YOUmanize™ Your Brand

Joshua B. Lee and Rachel B. Lee
  • 5.0 (19)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to YOUmanize™ Your Brand, a podcast for business professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, business owners and creators who want to bring the YOUman back into branding, business, and life. We've spent years helping brands and leaders scale, hit revenue goals, and grow their influence and learned something along the way: growth without authenticity doesn’t last. That’s why YOUmanize™ exists. We believe that brand trust is the only currency that matters in the AI era. Our mission is simple, help you grow your voice, earn real trust, and build success without losing your soul.

  1. 6D AGO

    Is Working With Your Partner a Power Move or a Risk? What Actually Works and What Breaks

    What if love, business, and identity collide? In this candid, funny, and deeply practical episode, we pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a company with your spouse, without losing your marriage, your sanity, or your identity. From joking about “Love and Marriage” (yes, the Married… with Children reference) to the real stats behind spouse-owned businesses in the United States, Rachel and Josh share the hard-earned lessons they’ve learned while building Standout Authority and launching the YOUmanize™ brand together. Rachel opens up about leaving Gartner in 2021, how “I vs. we” language affected their partnership, and why boundaries, role clarity, and emotional check-ins matter even more when work and home are fully integrated. They also get real about parenting while running multiple businesses, the pressures of being “providers,” masculine/feminine dynamics, communication frameworks (the “WIN” formula), and why social media can create unrealistic relationship expectations. We explore: 🟠 Working with your spouse (pros, cons, and truth) 🟠 US stats: 10% spouse-run, 11% jointly owned 🟠 “I statements vs we statements” in business 🟠 Leaving Gartner (2021) + building Standout Authority 🟠 Human Design + astrology in relationships 🟠 Boundaries, date nights, and hard conversations 🟠 Communication: the “WIN” formula (what happened / I feel / I need) TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (02:10) Marriage, work, and entrepreneurship realities (03:36) Spouse-owned business statistics explained (05:16) Leaving Gartner to build together (06:55) Power struggles in business marriages (08:39) Defining partner vs spouse roles (10:15) Masculine and feminine energy balance (12:27) ADHD, human design, astrology insights (14:21) Pressure of leadership and money (16:44) Parenting, sickness, business deadlines collide (18:12) Protector energy and family dynamics (20:16) Social media vs real relationships (22:10) Communication framework for conflict (23:22) Date nights, boundaries, staying connected (25:37) Advice for entrepreneurial couples Download the 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide here → https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals Get started with the Brand Launchpad → https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad

    28 min

  2. FEB 3

    Why Isn’t Your Audience Listening? Attention spans are 2.9 seconds, storytelling beats AI

    What if your voice is exactly what the world needs right now, but you’ve been holding it back? In this unfiltered episode, we sit down with Sara Connell, 5x bestselling author and founder of Thought Leader Academy, for a powerful conversation on storytelling, thought leadership, AI, and building influence with integrity. Sara shares the personal story behind the book that saved her life and the moment in a Boston airport that changed everything. She explains why authentic human expression, not polished perfection, is the future of branding. She opens up about surviving toxic corporate environments, facing mental health struggles, and redefining influence in the age of AI. This conversation challenges creators, leaders, and entrepreneurs to trust their lived experience, reclaim their voice, and lead movements that truly matter. We also talk about transparency in book launches, the myth of overnight success, and the real cost of visibility, including seven-figure ad spends. If you’re building a brand, writing a book, speaking on stages, or working with AI without losing your soul, this episode is required listening. We explore: 🟠 Humanized branding vs AI sameness 🟠 Trust recession and trust as currency 🟠 How to create original intellectual property 🟠 Why “ready” isn’t a feeling, it’s a decision 🟠 Times Square book ads and transparency 🟠 Confidence gap: women underestimate, men overestimate 🟠 Leveraging a book after launch for long-term growth TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:00) Meet Sara Connell, bestselling author (02:57) Visual identity and authentic presence (05:09) The book that saved her life (06:49) Boston airport turning point (08:06) Leaving corporate survival mode (14:46) Trust recession and AI noise (15:48) $4M ad spend transparency lesson (21:20) Attention spans shrinking to 2.9 seconds (22:59) Gamma Group and creative brain training (26:20) Thought leaders vs real influence (29:39) Original ideas versus derivative content (38:42) Confidence gap and earned credibility (43:47) When your story must be shared Download the 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide here → https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals Get started with the Brand Launchpad → https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad Connect With Sara Connell Website: https://saraconnell.com Best-Selling Books: https://saraconnell.com/books Thought Leader Academy: https://saraconnell.com/thought-leader-academy The stories, lessons, and strategies shared are for educational and inspirational purposes only. Your journey is unique, and nothing shared is a promise or guarantee of outcomes. Copyright © 2025 Rachel B. Lee, Joshua B. Lee & YOUmanize™ Your Brand. All rights reserved.

