Finding Brave Podcast

What if the key to career growth isn’t doing more but recognizing what you’ve already achieved? Today on Finding Brave, we’re joined by inspiring author and career coach Octavia Goredema to discover how true visibility begins with valuing yourself.

Octavia is the CEO of Fire Memos, a passionate advocate for helping people unlock their full potential at work, the author of PREP, PUSH, PIVOT, and host of two Audible Originals, Brand Yourself for Success and How to Change Careers. Previously featured on Finding Brave (check out Episode 248!), she returns to share new insights on personal branding, professional visibility, and why it’s more important than ever to own your worth and leverage more fully your amazing talents, abilities and experiences.

In this episode, you’ll learn why great work alone isn’t enough to stand out in today’s competitive job market and how many high performers remain invisible despite their incredible contributions. We also unpack the connection between visibility and self-recognition and how naming your strengths and tracking your accomplishments form the foundation of a strong personal brand.

Octavia also offers empowering tips on embracing personal branding without feeling “cringy,” even for those who avoid the spotlight, and shares the traits that define her own brand. (And the fascinating responses Octavia offered in answer to my impromptu question her own brand were very enlightening!).

Want to learn how to build a memorable personal brand that embodies who you truly are? Tune in today!

Key Highlights From This Episode:

• Why visibility begins with self-recognition (and why so many people struggle with this). [04:55]
• How naming your strengths, even the most obvious ones, is key to owning your worth. [08:43]
• Using discomfort as a diagnostic tool to guide your next steps and fuel growth. [17:23]
• The power of sharing your struggles: it might be the inspiration someone else needs! [21:45]
• Embracing authenticity and aligning your brand with who you truly are. [25:21]
• Tips for identifying the key traits of your personal brand and building a presence for it. [27:41]
• Redefining success by how you honor your own progress, not others' opinions of it. [39:38]

For More Information:

Octavia Goredema

Fire Memos

PREP, PUSH, PIVOT: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women

Brand Yourself for Success

How to Change Careers

Octavia Goredema on Instagram

Octavia Goredema on LinkedIn

Octavia Goredema on X

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Listen to Octavia on Finding Brave in Episode 248: ‘Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women’.

Watch Kathy’s TEDx Talk, 'Time To Brave Up'.

Check out Shawn Achor's TEDx Talk, ‘The happy secret to better work’.

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Ready to Take Your Professional Life and Leadership to the Next Level FAST in a supportive group/community environment?

JOIN KATHY IN “THE MOST POWERFUL YOU” 8-WEEK COACHING AND TRAINING COURSE STARTING MAY 15TH!

My 8-week LIVE course, The Most Powerful You, is now OPEN for early bird Spring registration, with big savings and bonuses! Join me in this transformational learning and growth journey!

The course starts May 15th, and if you register by May 10th, you’ll save $300 and get 9 amazing bonuses — including one month of free access to my new digital coaching tool, Kathy Caprino AI.

Over 8 weeks, I’ll personally coach you and an inspiring small group of professionals around the global to build your confidence, step into expanded leadership, speak up for what you want, job search and interview more successfully, connect with influential mentors, and finally make the career shifts, improvements and changes you’ve been dreaming about.

You’ll also be a part of an uplifting support community, both on our live calls and in our private Facebook group.

Spots are limited, so please don’t hesitate! Visit mostpowerfulyou.com to claim your early bird savings and bonuses before May 10.

Let’s make this the year your professional life truly transforms in the way you dream it to. Hope to see you there!

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WANT 1:1, PRIVATE SUPPORT TO TRANSFORM YOUR CAREER THIS YEAR TO REACH YOUR HIGHEST GOALS?

Work with Kathy and get hands-on, transformative (1:1) CAREER & LEADERSHIP GROWTH COACHING SUPPORT today!

If you’re ready for a big positive shift in how you’re working and what you’re achieving today in your career AND want to experience private, one-on-one career coaching and consulting - let’s make that happen for you!

In my 6-session Career & Leadership Breakthrough 1:1 coaching program or my 10-session Build Your Confidence, Success and Impact program, I help men and women get what they want most, which includes more confidence, impact, advancement, financial reward, and fulfillment and exponential growth and reach.

