The Bold Lounge

Leigh Burgess

Everyone has a bold story, and every story is important. This podcast presents bold stories that will inspire and enable you to free your own boldness. There is a continuum of boldness where each of these stories belongs. From true vulnerability and service to making the tough choices and taking the big leap, each episode will feature an extraordinary journey of hope and perseverance. So tune in and take your seat at The Bold Lounge, the place where bold stories are freed. 

  1. 5d ago

    DJ DiDonna: Bold Time Off, What It Takes to Step Away

    Send us Fan Mail About this Episode  Your dream job can still burn you out, and admitting that can feel like failure even when everything looks “successful” on paper. I sit down with DJ DiDonna to get real about what actually happens when you step away from work and why that choice can be one of the most authentic, bold decisions you ever make. We dig into the illusion of certainty that keeps so many of us clinging to “safe” paths, plus the push-pull dynamic behind most sabbaticals: burnout and breakdown on one side, curiosity and meaning on the other. DJ shares what his research has found about career breaks, sabbatical policies, and the psychological permission gap that shows up as resume fear, guilt, and the worry of what other people will think. We also talk about the parts nobody glamorizes, including, grieving an old identity, hearing your inner voice get louder, and learning how to be present again. Then we go deeper into the practical side of a transformational sabbatical. DJ explains why getting out of your head and into your body can be the fastest route to healing, and he tells the story of his 900-mile pilgrimage in Japan and the confidence it gave him to “launch into uncertainty.” If you’re thinking about a career break, burnout recovery, entrepreneurship, or simply building a more meaningful life with better work-life balance, this conversation offers both encouragement and a clear way to start planning before a crisis forces your hand. In this Conversation • The illusion of certainty in “safe” career paths and why it keeps us stuck • Burnout as the push, and curiosity as the pull toward what matters • Why sabbaticals can start with grief, self-doubt, and an identity vacuum • Getting out of your head and into your body through exercise and creativity • DJ’s 900-mile Japan pilgrimage and the confidence it built for uncertainty • Planning a sabbatical like routine maintenance rather than a crisis response • Treating time off as a career cycle and building real time wealth • How DJ's new book Big Time Off grew from lived experience About DJ DiDonna DJ DiDonna is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, entrepreneur, researcher, and founder of The Sabbatical Project, an initiative dedicated to understanding the role that meaningful extended time away from work can play in our careers and lives. Before turning his attention to sabbatical research, DJ co-founded EFL Global, a financial technology company that helped enable more than $2 billion in capital for underserved businesses and individuals around the world. His work has been featured in The Atlantic, TIME, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, and other major publications. His new book,Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One, brings together nearly a decade of research, hundreds of interviews with people who have taken sabbaticals, and DJ’s own experience stepping away after years of entrepreneurship.  DJ's new book challenges the idea that extended time away is simply a luxury or an escape from work. Instead, he examines how purposeful time away can influence identity, relationships, creativity, career direction, and the way we think about what matters most. It also offers practical guidance for deciding when to take a sabbatical and how to design one that can create meaningful change. Additional Resources LinkedIn: @DJDidonna Website: DJ DiDonna Newsletter: Subscribe to the Sabbatical Project Get your copy of Big Time Off  Support the show -------- Stay Connected  www.leighburgess.com Watch the episodes on YouTube  Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

