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What if the very thing you think is protecting you as a leader is actually holding you back?

In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul sits down with Natasha Skolny, a former professional ice skater who is now a leadership coach and founder of The Leadership Cabin. It's a wide-ranging, deeply practical conversation about authenticity, nervous system regulation, resilience, and what it really takes to lead people well.

Natasha introduces the idea of “corporate armor”—the protective persona leaders put on to look competent, composed, and in control—and explains why that armor quietly erodes trust instead of building it. Together, Paul and Natasha explore why leaders are often promoted for control, but succeed long-term through connection.

The conversation moves from boardrooms to locker rooms to ice baths, unpacking:

• Why vulnerability actually increases credibility
• How control and discipline are not the same thing
• What professional athletes understand about emotional regulation
• Why breathwork, movement, and even cold plunging help leaders stay grounded
• How stored emotion shows up in surprising (and often destructive) ways
• Why the best leaders invest in coaches—and keep doing it
• How Natasha helps young women reconnect with their voice, values, and direction

This episode is honest, hopeful, and highly practical—especially for leaders who are tired of pretending they’re fine and ready to lead from a healthier place.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Armor creates distance; humanity builds trust
• What got you here won’t get you there
• Regulation beats repression—every time
• Resilient leaders train their nervous systems, not just their skills
• You were never meant to lead alone

🔗 Connect with Natasha

• Website: theleadershipcabin.com
• LinkedIn & YouTube & Instagram

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

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