Girl, Take the Lead!

Yolanda Canny
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Each week we explore Womanhood and Leadership with the goal to question the status quo and challenge our thinking so we celebrate every woman as a leader. Our episodes will interview leaders in the field, meet authors, explore books on the subject, hear inspiring stories, or talk with organizations leading the charge for women to lead. We’ll look at the different topics from different generational perspectives as my daughters, a Millennial and a Gen Z, will join me, a Boomer, from time to time. We hope to make you laugh and leave inspired as you hear our voices on this very important topic.

  1. 14h ago

    333. Inside the Insecure Male Ego: What Women Need to Know with James Dakin

    Have you ever walked away from an interaction wondering: Why didn’t I say something? Why am I questioning myself? Why did I end up managing his feelings when I was the one who was hurt? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I’m joined by James Dakin—leadership transformation specialist, behavioural coach, speaker, and now international #1 bestselling author of How to Stop Taking Sht From Insecure Men*. Within 24 hours of publication, James’s book reached #1 in Leadership in the U.S. and #1 in Career Advancement and Professional Development in the U.K.—a response that suggests this conversation is touching something women are ready to talk about. And James brings an unusual perspective to it. Years ago, a former partner said 21 words that changed the direction of his life: “I hope our daughter never grows up to meet a man like you and I hope our son never grows up to be one.” James had to confront the fact that he had become the kind of insecure man so many women spend their lives navigating. Today, he gives us an insider’s glimpse into what may be happening when women are dismissed, talked over, underestimated, belittled—or find themselves making smaller and smaller choices just to keep the peace. But this isn’t about excusing bad behavior. And it isn’t about making women responsible for fixing men. It’s about understanding the dynamic so we have more choices about how we respond. In this conversation, we explore: James’s Five Steps to Freedom: self-awareness and self-acceptance, confidence, presence, influence, and freedom Why what looks like a confidence problem may actually be an adaptation to the environment around us How women can learn to “play small” without even realizing they’re doing it What may be happening inside the insecure male ego when a woman speaks up, disagrees, or challenges the status quo The difference between influence and manipulation Why understanding “the game” doesn’t mean we approve of the game James’s approach to Change Without Confrontation Practical language we can use when we're dismissed or challenged instead of immediately defending ourselves Why women are not responsible for fixing insecure men The difference between being liked and being respected Why our bodies may register a slight before our minds can even put words around what happened And James’s powerful reminder that we haven’t lost our power—we may simply have stopped using it One thought to take with you James also shares a simple strategy that stayed with me: rather than immediately defending yourself when someone makes a diminishing statement, get curious. Ask them to explain. Ask for the evidence. Let them do the work of examining what they just said. Sometimes power isn’t having the perfect comeback. Sometimes it’s recognizing that we have more than one move available to us. You haven’t lost your power. There may have been times when you didn’t use it. Times when you buried it. Times when you adapted to the people or systems around you. But it was still there. And as James reminds us, our worth was never something we needed to prove in the first place. About James Dakin James Dakin is a leadership transformation specialist, behavioural coach, author and speaker with more than 30 years of experience helping people change how they see themselves and what they believe is possible. His new book, How to Stop Taking Sht From Insecure Men*, is an international #1 bestseller. Connect with James Website: jamesdakin.co.uk Special page for Girl, Take the Lead! listeners: jamesdakin.co.uk/yolanda Substack: jamesdakin.substack.com LinkedIn: James Dakin Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! Website: Girl, Take the Lead! Listen page: Find all episodes of Girl, Take the Lead! YouTube: @GirlTaketheLead Instagram: @yocanny LinkedIn: Yo Canny Facebook Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

