Claim OwnershipWhat is Leadership?
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For those who are called to lead lives, work and movements that create a more just, kind and conscious world, and to learn from folx who are. Explore the kinds of perspectives, capacities and approaches needed to lead in times of ever increasing complexity. From personal and collective development, to cultivating meaningful life’s work, to systemic and cultural change strategies, Chela Davison hosts conversations with a diverse collection of leaders who are heeding the call to reimagine our world at our next edge of human evolution. Get inspired, be nourished and grow together. Welcome to What is Leadership?
56 Episodes
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Jennifer England supports soul-aligned missions for the collective good. As an Integral Master Coach™ and highly skilled facilitator, she helps high performing leaders and teams access deeper fulfilment, clarity and alignment to succeed in transition, uncertainty and emergent collaboration. In this episode, Jennifer shares the value of bringing the principles of improv to our lives, and how our ability to improvise in times of challenge or disruption can actually be the soil of our resilience and creativity. They explore the relentless pursuit of ‘self-improvement’, and discuss the concept of ‘holobiont’ - that we become and are becoming an assemblage of the experiences and identities shaped by the ecosystem of our lives. For links and show notes: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Kathleen Smith is a singer-songwriter/producer whose music has been heard on radio, TV and film. She is also a music supervisor for Netflix, Hulu, Showtime and the popular podcast & Netflix show - Song Exploder. In this episode, Kathleen discusses her new record ‘Medicine’, which she wrote - and taught herself to produce - in an old barn in New Mexico. She unpacks her early artist years - from seeking validation from an extractive industry to finding sovereignty - and the significance of deep spiritual practice on that journey. The dance between being a visionary and present reality, and the importance of listening to our hearts - the interface between source and the horizontal plane of human existence. For links and show notes: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Bradley Morris is the founder of Majik Media - helping leaders unleash their majik to leverage their life’s work - as well as Majik Kids, the Creator’s Club and is also a professional golfer - and no, you will not find him on social media. In this episode, Bradley shares his decision to leave social media, highlighting the negative impact of algorithms, the divisive nature of the platforms, and a scary realization that compelled him to make a permanent exit. Discover how Bradley's departure from socials transformed his business model - and expect practical marketing alternatives - including nurturing your email list, guest appearances, good old fashioned PR and the power of developing a transformational signature workshop. For links and show notes: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Lael Couper Jepson is all about change powered by women. Founder of SheChanges, she makes it her business to hold space for those willing to live from the crossroads of conventional thought and unconventional wisdom. In this episode, they discuss important conversations often buried - which Lael is passionate about uncovering - and the language needed to disrupt traditional leadership thinking. Lack of safety in organizations, and welcoming the ‘dominant cast’ to the change conversation with compassion and enthusiasm - because for things to change, everybody needs to be at the party. The ripple effect of public courage when making unconventional choices, being true to oneself and collapsing what’s not working in order to rebuild. For links and show notes: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Sydney Craig, is the owner of Pilates Tonic, a studio she founded over 17 years ago, which has expanded into online movement learning. In this episode, Sydney emphasizes the importance of body as instrument - for moving through the world and finding guidance - inviting curiosity about what our body is communicating. The initial challenges she faced as a business owner revealed that her external struggles reflected internal struggles, and she shares how taking self-responsibility allowed for significant change. They discuss the importance of leading from and listening to our bodies, steadiness and showing up over time, and the presence that takes vs. the instant success narrative created by a fast-paced world. For links and show notes: cheladavison.com/podcast.
In this episode, I share about how the Creative Cauldron came to be, how it works and what to expect if you decide to join us this upcoming season! About a year ago, I was feeling creatively dry. I decided to finally take a course a friend of mine has on writing and performing solo shows, and the experience made me realize the importance of giving reverence and dedicated time to my creative writing. Knowing that I uphold my commitments to others, I decided to start the Creative Cauldron, a community where us artists and creators could gather, support each other, and work on our projects in community. If you’re curious to hear all the deets, check out this episode!