I’ve worked with over 25,000 professionals across 6 continents, and before that, I served as a therapist, and before that, I was a corporate VP, managing multi-million dollar budgets and global initiatives.

I bring all of that experience to our work together, helping you build a new chapter that aligns with who you really are and what you’re ready to create.

Check out the links above if you’re ready for a big positive shift this year. I hope you’ll register now. I’d love to support you!

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Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!

In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.

If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible.

Kathy’s Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources

Kathy’s TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment

Kathy’s Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz

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Sponsor Highlight

I'm thrilled that both Audible.com and Amazon Music are sponsors of Finding Brave! Take advantage of their great special offers and free trials today!

Audible Offer

Amazon Music Offer

Quotes:

“Self-promotion can feel so hard, or cringy, or icky. To get past that feeling, we have to connect with ourselves. Before we can talk to anyone else, whether that's a co-worker, or our boss, or our networks about the work that we're doing, we have to recognize our value ourselves.” — @OctaviaGoredema [0:05:14]

“Personal branding starts with owning your narrative unapologetically.” — @OctaviaGoredema [0:16:18]

“Growth is so uncomfortable in the moment, but it's so important because that's actually what helps you identify where the misalignment is. You might not be able to snap your fingers and change it immediately, but it's giving you indicators.” — @OctaviaGoredema [0:19:50]

“Ultimately, what you're doing [in building a personal brand] is embodying who you are and building trust around who you are and what you do. It really is that simple.” — @OctaviaGoredema [0:27:03]

“If you are investing in [a social media presence], it’s not about likes and it’s not about the number of followers that you have. It's actually about the authenticity of what you share.” — @OctaviaGoredema [0:38:59]

“The [real] measure of success is taking the time to privately recognize your progress and to honor that and to celebrate that.” — @OctaviaGoredema [0:39:48]

Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!

Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino. And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!

If you still think of LinkedIn as nothing more than a job site or somewhere you go to upload your online resume, now is the time to update and expand your approach! Today on the show, we welcome LinkedIn insider Jon Lyndon for a deep dive into the evolution of LinkedIn and why we should all be using it as a human connection tool and a pathway to opportunity at scale.

Having spent nearly a decade at LinkedIn, Jon is an expert in how to leverage the true power of the platform. He is the founder and CEO of Lyndon Consulting, where he works with global companies and executive leaders on their LinkedIn strategy, helping them rethink how they show up, connect, and lead in a digital world. He also advises professional athletes transitioning out of sport, guiding them in building strong personal brands.

In our conversation, Jon breaks down the biggest misconceptions about LinkedIn. He unpacks how only using it as a job search leads you to lose out on key opportunities and explains powerfully why we can all afford to share more on LinkedIn — and why sharing doesn’t need to be inauthentic or boastful. Jon also offers his expert guidance on how to navigate LinkedIn when you’ve been let go from your job, and how to build greater trust, credibility, and clarity, so you’re connecting with inspiring people and learning from them, while building a mutually supportive and enriching community.

We also discuss the power of LinkedIn recommendations, how trust equals consistency over time, the importance of getting clear on the outcomes you want to achieve on LinkedIn, and Jon’s transformative personal branding work with athletes. To hear the full scope of our conversation about LinkedIn and discover its full power as a human connection tool, be sure to tune in!

Key Highlights From This Episode:

• A breakdown of the biggest misconceptions about LinkedIn. [04:31]
• Jon’s career at LinkedIn and how the platform has evolved. [09:06]
• How to get more comfortable and confident with sharing your achievements and experience on LinkedIn. [13:36]
• How to tease out the “20 facts of you” - the 20 accomplishments that you are most proud of and why these matter greatly to you, and how to share those in exciting ways [17:28}
• Why you should keep your LinkedIn updated even if you have job security. [20:06]
• Advice on how to navigate LinkedIn and share after being laid off. [23:44]
• Language one can draw on to potentially consider sharing on LinkedIn about a layoff they’ve experienced, and what they’re looking for next. [24:16]
• Suggestions for reaching out to people you want to connect with more. [27:27]
• The power of helping others and utilizing recommendations on LinkedIn. [32:20]
• Getting clarity on the outcomes you want to achieve on LinkedIn. [40:29]
• How Jon serves professional athletes through personal branding. [45:49]
• Final thoughts on how to prepare for and navigate your next chapter. [45:49]

For More Information:

Jon Lyndon on LinkedIn
Lyndon Consulting

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READY FOR A HUGE PERSONAL SHIFT TO ACHIEVE MORE SUCCESS, IMPACT, AND FULFILLMENT IN YOUR CAREER THIS YEAR?

