Explore every episode of the podcast Lead with Spark | Authentic Leadership for Women, Executive Presence & Career Confidence
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| E60 Your Body Isn't Betraying You: Hormones, Stress, and Midlife Leadership with Dr. Alicia Newsome | 05 Aug 2026 | 00:46:45 | |
If you have ever felt just a little bit off but could not quite explain it, this conversation will open your eyes in the best way. This week kicks off a special two-part series with Dr. Alicia Newsome, a functional medicine practitioner, executive advisor, international speaker, and three-time bestselling author who helps high performers get to the root cause of what is going on inside their bodies, without drugs or surgery. Together, Lynsey and Dr. Alicia unpack the symptoms so many women have been told are normal (the fatigue, the brain fog, the PMS, the two o'clock crash) and reveal what your body is actually trying to tell you. Together we will talk about:
One line to take with you: "Headaches are common, but they are not normal. You did not have a headache because you had a Tylenol deficiency." This week's challenge: Pick one of Dr. Alicia's free routines and try it every day this week. Start with the morning practice: write down five things you are grateful for, actually feel them, then set two goals for your day. At the end of the month, read your running gratitude list back to yourself. Connect with Dr. Alicia Newsome:
Connect with Lynsey: Follow Lead with Spark on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean so you do not miss Part 2 with Dr. Alicia next week, and leave a review if this one hit home Ready to go deeper? Learn about the Audaciously Unapologetic retreat in Carefree, Arizona at audaciouslyunapologetic.com
Related listening: E58 The Expensive FYI, on how meeting culture keeps your body in the chronic stress this episode is all about. | |||
| E59 The Big Reveal: Introducing the Audaciously Unapologetic Retreat with Paula Shannon | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:37:03 | |
Something big is happening this October, and in this episode you get the full reveal. Lynsey is joined by Paula Shannon, founder of Whole Leader Lab, former deputy superintendent, and a leader who spent 30 years in public education before clinical burnout forced a reckoning. Together they announce the Audaciously Unapologetic Retreat, a four-day wellness and leadership experience for women, October 15 to 18 at CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa in Carefree, Arizona. But this is not just a retreat pitch. Lynsey shares the moment she realized she was juggling so fast she could not even tell which ball she had dropped, and Paula tells the story of the mentor who told her to stop being a lifeguard and start being a swim coach, a shift that gave her 40 hours a week back. If you are the person everyone leans on, this conversation is your permission slip to press pause. Together we will talk about
“I am two and a half years out of clinical burnout, and it has taken two and a half years to recover. That was the cost of not saying yes to myself sooner.” Paula Shannon This week's challenge Ask yourself Lynsey's question: are you ready to invest in yourself to gain clarity, confidence, and join a community? What is the pattern you have created costing you? Apply for the Audaciously Unapologetic Retreat. The Audaciously Unapologetic Retreat
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| E58 The Expensive FYI: How Meeting Culture Steals Your Best Work | 22 Jul 2026 | 00:17:10 | |
Eight hours of real work capacity. Fourteen meetings on the calendar. The math has never worked, and yet somewhere along the way we all agreed that this is what a workday looks like. In this episode, Lynsey names the meeting culture problem for what it is: not a scheduling issue, but a culture that quietly turns you into a very expensive FYI. Drawing on 26 years in corporate leadership, including the day she logged on to find 21 meetings stacked into an 8-hour day, Lynsey breaks down the four hidden costs of meeting overload and hands you a practical playbook to change it from the inside, without a mandate, a memo, or permission. Together we will talk about:
One line to take with you: "Your calendar is full, but your real work is homeless." This week's challenge: Pick the single meeting on your calendar where you contribute the least, then either ask the organizer what is actually needed from you or ask for the notes instead. One meeting. Watch what it does for your energy, and for the people watching you. Connect with Lynsey: Follow Lead with Spark on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean so you never miss an episode, and leave a review if this one hit home
Ready to go deeper? Learn about the Audaciously Unapologetic retreat in Carefree, Arizona at audaciouslyunapologetic.com Related listening: E54 The Tactical Trap, on why tactical competence becomes a ceiling for senior leaders. | |||
| E57 The Identity Gap: Who You Were vs. Who You Are Becoming | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:23:02 | |
Have you ever looked at your life on paper and thought, this all looks right, so why does something feel off? Nothing is broken. Your career is solid, your family is fine, and yet there is a quiet hum underneath it all telling you that this is not it anymore. In this episode, Lynsey digs into the identity gap: the space between the version of you that got you here and the version of you that is trying to emerge. This is a reflection episode with no homework and no five-part framework, because the identity gap does not close through doing. It closes through honest reflection. You will hear why the tension you feel is a signal and not a siren, how the Be Do Have model works when you stop running it backwards, and why the woman you used to be deserves your gratitude instead of your embarrassment. Lynsey also shares the moment she freaked out at a networking event when she realized she had been hiding behind a corporate title for decades, and she walks you through the rocking chair question that reveals what your identity has been about all along. In this episode:
Ready to explore your own next chapter? Book a free discovery session with Lynsey at lynseymulder.com. No agenda, no pressure, just space to think through your questions together. And if you are ready for deeper work, join Lynsey and a small group of women this October at the Audaciously Unapologetic Retreat in Carefree, Arizona. Real coaching paired with wellness experiences you have never tried, and you leave with a plan for your next chapter. Details at audaciouslyunapologetic.com.
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| E56 Stop People-Pleasing, Get Fear-Optimized, and Finally Set the Boundary You Have Been Avoiding, with Amy Greensmith | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:50:21 | |
Default settings are great for printers and computers. Not for people.
In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey Mulder sits down with corporate communication coach Amy Greensmith for one of the most honest and practical conversations on people-pleasing, burnout, and using your voice that you are going to find anywhere. Amy has been working in the personal development space for over twenty years, and her work lives at the intersection of two things: believing in your own inherent worthiness, and then learning to communicate that to the outside world with confidence instead of guilt.
This episode will challenge the way you think about people-pleasing. Most high-achieving women do not recognize themselves in that label. Amy's first question to them: are you heavily invested in other people's opinions? If the answer is yes, welcome to the club.
You will also hear about fear optimization, a concept Amy coined to replace the impossible standard of fearlessness. About two kinds of burnout and which one you might already be in without knowing it. About the difference between an affirmation and progressive language and why one of them actually works. And about the complaint inventory, the simplest tool Amy knows for figuring out exactly where your boundary work needs to start.
This is a conversation full of tools you can use today. Do not miss Amy's free Boundaries Over Burnout private podcast series in the show notes below.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "Default settings are great for printers and computers. Not for people."
Connect with Amy and Lynsey Amy's free Boundaries Over Burnout private podcast series is a mini-course with scripts, frameworks, and workbook pages you can use immediately. It is available right now at the link below.
And if this conversation sparked something about how you show up as a leader, in the boardroom or at home, Lynsey would love to continue that conversation with you.
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| E55 The Mid-Year Reset: Stop Letting the Year Happen to You and Choose Where the Second Half Goes | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:28:42 | |
We are halfway through the year. How did that even happen?
