The Grace Space Podcast

Kaitlyn Rios
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The Grace Space — a place for real talk about purpose, grace, and the grit it takes to lead like a human, without losing yourself along the way.

Episodes

  1. Sep 5

    Authenticity + Vulnerability = Joy

    What happens when the version of yourself you’ve been performing can no longer carry the weight of the life you’re living? In this episode of The Grace Space Podcast, host Kaitlyn Rios is joined by Jennifer Gomez, creator of The Joy Method™, for a powerful conversation about authenticity, pressure, and the moment she hit an internal wall that changed everything. Jen shares the story of a high-stakes day when the emotional weight of leadership collided with her humanity — and how a single, unexpected joke to her superior cracked open a door to deeper authenticity, connection, and freedom. That moment became a turning point in how she leads, coaches, and teaches others to regulate their “human engine.” Together, they explore how hidden performance leaks, emotional friction, and the pressure to perform can quietly erode leadership — and why joy, presence, and authenticity are measurable tools for clarity and influence. This episode is about choosing freedom over performance, learning to recognize when you’re drifting from your true self, and leading from a place that is grounded, steady, and deeply human. --- Key Topics & Moments • Authenticity as a leadership tool • The cost of performing leadership instead of living it • Hidden performance leaks inside teams • Joy as a measurable leadership asset • Presence and energy regulation • High-pressure environments and their impact on identity • The freedom of being fully yourself • Sustainable performance and emotional resilience --- Reflection Prompts for Listeners • Where am I performing instead of showing up as my true self? • What emotional or operational weight am I carrying that’s slowing me down? • When was the last time I felt “free” — and what helped me access that feeling? • What would it look like to treat joy as a strategy, not a reward? --- Guest Spotlight Jennifer Gomez is a keynote speaker, executive leadership coach, and creator of The Joy Method™ — a performance framework designed to help leaders and sales teams eliminate friction, sharpen decision-making, and lead with clarity under pressure. With an MBA from LSU, a background in stage acting, and years of experience leading high-stakes operations, Jen brings a rare blend of presence, strategy, and emotional intelligence to her work. She is known for helping leaders identify and repair the “human engine” behind their performance. --- Resources Mentioned • The Joy Method™ • Leadership presence and energy regulation practices --- Connect Kaitlyn Rios / Faced With Grace www.facedwithgrace.org connect@facedwithgrace.org Jennifer Gomez / The Joy Method™ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgomez225/ --- If This Episode Resonated If this conversation resonated with you, consider this: Leadership isn’t about performing a role — it’s about showing up as the truest version of yourself. The moments that crack us open often become the ones that shape us most deeply. And if this episode spoke to you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need permission to lead with a little more authenticity — and a little more joy — today.

  2. Aug 1

    The Courage to be Quirky (Recorded during Mental Health Awareness Month)

