Speak In Flow

Melinda Lee
  • 5.0 (12)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

How loud is your inner critic? Would you love to silence the inner critic and develop the skills to Speak in Flow? After a decade of studying the state of flow, Melinda Lee has found the actionable and practical steps for heart-centred leaders to develop their communication confidence. Melinda helps leaders like you overcome their fear of public speaking and transform self-doubt into confidence & freedom, so they can exponentially increase their impact with heart and ease. We all have an internal dial of authentic strength, and when we learn to turn it up in spite of our circumstances, people feel and hear us, and our world changes. That is the power of our voice. When we Speak in Flow: · We feel free to be ourselves. · We speak from the heart. · We can connect with our audience · We feel more in alignment with our purpose. · Other people are attracted to us, and more opportunities show up! There are many ways to manifest authority, abundance and influence. What I stand for and love doing is empowering others to get in touch with their heart, tune into their intuition, and communicate their truth. This is Speak in Flow.

  1. Why Most AI Projects Fail

    10H AGO

    Why Most AI Projects Fail

    Beyond the AI hype, we see a stark divide: failed implementations that waste time and resources, and success stories that redefine entire industries. What makes the difference? Vadim Peskov, CEO of DIFFCO and an AI advisor with nearly a decade in the field, joins Melinda Lee on the Speak in Flow podcast to reveal the one critical factor separating leaders from laggards. This episode is a must-listen for any leader ready to bridge the gap between AI potential and tangible business results. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Gap Between Hype and Execution Why most AI "failures" stem from a simple misunderstanding, not technical limits. Vadim explains why treating AI like a magic genie with one-line prompts leads to dead ends, and how shifting from a user to a strategic operator mindset is the first step to real impact. From "Founder Mode" to Strategic Operator “If you don't know the flows of your processes, you should be replaced as CEO.” Why dabbling with chatbots isn't a strategy. Learn why executives must deeply understand AI's capabilities and constraints to make informed decisions that protect their business and unlock scalable opportunities. Building the "10x Business" with AI Augmentation “You want to enhance humans with AI. You want to give them a tool to be more productive. So you can have the same workforce, but just do more things.” How AI enables businesses of 10 to outperform legacy players with 1,000. Vadim shares concrete examples, from insurance to manufacturing, showing how AI doesn't replace teams but transforms them into super-reviewers who oversee and refine AI-executed workflows, achieving unprecedented scale and accuracy. Review, Don't Create “We can do a lot of research and understanding with AI that a human definitely will not have time to do. But we can learn from the human what we need to look for.” Discover the paradigm shift where AI prepares reports, generates insights, and flags issues, turning management into a high-value approval loop that takes minutes instead of days. BLOG: Crises can arise at any time, and one thing is certain: they will not occur when you expect them to. The way you communicate during this time plays a more significant role than you may realize in overcoming the crisis. Do you have the necessary tools? Discover more in our latest blog post, "The Art of Crisis Communication." About the Guest: Vadim Peskov is the CEO of DIFFCO and an advisor at Alchemist Accelerator, where he helps startups and enterprises translate AI hype into scalable business results. With nearly a decade of expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and product development, he is a sought-after speaker who focuses on the practical implementation of intelligent technology. He is a sought-after expert and speaker who demystifies AI, translating complex concepts into actionable strategies for growth, efficiency, and competitive disruption. Social Handles: Company website: https://diffco.us/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vadimpeskov/ X: https://x.com/vadimpeskov Fun Facts: ✈️ Aviation Enthusiast: A licensed pilot who finds clarity and perspective above the clouds.📸 Exhibited Artist:...

