Executive Unscripted

Executive Unscripted
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Welcome to Executive Unscripted, the podcast that pulls back the curtain on leadership dysfunction, power struggles, and the real conversations happening behind closed doors. Hosted by Erica Arias, leadership expert, a Forbes Nonprofit Council contributor, and boardroom strategist, this show isn’t about sugarcoating leadership—it’s about challenging it and uncovering the real leadership failures that are ruining organizations. I will empower you with real strategies to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact. New episodes weekly. Hit follow and let’s get real about leadership!

  1. Jun 24

    The Discipline of Diplomacy

    What happens when your judgment is questioned, your emotions are triggered, and you're still responsible for leading well? In this episode of Executive Unscripted, I explore one of the most overlooked leadership skills: diplomacy.

  2. Apr 22

    The Loneliness of Leadership

    Leadership isn’t isolating because you’re at the top. It’s isolating because of what ends with you. The decisions. The pressure. The consequences people don’t see. That’s the part of leadership no one prepares you for. We talk about it in this episode of Executive Unscripted.

  3. Apr 21

    The Loneliness of Leadership

    Leadership isn’t isolating because you’re at the top. It’s isolating because of what ends with you. The decisions. The pressure. The consequences people don’t see. That’s the part of leadership no one prepares you for.

    The Loneliness of Leadership

  4. Jan 16

    What Remains When The Noise Clears?

    In this episode, I talk about what happens when the version of you that once performed, executed, and held it all together is left on an island. I share how high performance can sometimes become a mask for confronting our own pain and how I had to stop performing knowledge and start metabolizing truth. I also explore the cost of leading while losing yourself, what stillness forced me to confront, and why sometimes the most powerful leadership begins when everything else goes quiet.

  5. Jan 9

    Love, Loss, and Leadership

    In this episode, I’m opening up like never before. I talk about why I was away from the mic for so long. I touch on the unraveling of identity that comes when grief, public leadership, and personal transformation collide. From navigating emotional landmines in a high-stakes leadership role to rediscovering parts of myself I thought I had to bury to be taken seriously; this is the truth behind the "title". I share how I found clarity, cracked open my own armor, and started leading from a place of authenticity instead of performance. This isn’t just about leadership. It's about survival, awakening, and becoming whole again.

  6. 06/06/2025

    You're Not Leading. Your Ego Is.

    I made a decision - to stop executing someone else’s leadership model. I am writing my own. I also made the bold decision to stop leading from ego. Do you know what ego truly is? In this episode of Executive Unscripted, we’re diving into identity conflict, subconscious patterns, and how to move from performative leadership rooted in ego and into intentional, regulated authority.

  7. 05/30/2025

    I Thought I Was Leading - Then I Looked In the Mirror

    I took a detour. I shelved the Boards Behaving Badly series—for now—because I realized I needed to go deeper. Not into the dysfunction, but into my own internal state as a leader. In this episode, I reflect on the moment I had to ask myself: am I still leading from an old framework I already outgrew? I unpack why vertical development might be at the helm of modern leadership growth—and how neuroscience backs what I’ve felt all along. If you’ve ever felt like you’re performative as a leader instead of evolving it, this conversation is for you.

  8. 05/16/2025

    Boards Behaving Badly Series - Why This Series Had to Be Made

    In this powerful kickoff to the Boards Behaving Badly series, I expose the dysfunction hiding behind boardroom doors. From nonprofits to corporate entities, boards have the power to shape or shatter leadership—and too often, they get it wrong. In this episode, you’ll learn: How boards overstep, obstruct, and damage moraleShocking evidence that boards never evaluate themselves 5 survival strategies for leaders stuck under toxic governanceWhether you’re an executive director, founder, or someone navigating power plays from a group of unqualified decision-makers, this series is your lifeline. And for the record, this is more than a podcast—it’s a call for accountability at the top.

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About

Welcome to Executive Unscripted, the podcast that pulls back the curtain on leadership dysfunction, power struggles, and the real conversations happening behind closed doors. Hosted by Erica Arias, leadership expert, a Forbes Nonprofit Council contributor, and boardroom strategist, this show isn’t about sugarcoating leadership—it’s about challenging it and uncovering the real leadership failures that are ruining organizations. I will empower you with real strategies to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact. New episodes weekly. Hit follow and let’s get real about leadership!

Information

  • Creator
    Executive Unscripted
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Executive Unscripted
  • Show Website
    Executive Unscripted