    47 min

  3. JAN 27

    Why Does Trust Drive More LinkedIn Growth Than Impressions or Leads?

    What if growth is not about more leads, but better relationships? In this episode of Humanize Your Brand, Rachel and Joshua break down why niche audiences outperform broad ones on platforms like LinkedIn. They discuss how automation and demand generation pushed brands toward volume, often at the cost of trust.  Josh reframes lead generation as asking for more work instead of building a connection. Rachel explains how modern data allows deeper personalization. They also explore why people are shifting from dopamine-driven content toward oxytocin-driven trust and bonding. A playful AI sticker box example shows how specificity attracts the right audience. We explore: 🟠 Riches are in the niches (not more followers) 🟠 “1,000 true fans” focus 🟠 LinkedIn engagement over follower count 🟠 Psychographic + demographic targeting mix 🟠 Trust signals, neurotransmitters, and flow state 🟠 Dopamine with intention equals connection 🟠 Why “leads” often mean more work 🟠 Personal brand clarity and beta users EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS WITH TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Meet Rachel and Joshua B. Lee (01:55) AI sticker box proves audience hooks (05:40) Who are your 1,000 people? (10:45) Conversations beat reach and leads (12:18) “Seeker” targeting via Sales Navigator (15:05) Dopamine vs oxytocin trust shift (23:54) General market TV vs niche shows (29:03) Share, subscribe, grab free guide External link mentioned: Download the 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide here → https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals Get started with the Brand Launchpad → https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad The stories, lessons, and strategies shared are for educational and inspirational purposes only. Your journey is unique, and nothing shared is a promise or guarantee of outcomes. Copyright © 2025 Rachel B. Lee, Joshua B. Lee & YOUmanize™ Your Brand. All rights reserved.

    29 min

  4. JAN 20

    Is Your LinkedIn Profile Ranking in Google, Even If You Haven’t Updated It in Years?

    Is your profile visible? In Episode 19 of YOUmanize™ Your Brand, let us break down why your LinkedIn profile SEO is no longer optional in a zero-click world. We will unpack Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), how Google indexes LinkedIn, and why your profile can show up as a top result even if you have not updated it in years. You will hear how Microsoft-owned LinkedIn connects to Copilot, why OpenAI and ChatGPT influence discovery, and how your profile can get surfaced in Gemini when you build real authority. From E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) to the tactical build of your headline (220 characters) and About section (2600 characters), this episode is a practical guide for founders, creators, and executives who want their personal brand to be the answer. We explore: 🟠 Why LinkedIn ranks fast in Google search 🟠 AEO and the shift to zero click results 🟠 Entity clarity, authority, recency, accessibility 🟠 E-E-A-T signals and credibility associations 🟠 Writing your About like a story 🟠 The XYZ headline framework 🟠 Recommendations, skills, and clean URLs TIMESTAMPS( 00:00) Why your LinkedIn profile matters (01:52) Google indexes LinkedIn insanely fast (02:37) Zero-click search and AEO (04:18) Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini indexing (09:45) E-E-A-T explained for trust (16:23) Build About section from origin (25:38) 220-character XYZ headline formula (35:15) Clean URL, recommendations, skills pay Download the 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide here → https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals Get started with the Brand Launchpad → https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad The stories, lessons, and strategies shared are for educational and inspirational purposes only. Your journey is unique, and nothing shared is a promise or guarantee of outcomes. Copyright © 2025 Rachel B. Lee, Joshua B. Lee & YOUmanize™ Your Brand. All rights reserved.

