What happens when you give one woman a year to run around to all 50 states to share a meal with total strangers? In this Dancing in the Discomfort Zone episode, Shari Leid (https://linktr.ee/animperfectlyperfectlife) proves that connection is the ultimate adventure. Adopted from Korea after being found in a cardboard box, Shari has flipped her story—literally. Her “Flip the Box” movement transforms isolation into belonging, inspiring people everywhere to pull up a chair, start a conversation,...
What do you do when life hits you with every curveball imaginable—hearing loss, heartbreak, grief, and single parenthood—all before 40? In this powerful episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I talk with AJ Coleman, (https://keepthosefeetmoving.com) widower, single dad, financial crime fighter, and author of Keep Those Feet Moving. His story is equal parts heartbreak, humor, and hard-won wisdom about what it really takes to keep going when life feels impossible. After losing his wife to b...
What happens when a rule-following lawyer trades the courtroom for the dance floor—then builds a business teaching leaders how (and when) to break the rules? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Kim Bolourtchi,(www.kimbolourtchi.com) recovering perfectionist, competitive Latin dancer, and now strategic unruliness expert. Kim’s story begins with a jaw-dropping moment in front of the Missouri Supreme Court, when her husband casually revealed her secret dance life. ...
What if confidence isn’t something you’re born with—but something you build? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I talk with Jenn Espinosa-Goswami, (https://www.weightlesschronicles.com/) international speaker, certified speaking coach, and founder of Weightless Chronicles, about her journey from bullied kid to bold speaker. After growing up teased for her weight and hiding from the spotlight, Jenn discovered her voice through a study abroad program in Germany—and eventua...
What would you do if you started losing your sight in high school—and by graduation, the world had gone completely dark? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Laura Bratton, (Www.laurabratton.com) speaker, author, and founder of Ubi Global, whose story proves that adversity doesn’t define you...your mindset does. Diagnosed with a rare eye disease at nine years old, Laura lost her vision completely as a teenager. But instead of getting stuck in grief, she built her...
When life comes crashing down—literally—what do you do next? On this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I talk with Kijuan Amey (ameymotivation.com), a U.S. Air Force veteran, blind comedian, musician, and motivational powerhouse whose story redefines what it means to rise after tragedy. One moment he was flying high, running his own business, serving in the Air Force, and chasing a pilot’s license. The next, a motorcycle accident flipped his entire world upside down. But here’s where...
What if your pain, physical, emotional, even traumatic, wasn’t a life sentence, but an invitation? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I talk with Amazing Soul (www.themindfckco.com), Army veteran, mentor, and founder of The MindFCK Co., about what it really takes to heal. After years of chronic back pain, trauma, and suicidal thoughts, her turning point came when a mentor bluntly told her she was “full of it” until she took responsibility for her life. What followed was radica...
What happens when life throws you the hardest challenge—and you choose to turn grief into growth? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Gretchen Schott, (https://www.gretchenschott.com/) speaker, author, and leadership powerhouse, to talk about her new book Joy at Work When Women Lead and what it really means to bring authentic joy to the workplace. Spoiler: joy at work isn’t about plastering on a grin. It’s about clarity, self-awareness, and leading with love; a ...
What if getting happier wasn’t about buying more, doing more, or being “fearless”, but about learning a few smart survival moves for modern life? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, survivalist-professor-midwife Ruth Ann Colby Martin (https://RACMedge.com) turns a year in the wild into a practical framework you can use at work, at home, and anywhere stress tries to hijack your joy. From “shelter, water, fire, food” to journaling and 15-minute sit-spots, Ruthann shows you how to...
After last week's conversation with Sarena Diamond, I started to think about Letting Go, and whether my perspective was right. (My perspective: Letting go is good...most of the time!) I do this a lot. "Am I wrong? I could be wrong! Let's investigate." So I invited my friend and consummate Change Hater, Lisa Demmi (https://LisaDemmi.com) over for an argument! The question: Is Letting Go actually the right approach? And we discussed, and argued, and you get a...
