Show Catalog

Suzanne dives deep with the incredible Kate Isler, co-founder of The WMarketplace (an innovative ecommerce accelerator and online sales channel supporting women-owned businesses) and a true trailblazer in the tech industry and beyond.  Kate speaks to her journey of breaking boundaries and empowering women entrepreneurs globally.

In addition to being the co-founder WMarketplace, Kate Isler has held executive roles in Fortune 100 companies and startups, lived and worked globally, while using her influential voice in discussions about global marketing and gender equity. Her journey is detailed in the memoir Breaking Borders. 

Rebecca Weaver talks through the wounds we collectively experienced during the pandemic (and shares a powerful personal story) through the lens of "post-traumatic growth."   She and Suzanne discuss the complexities of navigating personal and professional challenges, reframing our need to rush back to normalcy (such as returning to the office), and coming to terms with the realization that the world we used to live in – and the way we worked – no longer exists.

Rebecca Weaver is the Founder and CEO of HRuprise, an employee advocacy organization that supports companies with flexible, independent HR for the new world of work.

Hey, Courage Champions! Suzanne Weller here, celebrating one transformative year of The Courage Effect. We've delved deep into tales of triumph and heartbreak, revealing how facing fear unlocks possibility and growth.  In this show, we hear my reflections on past shows, featuring the wisdom of previous guests Elsa, Susan Mann, Ruby Love , Troy Livingston, and Chezik Tsunoda.

Remember, courage isn't just about grand gestures; it's about the small, consistent steps we take towards authenticity and vulnerability.

Kate Walker talks with Suzanne about her book A Candid Conversation: Lessons in Life, Love, and Leadership, a combined memoir and guide that shares relatable lessons in life for all the girls and women who feel unworthy, agreeable, codependent or helpless.

Kate Walker is an executive consultant, life coach, HR expert, and author of the Amazon BestsellerA Candid Conversation: Lessons in Life, Love, and Leadership. She’s the founder of Kate Walker Consulting, where she works to enhance leaders' skills, impacting company culture and profits. 

What is solutions-journalism?  Roxanne Patel Shepelavy (Executive Editor and Co-Executive Director of The Philadelphia Citizen) talks with Suzanne about her path to founding a nonprofit media outlet that stands for democracy, ignites civic action and advocates for innovative solutions. 

Suzanne gets inspired by Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act, and speaks to how we can tackle one of our biggest creativity killers: overthinking.

Andreas Gebhard talks with Suzanne about how we grow through the courageous acts of others (sharing an experience that shifted his thinking and made him a better leader), and the possibilities that arise when we do things differently (particularly in corporate environments, where we struggle to effectively communicate and build connection).

Andreas Gebhard is CEO of Forward Momentum (a category design consulting firm that helps companies find their focus and become market leaders) and COO of Hype1000 (whose platform Hypecast lets companies use podcasts and audio for internal comms). 

Suzanne talks with Filmmaker Chezik Tsunoda, about the courageous path she’s taken as an impassioned water safety advocate after her 3-year-old son Yori’s tragic drowning.  Chezik shares her thoughts on pushing through challenges, and invites us to think about what we’re looking away from and the power of redirecting our gaze.

Chezik Tsunoda is an impassioned water safety advocate and founder of No More Under, a nonprofit dedicated to saving lives through increasing equitable access to swimming lessons and tools. She also directed Drowning in Silence, a documentary that chronicles her quest for answers and healing.  Along with her water safety work, Tsunoda heads Visually Inspired Productions, which creates social impact films that help shift the narratives of systematically excluded communities.

Courageous Books (1.31.2024)

Suzanne talks with guests about the books that inspired them to be more courageous.  They include:

Nicole Christie - “Kiss Off Corporate America” by the Lisa Kivirist

Rick Ehlers - “The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom” by Dr. Angeles Arrien

Dr. Adeola Mead - “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

Rebecca Rockafellar - “The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael A. Singer

Jenna Taylor - “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead” by Brené Brown

Melanie Vargas - “Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead: by Tara Mohr

Dr. Thomas Curran, the world's leading expert on perfectionism and author of the best-selling book The Perfection Trap, talks with Suzanne about the 3 different types of perfectionism, how they are all steeped in deficit thinking, and the ways it’s fed by our “growth at all costs” economy. 

Thomas Curran is a professor of psychology at the London School of Economics whose TED Talk on perfectionism has received over 3 million views, and he’s contributed writings to many major international publications including TIME magazine and the Harvard Business Review.

Lara Zahaba, the Co-Owner of Stoup Brewing, talks with Suzanne about the courage it took to start their brewery, and the challenges of maintaining and growing the business.  She shares how their team came together to survive the pandemic, touches on the evolution of the beverages space, and how Stoup’s business partnership trio consistently builds trust while leveraging each others’ strengths.

Lara Zahaba is responsible for all things aesthetic, from the design of the tap room and beer garden space to merchandise at Stoup Brewing. Formerly a veteran of the wine industry, Lara has 20 years experience in Marketing, PR & Education. She balances full-time duties at Stoup with mom duties for their two children.

Susan Mann talks with Suzanne about why courage is a vital tool for us in navigating what she calls the “vulnerability shitshow” we’ve been living through these past few years.  She anchors on the importance of having agency in uncertain times, providing recommendations for what we all can do to move through trauma and loss. 

Susan Mann is a leadership coach, workshop facilitator, and consultant to global companies and non-profit organizations. 

Suzanne talks us through intention-setting for 2024, shares her word of the year, and ideas around how we might bring more courage into the next 12 months.

 Resources mentioned in this show include her 2023 year-end blog post on closure, and her recommended Start, Stop, Continue framework.

Cindy Elkins shares her experiences of being a leader, mother, and Cindy how she’s tapping her courage as an advocate (or “torch bearer”) for causes including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a treatment for depression, art - healing - and loneliness, and blood donation.  

Cindy Elkins is a biotech and high tech leader, board director, and mom of two amazing college women whose passion is creating vibrant, accountable and high performing environments where people can thrive and bring their best selves to life and work every day.

When is it time to pursue a new job, or stay where you are?  Lora Poepping and Suzanne talk about taking the time to discern what’s best for you, and the courage involved in either saying “yes” to a new opportunity, or settling in to appreciate the value you’re realizing in your current role.

Lora Poepping is the founder and president of Plum Coaching & HR Consulting, a firm that provides services related to career and job search, as well as human resources consulting. 

Elsa shares her story of becoming a successful sports photographer, which started when she shot a football game in high school and has led to covering some of the most preeminent events including the Olympics, World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, US Open, and FIFA Men’s and Women’s World Cup.  She talks with Suzanne about learning to bet on herself, the courage it takes to work in a male dominated industry, and the importance of not carrying the load of other people’s issues as she continues to pursue her dream job.

Famous for capturing some of sports most defining moments, Elsa has the distinct honor of being the first woman staff photographer at Getty Images.

Now we’re in the holiday season, there’s a good chance we’ll be having hard or awkward conversations with family, friends, or colleagues.  Suzanne talks through some ways to prepare for what she calls a “courageous conversation” so we can transform these dreaded discussions into empowering, mutually beneficial exchanges.

Suzanne talks with Alisha Fernandez Miranda about her book My What If Year – where she details her adventure of pausing her career for a year to explore the “what if” jobs of her dreams.  It’s a joyous conversation about taking risks, stepping into courage, and the extraordinary people in her life who enabled her to realize it.

Alisha is a writer, the host of two podcasts Extra Shot with Alisha Fernandez Miranda and the award-winning Quit Your Day Job, and serves as chair and former CEO of I.G. Advisors.

Melissa Kirsch, deputy editor of Culture and Lifestyle at The New York Times, talks with Suzanne about two essential ingredients in the writing process: vulnerability and courage.

Sarah shares the story of waking up to what truly made her happy and the journey of creating positive change in her life through ditching the hustle and grind mentality and achieving success differently. 

Sarah O'Brien Hammond is a community creator, life and career coach and recruiter. She creates safe and judgment-free containers for women to gather and talk about the things that matter most.

Amy – who’s living in her “why not?” moment – talks about how powerful the act of storytelling can be, and how vital it is for us to not only share narratives broadly but bring others along to do the same.    

Amy Kugler is a media executive, writer, and founder of BEAM - a venture that illuminates the unseen corners of motherhood with human-scale storytelling.  She is the host of the radio show/podcast "And More with Amy Kugler."

Justin talks through the turns of his professional career in the advertising industry, and the importance of knowing who you are to not only thrive but survive in work environments.

Justin Reed is a seasoned advertising, marketing, public relations, and communications professional based in the New York area.

Laura talks about how the seven tenets of mindfulness aren’t only guideposts in her life and work, but how’ve they helped her be courageous.  She and Suzanne also discuss the challenges of being an entrepreneur, including necessary pivots, compromises, and not being “too much in love with your own cooking.”

Laura Sage is the Founder & CEO of CHILL, whose mission is to support mental well being in the workplace.  She and the CHILL team are committed to helping people live less stressed, more mindful lives.

Maureen shares a story where she had the courage to move on after something failed, her decision to study neuroscience, and how we empower ourselves through a better understanding of our brains.

Maureen Chiana is the CEO and founder of The Mindsight Academy and host of the Lead To Excel podcast. She enhances leaders and teams to perform at their optimum in her work as a Neuroleadership Facilitator and NeuroCoach.

