The Brave Shift: Conscious Leaders Go First

Ascension Academy
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For leaders who are done pretending the old systems are still working — and ready to decode what’s actually running the show. What used to work just isn’t anymore. At work. At home. In the mirror. You’re not falling apart. You’re outgrowing the container. This is where that conversation lives. Hosted by Anik Malenfant, Inner Work Strategist — where capital markets precision meets the inner work, and the pattern running your leadership becomes the strategy that transforms it. The leader who goes first changes everything.

  1. FEB 16

    S1 E20: INSTINCT vs. INTUITION: The Difference That Changes Everything

    Three minutes late to a meeting and your brain tells you your boss is going to “kill you.” That’s your nervous system running 200,000-year-old software in a modern world. But there’s another signal coming through at the same time—quieter, steadier, and far more accurate. In this episode, Anik breaks down the real science behind instinct and intuition, including the phenomenon of simultaneous invention (where multiple people independently discover the same thing at the same time) and what it reveals about consciousness.  You’ll walk away with three questions that instantly reveal which voice is talking—and the confidence to act on the right one. In This Episode: • Why your brain treats your boss’s email like a lion attack • The Bodyguard vs. Navigator metaphor for instinct and intuition • 148 documented cases of simultaneous invention (and what that means about consciousness) • How conformity is literally wired for survival—and why it’s your causing your revenue ceiling • Three questions to instantly discern instinct from intuition • Why intuition is never in a rush (and fear always is)   Memorable Quotes: “Your Inner Bodyguard belongs at the door. Not at the strategy table.” “When the time is ripe for certain things, these things appear in different places in the manner of violets coming to light in early spring.” — Farkas Bolyai “The question isn’t ‘Do you have intuition?’ The question is: will you trust it enough to let it lead?” Where is Your Breakthrough Hiding? You just learned the difference between your Bodyguard and your Navigator. But instinct vs. intuition is only one of four pillars that determine whether you break through or stay stuck. Take the free Breakthrough Blueprint quiz (2 minutes) to find out which pillar is creating YOUR invisible ceiling — and why you’re stuck despite doing everything “right.”  → Take the Quiz: subscribepage.io/breakthroughblueprint ALREADY KNOW WHICH VOICE YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING? If this episode made the pattern obvious — if you heard yourself in the Revenue Ceiling story, the Parenting Override, or the Dimming — a clarity call puts a name on it. Thirty minutes. Your pattern. Your next move. → Book a Clarity Call CONNECT WITH ANIK: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant Instagram: @anikmalenfant Facebook: facebook.com/anik.malenfant Website: masteringascension.com/coaching

    20 min

  2. FEB 9

    S1 E19: The Override: Why You Ignore Your Gut (And How to Finally Listen)

    Your gut knew first. Before you had evidence. Before anyone else saw it. Your gut knew that person wasn't safe, that deal was wrong, that something was off. And you overrode it. You smiled when you wanted to run. You said yes when everything inside you screamed no. Today's guest spent over a decade in an abusive relationship—and her biggest regret isn't what he did to her. It's how long she ignored what her body was screaming. Patti Stewart is the founder of Defense in Heels, a published author, and a passionate advocate for women's safety. But what makes her work remarkable isn't just the physical techniques she teaches—it's that she survived by learning to trust the instincts she'd been taught to silence. In This Episode, You'll Discover: • The difference between instinct and intuition—and why confusing them keeps you stuck • The "chest vs. stomach" test for distinguishing fear from true gut wisdom • Where we first learn to override our intuition (hint: it starts in childhood) • Why Patti walked away from a job that was paying all her bills—as a single mom • How to schedule slowdowns so you can actually hear what your intuition is telling you • The shiny object trap: winning on the outside while feeling empty on the inside • What "prosperity without compromise" actually looks like in practice MEMORABLE MOMENTS From Patti: "If it's in your chest, that's anxiety and fear. If it's in your stomach, that's your intuition." "I was winning all the awards. But I went home and felt like crap." From Anik: "Instinct keeps you safe. Intuition keeps you aligned. The problem? They can feel identical." "That's prosperity without compromise. Not making money at any cost. Making money that doesn't cost you your soul." RESOURCES MENTIONED Patti Stewart: Website: https://www.defenseinheels.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defenseinheels Book - A Woman’s Guide to Self-Defense: https://a.co/d/02wCnZq9  Ready to Go Deeper? Book a Clarity Call: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/ Your Breakthrough Blueprint (Free quiz): subscribepage.io/breakthroughblueprint  The You & Your Soul-Led Business Program: https://ascensionacademy.life/product/you-your-soul-led-business-development-program/   CONNECT WITH ANIK Website: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikmalenfant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anik.malenfant   NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW Next week, we're going deep on something Patti touched on today—and it might be the most important distinction you'll ever learn. E20: Instinct vs. Intuition — The Difference That Changes Everything One reacts from perceived danger. One response from alignment. And most people can't tell which one is talking. That confusion is costing you—in relationships, in business decisions, in the opportunities you say no to when your gut is actually saying yes.

