UNTRAINED

Iris Zimmermann and Whitney Otto

Untrained is a webcast by two elite executive coaches/moms/ recovering Olympians* dedicated to sharing the lessons, tools and skills that are trending in our coaching sessions. Sometimes seriously, more often through laughter, we share the skills and mindsets that are helping our clients find a more aligned and vibrant way of working and living.

  1. Untraining through Internal Family Systems: A Beginner’s Guide to IFS

    JUN 24

    Untraining through Internal Family Systems: A Beginner’s Guide to IFS

    “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” —Rumi Step inside the transformative world of Internal Family Systems (IFS) with Whitney and Iris on the "Untrained" podcast. Joined by IFS experts Barti Bourgault and Guthrie Sayen, co-founders of the Institute for Healing and Awakening, this episode unpacks Dr. Richard Schwartz’s groundbreaking model that’s revolutionizing personal growth, coaching, and therapy. If you are curious about self-discovery, you’ll find practical insights and tools for understanding your inner world and leading your life with greater clarity and compassion.Key Takeaways:IFS’s Three Big Ideas: Discover the foundational concepts that will change how you see yourself and others.Understanding Your Inner “Parts”: Learn how manager parts, protectors, and exiles shape your emotions and behaviors.Accessing Your “Self”: Explore ways to connect with your calm, compassionate core for healing and clarity.Barti Bourgault, PCC and Guthrie Sayen PhD, PCC are the founders of The Institute for Healing and Awakening which offers life-changing training for those seeking to work more deeply in service of healing, presence, and global wellbeing.  https://www.healingandawakening.institute Whitney’s executive coaching is IFS informed.  www.whitneyottocoaching.com Book on IFS: No Bad Parts by Dick Schwartz

    47 min
  2. A Conversation About Slowing Down with Amanda Smith

    MAY 27

    A Conversation About Slowing Down with Amanda Smith

    In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, we sit down with Amanda Smith—former NASA engineer turned coach for high-achieving women navigating chronic illness.We explore what it really means to slow down to speed up healing, and Amanda shares both science-backed tools and deeply personal insights on how to rewire the brain-body connection. Key Takeaways: Functional Neurology 101: How Amanda helps clients retrain their nervous systems for balance and recoveryThe Power of Sound: Humming and singing to stimulate the vagus nerveCurated Playlists: Using music strategically to calm or energizeThe Gutsy Chick Archetypes: Meet the Bruiser, the Brainster, the Stickler, and the Chillster—and how each one relates to healingA real-time reflection on what happens when Iris untrains her habit of going fast through lifeThis episode is a reminder: Slowing down isn’t weakness—it’s a tactical strategy that at some point we will all have to embrace.  Amanda Smith is a former NCAA Division I and Division II softball player and  a trained aerospace engineer who has worked on projects for NASA. Now she helps female high performers with confusing health challenges to identify their unique path to clarity, relief, and optimum performance. GutsyChickQuiz.comBodyWhisperHealing.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@Body.Whisper.Healing https://www.instagram.com/amanda.g.smith/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-ritchie-smith/

    28 min
  3. Why Confidence is Overrated

    APR 17

    Why Confidence is Overrated

    In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, hosts Whitney and Iris are joined by Travis Thomas, a renowned speaker, author, and coach. Together, they challenge the traditional belief that confidence is essential for success and explore why courage and action may be far more impactful. Episode Highlights: Reframing Confidence and Courage: Travis explains why courage often trumps confidence in high-stakes environments. Actions, not feelings, ultimately drive performance.Creating Psychological Safety: Discover how leaders can foster environments where team members feel safe to take risks and grow, a crucial element for high-performing teams.Responding to Uncertainty: Travis shares strategies for focusing on controllable factors like attitude and effort, maintaining a proactive mindset even in unpredictable situations.The Power of Validation: Understand why allowing individuals to express emotions before guiding them toward solutions enhances leadership effectiveness.Pausing for Conscious Choice: Inspired by Viktor Frankl, Travis discusses the importance of pausing between stimulus and response to make thoughtful decisions.Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that redefines confidence and equips you with practical tools for leadership and personal growth. Connect with Travis Thomas and explore his work through his books, Confidence is Overrated and Three Words for Getting Live.If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.

