Breaking Through The Noise

Catherine Jelinek
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Interviews with thought leaders that give practical strategies for emerging thought leaders ready to break through the noise, on their terms.

  1. 16h ago

    How To Win the "Generosity Contest" of Content Marketing

    What if the secret to building an audience isn't holding back your best ideas but giving them all away? In this episode, Catherine Jelinek sits down with Andy Crestodina, co-founder and CMO of Orbit Media, who's spent 25 years quietly becoming one of the most trusted voices in content marketing. With a quarter-million LinkedIn newsletter subscribers and 60,000 readers on every article, Andy breaks down exactly how he broke through the noise and why generosity, not virality, is the real strategy. This one's a masterclass for anyone building a brand, a following, or a body of work that lasts. What you'll learn: Why "true thought leadership means making assertions people can disagree with"How to spark engagement by taking small, mundane stands (yes, the Oxford comma counts)The difference between brand marketing and performance marketing and why it mattersHow brand marketing short-circuits Google, ads, and the algorithm entirelyWhy engagement metrics are overrated, gamified, and not your real goalThe "leave early, go far, stay long" philosophy behind 15 years of consistencyHow to win the generosity contest and become genuinely top of mindChapters:00:00 — Meet Andy Crestodina00:57 — The first breakthrough: tiny live events03:40 — Why thought leadership requires disagreement05:34 — Andy's soapbox: "PDFs are the rust of the internet"07:31 — Pre-promotion: start the conversation before you publish09:16 — Why engagement metrics are overrated12:02 — Brand marketing vs. performance marketing15:04 — How brand marketing short-circuits every digital channel16:21 — The road to 250K subscribers17:19 — "Leave early, go far, stay long"20:13 — Generosity as a marketing strategy22:42 — Final advice for emerging thought leaders24:02 — How to connect with Andy Connect with Andy on LinkedIn (skip the follow button and hit the three dots and connect): link in the comments. What's the one idea you'd give away if you stopped holding back? Drop it below.

    24 min

  2. May 20

    How To Lead Without Burning Out

    What if the best thing you could do as a leader was to make yourself obsolete? In this episode, Stefani Schwartz joins Catherine Jelinek to unpack why the old "hero leader" model (the one where you're the chief problem-solver carrying the weight of the team on your back) is driving record-high burnout (56% and climbing in 2025) and quietly suffocating the talent around you. After two decades as an executive, Stefani burned out living in that paradigm. Now, as the founding practitioner of Be Generative and a professional EOS Implementer, she helps leaders shift from controlling outcomes to shaping environments and from seeing the world as a problem to solve to a possibility to step into. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why the hero leader model is breaking down across five generations in today's workforceThe hidden "fixer" voice that hijacks how leaders listenHow to step into a room with presence instead of an agendaThe discipline of cutting through your own noise to focus on what actually mattersWhy questions are doorways and how to ask better onesThe difference between managing business systems (science) and leading human systems (art)How to build an autopoietic team that self-generates without depending on youChapters:00:00 – Welcome & introducing Stefani Schwartz01:24 – The noise inside modern leadership03:36 – From hero leader to generative leader04:14 – Five generations, one workplace07:00 – Signs you're stuck in the old paradigm08:06 – The "fixer" and the stories that shape how we listen12:27 – Problem-driven vs. possibility-driven leadership14:17 – The inner and outer steps to making the shift19:36 – Leadership as art, not science23:51 – Inside Be Generative's workshops and 12-week program26:31 – Parting wisdom: don't be afraid to make yourself obsolete About Stefani Schwartz:Stefani is the founding practitioner of Be Generative, a professional EOS Implementer, and the founder of Roots to Rise. Her work helps leaders and teams break out of outdated leadership patterns and build adaptive, self-sustaining organizations. If this episode resonated, hit subscribe and leave a comment with the one thing you're ready to let go of as a leader. #Leadership #BurnoutRecovery #GenerativeLeadership #ConsciousLeadership #EOSImplementer #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamCulture #ExecutiveCoaching #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipPodcast

    26 min

  3. May 6

    How I Beat McKinsey as a One-Person Shop

    How do you compete with McKinsey and BCG when you're a one-person consulting shop? Yogesh Chavda spent five years floundering between enterprise giants and contractor pricing until generative AI cracked the game wide open. In this episode, Yogesh (founder of Y2S Consulting, co-founder of Yogi AI, former marketing & insights leader at Pinterest and Spotify) breaks down the exact 3-year playbook he used to build a reputation, land partnerships, and turn a stuck consultancy into a productized AI business with 40+ tools. 🎯 What you'll learn: How to stay 6 months ahead of every AI trend (the signal-spotting system)Why TikTok and 100+ newsletters beat traditional B2B researchThe 3-part trust formula: give first, build relationships, over-deliverHow to pivot from selling hours to selling productsWhy "strategy consulting" is a trap for solo operatorsHow a single breakfast meeting led to funding for Yogi AI⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Intro — Breaking through the noise01:08 The McKinsey vs. contractor trap02:36 Picking your AI swim lane03:43 How to stay 6 months ahead05:21 The TikTok algorithm hack for B2B07:44 The 3-part trust formula11:24 Why services don't scale (and products do)16:36 Industry recognition and awards17:35 Building a podcast and newsletter from scratch21:36 The breakfast that launched Yogi AI23:39 Authentic networking that actually works25:32 Final advice for solo founders 🔑 Key topics: AI consulting, solo entrepreneurship, personal branding, agentic AI, marketing insights, synthetic data, productized services, thought leadership, LinkedIn growth 👤 Guest: Yogesh Chavda — Founder, Y2S Consulting | Co-founder, Yogi AI | Top 250 Global Consumer Insights Leader (SOMAR) 🎙️ Host: Catherine Jelinek #AIConsulting #SoloEntrepreneur #AIMarketing #PersonalBrand #ThoughtLeadership #AgenticAI #ConsultingBusiness #StartupStory

    27 min

  4. Apr 9

    How to Give & Get Feedback

    Most people dread giving feedback but what if there was a simple framework to make it land every time? In this episode of Breaking Through the Noise, host Catherine sits down with Kim Baker, founder of Vivid Performance Group and author of WTF: What the Feedback, to break down the COIN framework, a powerful tool for having productive, clear, and compassionate feedback conversations at work and in life.In this episode, you'll learn:✅ The 3 phases of giving feedback: Before, During & After✅ The COIN framework — Context, Observation, Impact, Now/Next✅ Why the Impact step is the most critical (and most skipped) part of any feedback conversation✅ How to give behavior-based feedback without triggering defensiveness✅ What to do when someone shuts down or rejects your feedback✅ A live role-play demonstration of COIN in actionWhether you're a manager, team leader, or just someone navigating tough conversations, this episode will completely change how you think about feedback.🎓 Take Kim's course & save 25% off using code: COINVisit: https://wtf-whatthefeedback.com/📖 Get Kim's book — WTF: What the Feedback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-the-feedback-kim-baker/1149730003?ean=9781968247775⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 – Welcome & intro to Kim Baker1:08 – The two critical feedback skills1:29 – The 3 phases of giving feedback2:24 – Introducing the COIN Framework3:54 – O is for Observation: behavior-based feedback tips5:35 – I is for Impact: the "so what" of feedback7:12 – N is for Now/Next: moving into dialogue27:36 – Live role-play: COIN in action31:11 – Recap & key takeaways32:20 – 25% off Kim's course (code: COIN)34:26 – The PAUSE model & what's in the book

    37 min

  5. Mar 18

    How to Go Viral With Your Message Before the Moment Even Arrives

    What does it take to become a recognized thought leader before the world even knows it needs your message? Kim Fischer built a national platform around sexual assault and trauma stories two years before #MeToo exploded. She followed her passion and got ahead of the curve instead of looking to follow the latest trend. Now a communications strategist and founder of Kim Fisher Collective, Kim helps executives and emerging thought leaders do the same through the power of spoken storytelling. In this episode, Kim breaks down exactly how to find your thought leadership lane, amplify your message, and connect with audiences even if public speaking or media exposure feels completely out of reach. You'll learn: Why you need to repeat your message 13 times before people actually hear itHow to use plain language to connect with any audience (the TV news trick that changes everything)How to insert yourself into the right conversations before your competition doesWhat to do when trolls, critics, and competitors come for your workHow to turn everyday moments into thought leadership content that performs on social media🎙️ Guest: Kim Fischer | Founder, Kim Fisher Collective🔗 Connect with Kim: [link] Timestamps:00:01 – Meet Kim Fischer01:06 – How Kim broke a national story two years before #MeToo04:43 – How to position yourself as a thought leader before the moment arrives07:37 – Why people need to hear your message 13 times before taking action09:47 – What happens when your story goes viral (and draws adversaries)14:03 – How to handle criticism, trolls, and competition16:43 – Kim's tools for emerging thought leaders18:40 – Why plain speak is your most powerful communication tool21:32 – How to deliver your core message in 30 seconds24:14 – How to find thought leadership content in everyday life25:37 – "Clarity is kindness" — Kim's closing philosophy If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe for more conversations on personal branding, storytelling, and building a platform that actually connects.

    25 min

  6. Feb 25

    How to Use Human Design to Build a Magnetic, Aligned Business

    Get $20 off of Danielle's Human Design Guide to discover your authentic self: https://danielleburken.hbportal.co/public/hd-guide-breakingthrough/1-Human_Design_Guide Are you tired of forcing marketing strategies that don’t feel natural? In this episode of Breaking Through the Noise, host Catherine Jelinek sits down with human design–led business coach Danielle Birkin to unpack how entrepreneurs can use human design to build an aligned, magnetic business — without chasing algorithms, batching content that feels lifeless, or copying someone else’s strategy. Danielle shares how discovering her human design helped her: Leave corporate and build a 6-figure business Attract clients through depth-driven networking Stop forcing strategies that weren’t aligned Market in a way that actually felt energizing You’ll learn:✔ What human design is (and how it differs from Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, and DISC)✔ How generators can use the “wait to respond” strategy in marketing✔ Why batching content doesn’t work for everyone✔ How to use your profile lines (like 3/5 or 2/4) in your messaging✔ How alignment creates magnetism in business If you’ve ever wondered: “Why doesn’t this marketing strategy work for me?” “Why does content feel forced?” “How do I trust my intuition in business?” “Can I grow without cold outreach and hustle tactics?” This conversation will give you a completely different lens. Human design isn’t about being “woo.” It’s about understanding how you’re naturally wired to communicate, create, and attract the right clients — and building your strategy around that. If you're an entrepreneur, coach, creative, or thought leader looking to grow your business in alignment instead of burnout, this episode is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about thought leadership, aligned marketing, and breaking through the noise.

    32 min

  7. Feb 11

    How I Stopped Chasing Success and Started Building a Life

    What happens when success costs you the moments that matter most? In this episode of Breaking Through the Noise, Jim Sabellico, founder of No Half Cakes and host of a 134,000+ subscriber YouTube channel, shares the moment that changed everything: coming home to a half-eaten birthday cake and realizing he had optimized his life for achievement, not presence. That realization sparked a complete shift from chasing traditional success to owning his story publicly, documenting the messy middle, and building real relationships at scale. This conversation goes deep on why raw, imperfect human stories are becoming more valuable than ever in the age of AI and how authenticity, not polish, is the real growth strategy going forward. • How owning your story builds trust faster than any growth hack• Why “documenting your life” beats performing content (especially as AI advances)• How Jim grew a massive YouTube audience through intentional experimentation and consistency• Why relationships will matter more than algorithms in the next phase of the internet• How to show up authentically without needing to control the outcome Whether you’re a founder, creator, or high-performing professional navigating identity outside traditional systems, this episode is a powerful reminder: You don’t break through the noise by being louder.You break through by being real and showing up every day. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation and subscribe for more episodes on storytelling, identity, and building trust in a noisy, AI-saturated world. 📌 Subscribe for conversations on:• Thought leadership beyond job titles• Story-driven personal brands• The human side of AI, work, and creativity

    24 min

  8. Jan 28

    How to Rebuild Your Business After Losing Everything

    What happens when explosive business growth collides with burnout, illness, and total collapse? In this episode of Breaking Through the Noise, host Catherine Jelinek sits down with Blair Huddy, founder of Hudson Davis Communications, to unpack a story that goes far beyond entrepreneurship. This conversation explores what it really looks like to rebuild when:• your business grows too fast• your body forces you to stop• your identity is tied to your output• and the systems you relied on fall apart overnight Blair shares her journey through:– rapid agency growth and sudden financial collapse– severe health crises and nervous system shutdown– being dismissed, misunderstood, and forced to self-advocate– redefining success, boundaries, and leadership– learning which “noise” in life is worth listening to This isn’t a hustle story.It’s a conversation about sustainability, self-trust, and building a business that doesn’t require sacrificing your health to survive. If you’re a founder, operator, creative, or high performer who feels like slowing down isn’t an option but knows something has to change, then this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen to learn:✔ how niching down can unlock growth✔ why businesses must outlive their founders’ capacity✔ how to tell the difference between distraction and intuition✔ what rebuilding differently actually means ⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Introduction02:30 Leaving corporate & starting the agency05:30 Rapid growth, collapse, and rebuilding11:00 Health crises & nervous system failure18:30 Using boundaries as a growth strategy26:00 Listening to the right noise34:00 Redefining success after burnout 👉 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, resilience, and building meaningful work without losing yourself.

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Interviews with thought leaders that give practical strategies for emerging thought leaders ready to break through the noise, on their terms.

Information

  • Creator
    Catherine Jelinek
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Catherine Jelinek
  • Show Website
    Breaking Through The Noise