    333. Inside the Insecure Male Ego: What Women Need to Know with James Dakin

  2. Oct 27

    331. SOUND BITE: Why Am I Still Hurrying?

    What if hurry isn’t just about having too much to do? What if it’s an old pattern connected to how we learned to measure our worth? In my recent conversation with Bree Katulak, we talked about redefining success and what Bree calls our “invisible scorecard” — the measures we may have inherited without consciously choosing them. One of Bree’s shifts really stayed with me: Productivity → Presence Because even five years into my post-corporate life, with grown daughters and much more control over my own time, I still catch myself hurrying. So I started asking: Why? In this Sound Bite, I follow my own hurry pattern a little more deeply — from the adrenaline rush of getting things done to the exhaustion that can follow, and the uncomfortable connection I began to see between productivity, importance, and worth. And then there’s what can happen when we finally run out of energy and someone asks us for just one more thing: Can’t you see I’m tired?Can’t you see I need to rest? But had I actually told them? That led to the question that stopped me in my tracks: Am I expecting someone to read my mind? We’ll explore: Why old patterns can remain long after our circumstances change The hidden equation that can connect busyness, importance, and worth Why the adrenaline of hurry can feel good — until it doesn’t How exhaustion can turn into resentment when we haven’t voiced what we need What Leslie Becker’s simple “Gotcha” has taught me about catching a pattern without judging myself Why other people’s hurried energy can leave us exhausted, too What Scott O’Neil’s phrase “Be where your feet are” helped me understand about presence How my friend Deedee plans and juggles the timing of her tasks so she doesn’t create unnecessary hurry Why noticing the pattern gives us something the pattern itself doesn’t: a choice When hurry shows up, I’m learning to ask: Do I actually need to hurry right now?Do I need to make a request?Do I need to say no?Am I expecting someone to read my mind? Maybe the opposite of hurry isn’t simply slowing down. Maybe it’s staying. Listen to the conversation that inspired this Sound Bite Episode 330: What If Achievement Isn’t Enough? Let’s Redefine Success with Bree Katulak ▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/iJMr-NfmUYI Coming Next We’ll continue exploring old patterns with international #1 bestselling author James Dakin, author of the provocative new book How to Stop Taking Sht from Insecure Men*. We’ll look at some rules many women may recognize: Smile. Be agreeable. Don’t make a fuss. Keep the peace. And what can happen when we stop shrinking, reclaim our voice, set boundaries, and stand in our truth without becoming someone we’re not. A few questions to take with you What old pattern is still ready to spring into action for you — even though you may not need it anymore? Where are your feet right now — and is the rest of you there with them? And maybe the mic-drop question: Am I expecting someone to read my mind? 🌐 www.girltaketheleadpod.com🎧 www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen▶️ YouTube: @GirlTaketheLead📸 Instagram: @yocanny💼 LinkedIn: Yo Canny📘 Facebook Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

    331. SOUND BITE: Why Am I Still Hurrying?

  3. Oct 20

    330. What If Achievement Isn’t Enough? Let’s Redefine Success with Bree Katulak

    What happens when you achieve the thing you thought would make you feel successful…and it doesn’t? Bree Katulak knows that feeling. A seasoned executive, CPA, entrepreneur, and host of the Unstoppable You podcast, Bree built a career that included CFO, CEO, and President roles. When she reached the C-suite, she expected the moment to feel different — almost as if “confetti was going to fall from the sky.” Instead, she found herself asking: Is this it? That question began a journey of examining how she had defined success — and how much of that definition had actually been inherited from other people. In this conversation, Bree and I explore what she calls the “invisible scorecard”: the external measures we can unconsciously use to determine whether we're succeeding — achievement, status, productivity, money, competition, and what other people think of us. For Bree, redefining that scorecard has meant shifting: Winning → WholenessStatus → Self-trustProductivity → Presence We talk about why achievement can become connected to worthiness, the pressure to constantly be doing, and how difficult it can be to simply “be where your feet are.” I share how, even five years into my post-corporate life, I can still catch myself hurrying as though there isn't enough time — even when I'm the one deciding how to spend it. Bree shares that presence is something she is still practicing, too. Because redefining success isn't necessarily something we do once. It may be something we keep choosing. In this episode, we explore: Bree’s “invisible scorecard” and the definitions of success we inherit Why reaching a major career milestone didn't feel the way she expected How achievement can become tangled up with worthiness Moving from winning to wholeness, status to self-trust, and productivity to presence Why being busy can become part of our identity The “masks” we wear to meet other people's expectations How our core values can help us create a more personal definition of success Trusting ourselves enough to choose a different path Bree also answers my favorite question: What would you tell your 20-something self today? Her answer: Trust your instincts and believe in who you are. About Bree Katulak Bree Katulak is a seasoned executive, CPA, entrepreneur, and host of the Unstoppable You podcast. With a career spanning CFO, CEO, and President roles, Bree has led organizations through transformation, growth, and strategic change. After years of chasing the next milestone, she began questioning what success really meant. Today, through Unstoppable Momentum and her podcast, she helps leaders and ambitious women challenge traditional definitions of success, reconnect with what matters most, and build lives and careers aligned with who they truly are. Her message: Success isn’t about winning the game everyone expects you to play. It’s about having the courage to define your own. Connect with Bree 🌐 BreeKatulak.com🎙️ Unstoppable You — Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube📸 Instagram: @momof4kaddies📘 Facebook: Bree Katulak💼 LinkedIn: Bree Katulak, CPA▶️ YouTube: Unstoppable You🏢 RenoSys Corporation Mentioned in this episode 📖 Be Where Your Feet Are by Scott O’Neil Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! 🌐 www.girltaketheleadpod.com🎧 www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen▶️ YouTube: @GirlTaketheLead📸 Instagram: @yocanny💼 LinkedIn: Yo Canny📘 Facebook Group: Girl, Take the Lead! What invisible scorecard might you still be using to measure your success?

