Heartbeat For Hire with Lyndsay Dowd

Lyndsay Dowd
  • 5.0 (75)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

The Heartbeat for Hire Podcast was created to inspire leaders on how to get through the most difficult of circumstances. I feature CEOs, Olympians, Professional Athletes, Authors, Disruptors, Emmy Winning Journalists and more as they share their stories of resilience with my lens on leadership and culture. My guests share their vulnerability and lessons learned so those of you who have never had a good leader can see the possible in the way they lead. My goal is to transform leadership as we know it and this podcast features the best of the best in showing you the way.

  1. 15h ago

    217: Two Careers, One Kitchen Table Truth with Carla Hall & Deborah Grayson Riegel

    Carla Hall is a celebrated chef, TV personality, and author known for her appearances on Top Chef and The Chew. With her signature catchphrase "Hootie Hoo!" and infectious warmth, Carla has built a career on making cooking—and life—more joyful and accessible. She brings her culinary expertise and authentic personality to The MeMenu, transforming complex personal development concepts into digestible, actionable steps.   Deborah Grayson Riegel is a leadership communication expert, executive coach, and Wharton School faculty member. With a Master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology and decades of experience coaching executives, Deb brings research-backed methodologies and practical tools to The MeMenu. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Psychology Today.   Website: https://www.thememenu.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6WPBR7D   Episode Summary:   In this episode, Lyndsay sits down with two powerhouse women: Carla Hall, Top Chef fan favorite and former co-host of The Chew, and Deborah Grayson Riegel (Deb), a Wharton professor, executive coach, and author. Together they've written The Me Menu, a book that uses a cooking analogy — recipes, flavors, and mise en place — to help women over 50 (and anyone ready to join them) put themselves first and lead their own next chapter with what they call "main dish energy." Carla and Deb share the story of how they connected, what's inside the book, what inspires them, and the legacy they each hope to leave.   Key Takeaways:   - Self-development doesn't need to feel like a chore. - You don't need one big life overhaul. - You are already enough. - Staying connected doesn't take hours. - Fun and rigor aren't opposites. - Put yourself on the menu.   Episode Chapters:   0:00 Cold open: the cooking analogy behind The Me Menu 0:57 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire 1:09 Meet Carla Hall & Deb Riegel 2:17 How Carla and Deb connected 4:15 From the kitchen to coaching: Carla's leadership journey 6:36 Who The Me Menu is for 9:38 Inside the book: the six flavors and the recipe format 14:56 Sponsor break: Cozy Earth 15:34 What inspires Carla and Deb 18:03 On friendship and the eight-minute rule 21:08 What's next for The Me Menu (keynotes and retreats) 23:56 Legacy: what they want to leave behind 26:49 Final takeaways for listeners

    217: Two Careers, One Kitchen Table Truth with Carla Hall & Deborah Grayson Riegel

  2. Aug 12

    216: Great Leaders Aren't Smarter, They're Better Storytellers with Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson

    Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson is an executive communication strategist, keynote speaker, conference designer, and founder of the Heartwood Leadership Institute. She helps leaders, founders, and organizations transform powerful ideas into unforgettable messages that inspire action through the power of story. The belief that stories can change lives has shaped her work from the very beginning.   Jacque has coached executives and advised leaders at Fortune 100 companies and global brands including Amazon, Accenture, General Mills, Salesforce, Stripe, Target, Visa, Walmart, and more. She's the host of the Ideas Love Community podcast, creator of the Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest, and the author of 14 books. She's trained thousands of professionals in communication, executive presence, and thought leadership. When she's not launching voices, you'll likely find her paddling with her gold medal-winning dragon boat team of all breast cancer survivors.   Episode Summary:   In this episode of Heartbeat for Hire, host Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Jaquelyn Fletcher Johnson — communication strategist, conference designer, 14-time author, and founder of the Heartwood Leadership Institute. Jaquelyn traces her lifelong obsession with storytelling back to a childhood prank on her younger brothers, then walks through a career that wound from freelance writing and magazine editing into pioneering "Creative Writing at the Bedside" and an on-set interview show at Mayo Clinic, and eventually into executive coaching and leadership development.   Key Takeaways:   - Stories shape how people feel long after they're told. - "Trail angels" are the people who show up right when you need them. - A meandering career can still add up to a clear pattern. - Starting something of your own means giving up full control. - Executive presence isn't about polish — it's about being grounded. - A health scare can clarify your legacy. - You don't have to act on every calling — but it won't disappear.   Episode Chapters:   00:00 Cold open: three things you'll learn from this episode 00:43 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire + guest introduction 01:36 Jaquelyn joins the show 02:08 Origin story: the Jolly Green Giant and the power of story 04:58 Career path: freelance writer to magazine editor to Mayo Clinic storytelling programs 08:33 What is a "trail angel"? 10:06 The tough reality of the conference and speaking world 10:43 Why Jaquelyn decided to build her own conference 14:25 Lessons learned building the Gateway Gathering and Pitch Fest 17:53 Listener thank-you and sponsor spotlight (Cozy Earth) 18:34 Redefining executive presence 21:19 What inspires Jaquelyn 22:01 Legacy, breast cancer, and dragon boat racing 23:18 What's next: Gateway Gathering, Pitch Fest, and family milestones 24:04 Where to find Jaquelyn 24:09 Final takeaway for listeners

