Take The Lead with Carine Badran

Carine Badran

Interviews, unfiltered conversations to help you take the lead in your own life.

  1. 6d ago

    Cindy Hovington PhD: How to Manage Your Emotions and Stress, Becoming Self-Aware & Dealing with Conflict

    Cindy Havington has a PhD in neuroscience, three kids she homeschools at home, and a company she built from scratch during the most chaotic season of her life. She also once had a full breakdown and yelled at her soup during the pandemic, and that moment changed everything. In this episode, we get into why so many of us are applying emotional regulation tools too late, what your brain is actually doing in the seconds before you snap at your partner or your kids, and why awareness is the first and most powerful tool you have. Cindy breaks down the science behind the two questions your brain asks in every emotionally charged situation, why arguments escalate even when nobody meant for them to, and how knowing your core values can help you stop living for everyone else's expectations. We also get personal. Cindy opens up about growing up in a dysregulated home, why she built her entire company for the younger version of herself, and how she manages to work, homeschool three kids, and still show up with capacity. And I share the moment my husband asked if I wanted to quit the podcast and what came out of me surprised even me. This one will shift how you see your emotions, your arguments, and yourself. Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/

    48 min

  2. Jun 2

    Sam Saoudi: He Saw a Gap in a $100B Industry and Built 20 Stores in Record Time | Founder of KaleMart24

    Sam went from drinking five Red Bulls a day as a civil engineering student in Paris to founding one of the most exciting retail concepts in Canada right now. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of KaleMart24, the health-forward convenience store brand that is quietly taking over Montreal and setting its sights on the US market. We get into how he spotted a massive gap in the North American convenience store industry, why he tested three completely different store formats at the same time before scaling, and how he built a 20-location franchise operation with a core team of three people, two of whom started as cashiers. Sam also opens up about his Dragons Den experience, what actually happens when a Dragon threatens to sue you on national television, how brands pay to get shelf space in his stores, and why he believes the proof of concept has to come before the pitch every single time. If you are thinking about starting a business, scaling one, or just want to understand how someone turns a matcha habit into an empire, this episode is for you. Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/

    40 min

  3. May 26

    The Psychology of Overthinking: What Anxiety, Depression & Mom Guilt Are Really Telling You with Dr. Iram Ahmad

    I sat down with Dr. Iram Ahmad clinical psychologist for a raw and eye-opening conversation about the questions we're all quietly typing into Google at 2am. We break down the real difference between depression and a rough patch, what anxiety is actually trying to tell you, why "snapping out of it" is harder than it sounds, and how high-achieving women and moms are quietly burning out under the pressure of doing it all. We also get into radical acceptance, the mom guilt spiral, decision fatigue, and what actually shifts when people start healing. This one is equal parts validating and practical.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/

    1h 6m

  4. May 19

    Your Brain Is Lying to You... Neuroscience, AI & How We Really See the World with Nardin Nakhla

    What does neuroscience actually tell us about how we see the world — and why we're so bad at changing our minds? In this episode , I sit down with Nardine, a neuroscientist, engineer, and AI safety researcher who built and exited her own biotech startup, to talk about the brain, perception, stress, and the very real dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence. We get into why your brain is wired to trust what it already knows more than what's right in front of you, how social media is literally rewiring your perception of reality, and what confirmation bias looks like at the neurological level. We also talk about stress — the difference between productive pressure and the kind that slowly breaks you down — and why so many of us are operating at a dangerous baseline without even realizing it. Nardine shares her journey from Cairo to Montreal, from physics to neuroscience to building a drug-modeling startup that raised $4 million and partnered with Google, to now working on AI safety. She breaks down why AI is moving faster than our laws, our governments, and honestly our collective sanity can keep up with — including the moment an AI blackmailed a real researcher in a lab setting. We also talk habits, neuroplasticity, funding as a woman of color, finding a cofounder, and why journaling in the morning might be the most neuroscience-backed thing you can do for your mental load. This one is equal parts fascinating and eye-opening. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran

    46 min

  5. May 12

    Contracts, Confidence & Corporate Law: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know with Nadine Chalati

