Leadership on the Rocks

What if the key to becoming a better leader isn't working harder—but recovering smarter? Executive leader, author, and performance strategist Nicole Ward joins Bethany to explore why leadership performance is deeply connected to how we care for ourselves. After a serious car accident forced Nicole to confront the personal cost of chronic overwork, she began a journey to rethink success, health, and sustainable performance. In this episode, Bethany and Nicole discuss: Why leaders should approach performance and recovery like elite athletes. How to recognize the warning signs of running on empty. What biohacking actually means—and how to start without expensive gadgets. Simple ways to incorporate movement and breathing into a busy workday. Why sleep and nutrition deserve a place in your leadership strategy. Practical ways to protect your routines while traveling. How to make meaningful changes without trying to overhaul your entire life. Why prioritizing your health sometimes requires courage when others expect you to keep operating the same way. Nicole also shares insights from her book, Biohacking for the Sales Athlete, and explains why small, consistent changes can help leaders create a more sustainable approach to success. The bottom line: You don't have to sacrifice yourself to sustain your success. 🔗 Connect with Our Guest:  Website:  https://www.nicoleelizabethward.com/Instagram: @nicoleward111LinkedIn:@NicoleWard111 Book: Biohacking for the Sales Athlete Podcasts: The Executive Athlete and Aeon at the Top *** Leadership isn’t about wearing different masks—it’s about standing on a firm foundation. If you’re ready to lead with clarity, consistency, and faith—without separating who you are at work from who you are at home—explore Bethany’s coaching, workshops, and leadership resources designed for real life and real leadership. Visit us at www.leadershipontherocks.com.  Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon. CONTACT US:  Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/  Follow us online at: Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks Instagram: @leadershipontherocks LinkedIn: Bethany Rees Email us at [email protected]

Virtual Assistant Strategist Rachael Davila joins Bethany for a very real conversation about one of the hardest leadership skills for high achievers: delegation. Rachael shares how reaching her own definition of success nearly burned her out—and forced her to recognize that doing everything herself was no longer sustainable. Together, she and Bethany unpack the internal work required to let go, how to decide what should actually be delegated, and why hiring someone based on skills alone can be a costly mistake. In this episode: Why delegation is a leadership skill, not something that comes naturally Recognizing your “not this” moment How being highly capable can eventually become a liability Creating a detailed handoff list Why you should hire for qualities, values, and working style—not just skills The difference between delegating and simply dumping tasks Why the first 90–120 days require intentional communication and trust-building How perfectionism can turn you into the bottleneck Starting small by practicing delegation at home Why the cheapest help may ultimately cost you more Creating space for the work that is actually yours to do 🔗 Connect with Our Guest:  Website: https://linktr.ee/extrahandsva Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtraHandsVirtualAssistance  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/extrahands_va  LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaeldavila/  Hey! Do I Need a VA? Readiness quiz:  https://links.extrahandsva.com/widget/quiz/atHsHeioZb80ntoMzuCR  Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com   Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership on Amazon. CONTACT US:  Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/  Follow us online at: Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks Instagram: @leadershipontherocks LinkedIn: Bethany Rees Email us at [email protected]

After more than 35 years in emergency medicine, Dr. Ken Ro began asking a different question: What could have happened years earlier to prevent the crisis happening in the ER today? In this episode, Dr. Ro joins Bethany to explore why high-performing leaders—especially in midlife—can slowly normalize exhaustion, brain fog, poor sleep, stress, and declining energy while continuing to perform. They discuss: Why leaders may not be overstressed, but under-recovered How physical health directly impacts leadership capacity and decision-making Why work gets our best energy while home often gets what’s left Protecting the first and last hour of your day The danger of 24/7 accessibility and “micromanagement technology” Dr. Ro’s RECLAIM Method for addressing root causes instead of symptoms Why midlife shouldn’t automatically mean accepting a lower “new normal” The powerful question to ask your doctor: “If I stay on this trajectory, what will I look like in five years?” Why you cannot lead effectively with an empty tank 🔗 Connect with Our Guest:  🌐 Website: https://www.kennethromd.com/ 📘 Book (PRIME: How To Win The Second Half Of Life): https://a.co/d/0hwSax2N 💼 Program: Back in the Game Men Instagram: @DrKennethRo   LinkedIn: @DrKenRo    CONTACT US:  Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/  Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership on Amazon.  Follow us online at: Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks Instagram: @leadershipontherocks LinkedIn: Bethany Rees Email us at [email protected]

Melissa Wilkinson, founder of Anchored With Purpose, joins Bethany to explore what it looks like to lead with faith, purpose, and intention—even when life feels chaotic or the path ahead isn't clear. Melissa shares how “holy discontent” helped her recognize major transitions in her own leadership journey and why spending intentional time with God can bring clarity to our decisions, priorities, and next steps. They also discuss creating margin, navigating imposter syndrome, rediscovering forgotten dreams, and why leaders need to stop worrying so much about what everyone else thinks. In this episode: Recognizing “holy discontent” and what God may be revealing through it Creating a daily faith practice without making it another checkbox Having a “business meeting with God” before tackling your task list Building margin into an overloaded life Finding clarity when you feel stuck or overwhelmed Moving past imposter syndrome and trusting your calling Asking God to illuminate your next right step 🔗 Connect with Our Guest:  Website: anchoredwithpurpose.com  The Bible App Devotional:  From Lent to Lifestyle: Building a Daily Faith Practice that LastsAnchored with Purpose Podcast Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal Anchored with Purpose Instagram  Melissa Instagram   CONTACT US:  Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/  Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership on Amazon. Follow us online at: Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks Instagram: @leadershipontherocks LinkedIn: Bethany Rees Email us at [email protected]

What if burnout isn't caused by doing too much... but by carrying the wrong things? In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany sits down with leadership coach and entrepreneur Curtis Sprouse to discuss how leaders can regain clarity, manage pressure, reset between work and home, and create healthier lives without sacrificing performance. In this episode you'll learn: Why leaders must elevate themselves before they can elevate others The surprising first step to overcoming burnout How small daily habits dramatically improve leadership effectiveness Practical ways to mentally reset before walking through your front door Why defining the real problem changes everything How to stop carrying burdens you were never meant to carry Why people—not purpose—must always come first Connect with Curtis Sprouse   🌐 EurekaConnect: https://eurekaconnect.com/  Assessment & Leadership Coaching: 📧 [email protected] Institute for Biomedical Entrepreneurship: 🌐 https://www.ibeinc.org Leadership on the Rocks helps leaders build healthier teams, stronger foundations, and greater harmony between their professional and personal lives through coaching, workshops, speaking, and practical leadership resources. Visit us at www.leadershipontherocks.com. Order Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon. CONTACT US: Visit our website at:  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ Follow us online: Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks Instagram: @leadershipontherocks LinkedIn: Bethany Rees Email:  [email protected]