Work with Kathy and get hands-on, transformative CAREER & LEADERSHIP GROWTH COACHING SUPPORT today!

Hey folks! Kathy here. Are you ready for a big positive shift in how you’re working and what you’re achieving today in your career? Let’s make that happen for you!

While you might know me best as a podcast host and a writer, a key focus in my work is helping professionals experience greater success and achieve their biggest goals in the quickest, most effective way possible.

In my 6-session Career & Leadership Breakthrough 1:1 coaching program, I help men and women get what they want most, which includes more confidence, impact, advancement, financial reward, and fulfillment.

I’ve worked with over 20,000 women across 6 continents, and before that, I served as a therapist, and before that, I was a corporate VP, managing multi-million dollar budgets and global initiatives.

I bring all of that experience to our work together, helping you build a new chapter that aligns with who you really are and what you’re ready to create.

Check out kathycaprino.com/careerbreakthru and I hope you’ll register now. I’d love to support you!

———————

Ready to Take Your Professional Life and Leadership to the Next Level FAST in a supportive group/community environment? 

JOIN “THE MOST POWERFUL YOU” 8-WEEK COACHING AND TRAINING COURSE WITH KATHY STARTING MAY 15TH!

Quick update here! My 8-week LIVE course, The Most Powerful You, is now OPEN for early bird Spring registration, with big savings and bonuses!

The course starts May 15th, and if you register by May 10th, you’ll save $300 and get 9 amazing bonuses — including one month of free access to my new digital coaching tool, Kathy Caprino AI.

Over 8 weeks, I’ll personally coach you and an amazing small group of professionals around the global to build your confidence, step into expanded leadership, speak up for what you want, job search and interview more successfully, connect with influential mentors, and finally - make the career shifts, improvements and changes you’ve been dreaming about.

You’ll also be a part of an amazing support community, both on our live calls and in our private Facebook group.

Spots are limited, so don’t wait! Visit mostpowerfulyou.com to claim your early bird savings and bonuses before May 10.

Let’s make this the year your professional life truly transforms in the way you dream it to. Hope to see you there!

———————

Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!

In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.

If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible.

Kathy’s Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources

Kathy’s TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment

Kathy’s Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz

———————

Sponsor Highlight

I'm thrilled that both Audible.com and Amazon Music are sponsors of Finding Brave! Take advantage of their great special offers and free trials today!

Audible Offer

Amazon Music Offer

Quotes:

“The way that I think about LinkedIn is [as] a human connection tool. It creates a pathway to opportunity at scale.” — Jon Lyndon [0:05:01]

“When we are sharing facts and stories, and things that we've accomplished — if we have an outcome that we want to come from that, it helps us be authentic, and it helps us to be confident about those things because it leads into something rather than just sharing to share.” — Jon Lyndon [0:18:33]

“When you begin to share those in the right way, other people then attach to those things, and they're relevant because they say, ‘Oh, I didn't know that about you, but this applies [to] my life because I'm going through this as well.’” — Jon Lyndon [0:19:14]

“You never know when [LinkedIn] might become relevant, it might not be a layoff, but you might want to start a new business.” — Jon Lyndon [0:22:59]

“If you're working in corporate and you're trying to sell products and services, there [are] ways that you can do it in a human, authentic, thought leader way that is still pretty much an untapped opportunity on LinkedIn for a lot of people.” — Jon Lyndon [0:43:43]

“If you know the outcomes, and you're clear about what they are in any area of your life, then creating the pathway to get there becomes so much easier.” — Jon Lyndon [0:50:18]

Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!

Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino.

And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!

