The Unique Ability Podcast

Are you ready to unlock the extraordinary genius that’s already within you? Welcome to The Unique Ability Podcast: Real Stories, Real Magic—where we bring you powerful, real-life stories of people who have discovered their Unique Ability and transformed their lives. Join Julia Waller as she dives deep with inspiring guests who have tapped into their natural strengths to create more energy, impact, and freedom. Through their journeys, you’ll see how embracing what makes you unique can lead to more purpose, fulfillment, and success.

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Permission To Be Who You Are: Paula Harris On Relationships, Grief, And Purpose

    What happens when your greatest strength is caring deeply—and noticing everything? In this heartfelt conversation, Julia Waller sits down with author, TEDx speaker, financial planner, dream architect, and widow advocate Paula Harris to explore how her Unique Ability® of building relationships and sharing wisdom has shaped her work, her leadership, and her life. From handwritten notes to moments of surrender, Paula shares what it really means to inspire action without losing yourself in the process. Key Takeaways Your Unique Ability often feels “natural” to you—but extraordinary to others. Noticing people is a powerful form of leadership. Giving yourself permission to own who you are changes everything. Helping others requires learning when to let go. Joy, wonder, and possibility are practices—not destinations. Key Timestamps [02:08] Paula shares her Unique Ability Statement [05:00] A powerful moment of realizing her work truly helps others [07:00] The challenge of giving too much emotional energy [09:50] Why handwritten notes are a form of love and leadership [12:00] Learning to manage—not mute—your Unique Ability Notable Resources Paula Harris’s books: Rise Up: A Widow’s Journal & Rise Up: A Grief Journal Paula Harris, co-founder at WH Cornerstone Investments  www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Unique Ability® 2.0: Discovery book & workbook: https://uniqueability.com/the-book/ Unique Ability Book Club Guide: https://www.strategiccoach.com/resources/guides/unique-ability-20-discovery-book-club-discussion-guide Kolbe Index: www.kolbe.com CliftonStrengths® 34: www.gallup.com PRINT® Survey: www.paulhertzgroup.com Paula’s Unique Ability: My Unique Ability is building relationships, sharing wisdom, and using my voice to inspire people to take action to become the best version of themselves and live with possibility, wonder, and joy. Kolbe: 8372 CliftonStrengths: Input, Harmony, Deliberative, Restorative, Responsibility PRINT: 2-7 Medium To be needed and appreciated/To be happy and enjoy life You can see Paula’s full Unique Ability Statement and Best Habits here. Ready to begin discovering your own Unique Ability? Go through the Unique Ability Discovery Process using our Unique Ability 2.0 book and accompanying workbook. Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com.  The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic. Music CreditsThe intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    54 min
  2. 4 FEB

    The Activity Path: Discovering What Truly Energizes You

    What would happen if work actually energized you instead of draining you? In this foundational episode, host Julia Waller walks listeners through the first step of the Unique Ability® Discovery Process: understanding why you’re doing the work in the first place. Joined by podcast producer and author Tamar Routly, Julia explores motivation, purpose, and the early clarity that sparks confidence, momentum, and meaningful change. This episode opens the door to a different way of working—one rooted in energy, joy, and natural strengths. Key Takeaways Clarity about why you’re going through the process fuels confidence and follow-through. Being good at something doesn’t mean it energizes you. Unique Ability is discovered through reflection, not rushing. Growth happens when you align action with your natural way of operating. Fulfillment comes from doing more of what lights you up—and less of what doesn’t. Key Timestamps [00:00] What if work actually felt joyful? [01:00] What the Unique Ability Discovery Process really is [03:00] Why motivation matters before any growth work [05:20] Tamar shares her purpose for doing the process [09:45] From “good at everything” to clarity and confidence Notable Resources www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Unique Ability® 2.0: Discovery book & workbook: https://uniqueability.com/the-book/ Unique Ability Book Club Guide: https://www.strategiccoach.com/resources/guides/unique-ability-20-discovery-book-club-discussion-guide Kolbe Index: www.kolbe.com CliftonStrengths® 34: www.gallup.com PRINT® Survey: www.paulhertzgroup.com Ready to begin discovering your own Unique Ability? Go through the Unique Ability Discovery Process using our Unique Ability 2.0 book and accompanying workbook. Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com.  The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic.  🎵 Music Credits The intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator whose eclectic sound deeply resonated with us. This song holds a special personal connection and reflects the heart of what this podcast is about.  Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    32 min
  3. 28 JAN