Rob McNamara is an author, leadership coach, advisor and consultant with expertise in adult development and human performance. Co-founder of consulting firm Delta Developmental and faculty member for the Ivey School of Business’ LIFT Advanced Coaching Program, he advises, trains, and coaches on a broad range of initiatives for individuals, organizations, and governments navigating complex, civilization-wide problems. In this emergent conversation, they explore the necessity to inquire into ways you are failing as a leader, rather than emphasizing expertise. Our insatiable human desire to acquire more - extracting of ourselves and our World. The gestalt of maturity through ensoulment, development and liberation, and Rob sharing his edge which leads to an emergent insight. For links and show notes: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Are you a service provider struggling financially, despite having a very successful practice? In today’s ‘Dear Chela’, I answer a therapist’s question about how to make ends meet, speaking to: the wider context of the struggling economy and the historical possibility of supporting large families on a single income in comparison to today’s conditions. I offer possible tangible shifts - including reassessing business models and alternative income sources. I encourage seeking support - both seen and unseen - focusing on building relationships, connecting with peers, leaning into their deep spirituality and joining communities of practice. I close with encouraging an honouring of the Winter they are in and to allow time to incubate ideas. To submit to Dear Chela: https://cheladavison.com/dear-chela-submission/
Known for her raw, honest, and nuanced approach to spirituality and the healing arts, Elizabeth DiAlto is an Embodiment Specialist, a Mystic, and host of the Embodied Podcast. In this episode, Elizabeth describes the journey towards her Soul’s work - how being a personal trainer in NYC led to questioning societal beauty standards, inspiring her to create her own business. They explore: Elizabeth’s unique capacities - including committing to being unabashedly herself and a love of comedy. Humour, humanity, and humility in our Soul's journey and alchemizing anger into something useful. The image trap of being "evolved”, and the importance of clear community agreements for safe spaces to actually be safe. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Rachel Flood is a technology enthusiast, operations consultant, and enterprise architect with over 20 years experience in for-profit and non-profit sectors. She is passionate about leveraging systems to simplify and automate mundane manual tasks, freeing up the ‘beautiful minds’ of operational workers - insisting the work should be repeatable, but the person not replaceable. In this episode, Rachel discusses hiring operational help - including training up current employees. She emphasizes the importance of spending time on system implementation and documentation for sustainability and scalability potential. Her course “Stop Using Spreadsheets” teaches a 5-step process designed to help people doing good things in the World do what they do - but better. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast.
In this episode, I share some massive shifts in my life's work over the past couple of years through devices I use with clients - calling, seasonality and impact statement - in the hopes that it may contribute to your own unfoldings. I discuss the four cornerstones of a calling, how mine has been evolving and personal experience of a “forced winter” to heal and do the inner work. An unexpected hobby that led to claiming a dream I've had since I was a child, and what this all means in terms of a decade’s body of work and what I'm doing with it in order to deeply heed this call. For links and show notes go to: https://cheladavison.com/podcast
Heidi Rose Robbins has been a professional astrologer for 25 years, helping thousands of global clients live with more authenticity and clarity. She hosts two podcasts, THE RADIANCE PROJECT, featuring poetry, astrology, and good company, and CHART YOUR CAREER, with co-host Ellen Fondiler. She’s written two poetry books and has been a featured poet at two TedX events. Her latest book, Everyday Radiance, launched this January. In this episode, Heidi beautifully weaves astrological language throughout as she describes her work's evolution, as well as astrology as a developing field. She speaks to the growth and importance of connections, and how astrology shapes her life, business and connections with her children. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast
Feeling personal-developed-OUT? Pounded with ways to progress, longing to just ‘be’? Done with morning routines - burning to pump the brakes on evolving for a single moment - so you can just sip your darn coffee in peace!? Then check out this episode of Dear Chela, as I speak to external expectations and overwhelming standards that have us feeling ‘never enough’. I talk input detoxes, awareness of internal stories and remind you to check intentions when it comes to morning practices. I offer a practice to lean into what’s sufficient and set fire to standards, leaving you with an excerpt from my solo show that speaks to this endless pressure to evolve. To submit to Dear Chela: https://cheladavison.com/dear-chela-submission/