    22 min

  3. FEB 2

    S1 E18: The Self-Imposed Breakdown... Or Breakthrough?

    That week you're trying to "get through"? It's been going on for months. Maybe years. And the exhaustion, the flatlined results, the body that's screaming for attention — those aren't just symptoms. They're a fork in the road. In this episode, I'm sharing my own breakdown-to-breakthrough story (fibromyalgia at 28, a doctor who told me to "accept" chronic pain forever, and the two-word decision that changed everything) — plus a framework to help you discern whether your resistance is self-sabotage or intuitive wisdom. In This Episode: The moment I heard "accept your circumstances" and something in me said "F*ck that"Why you can't outwork a self-defeating pattern (and what to do instead)The difference between reactive self-sabotage and unhurried intuitive wisdomThree questions to ask when you're at the fork between breakdown and breakthroughHow one decision — not a plan, not a strategy — opened a path that wasn't there beforeMemorable Moments: "That week you're trying to 'get through'? It's been dragging on for months." "You set a boundary last week. Then immediately made 'special' accommodations." "You can't outwork a self-defeating pattern." "Breakdown or breakthrough. Same signs. Different destination." Ready to identify the pattern that's keeping you stuck? Book a Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/AAClarityCall Connect with Anik: Website: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikmalenfantLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anik.malenfantComing Next Week: I sit down with Patti Stewart — a self-defense instructor who survived an abusive relationship by learning to trust the instincts she'd been taught to silence. Physical safety starts with trusting your gut. That conversation is going to land. TIMESTAMPS: 00:46 The week that's been "dragging on for months" 02:47 My breakdown path — fibromyalgia at 28 06:03 The doctor's office and the "F*ck That" moment 12:58 The difference between self-sabotage and intuitive wisdom 12:24 Question 1: What is this feeling trying to tell me? 14:20 Question 2: What am I being protected from? 15:50 Question 3: If I couldn't fail, what would I do? 18:23 The invitation to decide 22:30 Next week: Patti Stewart on trusting your gut

    23 min

  4. JAN 26

    S1 E17: The Permission Trap: What's Really Holding You Back

    Quick question: What are you waiting for? That move you haven't made. That conversation you haven't had. That boundary you haven't set. You know exactly what I'm talking about. In this episode, I'm naming the pattern I see constantly in smart, capable, talented people: The Permission Trap. It sounds like "I'll go for it when I've proven myself more." Or "I'll negotiate once I've been here longer." Or "I'll set that boundary when things calm down." It sounds strategic. It sounds responsible. But it's not timing. It's avoidance disguised as readiness. If you've been waiting for someone to tap you on the shoulder and say "now you can start" — this episode is your tap. Because that permission slip you're waiting for? It's never coming. And the only person who can sign it is you. In This Episode: • Why "I'll start when..." is sophisticated avoidance (not smart timing) • The real cost of the Permission Trap (it's not what you think) • The 3 lies keeping you at the starting line • The one question that changes everything • How to move like someone who already has permission Memorable Moments: "You're not waiting because you're not ready. You're waiting because you've outsourced your permission slip." The Permission Trap doesn't just delay your career or your business. It dismantles your self-belief." "Ready isn't a feeling. It's a decision." "You don't need permission to be powerful. Resources: Book a Free Clarity Call Breakthrough Blueprint Quiz: https://subscribepage.io/breakthroughblueprint Connect with Anik: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anik.malenfant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikmalenfant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant/ Website: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/ Next Episode: The Self-Imposed Breakdown... or Breakthrough? — If your body is starting to rebel, you're not going to want to miss this one.

    14 min

  5. JAN 19

    S1 E16: She Slowed Down and Scaled Up

    She Slowed Down and Scaled Up Julia Chien did everything right. She launched her online nutrition practice during COVID. Clients poured in. Revenue grew. She was riding the high — traveling, thriving, loving what she did. And then 2024 hit. And everything she'd built stopped working. In this episode, Julia gets radically honest about what happens when first-generation success reaches its expiration date — and why the beliefs that built her first six figures were the same ones breaking her down. If you've ever wondered why what used to work isn't working anymore... this conversation will hit different. In This Episode: Why rapid early success can set you up for a harder crashThe moment Julia realized her "hustle" was actually her body screaming for helpHow to know when you need to push harder vs. when you need to restWhat "slow down to speed up" actually looks like in practiceThe mindset shift that changed everything: "F**k it. People connect to humans."Why your definition of success might not actually be yoursMemorable Moments: "You have to slow down in order to speed up in business." — Julia Chien "What is meant for you will never pass you." — Julia Chien "The beliefs that built her first six figures — work hard, push through, sacrifice rest — those same beliefs were now breaking her down." — Anik Malenfant Resources: 🔗 Book a Free Clarity Call with Anik:  📋 Your Breakthrough Blueprint Quiz: https://subscribepage.io/breakthroughblueprint Connect with Julia: Website: www.juliachien.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliachien.rd/  The Eczema Warrior Podcast: https://www.juliachien.ca/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliachien.rd/ Connect with Anik: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anik.malenfant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikmalenfant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant/ Website: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/ Next Episode: Coming up next week — The Permission Trap: Why "I'll Start When..." Is Killing Your Business. If you've been waiting for someone to tell you you're ready, you're enough, it's time... this one's going to hit a nerve.