    Reclaiming Identity: When Your Unique Ability Reveals Your Soul’s Work

    What happens when you stop defining yourself by your title and start living from your essence? In this deeply moving conversation, Julia Waller sits down with Dr. Stelios Nikolakakis—optometrist, founder, author, and guide—to explore the transformative power of discovering your Unique Ability. Together, they unpack identity, purpose, pain reframed as wisdom, and what becomes possible when you reclaim who you truly are beneath the roles you play. This episode is a masterclass in depth, clarity, and human connection.Key Takeaways Identity isn’t discovered—it’s reclaimed through courage and self-honesty Unique Ability lives beneath roles, titles, and external validation Deep clarity unlocks new creative and relational possibilities Pain and challenge can become portals to purpose When essence meets alignment, meaningful “magic” follows Key Timestamps [00:00] Life force energy and reclaiming identity [02:40] Why Unique Ability is experiential, not intellectual [05:30] Investing in yourself for the first time [10:27] Stelios reads his Unique Ability Statement [11:44] The inner clarity that leads to new creative expression Notable Resources & Mentions Dr. Nik — https://drnik.ca/ Soul Sight by Stelios Nikolakakis — https://drnik.ca/soul-sight/ www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Mind’s Eye NeuroVisual Optometry — https://www.mindseyeoptometry.com/ Check out Dr. Stelios Nikolakakis's Unique Ability Feeling curious about your own Unique Ability? Explore more at www.strategiccoach.com or download your free guide at www.uniqueability.com. The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic. The intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator whose eclectic sound deeply resonated with us. This song holds a special personal connection and reflects the heart of what this podcast is about.  Music Credits Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    55 min
  4. 21 JAN

    How Unique Ability® Creates Joyful, High-Performance Teams, with Shannon Waller

    Unique Ability® doesn’t live in isolation—it comes alive in teamwork. In this powerful conversation, Julia Waller sits down with her sister, colleague, and Strategic Coach® partner, Shannon Waller, to explore how Unique Ability transforms leadership, collaboration, and culture. From Shannon’s Unique Ability® Statement to real stories of alignment, assumptions, and growth, this episode reveals why knowing yourself—and respecting others’ strengths—is the foundation of joyful, high-performance teams. Key Takeaways Unique Ability can only fully express itself in teamwork. Strengths overused or misapplied become weaknesses. Alignment with what’s real creates trust, joy, and momentum. Great leaders challenge assumptions compassionately. Joy—not struggle—is a signal of being in your Unique Ability. Key Timestamps [01:00] — Introducing Shannon Waller and Unique Ability teamwork [03:32] — Shannon’s Unique Ability Statement explained [09:16] — Working outside your Unique Ability (and the cost) [18:18] — Why Unique Ability is a 10x multiplier [25:00] — Challenging assumptions and aligning with reality [46:00] — Why Unique Ability only works in teamwork Shannon’s Unique Ability: My Unique Ability is intuitively perceiving the essence of a situation, then innovating and compassionately communicating practical strategies to align people’s thinking with what’s real so they’re happy with themselves, maximizing their growth, working as a team, and fulfilling their purpose. Read More Kolbe: 3295 CliftonStrengths: Maximizer, Strategic, Individualization, Arranger, Relator PRINT: 7-8 High To enjoy life and be happy/To be strong and self-reliant Myers-Briggs: INFP Healer Idealist DISC: I/D Standout: Creator/Teacher Notable Resources Alison Armstrong: https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/Jennifer Kolari: https://www.connectedparenting.com/Chris Voss: https://www.blackswanltd.com/The Collaborative Way: https://collaborativeway.com/Marlene Chism: https://marlenechism.com/Patrick Lencioni: https://www.tablegroup.com/Working Genius: https://www.workinggenius.com/www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Kolbe Index: www.kolbe.com CliftonStrengths® 34: www.gallup.com PRINT® Survey: www.paulhertzgroup.com To begin discovering your own Unique Ability, start with one assessment—or all three. Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com.  The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic. Music Credits The intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator whose eclectic sound deeply resonated with us. This song holds a special personal connection and reflects the heart of what this podcast is about.  Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    1h 4m
  5. 21 JAN

    The Three Assessments That Reveal Your Unique Ability®

    Discovering your Unique Ability® starts with self-awareness—and the right language. In this episode, Julia Waller breaks down the three core assessments used in The Unique Ability® Discovery Process: Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, and PRINT®. Together, these tools illuminate how you take action, what you’re naturally motivated to do, and why you do it at the deepest level. This episode offers a clear, compassionate road map for understanding yourself—and others—more fully. Key Takeaways There are no “wrong” results—each assessment reveals natural strengths. Kolbe shows how you take action when you care. CliftonStrengths reveals what talents you use to create results. PRINT uncovers why you’re motivated at a deep, often unconscious level. Understanding yourself makes teamwork, communication, and compassion easier. Key Timestamps [01:00] — Why assessments matter for Unique Ability [02:02] — Kolbe: the “how” of taking action [07:39] — CliftonStrengths: the “what” of talent [11:18] — PRINT: the “why” beneath motivation [15:05] — Using assessments to improve relationships and teamwork [18:20] — Choosing where to start Notable Resources  www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Kolbe Index: www.kolbe.com CliftonStrengths 34: www.gallup.com PRINT Survey: www.paulhertzgroup.com To begin discovering your own Unique Ability, start with one assessment—or all three. Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com.  The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic. Music Credits The intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator whose eclectic sound deeply resonated with us. This song holds a special personal connection and reflects the heart of what this podcast is about.  Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    19 min
  6. 21 JAN