In this solo episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey Mulder gets honest about where her own year stands, the book she is writing, the retreat she is planning, the course she has not started, and what she has learned about protecting summer before it disappears one unplanned Friday night at a time. And she brings all of it back to a question every professional woman needs to sit with before the second half of the year runs away without her.
The time went somewhere. It always goes somewhere. The question is whether you chose where it went.
This is not an episode about doing more or hustling harder or fixing your life by Friday. This is about the mid-year reset: pausing long enough to ask what you actually want to carry into the second half, what deserves your best energy, and how to make your calendar tell the truth about what matters most.
Lynsey covers what the SparkLife framework means in real life, why your rest is not a reward for finishing everything, how to do a team reset without a seventy-page slide deck, and the simple but powerful act of building a summer bucket list with intention. She closes with the SparkLife Calendar Challenge, a thirty-minute reset you can do right now before the second half of the year gets away from you.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "The second half of the year is not about doing more. It is about choosing with intention."
SparkLife Calendar Challenge Take 30 minutes this week. Sit down with your calendar. Put your top priorities on it first. Not what is urgent. What matters most. Family, PTO, rest, connection, the milestone you want to celebrate. Make your calendar tell the truth about what you are choosing. That is your reset.
Connect with Lynsey If this episode made you think of someone who is carrying a lot and needs permission to choose the second half of her year differently, send it to her. And if you are ready to go deeper on living and leading with intention, reach out and connect:
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| E54 The Tactical Trap: Why Your Competence Is Costing You the Promotion | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:16:39 | |
You are the one who delivers. You are excellent at your job, everyone knows it, and yet the promotion keeps going somewhere else. When you ask for feedback you hear a polished version of we need to see you operating at the next level, and inside you think I already am. Here is the part that stings before it sets you free. The problem is not that you are not good enough. The problem is that you are too good at the wrong altitude. In this episode I name the tactical trap, the moment your competence stops being your ladder and quietly becomes your ceiling. We talk about why the very thing you are proudest of can read as the reason you are not ready to lead, and exactly how to climb out. If you are stuck a level below where you know you belong, this one is for you. It is the difference between doing the job and leading the job, and it is the heart of executive presence and real career confidence for women in leadership. Together we will talk about
One line to take away with you You are not stuck because you are falling short. You are succeeding at the wrong altitude, and the way up is not to do more. It is to lead through other people. Connect with Lynsey
If this episode stirred something up and you want a partner for the climb, that is the work I do with leaders every day. Come find me at lynseymulder.com and grab a free discovery session. We will figure out your current altitude and how to get you to the next one, together. | |||
| E53 The Backyard Leadership Filter: What Bees, Barn Swallows, Rabbits, and Deer Taught Me About Leading Well | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:30:41 | |
This episode is coming straight from Lynsey Mulder's Iowa backyard, where summer has officially arrived, everything is growing, everything is blooming, and apparently everything has collectively decided to test her leadership skills on the way.
In this solo episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey turns four very real backyard situations, carpenter bees boring into the deck, barn swallows relentlessly rebuilding their nests, rabbits making themselves at home in her strawberry patch, and deer calmly strolling through the yard near her newly planted trees, into four of the most practical leadership lessons she has shared on this podcast.
Together they form what Lynsey is calling The Backyard Leadership Filter: a framework of four questions every leader can ask about the situations, people, patterns, and priorities in their life and work. Each question points to a different kind of leadership response: redirect, redesign, set a boundary, or protect early.
This is the episode for the woman leader who is absorbing too much, tolerating too much, cleaning up the same thing over and over, or trying to grow something new and wondering why it keeps getting damaged before it has a chance to take root.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "You are not being difficult. You are being clear. And clarity is a gift."
The Backyard Leadership Filter Four questions to help you assess any situation in your work or life:
Connect with Lynsey
If this episode made you think of your own carpenter bee, barn swallow, rabbit, or deer situation, Lynsey would love to hear about it. Share it with her and send this episode to one woman leader in your life who is carrying too much, tolerating too much, or trying to protect something new. | |||
| E52 Your Writing Is Your Brand: How Women Leaders Use AI to Elevate Executive Presence and Reduce Burnout with Grace Aldridge Foster | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:43:32 | |
What if executive presence is not only about how you show up in a room, but how you sound in every email, proposal, message, and comment with your name on it? In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey Mulder sits down with Grace Aldridge Foster to unpack why writing is part of your brand and how leaders can use words more intentionally at work. Grace is the co-founder and principal of Bold Type, a writing training company that has helped professionals at organizations including UPS, Capital One, Johnson & Johnson, Biogen, the Aspen Institute, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Special Operations Command communicate more clearly and effectively. She is also a Forbes Careers and Leadership contributor, a guest lecturer at Georgetown, and a judge for the Center for Plain Language. Together, Lynsey and Grace talk about journaling as a tool for clarity in an AI-heavy world, the ART framework for stronger communication, how to create a personal voice statement, and why style guides can save leaders from rewriting everyone else's messages at 10:30 p.m. Again. This conversation is practical, energizing, and full of tools your audience can start using right away. Together we will talk about
Your writing speaks for you before you ever walk in the room, so make sure it sounds like the leader you are. Connect with Grace
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| E51 The Trust Tax: A Three-Layer Framework for Rebuilding Yourself After a Difficult Manager | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:14:25 | |
She used to walk into work with her shoulders squared and her ideas ready to go. She loved her job. She was good at it. People counted on her to figure it out, hold the line, and deliver.
And then something shifted. Not all at once. In small increments over months. A comment in a meeting that landed harder than it should have. A decision made about her without her. A version of events she knew was not quite right but did not know how to challenge. The quiet realization that instincts that had served her brilliantly for years were now being treated as inconvenient.
By the time she finally left or started seriously planning to leave, she did not just need a new job. She needed to learn how to trust again.
If you know her, this episode is for her. Or maybe it is for the friend you are about to send it to.
In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey Mulder names something most career advice completely misses: the trust tax. That invisible erosion that a difficult reporting relationship leaves behind. The second-guessing of instincts that used to come easy. The hedged opinions. The disproportionate reactions in the new role that no one at the new place caused and no one can see.
And she gives you the path forward. A three-layer trust rebuild framework that you have to work in a specific order: trust in your own read, trust in discernment over defensiveness, and then trust in another leader. Skip a layer and the next one will not hold.
This episode is for any high-achieving woman who has come out of a hard reporting relationship and is doing the quiet, daily, invisible work of getting herself back.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "The rebuild is not a prerequisite for moving forward. The rebuild is something you do while you move forward."
Listener Reflection Prompt Of the three layers, trust in your own read, trust in discernment over defensiveness, and trust in another leader, which one is the most fragile for you right now? That is the layer you start with. Not the next one.
Connect with Lynsey Before you walk into your next role or your next interview, take the free Crack Your Code BANK assessment. It takes about ninety seconds, and understanding your own communication and decision-making blueprint is one of the fastest ways to start trusting your own read again. The link is in the show notes. And if this episode landed somewhere real for you, send it to one woman in your life who you know is in the middle of a rebuild. She may not have had words for what she has been going through. This episode might give her some.