    What happens when the version of “professionalism” you were taught was never meant for you? In this episode of The Grace Space Podcast, host Kaitlyn Rios sits down with Lauren (L2) Howard, CEO of Clinical Operations Group and founder of ElleTwo and Quirky, for a raw, funny, deeply human conversation about mental health, toxic systems, and the courage it takes to rebuild your identity after environments that tried to shrink you. Together, they explore the emotional cost of outdated professionalism, the healing power of humor, and why telling the truth — even the messy parts — is one of the most radical acts of self‑care. This episode is an invitation to stop performing, start breathing, and remember that being different has never meant being broken.   💬 What We Talk About The hidden mental health toll of harmful workplaces and societiesWhy “professionalism” often harms women, neurodivergent folks, and anyone who doesn’t fit the moldHow humor becomes a survival tool — and a healing oneThe story behind Quirky, her community for the “eh‑ntisocial”The courage it takes to tell the truth about what hurt youRebuilding identity after burnout, gaslighting, or systemic harmWhy mental health advocacy must be both personal and systemic--- 🔥 Key Moments The moment she realized the version of professionalism she was performing wasn’t built for herHow ElleTwo was born from frustration with patriarchal workplace normsWhy humor is one of her most powerful tools for connection and healingThe origin story of Quirky — and why so many people need a space like itHow she rebuilt her identity after seasons that made her question itThe truth about boundaries, self‑trust, and refusing to shrink--- 🧠 Reflection Prompts for Listeners Where am I blaming myself for a system that harmed me?What version of “professionalism” have I been performing — and who is it serving?What story am I finally ready to tell the truth about?What boundary is my mental health asking me to set?Where could humor soften something I’ve been carrying alone?--- 🌟 About Our Guest Lauren (L2) Howard is the CEO of Clinical Operations Group, the founder of ElleTwo, and the creator of Quirky, a digital community for the “eh‑ntisocial” — the people who want connection without the pressure to perform. She is also the host of Different, Not Broken, where she artfully overshares because isolation lies. Known for her bold storytelling, clinical expertise, and humor‑soaked honesty, Lauren is redefining what it means to be “professional,” advocating for mental health, and helping people reclaim their identity after harmful workplace experiences. --- 🔗 Connect with Lauren Quirky: A community for the eh‑ntisocialElleTwo: Redefining professionalism for womenDifferent, Not Broken PodcastLinkedIn: Lauren (L2) Howard--- 🔗 Connect with Kaitlyn / The Grace Space Website: facedwithgrace.orgEmail: connect@facedwithgrace.orgInstagram: @facedwithgrace--- 💛 If This Episode Resonated If this conversation spoke to you, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who needs the reminder that they are not broken — they are becoming.

  3. Jul 4

    Leadership Begins at Home

    What if the most important leadership work you’ll ever do happens at home? In this episode of The Grace Space Podcast, host Kaitlyn Rios sits down with Brittany Anderson, Founder & CEO of Renala, to explore how identity, vision, values, and communication — tools we often reserve for our careers — can transform our families too. Brittany shares her journey as a military spouse navigating deployments, reinvention, and a near-divorce that became the catalyst for rebuilding her family with intention. Together, they explore how play, creativity, and strengths-based tools can help families reconnect, communicate, and create a shared identity. This episode is an invitation to lead your family with the same care, strategy, and heart you bring to your work — and to discover how the hardest seasons can become the foundation for a more connected, resilient home. --- What You’ll Hear in This Episode • Why leadership at home is often overlooked — and why it matters • How a near-divorce reshaped Brittany’s understanding of identity and connection • The power of family vision, values, and purpose • How LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and creative tools unlock deeper communication • Why play is a powerful tool for navigating conflict • How families can rewrite their story with intention --- Key Topics & Moments • Military life, uncertainty, and identity • The emotional cost of high-functioning leadership • Family values and vision as stabilizing forces • Play as a tool for connection and repair • Strengths-based approaches to family communication • Rebuilding trust and rewriting family narratives --- Reflection Prompts for Listeners • Where am I leading reactively at home instead of proactively? • What values do I want my family to be known for? • What story are we currently living — and what story do we want to write? • How might play or creativity help us reconnect? --- Guest Spotlight Brittany Anderson is the Founder & CEO of Renala, where she helps families and organizations build identity, connection, and purpose through immersive experiences, playful retreats, and strengths-based coaching. A certified transformational coach and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, she brings two decades of experience in storytelling, strategy, and leadership development — along with her own lived journey of rebuilding her marriage and family with intention. Connect • Kaitlyn Rios / Faced With Grace www.facedwithgrace.org connect@facedwithgrace.org • Brittany Anderson / Renala LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renalafamilies/