What do you do when life hands you a layoff, single parenthood, and a house full of 28 years’ worth of memories… all at once? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with organizational change powerhouse Serena Diamond (www.diamondsolutionsgroupllc.com) —former IBM exec turned entrepreneur—who shares how she navigated a major life and career pivot by betting on the one person she could trust: herself. From leadership lessons in the trenches of corporate transformation to...
It’s a milestone, y’all! In this solo episode, I’m throwing a little party in your ears to celebrate the 350th episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone! But don’t worry—it’s not just a victory lap. It’s a powerful reminder of one of the most overlooked confidence-building tools we’ve got: looking back. If you’re stuck in “I’m not there yet” mode, this is your loving nudge to pause, reflect, and realize—you’ve already come a hell of a long way. And that matters. Whether you’re chasing big goa...
In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, we’re busting the myth that confidence is something you either have or don’t. (Spoiler: that’s garbage.) Speaker, coach, and talent optimization strategist Diana Rogers Jaeger (https://www.dianarogersjaeger.com/) joins me to break down confidence into something way more approachable—and buildable. From whitewater rafting as a tiny but mighty kid to coaching leaders and Girl Scouts alike, Diana has walked the confidence talk. And now she...
You’ve met them—Two-Face Timmy, Micromanaging Maria, and Pessimistic Pete—and no, they’re not cartoon villains. They’re your coworkers… and they’re draining your soul. In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Rich Salon (aka “The HR Guy” https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-salon-sphr-shrm-scp/) to talk about how to handle jerky workplace behavior without losing your cool—or your job. Author of The One Minute Jerk at Work (https://www.amazon.com/One-Minute-Jerk-At-Work/d...
What do rolling your ankle, pulling coins from thin air, and publishing a book have in common? They all show up in this refreshingly honest and hilarious conversation about the messy middle of personal growth. In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, we’re talking to Ben Whiting (benwhiting.com) about Imposter Syndrome, rejection sensitivity dysphoria (say that five times fast), and how the secret to showing up confidently might just be admitting that you’re winging it. You’ll hear ...
Wait… you don’t need glitter glue to be creative? Surprise! In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I chat with Dr. Amy Climer —facilitator, speaker, and author of Deliberate Creative Teams—who’s on a mission to bust the myth that creativity is reserved for “artsy” people. Amy drops some serious (and seriously fun) wisdom about how to build team creativity on purpose—not just cross your fingers and hope for an idea to magically pop out during a chaotic Zoom call. She breaks d...
Ever said “Screw it, I’ll figure it out” and leapt into something you had "no business" (according to some) doing? GOOD. That’s what we’re talking about in this fiery solo episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone—the bold, beautiful magic of naive arrogance. It’s that irrational confidence that gets things moving when logic, fear, and perfectionism are trying to slam on the brakes. You don’t need a perfect plan. You need a starting point. And a little guts. We’ll explore: 💥 Why overthi...
In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with the one and only Vaibhav Nahata, a.k.a. “Happy” (www.speakervideos.com)—a joy-fueled video marketing pro, teen speaker, and TV show producer from Nepal who has turned discomfort into his superpower. Once the bullied kid at school, now a bold entrepreneur interviewing CEOs and inspiring youth around the world, Happy’s story is a wild ride of risk, resilience, and saying “yes” even when you have no clue what you’re doing. (Sound...
Running on Empty? Let’s Talk Emotional Energy (and Why You Keep Snapping at People). Ever find yourself saying, “I know better, but I still lost it…” or “I had every intention of staying calm… until I didn’t”? Yeah. That’s emotional energy at work—or more accurately, at low battery. In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, Anne Bonney dives into the unsung hero of emotional intelligence: emotional energy. It’s the fuel that powers willpower, grace under pressure, and the ability to ...
Think de-escalation is just for law enforcement? Think again. In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, Anne Bonney chats with Drew Moldenhauer (https://drewthespeaker.com/)—former police officer, emotional intelligence advocate, and founder of Blue Ethos (https://blue-ethos.com/) —about the surprising science and strategy behind de-escalation, communication, and psychological safety at work. With over a decade of high-stakes experience, Drew brings powerful insights from the field i...