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| E50 Join the Quitters Club: How Quitting on Purpose Makes Your Life Bigger, Not Smaller | 27 May 2026 | 00:18:21 | |
What if the most powerful leadership move you could make right now had nothing to do with adding something new to your life, and everything to do with quitting something that has quietly been draining it?
Lynsey Mulder just finished a book about a group of friends who made a pact. They called themselves the Quitters Club. And the concept stopped her cold, because every single woman she has ever coached has needed one. She just did not know she was allowed to join.
In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey makes the case for quitting on purpose, not your job, not your marriage, not anything dramatic, but the smaller, quieter things you have been doing on autopilot that are slowly draining the life out of you while you pretend they are important. She shares six things she personally quit after reading the book, three signs it is time to quit something in your own life, and a surprisingly simple tool from the end of the book that will tell you how you already feel about any decision you have been agonizing over.
Because quitting did not shrink Lynsey's life. It expanded it. And it might do the same for yours.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "Every quit is a yes to something else. When I quit that networking group, I said yes to ninety minutes back in my week. When I quit comparing myself, I said yes to my own life. Every quit is a yes."
Connect with Lynsey If this episode landed for you and you are ready to figure out what is on your list and what comes after it, book a collaboration hour with Lynsey. It is one conversation, just you and her, to sort through what you are ready to put down and what to build next. The link is in the show notes at lynseymulder.com.
And if this episode resonated with you, send it to one friend you would invite into your own Quitters Club. She has a list too. She just has not written it down yet.
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| E49 A Pivot Is Not a Sign You Got It Wrong. It Is a Sign You Finally Got Honest. | 20 May 2026 | 00:13:11 | |
Every woman Lynsey Mulder has coached in the last sixty days who is in the middle of a pivot has said the same thing, almost apologetically: I just feel like I should have figured this out sooner.
Sooner than what? Sooner than the body breaking down? Sooner than eighteen months of broken trust with a manager? Sooner than the blood pressure reading that finally told the truth about the calendar?
In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey unpacks what the word pivot actually means, and why the way most professional women have been using it is keeping them stuck. A pivot is not a sign that you got it wrong. A pivot is a sign that you finally got honest. And there is a massive difference between those two things.
Lynsey walks through the foundation she uses with every coaching client in the middle of a pivot, including three specific signs that it is time to make a real move (not a panic move), two clarifying questions to separate discomfort from genuine misalignment, and why sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop, take a break, and let clarity find you.
If you are sitting in the middle of a pivot right now and feeling like you should have seen it coming sooner, this episode is for you.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "A pivot is not a sign that you got it wrong. A pivot is a sign that you finally got honest."
Connect with Lynsey If this episode sparked something in you, Lynsey wants to hear about it. Share your pivot with her so she can celebrate with you. And if you are ready for a real conversation about what your next season looks like, reach out at lynseymulder.com.
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| E48 Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret in the Room: AI, Leadership, and the Women Who Are Ready to Lead with Lori Lalonde | 14 May 2026 | 00:50:30 | |
There is a gap in leadership development that almost no one is talking about. The higher you climb, the less support you get. Senior managers, directors, and VPs are running multimillion-dollar budgets, leading complex teams, and navigating organizational politics, all while figuring it out largely on their own. Sound familiar? In this episode, I sit down with Lori Lalonde, a leadership development expert with 30 years in the tech industry, including senior roles at Microsoft partner organizations. Lori noticed the same gap I did: the training gets thinner the higher you go, and women in the messy middle of management are often the ones carrying the most weight with the least runway. So she built a program to fix it. We talk about her 12-week leadership development program for women, how she is weaving AI fluency into every module, and why she believes women are positioned to be the most credible thought leaders in AI right now, not despite their hesitation, but because of it. We also get into the real talk: how to actually start using AI without feeling overwhelmed, where hallucinations can burn you if you are not paying attention, and why the fear that AI will take your job is the wrong thing to be afraid of. This one moves fast and it goes deep. Let us get into it.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "If this program doesn't exist for us, I'm just gonna build it."
Connect with Lori Lalonde
Connect with Lynsey Go check out everything Lori is doing using the links in these show notes, and listen to her podcast. Then come back here and get your spark on. Pick one thing from this episode, one task you would love to hand off, and go play with it. I mean it. Start today. Ready to build your own leadership strategy? Connect with Lynsey at lynseymulder.com.
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| E47 Is It Urgent or Is It Just Loud? How to Reclaim Your Time, Energy, and Priorities in 15-Minute Pieces | 06 May 2026 | 00:24:11 | |
Picture your week. Not the highlight reel, not the version you would put on social media, but the real one. The walk you skipped because someone moved a meeting. The lunch you ate at your desk for the third day in a row. The text from a friend you keep meaning to answer and still have not. Now ask yourself one question: was the reason all of that happened actually urgent? Or was it just loud? In this solo episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey Mulder tackles one of the most common patterns she sees in the women she coaches right now: we have gotten really good at responding to loud and really bad at protecting what actually matters to us. And she is not here to sell you a calendar overhaul, a new app, or a five o'clock morning routine. She is here to help you find the fifteen-minute pockets that already exist in your life and start making different choices in them. This episode walks you through a practical three-part framework: a simple audit to see where your time, money, and energy are actually going, a comparison to your real top priorities so you can find the gaps, and a way to protect what you reclaim with small, specific, durable decisions that do not require permission or flexibility from anyone else. Plus, Lynsey breaks down the one question you need to ask every time something comes buzzing at you, and what the honest answer to that question actually means for how you respond. Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "The life you say matters most to you is built in the 15-minute pockets that you choose to protect." Connect with Lynsey If you are sitting there thinking you do not even know where to start anymore, there is a free coaching conversation waiting for you at lynseymulder.com. No pitch, no pressure, just a real hour to get clear on what is loud, what is urgent, and what is actually yours.
And if this episode hit close to home, send it to one woman you know who needs to hear it. The friend who keeps saying she is fine, but you can tell she is not. She will know what to do with it. | |||
| E46 High Performance Without Burnout: What Leaders Must Change to Protect Their Time and Energy | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:21:45 | |
What does it actually take to lead at a high level without burning out? In this solo Lead with Spark episode, Lynsey Mulder shares a powerful reflection from a recent leadership panel centered around one question: what does it really take to lead well without losing yourself in the process? Drawing on her own experience in corporate leadership and decades of coaching, Lynsey unpacks the truth about burnout, the difference between activity and impact, and the leadership shifts that lead to sustainable success. She walks through four key areas: redefining high performance, protecting your time and energy, building habits that sustain you, and leading others without losing yourself. If you are a high-performing leader who feels constantly busy, stretched thin, or quietly exhausted, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership and give you a clearer, more grounded way forward. Together, we will talk about
One line to take away with you You do not need to do more to lead better; you need to lead with more clarity, intention, and sustainability. Connect with Lynsey
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| E45 Busy vs. Aligned: Boundaries, Culture, AI, and Career Advice for Women Leaders with Rebekah Brandmeyer | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:33:40 | |
What happens when two women leaders sit down like old friends over coffee and talk about what is really shaping work and life right now? In this candid Lead with Spark conversation, Lynsey Mulder is joined by strategy and operations leader Rebekah Brandmeyer to unpack busy versus aligned living, leadership boundaries, culture, AI at work, career growth, personal ethics, and the choices that help women lead with more clarity and less noise. Together they explore what it looks like to protect your energy, model healthy leadership for your team and family, use AI as a tool without losing the human side of work, and stay rooted in values when the workplace gets complicated. If you are an ambitious woman in leadership who wants more alignment, stronger boundaries, and a smarter way to navigate business and life, this episode will feel like a seat at the table. Together we will talk about
"Busy is not the goal. Aligned leadership happens when you protect your energy, honor your values, and choose what matters on purpose." Connect with Rebekah
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| E44 When Imposter Syndrome Is Actually an Alignment Problem, Not a Confidence Issue | 15 Apr 2026 | 00:16:13 | |
Have you ever walked into a room you absolutely earned the right to be in, and still felt like someone was about to pull you aside and say, we made a mistake? Have you landed the promotion, built the team, done the work, and immediately started wondering if it was all just luck?