    16 min

  6. JAN 12

    S1 E15: The Two Reasons Goals Die (And Which One You're In)

    You're stuck. Maybe you know exactly what you need to do—and you're not doing it. Or maybe you ARE doing everything. And it's still not working. Different flavor. Same feeling. In this episode, I'm breaking down the two completely different patterns that create the exact same "stuck" feeling—and why they require opposite medicine. Because taking the wrong action (or inaction) can keep you trapped for months.  In this episode, you'll discover: The two patterns that create the same "stuck" feeling (and why they need opposite medicine)Why results sometimes lag behind effort—and when that's actually okayThree body-based questions to discern which pattern you're inThe specific action to take if you're in the Paralysis PatternThe specific (non)action to take if you're in the Lag PatternMemorable Moments: "Readiness is not a feeling. It's a decision. The fear doesn't go away. You just learn to move with it." "The same action that looks like failure today looks like genius three months from now." “Seeds don't need more seeds. They need time, nurturing, and consistency.”Connect with Anik: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anik.malenfant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikmalenfant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant/ Website: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/

    16 min

  7. JAN 5

    S1 E14: The Goal Graveyard: Why Your Goals Keep Dying (And What to Do Instead)

    A few years ago, I found a journal from 2017. The goals I'd written? I was still writing them. Different year. Same list. That moment changed everything — because I finally realized this isn't a discipline problem. It's a foundation problem. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three questions you need to ask BEFORE "what's my plan?" — and why skipping them is the reason your goals keep dying. In this episode: Why the same goals keep showing up year after year (and it's not what you think)The difference between relief goals and resonance goals — and why one drains you while the other fuels youThe three questions that have to come before strategyA client story that might sound uncomfortably familiarWhat's actually possible when you build on a solid foundationMemorable Moments: "Relief goals run FROM pain. Resonance goals run TOWARD purpose." "Her soul hadn't been blocking execution because she was undisciplined. It was protecting her from building something she didn't actually want." Resources mentioned: Breakthrough Blueprint Quiz: https://subscribepage.io/breakthroughblueprintYou & Your Soul-Led Business Program: https://ascensionacademy.life/product/you-your-soul-led-business-development-program/Connect with Anik: Website: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikmalenfantLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anik.malenfantNext Episode: When Everything's in Place But Nothing's Moving (January 12)

    15 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    S1 E13: Stop Following Rules You Never Agreed To

    For six years, Mattanja Lennings tried to fit into a box that was never hers. She shaved off parts of herself. Followed every rule. Did everything "right" — Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, classical opera training. And she lost her joy. Her spark. Her reason for singing in the first place. Until her spirit whispered: "Go paint." She went to the dollar store. Bought some supplies. And started creating again — this time, with zero rules. Now she sells paintings for five figures. Not because of strategy. Because she followed her intuition instead of the industry. In this episode, you'll discover: • How six years of "doing everything right" led to complete emptiness • The moment her spirit whispered something that changed her path • Why not knowing the rules became her biggest business advantage • The Hathor story: when a painting told her to charge €3,333 (and she'd never sold above €200) • How to expand your nervous system to hold what your intuition already knows • The question to ask yourself: What's YOUR opera? About Mattanja Lennings: Mattanja Lennings is an artist, former opera singer, and mentor from the Netherlands. After six years of classical training left her empty, she followed her spirit to painting — and built a business selling work for five figures without ever learning the "rules" of the art world. Connect with Mattanja: • Website: https://www.mycosmicdreams.com • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattanjalennings/ Connect with Anik: • Website: https://masteringascension.com/coaching/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikmalenfant • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikmalenfant/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anik.malenfant Resources: • Your Breakthrough Blueprint (Free Quiz): https://subscribepage.io/breakthroughblueprint • You & Your Soul-Led Business Program: https://ascensionacademy.life/product/you-your-soul-led-business-development-program/ Memorable Moments: "For six years, I made myself smaller and smaller to try to fit in the box. In the end, I did not fit and I had completely lost myself." — Mattanja Lennings"Every year you stay in a box that isn't yours, it gets harder to remember who you were before you started performing." — Anik Malenfant"The goals aren't the problem. The foundation is." — Anik Malenfant If this resonates: Leave a review and tell us — what rules are YOU following that you never actually agreed to?

    22 min
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For leaders who are done pretending the old systems are still working — and ready to decode what’s actually running the show. What used to work just isn’t anymore. At work. At home. In the mirror. You’re not falling apart. You’re outgrowing the container. This is where that conversation lives. Hosted by Anik Malenfant, Inner Work Strategist — where capital markets precision meets the inner work, and the pattern running your leadership becomes the strategy that transforms it. The leader who goes first changes everything.

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