Michael Melcher talks with Suzanne about creating change in our lives by moving beyond the need for permission, the importance of relationships in career success, and the courage to cultivate your “invisible network.”

Michael Melcher is an internationally known executive coach, leadership expert, keynote speaker and author of three books, including his most recent: Your Invisible Network: How to Create, Maintain, and Leverage the Relationships That Will Transform Your Career.

The Courage to Learn (9.20.2023)

Suzanne talks about a moment where her father disrupted her thinking as she was growing up, and she encourages us to welcome new challenges to rethink our deep-seated beliefs.

Traca shares the story of her path to the TEDX stage and how the experience took her from being behind the curtain supporting others to taking the stage herself.  She and Suzanne delve into why we shy away from the things that ultimately make us human, and how Traca supports others to jump into the deep end of the pool.

Traca Savadogo is a dynamic speaker known for her authentic approach and commitment to fostering meaningful connections.  She’s touched the lives of countless individuals, including her TEDx talk, Why You Should Regularly Talk with Strangers.

Suzanne talks with Lenora Edwards about the role courage plays in starting and maintaining a successful business.  They discuss using creativity to turn mistakes into opportunities, having a thought partner to challenge your thinking, and the power of one simple question “what might this be?”

Lenora Edwards is a business development consultant for CEO’s. Her clients hire her to help them design, develop, and build their businesses – on their own terms.

Suzanne speaks with diversity thought leader Fawn Sanchez.  They talk about Fawn’s journey from growing up on a reservation, joining the US Army, to working at Amazon where she’s currently the sole Native American person at her level in the organization. 

Fawn Sanchez is a Sr. Learning Business Partner in AWS, and the President of Amazon's Indigenous Employee Resource Group, where she drives programs to support Indigenous communities, recruitment and retention programs for Indigenous employees, and the creation of technology solutions to meet the needs of underrepresented communities.

Dave, Stacy, and Suzanne anchor their conversation on the importance of embracing the unknown in their lives, and being open to experimentation and do-over’s.  They share stories about what it looks like to trust your gut and not being too rigid when it comes to creating your dreams.

Dave Nelson is a Seattle-based composer and music producer committed to curating music that his audience can attach to their own experiences and serve as a soundtrack for life's moments.  

Stacy Harris serves as a catalyst for growth, fueling personal and organizational excellence through her coaching and consulting practice.

Vanessa and Suzanne delve into the meaning of courage, the equations we go through in our minds to calculate if something is worth it (“vale la pena?”), and how these surface in the lifespan navigation work Vanessa and her team do to support and bring grace to individuals and families in need.

Vanessa Laughlin is the Principal and Founder of Banister Advisors, a 3x founder, conscious capitalist, caregiver, 3rd-culture kid, and disability advocate.  She was honored in 2019 by The Puget Sound Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 Finalist.

In a conversation about personal safety, Barb and Suzanne discuss the importance of trusting our intuition, not ignoring “yellow flags”, and Barb’s journey of processing grief and taking action in support of others empowering themselves.

Barb Jordan is a personal safety expert who partners with organizations and universities to educate and build awareness around ways to stay safe.  Barb founded Always Bev (short for Always Be Vigilant) in honor of her sister, whose mission is to educate individuals on their personal safety at home, on campus, and in social environments.

Bridget Quigg shares stories about doing comedy, improvisational theater, and the importance of trusting your gut to unleash your creative genius.  The world needs your special brand of brilliance. Let it out! 

Bridget Quigg is a long time marketing director, improviser, and comedian who believes that improvisational theater principles can help people in the workplace feel more confident and engage with others.  She’s the creator of the "You're a Genius" workshop series, author of three books on creativity and intuition, and has produced 5 one-woman comedy shows. 

Nicole and Suzanne dive into how courage shows up differently throughout our lives, with Nicole sharing a number of challenges she’s navigated over the past few years (including battling cancer, ending a relationship, and relocating during the pandemic).

Nicole Christie is the founder and CEO of Tulla Productions—a storytelling studio connecting brands with their audiences through human-centered audio, visual, and print stories.  She’s the creator and host of Here For Me, a podcast about the power of choosing yourself.

Suzanne and Jeff anchor on the human tendency to defend ourselves.  Touching on a range of topics from gun control to reproductive rights, they discuss our greater need for safety and how we might better understand what’s worth protecting.

Jeff Jacobson is a professional coach and facilitator working with clients to manage change, enhance performance, and create sustainable working environments.  He’s on faculty at the Co-Active Training Institute and is the author of the novel The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly Straight.

In a conversation about living in a culture built for burnout., Christine shares how to recognize when we’re overwhelmed, the “overgiving imprints” we fall into, and embracing a new way that gives us courage to design a life that sustains us.

