The Sow to Speak Podcast with Kristy Mandour

Kristy Mandour
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Passionate, overthinking high-achievers rejoice! Join communication coach Kristy Mandour as she shares strategies for strengthening your communication impact, leadership voice and presence, and healthy mindset so you can continue to be the leader you were meant to be. Get ready to drop in and "sow" what you really want to speak.

  1. 1D AGO

    How to Be Decisive Without Sounding Authoritarian

    As you grow into larger leadership roles, your previously solid confidence may start to waver. That's because, at higher levels of influence and visibility, you are no longer speaking just to contribute. You are speaking to set direction. And one of the most subtle habits I see at this level is blending directive and curious energy without realizing it. Today, we’re talking about discerning between these two. It can look like: You ask when you’ve already decided.You invite input when the direction is actually set.You soften clarity in the name of collaboration. And your team feels it. This episode unpacks how to discern when a moment calls for direction and when it genuinely calls for discovery — and how to align your language and nervous system accordingly. In this episode, we explore: • The difference between seeking buy-in and seeking insight — and why confusing the two creates ambiguity• How to tell in your body whether you’re decided or still discovering• Practical language shifts that help you lead with clarity without losing warmth A question to sit with: Am I deciding, or am I discovering? The answer changes everything. Free Resource: If this pattern shows up most when you’re delegating, setting expectations, or handing off ownership, be sure to grab your free guide, Delegate Like a Boss. It walks you through how to lead with direction while staying supportive and empowering, without diluting clarity or second-guessing yourself. You can download it here: https://sowtospeak.com/talk RATE AND REVIEW THE PODCAST Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate and review this episode wherever you're listening in from. This is the fastest way for other high-achieving, passionate leaders to find the podcast, too. CONNECT WITH KRISTY Learn more about Kristy and Sow to Speak ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPECIAL FOR SOW TO SPEAK LISTENERS **Special for Sow to Speak listeners: Take a look and save $250 on Scriptor Publishing's From Polished to Print book package here: ⁠https://ll107.isrefer.com/go/p2p250/kristym/⁠

    15 min

  2. FEB 16

    When “Sorry” Becomes a Habit: Reclaiming Your Voice Without Shrinking

    You don’t need to apologize for doing your job. And yet, so many thoughtful, high-achieving leaders quietly soften their presence with reflexive apologies that were never required. “Sorry to bother you.”“Sorry, quick question.”“Sorry for the delay.” Not because harm was done.But because somewhere along the way, apologizing became a way to stay likable, agreeable, or non-threatening. In this episode, we’re undoing that habit. Because an apology is for harm.Not for clarity.Not for leadership.Not for taking up space. In this episode, we explore: • Why over-apologizing is often a nervous system pattern, not a confidence issue• The subtle ways unnecessary apologies chip away at authority• How to start noticing where “sorry” shows up automatically• What to say to yourself in the moment so you can pause safely• Before-and-after language shifts that feel grounded, not aggressive Remember: Confidence is not built in high-pressure moments. It’s rehearsed in ordinary ones. Free Resource: If this habit shows up most when you’re delegating or making requests, be sure to grab your free guide, Delegate Like a Boss. It walks you through how to delegate in a way that feels supportive and empowering for you and your team, without guilt, without micromanaging, and without shrinking your voice. You can download your guide right here: https://sowtospeak.com/talk RATE AND REVIEW THE PODCAST Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate and review this episode wherever you're listening in from. This is the fastest way for other high-achieving, passionate leaders to find the podcast, too. CONNECT WITH KRISTY Learn more about Kristy and Sow to Speak ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ **Special for Sow to Speak listeners: Take a look and save $250 on Scriptor Publishing's From Polished to Print book package here: https://ll107.isrefer.com/go/p2p250/kristym/

    10 min

  3. FEB 9

    Stop Overexplaining: How the Desire to Be Taken Seriously Trips Up Your Voice

    Overexplaining is rarely about a lack of confidence. More often, it’s driven by the desire to be taken seriously, to be understood, and to get it right. But when we overtalk, overexplain, or over-apologize, our message loses the very authority we’re trying to establish. In this episode, we unpack why this habit shows up for so many thoughtful leaders and how a steadier, more concise voice builds credibility faster than explanation ever will. In this episode: • Why overexplaining is a patterned response, not a personality flaw• What adding “just one more thing” signals in high-stakes conversations• How silence can strengthen your authority• A simple practice to help your words land with clarity Before speaking, ask yourself:Am I explaining to be clear, or to be liked?Then say one clean sentence and pause. Join me live: If this resonates, join me for tomorrow’s free virtual masterclass, Say It Like You Mean It, where I’ll share one of my clients’ favorite exercises to help you communicate with greater clarity and confidence. It’s practical, immediately usable, and the hour truly flies. Register here: https://sowtospeak.com/live And remember: Clarity doesn’t need defending. If this episode supported you, please leave a rating and review so more thoughtful leaders can find the podcast. CONNECT WITH KRISTY: Learn more about Kristy and Sow to Speak ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ **Special for Sow to Speak listeners: Take a look and save $250 on Scriptor Publishing's From Polished to Print book package here: https://ll107.isrefer.com/go/p2p250/kristym/

