Let's Just Start Podcast with Laura Racky and Christian Cunningham

In the final (probably) of the summer series, this is an excerpt from episode 27 focusing on two serious situations - increasing your authority at work, and dealing with bully bosses in the workplace. The phrases that build (or weaken) authorityConfidence vs arrogance in leadership communicationHandling “what about” people in meetingsCreating ownership instead of issuing commandsProtecting yourself from toxic behaviour at workSetting boundaries without escalating conflictPlanning your exit from unhealthy environmentsThese 5 MAGICAL statements will instantly lift your authority in the room: “Here’s what I recommend.”“I’ll take responsibility for that — leave it with me.”“That’s a fair point — what do you recommend?”“Let’s focus on what we can control.”“Do you believe you can deliver X by Y date?”We then tackle a tougher reality: how to deal with an aggressive or bullying manager when you can’t just walk away. This is a grounded conversation about reality, protecting your confidence, setting boundaries, detaching from toxic behaviour, and building an exit strategy without pretending the situation is simple.If you’ve ever struggled to be heard, felt your authority slipping, or needed practical ways to navigate difficult workplace relationships, this episode gives you tools you can use immediately.Find us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

In this episode, we tackle radical self-accountability, not as self-blame, but as an approach that can totally change your life.Even when something isn’t your fault, your reaction is still your responsibility. And when something is partly your fault (choices, omissions, patterns), refusing to face it stops you from learning the lessons it offers. This is an entirely new way to view the world, and it's not for everyone. The key question when something goes wrong: “What did I contribute… and should I have seen this coming?”Why accountability isn’t self-flagellation (and why “I’m the worst” is just another escape)How “you teach people how to treat you” plays out at work, at home, and in relationshipsWhy victimhood is seductive and how social media can reward grievance until it becomes an identityThe difference between truth and toxic perfectionism: owning reality while keeping compassionWhy the worst lie is the one you tell yourself and how inner/outer “misalignment” fuels anxietyThe “Matrix choice”: short-term comfort vs long-term freedomFind us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

This segment from Ep 17 runs through the 4 Hard Parts Of Senior Leadership No One Tells You About. But we will. There are parts of senior leadership that almost no one prepares you for, especially once real P&L responsibility lands on your desk. In this episode, we break down four hard truths about very senior leadership that most people only learn the painful way.First: you will always regret not acting on poor performance sooner. Leaders don’t fail by being too decisive, they fail by letting underperformance drift, damaging morale and driving away their best people.Second: the higher you go, the worse the information gets. Senior leaders are forced to make consequential decisions with incomplete, imperfect, and often late data. At the top, waiting for certainty is usually more dangerous than making a call.Third: you must model the standards you expect of others. Culture is set by behaviour, not policy. If you tolerate things in yourself that you wouldn’t accept in your team, the organisation will follow your lead, whether you like it or not.Finally: if you want to keep moving up, you must aggressively succession plan. The paradox of senior leadership is that the more replaceable you are, the more valuable you become.This is a grounded, honest conversation about what leadership actually demands when the stakes are real.Find us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

This segment from Ep 19 lays out a 12-step, values-intact roadmap to corporate success, not the Machiavellian version, but the version that actually works long-term.The framework starts with radical humility. Early in your career you know nothing, so your job is to learn, observe, volunteer, and absorb everything. From there, it moves into building relationships, finding mentors and sponsors, and setting crystal clear expectations every time you step into a new role.As your career progresses, the focus shifts to obsession with clients and customers, delegating early, developing your team so you can be replaced, and deliberately taking on hard, unwanted problems, but only with the right mandate and expectations.At senior levels, the game becomes more explicit, advocating for yourself professionally, putting pressure on for advancement, documenting everything, telling the truth, keeping promises, and learning to communicate differently with teams, peers, executives, and clients.The final anchor is values. Once you know what you stand for, you never bend them. If a role or organisation forces you to compromise them, you leave, because the cost of staying is always higher.Follow these 12 steps at any stage of your career and you dramatically increase your odds of corporate success, while also building skills that protect you if you ever choose to leave and build something of your own.The 12 Steps to Climbing the Corporate LadderStart by shutting up and learning how to show up You don’t know anything yet. Work hard, listen, follow people around, ask questions, volunteer, and absorb everything.Do extra. Volunteer. Build relationships. Chase learningDo the jobs no one wants. Ask for help. Learn two or three things from everyone around you.Identify a mentor Learn from someone ahead of you. Earn respect first. Advocacy comes later, quietly and powerfully.When promoted, define what success actually looks likeAsk: “Twelve months from now, what does success look like? ”Get the measures. Get alignment. Don’t meander.Obsess over customers and clientsLearn why they buy, why they leave, what they value, and why competitors win. Become irreplaceable.Delegate early and build people who can replace youTrain your team. Grow their careers. If no one can replace you, you won’t move.Find a problem no one wants to touch — and take it on with a mandateBig, ugly, career-defining problems. Set expectations properly. Fix it or move it forward.Apply professional pressure for advancementDon’t wait to be noticed. Signal your ambition early. Put timelines around progress — calmly and tactically.Document everything — keep the receiptsAgreements, timelines, expectations. The truth in writing protects you from politics.Tell the truth and keep your promisesDon’t overpromise. Be clear about limits. Say what you can and can’t do — and mean it.Learn to communicate properlyUp, down, and sideways, customer, client, all different communication styles. Never bend your valuesOnce you know them, don’t compromise. If the role eats your soul, leave.Find us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co*Success not actually guaranteed