Here is what most of the advice on imposter syndrome gets wrong: it treats the feeling like a problem to eliminate. Name it. Normalize it. Build a smile file. And while those strategies have real value, they are only part of the story.
In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey Mulder offers a reframe that could change the way you think about self-doubt entirely. What if imposter syndrome is not a confidence problem? What if it is an alignment signal? What if the discomfort is not about what you are lacking, but about what does not fit?
Lynsey breaks down the difference between imposter syndrome as a growth signal and imposter syndrome as a misalignment signal, the three most common forms of misalignment she sees in women leaders, and three questions to help you figure out what your inner voice is actually trying to say. This episode is for the woman who has done all of the right things and still feels like she is performing a version of leadership that is not quite her.
Together We Will Talk About
One Line to Take Away with You "Imposter syndrome is not always proof that you are not enough. Sometimes it is proof that you are not quite yourself yet. And that is a very different problem with a very different solution."
Connect with Lynsey If this episode stirred something in you, let us keep the conversation going. Head to lynseymulder.com to book a free coaching session. We will talk about where you are, where your inner signals might be pointing, and what it would look like to lead in a way that feels like you.
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| E43 How Women Leaders Build Real Confidence and Silence Self-Doubt with Simone Knego | 08 Apr 2026 | 00:48:05 | |
In this powerful conversation on Lead with Spark, Lynsey sits down with international speaker, USA Today bestselling author, and empowerment coach Simone Knego to unpack one of the biggest hidden struggles women in leadership face: self-doubt. If you have ever looked successful on the outside while quietly second-guessing yourself on the inside, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Simone shares how confidence is not a personality trait you either have or do not have. It is a skill you build. Together, Lynsey and Simone talk about the pressure women feel to appear polished, the exhausting habit of performing confidence instead of living it, and the quiet damage caused by the toxic relationship many women have with themselves. You will hear Simone’s practical framework for building REAL confidence, the mindset shift behind her Control Alt Delete reset, and the honest truth that leadership is shaped in messy moments, not just polished ones. This episode is especially relevant for ambitious women leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and high-achieving professionals who want to lead with more truth, courage, and alignment. Together we will talk about:
One line to take away with you: “You do not need to become someone else to lead powerfully. You need to change the way you see yourself.” Connect with Simone:
Connect with Lynsey:
If this episode stirred something in you, the next step is simple. Listen to the full episode, share it with a woman leader who needs it, and connect with Lynsey at lynseymulder.com to schedule time to chat, explore coaching, or talk about your upcoming event. | |||
| E42 High Achieving and Running on Empty: The Burnout Conversation Women Leaders Need to Have | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:16:46 | |
You are motivated. You are driven. You genuinely love what you do. And you are absolutely exhausted. And here's what nobody is telling you: those two things are not supposed to coexist.
In this episode, host and business coach Lynsey Mulder tackles the most searched topic for professional women in 2026 - burnout. Not the "take a bath" conversation. The real one. The one about why high-achieving women are the most vulnerable to burnout, what is actually causing it, and what recovering from it looks like when you are someone who cares too much to quit.
Backed by brand new Gallup data showing that professional women are reporting simultaneously higher engagement AND higher burnout than their male counterparts, this episode names what is really happening and gives you three concrete places to start.
TOGETHER WE WILL TALK ABOUT:
ONE LINE TO TAKE AWAY WITH YOU: "You got into leadership because you have something to give. Don't burn it all up before the world gets to see it."
CONNECT WITH LYNSEY: Schedule a free coaching session at LynseyMulder.com Follow Lead with Spark on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook
If this episode resonated, share it with one woman who needs to hear she is not alone. | |||
| E41 Hit Unsubscribe: How to Stop the Drains on Your Energy, Focus, and Leadership Life | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:14:10 | |
Last week, Lynsey Mulder unsubscribed from over fifty email lists. Her favorite stores. Her travel blogs. Her daily news briefings. And somewhere around number thirty-seven, she realized this wasn't just an inbox problem.
In this episode, Lynsey takes the "unsubscribe" metaphor and runs with it, into the drama you never signed up for, the coworker who has made your time their time, the extra yeses you said out of guilt, and the noise that is quietly stealing your focus, your creativity, and your life. This is the episode for every professional woman who is working more and living less, and is not entirely sure how it got this way.
TOGETHER WE WILL TALK ABOUT:
ONE LINE TO TAKE AWAY WITH YOU: "Your yes is valuable. Start treating it like it is."
CONNECT WITH LYNSEY: Schedule a free coaching session at LynseyMulder.com Follow Lead with Spark on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook @LeadWithSpark
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| E40 How Watching Humpback Whales Taught Me to Lead Bigger: Leadership Perspective and Presence | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:13:52 | |
What if one of your most powerful leadership breakthroughs came not from a boardroom, a conference, or a business book, but from a humpback whale looking you dead in the eye off the coast of Cabo San Lucas?
In this episode, host and business coach Lynsey Mulder shares a deeply personal story from a recent trip to Cabo and the four unexpected leadership lessons that followed her all the way home. Whether you are leading a team, building a business, or simply trying to find your spark again, this episode will remind you that your leadership impact is bigger than your inbox, your calendar, and your current view.
TOGETHER WE WILL TALK ABOUT:
ONE LINE TO TAKE AWAY WITH YOU: "The whale uses the whole ocean. So should you."
