UnBecoming with Elena Joy

Elena Joy Thurston

A liberation manual for queer leaders, code-switching chameleons, and recovering good girls ready to lead without losing themselves. elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

  1. 5d ago

    A Reasonable Response

    In this episode, Elena Joy sits down with Hanna Miller, founder of Conscience-Driven Leadership, for a conversation that keeps arriving at the same truth from two very different lives. Elena built her map through Signal and Static, and core values. Hanna built hers through the circus, horses, and conscience. They meet in the middle on burnout, intuition, and what it actually takes to lead like a human inside systems that often reward the opposite. Along the way: why anxiety is sometimes the clearest signal in the room, how to tell your intuition apart from your distortions, the drama triangle as a sign you've lost the plot, and what a trembling koala in a field of stumps can teach us about the burnout so many leaders are carrying right now. For the managers stuck in the messy middle who feel like they can't quit and can't keep going, Hanna and Elena name the unspoken thing and point toward where your agency actually lives. Warm, honest, and a little rebellious. Come get your rooftop perspective. Links Get Hanna's book, Trust Physics:https://www.consciencedrivenleadership.com/trust-physics-ebook Learn more about Hanna's work:https://www.consciencedrivenleadership.com/resources Hanna's podcast episode on boundaries:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570370/episodes/18824611-distortions-part-2-boundary-and-approval Chat with Elena Joy:https://chatwithelenajoy.com/ Connect with Elena Joy:Substack: https://elenajoyspeaks.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenajoythurston/https://LatitudeLeaders.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

    A Reasonable Response

  2. May 27

    Gen Z Called Out Again. Now What?

    "Why doesn't Gen Z have a work ethic?!"We hear that time and time again. It turns out, Gen Z actually does have a work ethic. And they're also one of the first generations to hold a genuine capacity and ability to prioritize their mental well-being. Elena explains that by creating a system based on data, compassion, and accountability rather than blame and frustration, Alex and Brayden were able to solve an issue with most of their employees calling out from their shifts 25% of the time. If your organization could use some highly-skilled middle managers, let's talk. You can book a time at https://latitudeleaders.com/contact Connect with Elena Joy:Substack: https://elenajoyspeaks.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenajoythurston/https://LatitudeLeaders.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

    Gen Z Called Out Again. Now What?

  3. Apr 16

    The Bathroom Stall Strategy

    Free Networking Cheat Sheet: https://latitudeleaders.com/networkingcheatsheet 49 HR conferences in 2023. Elena takes everything she learned in that year and breaks it down into three ways you can show up more authentically as yourself at your next event. Three Words Away: https://latitudeleaders.com/threewordsaway Connect with Elena Joy Thurston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenajoythurston/ UnBecoming with Elena Joy on Substack: https://elenajoyspeaks.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

  4. Mar 17

    The Leadership Skill You Already Have Time to Build

    The Leadership Skill You Already Have Time to Build How to create connection at work without adding a single thing to your calendar Content Note: This episode includes a brief mention of miscarriage. Episode Summary: Connection at work is a skill, and it's one you already have time to practice. In this episode, Elena Joy breaks down why disconnection is the single biggest predictor of burnout, why managers hold more power over employee engagement than compensation or flexibility, and how the ARC framework gives any leader a repeatable, sustainable path to genuine connection without adding a single thing to their calendar. What You'll Learn: Why your nervous system is wired to need connection at work, and what happens when it doesn't get it The three-step ARC framework: Activate, Reinforce, Codify What Powerful Presence actually looks like in a meeting you're already running Why the best connection systems are the ones light enough to survive a hard week Mentioned in This Episode: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38285544/ https://www.gallup.com/services/182138/state-american-manager.aspx https://enboarder.com/blog/how-much-is-human-connection-really-worth/ Free Resource: Grab Elena's five favorite connection questions, the ones she actually uses in meetings, 1:1s, and when she's trying to find someone's spark without making it weird. LatitudeLeaders.com/sv-cheat-sheet Connect with Elena Joy: Substack: https://elenajoyspeaks.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenajoythurston/ Website: LatitudeLeaders.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

  5. Mar 3

    Middle Managers Are Deciding Your Future Now (Whether You Train Them or Not)

