The Conscious Leaders UNFILTERED

Cheryl x Kiah
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What if leadership isn't about the people you manage—but about how you show up every single day? The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered is where authentic conversations meet conscious living. Join Cheryl and co-host Kiah as they explore the real, unfiltered side of leadership—self-leadership, relationships, emotional intelligence, purpose, courage, and growth. Because conscious leadership isn't a title. It's a way of living, loving, and leading that creates lasting impact—whether you're leading one person or many.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 8: What If You’re Not Stuck… Just Really Comfortable? Kayleigh Kennedy on Mindset & Self-Sabotage

    What if you’re not actually stuck? What if your mind has just gotten really good at keeping you exactly where you are? In this episode of The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered, Cheryl and Kiah sit down with mindset coach, entrepreneur, and speaker Kayleigh Kennedy for a conversation about the beliefs we carry, the comfort zones we unknowingly protect, and why knowing we want something different doesn’t always mean we’re ready to behave differently. Kayleigh shares her journey from bartending to marketing, entrepreneurship, and eventually mindset coaching—and how some of her greatest inner work happened during one of the most challenging seasons of her life. Together, we unpack self-worth, visibility, perfectionism, self-sabotage, and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes the biggest thing standing between us and growth is the version of ourselves we’ve become really comfortable being. Kayleigh introduces the idea of mindset as an internal thermostat—the subconscious beliefs and self-image that quietly pull us back toward what feels familiar, even when we consciously want something more. We explore why visibility can feel so uncomfortable, particularly when we think showing up means performing some polished, perfect version of ourselves. Kayleigh also breaks down the connection between self-sabotage, perfectionism, and not-enoughness, and why positive thinking alone isn’t enough to create lasting change. Real transformation, she explains, comes through repetition + action + self-compassion. And maybe one of the biggest reminders from this conversation? You don’t have to feel confident before you move. Sometimes you take the imperfect action first. Then another. Then another. And somewhere along the way, confidence catches up. Your self-image can quietly determine what feels possible.Sometimes “stuck” is actually familiarity disguised as safety.Visibility feels heavier when you’re performing instead of being yourself.Perfectionism can look suspiciously like having “high standards.”Awareness can reveal the pattern, but action begins changing it.Imperfect action gives you something perfection never can: feedback.Self-compassion isn’t lowering the bar—it’s changing how you treat yourself while reaching for it.Conscious leadership begins with how you lead yourself.Rest, regulation, and intentional pauses are leadership practices too.Fear doesn’t have to disappear before you move forward.How self-aware are you, really? Not just about what you believe—but about the patterns, stories, comfort zones, and behaviours quietly influencing the way you lead, work, parent, connect, and show up. Because sometimes growth isn’t about figuring out how to get unstuck. It’s about becoming willing to leave what’s comfortable. Instagram: @thekayleighkennedyLinkedIn: Kayleigh KennedyWebsite: kayleighkennedy.com Kayleigh also shares more about her Limitless Belief Mindset program and her work helping established entrepreneurs grow without burning out or sacrificing what matters most. In this episodeKey takeawaysA question worth sitting withConnect with Kayleigh Kennedy

    Episode 8: What If You’re Not Stuck… Just Really Comfortable? Kayleigh Kennedy on Mindset & Self-Sabotage

  2. Sep 26

    Episode 7: You Survived It. Now You Might Have to Unlearn It.