    39 min

  5. JAN 13

    DO YOU TRUST YOUR BRAND? Trust, AI, and Alignment in 2026

    What happens when technology moves faster than integrity? In this episode of YOUmanize™ Your Brand, Joshua B. Lee and Rachel B. Lee examine how rapid AI adoption is reshaping credibility and presence online. They unpack the growing disconnect between digital perception and internal truth, and why that gap is becoming harder to hide.  This conversation moves beyond tactics and performance metrics and focuses on alignment, values, and long-term reputation. As 2026 approaches, the brands that last will not be the most visible or polished, but the ones rooted in consistency and honesty. If you are rethinking how you show up in an automated world, this episode offers clarity worth hearing. What we cover: Why trust is at an all-time low and what that means for personal brands Why you will never come off authentic and trustworthy if you are trying to fake it The difference between being trusted by others and trusting yourself How misalignment quietly erodes credibility and connection Calling people out publicly vs staying honest when it actually matters Why a single voice is still powerful in a noisy digital world How a personal brand can accelerate or completely damage a company The deeper trust test: would the people closest to you believe what you put online What real consistency looks like when values, boundaries, and alignment lead TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trust is at an all time low and why AI is accelerating everything (00:34) Why you will never come off authentic if you are faking it (00:58) The real question: can you trust your own personal brand (02:00) The authenticity illusion and exaggerated personal brand stories (05:34) Trend hopping and why AI is going to flush everybody out (07:56) Calling people out vs staying honest without the spotlight (10:09) Why a single voice is still incredibly powerful (13:11) Personal brand as the force that can build or ruin a company (15:26) The deeper test: would your kids trust your personal brand (21:20) Why values and alignment beat status and money (31:20) Final takeaway: alignment, consistency, and showing up in your true voice 👉 Get our 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide: https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals 👉 Want to attract, engage and convert your audience without selling? https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad Copyright © 2025 Rachel B. Lee, Joshua B. Lee & YOUmanize™ Your Brand. All rights reserved.

    33 min

  6. JAN 6

    Renowned Neuroscience Doctor Reveals How Parents Can Regulate the Nervous System and Raise Calm Kids

    In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Dr. Brooke Weinstein, occupational therapist and neuroscience-based nervous system expert. She is the founder of a radically different approach to regulation, parenting, and mental health. Dr. Brooke shares her journey from working inside a broken medical model to building and later stepping away from a successful pediatric clinic. She opens up about grief, raising neurodivergent children, and redefining what real nervous system support looks like for parents, leaders, and high-achieving families. This conversation goes beyond surface-level burnout advice. We break down what dysregulation really is, why most quick fixes fail, how fight-or-flight becomes a lifestyle, and why parents must regulate themselves before they can truly support their children. Brooke also shares how she built a trusted personal brand through credibility, lived experience, and unapologetic authenticity. If you are a parent, entrepreneur, or leader trying to function in an overstimulated world, this episode will challenge how you think about mental health, productivity, and success. We explore: 🟠 Why the medical and mental health systems often fail families 🟠 What nervous system dysregulation really looks like in adults and kids 🟠 Parenting yourself before parenting your children 🟠 Fight-or-flight, burnout, and the myth of quick regulation hacks 🟠 Raising neurodivergent and anxious kids in a hyper-stimulated world 🟠 Building a credible, human-centered personal brand online 🟠 Grief, resilience, and creating a business that supports real life TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Welcome to Humanize Brand (01:16) Meet Dr. Brooke Weinstein (03:52) Why medicine failed families (05:23) Building a pediatric clinic (08:56) Parenting starts with parents (09:39) Teaching adult nervous systems (10:01) Therapy alone isn’t enough (13:02) Burnout and dysregulation language (17:19) Fight-or-flight explained simply (21:40) Trauma and survival response (24:02) Brain retraining through repetition (28:44) Parents before treating children (35:01) Wellness marketing misinformation risks (45:17) Building sustainable business boundaries Real growth starts when we stop overriding our nervous systems and start listening to them. Regulation isn’t a hack. It’s a practice—and it changes everything. Download the 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide here → https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals Get started with the Brand Launchpad → https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad → Learn more about Dr. Brooke Weinstein and her work: https://drbrookeweinstein.com → Listen to Thrive Like A Parent Podcast: https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast → Take the Free Burnout Parenthood Quiz: https://t2dmd6be0g3.typeform.com/to/hyLUuAh5 The stories, lessons, and strategies shared are for educational and inspirational purposes only. Your journey is unique, and nothing shared is a promise or guarantee of outcomes. Copyright © 2025 Rachel B. Lee, Joshua B. Lee & YOUmanize™ Your Brand. All rights reserved