The moment you choose to change your relationship to money is the moment you change every single generation ahead of you.

In this episode of Finding Brave, top financial wellbeing speaker, multi-award-winning Financial Coach, and international author Catherine Morgan joins us to talk about a vitally important topic: when money feels dangerous and how to heal our survival response to wealth.

A Financial Wellbeing Speaker, multi-award-winning Financial Coach, and international author of the bestselling book It's Not About the Money, Catherine presents a trauma-informed psychological approach to money. As the founder of The Money Panel®, Catherine trains financial professionals through her acclaimed Financial Coach Certification program, and works with consumers through empowering courses and retreats.  Recognized as one of the top 32 female entrepreneurs by Business Leader, her expertise has been featured in a wide array of top media and her podcast It’s Not About The Money is in the top 0.5% in the world.

Catherine’s journey into financial coaching began with her own realization of how emotions and money are deeply connected. She unpacks the hidden blueprint of abundance that we inherit, particularly from maternal relationships, and how these subconscious beliefs can impact our financial well-being.

We also discuss the core beliefs that influence financial health, as well as the new paradigms of wealth, expansion, and contraction. Catherine sheds light on the powerful emotions of shame and guilt around money, how they manifest in the body, and the essential practice of reclaiming your worth beyond financial status.

Finally, Catherine offers a simple yet transformative piece of advice that is relevant for everyone, no matter where they are in their financial journey. Through forgiveness work and deep self-acceptance, she reveals how we can release financial fear and step into a healthier, more empowered and loving relationship with money.

If you’re ready to shift your financial story and experience and embrace true wealth as it feels most heart-aligned for you, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Welcome to Catherine Morgan, who is also featured in the Finding Brave Episode 205 and 206 in our 2-part series about Building Financial Wellbeing Into the Heart of Your Life and Work. [02:11]
• Catherine’s first experiences of the connections between emotions and money. [06:20]
• The blueprint of abundance that we inherit from our maternal relationships. [12:11]
• Core beliefs that influence your financial health and more. [19:30]
• New paradigms of wealth and money and what it means to expand and contract with wealth. [26:04]
• Understanding that “you are not your money” - observing shame and guilt about money in the body and reclaiming your worth beyond money. [34:23]
• A potent piece of practical advice that is relevant for every individual on a way to recognize and heal your relationship with money. [40:27]
• Defining wealth on a personal level, beyond financial success. [45:25]

For More Information:

Catherine Morgan

Catherine Morgan on X
Catherine Morgan on Instagram

Catherine Morgan on LinkedIn

The Money Panel
Wealthy Women Community

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Catherine’s Quiz, What’s Your Money Storytypes?

Maria Nemeth’s Book, The Energy of Money: A Spiritual Guide to Financial and Personal Fulfilment

Bessel van Der Kolk’s Book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and the Body in the Healing of Trauma

The HearthMath Institute

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READY FOR A HUGE PERSONAL SHIFT TO ACHIEVE MORE SUCCESS, IMPACT AND FULFILLMENT IN YOUR CAREER THIS YEAR? 

Work with Kathy and get hands-on, transformative CAREER & LEADERSHIP GROWTH COACHING SUPPORT today!

Join me today in one of my top-requested career and leadership growth 1:1 coaching programs and take 20% off the price this week with coupon code ‘FBRAVE20 as my thank-you for tuning in today.!

Visit my Career Help page, or click the links below for more information and to register today and save 20%:

– Accelerate Your Job Search Success (3 sessions)
– Career & Leadership Breakthrough program (6 sessions)
– Build Your Confidence, Sucess and Impact (10 sessions)

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GET INSTANT ANSWERS TO YOUR PRESSING CAREER QUESTIONS 24/7 WITH KATHY’S DIGITAL CAREER COACHING TOOL —KATHY CAPRINO AI

I’m thrilled to share my new Kathy Caprino AI career and leadership growth digital coaching tool. Here’s more about it! >> https://kathycaprino.com/kathyai

Powered by Delphi.ai, this tool brings my career growth teachings, advice, and answers honed from 18 years of coaching thousands of professionals. It offers tailored answers to your most pressing questions directly to you, 24/7. As a subscriber, you’ll get unlimited access and can message or audio chat with my AI clone anytime you need guidance, plus special one-on-one help from me when you register for the annual membership.