    330. What If Achievement Isn’t Enough? Let’s Redefine Success with Bree Katulak

  4. Oct 15

    329. AT THE THRESHOLD: Who Are We Now? When Your Change Becomes Our Change

    What happens when someone you love crosses a threshold—and suddenly you realize you’re standing at one, too? My husband is making a career pivot, looking for more balance and choice in how he spends his time. Five years ago, I stood at a similar threshold after leaving a 42-year corporate career. I knew what I was leaving, but not what I would find on the other side. Eventually, podcasting, art, new rhythms, and a new sense of identity became part of the life I built. Now it’s his turn to discover what comes next. But his transition has raised another question for me: What will his change mean for us? Because change doesn’t always happen directly to us. Sometimes it enters through someone we love. A partner changes careers. A child begins a new chapter. A parent needs more from us. A friend moves away. Their life changes—and the landscape of ours changes, too. This Threshold also led me to something I’ve noticed in myself and other women: caring can sometimes feel like an all-or-nothing proposition. If we care for someone else, we’re loving and generous. If we protect what we need, are we being selfish? What if that’s a false choice? What if love can make room for both? In This Episode We explore: Why someone else’s transition can become our threshold, tooThe uncertainty between one identity and whatever comes nextResisting the urge to solve someone else’s transitionCaring for someone we love without losing ourselvesWhy self-care and generosity don’t have to be oppositesHow relationships evolve because the people within them keep evolvingWhy a strong “we” can hold two evolving “I’s” Questions Maybe the question isn’t simply: Who am I now? Or: Who are you now? Maybe sometimes life asks: Who are we now? And perhaps we discover the answer by living our way into what comes next. Has someone else’s change ever created a transition in your life?Is it difficult to make room for your needs while caring for someone you love?Where might you be treating care as an either/or choice?What could become possible if there were room for you, me, and us? Reflection At the Threshold is a reflection series about the life transitions that quietly reshape us—and the unexpected gifts we discover as we walk through them. About At the Threshold 🌿 Explore the series:https://girltaketheleadpod.com/threshold Coming Next Next on Girl, Take the Lead!, I’m joined by Bree Katulak—executive, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and host of the Unstoppable You Podcast. We explore Bree’s “invisible scorecard,” the definitions of success we inherit, and what happens when reaching the milestone doesn’t feel the way we expected. We’ll talk about achievement and worthiness, the masks we wear, our core values, and moving from winning to wholeness, status to self-trust, and productivity to presence. Connect 🌐 https://girltaketheleadpod.com🎧 https://girltaketheleadpod.com/listen💌 https://girltaketheleadpod.com/newsletter🛍️ https://girltaketheleadpod.com/shop Until next time... Listen inward.Lead outward. And remember... Sometimes when someone we love crosses a threshold, we discover we’re standing at one, too.

    329. AT THE THRESHOLD: Who Are We Now? When Your Change Becomes Our Change

  5. Oct 8

    328. SOUND BITE: What If Fun Is the Point?

    My daughters, Emma and Kiki, had one condition before agreeing to come back on Girl, Take the Lead! for our Slang Challenge rematch: It had to be FUN. That simple request got me thinking. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to value working hard, being productive, getting things right and taking important things seriously. But where does fun fit? And have we sometimes become so focused on doing things well that we turn even the things we enjoy into another kind of work? In this Sound Bite, we're exploring fun as something deeply individual - something that might show up through laughter, art, crafting, sports, comedy, time with people we love, or simply being willing to look a little silly. Maybe fun gives us a chance to put down the need to perform. And maybe meaningful things can happen when we do. Questions I'm Thinking About What does fun look like for you? When are you most likely to laugh at yourself? Where has something you enjoy started to feel like work? What could you do simply because it's fun - with no expectation of being good at it? The Conversation That Inspired This Sound Bite Maybe every experience doesn't need to accomplish something. What if fun really is the point? 🎧 Episode 327 - The Slang Challenge Is Back: Can Mom Keep Up? My daughters Emma and Kiki return for a rematch of one of our earliest Girl, Take the Lead! episodes. There are new words, old words, Gen Alpha surprises and plenty of laughter. Coming Next - Threshold Next, we're returning to our Threshold series. Five years ago, I made a major career pivot. I had no idea podcasting and art would become part of what I discovered on the other side. Now my husband, Steve, is making a career pivot of his own, hopefully toward more balance. Which has me wondering: Who are we after a major life change? What will he discover? And what might his change mean for us? Yipes! That's where we'll go in our next Threshold episode. 🌐 www.girltaketheleadpod.com🎧 www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen▶️ YouTube: @GirlTakeTheLead📸 Instagram: @yocanny #Fun #PersonalGrowth #GirlTakeTheLead

