Empowered Team Podcast

Year-End Reflection: The Ritual That Resets Everything

This is the episode to reset, recalibrate, and intentionally step into your next year. In this solo episode, Kari walks you through the critical importance of end-of-year reflection — not for nostalgia, but for real transformation.

Discover:

• Why top performers use reflection to elevate performance (Harvard study: +23% increase).
  
• The neuroscience behind cognitive drag and how to clear it.
  
• How to use integration over information to actually grow.
  
• The powerful concept of identity recalibration — becoming the version of yourself your future needs.
  
• A simple yet profound 3-step reflection framework (Review. Release. Recalibrate).
  
• How Kari’s personal reflections helped her through divorce, illness, and the restoration of Wick Cliff Lodge.
  
  

You’ll also get a sneak peek of Kari’s LIVE Year-End Reflection Workshop on Dec 17 — with guided prompts, music, and a powerful group environment to deepen your transformation.

🎯 Stop autopiloting through your life. Start leading it.
Join us for this soul-shifting ritual and learn how to drop the emotional clutter and design your next chapter — with clarity and purpose.

👉 Link to register for the Live Year-End Reflection Event:  https://theempowered.ca/reflection
👉 Free Workbook Included

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

 

Bridging the Interpersonal Gap: The Missing Link in Advanced Communication

Ever felt like your message didn’t land the way you intended?

In this solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider breaks down one of the most overlooked (yet constant) challenges in leadership and relationships: the interpersonal gap—when what you mean and what’s heard don’t match.

Coined by John Wallen, this concept helps explain everything from workplace tension to misunderstandings at the dinner table. Kari shares:

• The 7 signs that you’re stuck in a communication gap
  
• A powerful framework to bridge the gap in real time
  
• How emotional filters, body language, and culture shape what people actually hear
  
• 3 tools to build advanced communication skills (spoiler: it’s not about talking more)
  
  

Whether you're leading a team, managing a household, or navigating high-stakes conversations, this episode gives you the clarity and insight to communicate with impact—and finally feel understood.

💡 Key Takeaway: Advanced communication isn’t about saying it right—it’s about being understood deeply.

IIf you’re ready to go deeper into communication that builds trust and connection, revisit this foundational episode: Ep. 317 – Communication for Connection - https://bit.ly/CommunicationForConnection-ETP-iTunes

 

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

Tara Landes Interview: The 3 Things That Are Breaking Your Business

In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari sits down with Tara Landes – founder of Bellrock and a powerhouse behind the scenes of 300+ businesses – to unpack the real reasons small and mid-sized businesses get stuck.

Tara breaks down:

• Why most managers are set up to fail (and how to fix it)
  
• The critical difference between leadership and management (and why you need both)
  
• The myth of the perfect strategic plan – and what execution actually takes
  
• Why lagging metrics are killing your momentum
  
• What actually creates a high-performance culture
  
  

With real stories, actionable frameworks, and a few zingers (wait for the airplane-in-the-jungle analogy 👀), this episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about self-mastery and leading a team that thrives.

💡 Whether you're a founder, people leader, or growing manager, this conversation will challenge how you think about progress – and give you a blueprint for doing it better.

👉 Listen now and discover the small shifts that create massive traction.

🔗 Links:

Connect with Tara Landes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taralandes

 

 

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

 

Top Dog or Underdog: The Power of Your Place in the Pack

Do you thrive as the top performer or grow more as the underdog? In this powerful solo episode, Kari breaks down how your position in a group—whether it’s your workplace, sports team, or leadership circle—shapes your motivation, confidence, identity, and trajectory.

🔥 Key Takeaways

• Why where you stand in a group changes how you grow
• The truth behind the 15% performance boost from being around high achievers
  
• The overlooked freedom that comes with being underestimated
  
• How high status ≠ high success—and the hidden cost of being the “top dog”
  
• Real-life story: Kari shares her daughter’s inspiring journey from weakest link to team captain
  
  

Whether you’re leading a team, trying to find your voice, or deciding your next move—this episode gives you the clarity to understand your role and use it intentionally.

💡Knowing your place in the pack isn’t about ego—it’s about using it to fuel your future.

🎧 Listen now and share it with someone building a team or navigating group dynamics.

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

 

The “F*&k It Effect”- How to Stop One Slip from Becoming a Spiral

Ever had one glass of wine and thought, "Ah, screw it," then finished the bottle? Or eaten one donut and said, "What the hell, might as well have four"? Welcome to the What the Hell Effect—or as Kari’s calling it in this episode, the far more satisfying Fck It Effect*.

In this episode, Kari Schneider unpacks the sneaky psychology behind why one small slip often turns into a downward spiral. Backed by fascinating research (think rigged scales and guilt-driven candy binges!), she shares exactly what’s happening in your brain—and how to break the cycle in real time.

You’ll learn:

• Why shame and guilt fuel more bad choices, not fewer
  
  
• The three-step recovery method to get back on track instantly
  
• How self-compassion—not willpower—is your true superpower
  
• A game-changing quote about failure and recovery that you’ll want to write down
  
  

Whether you're struggling with habits, procrastination, or emotional spirals, this episode will help you spot the moment, stop the spiral, and reclaim your power. Let’s make one small choice—right now—that changes the trajectory of your day.

🎯 Key topics: willpower, behavior change, shame spiral, self-compassion, leadership habits, decision making
📚 Based on research from The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal
🔁 Share this with someone who's had a “F*ck it” kind of week.

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

3 Advanced Skills to Master Any Difficult Conversation

In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider delivers a concise, high-impact playbook for handling the toughest conversations with clarity and confidence.

Drawing on years of coaching leaders and high performers, Kari introduces the three advanced filters you must apply before you open your mouth—whether you’re confronting a team member, negotiating a boundary, or navigating personal conflict.