  4. Jun 25

    Embracing Intentional Living

    What do you do when the moment doesn’t go according to plan? In this episode of The Grace Space Podcast, Kaitlyn Rios is joined by Haylee Foy, founder of Building Better Mindsets, for an honest conversation about navigating difficult situations when there’s no script, no perfect response, and no one-size-fits-all solution. Haylee shares her personal journey through toxic workplaces, followed by an early and humbling moment in her coaching career — when a client took a phone call in the middle of a group coaching session, freezing her in her tracks and forcing her to confront the reality that leadership often requires adaptation, not perfection. Together, they'll explore how hard lessons, creative pivots, and unconventional tools — including the introduction of art into Haylee’s coaching practice — can fundamentally reshape how we lead, respond, and grow. This episode is about learning to navigate complexity creatively, trusting yourself in real time, and allowing difficult moments to shape you into the leader you’re becoming.   What You’ll Hear in This Episode • How toxic workplaces quietly shape leadership instincts and self-trust • An early coaching moment that forced Haylee to rethink control, authority, and adaptability • Why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership or growth • How creativity and art can unlock new pathways for communication and healing • What it means to lead in moments that don’t go as planned • How hard lessons become formative — not failures   Reflection Prompts for Listeners • Where am I clinging to a “right way” when flexibility is needed instead? • What difficult moment shaped me more than any success ever did? • How might creativity help me navigate a situation I feel stuck in right now?   Guest Spotlight Haylee Foy is the founder of Building Better Mindsets, a leadership and creative wellbeing practice centered on helping individuals and teams move out of survival mode and into intentional, adaptive leadership. After navigating toxic workplace environments and confronting early challenges in her coaching career, Haylee began integrating creativity and art into her work — transforming how clients process difficult experiences, build self-awareness, and respond to complexity. She is known for her grounded presence, trauma-informed approach, and belief that the hardest lessons often become the foundation for the most effective leadership.   Resources Mentioned • Building Better Mindsets • Creative and art-based leadership practices   Connect • Kaitlyn Rios / Faced With Grace www.facedwithgrace.org connect@facedwithgrace.org • Haylee Foy / Building Better Mindsets LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayleefoy/   If This Episode Resonated If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need permission to lead a little more creatively — and a little more honestly — today.

  5. Jun 25

    Clear is Kind

    What if the real reason organizations struggle isn’t people — but the systems around them? In this episode of The Grace Space Podcast, host Kaitlyn Rios is joined by Chris Dundy, CEO of Flagship LMS, for a grounded and eye‑opening conversation about how organizations support growth, cultivate learning, and create environments where people can actually succeed. Chris shares insights from nearly two decades of building training systems for Fortune 500 companies, global organizations, and government agencies — revealing why most teams don’t fail from lack of effort, but from lack of clarity, consistency, and support. Together, they explore the emotional impact of poor systems, the misconceptions leaders have about training and development, and the cultural shifts required to build organizations where learning is continuous and improvement is sustainable. This episode is about dignity, clarity, and the systems that allow people to thrive. --- What You’ll Hear in This Episode • Why most organizational struggles are system problems, not people problems • The emotional cost of unclear expectations and inconsistent processes • What leaders misunderstand about training and development • How organizations cultivate true learning cultures • The systems that make success repeatable • How continuous improvement becomes a cultural norm • Why clarity is one of the most compassionate leadership tools --- Key Topics & Moments • Systems as a form of support • The human impact of organizational structure • Training that actually changes behavior • Learning cultures vs. checkbox training • Continuous improvement as a relational practice • The dignity of clarity and consistency • Why people thrive when systems are built well --- Reflection Prompts for Listeners • Where am I internalizing a system failure as a personal failure? • What clarity do I need that I haven’t been given? • What would it look like to work inside a system that truly supports growth? • How can I contribute to a culture of learning — even in small ways? --- Guest Spotlight Chris Dundy is the CEO of Flagship LMS, where he helps organizations build training systems that are practical, measurable, and built for real‑world performance. He has partnered with Fortune 500 companies, global organizations, and government agencies to create learning environments that support growth, clarity, and continuous improvement. Chris is passionate about helping organizations build systems that make success repeatable — and helping people thrive inside them. --- Resources Mentioned • Flagship LMS • Organizational learning and development frameworks • Continuous improvement practices --- Connect Kaitlyn Rios / Faced With Grace www.facedwithgrace.org connect@facedwithgrace.org Chris Dundy / Flagship LMS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherdundy --- If This Episode Resonated If this conversation resonated with you, consider this: You’re not failing — the system might be. And you deserve clarity, support, and an environment that helps you grow. If this episode spoke to you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear that their struggle isn’t a personal flaw — it’s a structural one.