    In this episode, I break down why middle managers are the single greatest lever in your organization — for engagement, retention, and burnout prevention. Using a real story from the public school system, I share how one principal walked into a failing school (fourth leader in four years, morale in the basement) and, without additional funding or lighter workloads, transformed retention, culture, and performance. What changed? Not strategy.Not budget.Not talent. People leadership. Employees don’t experience “the company.”They experience their manager. And research continues to show: Managers are the biggest driver of employee engagement (Gallup). “Relational detachment” is one of the strongest predictors of burnout. 47% of employees who quit say they loved their job, but not their manager. 58% cite management style as the primary reason they leave. Burnout rarely starts with workload.It starts with disconnection. In this conversation, we explore: Why middle managers are the operational layer of burnout prevention How tone, availability, consistency, and conflict style shape retention Why high performers don’t quit companies — they quit managers The daily behaviors that create sustainable engagement How to build connection intentionally instead of by accident If you care about strategy execution, talent retention, and sustainable leadership, this episode is for you. Because right now, your managers are deciding whether your highest performers stay — or take their impact, experience, and institutional memory somewhere else. Not because of compensation.Not because of workload.Because of connection. Resources Mentioned: The Manager Skills Lab – A hands-on leadership training designed to equip middle managers with practical relational leadership skills that stabilize teams and protect capacity. Learn more:🌐 https://LatitudeLeaders.com🔥 Burnout Prevention Starter Kit: https://BurnoutStarterKit.com If this resonated: Subscribe for more conversations on sustainable leadership Share this with an executive or HR leader Comment: What’s one leadership behavior that changed your experience at work? Let’s create your organization’s future by design, not default. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

    Middle Managers Are Deciding Your Future Now (Whether You Train Them or Not)

  6. Jan 8

    How to Show Up as a Leader on Jan 8, 2026

    Leaders in the US, let's chat about how can you show up for your people on a day like today. Links to the resources mentioned below. Somatic breathing exercise audio - https://latitudeleaders.com/grounding Burnout Prevention Starter Kit - https://latitudeleaders.com/burnoutstarterkit List of Core Values - https://latitudeleaders.com/corevalueslist Joyful Office Hours - https://calendly.com/elenajoythurston/joyful-office-hours This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

    How to Show Up as a Leader on Jan 8, 2026

  7. 10/24/2025

    How a box of flyers helped me heal during late-stage capitalism

    🎙️ Episode Title: The Jolt That Changed Everything Episode Summary:There’s nothing more American than the solopreneur journey—it’s just you versus late-stage capitalism. (Cue the Rocky montage.) In this episode, Elena Joy shares the surprisingly emotional story of how a simple box of flyers—created by her friend and client Vera at Southwest Solutions—became a catalyst for confidence, clarity, and courage. What started as “I’ll make a flyer next year” turned into a powerful reminder that readiness isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you claim. Listen as Elena unpacks: The deeper work behind deconstructing internalized shame as a queer entrepreneur How inclusive leadership and friendship intersect to make “the impossible” feel possible Why tangible proof (even in the form of beautiful paper) can ignite intangible transformation Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or just trying to keep your soul intact while paying the bills—this one’s for you. ✨ Featured in this episode: Southwest Solutions — award-winning merch and swag company helping small businesses look as bold as they feel. Leadership Capacity Framework — the burnout prevention model that helps you rebuild confidence from the inside out. 🔥 Ready for your own jolt of clarity?Download the Burnout Prevention Starter Kit — a free guide to help you understand your current burnout risk and start rebuilding your capacity today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

  8. 09/24/2025

    What the Heck Is the Leadership Capacity Assessment?

    In this episode, I’ll break down: Why most burnout advice doesn’t stick (spoiler: no one else is the expert on your burnout but you). The five capacities every leader needs to protect to prevent burnout: Cognitive, Emotional, Relational, Time & Energy, and Systemic Support. How the assessment works and why it takes the shame out of talking about burnout at work. A real-world story of 50+ HR leaders who took the mini-assessment—and what happened next. Normally, this tool lives inside my paid trainings. But this month, I’m making it free during Joyful Office Hours. Thursday, September 25 at 1 pm PT (on Zoom).Always free, just register here: Register for Joyful Office Hours If you’ve ever thought “I just can’t anymore,” this is your chance to put language and clarity around that feeling—so you can finally do something about it. ✨ Links & Resources Register for Joyful Office Hours: BurnoutStarterKit.com Learn more about my work: LatitudeLeaders.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

    What the Heck Is the Leadership Capacity Assessment?
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About

A liberation manual for queer leaders, code-switching chameleons, and recovering good girls ready to lead without losing themselves. elenajoyspeaks.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Elena Joy Thurston
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Elena Joy Thurston
  • Show Website
    UnBecoming with Elena Joy