    12 min

  4. JAN 22

    How to Delegate Without Losing Your Authority or Your Humanity

    If delegating work feels heavier than it should, this episode is for you. Not because you don’t know how to delegate, but because delegating has been tied to your identity. For a long time, you’ve been known for what you do. For being capable. Reliable. On it. So handing work off can feel loaded.Like you’re giving something up.Like you might look bossy.Like you might look less competent. In this episode, we talk about why compassionate delegation does not cancel authority and how clear, grounded delegation is one of the most supportive leadership moves you can make. YOU'LL LEARN • Why many leaders confuse compassion with over-functioning• How doing too much yourself quietly erodes authority• The emotional and identity-based reasons that delegation feels hard• What compassionate, authoritative delegation actually sounds like• How clarity creates safety for you and your team • Why delegation is not a loss of control or credibility• How to delegate without apologizing or micromanaging• What it looks like to hold expectations with warmth and firmness GRAB YOUR FREE GUIDE: Delegate Like a Boss. Get it here: https://sowtospeak.com/talk It walks you through how to delegate in a way that feels supportive and empowering for you and your team. Without guilt. Without micromanaging. Without losing yourself in the process. WOULD LOVE YOUR TAKE ON THE EPISODE: If this episode supported you, please leave a rating and review. It’s the best way for other thoughtful leaders to find the podcast. It truly takes a village to make great leaders and communicators in our world. CONNECT WITH ME: Learn more about Kristy and Sow to Speak ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ CURIOUS ABOUT WRITING A BOOK: **Special for Sow to Speak listeners: Take a look and save $250 on Scriptor Publishing's From Polished to Print book package here: https://ll107.isrefer.com/go/p2p250/kristym/

    9 min

  5. JAN 14

    Compassion Without Collapse: How to Be Human and Hold the Line

    If you’ve ever worried that being compassionate at work means being walked all over, lowering performance expectations, or losing your edge, this episode is for you. Many thoughtful, high-performing leaders are carrying a quiet fear:If I’m too understanding, I won’t be taken seriously.If I’m too human, people will slack.If I hold space, I’ll lose authority. In this episode, we untangle that fear and clarify the difference between empathy and compassion and why confusing the two often leads to burnout, resentment, and stalled progress. In this episode, we explore: • Why compassion and empathy are not the same thing• How empathy fatigue sneaks in for conscientious leaders• The hidden cost of compassion without clarity• Why lowering the bar is not kindness You’ll learn:• How to lead with care and direction at the same time • The difference between noticing where someone is and helping them move forward• Why compassion is support with action, not just understanding• How to stay human without collapsing into over-accommodation• What candid, respectful leadership actually sounds like in practice Before your next difficult conversation, ask yourself: What do I notice about where this person is right now?And where do we need to go from here? One line to carry with you: Compassion isn’t staying in the feelings. It’s helping people move forward. JOIN THE PUBLIC SPEAKING MASTERCLASS LIVE: I’m hosting a free virtual masterclass on Tuesday, January 20th at 1pm EST called Say It Like You Mean It: Uncover and Use Your Most Confident Voice. You’ll learn the most effective exercise I use with clients to speak clearly and confidently without overexplaining, softening your message, or second-guessing yourself. HELP SPREAD THE PODCAST TO OTHERS: If this episode supported you, please leave a rating and review. It’s the best way for other thoughtful leaders to find the podcast. It truly takes a village to make great leaders and communicators in our world. I’ll see you back here next week.

    16 min

  6. JAN 6

    Why Being “Less Emotional” Is the Wrong Goal and What Actually Builds Credibility

    If you’ve ever told yourself you need to be less emotional at work to be taken seriously, this episode is for you. Not because you’re doing leadership wrong, but because that belief is quietly costing you clarity, confidence, and credibility. In this episode, we unpack why emotional suppression isn’t the path to authority and what actually helps you communicate with steadiness, trust, and impact without turning into a robot or betraying who you are. This is especially for you if you’re crossing into the new year feeling a little foggy, tired, or like you’re carrying more than you want to admit. In this episode, we explore: • Why “being less emotional” is the wrong goal and where that advice actually leads• The difference between emotional suppression and nervous system regulation• How emotion leaks into your communication when it’s ignored or overridden• What credibility really sounds and feels like in real conversations• A simple grounding practice you can use before any high stakes conversation You’ll learn: • Why credibility isn’t about being neutral or detached• How to let emotion exist without letting it run the conversation• What regulated leadership looks like in action, not theory• How to speak with authority without tightening, rushing, or overexplaining Try this before your next important conversation, ask yourself:“What am I feeling right now, and can I let it be without letting it drive?” You’re not removing emotion. You’re putting it in the passenger seat. JOIN IN FOR MY UPCOMING MASTERCLASS I’m hosting a free virtual masterclass on Tuesday, January 20th at 1pm EST called Say It Like You Mean It. You’ll walk away with the number one exercise I practice with clients, and they consistently say it’s a game-changer. It’s efficient, sustainable, and leaves people feeling grounded, confident, and relieved. Register here: https://sowtospeak.com/live If this episode supported you, please leave a rating and review. It’s the best way for other thoughtful leaders to find the podcast. It truly takes a village to make great leaders and communicators in our world. I’ll see you back here next week.