  2. Aug 31

    Kerrie Lee Brown: The Bold New Definition of Success

    Send us Fan Mail About This Episode What if the definition of success that got you here is not the one you want to carry forward? For decades, success has been measured by familiar markers: the title, the income, the recognition, the next achievement, the next level. But somewhere along the way, many accomplished people begin asking a different question: Is this still what success means to me? In this episode, we talk with Kerrie Lee Brown, award-winning journalist, media leader, and former Editor-in-Chief of SUCCESS Magazine, for a candid conversation about how our definition of success changes as we change. After spending decades interviewing and telling the stories of some of the world's most accomplished leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, Kerrie has had a rare front-row seat to what success looks like from the outside and what it can feel like on the inside. Together, we explore what happens when achievement is no longer enough, why changing your definition of success is not a rejection of ambition, and how growth can require us to reconsider the lives, careers, and expectations we have worked so hard to build. We discuss about reinvention, identity, ambition, well-being, purpose, taking risks, and recognizing when it may be time to bet on yourself. Because perhaps the boldest version of success is not about continually adding more. Perhaps it is having the courage to decide what enough, meaningful, and successful mean to you now. In this conversation: • Why our definition of success evolves over time • What years of interviewing highly accomplished people taught Kerrie • The difference between external success and internal fulfillment • Why changing direction does not mean you failed • How identity can become intertwined with titles and accomplishments • What it means to bet on yourself in a new season • Why ambition and well-being do not have to compete • The questions leaders should be asking about what they want next   About Kerrie Lee Brown Kerrie Lee Brown is an award-winning media executive, international journalist, and speaker with more than 30 years of experience shaping some of the world’s most influential magazines and media brands. As Chief Content Officer and Editor-in-Chief of SUCCESS® Magazine, she has interviewed thousands of thought leaders, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons, giving her a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on leadership, success, and personal transformation. A heart attack survivor at age 39, Kerrie combines hard-earned lessons from the boardroom with a deep commitment to heart-centered leadership, wellbeing, and authentic living. Today, she is the founder of RedLily® Media and co-founder of Lioness Global Initiatives™, where she helps amplify meaningful stories, inspire courageous reinvention, and create transformative experiences for women around the world. Through her work, Kerrie empowers audiences to redefine success, embrace change, and discover who they are beyond the titles they hold.   Additional Resources Website: kerrieleebrown.com Instagram: @kerrieleebrown Facebook: @KerrieLeeBrown YouTube: @kerrieleebrown LinkedIn: @kerrieleebrown     Support the show -------- Stay Connected  www.leighburgess.com Watch the episodes on YouTube  Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

  3. Jul 28

    Dan Pontefract: The Bold Future Belongs to Every Age

    Send us Fan Mail About This Episode In this episode, leadership strategist and bestselling author Dan Pontefract explores why age may be the most overlooked diversity dimension in the workplace. Drawing from his new book, The Future of Work is Grey, Dan challenges the outdated belief that talent has an expiration date and shares what organizations lose when they fail to value multigenerational wisdom, trust, purpose, and evolving career paths. Together, Leigh and Dan discuss the difference between stated values and lived values, the leadership choices that shape psychological safety, the impact of AI on entry-level work, and how leaders can build stronger teams across generations using Dan’s “rivers, rocks, and rubies” framework.   About Dan Pontefract Dan Pontefract is a renowned leadership strategist, award-winning author of six books, and keynote speaker with three decades of experience helping organizations and leaders improve overall performance. He has presented at four TED events and earned multiple industry awards, including Thinkers50 Radar, HR Weekly’s 100 Most Influential People in HR, PeopleHum’s Top 200 Thought Leaders to Follow, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers. Dan’s best-selling books include his latest bestseller, The Future of Work Is Grey, Work-Life Bloom—the 2024 Thinkers50 Best New Management Book and the Gold Medal Winner of the Axiom Business Book Awards, as well as the award-winning Lead. Care. Win. He also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review.   Additional Resources Website: danpontefract.com New Book: thefutureofworkisgrey.com  LinkedIn: @DanPontefract Support the show -------- Stay Connected  www.leighburgess.com Watch the episodes on YouTube  Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