Drawing on 40+ years of work experience—from corporate life, therapy, and coaching to writing and speaking across 6 continents—I’ve trained Kathy AI using over 2.6 million words of my own content, including articles, books, podcasts, interviews, and workshops seen by over 41 million people.

Let Kathy Caprino AI be your trusted resource for real-time career, leadership, and personal growth support. Check it out and subscribe today at kathycaprino.com/kathyai. I hope it becomes a game-changer for you!

———————

Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!

In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.

If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving it a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible.

Kathy’s Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Training 

Kathy’s TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment

Kathy’s Vidoe courses: Amazing Career Project and The Most Powerful You

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Quotes: 

“Money really is a mirror reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves.” — @themoneypanel [0:06:46]

“The relationship we have with money is the relationship we have with ourselves and our identity and self-worth.” — @themoneypanel [0:16:40]

“Somewhere underneath or in between those threads is this core belief that money is not safe for me - either to make or ask for it, or it’s not safe to keep it and hold it.  [0:21:40]

“It is key to recognize that money and the relationship you have to it is a survival response.” — @themoneypanel [0:24:09]

“The way that wealth has been created is not the way that wealth will be created. We are shifting into an entirely new paradigm” — @themoneypanel [0:26:11]

“The way that we spend money, the way that we invest, the way that we save – is driven by our value system.” — @themoneypanel [0:30:45]

“It’s about ‘being’ wealth as well as ‘doing’ wealth.” — @themoneypanel [0:42:05]

Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!

Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino.

And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!

Conflict is a part of life, whether it’s in our relationships, workplaces, or even global politics, yet many of us either shy away from it or escalate it, leading to stress, resentment, and division. Today on Finding Brave, behavioral neurologist Dr. Joel Salinas joins us to discuss how we can navigate disagreement with confidence and resilience—and even turn it into a powerful tool for building stronger connections.

Dr. Salinas is a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the co-author with Robert C. Bordone, of Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In. In this fascinating book, Joel and Robert blend advanced conflict management strategies with cutting-edge neuroscience to introduce a simple yet powerful three-step framework for navigating everyday conflict.

In this episode, Dr. Salinas reveals how conflict resilience rather than resolution can transform the way we engage with disagreement. He also explores the impact of social isolation, our fear of discomfort, and how avoiding conflict can ultimately weaken both personal and professional relationships, all while offering practical tools to navigate tough conversations with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

Whether you struggle with difficult conversations or simply want to strengthen your relationships and your communication approach, this episode is filled with valuable insights to help you approach conflict with clarity, confidence, and bravery. Tune in now to start transforming the way you engage with disagreement.

Key Highlights From This Episode:

• Understanding the surprising link between connection and conflict. [04:42]
• How social isolation and polarization contribute to conflict avoidance. [09:14]
• Reasons that we often see the other person as “the problem” in a conflict. [12:47]
• Finding a balance between setting boundaries and engaging in difficult conversations.[15:10]
• Insight into the three key tenets of deep listening. [18:18]
• An example that illustrates how to navigate everyday conflict with resilience. [22:56]
• How to phrase questions in a way that invites productive conversation. [26:04]
• The uncertainty of conflict outcomes (and why that shouldn’t stop us). [28:16]
• Practical strategies to help you rewire your brain to handle conflict better. [31:02]
• Unpacking the benefits of conflict resilience and how you can start practicing today. [38:12]

For More Information:

Dr. Joel Salinas

Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In

Dr. Joel Salinas on LinkedIn

Dr. Joel Salinas on Instagram

Dr. Joel Salinas on YouTube

Dr. Joel Salinas on X

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Read Joel’s book, Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain

Learn more about the co-author of Conflict Resilience, Bob Bordone

Watch examples of navigating crises in the Netflix show Madam Secretary

———————

KATHY’S DIGITAL CAREER COACHING CLONE—‘KATHY CAPRINO AI”—IS HERE!