    What if some of the things that made you successful are the very things you now need to let go of? In this episode of The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered, Cheryl and Kiah get personal about the leadership habits they once thought were strengths—perfectionism, control, fixing everything, having all the answers, staying strong, and avoiding vulnerability. Because here’s the uncomfortable part: some behaviours weren’t flaws when we developed them. They helped us survive, succeed, earn praise, or feel safe. But survival skills can become limitations when we carry them into places they no longer belong. Cheryl and Kiah explore how childhood, school, early workplaces, and the validation we receive along the way quietly shape the leaders we become. And they ask a harder question: What happens when the version of you that got you here isn’t the version that can take you where you want to go next? This is a conversation about unlearning without shaming who you used to be—and recognizing that conscious leadership isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about being willing to notice, question, own, and change. Strong leadership gets redefined.Cheryl and Kiah unpack how having all the answers, being overly directive, and equating control with competence can look like strong leadership while actually creating distance, dependence, and resistance. Kiah examines where her directive leadership came from.She reflects on early experiences of being told what to do and how those experiences shaped a highly instructional, solution-focused leadership style that sometimes left too little room for collaboration. Cheryl confronts her identity as “the fixer.”Being the person who could solve anything earned recognition and validation—but eventually, always being available to fix everyone else’s problems became exhausting and unsustainable. They unpack survival behaviours that overstayed their welcome.Perfectionism. Emotional rigidity. Control. Over-functioning. Conflict avoidance. Always being strong. These patterns may have served a purpose once, but conscious leadership requires asking whether they still do. They explore the danger of rewarded behaviour.Sometimes the hardest patterns to change are the ones people applauded us for. Cheryl and Kiah examine what happens when praise reinforces behaviours that eventually limit us and the people we lead. Other people become mirrors.Instead of immediately judging someone’s reaction, body language, or energy, what if we became curious about what it might be reflecting back to us? Cheryl challenges our attachment to predetermined outcomes.Conscious leadership sometimes means loosening our grip on exactly how things “should” turn out and making room for possibilities we haven’t considered yet. Kiah gets real about limiting language.She shares how words like never can quietly become declarations about our future—and how she is learning to recognize and release defeatist thinking before it becomes a self-imposed boundary. They name the leadership identities that are hardest to release.Being infallible. Always strong. Always available. Never needing help. Never showing vulnerability. Sometimes growth means letting people see that you don’t have it all figured out. And ultimately, this episode comes back to compassion.You can take accountability for who you were without staying trapped there. Other people may forgive your mistakes—but eventually, you have to make room to forgive yourself, too. “What did I mistake for leadership? I guess in a way it was perfection—or pretending like I knew all the answers.” “You knew what you knew when you were there. That’s it.” “Listen more.” What helped you survive, succeed, or feel safe in an earlier version of your life—but might be asking to be unlearned now? Because growth isn’t always about becoming more. Sometimes growth is finally putting down what you no longer need to carry. Cheryl x Kiah

    Episode 7: You Survived It. Now You Might Have to Unlearn It.

  3. Sep 19

    Episode 6: Who Said You Had to Carry it All? Justine Asante on Leadership, Identity and Letting Go

    What happens when being “the strong one” becomes part of your identity? In this episode, Cheryl and Kiah sit down with Justine Asante, leadership identity architect, author, speaker, and founder of The Institute for Sustainable Authority and Glamorous Goddess Coaching, for an unfiltered conversation about what happens when being capable slowly turns into carrying everything. You know the person—the fixer, problem solver, emotional anchor, the one everyone calls because she’ll handle it. But what happens when being needed becomes so connected to who you are that putting something down feels almost impossible? Together, we unpack how performance can become tied to worth, why burnout may be a symptom of something deeper, and Justine’s concept of identity strain—when we begin losing touch with who we are outside of our titles, responsibilities and everything we do for everyone else. Justine introduces her Performance-to-Power Evolution, challenging us to move away from constantly proving our value through output and toward sustainable authority rooted in awareness, regulation, boundaries and choice. When being capable turns into carrying too muchWhy high-achieving women often become “the strong one”Why burnout may not actually be the root problemWhat happens when identity becomes fused with productivityThe difference between being needed and being empoweredWhy pausing, delegating and allowing imperfection can feel so uncomfortableWhen being busy becomes proof of our valueWhy harmony may serve us better than chasing perfect “balance”How leadership changes through different seasons of lifeWhy “No” is a full sentenceWhy giving 200% isn't always better leadershipWhat sustainable authority actually looks likeWhy conscious leadership always starts withinOne of our biggest takeaways? You don't have to become less ambitious, less caring or less capable. You may just need to stop measuring your value by how much you can carry. And maybe the question isn't “Can I handle it?” Maybe it's “Why am I still the one handling all of it?” 📚 The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times — Michelle Obama Michelle Obama explores navigating uncertainty, relationships, self-doubt and change while finding practices that help us stay grounded within ourselves. 🌐 Website: glamorousgoddesscoaching.com 📸 Instagram: @glamorousgoddesscoaching 💼 LinkedIn: Justine Asante — @justineasante 📘 Facebook: @GlamorousGoddessCoaching 🎵 TikTok: @glamgoddesscoaching ▶️ YouTube: @glamorousgoddesscoachingllc Listen to The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered on: 🎧 Spotify▶️ YouTube🍎 Apple Podcasts🎵 Amazon Music Come for the leadership conversation. Stay for the uncomfortable questions, laughter, unfiltered moments and the reminder that conscious leadership starts within. The Conscious Leaders UnfilteredHosted by Cheryl x Kiah In this conversation:Mentioned in this episodeConnect with Justine Asante🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROPS SEPTEMBER 19 AT 12 PM EDT

