The Real Intelligence Podcast with Jenny Swim

Jenny Swim
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In a world moving towards artificial intelligence, what if you could reclaim your real one? Join leadership coach Jenny Swim to explore human intelligence through the lens of neuroscience, conscious observation, and story.  

  1. JAN 30

    38: You Are Here: The Skill of Orienting

    Send us a text Feeling unsettled by world events, in the middle of a transition, or unsure of your next step? In this episode of the Real Intelligence podcast, Jenny Swim explores the skill of orienting—the simple but powerful practice of knowing where you are physically, emotionally, mentally, and relationally. You’ll learn how orienting helps you differentiate what’s yours to carry, pause strategically instead of reacting, and calm your nervous system to build capacity. The episode includes practical reflections and simple practices you can use right away. Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from looking ahead—it comes from recognizing where you already are. Additional Resources: • The Orienting Reflex and Behavioral States (PMC) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10010463/ • Irene Lyon — Orienting: Its Simplicity and Complexity Explained https://irenelyon.com/2024/04/05/orienting-its-simplicity-and-complexity-explained/ • The Orienting Response (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZO3vYrJlaY Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    20 min

  2. JAN 16

    37: Observe First: The Expert Skill Novices Often Miss

    Send us a text In this episode of the Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim explores observation as a defining skill shared by experts across disciplines, from leadership and parenting to aviation, medicine, and emergency response. Drawing on neuroscience and the OODA Loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act), Jenny shows how observation creates the critical pause between stimulus and response—and why our bias toward speed and certainty often causes us to miss what matters most. You’ll learn the difference between true observation and judgment, how autopilot and stress distort perception, and what happens when observation is rushed, as seen in the Boeing 737 MAX crisis. Jenny also shares practical, evidence-informed ways to strengthen your observation muscle, including the 10% Slower Rule and separating data from story. Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, or navigating everyday decisions, this episode reveals how observing first leads to clearer orientation, better choices, and more aligned action. Additional Resources: National Research Council (2000). How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (Chapter 5). Read online Stanford Medicine (2014). Expert pilots process multiple visual cues more efficiently. Read online Hoffman, K. A., Aitken, L. M., & Duffield, C. (2009). Novice vs. expert nurses: How cue collection drives decision-making. PubMed Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    19 min

  3. JAN 2

    36: Vision Before Goals: A Smarter Way to Enter the New Year

    Send us a text As we head into a new year, many of us feel pressure to set goals and make resolutions—only to feel overwhelmed, resistant, or unsure where to start. In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, host Jenny Swim introduces a powerful but often overlooked precursor to goal setting: visioning. Using relatable examples from everyday life—like building a home or creating with Legos—Jenny explains why having a clear vision or “blueprint” matters before committing to resolutions or measurable goals. She breaks down the difference between visioning, resolutions, and goals, explains when each tool is most helpful, and shares a neuroscience-informed framework you can use to design the future you actually want. You’ll learn: Why goals and resolutions often fail without a clear visionWhen visioning is the right tool (especially during transitions or uncertainty)The neuroscience behind visualization and neural rehearsalA simple 3-step visioning model you can use right awayHow to move from vision → resolution → goals without burnout or pressureWhether you’re navigating a new year, a career shift, a health reset, or a personal transition, this episode offers a calmer, more intelligent way forward. Additional Resources: https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/study-shows-1-in-5-successful-entrepreneurs-use-vision-boards-backed-by-neuroscience.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/03/29/a-psychologist-explains-the-power-of-vision-boarding-for-success Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    24 min

  4. 12/19/2025

    35: Simple is Strategic with Alish Anderson

    Send us a text What if simplifying your life isn’t about doing less—but about living more intentionally? In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, host Jenny Swim is joined by Alish Anderson, a wife, mother of four, former teacher, and longtime practitioner of intentional living, to explore simplicity as a strategy—not a shortcut. Together, they unpack how cutting the non-essential creates clarity, peace, and alignment in both leadership and family life. In a culture that equates busyness with worth, this conversation challenges the belief that doing more makes us more. This episode is for parents, leaders, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by complexity, noise, and constant pressure to keep up. Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    33 min