I’m very excited to announce the release of my new Kathy Caprino AI career and leadership coaching clone! Here’s more about it! >> https://kathycaprino.com/kathyai

Powered by Delphi.ai, this tool brings my career growth teachings, advice, and answers to your most pressing questions directly to you, 24/7. With a subscription, you get unlimited access and can message or audio chat with my AI clone anytime you need guidance.

Drawing on my 40+ years of experience—from corporate life, therapy, and coaching to writing and speaking across 6 continents—I’ve trained Kathy AI using over 2.5 million words of my own content, including articles, books, podcasts, interviews, and workshops seen by over 41 million people.

My mission? To make Kathy Caprino AI your trusted resource for real-time career, leadership, and personal growth strategies. Get tailored answers to your toughest career challenges and practical solutions to achieve your top goals.

We offer two affordable pricing tiers, with Tier 2 unlocking great bonuses like membership to my new Career Breakthrough Community, including free coaching calls with me, exclusive discounts on my courses and programs, free LinkedIn support, and so much more.

It also makes a fantastic gift for friends, family, or colleagues who want to thrive professionally!

Check it out and subscribe today at kathycaprino.com/kathyai. Let me know what you think— I truly hope it becomes a game-changer for you!

For other career support programs, visit my Career Help page.

———————

Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!

In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.

If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible.

Kathy’s Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources

Kathy’s TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment

Kathy’s Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz

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QUOTES:

“You can't have an authentic relationship with somebody unless you're coming across and sorting through the differences we have. It's impossible to have one-to-one the exact same desires, interests, and contexts.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:07:26]

“When we're in a conflict situation, – it's very common that our first reaction is to see the other person as the problem. We want to take a stance that's more about agency and empowerment, starting with what you have control over: – your own relationship with conflict.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:14:24]

“A generous question begets a generous response – [Make] sure you're asking questions with the intent of understanding, not questions to harm the other person, put them down, or be overly defensive.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:22:18]

“Our brains evolved to be fortune-telling machines. It takes all our past experiences and memories to make predictions – and uses those predictions to make choices and take action – to help us survive and avoid danger. Out in the Savannah, that could have been helpful, – but it can be tricky when your brain is telling you interacting with somebody across lines of difference is a threat.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:29:22]

“It can be helpful to find the [bigger, better offer (BBO)]: what is the consequence or risk of me not engaging in this [difficult] conversation?” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:41:35]

“Part of building this mindset and skill set is a process of reprogramming and rewiring your brain.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:44:18]

“Our brains evolved to be fortune-telling machines. It takes all our past experiences and memories to make predictions – and uses those predictions to make choices and take action – to help us survive and avoid danger. Out in the Savannah, that could have been helpful, – but it can be tricky when your brain is telling you interacting with somebody across lines of difference is a threat.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:29:22]

Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!

Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino.

And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!

What if the key to better relationships, deeper influence, and personal growth wasn’t about fixing problems, but about acknowledging and accepting others? Today on Finding Brave, we sit down with Dr. Caroline Fleck, a licensed psychologist, corporate consultant, and adjunct clinical instructor at Stanford University, to explore the transformative power of validation.

Dr. Fleck is a recognized expert in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), specializing in working with high-conflict individuals and organizations. Her insights on psychology and human behavior have been featured in major outlets such as The New York Times, Good Morning America, and The Huffington Post. Her new book, Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life, challenges conventional communication habits and offers practical tools for fostering meaningful and productive connections.

In this episode, Dr. Fleck breaks down why validation is often misunderstood and why it’s a crucial skill for improving our personal and professional relationships. She shares how it differs from agreement, fosters emotional safety, and can lead to real behavior change. Using real-life examples, she demonstrates how validation can be a game-changer in parenting, leadership, and even high-stakes corporate environments.