Tired of being tired? Does hustle and grind culture have you by the short and curlies? If you’ve set your hopes on regenerative ways of living and working - wondering how you’ll know when you’ve exited cycles of hustling & grinding - this episode is for you! Jacquie read my article ‘Discipline & Heat = Spaciousness & Relief’ and resonated with the quote: ‘I have worked so hard not to work so hard’. After 30+ years grinding, she asks - “How do I know, see, feel - when I’ve shifted away from the grind?” I offer ways to explore her beliefs, behaviours and ways of checking during a grind spell, and a possible new, regenerative way of being. To submit to Dear Chela: https://cheladavison.com/dear-chela-submission/
Gayle Colman is a certified financial planner, coach, writer and entrepreneur. With four decades of professional experience in financial planning, her diverse training infuses Integral coaching and spiritual embodiment with practical financial savvy to bring somatic finance to life as an entirely new way of understanding and being in relationship with money. In this episode, Gayle names the necessity to bring the wisdom of our body to all matters of money in order to make whole human financial decisions. How building embodied sufficiency vs. scarcity helps to navigate external fear forces, how fully inhabiting our body moves us towards generosity and why ‘money is energy’ glosses over a deeper conversation. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Recently, I wrote a blog post called ‘Such a loser’, and had some varied responses. One turned into a beautiful back and forth with a new reader. Part of her response was the question ‘Are you okay?’, which I was so touched by, and further went on to ask - ‘Do some people experience emotions differently?’ - naming that if she’d felt how I had described - she’d be worried. In this episode of Dear Chela, I discuss my own journey developing emotional capacity, speak to what capabilities can be built to expand your own - and how the not-so-positive emotional experiences can ‘hurt more, but bother us less’ when we develop in this way. For links & shownotes, go to: cheladavison.com/podcast
Melanie Sheckels is a registered nurse and a death, grief and trauma educator/guide, helping hundreds of humans move from fear and freeze into possibility and ease. Melanie founded ‘Threshold Doula’ in 2019 after 7 years as a cardiac and hospice nurse, helping people navigate the healthcare system and dying process with greater understanding and confidence. In this episode, Melanie shares about her mother’s passing which led to stepping into this leadership. How the Western medical system relates to the dying process (and an alternative approach for regret-free transition), a reframe for ‘legacy’ and our part in the wider web of life, and ways to navigate expected and unexpected deaths. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Jennifer Chapman is the founder of ‘Ambition Leadership’ which she leaped into on Leap Day 2012 - with a desire to build a company that embodied the leadership behaviours it promoted. She is an expert Leadership Coach working with STEM managers and leaders who want to increase their productivity and performance by strengthening their competence and people skills. In this episode, Jennifer provides practical tools for how to manage your boss - whether you have one or are one, varying personality types in the workplace and how to honour them, possibilities to influence culture without hierarchical power and an invitation to consider what type of work culture we want to belong to. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast.
This episode is part of the Guided Series, where Chela explores the key guiding principles in her work and business. Meet The Call explores what a calling is and how we go about meeting it. Chela speaks to how a calling is part of us, but also beyond us. She names common patterns noticed when heeding a call - both her own and with her clients - including what our callings care about and what they don’t. She speaks to misconceptions - like the notion that aligned callings should feel easy. Chela muses that perhaps our calling is always asking something new of us, inviting us to the question ‘What is calling to you right now?’. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast.
Ali Phillips founded ‘Bust A Move Dance’ in 2009 - one of Australia’s first inclusive dance companies for children, teens and adults with disabilities - at age 17. Diving into entrepreneurship at an early age, she soon developed a passion for both teaching and leadership. In this episode, she speaks about how who we are is how we lead and how sensing into body and mind simultaneously, as well as defining and aligning with our core values, allows us to show up in leadership and in the World authentically. Ali defines self-awareness as a superpower, and the more we know ourselves, the better we can show up aligned in our purposeful work. For links and show notes go to: cheladavison.com/podcast.
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