Embracing Enough

Dina Scippa
  • 5.0 (20)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Embracing Enough is a podcast redefining what leadership really looks like - especially for women who are done performing perfection. Each episode invites bold, honest conversations with women who are leading, healing, and unlearning the stories that told them they weren’t enough. Together, we explore what it takes to show up with confidence, courage, and authenticity - in the workplace, in our relationships, and within ourselves. This isn’t about climbing ladders or checking boxes. It’s about leading from the truth of who we are - messy, powerful, and enough exactly as we are.

  1. 122. When Doing Everything Right Feels Wrong

    2D AGO

    122. When Doing Everything Right Feels Wrong

    In the opening episode of Season 7 of Embracing Enough, host Dina Scippa pulls back the curtain on what women in leadership are actually carrying - and why so many are exhausted despite doing everything “right.” This episode isn’t about fixing confidence or pushing resilience harder. It’s about naming the deeper, systemic patterns that make leadership feel heavy, isolating, and emotionally taxing for women - especially those who are competent, committed, and conscientious. Dina reflects on the evolution of the podcast and introduces a season rooted in honesty over polish, truth over platitudes. She speaks directly to the quiet exhaustion women leaders feel but rarely say out loud - the fear of sounding ungrateful, weak, or incapable if they admit how hard it really is. This season moves the conversation away from individual shortcomings and toward the unspoken realities of leadership culture: the emotional labor, the silence, the pressure to perform composure while absorbing the weight of expectations that were never part of the job description. Embracing Enough becomes what it’s always meant to be - the group chat, the hallway conversation, the truth-telling space where women don’t have to pretend anymore. Key Takeaways Leadership exhaustion is widespread among women—and it’s not a personal failure The fatigue many women feel is rooted in systemic expectations, not workload alone Women leaders often feel stuck despite being capable, successful, and qualified There is a silence problem around naming the emotional cost of leadership This season prioritizes honest, unpolished conversations over performative confidence The focus is shifting from “fixing women” to examining leadership systems

    17 min
  2. 121. The Invisible Load and the Cost of Holding It All Together with Leslie Forde

    12/14/2025

    121. The Invisible Load and the Cost of Holding It All Together with Leslie Forde

    In this powerful conversation, Dina sits down with Leslie Forde - author of Repair with Self-Care and founder of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs - for a truth-telling dialogue every woman leader needs to hear. Dina first heard Leslie speak in a packed room of women during her DC book tour stop, where you could feel the entire room exhale as Leslie named the invisible load so many of us have been carrying in silence. Today, they pick up that thread and dive even deeper. Together, they explore what happens when women stop performing resilience and start honoring their actual needs. Leslie breaks down why self-care is not indulgence, not a reward, and definitely not something you “earn” after you’ve handled everything else - but a leadership skill, a boundary, and a radical act of self-trust. You’ll hear: Why energy management - not time management - is the real secret to sustainable leadership How the invisible load of motherhood shows up in boardrooms, Zoom rooms, and everywhere in between What shifts when women treat their needs as data instead of inconveniences The first realistic steps to repair yourself without stepping away from your career or burning your life down Why self-care is strategic, political, and deeply personal for women leaders If you’ve ever felt the weight of trying to hold it all together… this episode is your permission slip to put the load down and rebuild leadership from a place of wholeness, not depletion. This is a conversation about repair, recovery, and redefining what leadership looks like when women stop abandoning themselves. Don’t miss it.

    49 min
  3. 122. The Year I Was Broken Open: Leadership Lessons from Identity, Grief, Audacity, Rejection and Becoming

    12/14/2025

    122. The Year I Was Broken Open: Leadership Lessons from Identity, Grief, Audacity, Rejection and Becoming

    In this raw and deeply human episode, Dina pulls back the curtain on a year that didn’t just challenge her - it remade her. The Year I Was Broken Open isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a reckoning. A truth-telling. A look at the kind of leadership growth that doesn’t happen in conference rooms or coaching certifications, but in the messy, intimate corners of real life. Dina shares how this year cracked the foundation she’d been standing on and forced her into the deepest evolution of her leadership yet. From the quiet unraveling of an identity that no longer fit… to the grief she had avoided for years suddenly taking a seat at the edge of her bed… to the uncomfortable, liberating practice of audacity… to rebuilding presence and confidence one unglamorous moment at a time… and navigating rejection so constant it felt like an uninvited roommate — this episode is a masterclass in becoming. But it wasn’t all breaking.There was building too. Dina opens up about the unexpected wins that emerged right alongside the chaos: delivering her first speaking engagement with The Leadhership Network, landing strategic planning and coaching contracts with partners aligned with her mission, sitting on NBC4 Washington for a live interview, watching her docuseries The Ripple Effect gain real momentum, finally beginning the book she’s meant to write, launching her second IMAGINE Retreat in Tulum, and coaching women 1:1 through their own transformations. This episode unpacks the leadership lessons forged through every twist: why identity loss is often the first sign of expansion how grief clarifies what (and who) is aligned why audacity becomes necessary when waiting to be chosen stops serving you how presence shifts when you stop abandoning yourself mid-moment why confidence is built in the quiet, unsexy decisions and how rejection - the uncomfortable, persistent kind - becomes the most faithful mentor of all If you’ve felt undone this year… if you’ve been navigating transitions you didn’t ask for… if you’ve found yourself shedding old identities, questioning your worth, confronting your truth, or rebuilding piece by piece - this episode will land in your chest. It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t who you are when things go right.Leadership is who you become when everything feels like it’s falling apart - and you choose to rise anyway. This is the episode for the woman who knows she’s changing, even if the world hasn’t caught up yet. Tune in. Take what you need. Leave with more self-respect than you arrived with. And remember:You’re not breaking down.You’re breaking open.

    35 min
  4. 120. What Women Learn When They Finally Step Away: Leadership Lessons from Tulum

    12/08/2025

    120. What Women Learn When They Finally Step Away: Leadership Lessons from Tulum

    This isn’t a recap. This is a story. A story you need to listen to. In this week’s episode of Embracing Enough, I take you inside the retreat experience in Tulum - not the Instagram version, but the real one. The one where women arrive carrying more than their luggage… and leave carrying more of themselves. I’m talking about the quiet exhaustion women don’t notice until they finally stop.The truth-telling that erupts once the masks come off.The moment a woman realizes she’s been leading a life she’s not even present in.The power of being surrounded by women who nod, whisper “me too,” and hold space like it’s a sacred practice.And the transformation that can only happen when the ocean regulates your nervous system and the jungle listens without judgment. This episode is a narrative — a living, breathing look at: 🌿 The invisible weight women hold🌿 The truth that emerges when we finally pause🌿 The pattern of self-abandonment so many of us normalize🌿 The ancient power of being witnessed by other women🌿 And why Tulum isn’t just a location… it’s a threshold Women don’t come to the retreat because life is falling apart.They come because they’re tired of holding themselves together in ways that are breaking them. And when they leave?They walk differently.Choose differently.Lead differently.Because they return to themselves. If you’re craving the kind of leadership that comes from truth instead of performance…If you’re ready to stop being the “strong one”…If you’re feeling the pull toward something deeper… This episode is your sign. 🎧 Tune in now.And if Tulum is whispering your name, know this: If you book your deposit before December 15th you will receive access to a complimentary 60-minute pre-retreat coaching session with me. Your becoming is calling.Are you ready to answer? ******************** Book a Call with Me here: https://calendly.com/enoughlabs/imagine-retreat-discussion Learn More about The IMAGINE Retreat here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGxHtM5rpg/wduMcM1xXLrrQ6wTPrzQcw/edit 🔗 Listen in. Take notes. And remind yourself: you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be real.

    31 min
  5. 119. Leading from Joy (Not Hustle): The Radical Shift Women Leaders Need Now

    10/30/2025

    119. Leading from Joy (Not Hustle): The Radical Shift Women Leaders Need Now

    What if joy wasn’t the reward for success - but the strategy that leads to it? In this episode of Embracing Enough, I pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood truths about leadership: joy isn’t a distraction from ambition; it’s the engine that sustains it. Drawing from deeply personal reflections and early excerpts from her upcoming book, Even Here, Joy, Dina unpacks what it really looks like to lead from joy instead of hustle. She gets honest about the moments that broke her open; the burnout disguised as productivity, the perfectionism that felt like purpose, and the realization that she’d built a version of leadership that looked impressive on paper but left her feeling empty inside. This episode is part confession, part redefinition, and part rallying cry for women who are ready to lead differently. I will explores how joy isn’t the “fluffy” opposite of strategy — it is strategy. Joy brings clarity. It anchors authority. It creates trust. And most importantly, it reminds us that power doesn’t have to come from pressure. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to embody leadership with ease, not tension - to stop performing confidence and start feeling it - this episode will speak to your soul. Because joy isn’t what happens when everything finally falls into place. Joy is what helps you find your place; even here.

    26 min
  6. 118. "But What Will People Think?" The Question Holding Women Back

    10/06/2025

    118. "But What Will People Think?" The Question Holding Women Back

    This episode is for every woman who’s ever silenced herself mid-sentence, dimmed her light before walking into a room, or second-guessed a bold move because of one nagging thought: What will people think? In this raw and reflective episode, I unpack my biggest lessons from a whirlwind September - training executives with BTS on authentic presence, leading a global leadership workshop for women from six continents with Counterpart International, and delivering her very first keynote, Sorry Not Sorry: Embracing the Power of Authenticity Over Perfection, to a room of 250 women leaders at the LeadHership Conference. Across every setting - boardrooms, training halls, and global stages - the same fear surfaced: the fear of being judged, misunderstood, or rejected for showing up fully. I dive deep into the universal conditioning that keeps women seeking approval, exploring how the question “What will people think?” is rarely about perception - it’s about safety, belonging, and centuries of social conditioning that teach women to play small to stay accepted. You’ll hear the truth about what confidence really means, why even executives struggle with visibility, and how women across the world are confronting the same cultural ghosts in different dialects. Most importantly, I share the mindset pivot that can shift you from performing for approval to leading from authenticity. 💥 If you’ve ever held back your brilliance because of what others might say - this episode is your permission slip to stop. Key Takeaways: Why confidence isn’t a trophy; it’s a practice. How the question “What will people think?” shows up differently across cultures but stems from the same patriarchal root. The link between safety, belonging, and approval. A coaching reflection to help you rewrite your relationship with external validation. 🎧 Tune in to Embracing Enough and get ready to redefine what confidence looks like - on your own terms.

    32 min
  7. 117. Cracks in the Armor: How Disruption Builds Stronger Leaders

    09/12/2025

    117. Cracks in the Armor: How Disruption Builds Stronger Leaders

    In this powerful episode of Embracing Enough, I sit down with my friend and fellow coach, Meredith Waters - a high-performance coach, strategic consultant, and founder of Thriving at Waters Edge. With nearly two decades of leading international development projects across more than 25 countries, Meredith brings a unique blend of global perspective, hard-won wisdom, and heart-centered leadership. Together, we dive deep into the concept of the fallow period - those seasons of life and career when ambition gets disrupted, whether by external shocks or internal misalignment. Meredith vulnerably shares her own journey through disruption, from missing her ROTC run time by 21 seconds to navigating a blood disorder, unexpected career pivots, and even being fired. Each disruption cracked the “armor of achievement” she had built - and taught her to embrace those cracks as places of growth, resilience, and ultimately becoming shatterproof. We also unpack the recent upheaval in the international development consulting industry and what it means to redefine productivity, reclaim joy, and give yourself permission to pause. Meredith introduces us to her “sandbox” approach - experimenting, playing, and replenishing in ways that help you realign your compass and rediscover what truly lights you up. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what ambition looks like when life doesn’t go as planned, and to honor the sacredness of the pause. Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is stop, breathe, and allow ourselves to be reshaped. This episode is an invitation to rethink what ambition looks like when life doesn’t go as planned, and to honor the sacredness of the pause. This episode is for you if you’re navigating a career disruption, questioning your next step, or simply craving permission to slow down and rediscover what lights you up. Follow Meredith Waters and her work through Thriving Edge https://www.thrivingatwatersedge.com/ and follow her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithwaters/ ************* Ready to dive deeper? If you're ready to stop chasing someone else's definition of success and start creating your own, you don' t have to do it alone. Whether it's ⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Leadership Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠ there's a space for you to step into your power and lead with confidence. And to get you started, I've got a free resource just for you! Download the Unstoppable Leaders Blueprint to help you kick perfectionism to the curb and lead with bold, grounded confidence. Grab it now at the⁠⁠⁠⁠ link⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    47 min
  8. 116. Unlearning Success: Redefining Identity, Joy, and Leadership with Arivee Vargas

    09/06/2025

    116. Unlearning Success: Redefining Identity, Joy, and Leadership with Arivee Vargas

    In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Embracing Enough, Dina sits down with her longtime friend and powerhouse leader, Arivee Vargas, an award-winning executive coach, bestselling author of Your Time to Rise, and host of The Humble Rising Podcast. From their shared roots in small-town Massachusetts to global boardrooms and stages, Dina and Arivee unpack what it really takes to unlearn the stories we’ve been conditioned to believe about success, achievement, and worthiness. Together, they explore the messy, liberating journey of redefining identity outside of titles, navigating the golden handcuffs of corporate life, and stepping into a season of unapologetic joy and leadership on your own terms. This conversation is a masterclass in peeling back the layers of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the constant need to prove yourself. Arivee shares the raw truth of her own breakdown and breakthroughs - from the pressure to always perform to the radical decision to rewrite her life by leading with authenticity and alignment. If you’ve ever wondered who you are without the titles, the email pings, or the accolades - or if you’re ready to rise into a definition of success that actually feels like yours - this episode is for you. To learn more about Arivee Vargas, head to www.ariveevargas.com, follow her on Instagram at @ariveevargas and on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariveevargas/ Check out her book, Your Time to Rise: Unlearn Limiting Beliefs, Unlock Your Power, and Unleash Your Truest Self wherever books are sold. ************* Ready to dive deeper? If you're ready to stop chasing someone else's definition of success and start creating your own, you don' t have to do it alone. Whether it's ⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Leadership Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠ there's a space for you to step into your power and lead with confidence. And to get you started, I've got a free resource just for you! Download the Unstoppable Leaders Blueprint to help you kick perfectionism to the curb and lead with bold, grounded confidence. Grab it now at the⁠⁠⁠⁠ link⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    48 min
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5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Embracing Enough is a podcast redefining what leadership really looks like - especially for women who are done performing perfection. Each episode invites bold, honest conversations with women who are leading, healing, and unlearning the stories that told them they weren’t enough. Together, we explore what it takes to show up with confidence, courage, and authenticity - in the workplace, in our relationships, and within ourselves. This isn’t about climbing ladders or checking boxes. It’s about leading from the truth of who we are - messy, powerful, and enough exactly as we are.

Information

  • Creator
    Dina Scippa
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dina Scippa
  • Show Website
    Embracing Enough