We also explore the science behind validation and discover how mindfulness, understanding, and empathy form the foundation of meaningful human interaction. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the eight levels of validation, common mistakes people make when trying to be supportive, and simple shifts in communication that can dramatically improve trust and influence. Whether you're tackling workplace challenges, parenting struggles, or relationship conflicts, this episode is packed with powerful, real-world strategies you can start using today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [04:19] Why validation is not about agreement but acknowledging another’s experience
• [12:10] Acceptance as a powerful tool for change, especially in high-conflict situations.
• [14:00] Powerful validation skills that aren’t commonly taught (but should be).
• [16:36] Three key elements of validation: presence, understanding, and care.
• [22:10] How validation helped Dr. Fleck reconnect with her daughter after cancer treatment.
• [26:23] Making change easier by helping people accept their emotions as valid.
• [29:48] A CEO’s success story using validation to navigate workplace conflict.
• [36:37] Reasons that problem-solving often backfires when loved ones just want to be heard.
• [41:15] How validation fosters emotional safety and encourages open communication.

For More Information:

Dr. Caroline Fleck

Dr. Fleck’s new book Validation

Dr. Caroline Fleck on LinkedIn

Dr. Caroline Fleck on Instagram

Dr. Caroline Fleck on YouTube

Dr. Caroline Fleck on TikTok

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Take 20% off Kathy’s top three most requested 1:1 private career & leadership coaching programs this week!

Accelerate Your Job Search Success (3 sessions)

Career & Leadership Breakthrough program (6 sessions)

Build Your Confidence, Impact and Success at Work (10 sessions)

Use coupon code FBRAVE20 this week for your savings.

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KATHY’S DIGITAL CAREER COACHING CLONE—‘KATHY CAPRINO AI”—IS HERE!

I’m very excited to share my new “Kathy Caprino AI” career and leadership coaching clone! Here’s more about it! >> https://kathycaprino.com/kathyai

Powered by Delphi.ai, this tool brings my 18+ years of career growth teachings, advice, and answers to your most pressing career questions directly to you, 24/7. With a subscription, you get unlimited access and can message or audio chat with my AI clone anytime you need guidance.

Drawing on my 40+ years of experience—from corporate life, work as a therapist, and coaching to writing and speaking with thousands of people across 6 continents—I’ve trained Kathy AI using over 2.5 million words of my own content, including articles, books, podcasts, interviews, and workshops seen by over 41 million people.

My mission? To make Kathy Caprino AI your trusted resource for real-time career, leadership, and personal growth strategies. Get tailored answers to your toughest career challenges and practical solutions to achieve your top goals.

We offer two affordable pricing tiers, with Tier 2 unlocking great bonuses like membership to my new Career Breakthrough Community, including free monthly career coaching calls with me, a 30-minute private consultation, exclusive discounts on my courses and programs, free LinkedIn support, and so much more.

It also makes a fantastic gift for friends, family, and your teams and colleagues who want to thrive professionally!

Check it out and subscribe today at kathycaprino.com/kathyai. Let me know what you think—and I truly hope it becomes a game-changer for you!

For other career support programs, visit my Career Help page.

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Order Kathy’s book The Most Powerful You today!

In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here.

If you enjoy the book, we’d so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy’s digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible.

Kathy’s Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources

Kathy’s TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment

Kathy’s Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz

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Sponsor Highlight

I'm thrilled that both Audible.com and Amazon Music are sponsors of Finding Brave! Take advantage of their great special offers and free trials today!

Audible Offer

Amazon Music Offer

Quotes:

“Validation must be authentic. If it is not, then you're not validating the other person.” — Dr. Caroline Fleck [0:14:58]

“The first thing you need is mindfulness. You need to be – paying attention non-judgmentally. Through that process, you will – start to understand some part of that person's experience, be it their thoughts, emotions, or behavior.” — Dr. Caroline Fleck [0:16:02]

“Part of the reason [validation] is so transformative for folks, especially folks who have big emotions, is that it – makes it easier to work on change because you're able to accept that your emotions are valid.” — Dr. Caroline Fleck [0:28:03]

“Acceptance is a pathway to change.” — Dr. Caroline Fleck [0:30:46]

“If you open with what's valid and if you see some part of the other person, they're going to be much more open and receptive to collaborating [and] working with you.” — Dr. Caroline Fleck [0:34:04]

“Two-thirds of the time, when we go to people with our problems, we just want to be heard, see that they're valid, and [be] taken seriously.” — Dr. Caroline Fleck [0:40:58]

Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!

Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino.

And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!