It can feel like the world is more divided than ever, but what if most of what we see comes down to what we've decided to look for? In this episode, Melissa shares a heartfelt list of "if you decide" choices that can bring us back together... at home, in our communities, and at work.

You'll hear how deciding to be open-minded, to see the human behind the behavior, and to look for common ground changes what you notice in the people around you. Melissa also brings it into the workplace with real examples for leaders, from the employee who resists every change to the departments that have been at war for years.

And yes, she talks about the flip side too: the small percentage of jerks who thrive on division, the dopamine rush of the fight, and why so many of us are missing the millions of people quietly choosing kindness every single day.

In this episode:

• Why open-mindedness is a decision you make before the conversation starts
• How seeing the human behind the behavior shows we're more alike than different
• What leaders can do to stop feeding the pot-stirrers and invest in their steady majority
• A simple invitation to practice one "decision" this week

Connect with Melissa and grab free resources: https://linktr.ee/becoming_bold_llc

Until next time, please be kind to your mind.

Content note: this episode discusses domestic violence and sexual assault. Please take care of yourself while you listen, and pause or skip ahead whenever you need to.

Most of us were trained to leave home stuff at the door when we clock in... but abuse doesn't stay home. More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men in the U.S. have experienced violence or stalking by an intimate partner, and that means survivors are on your team, in your Monday meeting, and on your second shift crew right now. In this episode, Melissa breaks down what the numbers look like in the faces you see every day, how abuse quietly shows up in attendance, focus, and performance, and what your role as a leader actually is. You don't need to be anyone's therapist. You DO need awareness, empathy, and the willingness to get curious before you write someone up.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why "leave it at the door" was never realistic, and what it costs your people and your team
• Relatable statistics on domestic violence and sexual assault, and what they mean for your workplace
• The signs that may show up in performance, plus why the person causing harm can be a safety concern at work too
• A simple script for opening a caring, private conversation about what you've noticed
• Eight practical ways to respond with empathy while still holding expectations

If you or someone you love needs support

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org
• RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org
• Check with your HR team about your organization's Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• If someone is in immediate danger, call 911

Sources mentioned in this episode

• CDC National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2023/2024 summary (Safe States Alliance)
• CDC NISVS 2023/2024 Sexual Violence Data Brief
• RAINN statistics
• WomenSV: Domestic Violence and the Workplace
• DomesticShelters.org: Economic Impact of Domestic Violence
• Resilience: When Domestic Violence Comes to Work
• CDC NISVS overview (archived)

What if your body has been trying to tell you something all along?

In this episode, I'm joined by Theresa Hubbard, licensed family therapist, retreat facilitator, and host of the My Inner Knowing podcast. @myinnerknowing With over 35,000 hours of client work and training in EMDR, Brainspotting, Neurofeedback, breathwork, and so much more, Theresa brings a rare blend of professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. She also serves as Chair of the Clinical Advisory Board for The Battle Within, supporting veterans and first responders.

Theresa and I talk about how perfectionism grows out of our deep need for connection and belonging, and how she uses an "observer" approach to stay curious about herself during seasons of growth and visibility. She shares why she has trained herself to trust physical sensations as a reliable source of information, even when the story in her head is loud.

We also dive into Shiftwave, a technology that combines sensory deprivation, guided imagery, breathwork, and full-body bilateral stimulation to help regulate the nervous system. Theresa explains how she pairs it with traditional therapy to support clients working through trauma, shame, and regret, and why she's advocating to bring it into VA programs so veterans can move out of that constant high-alert state.

If you've ever felt stuck in your head, weighed down by shame, or disconnected from your body, this conversation is for you.

In this episode:

• How perfectionism connects to our need for belonging
• The "observer" approach for self-curiosity during growth
• Learning to trust your body's signals
• What Shiftwave is and how Theresa uses it alongside therapy
• Supporting veterans in regulating their nervous systems
• Theresa's upcoming case studies, clinical protocols, and professional guide

Connect with Theresa Hubbard:
Website: https://theresahubbard.com

Connect with Melissa:
https://linktr.ee/becoming_bold_llc

Until next time, please be kind to your mind.

You feel it before you even open your mouth. Heart rate up, thoughts racing, adrenaline showing up to a conversation you didn't invite it to. In this episode, Melissa shares 8 ways to feel ready for the conversation you've been dreading: 4 things you can do in the moment to bring the emotional charge down, and 4 things to work on beforehand so you walk in prepared, grounded, and less likely to walk away wishing you'd handled it differently.

Follow for more helpful tips for home and work! https://linktr.ee/becoming_bold_llc

Ever walk into one meeting and feel your shoulders creep up before anyone's even spoken, then walk into another and finally breathe?

That's not a coincidence, that's culture.

In this episode, we're breaking down the real difference between a toxic workplace and a psychologically safe one, including what each one costs (or pays off) in the short term and the long term. We'll also get into what psychologically safe organizations do really well, on purpose, that most teams never think to build. If you're leading people right now, this episode will give you one question worth asking today.

Enjoy this type of content? More here: https://linktr.ee/becoming_bold_llc

Ever wonder what actually happens inside Becoming Bold? In this episode, I'm walking you through the whole map. Everything I offer lives on one bridge, with two paths across it depending on where you're starting from.

The Empowerment Path starts with my free "I Don't Do That Anymore" masterclass and moves into the Becoming Bold Bootcamp, a six-week program built to help you stop tolerating what's draining you and start operating from your new default. This path isn't just for women. If you're a man who's tired of showing up in ways that no longer fit, it's for you too.

The Leadership Path is for the people leading others - 1:1 coaching through my Advanced Individual Training (MBTI and TKI included), New Leader Integration for anyone stepping into a new role, and Human-Centered Team Effectiveness workshops for teams working through real friction.

I'll walk you through what each offering actually includes, the time commitment, who it's built for, and how to know which one is your next right step. Plus, where to find the Women Becoming Bold community, this podcast, and my newsletter, and current pricing and discounts.

Links to everything mentioned: Tap or click here

You know the thing you've been tolerating. The job, the relationship, the habit, the version of you that keeps shrinking so everyone else stays comfortable.

This episode is your permission slip to stop.

I'm giving you the pep talk you actually need to hear today, two small steps to start with, and a clear picture of what six months from now looks like if you keep everything exactly the way it is. You are capable of the change you keep circling. Let's go get it.

Connect with me here: https://linktr.ee/becoming_bold_llc

Ever notice how much easier it is to have an opinion about someone else's lawn, marriage, or wardrobe than it is to look at your own life? In this episode, I'm talking about the sneaky ways we let daily irritations, traffic, a coworker's habits, someone else's choices, take up way more space in our heads than they deserve. We'll get into why nitpicking other people often has nothing to do with them and everything to do with what we're avoiding in ourselves, plus five practical ways to widen your world so the small stuff stops running the show. If you've caught yourself judging a stranger's outfit lately, this one's for you.

Looking for deeper ways to connect? Look here: https://linktr.ee/becoming_bold_llc