  4. Jul 11

    Heather Powers: Powering the Way to Your Bold Life

    Send us Fan Mail About This Episode In this episode, Heather Powers, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of The Power Lane, talks about what it means to bet on yourself while carrying the very real responsibilities of work, family, caregiving, and life. Heather shares her journey from corporate leadership to building a mission focused on keeping working mothers in the workforce, along with practical insights on caregiver support, manager training, return-to-office policies, retention, and why presence should never be confused with performance.   About Heather Powers Heather Powers is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and author on a mission to keep working mothers in the workforce and in the driver's seat. As founder of The Power Lane and creator of The Workplace Village™ Framework, she works with moms and the leaders who need them to build workplaces where caregivers survive and drive results.  Heather brings 30+ years of management consulting experience, including executive roles at KPMG and Booz Allen, to a problem most organizations are getting wrong: working mothers aren't leaving the workforce, they're leaving your workplace. Her book, The Power Lane: Why Keeping Moms in the Workforce REVS the Economy, makes the business case for why that matters and what to do about it. She is based in Washington, DC, and is a working mother of two teenagers.   Additional Resources Website: heatherlanepowers.com  LinkedIn: @HeatherPowers Heather’s Free Village Building Guide for Moms: heatherlanepowers.com/freebie Support the show -------- Stay Connected  www.leighburgess.com Watch the episodes on YouTube  Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

  5. Jun 12

    Scott Erdmann: Bold Moves in BBQ

    Send us Fan Mail About This Episode A million-dollar prize may grab attention, but Scott Erdmann’s bigger vision is building a global home for competition barbecue. In this episode, Scott shares how he went from sports and entertainment partnerships to founding the Barbecue World Cup and Expo, why the BBQ market is bigger than most people realize, and what it takes to build something bold when there is no blueprint. We talk fundraising, partnerships, pitmaster storytelling, judging, community, and how newcomers can find their way into the world of competitive barbecue.   About Scott Erdmann Scott Erdmann is a sports and entertainment partnership strategist turned founder, building BBQ World Cup & Expo, an ambitious global platform designed to modernize and elevate the world of barbecue through competition, media, and community. Known for turning big ideas into real-world revenue and experiences, Scott focuses on building ecosystems that create long-term ownership, not just one-off events. He’s passionate about leadership, innovation, and creating momentum by betting on the unconventional and then executing like it’s already inevitable.   Additional Resources Website: bbqunited.com Instagram: @bbqworldcup / @scotterdmann Support the show -------- Stay Connected  www.leighburgess.com Watch the episodes on YouTube  Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

  6. May 28

    Eric Ries: Bold Systems that Keep Companies Incorruptible

    Send us Fan Mail About This Episode Eric Ries, creator of the Lean Startup method and author of Incorruptible explores what bold leadership looks like when certainty is impossible, pressure is high, and telling the truth may come at a cost. We talk about learning velocity, the danger of vanity metrics, why governance shapes destiny, and how organizations can build systems rooted in integrity, creativity, and human flourishing. Tune in to hear Eric’s take on principled decision-making, smarter innovation, and what it takes to build institutions people can trust.   About Eric Ries Over the last two decades, Eric Ries’s ideas about continuous innovation, long-term thinking, governance, and market reform have reshaped company building and management practices. He is the creator of the Lean Startup method, and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup; The Leader’s Guide; and The Startup Way. As a founder, he has put his own ideas into practice with The Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE); Answer.AI, an AI R&D lab; the Lean Startup Co, which teaches and supports the implementation of Lean Startup; Virgil, a legal services startup; and IMVU, where the ideas that became the Lean Startup method were forged. On his podcast, The Eric Ries Show, he talks to guests including world-class technologists, thought leaders, and executives working to build profitable companies for the long-term benefit of society. Eric has served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Harvard Business School and IDEO. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children.   Additional Resources Website: incorruptible.co LinkedIn: @EricRies Instagram: @ericriesactual Support the show -------- Stay Connected  www.leighburgess.com Watch the episodes on YouTube  Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Everyone has a bold story, and every story is important. This podcast presents bold stories that will inspire and enable you to free your own boldness. There is a continuum of boldness where each of these stories belongs. From true vulnerability and service to making the tough choices and taking the big leap, each episode will feature an extraordinary journey of hope and perseverance. So tune in and take your seat at The Bold Lounge, the place where bold stories are freed.