Christine Arylo is a transformational leadership advisor, social impact entrepreneur, wisdom teacher, and author.  She’s the host of the popular Feminine Power Time podcast, and her latest book is called Overwhelmed and Over It, Embrace Your Power to Stay Centered and Sustained in a Chaotic World.

Providing insight into why she started The Courage Effect, Suzanne shares some personal stories about why courage is a recurring theme throughout her life – which she’s reminded of every day in the form of a scar.  She talks about courage as a practice, what we gain by focusing on what we can control, and learning through the lens of regret.

Keren and Suzanne delve into their love of photography, the joy (and power) of creating community, and supporting underrepresented professionals.  Keren shares the challenges of being a female founder and the courage it took to build her own business from the ground up (at 5 months pregnant!).

Keren Sachs is the Founder and CEO of The Luupe, a one-stop production marketplace helping underrepresented photographers and creators connect with one another and brands all over the world.

Wayne talks through how he welcomes elements of the unknown into his life – starting with leaving his hometown in rural North Carolina for boarding school, moving to the Silicon Valley to start his career, and cultivating a healthy relationship with risk.

Wayne Kimball, Jr. specializes in business strategy and enterprise transformation as an investor, startup advisor, and an independent board director who currently serves as Principal for Google Cloud's Go-to-Market Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions business.  He is the founder and global leader of Google’s TechAMPLIFY.

Iliana shares her story about facing a challenging medical diagnosis and she found courage in naming her fear, visualizing a positive result, and a dose of humor to stay the course and successfully recover.

Iliana Quinonez is a powerhouse Latina Trailblazer in the High Tech Industry.  She’s a strategic startup advisor for the ICA fund, a passionate advocate and ambassador for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace, and a certified Beyond Barriers Coach focused on women professionals.

Ruby defines courage as stepping out in faith.  She talks about how her upbringing during the civil rights movement shaped her values, the importance of learning to take risks, and how our lives change when we tap into courage to unlearn destructive practices.

Ruby Love is the Principal of Love Resource Development Group.  Based in Seattle, she is a transformational business leader, entrepreneur and strategist advocating for socially responsible business and community organizations.

Carmen shares her story about love inspiring her move to the US from Madrid, what her “no regrets” mantra has brought to her life and work, and how fear of failure holds us back from learning and innovation.

Carmen Cano has led teams and organizations in product, innovation and design. She's currently the SVP of Product Design at Seismic and is passionate about solving problems by creating a vision that enables everyone to do their best work.  Her motto: "Leave it better than you found it."

Michelle shares how she broke away from expectations to launch a career in technology as a black woman, her work mentoring young people to open up fresh perspectives, and why she values not being able to give advice to her younger self.

Michelle Grover is CTO of Slalom, a global management consulting firm.  She’s been named by Business Insider as one of the 100 People Transforming Business in Emerging Tech, is a member of the Greycroft and Sierra Ventures Technology Councils, and dedicates her time to mentoring high school young women and people of color in the technology field.

J.R. and Suzanne anchor on the topic of passions – they discuss seeing the macro view to ensure we’re pursuing what matters most to us and J.R. touches on what opens up when you stop hiding behind the work of others.

J.R. Siegel is a sustainability strategist, writer, and business leader.  He’s the Sr. Director of Product Innovation of Worldly, a member of the scientific and technical advisory committee for the Tom Ford Plastic Innovation prize, and the author of the Bright Spots newsletter.

Julie and Suzanne discuss the role courage plays in communicating with others, the increasing trend of self-censoring, and how trusting our intuition surfaces the ability to stay true to ourselves.   

Julie Pham, PhDs the founder and the CEO of CuriosityBased, an organizational development firm based in Seattle.  She’s been recognized with numerous awards for her community leadership, and has applied her community building approach to creating strong, collaborative and curious teams.

Mellicia – a self-proclaimed iconoclast – talks about tapping into courage to make new memories (bikini included!), the power of claiming your authentic style, and how having a child allowed her to make more intentional choices for the life she creates for herself and her family.

Mellicia Marx is the founder of Poplin Style Direction, a boutique personal styling consultancy. She has helped hundreds of cis and trans women across the country look and feel their best through personalized, one-on-one style mentoring.

Lia talks about how she grew into being an empathetic leader and advocate through her own personal and professional struggles.  She and Suzanne touch on compassionate workplaces and the importance of cultivating supportive networks.

Lia De Feo is a brand builder, revenue-generator and innovation leader who leads product and business development for Uncommon Goods and is the founder of Fly Bravely, an NYC-based consultancy dedicated to normalizing infertility.

Troy shares a story with Suzanne about the loss of a relationship that turned his world upside down, and how getting “pushed off a ledge” brought him to a place of freedom and choosing new ways.

Troy Livingston is a management consultant who focuses on helping people and organizations narrow the gap between their current reality and their ideal world.