  5. 12/05/2025

    34: The Gift of Pain: How to BE With Discomfort

    Send us a text In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim explores the gift of pain—and why it remains one of our greatest teachers, even though we instinctively try to avoid it. Whether emotional, social, spiritual, or physical, pain often triggers familiar reactions: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Together, we’ll: Rethink our relationship with painRecognize our automatic patternsExplore practical tools for relating with and moving through discomfort with greater intelligence and intentionIf this conversation resonates, share it with someone who might benefit from a gentler, more empowering way to understand and navigate their own experience with pain. Additional Resources: Salk Institute for Biological Studies. (2023, June 21). From injury to agony: Scientists discover brain pathway that turns pain into suffering. https://www.salk.edu/news-release/from-injury-to-agony-scientists-discover-brain-pathway-that-turns-pain-into-suffering/ Truman, K. K. (1989). Feelings buried alive never die. Bantam. https://a.co/d/i4GKjsL Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    18 min

  6. 11/21/2025

    33: When Progress Feels Slow: Learning to Listen to Your Body’s Timing with Dr. Cynthia Sumner

    Send us a text High performers are trained to push, optimize, stay sharp, and deliver. But what if your body is quietly deciding your timeline—and you’re fighting it without realizing it? In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim and Dr. Cynthia Sumner break down why your body is often ahead of your mind, signaling emotional gaps, stress limits, and belief patterns long before you consciously notice them. This episode explores: How physical symptoms can act as your body’s warning systemThe emotional “gap work” needed to move from where you are to where you want to beThe key questions to ask when you aren't getting what you wantHow to partner with time instead of controlling or fighting itReal client stories demonstrating the power of pacing for long-term resultsIf you’re a leader, parent, or professional who often pushes past your body’s signals, this episode shows how trusting timing—and listening to your body—can help you achieve your goals more sustainably, intuitively, and effectively. Connect with Dr. Cynthia Sumner at: www.cynthiasumner.net  or on Instagram @thehealingfood Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    41 min

  7. 11/07/2025

    32: The Next Evolution: Coming Home Meets Real Intelligence

    Send us a text One year ago, Come Home to You invited you to reconnect with yourself and your inner wisdom. Today, the journey evolves. In this milestone episode, Jenny Swim introduces The Real Intelligence Podcast and explores what real intelligence truly is—how we understand and move through the world. We break down the three key elements of real intelligence: how we perceive ourselves, how we perceive the world, and the multi-dimensional intelligence channels that help us engage effectively between the two. Whether you’re a returning listener or new here, this episode lays the foundation for why accessing your own real intelligence can expand—or limit—the possibilities in your life and leadership. *Special thanks for design and rebrand help to Lexi at https://www.legacybranding.design/ and Christine at https://mindfulnessforlife.ca/ Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    12 min

  8. 10/24/2025

    31: The Science of Breakthroughs: What the CIA, Neuroscience, and Nature Teach Us About Real Growth

    Send us a text Breakthroughs aren’t smooth — they’re messy, uncertain, and often feel like failure. But what if those moments of chaos are signs your system is reorganizing for something greater? In this episode of Come Home to You, Jenny Swim unpacks the real science of breakthroughs — what neuroscience, nature, and even the CIA’s Aldrich Ames investigation reveal about transformation. You’ll learn: The four predictable stages every breakthrough followsWhy frustration and confusion are signs of progress, not failureHow to reframe tension as intelligence reorganizingHow leaders can stay clear and grounded in times of disruptionIf you’re a leader, parent, or creator navigating change, this episode helps you recognize the signals of growth — and walk through your next breakthrough with wisdom and steadiness. Additional Resources: Special thanks to Arielle Groves for her "Disneyland" metaphor. Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/ Music by Pumpupthemind https://linktr.ee/Pumpupthemind

    15 min
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In a world moving towards artificial intelligence, what if you could reclaim your real one? Join leadership coach Jenny Swim to explore human intelligence through the lens of neuroscience, conscious observation, and story.  

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