    32 min
  2. How a Disney Leadership Coach Handles a Crisis

    FEB 5

    How a Disney Leadership Coach Handles a Crisis

    Today, the world feels like it's in a constant state of crisis. Every day news seems to destabilize us. We don't need to contribute to that. But how can we maintain clarity in our communication when everything else seems so muddy? In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee sits down with Dr. David Yudis, a leadership psychologist and former head of talent development at Disney. Together, they break down the art of leading under pressure, sharing the simple mental tools and human-first principles that transform you from a reactive participant into a grounded leader who provides calm and clarity. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Grounding Power of “So What?” Discover the simple, two-word tool to immediately center yourself and your message in any high-pressure situation. How to transform reactive panic into a clear, actionable focus for your team by asking, “So what does this mean for us, and what do we do about it?” The Two Leadership Traps in a Crisis Understand why leaders often fail to connect when the pressure is on. The dangers of reactive, emotionally-hijacked communication versus the potential disconnect of appearing “too calm,” and how to find the authentic, grounded middle path. Self-Awareness Before Strategy “What is the message that you are trying to communicate, and to whom, and… how can you best make that connection?” How to cultivate the self-awareness that forms the foundation of emotional intelligence and prevents “stress leakage” that can undermine your leadership over time. The Strength in “I Don’t Know” “Here’s what we know, here’s what we don’t, here’s our next step.” Admitting uncertainty and pairing it with a clear action plan is the ultimate leadership move in an uncertain situation. BLOG: Do you need the right words at the right time? As we all know, this is harder than it looks. However, in critical moments, this skill can mean the difference between sinking and staying afloat. Learn how in our latest blog post, "The Art of Crisis Communication." About the Guest: Dr. David Yudis is a transformational leadership architect who builds executive capability through designed experience. As a licensed clinical psychologist, former Head of Enterprise Executive Development at The Walt Disney Company, and founder of his leadership lab, Potential Selves, he bridges the profound gap between human behavior and high-stakes organizational performance. Guided by a belief that the deepest learning is visceral, not theoretical, he has pioneered a proprietary methodology called "The Game." A co-author of The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change and a Forbes Coaches Council contributor, Dr. Yudis now guides Fortune 500 executives through the ambiguity of capital raises, strategic pivots, and succession challenges. Social Handles: Website: www.davidyudis.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidyudis/ Fun Facts: 🎤 Former Frontman: Was the lead singer for the new wave band New Millennium.🍽️ Curator of Curiosity: Once hosted a dinner that included a world-renowned quantum physicist, an NBA play expert, and an Olympic coach.🗣️ Polyglot:...

    27 min
  3. Why Strategic Partners Will Win the Next Era of Work

    JAN 29

    Why Strategic Partners Will Win the Next Era of Work

    Is the hype surrounding AI heading for a painful reckoning? Cameron Nutter, the CEO of GooseRox Ventures, cuts through conflicting studies and venture capital fervor to provide a clear-eyed view of the immediate costs and long-term potential of AI. In this episode of The Speak In Flow Podcast with Melinda Lee, Cameron reveals why 95% of AI pilots fail and explains why the future belongs to strategic partners, not passive users. In This Episode, You Will Learn: AI's Dual Reality “Artificial intelligence is not a monolith.” How to reconcile the startling data that shows 95% of AI pilots fail (MIT) while 75% of organizations report positive returns (Wharton), and what this means for your strategic investments. Beyond the Hype Cycle to Concrete Value Why the ultimate value of AI isn't in drafting emails, but in “getting it close to the data” to uncover insights and make faster, better strategic decisions, transforming everything from consulting to long-term planning. SMBs and Strategic Adoption “Achieving AI success is hard, but for those that do, the rewards are very significant.” Why the biggest opportunity for AI isn't with tech giants, but with small and medium-sized businesses and non-technical leaders, and how focusing on specific, high-value use cases will win over broad, buzzword-chasing applications. Navigating the VC “Self-Fulfilling Prophecy” “The promise of AI is immense; its costs are real and immediate.” A forecast for the next five years: why the current flood of AI investment may lead to a significant shakeout, and how to spot the enduring companies that solve real problems over those riding a wave of valuation hype. BLOG: The development and implementation of new technologies, along with the organizational changes that accompany them, have led to a period of significant stress. In this context, it is essential to know how to detect burnout in yourself and your team in order to maintain balance and good communication. Learn more in our latest blog post, "Signs of Burnout and how to manage it when there is no time for vacation." About the Guest: Cameron Nutter is a value, sustainability, and impact-focused CEO and board member with a proven track record from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Guided by a core belief in equality, integrity, and results. As the CEO and Managing Partner of GooseRox Ventures, he now channels this experience into guiding startups and investing in the future. A lifelong learner who practices the 'kaizen' philosophy of continuous improvement, Cameron is as dedicated to his community as he is to business. He commits over 200 hours annually to mentorship and volunteering, believing deeply that giving time is as critical as giving capital. Social Handles: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-nutter-381a852/ Website: www.gooseroxventures.com Fun Facts: 🏃 Avid Runner: A dedicated fitness enthusiast who averages 40-50 miles of running per week.💘 A Fateful Meeting: Met his wife almost 20 years ago while they were both volunteering at a soup kitchen near Grand Central Station in NYC. He called his sister that same day to say he'd met the woman he would marry.span class="ql-ui"...