This segment from Ep 18 was very popular. What happens when you set high personal standards in a world that increasingly rewards mediocrity.The discussion moves from “high performers at work” into something deeper. What message do you send yourself when you lower your standards to match those around you, at work, in relationships, or in everyday life?Using real examples, we tackle how constant exposure to low effort, poor incentives, and equal treatment regardless of output can slowly erode character. Not through one big decision, but through quiet, unconscious compromises over time.Also: ​Why high performers often feel punished, ignored, or drained​Why most organisations are not actually designed for elite performers​The danger of letting the bottom 10% dictate culture​How leaders lose their best people by tolerating low standards​The personal cost of “doing less” just to survive an environment​Why values are something you hold for yourself, not impose on othersThe central question is simple but uncomfortable:Would you rather take hits while living in alignment with your values, or lower yourself to avoid friction—and slowly lose respect for who you are?We'll be back in 2026, for now we're releasing the best of. :) Find us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

This segment from episode 10 was a popular one. Laura reviewed the book Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office by Dr. Lois Frankel about unconscious mistakes women make that sabotage their careers. The lived experience is that women can have it all, just not at all at once, and Laura reflected in this episode on how her perception of parenting and growing career had been jolted by reality. We'll be back in 2026, for now we're releasing the best of. :) Find us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

In this episode, Christian and Laura deal with one of the most controversial Australian policy debates: the under-16 social media ban. We agree that social platforms can be addictive and damaging for teenagers but argue the proposed ban is a blunt instrument that creates bigger downstream risks: privacy trade-offs, government overreach into parenting decisions, and the predictable “workaround economy” that pushes behaviour underground rather than improving outcomes.We also delve into FOLLOWING YOUR INSTINCTS and not not letting yourself be talked into / out of something because of fear or stress (Including by ourselves).We then lay out 4 THINGS YOU CAN NOT MEASURE in 2026, mindset framework built around non-measurable focus areas: separating busyness from progress, making fewer promises, filtering opinions through evidence and incentives, and a grounded approach to manifesting that’s really about clarity + daily action. We also covered Elvira, privacy, bad policy, incentives, and all the usual fun stuff.Key topics:The harm is real; the policy design is the problem.Blanket bans often shift behaviour underground Privacy costs matter: age verification can create new risks."Ick” feelings should be listened to. Big life choices need time to separate instinct from fear.The busyness cycle is a trap. Touch some grass.Evidence beats vibes, especially when opinions provoke emotion.Manifesting works best as intention + action Find us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

This segment from Episode 5 on Laura Racky's Dopamine Playbook was EXTREMELY popular.Laura took the risk of being very open about her challenges with dopamine, executive dysfunction, and how she has built the structure to mitigate these challenges - albeit it is a battle that is never truly won.Christian and Laura get into this very challenging subject matter, and for many, this could be the magical unlock for 2026 happiness.It's not easy... but it's worth it.Find us here:Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

3 Interview Questions that will change your team or business. The interview process - when you think about it - is a joke. 30 mins to 2 hours to understand someone enough to have them add to your culture? And for them to know enough about you to commit to yours? Here are three interview questions that can take some of the luck out of the process, and really get to the heart of what people are about, and whether you are for each other. Not just to work together, but to THRIVE. This was from episode 7 and generated a lot of buzz. Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