    Most entrepreneurs don't think about legal protection until it's too late — and that's exactly where things fall apart. In this episode, I sit down with Montreal-based corporate lawyer Nadine Shalati to break down everything founders, side hustlers, and aspiring entrepreneurs need to know before launching a business. We get into why your first call should be to a lawyer (not an influencer), what a shareholder's agreement actually protects you from, and the stock option mistakes that are quietly costing employees thousands. We also talk AI businesses and the legal grey zone they're operating in right now, the most profitable industries to invest in, why franchising is still a massive opportunity, and what Nadine learned from her wildest cases in litigation — including the moment she knew corporate law was her true calling. Plus, she gets real about building a business as a woman, the confidence it takes to put yourself out there, and why the biggest obstacle is always yourself. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up — this episode is your legal wake-up call. 🎙️   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/

    40 min

  6. May 5

    Turning a Pastry Shop Into a National Success (what it takes, the hardships, failures that led to going viral) with Terry Axiotis

    From one donut shop to 14+ locations — Terry Axiotis didn't just build a business, he built a legacy. 🍩 In this episode, I sit down with the founder of Homer's Donuts to talk about what it really takes to scale a franchise, navigate multiple ventures, and lead with a vision that doesn't quit. This one is packed with gems. 🎙️ Follow along → @carinebadran | @taketheleadpodcast

    57 min

  7. Apr 28

    Neuroscientist & Mom Studied the Brain for 20 Years... Here's What You Need to Know! Marion Van Horn

    What if understanding your brain could change everything about how you show up as a mom, a woman, and a human? In this episode, I sit down with Marianne Van Horn — neuroscientist, PhD, mom of three, and author of The Brain Coloring and Learning Book — for one of the most grounding and eye-opening conversations we've had on the show. Marianne went from studying eye movements at McGill's Montreal Neurological Institute to leaving academia entirely to prioritize her family — and she has zero regrets. We talk about what that identity shift really felt like, and how neuroscience actually helped her make peace with it. We get into: Why neuroplasticity means it's never too late to change your brain The simple act that calms your nervous system almost instantly (hint: go outside) Why chronic stress is the #1 enemy of your brain — and what to do about it The truth about pathologizing kids' behavior too early Why she pulled her son out of school and what she learned from it Morning routines, sleep, reading to your kids, and going back to basics This episode is equal parts science and soul — perfect for any mom who's tired of feeling like she's falling short and ready to understand why she feels the way she does. 🎙️ Follow us on Instagram for more: 👉 @carinebadran 👉 @taketheleadpodcast

    57 min

  8. Apr 21

    From Sales to Forbes with Roy Itzhaki & Why Sales Is The Foundation for Success (you can be successful as an appointment setter/BDR and work remotely)

    In this episode, I sit down with Roy, founder of Biz Dev Labs and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, to talk about his unexpected journey from business school to building one of the most respected outbound sales agencies in the space. Roy shares how he stumbled into the BDR world, why he believes the role is a lifetime career — not just a stepping stone — and how being an introvert never held him back from competing at an Olympic level in windsurfing or cold calling Fortune 500 decision-makers. Introverts can thrive in sales. Active listening, pattern recognition, and deep product knowledge are superpowers that introverts naturally bring to the table. The BDR role is a foundation for everything. Whether you're an entrepreneur, climbing the corporate ladder, or looking for a promotion — it all starts with sales. Outbound is hard. That's the point. The heavy lifting — cold calling, picking up the phone, doing the work others won't — is exactly where the competitive edge lives. LinkedIn is your most underrated tool. Document your journey. Post authentically. The people who share consistently are the ones who build trust and attract opportunity. On high-ticket closing courses: Consume the free content first. Buy the product if you genuinely believe in it. Don't spend $5,000 before vetting the coach. Hiring is intuition-based. Roy looks for energy, proactiveness, and people who don't wait for instructions — not the perfect answer to every interview question. AI won't replace great BDRs — it'll raise the bar. When everyone goes left, go right. The fundamentals (cold calls, real conversations) are making a comeback. If this episode resonated with you, here's how you can support the show: ⭐ Leave a review — It only takes 2 minutes and helps more people find the podcast! 📤 Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or anyone who's ever doubted themselves in sales. 🔔 Follow/Subscribe so you never miss a new episode of Take the Lead. 📲 Tag us on social media and let us know your biggest takeaway from this conversation!

    31 min
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Interviews, unfiltered conversations to help you take the lead in your own life.

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