    216: Great Leaders Aren't Smarter, They're Better Storytellers with Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson

  3. Aug 5

    215: Ritual Is the New Rebellion with Letha Sandison

    Letha Sandison, CEO + Founder, Four Moons Spa   A lifelong creative and service-driven visionary, her work has always centered around creating spaces that help people feel more seen, supported, and inspired. Before founding Four Moons, Letha lived in Uganda, where she ran an NGO supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families—an experience that deeply shaped her understanding of healing, human connection, and the power of community care. Upon returning home, she envisioned a new kind of wellness space: one where beauty, healing, artistry, and meaningful connection could coexist under one roof. Under her leadership, Four Moons has evolved into more than a spa. It is a wellness playground and community gathering place designed to help people slow down, reconnect to themselves, and experience wellness as a way of life. Through thoughtful details, transformative experiences, and a deeply human approach to hospitality, Letha continues to shape Four Moons as a space where ritual becomes a return to self. Outside of Four Moons, she finds inspiration in travel with family and loved ones, painting, and all things art and design. For her, self-care looks like daily morning and evening rituals that support a conscious and mindful life. She feels most lit up when creating art, connecting with interesting people, and exploring the world with family and friends.   Connect with Letha: Instagram socials: @fourmoonsspa and @lethasandison LinkedIn: @lethasandison   Episode Summary:   Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Letha Sandison, founder of Four Moons, a wellness "playground" in Encinitas, California, built for slowing down and reconnecting. Letha shares how nearly a decade running an NGO in Uganda — creating a fashion line that funded chemotherapy for pediatric cancer patients — shaped her belief that self-care isn't a once-a-year luxury but a daily necessity. She and Lindsay dig into why wellness has become a critical leadership tool, what sets Four Moons apart from a traditional spa (community programming, "healers and mystics," makers markets, women's tables), and why prescriptive wellness advice ("meditate for 30 minutes or you're failing") often backfires. Letha closes with a look at Four Moons' upcoming at-home ritual product line and her hope that listeners give themselves permission to be honest about what they actually need.   Key Takeaways:   - Self-care isn't a treat for your birthday — it's daily fuel that shows up in how you lead and show up for others. - Working harder doesn't make you better. It just burns you out faster. - Wellness works best when it's a two-way street: healers with formal training paired with more intuitive, esoteric support. - Rigid wellness rules ("you must meditate 30 minutes a day") can make people feel like failures. Start small and build the muscle instead.   Episode Chapters:   00:00 Cold Open: Why Self-Care Isn't Optional 00:48 Welcome & Guest Introduction 01:53 Letha's Path: Art School to Nonprofit Work 03:08 Founding a Fashion Line to Fund Pediatric Cancer Care in Uganda 06:13 Coming Home and Reimagining Wellness 07:37 Why Wellness Is a Leadership Imperative 10:23 Inside Four Moons: A Wellness Playground, Not a Spa 13:00 Community as Medicine (and Coming Home to Social Media) 14:55 What Leaders Experience and Take Away 16:04 Ditching One-Size-Fits-All Wellness 19:01 Sponsor Break: Cozy Earth 19:59 What's Next: Bringing Spa Rituals Home 22:26 Where to Find Letha and Four Moons 22:43 Inspiration, Legacy, and Final Advice