4 Signs you should quit your job was a VERY popular segment from Episode 9 where Christian and Laura went through the key signs it's time to leave your job. On Tiktok this clip had a couple of million views, perhaps at the time a lot of people were unhappy in their jobs. :) Less than 8 minutes, if you see these signs, it's time to find somewhere else. Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

This episode of Let's Just Start had a tough segment with Laura and Christian delving into reactions after Bondi. This topic is not for everyone, so please act accordingly. Our love to all effected by this horrendous situation. We discussed having pride in Australia again, after letting ourselves be worn down by naysayers. We also covered the jolt this event has caused, where empty rhetoric and pointless bureaucracy in leadership will soon not be tolerated, and action will fill the space. Truth-telling in relationships, when withholding protects you, when it becomes avoidance, and how it can effect intimacy in these spousal and other relationships. We also covered an IN DEPTH segment on the psychology of women's shopping, where Laura *re-educated* Christian in some home truths. Finally, a practical discussion about running a business through the Christmas to January slowdown, recognising seasonal patterns, managing anxiety when things go quiet, and learning when to stop fighting reality.Tricky subject matter, thanks for sticking with us. Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

End of year conversations don't have to be boring, and this one CERTAINLY isn't.In this episode of Let’s Just Start, Laura and Christian talk about what matters heading ending 2025, not resolutions, but compound behaviours.We talk negotiation beyond tactics (what to concede, when leverage matters), reading without pressure, and a bit on dopamine, momentum, and motivation.Christian leads a segment on 5 WAYS TO DOMINATE YOUR CAREER OR BUSINESS IN 2026 and we also cover bias to action, telling the truth, the professional avatar we project, and a bunch of other stuff. Packed. Summary: Negotiation doesn't have to be what you think it does.Reading without guilt, performance, or fake intellectualism.Dopamine, anxiety, momentum, and why you need to think about this.Five ways to DOMINATE in 2026.Setting the industry benchmark instead of chasing approval, you don't actually know what's possible.Why telling the hard truth (to yourself first) changes everything.Managing your professional avatar and why perception still matters.And more. :) Thank you for listening and watching, we love you all. Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

In this episode of Let’s Just Start, Laura and Christian cover a series of uncomfortable topics most people avoid saying out loud. We explore whether kids are born as they are, or shaped by parenting. How much influence do we really have on our kids?Why everyone is secretly making life up as they go, and knowing this is a kind of freedom. (or at least relief)The confronting idea that people are exactly where they choose to be — even when they hate it. Why the word “should” is one of the most dangerous words in modern thinking. And how motherhood fundamentally reshapes identity, ambition, and priorities. A VERY tricky subject. We finish with a deep philosophical turn into uncertainty, science, truth, and why human beings dramatically overestimate how much they actually know about the world.This is a very honest episode about control, responsibility, identity, and the humility required to live well.Thank you for listening and watching, we love you all. Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

Segment from Episode 6: how to negotiate your salary in this LJS Moment That Matters.Getting a really good deal on salary is tricky business, and while some might say 'just leave' to make a big jump, we argue that you can plan ahead at your current employer and make yourself a great deal.Laura and Christian both agree that the negotiation begins WAY before the conversation, and here are some ideas to go about it. Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

In today’s episode, we go from bikinis and burnout to organisation, timing, and trust.We break down the “invisible string” that connected our lives for years before we ever met — same streets, same orbits, same people — and some of the freakish signs the Universe sent us that we simply couldn't deny. Laura walks through the exact systems she uses to stay on top of hundreds of inputs a day:• Outlook calendar as the single source of truth• Inbox Zero • Microsoft To Do and her “My Day” list• Rolling WIP tracking• Why every system has a shelf life• How to replace a system when it stops workingChristian breaks down the widening gap between private and public wages in Australia — and why this is a sign of economic strain, not strength.Also how to structure 30 MINUTE MEETINGS PEOPLE WILL RAVE ABOUT and actually want to attend.We also cover• How to prep properly for job interviews in a tighter market• Why charisma isn’t enough (especially for women)This one’s emotional, practical, grounded, and surprisingly romantic.Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