    Episode 6: Who Said You Had to Carry it All? Justine Asante on Leadership, Identity and Letting Go

  4. Sep 12

    Episode 5: Self-Love Fuels Everything- Marcelo Oleas on the Foundation of it All

    n this episode of The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered, Cheryl and Kiah sit down with Marcelo Oleas for an open, deeply personal conversation about self-love, emotional resilience, authenticity, and leading from within. Marcelo shares how a toxic relationship, imposter syndrome, and a life-changing car accident became catalysts for greater self-awareness and changed the direction of his life. Long before he considered himself a coach, Marcelo began sharing positive messages online for one person: himself. What started as a way to hold himself accountable and work through anger became a way to encourage others who saw themselves in his words. The conversation explores a powerful truth: We can’t change what we’re not aware of. Marcelo reflects on recognizing that while someone else may have contributed to his pain, the emotions he continued carrying were ultimately his responsibility to work through. That realization became part of his journey toward self-love, resilience, and personal accountability. He also shares how a car accident at age 20 changed his career path. After losing the future he imagined as an audio engineer, Marcelo was forced to rebuild and discovered a new direction he could never have planned. Through it all, one idea keeps coming back: Self-love fuels everything. It influences the chances we take, the boundaries we create, the confidence we build, the relationships we accept, and the way we lead. Because conscious leadership doesn’t begin with leading others. It begins with being willing to lead yourself. Marcelo, Cheryl, and Kiah explore: How a toxic relationship became a catalyst for self-awarenessTaking responsibility for the emotions we continue carryingMoving through imposter syndrome and self-doubtHow childhood experiences shaped Marcelo’s ability to listen and see multiple perspectivesWhy emotional resilience can be intentionally strengthenedThe danger of staying in discomfort simply because it feels familiarThe accident that changed Marcelo’s career and life directionRebuilding after life takes you somewhere unexpectedWhy awareness must come before meaningful changeSelf-love as the foundation for confidence, resilience, relationships, and leadershipGratitude and breath work as tools for creating intentional pausesWhy authenticity sometimes requires choosing yourself before seeking approvalWhat it means to lead yourself honestly before leading anyone else Self-love as the foundation Self-love isn’t selfish. It influences confidence, resilience, boundaries, relationships, and our willingness to pursue the life we truly want. Leadership from within Conscious leadership begins with self-honesty, emotional awareness, regulation, and responsibility for how we show up. Resilience is built Like a muscle, emotional resilience grows when we pause, reflect, recognize what we’re carrying, and work through it. Small practices can create big shifts Gratitude, breath work, reflection, and looking in the mirror to say “I love you” can help reconnect us with ourselves. Start your morning with one thing you’re grateful for before reaching for your phone. When a strong emotion appears, pause before reacting and ask: What am I actually carrying right now? Pay attention to discomfort that has become familiar. Familiar doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. And Marcelo’s challenge? Look yourself in the mirror and say: “I love you.” Keep saying it until you believe the person looking back at you deserves to hear it. Instagram: @marcelo.oleas Facebook: Marcelo Oleas LinkedIn: Marcelo Oleas TikTok: @marcelo.oleas Follow Marcelo for insights on self-love, mindset, resilience, personal growth, and coaching. Follow The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered for conversations about leadership, self-awareness, accountability, and the inner work behind how we show up in the world. Because leadership isn’t just something we do. It’s something we practice from the inside out.