    215: Ritual Is the New Rebellion with Letha Sandison

  4. Jul 29

    214: The Hidden Reason Your Team Keeps Missing The Mark with Marlene Chism

    Marlene Chism is an executive advisor, leadership consultant, speaker, and author who helps organizations fix the conversations that quietly undermine execution. She works with leaders to address hidden breakdowns in clarity, accountability, and communication that often show up as disengagement, turnover, conflict, and stalled results. Connect with Marlene: Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/marlenechism Twitter URL: @marlenechism LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlenechism/ Instagram URL: marlenechismconsulting Website: www.marlenechism.com   Episode Summary:   Lyndsay Dowd sits down with leadership consultant, author, and LinkedIn Learning instructor Marlene Chism, who went from working the production line at Kraft Foods to teaching over 700,000 people how to handle hard conversations. Marlene shares her journey from blue-collar worker to sought-after executive advisor, and unpacks why so many "accountability problems" aren't actually accountability problems at all — they're breakdowns further up the chain in clarity and conversation. She introduces her alignment chain (clarity → conversation → accountability → execution), explains why real conversation is different from communication, and walks through the performance coaching framework she built to give leaders confidence in hard conversations. The episode closes with reflections on inner growth, legacy, and Marlene's upcoming book, Spilling the Beans.   Key Takeaways:   - Most "accountability problems" are actually missing conversations or missing clarity, not a lack of accountability itself. - Accountability only works when there's real measurement — not just a conversation that happened. - A conversation is different from communication: communication can be a memo, but a conversation involves real back-and-forth, including some discomfort. - Confidence in hard conversations comes from having a framework, not from personality.   Episode Chapters:   00:00 Cold open — 3 things you'll learn in this episode 00:45 Podcast intro 01:01 Guest introduction: who is Marlene Chism 01:37 Welcome to the show 01:53 Marlene shares her story 02:47 Blue-collar days at Kraft Foods and wanting "something more" 04:04 The three life tragedies of growth 04:49 Quitting her job at 40 to become a professional speaker 05:23 Coaching people through career pivots and reinvention 07:29 The story behind her book Stop Workplace Drama 09:53 Her upcoming 5th book: Spilling the Beans 10:54 Why accountability problems aren't accountability problems 13:07 The hidden weak link: conversation vs. communication 15:41 Giving up the need to be right 16:03 Reframing conflict as opposing drives, desires, and demands 17:02 Sponsor break 17:41 Why confidence in hard conversations is a framework, not a trait 18:35 The performance coaching model: preparing before the conversation 19:39 Leadership clarity: leading with intention 20:07 The messy middle: employee clarity 21:00 The accountability follow-up: circling back 21:12 The power of choosing how you respond 21:45 What inspires Marlene: inner growth 22:35 On legacy and living an aligned life 23:22 What's next for Marlene 24:07 Her ideal clients: mission-driven leaders 24:49 Where to find Marlene 25:06 Final takeaway: clarity can change any situation

    214: The Hidden Reason Your Team Keeps Missing The Mark with Marlene Chism

  5. Jul 22

    213: The 7 Revenue Streams Hiding in Your Business Right Now with Katrena Friel

    Katrena Friel is an internationally recognized Business Mentor known for her transformative approach to leadership and entrepreneurship. With over 25 years of experience, Katrena empowers entrepreneurs and leaders to master their unique Field of Excellence. Her clients range from ambitious startups to seasoned professionals, all seeking to elevate their influence and success.   As an award-winning author and TEDx speaker, Katrena's mission is to help individuals unlock their full potential and create thriving, future-proof businesses. Her innovative "Done for You Program" turns dreams into reality within 90 days, leveraging seven distinct streams of income to build a sustainable business ecosystem.   Connect with Katrena Friel:   Email: katrena@becomingtheexpert.com.au Phone: +61 412 537 053 Website: www.becomingtheexpert.com.au LinkedIn: @katrenafriel   Episode Summary:   Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Katrena Friel, a business mentor with over 25 years of coaching and leadership experience, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author, to unpack why most entrepreneurs are sitting on income streams they've never touched. Katrena shares the painful $30,000 lesson that launched her coaching career, then breaks down her framework for building seven (really eight) streams of revenue from expertise people already have — from books and speaking to training, coaching, mentoring, facilitating, consulting, and franchising. She also walks through her 90-day "done for you" program that turns an idea into a full business ecosystem, describes her ideal client, and closes with advice on thinking bigger about what a fulfilling business and life can look like.   Key Takeaways:   - Most experienced professionals already have enough knowledge to build multiple income streams — they just don't know it. - A costly mistake or bad experience can become the turning point that pushes you toward your real path. - A personal brand isn't just being an influencer — it's a business built around your expertise. - There are seven (plus a bonus eighth) income streams available to experts: book/e-book, speaking (paid and unpaid), training, coaching, mentoring, facilitating, consulting, and franchising. - Writing a book builds credibility and positions you as an expert, even if it isn't a major revenue source on its own.   Episode Chapters:   00:00 Episode teaser: 3 things you'll learn 00:47 Guest introduction: Meet Katrena Friel 01:54 Katrena's background and path from corporate 02:52 The $30,000 lesson: a bad coach and a turning point 07:00 Why entrepreneurs are leaving money on the table 08:56 Client example: building the Virtual Assistant Institute 12:22 The seven streams of income, explained 12:27 Stream 1: Book / e-book 13:41 Stream 2: Speaking (paid and non-paid) 14:30 Stream 3: Training 14:53 Streams 4–6: Coaching, mentoring, facilitating, consulting 15:48 Bonus stream 8: Franchising 16:28 The power of a side hustle (a college grad's story) 18:09 Inside the 90-day program 21:17 Two types of clients: corporate-safe vs. all-in 23:01 Sponsor break 23:44 What inspires Katrena 24:41 Who is the ideal client? 26:01 Three types of clients: done-for-you, hybrid, and DIY 27:38 Katrena's legacy and definition of freedom 28:35 What's next: the Business Mentor Institute 29:14 Where to find Katrena 29:36 Final takeaway for listeners