    27 min
  4. “I Had To Leave The Army To Heal" | A Veteran's Guide Communicating Through Burnout

    JAN 22

    “I Had To Leave The Army To Heal" | A Veteran's Guide Communicating Through Burnout

    Burnout is not always loud; sometimes it goes unnoticed until the results show the signs we ignored in our daily performance. For Riley Gruppo, a U.S. Army officer, those signs culminated in a medical retirement due to severe PTSD, a turning point that began a profound journey from survival to purpose. In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast with host Melinda Lee, Riley shares how the “mission-first” mindset of the military taught her to override her own needs until her body and mind forced her to stop. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Courage to Heal & Lead “Vulnerability is the most courageous thing you can do as a leader.” How Riley's journey from a medical retirement due to severe PTSD led her to share her testimony with 200 soldiers, breaking the stigma and proving that healing is a sign of strength, not a career-ender. From "Mission First" to "People First" Why putting the mission ahead of your own well-being is a recipe for burnout, and how leaders can recognize their own red flags, and those of their team, before it’s too late. Creating Space for Magic “Slow down to have intentional mornings.” The critical importance of building intentional space, whether through therapy, vacation, or morning routines, not as a luxury, but as a necessary practice for sustainable success and unexpected opportunities. The Root of Unhappiness: Misalignment “Ultimately, what it boils down to, the unhappiness, the unfulfillment, is not recognizing what makes you as an individual tick. And how you can apply that to be fulfilled in your life.” How doing the “healing work” isn’t enough if you’re in the wrong role or environment. Riley explains the physical and emotional signs of misalignment and the empowering decision to walk away from what looks “perfect on paper.” BLOG: Are you tired, depressed, or burned out? Between juggling deadlines and personal responsibilities, it's easy to get used to putting our mental health on the back burner. However, this can come at a higher cost than you think. Read our latest article, "Signs of Burnout and how to manage it when there is no time for vacation." About the Guest: Riley A. Gruppo is a former U.S. Army Infantry–qualified officer and Public Affairs Company Commander who defied every rule society tried to write for her. After nearly a decade of service, leading soldiers through demanding environments while navigating trauma, stigma, and systems not built for women like her, she was medically retired in 2024. That pivotal moment became the catalyst for her new mission. Today, Riley is a full-time entrepreneur, speaker, and digital storyteller dedicated to transforming her scars into a roadmap for others. She empowers veterans, women, and trauma survivors to move from survival to strength, using raw, cinematic storytelling to break stigmas around mental health and build lives of purposeful leadership. Social Handles: Instagram & TikTok: _rileyavelina Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileygruppo?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Fun Facts: 🐶 Devoted Dog Mom: To a beautiful rescue named Hercules.🥊 Former Fighter: Used to train and compete in MMA.span

    28 min
  5. Is Your Company Being Left Behind by AI?

    JAN 15

    Is Your Company Being Left Behind by AI?

    With the advance of AI software, there are two types of companies today: Those that are already integrating AI into their processes and teams, and those being left behind due to fear. Which one is yours? In this essential episode of the Speak In Flow podcast with Melinda Lee, AI expert and 3x founder Anna Stepura dissects the top fears paralyzing leaders, from job replacement anxiety to decision fatigue. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The 3 Root Causes of AI Resistance Why fear of job replacement, belief that "AI isn't good enough yet," and overwhelming decision fatigue are paralyzing teams and leaders, and how to move past each one. From Task Worker to Strategic Orchestrator “It actually amplifies your job… You can serve 10 clients instead of 1.” How AI shifts the human role from manual execution to high-level strategy and decision-making, turning individual contributors into invaluable strategists. The 10% Experimentation Rule “You have to have at least 10% of your time, capacity, or budget for experimenting.” Why the most innovative leaders aren’t making million-dollar bets, but are running small, smart experiments with existing tools to find their highest ROI use cases. The New Pace of Progress “We would have more events in our lives… We would live a few lives compared to previous generations.” As AI accelerates business cycles and life events, Anna and Melinda discuss why protecting time for silence, reflection, and nervous system recalibration is not a luxury but a leadership necessity. BLOG: We use countless tools at work today, and they collect a large amount of data. AI is being implemented to decipher hidden patterns in this data. But can we trust it? Read our latest article, "How to Unify Data with AI for Strategic Decisions." About the Guest: Originally from Ukraine, Anna Stepura is a Silicon Valley–based 3x founder and AI marketing expert focused on building agentic AI systems for growth. She is the founder and CEO of Adlyse, an AI ads manager that acts like an AI worker for Google Ads. Through her consultancy, Forsify, she helps B2B tech companies systematize demand generation with AI-powered workflows across content. An alum of the prestigious Alchemist Accelerator, Anna previously founded and exited HireGPT, an AI-driven recruitment product. Social Handles: Website (startup): adlyse.com Website: forsify.com LinkedIn: Anna Stepura https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stepura/ YouTube: Anna Stepura https://www.youtube.com/@AnnaStepura Fun Facts: 🤸‍♀️ Practiced competitive gymnastics for 15 years; now a devoted gym and active-lifestyle enthusiast.📚 A serious pescatarian and performance-habits devotee, always deep in a self-development book.🤖 Lives by the product philosophy: “Build an AI teammate, not just a tool.”✈️ Has jumped with a parachute without an instructor. About...