    14 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    Ending the Year Without Adding More

    I've never been a big NYE goer. December 31 rarely feels quiet (both internally and externally). Life is still full. Your mind is juggling what’s possible, what’s unfinished, and what next year might ask of you. In this end-of-year episode, I offer a different way to close the year. One that doesn’t require resolutions, vision boards, or adding one more thing to your list. Instead, this is an invitation to pause. Not as a luxury, but as a quietly rebellious and deeply productive act for high-achieving leaders. You’ll explore what it looks like to end the year by letting go, creating agency, and choosing clarity before the new year even begins. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Why pausing can feel like a no-no for high achievers and why it may be the most productive rebellion you make• A grounded alternative to resolutions that restores choice and agency• Reflecting on what you’re no longer willing to carry into the new year• Moving from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse through the lens of release, not acceleration• Why “stability” emerged as the guiding word for the coming year and what that really means in practice• How pausing creates clarity, groundedness, and genuine pride in where you’ve been and where you are now• Reframing ambition so it’s driven by steadiness rather than urgency A QUESTION TO SIT WITH: Before asking what you want to add next year, ask yourself: What am I no longer willing to bring with me? That clarity often matters more than any goal you could set. JOIN ME LIVE: If you’re looking for a strong, centered way to begin the year, you’re invited to join me for a free live masterclass: Say It Like You Mean It: Uncover Your Most Confident VoiceTuesday, January 20 | 10 AM PST/1 PM EST This masterclass is for leaders who want to communicate with a steady, self-assured presence without over-explaining, second-guessing, or bracing for impact. Register here: https://sowtospeak.com/live RATE AND REVIEW THE PODCAST Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate and review this episode wherever you're listening in from so others can discover the podcast, too. And, of course, let me know what you connected with the most! Speaking of connection: Learn more about Kristy and Sow to Speak ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. CONNECT WITH ME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ **Special for Sow to Speak listeners: Our friends over at Scriptor Publishing are offering a special just for you. Save $250 on Scriptor Publishing's From Polished to Print book package here: https://ll107.isrefer.com/go/p2p250/kristym/

    9 min

  8. 10/27/2025

    How Do You Quiet the Inner Critic and Speak with Confidence?

    Halloween week has me thinking about masks — not the costumes we put on for fun, but the ones we wear at work. The competent, unbothered, always-have-an-answer mask that hides the very human parts of ourselves — uncertainty, curiosity, doubt. And here’s the truth: taking that mask off is exactly where your confident voice lives. In this episode, I share how to: Recognize the masks you wear and why. Spot your inner critic (The Whipper) and step back from its script. Connect with your confident voice beneath the mask — honest, grounded, present. Practice showing up more fully without needing to perform. Inner critic vs confident voice: how to spot The Whipper and reclaim your nervous system. Practical exercises for softening the mask and showing up grounded. Why confident leadership is about presence, not perfection. JOIN THE CONFIDENT VOICE ACCELERATOR If you’re ready to step into greater visibility and communicate with calm, grounded confidence, The Confident Voice Accelerator is for you. Six-week 1:1 coaching program. Two tracks: Founders of purpose-driven businesses and organizational leaders recently promoted into bigger roles. Map your energy, regulate your nervous system, and speak clearly under pressure. Build confidence that carries through every room (IRL and virtually), especially as we head into the holidays. Doors close October 31st, program starts November 3rd.Book your free discovery call to learn more and save your spot: https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/sow-to-speak RATE AND REVIEW THE PODCAST Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate and review this episode wherever you're listening in from so others can discover the podcast, too. And, of course, let me know what you connected with the most! Speaking of connection: Learn more about Kristy and Sow to Speak ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. CONNECT WITH ME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ **Special for Sow to Speak listeners: Take a look and save $250 on Scriptor Publishing's From Polished to Print book package here: https://ll107.isrefer.com/go/p2p250/kristym/

    13 min
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Passionate, overthinking high-achievers rejoice! Join communication coach Kristy Mandour as she shares strategies for strengthening your communication impact, leadership voice and presence, and healthy mindset so you can continue to be the leader you were meant to be. Get ready to drop in and "sow" what you really want to speak.

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