    213: The 7 Revenue Streams Hiding in Your Business Right Now with Katrena Friel

  6. Jul 15

    212: From Marvel to the Metaverse: How to Build What Doesn't Exist Yet with Matt Edelman

    Matt Edelman serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, with responsibility for the company's strategy, capital allocation, operations, and long-term growth. Appointed CEO in April 2025 after serving as President and Chief Commercial Officer, Matt architected a comprehensive corporate restructuring, strengthening the company's balance sheet and raising more than $26 million in six months, culminating in a $20 million private placement in October 2025. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Matt drove more than 20x revenue growth, led multiple M&A transactions, oversaw hundreds of brand partnerships, supported the company's successful NASDAQ IPO, and helped establish Super League as a defining force in the emerging category of playable media.   To know more about Matt visit his LinkedIn: @mattedelman   Episode Summary:   Matt Edelman has spent over 30 years at the intersection of media, gaming, and emerging tech — starting at Marvel in the 1990s, helping launch Marvel.com, moving through WME/IMG's global live-events business, and now leading Super League as its Chairman, CEO, and President. In this conversation, Matt walks through his "meandering" career path, what it took to raise $26 million while restructuring Super League from an esports company into a platform that helps brands reach the "gamified consumer," and the leadership lessons he's picked up along the way — from building trust with his team to spotting emerging categories before they have a name.   Key Takeaways:   - Follow where you can have impact, not just what's exciting - More people play video games than watch sports - Reframe the audience to shift perception - Trust is a leader's most important asset - Curiosity drives good leadership, but it needs a check - Younger generations are wired for gamified experiences - Build a personal board of advisors - The human side of your story matters as much as your business story   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Episode teaser: the stats on gamers vs. sports fans 00:40 – Welcome & guest introduction 01:42 – Welcome, Matt 01:58 – Matt's origin story: from investment banking to Los Angeles 03:36 – The Marvel years: launching Marvel.com and riding the dot-com wave 11:20 – What Super League is and why it matters 16:34 – Matt's evolution as CEO and the importance of trust 19:15 – Listener support shoutout (top 2% of podcasts globally) 19:55 – What inspires Matt: solving business puzzles 22:08 – What legacy Matt wants to leave 23:35 – What's next for Super League and the gamified consumer trend 26:18 – Where to find Matt (LinkedIn) and why the "human side" matters online 29:08 – Final takeaway for listeners: build your personal board of advisors 31:47 – Outro

    212: From Marvel to the Metaverse: How to Build What Doesn't Exist Yet with Matt Edelman