    328. SOUND BITE: What If Fun Is the Point?

  6. Oct 6

    327. The Slang Challenge Is Back: Can Mom Keep Up?

    When I asked my daughters, Emma and Kiki, if they’d come back to Girl, Take the Lead!, they had one request: It had to be FUN. Challenge accepted. Back in 2022, Emma, our Millennial, and Kiki, our Gen Zer, joined me for Episode 22, “The Slang Challenge: How Many Do You Know?” They tested their Boomer mom on Millennial and Gen Z slang, I tested them on Boomer slang - and let’s just say Mom had some catching up to do. More than 300 episodes later, we decided it was time for a rematch. This time there’s aura farming, canon events, rizz, crashing out - and a few Boomer terms thrown in for good measure. And I have to say... Mom does a little better this time. But somewhere between the guessing, teasing and laughing, we discover something none of us really expected: some of the slang Emma and Kiki are teaching me doesn’t even belong to their generations anymore. Gen Alpha has entered the chat. Suddenly, my daughters are beginning to experience what it feels like to hear a younger generation use words they don’t completely understand. Funny how that happens. Maybe that’s part of what makes conversations like this so much fun. Language changes. Generations change. We change. And staying curious about one another gives us another way to stay connected. We also continue one of my favorite Girl, Take the Lead! traditions and ask Emma and Kiki what they would tell their younger 20-something selves today. Their answers take our very silly conversation somewhere more meaningful - into relaxing, trusting ourselves, expressing what we really feel, and realizing we don’t have to make everyone happy. In This Episode, We Talk About: How slang travels across Millennial, Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Boomer generations Whether Mom has gotten any better since our first challenge The difference between something that slaps and food that’s smackin’ What happens when Millennials and Gen Z start hearing slang from a generation younger than they are What Emma and Kiki would tell their younger 20-something selves The Slang Challenge How many of these do you know? The younger-generation challenge for Mom:Aura Farming • Looks Maxing • Being Cooked • Cheugy • Canon Event • Rizz • Crash Out • Cap • Bet • Slap • Smackin’ Mom’s challenge for Emma & Kiki:Moo Juice • Aggro • Fink • Dish It Out • Loaded • Split More About Emma & Kiki Emma Canny - our Millennial Her career has taken her from paralegal work into contract and strategic sourcing roles in the tech world. Emma is also co-host of Booking Wild with Emma and Fran, where two book-loving friends talk about - you guessed it - books! She also shares her love of reading as @leatherboundgremlin on IG. And since our original Slang Challenge, Emma has gotten married - giving us a few new “canon events” to talk about! Kiki Canny - our Gen Zer After working in development and marketing for a nonprofit serving young people, Kiki moved into the tech world and landed what she calls her dream job. Her love of gaming, internet culture, creativity and all things a little spooky gives her a definite advantage in this Slang Challenge. And yes, she now has another very important member of the family: her dog, Chubbs. Play Along With Us Think you know Gen Z slang better than I do? Take the Gen Z Slang Quiz from wikiHow and see how you do. Then go back to where it all began: Episode 22 - The Slang Challenge: How Many Do You Know? One fun difference: back in 2022, Girl, Take the Lead! was audio only. This time, you get to see all three of us trying to figure each other out! Ways to Connect 🌐 Girl, Take the Lead!www.girltaketheleadpod.com 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts:www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen ▶️ YouTube: @GirlTaketheLead 📸 Instagram:Yo: @yocannyEmma: @leatherboundgremlinKiki: @keeks.ters 💼 LinkedIn:Yo CannyEmma CannyKiki Canny 📘 Facebook Group: Girl, Take the Lead! Coming Next Our next Sound Bite, I want to explore a different question: What if fun is the point?