In this LJS Moment That Matters, we pull a high-impact conversation from Episode 4: the truth about staff equity. Christian argues for equity as a retention tool and an insurance policy for the founder, Laura breaks down the legal risks, shareholder oppression, and why even tiny shareholders can cause big problems. A sharp, honest look at the decision every growing business eventually faces.Find us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

Episode 27 of Let's Just Start Podcast! This episode is about building POWERFUL AUTHORITY through language choices, setting boundaries, and magical meeting structure. We cover:• 5 phrases that instantly lift your authority • Tactics to survive a bully manager when you can’t just quit• Public speaking without the panic spiral• The 30-minute meeting framework that will have people RAVING about attending• And a quick one on 50-year mortgages and why “easy” solutions are rarely free.Thanks all for listening. If you want to work with us or collab you can contact at: letsjustmgmt@gmail.comFind us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

In today’s episode, we cover a surprisingly deep mix of leadership, life, and performance themes — starting with Ted Lasso, of all things.We get into:Ted Lasso's infectious positivityHow small moments of kindness and authenticity can shift entire relationshipsThe “top relationships audit”: a brutally honest way to check where your energy is going vs where you want it to goBeing present, not parallel—why many of us live “next to” our most important people instead of with themHow to stop unconsciously burning your time, attention, and emotional bandwidth on the wrong peopleWhat someone constantly complains about really tells you about themReading people through behaviour, not telepathyWhy many ‘confident looking’ people are actually the most insecure in the roomThe 5 micro-habits that will instantly make you more professional than 95% of peopleThe 'Inner Game of Tennis' book — and why your body knows more than your brain when it comes to performanceHow to get into the flow state, stop overthinking, and let your body executeThis one ranges from psychology to relationships, from leadership habits to sport, from projection to presence…and somehow still ends at pickleball.Thanks all for listening. If you want to work with us or collab you can contact at: letsjustmgmt@gmail.comFind us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

25 Eps! Christian and Laura throw out the schedule (again) and jump into a wide-ranging, candid conversation that moves from ankle injuries and Birkenstocks to deep philosophy, business strategy, health hacks, and the art of difficult conversations.We dive into Ram Dass’s teachings on accepting life’s contradictions, the idea that “that’s the predicament” is a perfectly valid conclusion. We explore how spirituality fits into real life, not just mountain retreats.The conversation shifts to “hoarding contacts”, debating whether keeping networks private is smart protection or small-minded insecurity. Choosing clients reflects on years of trial and error, learning to say no to clients who don’t align. We also cover toxic employers, offering practical advice if you're stuck in a bad environment. Health Corner covers lots — vitamin D, black seed oil, beef liver, kefir, and methylfolate (tied to the MTHFR gene).Christian then gives a shot glass on inflation, explaining rising CPI, energy costs, and the risk of stagflation. Finally, we close with avoiding hard conversations. Christian shares that people over-prepare emotionally but under-prepare structurally, and some ways to improve. Thanks all for listening. If you want to work with us or collab you can contact at: letsjustmgmt@gmail.comFind us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co

Christian and Laura kick off with fashion (barrel-leg pants, LTK creator life) and the “Back Australia” push vs fast-fashion retailers Temu & Shein. Do they have a point?They dive into how introverts manage big social weeks, rapid ways to cut rising anxiety, the non-sexy basics for starting a business (structure, insurance, shareholder agreements), and how to handle competitive colleagues—without going the dark path.Key topics:Slow fashion > fast dopamine: Buy less, buy better, and why the balance is important.Back Australia watch: Local retailers vs ultra-cheap offshore e-commerce is a major battleground for Australian business and culture. Anxiety playbook (non-medical): What we do when we feel anxiety creeping up, including removing the word “should.”Start-up essentials: Laura's advice on what you need if you're thinking about a new business or side hustle. Spoiler alert: Company structure, Insurance and a Shareholder Agreement top the list. “A shareholder agreement is a prenup for business.”How to handle competing with colleagues: Laura's view on this may surprise you, but Christian's view will DEFINITELY surprise. Thanks all for listening. If you want to work with us or collab you can contact at: letsjustmgmt@gmail.comFind us here: Instagram: @letsjuststartpodcastTiktok: @letsjuststartpodcastYoutube: @LetsJustStartPodcastLaura Insta: @laura.rackyLaura Tiktok: @laurarackyChristian Insta: @leaderbiltacademyChristian Tiktok: @leaderbiltLeadership training and coaching: Leaderbilt.co