💡 Key themes covered:

• The three universal types of difficult conversations—and how to recognize which one you’re in.
  
• A critical question to ask yourself before saying anything.
  
• Why the issue is almost never what it seems (spoiler: “It’s not about the suitcase…”)
  
• How to stay rooted, responsive, and in control—even if emotions are high.
  
• What it means to “kill the monster while it’s small” 🔥
  
  

Plus, Kari drops a powerful reminder: sometimes the hardest convo… is the one you need to have with yourself.

Whether you're a seasoned leader or just trying to show up better in your relationships, this episode will give you the clarity you need—and a toolkit you’ll keep coming back to.

🎧 Listen now and save this one—you’ll want it in your back pocket for the next time things get tough.

 

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

Interview with Waldemar Franco: The Wild Way to Lead

What does it take to live an adventurous, purpose-driven life—and still stay deeply connected to who you really are? In this powerful episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari sits down with Waldemar Franco—award-winning boutique hotel entrepreneur, lifelong adventurer, and the creator of Find Your Wild Flow.

Waldemar has spent decades guiding whitewater expeditions, climbing mountains, and building trust-driven businesses around the globe. But his real mastery? Blending bold adventure with deep alignment.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why congruence is Waldemar’s non-negotiable for leadership and life
  
• How trust—both in others and in your own intuition—shapes your path
  
• The difference between routines and rituals (and why it matters)
  
• The key to creating a joyful, non-negotiable movement practice
  
• His philosophy on discomfort, vulnerability, and building resilience
  
  

This conversation is a must-listen for leaders, creatives, and anyone who wants to live more boldly, connect more deeply, and design a life that aligns with who they really are.

🔗 Links:

• Find Your Wild Flow – The Book https://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-WIld-Flow-Transform/dp/B0DZRGJQ1C
  
  
• Connect with Waldemar: https://wildflowmethod.com/ 

 @wildflow.method | Waldemar Franco Personal IG

 

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

Making Your First Mistake Your Last: How to Stop Repeating the Same Patterns

We’ve all done it — made a mistake, promised ourselves it would never happen again… and then bam, we’re right back in the same pattern. 😩

In this solo episode, Kari breaks down the real reasons we keep making the same frustrating mistakes and what to do about it.

🔥 What you'll hear:

• The 3 big traps that keep you stuck in mistake-mode
  
• Why 70% of people repeat their mistakes — and how to not be one of them
  
• A powerful strategy called the "Implementation Intention" that helps you follow through
  
• The difference between guilt and shame — and why it matters for your growth
  
• Coaching-style questions you can ask yourself right now to get unstuck
  

Whether it’s in your leadership, relationships, or everyday habits — this episode gives you the tools to finally break the cycle.

Key Quote: "Mistakes are not who you are — they’re data. Use them."

💡 If you're ready to level up your self-mastery and create better outcomes faster, this one’s for you.

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

Why Self Talk is Secretly Running Your Life (And What to Do About It)

In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider takes us into the world of self-talk—that subtle (or sometimes loud!) internal dialogue that shapes our emotions, behaviors, and ultimately, our results.

Sparked by earlier episodes on procrastination and the inner critic vs. champion, Kari pulls together research from experts like Kristin Neff, Ethan Kross, and Timothy Pychyl to show how self-talk influences everything from motivation to performance to emotional resilience.

💡 Key topics covered:

• How to identify negative self-talk even when it’s unconscious.
  
• Why critical self-talk increases procrastination by 25%.
  
• How to reframe internal language to take bold action.
  
• Simple strategies to turn your inner voice into your biggest ally.
  
  

🎯 Takeaway: When you intentionally shift your self-talk, you’re not just changing your mood—you’re building a foundation for consistent action, higher self-awareness, and true self-mastery.

If you’re committed to leadership, performance, and living empowered, this episode will change how you talk to yourself—starting today.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• “Chatter” by Ethan Kross https://www.ethankross.com/
  
• Self-compassion work by Kristin Neff https://self-compassion.org/
  
• Procrastination research by Timothy Pychyl  https://carleton.ca/psychology/people/timothy-a-pychyl/
  
• Self-awareness studies by Tasha Eurich ​​https://www.tashaeurich.com/ 

Episode 354: Champion it. Challenge it. To Get the Best Results  https://bit.ly/ChampionIt-ChallengeIt-BestResults-ETP-Spotify 

🎧 Tune in now and start changing the conversation in your head.

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

 

Want More Freedom? Start with These 3 Things

In this solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider shares a powerful reframe on a concept we often misunderstand — discipline. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey and years of coaching high performers, Kari explores why true freedom only comes when we have structure, systems, and boundaries in place.

Key topics in this episode:

• Why Kari turned down medical school to start her business — and how it nearly crushed her sense of freedom
  
  
• The hidden cost of having no discipline: decision fatigue, scattered priorities, and burnout
  
  
• The 3 critical elements of disciplined freedom:
  
  
  • Structure – your foundation for clarity
    
    
  • Systems – your path to sustainable momentum
    
    
  • Boundaries – your protection from distractions
    
    
• Why motivation will never save you, but momentum will
  
  
• How to identify the real reason you feel overwhelmed (hint: it’s not the work)
  
  

Powerful analogy: Discipline is like the yellow line on the highway — it’s what makes the journey feel safe, focused, and free.

Whether you're buried in emails, juggling too many priorities, or just want your brain space back — this episode gives you a practical lens to reclaim control.

🔗 Take action: Choose one area of your life where you’re feeling reactive — and apply structure, systems, or boundaries to get your freedom back.

🎧 Tune in and share it with someone who needs to feel free again.

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide