Leaders Lead Even When It Hurts

Tony Taylor
  • 4.8 (40)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Semiweekly

Leaders Lead Even When It Hurts is a show about the real moments that shape us. Every week Tony Taylor sits with people who have lived through something hard and came out changed. Caregivers, creators, entrepreneurs, survivors. People in the messy middle who kept going even when it hurt. These conversations are raw, honest, and unscripted. We talk about the moments that broke you open, the choices that changed everything, and the strength you didn’t know you had. If you’re carrying a lot and trying to stay true to yourself while you build

  1. Oct 2

    Washington State Senate Candidate Tamara Stramel

    Tamara Stramel is running for Washington State Senate in Washington’s 31st Legislative District. She is certified to appear in the 2026 general election. WA Secretary of State In this episode of On The Record, Tamara talks about the experiences that shaped her, why she decided to step from working behind the scenes in politics into becoming a candidate herself, and what she’s hearing from voters across the district. We talk about affordability, transportation and infrastructure, public education, healthcare, Washington’s tax system, gun policy, political participation, and what she believes accessibility and accountability should look like from an elected official. On The Record: isn’t here to tell you who to vote for. Listen to the conversation. Compare the answers. Decide for yourself. Because informed voters build stronger communities.

    Washington State Senate Candidate Tamara Stramel

  2. Sep 27

    Healing From Narcissistic Abuse: Trauma, Chronic Pain & Reclaiming Yourself

    What happens after you recognize narcissistic abuse? How do you actually begin healing? In this episode of Leaders Lead, Tony Taylor sits down with narcissistic abuse recovery coach Adriana Bucci, founder of Let’s Get Your Shift Together, for an honest conversation about narcissistic abuse, trauma, chronic pain, survival mode, boundaries, people-pleasing, and reclaiming yourself. Adriana shares her own experience growing up with a narcissistic mother and spending years struggling with chronic pain, anxiety, people-pleasing, and few boundaries before beginning the healing journey that changed her life. Together, Tony and Adriana explore the emotional patterns that can keep people stuck, including guilt, shame, fear, gaslighting, love bombing, devaluation, fight-or-flight, freeze and fawn responses, and the difficulty of setting boundaries after years of conditioning. But this conversation isn't just about identifying narcissistic behavior. It's about what comes next. How do you stop living in survival mode? How do you set boundaries without being consumed by guilt? How do you reconnect with yourself? And what does healing look like when you've spent years taking care of everyone else's emotions while ignoring your own? Adriana also shares her personal experience with chronic pain and the mind-body approaches she says played an important role in her recovery. If you've experienced narcissistic abuse, emotional manipulation, people-pleasing, chronic stress, difficult family relationships, or simply feel like you've lost pieces of yourself along the way, this conversation is about finding your way back. Subscribe to Leaders Lead for more conversations about leadership, healing, mental health, resilience, relationships, and the experiences that shape us. Disclaimer: This episode includes personal experiences and discussion of trauma, mental health, chronic pain, and mind-body approaches. It is provided for educational and informational purposes and is not medical or mental health treatment. Chronic pain can have many causes, and listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals regarding their individual circumstances.

    Healing From Narcissistic Abuse: Trauma, Chronic Pain & Reclaiming Yourself

  3. Sep 25

    Congressional Candidate Alex Scheel: From Combat Veteran to Anti-War Activist

    Alex Scheel is a combat veteran, organizer, Democratic Socialist, and candidate for Congress in Washington’s 10th Congressional District. Alex was a late addition to this episode, and I’m glad we had the opportunity to talk. In this conversation, Alex shares how his experiences serving in Army intelligence and deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan changed the way he understood war. He talks about one experience in particular, sitting across from a young Iraqi man and hearing how the war had affected his family and his life. Alex says those experiences eventually helped lead him from soldier to anti-war activist. We also talk about his work with the Democratic Socialists of America, organizing around housing and workers’ rights, and what democratic socialism actually means to him. Alex doesn't shy away from some of the bigger issues either. We get into Medicare for All, housing affordability, U.S. military spending, Israel and Gaza, and why ending U.S. involvement in overseas wars is such a major part of his campaign. The conversation also gets personal. We talk about mental health, loss, and why politics ultimately affects real people and real families. Alex shares the loss of his sister to an overdose and his best friend to suicide, and why those experiences matter to him. I’m looking forward to learning more about Alex’s journey, especially how he went from serving in the military to becoming an organizer and activist. This conversation is not an endorsement of Alex Scheel or his campaign. On The Record™ gives candidates an opportunity to share their stories, positions, and perspectives in their own words. Listen to Leaders Lead Podcast on all major podcast platforms. #OnTheRecord #AlexScheel #WA10 #WashingtonPolitics #Congress #Veterans #AntiWar #DemocraticSocialism #LeadersLeadPodcast

  4. Sep 24

    Candidate for WA State Representative, 31st Legislative District | Stephen Szczurko-Walton

    Candidate for WA State Representative, 31st Legislative District, Stephen Szczurko-Walton joins On The Record™ for a long-form conversation about his background, military service, leadership, and the issues shaping his campaign. The conversation covers healthcare, affordability, Washington’s tax structure, artificial intelligence, corporate money in politics, rural transportation, climate policy, and public trust in government. Szczurko-Walton also discusses his nine and a half years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear reactor operator and what he says he is hearing from voters across the district.On The Record™ gives voters the opportunity to hear directly from the people asking for their vote, beyond the campaign ads, headlines, and soundbites. Watch the full conversation and make up your own mind.

  5. Sep 22

    Candidate for Congress, WA-03: Troy Rasband:

    Troy Rasband joined me for On The Record to talk about why he decided to run for Congress in Washington's 3rd Congressional District and the issues driving his campaign. We talked about his story, what shaped his political views, the challenges facing working families, healthcare, immigration, government accountability, the transgender community, and what he believes needs to change in Washington, D.C. This is a long-form conversation designed to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidate, beyond campaign ads, social media posts, and sound bites. On The Record doesn't tell you who to vote for. The goal is simple: ask the questions, give candidates room to answer, and let voters decide for themselves. Learn more about Troy Rasband:Troy Rasband for Congress #TroyRasband #WA03 #OnTheRecord #WashingtonPolitics #Election2026 #Congress #CandidateInterview #SouthwestWashington

  6. Sep 20

    Kevin Moynihan: Candidate for WA State Representative, 19th LD, Position 1 | On The Record

    I sat down with Washington State Rep candidate Kevin Moynihan for a candid talk about his platform and his vision for our state.We step away from the campaign trail to have a real, unscripted interview. This conversation is not a polished sound bite or a press release, but a chance to hear directly from him about the topics that matter most to voters. We talk about his background, the challenges he sees in our district, and the specific insights he has gained while running for office.Whether you are familiar with his work or just discovering his story, this podcast conversation offers a clear look at the person behind the campaign. We move past the surface level to talk about what he believes, why he makes the decisions he does, and what he sees on the horizon for local politics. This political interview is designed to help you get a better sense of who you are voting for this year.Subscribe to the Leaders Lead Podcast for weekly long-form discussions, and let me know in the comments who you want to see on the show next.

  7. Sep 17

    Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant’s Story of Recovery, Redemption, and Second Chances

    I sat down with Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant for a powerful and deeply human conversation about recovery, redemption, second chances, and public service. Rachel shared her story of becoming a young mother, losing her son’s father, struggling with drug use, being arrested, going through Thurston County Drug Court, rebuilding her life, and eventually becoming a Thurston County Commissioner. This conversation is not just about politics. It is about the human behind the title. We talked about addiction, recovery, motherhood, grief, foster care, behavioral health, housing, workforce, mentorship, public service, and what it means to turn lived experience into service. Rachel also shared the story of how she was encouraged to run for commissioner, what she has learned in the role, and why she believes people who have been impacted by systems need to be part of the decisions that shape those systems. If you live in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino, Rochester, Rainier, Bucoda, or anywhere in Thurston County, I believe this is a conversation worth hearing.

  8. Sep 14

    Open Lacey City Council Seat: What the Job Really Takes | Maren Turner

    Thinking about applying for the open seat on the Lacey City Council, or just curious what the job actually involves? Apply for the open Lacey City Council position here:https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/b3d4ed0cea6e430b8d41fbd932eb39ba In this special I’m Asking for a Friend edition of On The Record, Tony Taylor sits down with Lacey City Councilmember Maren Turner for a candid conversation about what serving on the council really looks like. Turner breaks down the time commitment, preparation, committee work, relationships between councilmembers, how much influence one person actually has, and why you don’t need to walk into the job as an expert. She also explains why asking questions, doing your homework, and learning how to work with people who see things differently are essential to being effective. They also get into a question a lot of people quietly wonder about: Do you have to “go along to get along” to get things done? Turner explains how disagreements are worked through before votes happen and why being the loudest person in the room does not necessarily make someone the most effective. She also discusses what she hopes to see in whoever fills the vacant seat and why she believes the council should focus on choosing the person who is best for Lacey. At the time of the interview, Turner said the city had received at least 16 applications, with the application deadline set for September 18. If you’re considering applying, this conversation gives you a much clearer picture of what you’d actually be signing up for.

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4.8
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40 Ratings

About

Leaders Lead Even When It Hurts is a show about the real moments that shape us. Every week Tony Taylor sits with people who have lived through something hard and came out changed. Caregivers, creators, entrepreneurs, survivors. People in the messy middle who kept going even when it hurt. These conversations are raw, honest, and unscripted. We talk about the moments that broke you open, the choices that changed everything, and the strength you didn’t know you had. If you’re carrying a lot and trying to stay true to yourself while you build

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