  6. Apr 4

    The Realities of Purpose-Driven Work

    In this honest conversation, Kaitlyn Rios and Kris Fanning explore the true realities of choosing impact over ease in the nonprofit world. From invisible labor to emotional resilience, they delve into the grit required to build meaningful change without a safety net. Key Topics:The emotional and physical toll of nonprofit work and invisible laborThe pivotal moments and mindset shifts that lead to impactful career changesThe significance of purpose and how to recognize it in your lifeStrategies for managing imposter syndrome and maintaining self-beliefThe importance of small wins and self-acknowledgment during hard timesBuilding organizational foundation with patience and graceThe challenges and rewards of leading unpaid boards and volunteer teamsPractical advice on balancing purpose-driven work with business acumenTimestamps:00:02 - The hidden struggles of choosing impact over ease 00:31 - Kris Fanning’s journey from healthcare to nonprofit leadership 02:05 - Sharing the lesser-known stories behind their public personas 03:05 - What it feels like when a system no longer fits 03:37 - Recognizing purpose as a guiding principle 04:53 - The power of vision books in goal-setting 06:17 - The catalyst moments that triggered career leaps 09:22 - The unseen labor and emotional weight of nonprofit leadership 11:28 - Managing the solitude and overwhelm of building impactful organizations 12:21 - Practical tips for mental resilience and self-care 14:33 - The importance of celebrating small wins amidst big challenges 15:23 - Leading without a traditional team — the nuances of influence and authority 17:02 - Navigating the dynamics of unpaid boards and volunteer leadership 18:38 - Overcoming imposter syndrome in high-stakes environments 19:59 - Moments of affirmation that reinforce impact-driven decisions 21:26 - Personal growth through purpose-driven work 22:39 - The importance of patience and strong foundation building 23:05 - Common misconceptions about purpose and impact work 24:25 - How to connect with Kris Fanning and Texas Faced With Grace: www.facedwithgrace.org connect@facedwithgrace.org TicKidsResources & Links: Texas TicKids - Learn more about Kris Fanning’s impactful organizationConnect with Kris Fanning: FacebookThese show notes aim to capture the raw, insightful dialogue on leadership, purpose, and resilience. Whether you're considering a leap into impact work or already navigating its challenges, this episode offers real-world wisdom to guide your journey.

  7. Mar 7

    Crisis Reveals Culture

    We are living in heavy times. Between personal challenges, constant news cycles, and the pressure to perform professionally, many of us are carrying more than we let on. In this episode of The Grace Space Podcast, Kaitlyn Rios sits down with Jenn Farr — senior corporate leader, creator of The Treehouse Principle, and Crisis to Creation coach — for an honest and expansive conversation about what it means to show up while the world is heavy. Jenn shares how personal crisis reshaped her identity, clarified her boundaries, and transformed her approach to leadership. Together, they explore how organizations respond when humanity interrupts productivity — and why crisis leadership cannot operate from rigid precedent in a world that is constantly evolving. This episode is about: • How crisis reveals culture • The identity shift that follows survival • Why “business as usual” doesn’t work after life changes • The emotional weight of modern times • Transforming hardship into intentional leadership This conversation is not political. It is human. And it offers insight for anyone navigating personal hardship while still expected to perform professionally.   What You’ll Hear in This Episode • How crisis exposes the truth of organizational culture • The internal transformation that follows life-altering events • Why precedent-driven crisis management falls short • The emotional impact of living in a constant-news world • How leaders can create psychologically safer environments • What it means to move from crisis into creation   Reflection Prompts for Listeners • What am I carrying right now that others may not see? • How would my workplace respond if I needed real support tomorrow? • Where might I be leading from policy instead of presence? • How have hard seasons reshaped the leader I am becoming? • What might “creation” look like on the other side of my current challenge?   Guest Spotlight Jenn Farr is a senior corporate leader and a coach for Crisis to Creation, a coaching platform dedicated to helping individuals transform life’s most challenging seasons into clarity, strength, and intentional leadership. Drawing from decades of corporate leadership experience and profound personal transformation, Jenn guides professionals through identity shifts, boundary recalibration, and purpose realignment after life-altering events. Her work centers on the belief that crisis does not have to be the end of momentum — it can be the beginning of intentional creation.   Connect • Kaitlyn Rios / Faced With Grace Connect@facedwithgrace.org www.facedwithgrace.org • Jenn Farr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-farr/   If This Episode Resonated If this conversation resonated with you, consider this: The world may feel heavy. But heaviness does not disqualify you from leadership. In fact, the leaders who acknowledge weight — instead of denying it — are often the ones who build cultures where people can survive, grow, and belong. If this episode spoke to you, I invite you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need permission to show up honestly — even when the world feels heavy.