    Episode 5: Self-Love Fuels Everything- Marcelo Oleas on the Foundation of it All

  5. Sep 5

    Episode 4: So You're Self Aware...Cool. Did You Change?

    Self-awareness sounds great. But what happens when you recognize your patterns, understand your triggers, know exactly what you should do differently…and then keep doing the same thing? That’s where the real work begins. In Episode 3, Cheryl and Kiah get into the uncomfortable gap between knowing ourselves and actually changing ourselves. Because conscious leadership isn’t about how self-aware we believe we are—it becomes visible in our behaviour, our patterns, our impact, and how willing we are to take accountability when those things don’t match our intentions. Through honest examples from work, family, and relationships, Cheryl and Kiah explore what happens when our intentions are good but our impact says something different. They talk about having big personalities, making room for disagreement, unconscious bias, authenticity, code switching, and the difference between adjusting how we show up and shrinking who we are. Because reading the books, knowing the language, and being able to name your patterns is awareness. Changing the pattern? That’s the practice. Is self-awareness actually enough if it doesn’t change our behaviour?Why impact can tell us more about our leadership than intention aloneHow repeated patterns reveal where there is still work to doCreating space for disagreement without losing your own voiceThe difference between adjusting your delivery and dimming who you areWhat happens when our values and our behaviour don’t matchWhy knowing leadership language doesn’t automatically make us conscious leadersHow feedback can challenge the version of ourselves we believe to be trueThe role of accountability, repetition, and reflection in creating real changeWhy conscious leadership is something we practice—not a label we give ourselvesThe question isn’t just, “Am I self-aware?” It’s “What am I doing differently because of what I now know?” Key Topics

    Episode 4: So You're Self Aware...Cool. Did You Change?

  6. Aug 22

    Episode 2: The Art of Alchemy with Guest Liane Marie Lambert

    What if transforming your life isn’t about becoming someone new—but learning how to alchemize the energy, beliefs, patterns, and experiences that are already within you? In this episode, Cheryl and Kiah sit down with Liane Marie Lambert, master alchemist, author, spiritual teacher, and creator of Karma to Dharma: A New Age Guide to Becoming Superhuman, for a powerful conversation about energy, transformation, shame, surrender, and reclaiming your personal power. Liane shares how surviving a near-death experience became a catalyst for her spiritual awakening and ultimately changed the trajectory of her life. What followed was a journey of questioning old programming, understanding energy and frequency, releasing karmic patterns, and learning how to intentionally transform the way she experiences and moves through the world. At the heart of this conversation is alchemy—the ability to work with what already exists and transform it into something different. Liane explains how she helps people recognize the energetic patterns keeping them stuck, move beyond the programmed mind, and reconnect with the understanding that they are a soul having a human experience. Rather than giving people answers or creating dependency, her work is about helping people recognize and reclaim the power they already possess. The conversation gets deeply personal as Kiah opens up about her relationship with shame and the challenge of allowing herself to fully shine. Opening a conversation about what happens when we silence, hide, or diminish pieces of ourselves because we’ve been taught they are somehow unworthy. Together, Cheryl, Kiah, and Liane explore practices for releasing shame, surrendering control, trusting your journey, taking accountability for your energy, and understanding that transformation doesn’t require erasing your story—it requires changing your relationship with it. Liane also shares the philosophy behind her book and her perspective on moving beyond karmic cycles, raising your vibration, understanding universal energy, and stepping into higher-dimensional consciousness. This episode is an invitation to look at your life differently: to recognize where you may still be operating on autopilot, where you may be carrying energy that no longer serves you, and where you have the opportunity to become the alchemist of your own experience. Because transformation isn’t about someone else saving you. It’s about remembering the power you already have. How Liane’s near-death experience became a catalyst for her spiritual awakeningWhat it means to become the alchemist of your own lifeMoving from autopilot and programming into greater awarenessUnderstanding energy, frequency, and personal transformationWhy true alchemy empowers people rather than creating dependencyWorking with polarities and transforming energy in real timeTaking accountability for the energy you bring into your life and relationshipsThe difference between responsibility and true accountabilityWhy surrender and letting go can sometimes be more powerful than controlAllowing other people to experience their own journey rather than trying to rescue themLiane’s teachings on karma, dharma, manifestation, and higher consciousnessThe ideas behind Karma to Dharma: A New Age Guide to Becoming SuperhumanWhy taking ownership of our own lives matters for the future of humanityWords to Sit With “The greatest leadership challenge you'll ever face isn't leading other people. What if it's leading yourself?” “Shame is shushing the spirit, shushing the soul.” “The future of humanity depends on taking ownership over your own life.” Learn more about Liane, her work, programs, and Karma to Dharma: A New Age Guide to Becoming Superhuman at lianemarielambert.com.