  7. Jul 8

    211: Roots, Soil, and the ROI Nobody's Talking About with Whitney Clapper

    Whitney Conner Clapper is the Executive Director of the Farmhand Foundation, where she is helping build a future in which ecosystems, farmers, and communities support one another. With more than 20 years of experience in brand marketing, storytelling, regenerative agriculture, and community engagement, Whitney has built purpose-driven campaigns that connect business with lasting social and environmental impact. Her work spans the outdoor industry, including 12 years at Patagonia, where she led Indigenous engagement and justice, equity, and inclusion initiatives while helping shape mission-driven programs such as Worn Wear, Patagonia Provisions, and Patagonia Action Works. She built enduring partnerships between business, Tribal Nations, nonprofits, and grassroots movements to advance climate resilience, biodiversity, and environmental justice. Today, Whitney's work centers on regenerative agriculture—strengthening local food systems, restoring ecosystems, and helping farmers thrive through collaboration, innovation, and deep listening. Rooted in Indigenous wisdom and informed by science, she believes meaningful change begins with relationships, heart-led leadership, and the courage to reimagine how we care for both people and the land.   Connect with Whitney:   LinkedIn: @whitneyconnerclapper Instagram: @whitneyconnerclapper   Farmhand Foundation:   LinkedIn: @farmhandfoundation Instagram: @farmhandfoundation   Episode Summary:   Whitney Clapper shares her journey from building sustainability initiatives at Patagonia to co-founding a nonprofit dedicated to helping farmers and communities thrive. She explains why listening directly to farmers shaped their mission, what regenerative agriculture really means beyond buzzwords, and how supporting local food systems can create healthier communities and a more resilient future. The conversation also explores leadership, purpose-driven work, and the importance of meeting people where they are before trying to create change.   Key Takeaways:   Listen before trying to solve problems—those closest to the challenge often have the best insights. Regenerative agriculture is about caring for people, land, and communities together. Great leadership starts with humility and curiosity. Farmers play a vital role in building a sustainable future. Supporting local farmers strengthens both communities and food systems.   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Introduction & Three Big Lessons from the Episode 01:18 – Whitney's Career Journey to Patagonia 05:50 – Building Sustainability Initiatives at Patagonia 11:03 – Transitioning from Patagonia to Working with Farmers 14:06 – What Regenerative Agriculture Really Means 16:16 – Challenges Facing Farmers Today 19:39 – The Listening Tour That Inspired a New Mission 20:37 – Helping Farmers and Communities Thrive 22:10 – The Power of Listening as a Leader 23:15 – Creating Lasting Impact Through Community Work 28:24 – The Vision for the Future of Agriculture 29:38 – Why Buying Local Matters 31:08 – Final Thoughts & Closing

    211: Roots, Soil, and the ROI Nobody's Talking About with Whitney Clapper

  8. Jul 1

    210: You Broke Free. So Why Does It Feel Like a New Cage? with Keren Eldad

    Keren Eldad (Coach Keren), Executive Coach to elite performers, Bestselling Author of GILDED, and Host of COACHED Keren Eldad is not just an executive coach—she is someone who climbed the highest rungs of ambition, lost everything she thought mattered, and rebuilt a life that finally felt like her own. Before becoming one of the most recognized voices in high-performance transformation, Keren was a picture of outward success—married, living in Zurich, running a career that sparkled on paper. From the outside, she had "made it."   Socials:   Website: https://kereneldad.com/ Instagram: @coachkeren   Episode Summary:   Keren Eldad returns to Heartbeat for Hire as a repeat guest to dive deep into what happens after the breakthrough. While doing the personal work is essential, the real challenge is sustaining who you become and not slipping back into old patterns. Keren explores the concept of "identity dissolution"—breaking free from the patterns and identities that have defined you throughout your life. She reveals why success is actually harder to survive than failure, why insight alone isn't enough without identity-level change, and why high performers unconsciously rebuild their own cages even after doing transformational work. This episode is for anyone who's had breakthroughs but struggled to make them stick.   Key Takeaways:   - Breaking free requires resolving underlying patterns - Success is harder to survive than failure - Insight without identity integration is just borrowed confidence - Overachievers are addicts - High performers rebuild their cages - Find your reference group   Episode Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: The Three Things You'll Learn Today 00:55 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire & Keren's Credentials 01:28 The Real Assignment: Sustaining Who You Become 02:00 Keren's Background: Corporate Overachiever to Coach 04:45 What It Means to Be an Overachiever 07:15 Overachievers Are Addicts, Not Just High Performers 10:30 Why Success Is Harder to Survive Than Failure 14:00 The Possum on Your Chest: Suffocation & Misalignment 16:45 Keren's Reckoning: Divorce, Grief, and Awakening 19:20 Building an Overachiever's Recovery Guide 21:30 Insight Without Identity Integration Is Just Borrowed Confidence 23:45 The Choice We're Making: Saving Our Own Lives 24:45 What's Next: Book Tour, VIP Day in Austin, Turning 50 25:30 Life Transition: Kids Graduating & New Chapters 26:00 Where to Find Keren & Resources 27:00 Closing & Call to Action

    210: You Broke Free. So Why Does It Feel Like a New Cage? with Keren Eldad
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5
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75 Ratings

About

The Heartbeat for Hire Podcast was created to inspire leaders on how to get through the most difficult of circumstances. I feature CEOs, Olympians, Professional Athletes, Authors, Disruptors, Emmy Winning Journalists and more as they share their stories of resilience with my lens on leadership and culture. My guests share their vulnerability and lessons learned so those of you who have never had a good leader can see the possible in the way they lead. My goal is to transform leadership as we know it and this podcast features the best of the best in showing you the way.

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