Welcome to the very first episode of The Grounded CEO. Most leadership advice starts with strategy. This show starts somewhere else — with the mind, the body, and the spirit of the person running the business. In this premiere, host Shayna Renee sits down with three women who each carry one piece of that foundation. Cantiese Burrell brings the mind. Kelly Johnson brings the body. Ticki Favaroth brings the spirit. Together they answer the question the whole season is built on: what does it actually mean to be grounded as a CEO? The conversation moves through all four parts of RISE — reveal the truth, intend to heal, sync with rhythm, and embody love. You'll hear: Why grounding isn't a one-time achievement, and why every new level of growth requires a new pot, new soil, and a willingness to let some things fall awayThe four practices Ticki has used for a decade to tell the difference between her own strategy and what God is actually saying, including her annual three-day planning retreat and her yearly month-long sabbaticalKelly's story of entering somatic work to save her marriage, and what she found insteadWhy high-achieving leaders so often carry unprocessed trauma, and how the nervous system quietly runs your decisions before strategy ever gets a voteHow to do a body scan, why the hips hold grief, and what to do when your body speaks and you don't yet know the languageCantiese on why you don't have to excavate your entire past to heal — you just have to clean up the wreckage, starting with your triggersThe difference between boundaries as a wall and boundaries as a front doorWhere love and accountability collide in leadership, and what it cost Ticki to lead with love without protecting the whole ecosystemWhy three minutes of putting yourself first is a legitimate place to beginIf you've built something that looks good on paper but doesn't feel good in your body, this one is for you. GUESTS Cantiese Burrell — Licensed clinical social worker, empowerment leader, and founder of Living My Worth. For more than 20 years she has helped Black women tell the truth, heal, and reclaim their worth. Ask her about the Me Moment book. https://livingmyworth.com Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn: Cantiese Burrell | Living My Worth Kelly Johnson — Senior HR professional and trauma-informed somatic coach. Her work helps leaders understand what the body has been holding, what the nervous system has been carrying, and what it means to lead in an embodied way. https://kellynicolecoaching.com LinkedIn: Kelly Johnson Ticki Favaroth — Faith-driven CEO, strategist, founder, and legacy builder whose work sits at the intersection of business, purpose, excellence, and spiritual discernment. https://www.hrandco.com (human capital practice) https://www.tickifavaroth.com (wisdom table practice) ABOUT THE SHOW The Grounded CEO is a Zerlo Network original. Being a grounded CEO isn't a title — it's a practice. The practice of telling the truth sooner, healing with intention, honoring your rhythm, listening to your body, trusting your spirit, and embodying love in the way you lead, build, decide, rest, repair, and rise. This season sits inside the real tensions entrepreneurs face: the endings, the pivots, the grief, the pressure, the relationships, the family decisions, the empathy, the faith, and the success that looks good on paper but doesn't always feel good in your body. DISCLAIMER Before we close, a gentle note: the conversations on The Grounded CEO are here to educate, inspire, and open up meaningful reflection. We talk about healing, leadership, mental health, relationships, and growth, but this show is not therapy and should not replace care from a licensed mental health professional. I'm an executive leadership coach, not a licensed therapist. This podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. So please take what supports you, honor what comes up, and reach out for professional care if you need it. I'll see you in the next episode. Thank you for being part of this conversation. Watch The Grounded CEO and every Zerlo Network favorite on demand, anytime. Download the free Zerlo Network TV app on Roku or Amazon Fire TV. Zerlo Network is streaming 24/7, ready to help you make it possible.