    Episode 2: The Art of Alchemy with Guest Liane Marie Lambert

  7. Aug 15

    Episode 1: Hold Up... Am I the Problem?

    What if the biggest breakthrough in your leadership isn't learning a new strategy—but learning to see yourself more clearly? In our very first episode of The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered, we're diving into one of the most important conversations you'll ever have: self-awareness. Because here's the truth... before we can lead others well, we have to be willing to lead ourselves. Together, we unpack the uncomfortable but transformative moments when we realize that our reactions, beliefs, blind spots, and even our ego may be getting in the way. From personal stories of overcoming depression, navigating uncertainty, and challenging lifelong assumptions, to the daily practices that help us stay intentional, this conversation is honest, vulnerable, and completely unfiltered. We explore: ​Why self-awareness is the foundation of conscious leadership.​How your triggers reveal opportunities for growth.​The difference between reacting and responding.​How ego quietly limits our ability to connect, learn, and lead.​Why questioning your own beliefs creates stronger relationships and better leaders.​Simple daily practices that help you lead with greater intention, authenticity, and compassion.We also talk about the biases we all carry, the courage it takes to challenge them, and why creating lasting change always begins within ourselves. Whether you're leading a team, your family, your business, or simply leading yourself through life, this episode is an invitation to get curious instead of defensive—and to discover that your greatest opportunity for growth has been with you all along. If you've ever caught yourself thinking, "Why does this keep happening?" this episode might help you ask a better question... "Hold up... am I the problem?" Press play and join us as we begin this journey of conscious leadership together. Find the good. Lead with love.

    Episode 1: Hold Up... Am I the Problem?

  8. Aug 8

    Debut Episode: Meet Cheryl and Kiah

    What if leadership isn't about leading others first—but about leading yourself? In the debut episode of The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered, Cheryl and Kiah explore the belief that conscious leadership begins long before a title, a promotion, or a position of influence. It begins with self-awareness, accountability, and the courage to look inward. This conversation unpacks why the relationship you have with yourself shapes every relationship you have with others. From the stories we tell ourselves to the choices we make under pressure, true leadership is an inside job. If you've ever wondered how to lead with greater authenticity, intention, and impact—in your career, your family, or your everyday life—this episode is for you. Join us as we lay the foundation for a podcast built on honest conversations, bold truths, and the belief that everyone has the capacity to become a conscious leader. In this episode you'll discover: Why conscious leadership starts with self-awarenessHow your inner world shapes your outer leadershipThe difference between having authority and leading with intentionWhy conscious leadership isn't reserved for people with titlesWhat listeners can expect from The Conscious Leaders UnfilteredThis is more than a podcast about leadership. It's an invitation to lead a more conscious life. Follow the show and join us each week as we have unfiltered conversations with inspiring guests who are changing the way we think about leadership, purpose, growth, and human connection.

  • 8 Episodes

About

What if leadership isn't about the people you manage—but about how you show up every single day? The Conscious Leaders Unfiltered is where authentic conversations meet conscious living. Join Cheryl and co-host Kiah as they explore the real, unfiltered side of leadership—self-leadership, relationships, emotional intelligence, purpose, courage, and growth. Because conscious leadership isn't a title. It's a way of living, loving, and leading that creates lasting impact—whether you're leading one person or many.

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