    30 min
  6. Are Your AI Tools Lying to You?

    JAN 8

    Are Your AI Tools Lying to You?

    Are your teams drowning in data but starving for insights? We live in the information era, yet scattered information can lead to catastrophic business decisions. In this episode of Speak In Flow with Melinda Lee, Yan Grinshtein, a veteran design leader and founder of Cepien AI, reveals how AI can finally unify your data to unlock strategic clarity. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Cost of Scattered Data “Employees have more data than ever before, but are less informed than ever before.” How the chain of command in large organizations distills, biases, and obscures critical information, leading to decisions made with incomplete insights. The New Speed of Insight Discover how an AI's platform can connect to a company's entire toolset and transform the traditional 1-3 week insight synthesis process into a 10-minute, live analysis. Supercharging Teams, Not Replacing Them “We save about 41,000 hours a year for an average team of 20 people.” Yan shares research on what teams do with this reclaimed time: finally tackling strategic projects. AI’s Unexpected Strategic Leap “AI will replace people who did not adapt to it.” Unified data insights can bridge the gap between digital feedback and physical product strategy. The goal is to empower your people to do their best strategic work. BLOG: We use countless tools at work today, and they collect a large amount of data. AI is being implemented to decipher hidden patterns in this data. But can we trust it? Read our latest article, "How to Unify Data with AI for Strategic Decisions." About the Guest: Yan Grinshtein is a design leader whose path from homelessness to global career embodies resilience. A three-time immigrant who arrived in New York with $500, he built a 20-year career in human-centered design across multiple continents. Drawing from his international experience, artistic background, and firsthand understanding of overcoming adversity, Yan has led teams, shaped products, and mentored designers worldwide. Now the founder of Cepien AI, he helps teams transform scattered data into clear, strategic insights. Social Handles: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yangrinshtein/ X: https://x.com/yangrin Blog: https://medium.com/@yangrin Personal Website: https://www.yangrinshtein.com/ Company Website: cepien.ai Fun Facts: 🌎 Has lived and worked on three continents, and English is his third language.📮 His design work has been featured on an official Israeli postal stamp.🎨 A former painter who sees data and AI as the next evolution of the creative canvas. About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in...

    27 min
  7. When the Stakes Are Life or Death

    12/18/2025

    When the Stakes Are Life or Death

    Every scientist in a leadership position understands the delicate balance of communication, hierarchy, and data that this environment requires to thrive. Amer Mirza, VP of Disease Biology at biotech Septerna, has mastered this balance, scaling the company from 9 to over 100 employees and steering teams through inflection points of drug discovery. In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast with Melinda Lee, he shares his human-centric framework for leading under extreme pressure. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Four Pillars of High-Functioning Teams Amer shares the non-negotiable framework he uses to guide teams,  establishing a common patient-centric vision, setting SMART goals, clarifying roles and responsibilities to avoid overlap, and creating systems to accurately measure progress. Creating Psychological Safety in a Pressure Cooker “Not every conversation can or should be a high-stakes conversation.” How to foster an environment where team members feel safe to ask “crazy” questions, pressure-test ideas, and communicate openly without fear. The Leader as a Facilitator, Not a Dictator “It’s your job as a leader to be a facilitator of their aspirations.” Amer’s mantra for empowering teams, delegating authority to those closest to the data, and investing in junior scientists by giving them ownership and a safety net to learn and grow. Decision-Making Protocols for Divergent Opinions How to avoid getting bogged down in endless debates by establishing clear strategies for conflict resolution and decision-making before tensions arise. BLOG: As 2026 approaches, all our goals and projections for the coming year are falling into place. But first, we should look back and ask ourselves, “How was my 2025?” Learn to build with intention and treat the next year as your greatest project yet. Read our latest article, "Are You Intentionally Building Your Legacy? A Leader’s Guide for 2026"  About the Guest:  Amer Mirza is a biotech executive with over 20 years of experience leading therapeutic drug discovery and development in both high-growth startups and large pharmaceutical companies. His expertise spans multiple disease areas and drug modalities. He has managed over 40 programs (including 14 IND submissions), contributed to major regulatory filings, and mentored more than 60 scientists, all while authoring numerous patents and publications. Social Handles: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-mirza-972b177/ Fun Facts: 🎨 The Watercolor Strategist: He finds a parallel between the deliberate layers of watercolor painting and the thoughtful, iterative process of scientific discovery.🍳 The Culinary Alchemist: Amer loves combining flavors in the kitchen, viewing cooking as both a creative and precise science.🎶 The Audiophile Archivist: With an extensive vinyl collection, he appreciates the rich, authentic experience of analog sound. About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their...

