What can the kitchen teach leaders about influence, trust, and soft power?

In this episode, Shelby and Belinda are joined by Jeremiah Knight, Foreign Service Officer and author of Diplomat in the Kitchen, to explore leadership through the lens of culinary diplomacy.

Jeremiah shares how food, storytelling, and hospitality can build trust across cultures and serve as a powerful form of soft power in professional environments. He also reflects on what it took to create Diplomat in the Kitchen over several years, including the importance of building the right team, accepting honest feedback, and pursuing a passion project strategically while maintaining a full-time career.

This episode offers grounded leadership lessons on influence, discernment, resilience, and building relationships that last.

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Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

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What does it really mean to stand for something as a leader right now?

In this episode of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Shelby and Belinda discuss the growing pressure leaders face to speak out, and why outrage alone is not leadership. They explore how judgment, discernment, and timing play a critical role in deciding when to speak up, when to wait, and how to create lasting impact without grandstanding.

Through thoughtful reflection and real-world examples, this conversation unpacks the difference between performative action and strategic leadership, the value of incremental change, and the importance of trust built over time.

This episode is for leaders navigating polarized environments who want to lead with intention, credibility, and real influence.

Send us a comment!

Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Cathy Duffy joins us to explore redefining power at work, building skill security, and choosing yourself as a leader in today’s evolving workplace.

In the Season 5 premiere of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Cathy reflects on leadership from inside complex organizations, sharing hard-earned insights on compensation, identity beyond titles, and why job security is no longer enough. She challenges leaders to focus on skill security, generosity, and self-trust, especially in moments of transition or uncertainty.

This conversation is a reminder that leadership unfolds in seasons, and that choosing yourself is not selfish, but essential to sustaining impact, clarity, and purpose at work.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Skill security vs. job security
• Under-compensation and knowing your value
• Separating identity from titles and roles
• Redefining power as flexibility and “power with”
• Why happiness is fleeting — and what to pursue instead
• Choosing yourself without guilt at different life stages

Send us a comment!

Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.