CONNECT WITH LYNSEY: Schedule a free coaching session at LynseyMulder.com Follow Lead with Spark on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook
Loved this episode? Leave a review and share it with a woman who needs to hear it today. | |||
| E39 Executive-Proven Steps to Your Next Role with Camille Fetter | 11 Mar 2026 | 00:39:59 | |
If you've been laid off, you're quietly job searching, or you've had that 'I cannot do this for the next 20 years' moment, this episode is for you. Lynsey sits down with Camille Fetter, a nationally recognized executive search expert and founder/CEO of Talentfoot Executive Search and Staffing, to share calm, practical strategies for making a confident career move in today's market. In this conversation, you'll learn how high performers stand out without burning out: make smart sideways moves into adjacent industries, translate your superpowers into measurable business impact, and show up to interviews ready to connect the dots. Together we will talk about:
Your next role is not found by doom-scrolling - it is built with clarity, measurable impact, and a smart sideways move. About Camille FetterCamille Fetter is a nationally recognized executive search expert and the founder and CEO of Talentfoot Executive Search and Staffing. For more than two decades, she has advised founders, private equity partners, and C-suite leaders on building leadership and go-to-market teams that drive growth and transformation. Camille believes the right job can change your life - and she has lived that truth. Connect with Camille: Connect with Lynsey:
Subscribe to Lead With Spark so you never miss an episode on confidence, career growth, and living with intention. If you want support defining your next move, connect with Lynsey. | |||
| E38 Stop Miscommunication at Work: The 4 Communication Styles That Change Everything | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:20:11 | |
Today’s episode is all about one of the biggest communication game-changers I’ve ever found, and it happens to be one of my most requested keynotes: Decode the Blueprint. Here’s the truth: you can have the right message and still not be heard… because different people speak different languages. And you don’t have to travel to Barcelona for that to be true - it happens every day at work, in sales conversations, in leadership, and at home. In this episode, I’ll walk you through Codebreaker BANK (Blueprint, Action, Nurturer, Knowledge) so you can spot what someone values, adjust your approach in real time, and communicate in a way that actually lands. Because AI can replace a lot of tasks… but it can’t replace the moment when two humans need to truly understand each other. Together we will talk about:
One line to take with you: People don’t resist your message, they resist the way it’s delivered.
Links & resources (add your links):
Connect with Lynsey:
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| E37 Speak Up in Meetings With Confidence: Executive Presence That Still Feels Like You | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:18:56 | |
Ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “Well, that was fun… I said words, but I don’t think I sounded like a leader”? In this solo episode, Lynsey breaks down the real difference between executive presence and authenticity and answers the question so many women are searching for right now: Do I have to act like a leader to be taken seriously at work? You’ll hear three real-life stories (including a first executive team meeting that triggered instant second-guessing, a coaching moment that changed a senior leader’s impact, and a travel mishap that proves clarity prevents chaos). Then Lynsey gives you a simple, practical way to show up with presence, without pretending, using clarity, calm confidence, and consistency. Together we will talk about:
One line to take with you: Executive presence isn’t pretending — it’s communicating like you trust yourself. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E36 The People-Pleasing Tax: How to Stop People Pleasing and Set Boundaries Without Guilt | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:19:06 | |
If you have ever said "No problem" while your brain whispered "This is a problem," you are not alone. In this episode, Lynsey breaks down the People-Pleasing Tax - the hidden cost of always being the reliable one - and shares a simple, real-life way to set boundaries without guilt. You will learn how to stop people pleasing (especially people pleasing at work), how to say no without over-explaining, and how to protect your time and energy without losing your warmth or your leadership voice. Together we will talk about
Clear is kind. A clean no today is kinder than a resentful yes tomorrow. ResourcesDownload the People-Pleasing Tax Refund Worksheet to spot your auto-yes moments, choose a boundary sentence, and protect your energy. If you want support applying this to your real-life situations, book a free coaching session using the link in the show notes. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E35 Bold Goals, Busy Life: Rituals to Turn Off Work Brain and Show Up in Life with Danielle McGeough | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:42:18 | |
We’re so lucky to have Danielle McGeough with us today! Honestly… when I grow up, I want to be Danielle. She’s a mom, professor at the University of Northern Iowa, certified Women-Centered Coach, and the host of one of the nation’s top podcasts, Plan Goal Plan. Danielle helps high achievers become as ambitious about their personal lives as they’ve been about their work—one bold goal at a time. In this episode, Danielle and I get real about what happens when you’re crushing it on paper… but still feel hollow, scattered, or stuck. We unpack the difference between habits (autopilot) and rituals (meaning + presence), and why rituals can be the missing link for leaders who want big results without losing themselves. You’ll hear practical, relatable examples—like how to shut off “work brain” when you walk in the door, why copying other people’s routines can quietly build resentment, and how to create micro-rituals that actually fit your life and your season. We also dive into goal-setting that doesn’t crush your soul: bold goals, “impossible goals,” and how sharing your goals (with the right people—or even just with yourself) helps your brain stay focused when life gets… banana pants. Together we will talk about:
It’s so much easier to say no when you’ve already decided what you’re saying yes to. Connect with Danielle:
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| E34 Leading Mixed-Personality Teams: How to Channel Energy Without Creating Chaos | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:18:02 | |
Every team has it: the steady one… and the energetic one. The calm processor… and the loud processor. The rule-follower… and the “let’s reinvent everything by Tuesday” person. In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey shares two laugh-out-loud dog stories that turn into a surprisingly accurate leadership metaphor: how to lead mixed-energy teams without leaving “stuffing on the floor.” This isn’t a step-by-step episode. It’s a real conversation about what mixed energy actually means, what leaders often mislabel as “a problem,” and how great leadership channels energy instead of crushing it. You’ll hear anonymous client moments (the high performer carrying too much, the steady one becoming the container for everyone), plus Lynsey’s take on how this dynamic often shows up inside you during seasons of growth and reinvention. If you’re leading people in a fast-moving world—and you want to build trust, protect culture, and get the best from every style—this one’s for you. Together we will talk about:
Channel the energy. Don’t shame it. Honor the steady. Don’t overuse it. Share this episode with:
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| E33 Outgrowing Your Life? The Reinvention Conversation Every Woman Leader Needs | 28 Jan 2026 | 00:17:53 | |
Have you ever had a moment where you are doing the thing you are supposed to be doing... and a quiet thought shows up: Wait, is this it? In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey normalizes reinvention and reframes it as a modern life skill. Not a crisis. Not a failure. Often, it is simply evolution. You will hear real stories from Lynsey’s own reinventions (from motherhood to leaving corporate) plus client moments that prove this is more common - and more courageous - than we admit. As our world moves faster, reinvention is happening more often in a lifetime. Even employers expect rapid skill shifts in the coming years. So if you feel the pull toward a new chapter, you are not late... you are paying attention. Together we will talk about:
Reinvention is not starting over - it is starting from experience. Mentioned in the episode:
Feeling the pull toward a new chapter? You do not have to figure it out alone. Connect with Lynsey to explore what reinvention could look like in your life and career. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E32: Boundaries Without Guilt: How to Say No Without Feeling Mean | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:20:54 | |