    327. The Slang Challenge Is Back: Can Mom Keep Up?

  7. Oct 1

    326. SOUND BITE: Conflict Resolution: Is Intention Enough?

    What happens when we’re in conflict with someone who sees things very differently than we do? This Sound Bite (8:41) was inspired by Yo’s conversation with Charlotte Reed, who talked about approaching disagreement with grace—listening to people’s lived experiences and considering the possibility that they may believe they’re trying to do the right thing, too. That got Yo thinking about something she’s been exploring in her own life: Intention. It’s easy to say we have good intentions. But is intention enough? What if being intentional in conflict means becoming more aware of what matters to us, getting curious about what may matter to the other person, and then choosing actions that reflect our values? In this reflection, Yo explores: Why we naturally gravitate toward people who see the world as we doWhat happens when differences move to the center of a relationshipThe difference between intention and intentional actionWhether we can respect someone’s intention without agreeing with their conclusionWhy curiosity about the other person isn’t enough—we also need to examine ourselvesThe uncomfortable question: Do I want to understand—or do I want to win? A Question to Take With You Maybe good intentions aren’t enough. But perhaps they give us somewhere to begin. When I’m in conflict with someone, can I get curious about their intention while also getting clear about my own? Listen to the Conversation That Inspired This Sound Bite 🎧 Episode 325 — Leading with Grace: Making Space for Different Views with Charlotte Reed ▶️ Watch Episode 325 on YouTube Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! 🌐 Website: www.girltaketheleadpod.com🎧 Listen: www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen▶️ YouTube: @GirlTaketheLead📸 Instagram: @yocanny💼 LinkedIn: Yo Canny📘 Facebook Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

    326. SOUND BITE: Conflict Resolution: Is Intention Enough?

  8. Sep 29

    325. Leading with Grace: Making Space for Different Views with Charlotte Reed

    What happens when we step toward disagreement instead of away from it? In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, Yo talks with Charlotte Reed, a communications professional, community organizer, and candidate for Menlo Park City Council, District 4, in California. Charlotte’s path to public service grew from a lifelong commitment to service—and from seeing what can happen when neighbors who care deeply about their community begin talking past one another. During one particularly difficult City Council meeting, Charlotte found herself thinking: there has to be a better way. That experience helped move her toward running for office and toward a leadership approach grounded in listening, communication, and finding common ground. Charlotte shares how she approaches people whose views may be very different from her own. Rather than beginning with disagreement, she tries to remember that we each bring our own lived experiences, information, and values to a conversation. In this episode: The conversation explores what it means to lead with grace without expecting everyone to agree. We also talk about something Charlotte has learned from knocking on thousands of doors and talking with people throughout her community: Sometimes leadership is simply about showing up. How a commitment to service led Charlotte toward public officeThe connection between communication, storytelling, and leadershipWhat she’s learned from talking with thousands of people in her communityListening and finding commonality when views differWhy showing up mattersHope, community, and rebuilding trustSeparating outcomes from our worthCharlotte’s reminder: “What’s meant for you won’t miss you.”Why serious work still needs moments that make us laugh About Charlotte Reed: Charlotte combines a career in corporate communications with years of community service. She has led growth initiatives at multi-billion-dollar companies and has been a Junior League member for nearly a decade, helping build connections with elected officials and nonprofit partners around housing, food, and other community needs. She holds a BA in Public Relations and Strategic Communication from American University, with a minor in Spanish Language and a certificate in Spanish Translation, and is a 2026 graduate of the Emerge California political candidate training program. Connect with Charlotte 🌐 Website: charlotteformenlopark.com💙 Campaign donations: Charlotte Reed campaign donation page📸 Instagram: @thecharlottereed💼 Facebook: Charlotte Reed▶️ TikTok: @thecharlottereed🧵 Threads: @thecharlottereed🦋 Bluesky: Charlotte Reed This Week’s Sound Bite Charlotte’s approach to disagreement left Yo thinking about intention. What happens when we enter conflict curious about another person’s intention—and equally willing to examine our own? Conflict Resolution: Is Intention Enough? Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! 🌐 Website: www.girltaketheleadpod.com🎧 Listen: www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen▶️ YouTube: @GirlTaketheLead📸 Instagram: @yocanny💼 LinkedIn: Yo Canny📘 Facebook Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

    325. Leading with Grace: Making Space for Different Views with Charlotte Reed
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About

Each week we explore Womanhood and Leadership with the goal to question the status quo and challenge our thinking so we celebrate every woman as a leader. Our episodes will interview leaders in the field, meet authors, explore books on the subject, hear inspiring stories, or talk with organizations leading the charge for women to lead. We’ll look at the different topics from different generational perspectives as my daughters, a Millennial and a Gen Z, will join me, a Boomer, from time to time. We hope to make you laugh and leave inspired as you hear our voices on this very important topic.

Information

  • Creator
    Yolanda Canny
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    335
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Yolanda Canny
  • Show Website
    Girl, Take the Lead!