    50 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    Will AI Replace Humans? Personal Branding, AEO, and the Future of Work in 2026

    In this episode of YOUmanize™ Your Brand, Rachel B. Lee and Joshua B. Lee go deep on the evolution of personal branding. Where it’s been, where it’s going, and why authenticity is now your greatest competitive edge. We unpack what’s shifting in 2026 and beyond, especially with AI, AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and the growing need for real, raw human connection in a noisy digital world. This is not about follower counts or viral hacks; this is about building trust and standing in your truth. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a personal brand that actually converts, connects, and makes a difference, this episode breaks it down. What we cover:  Why personal branding is no longer optional (even in corporate)  How AI and AEO are changing the way trust is built online  Rachel’s shift from corporate to entrepreneur and why your origin story matters  Why it’s time to be more vulnerable if you want to stand out  The right kind of polarizing content  How to train your AI persona the human-first way  The difference between broadcasting and truly connecting  Superpower questions to define your unique voice and value  Why your story, not your title, is what inspires real action EPISODE TIMESTAMPS (02:52) AI, AEO and the rise of human-first branding (06:17) Personal brand vs. business brand: how to scale the right way (11:57) Connection and building trust through a real human lense (14:42) Standing in your truth and what is a personal brand?(17:40) Vulnerability is your new personal branding superpower (21:07) AI personas: how to get it right and stop blending in (26:07) LinkedIn profiles as your most underrated story tool 👉 Get our 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide: https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals 👉 Ready to attract, engage and convert without selling? https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad If this episode sparked something in you, share it with someone who's building a brand with soul. Subscribe for more conversations on AI, marketing, and human-first growth. © 2025 Rachel B. Lee, Joshua B. Lee & YOUmanize™ Your Brand. All rights reserved.

    32 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    AI and Marketing Jobs in 2026 | SEO to AEO Explained | Joshua B. Lee| Rachel B. Lee

    In this episode of YOUmanize™Your Brand, Rachel B. Lee and Joshua B. Lee break down what AI really means for marketing jobs, trust, and visibility as we head toward 2026. From “SEO to AEO” (Answer Engine Optimization) to why sloppy AI use is quietly killing credibility, this is a grounded conversation about staying human in an AI-saturated world. You’ll learn:  • Which marketing roles are most at risk - and which skills become irreplaceable • Why AI should assist humans, not replace them • SEO → AEO: how to become the answer inside AI tools • The hidden trust damage caused by lazy AI emails and content • Why organic, human-first marketing matters more than ever • How trust is built one “marble” at a time • Why AI is an instrument (like a paintbrush), not the artist If this episode sparks something for you, share it with someone building a brand with heart. 👉 Get our 3 Hidden LinkedIn Signals Guide: https://standoutauthority.com/3hiddensignals👉 Want to attract, engage and convert your audience without selling? https://standoutauthority.com/brandlaunchpad EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro - Why everyone’s exhausted by “AI everything” 00:03:40 Are marketing jobs disappearing? 00:05:45 Robots, investment, and where this is really heading 00:12:57 Why AI emails are getting people in trouble 00:18:39  AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and the future of organic visibility in AI 00:24:27 The marble metaphor for trust 00:29:42 AI as an instrument, not the system 00:31:06 Final thoughts + next steps

    32 min
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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Welcome to YOUmanize™ Your Brand, a podcast for business professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, business owners and creators who want to bring the YOUman back into branding, business, and life. We've spent years helping brands and leaders scale, hit revenue goals, and grow their influence and learned something along the way: growth without authenticity doesn’t last. That’s why YOUmanize™ exists. We believe that brand trust is the only currency that matters in the AI era. Our mission is simple, help you grow your voice, earn real trust, and build success without losing your soul.

Information

  • Creator
    Joshua B. Lee and Rachel B. Lee
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Joshua B. Lee and Rachel B. Lee
  • Show Website
    YOUmanize™ Your Brand