If you’ve ever said “yes” out of habit… then immediately felt annoyed, overwhelmed, or resentful — this episode is for you. In today’s episode of Lead with Spark, we’re talking about how to set boundaries without guilt, without over-explaining, and without feeling like you’re being “difficult.” Because here’s the truth: boundaries aren’t rude — they’re leadership. And if you don’t create boundaries, burnout will eventually create them for you… with way more drama. You’ll learn the simple framework I teach ambitious women and high-achieving leaders to protect their time, energy, and peace: ✅ Kind + Clear + Consistent We’ll break down why guilt shows up when you set boundaries, how to stop people-pleasing without turning into a robot, and what to say when someone pushes back. You’ll also get real-life scripts you can use at work and at home — including how to handle capacity limits, last-minute requests, meeting boundaries, and emotional energy drains. By the end of this episode, you’ll have:
🎁 Grab the free Boundaries Without Guilt Worksheet (scripts + planner) so you can choose one boundary to practice this week and hold it with confidence. Because your time is valuable. Your goals matter. And your life is not a community donation. Next step: Choose ONE boundary and use ONE script this week — then celebrate the win (even if your voice shakes). Connect with Lynsey:
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| E31 Impossibullshit, The Messy Middle, And Not Disappointing Yourself with Saphira Howell | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:32:13 | |
What if the story you have been telling yourself about your limits is complete nonsense? In this episode of Lead With Spark, Lynsey sits down with Saphira Howell, author of Impossibullshit: Break the Lies that Keep You Small and Do What You Believed You Couldn’t. Saphira went from early YouTube creator with tens of millions of views to Head of Marketing at a fast growing startup, self taught stock investor, jiu jitsu blue belt, ballroom dancer, and harp student. In other words, she is living proof of what happens when you stop believing the labels and start listening to the nudge. Together we talk about:
If you have ever stood on the edge of something you really want and talked yourself out of it, this conversation will feel like a loving push forward. One line to take with you “Parts of you exist that you haven’t even met yet. Stop believing your limits and go say hi.” Saphira Howell Connect with Saphira:
Connect with Lynsey:
If this episode nudged you, share it with a friend who needs a reminder that they are allowed to start, to grow, and even to change their mind. And as always, keep leading with Spark. | |||
| E30 Stop Downplaying Yourself: Use Your Strengths to Boost Confidence and Reduce Burnout | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:25:08 | |
If you’ve started identifying your strengths but still hesitate to use them at work, this episode is for you. We’re diving into the real questions women professionals ask about unleashing their superpowers: how to talk about your strengths without feeling like you’re bragging, how to use strengths that don’t feel “work-related,” and how to bring your strengths to your leader in a way that actually changes your day-to-day work. Together we will talk about
Downplaying your strengths does not make you humble. It just makes your gifts harder for others to benefit from. Try this today
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| E29 New Year’s Eve Reflection for Women Leaders: Wins, Dreams, and Your Word for 2026 | 31 Dec 2025 | 00:21:58 | |
New Year’s Eve can be exciting, but it can also create pressure to have your goals, your word of the year, and your entire plan for 2026 figured out by midnight. In this Lead With Spark episode, Lynsey gives you permission to pause. Planning is powerful, but rushing can turn hope into heaviness. Instead of a step-by-step framework, Lynsey shares real examples from her own end-of-year prep, including wins, memorable moments, big dreams, and the messy middle of figuring it out. You will hear how she reflects using her calendar and camera roll, how she dreams without getting stuck in the “how,” and why she is still waiting for her word of the year to rise to the surface. If you want to start 2026 with intention, clarity, and joy, this episode is your reminder that you are not behind. You just need a direction. Together We Will Talk About
You do not need to have it all planned. You just need to choose a direction. Connect with Lynsey
Share this episode with a friend who is putting too much pressure on January 1. Then comment or email Lynsey with one dream you are carrying into 2026. | |||
| E28 Christmas Eve Reset: A 10 Minute Plan to Reduce Holiday Stress and Stay Present | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:12:16 | |
Christmas Eve can feel both magical and heavy. In this short episode of Lead With Spark, Lynsey shares a powerful 10-minute Christmas Eve reset plan to reduce holiday stress, quiet pressure, release perfectionism, and create space for meaning and gratitude. This reset is not just for home. Lynsey uses the same strategy at work before big team meetings, conferences, leadership events, and team building sessions where she cares deeply about the experience people have. You’ll also hear Lynsey’s Christmas Eve traditions and a few unforgettable holiday missteps that became the best memories, including floor cake, missing stockings, and reindeer sparkles that lasted until Easter. If you’re feeling holiday overwhelm and you want to enjoy Christmas instead of performing Christmas, this episode is your reset. Together we will talk about
One line to take with you I’m here for the people, not the performance. What to try tonight
Simple boundary scripts you can borrow
Connect with Lynsey:
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| E27 Minimum Viable Holiday: Protect Your Peace Without Becoming the Grinch | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:18:10 | |
Feeling like the Grinch this year? Same. In this episode, Lynsey shares why the holiday spirit can feel harder during transition seasons, like the first Christmas when your adult kids are building traditions in their own homes. You will learn the Minimum Viable Holiday framework, a simple way to protect your peace, set realistic boundaries, and still create meaningful moments without burning out. You will walk away with a practical three-step plan: choose your holiday values, set two non-negotiables, and pick one “show up moment” you will do fully. Plus, Lynsey shares a powerful ornament tradition that brings the season back to what matters most: connection, memories, and meaning. What you will learn
Connect with Lynsey:
Know someone who is one Target run away from becoming the Grinch? Send them this episode. | |||
| E26 The HR Lady on Tough Conversations, Personality Styles, and Leading People Well | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:43:44 | |
When your workplace feels a little too spicy, who do you call? In this conversation, Lynsey sits down with Wendy Sellers, The HR Lady®, to talk about what it really takes to be a leader people will follow willingly, not just a manager with a title. Wendy is an HR consultant, speaker, mentor, and author of two boldly titled books: “Suck It Up, Buttercup: Be a Leader People Will Follow” and “How to Deal with Crappy Leaders and Jerks at Work”. With nearly 30 years of experience guiding companies from 5 to 5,000 employees, she has seen it all and is not afraid to tell the truth about leadership, culture, and accountability. In this episode, you will hear:
Wendy and Lynsey get honest about being high D personalities, missing social cues, learning to “shut up and listen,” and how to repair relationships when communication has gone sideways. You will walk away with concrete steps you can use tomorrow to improve engagement, build trust, and lead with more clarity and confidence. If you are a woman in leadership who is tired of sugarcoated advice and wants real tools to navigate people, performance, and personality differences, this episode is for you. One line to take with you: “Adjusting your style for someone else is not being fake, it is being an effective leader.” Wendy Sellers Connect with Wendy Sellers (links coming soon):
Connect with Lynsey:
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| E25 Love of the Game: Are You Playing the Right One in Your Career? | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:18:14 | |
In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey borrows the phrase “love of the game” from sports and brings it straight into your career, leadership, and life. Instead of blaming yourself for a lack of motivation, you will explore why your drive always follows your why, and what it means if your “love of the game” has faded. Lynsey walks through four possibilities, right game wrong position, right game wrong team, right game right team but you have forgotten your why, or you are playing the wrong game altogether. Using her SparkLife framework of values, superpowers, and non negotiables, she helps you diagnose where you might be out of alignment and what that means for your next step. You will get powerful reflection questions to clarify why you are playing, whether you still love the game, and how to design a role, team, or season that actually sparks life. This is a must listen for women leaders, high achievers, and professionals who feel successful on paper but quietly wonder, “Is this really my game?” By the end of this episode, listeners will:
When your why is misaligned, it is not a motivation problem, it is a game problem. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E24 Gratitude in Motion: How Thankfulness Shifts Your Mindset, Your Home, and Your Leadership | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:16:51 | |
In this pre Thanksgiving episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey explores the power of gratitude as more than a seasonal feeling. It is a daily leadership skill that shapes your mindset, your home, and your work. You will learn how gratitude supports an abundance mindset, reduces stress, strengthens relationships, and helps you stay grounded when life feels full and messy. Lynsey shares her family’s “Thankful Board” tradition, a simple mudroom practice that keeps memories, people, and joyful moments in front of them all year long. You will also hear examples of big and small gratitudes, from being thankful for breath on hard days to savoring a smile from the barista. The episode wraps with three practical tools you can start right away, a gratitude walk, a gratitude log, and your own version of a thankful board or wall. This is the perfect episode to reset your focus, lead with more intention, and carry a spirit of gratitude into the holiday season and beyond. Key learnings from this episode:
One line to take with you: Gratitude does not deny the hard, it simply refuses to hand it the microphone. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E23 You Are Not Your Feelings: Identity and Emotional Intelligence for Women Leaders | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:16:58 | |
Do you look like a successful, high-achieving woman from the outside, but inside you are battling doubt, overwhelm, or emotional whiplash from one hard conversation or email? In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey breaks down the connection between identity, emotional intelligence, and leadership so you can stop letting your feelings run the show and start leading from a grounded, confident center. You will hear how your brain creates an identity story from everyday triggers, why stuffing your emotions or spiraling in them both lead to inaction, and what it looks like to respond as an emotionally intelligent leader instead. Lynsey walks you through her SPARK process so you can recognize your emotions, realign with who you truly are, and choose actions that match the woman and leader you want to be. Whether you are navigating imposter syndrome, decision fatigue, or just a season where life feels heavier than usual, this episode will help you reclaim your identity, reset your self-talk, and build work life alignment that actually feels sustainable. In this episode, you will learn:
This is your invitation to stop freestyling your emotional world and start designing it on purpose so you can lead with confidence, clarity, and your full spark. Line to take with you, “You are not your worst thought on your worst day. Your emotions are real, but they do not get to define your identity.” Connect with Lynsey:
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| E22 Brain-Savvy Leadership: Neurodiversity as a Leadership Strategy (Not a Checkbox) with Gina Brown | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:52:46 | |
Leaders don’t just manage tasks, they design the environment where people and ideas thrive. In this conversation with Gina Brown (MAGNIFY Innovation & Leadership), we break down what neurodiversity really means, how executive function shows up at work (focus, working memory, transitions), and practical ways to build cultures of empathy, clarity, and curiosity, without lowering the bar. If you’ve ever felt “successful despite yourself,” this one gives you language, tools, and grace. Connect with Gina:
One line to take with you: "Understand your brain, ditch the shame, and up your game." Directly from Gina's signature framework. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E21 Authentic, Not Conforming: Build Executive Presence That Fits | 06 Nov 2025 | 00:12:43 | |
When the “official lane” looks safe but feels small, it’s time to rethink fit. Inspired by the classic Put Me in the Zoo (Seuss-adjacent), this episode explores how we chase titles and conformity when our strengths are actually asking for a different stage—more authentic, a little bold, and genuinely useful. I share the family story behind a 1967 inscription, a quick overview of the book, and a practical path to test-and-try your way into rooms where your gifts breathe: tiny experiments, stretch assignments, job crafting, and feedback that acts like a flashlight (not a verdict). If you’ve been pressing your face to the wrong gate, this is your gentle nudge to stop knocking and start showing. Episode highlights
One line to take with you "Stop knocking at the wrong gate—start showing what fits."
Work with Lynsey Ready to find the stage that fits? I offer 1:1 coaching for women leaders and business coaching for founders and executive teams—practical, momentum-focused, tailored to you. Start here: LynseyMulder.com
Connect with Lynsey:
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| E20 5 Ways to Escape Corporate Stockholm Syndrome (Without Quitting Your Job) | 30 Oct 2025 | 00:19:16 | |
Feel stuck defending a role that drains you because “the benefits are good”? This episode tackles corporate Stockholm syndrome, not the clinical diagnosis, but the mindset where fear and comfort have us protecting the very systems that keep us small. We unpack F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real), share current career trends (shorter tenures, cooled quits), and give you five practical ways to rebuild momentum without torching your paycheck: call fear by name, try micro-shifts before macro moves, redefine loyalty, build portable stability, and measure what really matters at the end of a career and a life. Episode highlights
One line to take with you “You don’t have to quit to be brave, just stop defending what’s dimming you.” Work with Lynsey Ready to turn these into habits? I offer 1:1 coaching for women leaders and business coaching for founders and executive teams. Practical, momentum-focused, and tailored to you. Start here: LynseyMulder.com. Connect with Lynsey:
Episode Citations:
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| E19 Feelings Are Data, Not Directors: Train Your Brain, Lead Your Life. | 23 Oct 2025 | 00:24:19 | |
Feel stuck in your head? Spinning, second-guessing, or riding waves of frustration and doubt? This episode reframes emotional intelligence as a daily, doable practice rooted in identity. You’ll learn why feelings are real but not always reliable, and how to treat them as data, not directors, so you can calm the noise and move the needle. We walk through simple tools you can use this week: a 60-second morning recording that trains your brain, clarity breaks that turn emotion into motion, the Notice → Name → Normalize → Next framework for in-the-moment regulation, “draft hot, send cold” for heated emails, and a three-line evening close that links identity to action to rest. Faith-friendly language is included (and optional), plus practical breathwork cues for anxiety and overthinking. Designed for women leaders navigating the double bind—warm but not “soft,” clear but not “cold.” If ruts, storms, or stretch seasons have been testing your confidence, this is a steady, humane playbook. You’ll learn
Episode highlights
One line to take with you “Let feelings inform you, then let identity direct you.” Work with Lynsey Ready to make this muscle memory? I offer 1:1 coaching for women leaders and business coaching for founders and executive teams—practical, momentum-focused, and tailored to you. Start here: LynseyMulder.com. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E18 Lead with Pause: Dr. Ebony Stone on Grace, Grit, and Women Owning the Room | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:37:19 | |
When women lead, the room shifts. In this conversation with Dr. Ebony Stone—author, speaker, and coach— we unpack what it really takes to thrive as a woman in leadership today: grace over guilt, perspective over comparison, and “do it scared” over perfect timing. Ebony shares her PAUSE framework (Pause/Pray, Analyze, Understand, Strategize, Execute) and how it applies to real life—boardrooms, busy homes, and those messy in-between moments. We talk superpowers, why your presence is a competitive advantage, and how to reframe nerves as excitement so you can step onto any stage (or into any meeting) with intention. “You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to do it scared—until scared starts to look like excitement.” You’ll learn:
Resources & Links:
Connect with Lynsey:
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| E17 Executive Presence: Open Strong, Right the Ride, Close with Care | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:17:50 | |