    Julia’s Story: How Unique Ability® Found Me

    How do you find your Unique Ability® if you’ve been living it all along without realizing it? In this deeply personal episode, host Julia Waller shares her own journey—from teaching classrooms of children to becoming a guide for entrepreneurs discovering who they truly are. Through career pivots, fear, curiosity, and courage, Julia reveals how Unique Ability often shows up early in life—and how the right culture can help it fully emerge. Key Takeaways Your Unique Ability often shows up long before you have language for it. Growth comes from shedding what drains you, not adding more. The right environment makes it safer to explore who you really are. Confidence comes after courage—not before. Unique Ability is the foundation for lifelong growth, not a finish line.Key Timestamps [00:43] — Julia’s early career and teaching background [01:22] — Joining Strategic Coach® and discovering culture fit [04:57] — Seeing an unmet need and following curiosity [07:33] — The birth of one-on-one Unique Ability coaching [10:28] — Letting go of roles to focus on what feeds you [16:05] — The 4 C’s Formula®: Commitment, Courage, Capability, Confidence Notable Resources  www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Call To Action Curious to discover your own Unique Ability?Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com.  The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic. Music Credits The intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator whose eclectic sound deeply resonated with us. This song holds a special personal connection and reflects the heart of what this podcast is about.  Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    21 min
  7. 21 JAN

    Dan Sullivan’s Story: How Unique Ability® Was Born

    Where did the concept of Unique Ability® come from—and why has it changed the way thousands of entrepreneurs build their lives and businesses? In this episode, Julia Waller shares the origin story of Unique Ability through the work and insights of Dan Sullivan, co-founder of Strategic Coach®. From early interviews with people living with disabilities to the realization that everyone has limitations—and extraordinary strengths—this conversation explores why focusing on what you do best is the fastest path to confidence, contribution, and freedom. Key Takeaways Unique Ability was born from observing that success comes from focusing on strengths, not limitations. Growth comes from strengthening strengths, not fixing weaknesses. Extraordinary results come from following energy, passion, and superior skill. Unique Ability® Teamwork is the foundation of thriving organizations and cultures. Knowing your Unique Ability increases confidence and the willingness to bet on yourself. Key Timestamps [01:00] — The origin of Unique Ability and Dan Sullivan’s early research [01:54] — Why focusing on abilities leads to success [03:00] — Playing a bigger game through Unique Ability [05:45] — The role of teamwork and partnership [07:12] — Creating a Unique Ability culture [10:26] — Who Not How™ and betting on yourself Notable Resources  www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Curious to discover your own Unique Ability?Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com.  The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic.Music Credits The intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator whose eclectic sound deeply resonated with us. This song holds a special personal connection and reflects the heart of what this podcast is about.  Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    14 min
  8. 21 JAN

    What Is Unique Ability®—And Why Everyone Has One

    Every person on the planet has a Unique Ability®—a natural way of creating value that feels effortless, energizing, and deeply satisfying. In this opening episode of The Unique Ability® Podcast, host Julia Waller introduces the concept of Unique Ability, where it comes from, why it never truly changes, and how learning to recognize it can become the most stable foundation for growth in your work and life. This conversation invites you to begin noticing what’s already true about you—and to take yourself seriously in the best possible way. Key Takeaways Unique Ability is your natural set of talents combined with your passion for using them. Your Unique Ability is “factory-installed” at birth—it doesn’t change, but your understanding of it evolves. The best growth happens when you organize your life around what energizes you. Being good at something isn’t enough—passion and energy matter just as much. Burnout often comes from spending too much time in work that isn’t aligned with your Unique Ability. Key Timestamps [00:00] — Everyone has a Unique Ability (even if they don’t recognize it yet) [01:00] — Defining Unique Ability: talents + passion [02:17] — Does Unique Ability change over time? [04:07] — Why Unique Ability is a stable foundation for growth [07:09] — The four criteria of a Unique Ability activity [08:33] — Why burnout is a sign of misalignment Notable Resources  www.strategiccoach.com www.uniqueability.com Curious to discover your own Unique Ability?Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com.  The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you. Real Stories, Real Magic. Music Credits The intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator whose eclectic sound deeply resonated with us. This song holds a special personal connection and reflects the heart of what this podcast is about.  Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.

    22 min

About

Are you ready to unlock the extraordinary genius that’s already within you? Welcome to The Unique Ability Podcast: Real Stories, Real Magic—where we bring you powerful, real-life stories of people who have discovered their Unique Ability and transformed their lives. Join Julia Waller as she dives deep with inspiring guests who have tapped into their natural strengths to create more energy, impact, and freedom. Through their journeys, you’ll see how embracing what makes you unique can lead to more purpose, fulfillment, and success.

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