    30 min
  8. Is It Burnout or Perimenopause? A Functional Medicine Doctor Explains

    12/11/2025

    Is It Burnout or Perimenopause? A Functional Medicine Doctor Explains

    Feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, and like your body is changing in your 40s? Dr. Josée Poulin, a physician turned functional medicine expert, reveals why "normal" lab results don't tell the whole story and shares a holistic path to reclaiming your energy, confidence, and health in midlife.  In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast with Melinda Lee, Josée moves beyond band-aid solutions to explore the root causes of burnout, the transformative power of food and breath, and why healing happens in a state of joy. This episode is a must-listen for any professional woman feeling stuck in cycles of fatigue and overwhelm, ready to build a sustainable, unstoppable foundation for the decades ahead. In This Episode, You Will Learn: A Doctor’s Journey to Root-Cause Healing Josée’s personal story of physician burnout reveals the critical gap in Western medicine: treating symptoms in silos rather than the whole person.  Signs Your Body is Recalibrating “Sleep disturbances, midsection weight gain, and feeling drained all the time are signals, not sentences.” Learn to recognize the key symptoms of hormonal shifts in perimenopause and midlife, and understand why they are a call to action for foundational health, not just a reason to “push through.” Your Foundational Toolkit “Food is medicine, your breath is free, and connection is transformative.” Move beyond quick fixes with Josée’s three pillars for rebuilding resilience: using nutrition as foundational fuel, wielding the 4-7-8 breathing technique for instant calm, and finding a supportive community that believes in your growth. Where Real Healing Happens “Healing doesn’t have to be heavy.” True, lasting health flourishes in a state of safety, calm, and joy. Learn why incorporating fun, laughter, and lightness into your wellness journey is a physiological necessity for your nervous system. BLOG: One of the best ways to avoid burnout is to build a team that knows how to take accountability. Empower your team so that you don't have to carry the load alone, and everyone can lift their own weight. Read our latest article, "Empowering Your Team to Take True Ownership."  This article breaks down the exact, actionable steps to shift from a culture of finger-pointing to one of genuine ownership. About the Guest:  Dr. Josée Poulin is a passionate physician on a mission to transform how women experience midlife. With a foundation in hospital medicine and advanced training in functional and integrative care, she empowers women to take control of their health through personalized, science-backed programs that bridge conventional and holistic medicine. Recognizing the gaps in traditional care, especially around menopause, Dr. Poulin founded The Unstoppable Women’s Academy, a community dedicated to helping women feel strong, vibrant, and confident through midlife and beyond. She is a member of The Menopause Society and the Institute for Functional Medicine, combining the latest medical science with a compassionate, whole-person approach to healing. Social Handles: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_josee_poulin/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josee.poulin.988  LinkedIn: a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jos%C3%A9e-poulin-555335293/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    29 min
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About

How loud is your inner critic? Would you love to silence the inner critic and develop the skills to Speak in Flow? After a decade of studying the state of flow, Melinda Lee has found the actionable and practical steps for heart-centred leaders to develop their communication confidence. Melinda helps leaders like you overcome their fear of public speaking and transform self-doubt into confidence & freedom, so they can exponentially increase their impact with heart and ease. We all have an internal dial of authentic strength, and when we learn to turn it up in spite of our circumstances, people feel and hear us, and our world changes. That is the power of our voice. When we Speak in Flow: · We feel free to be ourselves. · We speak from the heart. · We can connect with our audience · We feel more in alignment with our purpose. · Other people are attracted to us, and more opportunities show up! There are many ways to manifest authority, abundance and influence. What I stand for and love doing is empowering others to get in touch with their heart, tune into their intuition, and communicate their truth. This is Speak in Flow.

Information

  • Creator
    Melinda Lee
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    146
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Melinda Lee
  • Show Website
    Speak In Flow