If your updates get lost, decisions stall, or you leave meetings exhausted from carrying the room, the problem isn’t just strategy. It’s how you show up. In this story-driven episode, Lynsey unpacks executive presence using three unforgettable rideshare moments from her latest trip to Destin, Florida: the disengaged “Mr. Earbuds,” the resigned “Miss Chaos,” and the intentional hostess with the mostess who changed the entire experience without changing the road. You’ll learn how to open strong (set purpose in the first 90 seconds), right the ride when things go sideways (steady agency over excuses), and close with care (clear next steps + visible credit). Same goals, same road, very different ride. What you’ll learn
Episode highlights
One line to take with you “Executive presence is the temperature you set. Calm the chaos, and the work moves faster.” Work with Lynsey
Connect with Lynsey:
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| E16 Micro-Moves, Big Life: Intentional Living You Can Actually Do | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:16:51 | |
What if the third most important day of your life is the day you start living your why, on purpose? In this episode, Lynsey breaks down intentional living as a series of tiny, faithful micro-movements (not cliff jumps) that add up to a life that feels like you. Drawing on John Maxwell’s take, “decide in advance who you will be and what you will give,”she connects it to the SparkLife formula: Values (your compass), Non-Negotiables (your guardrails), Superpowers (your natural edge), and Passion (purpose with traction). You’ll challenge three big myths (I should already know my purpose…it’s too late…I need perfect timing), learn why purpose is discovered in motion, and get practical prompts—a simple joy audit and a few starter micro-moves to begin this week inside your real life, job, and calendar. If you’re a woman leader craving authenticity, clarity, confidence, and better work-life alignment, this conversation will help you name the “tug,” shrink the fears, and take the next brave half-inch turn toward a life you’re proud of. In this episode, you’ll learn:
Ideal for: women in leadership, emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, purpose-driven professionals, and anyone ready to live intentionally—one micro-movement at a time. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E15 Stop Doing It All: Delegate Better, Lead Bigger | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:19:38 | |
Moving from “I’ll just do it myself” to true leadership is a skill, and delegation is the lever. In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey shares a simple four-step handoff loop - Select, Scope, Support, Spotlight - that turns tasks into growth without letting anyone down. You’ll learn how to use the Eisenhower model (urgent vs. important) to decide what to delegate, how to give a clear, kind overview that sets people up to win, and how to coach without micromanaging so quality stays high. Lynsey gets real about the shift from individual contributor to leader, that awkward phase where yesterday’s peers are today’s team and why delegating isn’t “bossing people around,” it’s building people up. You’ll hear practical examples from work and home (hello, Kitchen CEO) and guidance for individual contributors who want to share work through pairing, internships, and strength-based task swaps. We’ll also name the common barriers like perfectionism, fear of losing control, speed addiction, peer discomfort and reframe them with tools that protect excellence and your energy. Finally, Lynsey ties delegation to Spark (values, superpowers, non-negotiables) so you lead intentionally, free up time for the highest-priority work only you can do, and strengthen executive presence through calm clarity and visible development. Perfect for women in leadership, managers, and high-performing ICs who want momentum without burnout and a team that grows because you do. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E14 Relatable Leadership with Rachel DeAlto: Communication that Builds Respect & Trust | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:39:14 | |
If you’ve ever wondered why “be more relatable” sounds obvious but feels impossible in real life, this conversation with author and keynote speaker Rachel DeAlto will be your masterclass. We dig into what relatable leadership actually looks like day-to-day—clear communication, active listening, and honest transparency—and why respect is the trait teams are craving most. You’ll learn Rachel’s simple Who–How–Why framework for sharper messages, how to bridge generational gaps without turning into the “back in my day” boss, and practical ways to re-energize remote/hybrid teams with better 1:1s, intentional touchpoints, and smart in-person moments. You’ll walk away with:
Connect with Rachel & grab the book:
Hit play, pick one skill, and start today. Future-you (and your team) will thank you. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E13 End the Invisible Work Tax: A Visibility Playbook for Women Leaders | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:20:49 | |
Women in leadership are carrying too much invisible work; note-taking, scheduling, conflict smoothing, onboarding support, and the quiet “glue work” that keeps projects alive but rarely shows up on a dashboard. That hidden load stalls recognition, performance reviews, and promotion. In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey shares a practical visibility playbook to end the invisible work tax without sounding salesy or braggy, and to do it in a way that strengthens executive presence, delegation, and prioritization. You’ll learn how to run a fast S-O-S scan (Stop, Optimize, Share) to cut or streamline low-value tasks and fairly rotate office housework. Then you’ll reframe activity into outcomes and impact so your real contribution is obvious: outputs → outcomes → business impact. Lynsey walks through the two-minute 3-3-1 Friday update, a simple cadence that makes work visible every week, plus a visibility ladder and a one-page, promotion-ready proof pack you can bring to managing-up conversations and performance reviews. You’ll also get kind, copy-ready scripts to rotate note-taking, close meetings with results, defend deep-work time, and say no with context. Developing habits that create psychological safety while keeping your energy focused on what matters. If you want momentum without burnout, and you’re ready to make your wins impossible to miss, this episode is your playbook to end the invisible work tax and advance your career with clear, credible evidence. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E12 Blue Ribbons & Bold Moves: Leadership Lessons from the Iowa State Fair | 03 Sep 2025 | 00:21:19 | |
From the Grand Concourse to the boardroom, this leadership podcast episode turns the Iowa State Fair into a practical playbook for women in leadership. Lynsey Mulder weaves three generations of family tradition - Grandma’s one-section-a-day map, Grandpa’s steady hours in the livestock barns, and a new stop at Cowboy Bootcamp with her grandson - into ten blue-ribbon leadership lessons you can apply this week. You’ll learn how to set context before you move, ship a preview version to learn faster, define success upfront so your team has psychological safety, show up with stronger executive presence, protect deep-work priorities, delegate ownership (not chores), make smarter project tradeoffs, ask sharper problem/proof/first-move questions, run a weekly “Sky Glider” review to regain strategic altitude, and make work visible so wins actually get rewarded. If you lead a team, or just your calendar, you’ll leave with practical tools and language you can use immediately. The episode includes a quick “Fair Pass” exercise to choose your top three priorities, set two clear nos, and plan one visibility touchpoint. Perfect for women leaders, managers, and high-performing professionals who want less burnout and more momentum. Topics include executive presence tips, delegation strategies, project prioritization, boundaries at work, weekly review rituals, managing up, and values-based leadership. Listen in, grab your worksheet, and give your next week a blue ribbon. Connect with Lynsey:
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| E11 Leading with Curiosity & Compassion: A Conversation with Malinda Shultice | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:41:03 | |
What does it take to lead with both curiosity and compassion? In this episode, I sit down with Malinda Shultice, professor at Iowa State University and Barcelona Executive Business School, licensed nursing home administrator, and founder of a consulting company dedicated to tackling high turnover in healthcare.
Malinda shares her bold career pivot from senior living to academia and entrepreneurship, and the lessons she’s learned about curiosity, compassion, and communication along the way. We dive into the challenges of leadership, the power of truly listening, and how to reignite curiosity when it feels like it’s burned out.
Whether you’re leading a team, navigating a career shift, or simply looking to connect more deeply with those around you, this conversation will spark new ideas and inspire you to lead with authenticity.
👉 Connect with Malinda on LinkedIn: Malinda Shultice
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