Psychological Safety here: https://spitfirecoach.com/psychological-safety
See the truth about Middle Managers here: https://spitfirecoach.com/middle