  8. Feb 10

    Writing Your Confidence Resume

    What happens when your confidence erodes—not because you lack ability, but because you spent too long in an environment that asked you to shrink? In this episode of The Grace Space Podcast, Kaitlyn Rios is joined by Karli Grove, founder of Kantency Consulting Ltd., for a grounded, reflective conversation about rebuilding confidence after hard seasons of work, leadership, and life. Together, they explore the concept of the Confidence Resume—a tool from Kaitlyn’s book Grit to Grace—designed to help people reclaim the evidence of who they are beyond job titles, performance reviews, or toxic narratives. This episode invites listeners to slow down, tell the truth about what they’ve navigated, and remember the strength they’ve been carrying all along.   What You’ll Hear in This Episode Why confidence often fades quietly before we realize itHow toxic or misaligned environments distort self-perceptionWhat a Confidence Resume is—and what it is notThe power of naming strengths that went unseen or uncelebratedWhy rebuilding confidence doesn’t require proving anythingHow grace creates space for reflection, integration, and self-trust  Key Topics & Moments Grace as an environment—not a performanceThe difference between lost confidence and reshaped confidenceStrengths demonstrated under pressureNavigating complexity with integrity and restraintWins that never made it into a review but mattered deeplyTruth statements as anchors for self-trust  Reflection Prompts for Listeners What strengths did I demonstrate during a season that challenged me?What did I carry that was never acknowledged—but still mattered?What truth statement do I need to write for myself today?  Guest Spotlight Karli Grove is the founder of Kantency Consulting Ltd., where she helps leaders and organizations slow down, see the full systems at play, and navigate transformation with intention and clarity. She is known for her curiosity about human behavior, her use of storytelling as a strategic tool, and her ability to help teams uncover what’s beneath the surface before reacting to symptoms.   Resources Mentioned Grit to Grace by Kaitlyn RiosThe Confidence Resume (from Grit to Grace)  Connect Kaitlyn Rios / Faced With Grace facedwithgrace.orgconnect@facedwithgrace.org Karli Grove LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karligrove/kantency.com   If This Episode Resonated If this conversation stirred something in you, consider starting your own Confidence Resume—not as homework, but as an act of self-respect. And if this episode spoke to you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might also need to spend a little time in The Grace Space today.

  9. Jan 3

    The Confidence to Begin Again

    In the premiere of The Grace Space Podcast, host Kaitlyn Rios sits down with Sara Fung — a nurse-turned-career-coach — to explore what happens when burnout turns to confidence and purpose . Together they unpack burnout, renewal, and the Confidence = 3 RS Formula: REFLECTION, REFRAMING, & REBUILDING with SUPPORT layered across all three. To Connect With The Grace Space Guest: www.sarafung.com www.thernresume.com To Connect With the Host: www.facedwithgrace.org connect@facedwithgrace.org

  • 9 Episodes

About

The Grace Space — a place for real talk about purpose, grace, and the grit it takes to lead like a human, without losing yourself along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Kaitlyn Rios
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Kaitlyn Rios