Curious Leadership: Executive Coaching with Lucy Paulise

Are you running your career with the accelerator constantly pressed down? In high-stakes business and elite sports, endurance used to be a badge of honor, until chronic stress, lack of focus, and disrupted sleep caught up. In this episode of Curious Leadership, Lucy Paulise sits down with Dr. Jo Brown, Head of Performance at Nuropod, human performance engineer, PhD, and physiotherapist to Olympic champions and elite athletes. We dive deep into why true high performance isn't about time management, but autonomic nervous system regulation. Dr. Jo breaks down how your vagus nerve acts as the main "Wi-Fi line" between your body and brain, and why training your nervous system's flexibility is the final frontier in human performance. In this episode, we cover:The Accelerator vs. The Brake: Understanding sympathetic drive vs. parasympathetic recovery using the Formula 1 car analogy. What is Autonomic Flexibility? How to shift fluidly between high-output stress and deep calm on demand. The Neuroscience of the Ear: How direct stimulation through superficial nerve fibers at the tragus sends clean, one-way signals straight to the brainstem. The 3-Pillar Framework: How to Regulate, Recover, and Rewire your brain for better decision-making. Metrics That Matter: Boosting Heart Rate Variability (HRV) by 18%–60%, cutting systemic inflammation, and improving memory recall by up to 38%. Real-World Protocols: How busy executives, leaders, and triathletes can regulate their nervous system in just 5 to 15 minutes a day—at their desk, driving, or before sleep. Whether you're struggling to shut your brain off at 3 AM or looking for an edge in high-stakes decision-making, this episode will change how you view stress, performance, and recovery. Connect & Resources:Read Luciana's Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucianapaulise/2026/10/09/how-to-train-your-nervous-system-hacking-sleep-stress-and-focus/Follow Luciana on Instagram: @lucypaulisecoachBook a 1-on-1 coaching session https://www.lucypaulise.com/book-a-coaching-session-with-lucy-paulise/

Are you a high performer who lives in extremes? Either a project is a massive success or a total failure. You're either going 100% all-in with relentless intensity, or you're shut down at 0%.In this episode of the Curious Leadership Podcast, host Lucy Paulise breaks down the "Light Switch" dynamic of executive performance. Learn why high performers default to binary logic, how harsh self-criticism accelerates burnout, and how to use the 50% Rule to find sustainable balance in the middle ground.In this episode, we cover:The anatomy of binary thinking: idealizing best-case vs. catastrophizing worst-case scenarios.Why hyper-focus leads to the "Sprint and Collapse" cycle.How self-compassion acts as a high-performance dimmer switch.The 5-step framework to shift from judgment to strategic curiosity.📄 Read the full Forbes article: [Insert Link]✨ Book a 1-on-1 Coaching Session (In-Person or Online): Visit lucypaulise.com to work on time management, career transitions, stress, or ADHD focus strategies.https://www.lucypaulise.com/book-a-coaching-session-with-lucy-paulise/https://www.lucypaulise.com/how-to-overcome-all-or-nothing-thinking-5-steps-to-find-balance/https://www.lucypaulise.com/how-to-overcome-all-or-nothing-thinking-5-steps-to-find-balance/

Ever build the perfect Timeboxed calendar, only to abandon it by 2:00 PM due to total cognitive exhaustion? The problem isn't a lack of discipline—it's a biological deficit.In this episode of Curious Leadership, Lucy Paulise breaks down the physical engine required to keep your focus sharp and your schedule intact. Discover how your prefrontal cortex consumes energy and why structure without fuel guarantees burnout.In this episode, we cover:Timeboxing vs. Biological Fuel: Why time management fails without energy management.The 3-to-4 Meal Rule: Why desk-grazing ruins focus and how structured timing stabilizes your brain.Creatine for Executives: How ATP replenishment protects performance under heavy cognitive load (especially for women in leadership).The 5-Minute Neuro-Reset: A simple physical circuit breaker to restore prefrontal cortex focus in real-time.Read the Energy Management Article: https://www.lucypaulise.com/forget-time-management-why-energy-management-is-the-real-executive-secret/Deep Dive Article on Creatine & Energy: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucianapaulise/2026/07/12/3-reasons-why-creatine-is-the-ultimate-high-performance-womens-fuel/Book Your 1-on-1 Fit Call: https://www.lucypaulise.com/book-a-coaching-session-with-lucy-paulise/Connect on Instagram: @lucypaulisecoach

Have you ever felt like your non-linear brain was a chaotic mess of distractions, while simultaneously knowing you are incredibly brilliant at what you do?In this high-energy episode of Corporate Therapy, host Lucy Paulise sits down with Desiree Borja, an elite Go-to-Market (GTM) and Partnerships Strategist who has completely mastered the art of high-functioning ADHD. Desiree shares her fascinating journey of shifting from the friction of traditional time management to a state of complete alignment, finding the "joy" in her non-linear, visual-spatial mind.Desiree lifts the hood on how her hyperfocus allows her to visualize complex, multi-million dollar product journeys after sitting in just one or two meetings. But hyperfocus is a double-edged sword. To keep from burning out, Desiree reveals the exact system she uses to survive project overwhelm: Luciana’s own Timeboxing framework, breaking down monumental tasks incrementally, and leveraging accountability coaches.In this episode, we unpack:🚀 The Hyperfocus Superpower: How a non-linear brain spots ecosystems, fast-tracks stellar business partnerships, and builds instant trust.⏱️ The Timeboxing Savior: How Desiree uses Luciana's timeboxing tools as an everyday operational shield against executive burnout.🧩 The Personalized STP Model: How Desiree maps Philip Kotler's GTM model to neurodivergence—featuring Segmentation (using the NFL-trusted Kolbe A assessment), Targeting your exceptional traits, and Positioning your career around the reality that passion isn't optional; it's your fuel.If you are a high-achiever tired of trying to fit your brain into traditional boxes and ready to design the life you always knew was possible, this 15-minute episode is your blueprint.Other Resources:👉https://www.lucypaulise.com/high-functioning-adhd-at-work-the-strength-nobody-talks-about/👉 Book a Coaching Session with Lucy Paulisehttps://www.lucypaulise.com/book-a-coaching-session-with-lucy-paulise/

To the outside world, you have it completely together. You have the packed calendar, the consistent promotions, and the flawless presentations. People look at you and see a typical high achiever.But internally, there is a quiet, exhausting storm.In this bite-sized episode of Corporate Therapy, host Lucy Paulise pulls back the curtain on the reality of high-functioning ADHD in a workplace built for linear minds. We break down the actual brain chemistry behind the "dopamine deficit," explain why you unconsciously wait until the absolute last minute to shift your engine into panic mode, and confront the hidden cost of masking your struggles: severe executive burnout.Stop trying to force your non-linear mind into a rigid corporate box. Tune in to learn why you aren't lazy, how your brain actually operates, and get a practical 5-minute tool—the 45/15 Rule—to start leading with clarity instead of running on empty.Links mentioned in this episode:Read Lucy's latest column on High-Functioning ADHD on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucianapaulise/2026/05/21/high-functioning-adhd-at-work-the-strength-nobody-talks-about/Explore my Timebox book https://www.lucypaulise.com/timebox/Connect or book a career strategy session: lucypaulise.com