    44 min
  4. A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome

    APR 3

    A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome

    In this episode of the "Untrained" podcast, we welcome Dr. Lisa and Dr. Richard Orbe-Austin to discuss their insightful new book, "Your Child's Greatness: A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome."  The conversation is a treasure trove of strategies for nurturing confidence, resilience, and healthy self-esteem in children, tackling challenges like performance anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressures of toxic academic cultures. Key Concepts: Belonging, Blooming, and Being Introduction to the three-part framework for child development Importance of fostering a sense of belonging independent of achievement Navigating High-Stress Environments Applying book principles to high-pressure situations like competitive sports Strategies for parents to support children in challenging environments Performance Anxiety and Perfectionism Techniques for addressing performance anxiety in children- Understanding the roots and impacts of perfectionism  Building Self-Care Routines Importance of modeling self-care behaviors as parents Strategies for incorporating self-care into children's routines  Toxic Academic and Sports Cultures Addressing challenges in academic and sports environments Encouraging parents to advocate for their children's well-being  Curiosity and Understanding in Parenting Emphasizing the importance of curiosity in understanding children's behaviors Encouraging open communication and data-driven conclusions in parenting  Whether you're a parent, coach, teacher or anyone who works with kids, you'll find valuable wisdom in this episode on fostering resilience and confidence in the next generation. Join us for this enlightening discussion and discover how to foster a nurturing environment where children can truly thrive. For more insights, connect with Dr. Lisa and Dr. Richard Orbe-Austin and explore their book, "Your Child's Greatness." Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and co-founder of Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting. She specializes in career advancement, leadership development, and helping high-potential professionals overcome imposter syndrome. Her expert insights have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, NBC News, and more, and she’s been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Careers. Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and author who specializes in imposter syndrome, leadership development, and workplace well-being. He is a TEDx speaker whose insights have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and more.Together they have written, Own Your Greatness and Your Unstoppable Greatness, and  Your Child's Greatness: A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome.

    46 min
  5. MAR 13

    Untraining from Toxic Productivity with Israa Nasir

    In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, we dive into a conversation that every high performer can likely relate to: Toxic Productivity. We sit down with Israa Nasir, psychotherapist and author of Toxic Productivity, to explore the pervasive mindset in which our self-worth becomes tethered to achievement. We examine the cultural, familial, and emotional roots of this mindset, the rewards and costs it carries, and the long-term impact on our well-being.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The definition of toxic productivityCultural influences that shape our productivity mindsetThe emotional underpinnings that drive overachievementStrategies for untraining from toxic productivityThe role of intentional mediocrity in achieving healthy productivityIsraa shares her personal journey through toxic productivity, provides powerful client examples, and invites us to radically reimagine what productivity truly means. Her approach blends psychological insights with practical strategies, offering a roadmap to breaking free from the achievement treadmill.If you’ve ever felt like you are only as good as your latest accomplishment, this episode is for you. Listen now and start untraining from unconscious toxic productivity. Guest Bio: Iraa Nasir Israa Nasir, MHC-LP, is a New York City-based psychotherapist, writer, and the founder of WellGuide—a digital community for mental health awareness. A Pakistani-Canadian child of immigrants, she has a specific focus on mental health, identity formation and healing for the AAPI first- and second-generation immigrant community. Resources & Links: https://www.israanasir.com/about-israa

    46 min
5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Untrained is a webcast by two elite executive coaches/moms/ recovering Olympians* dedicated to sharing the lessons, tools and skills that are trending in our coaching sessions. Sometimes seriously, more often through laughter, we share the skills and mindsets that are helping our clients find a more aligned and vibrant way of working and living.