Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney

Hosted by Anne Bonney

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Episodes

406

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Let's face it, life is uncomfortable. Whether it's interacting with other humans (or trying to), going after our goals and improving our lives, or understanding other people's perspectives, preferences and proclivities, being able to face the discomforts in life with courage, compassion, confidence and resilience will make life a lot more enjoyable! So join me as we DANCE IN THE DISCOMFORT ZONE! We'll explore new ideas, learn how to build our confidence, courage and resilience, and laugh a little too, because life is serious enough. We need a little cha cha, and a little ha ha every once in a while! Welcome to the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 28, 2026Episode 4079 min

Who the H*ll Made this Scoreboard?

Who the hell made the scoreboard and why are we letting it decide whether we’re winning? After a month of conversations with extraordinary women in sports, one theme kept jumping out at me: we’re really good at letting one narrow outcome determine whether we consider ourselves successful. Olympian Elli Overton (https://www.ellioverton.com/) finished fifth IN THE WORLD and still felt like a failure. Sports broadcasting trailblazer Kate Delaney (https://katedelaneyspeaker.com/) heard hundreds of “no’s” from an industry that wasn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for women. Champion cyclist Traci Brown (https://www.bodylanguagetrainer.com/) never achieved her dream of making the Olympic team—yet raced for Team USA, won national titles and built an extraordinary career. So what happens when we stop letting the medal, promotion, paycheck, title, acceptance or somebody else’s opinion be the only measure of whether we’ve succeeded? In this month-end episode, we’re questioning the damn scoreboard. Because goals matter. Winning matters. Go chase the BIG thing. Just don’t let one outcome erase everything you accomplished along the way. Courtney Clark's episode on quitting: https://ignitingyourcourage.com/blog/2026/06/22/quitters-might-actually-win-with-courtney-clark/ Scott Scovill's episode on never quitting: https://ignitingyourcourage.com/blog/2026/06/19/how-a-college-dropout-ended-up-touring-with-the-rolling-stones-with-scott-scovill/ My wrap up episode of these 2 seemingly contradictory episodes: https://ignitingyourcourage.com/blog/2026/06/29/the-surprising-truth-about-quitting/ Anne Bonney helps people “get on board” with change and gets them moving through the discomfort and into action. Anne Bonney is a change keynote speaker and emcee specializing in the human side of life and work's change, including resistance to change, resilience, emotional intelligence, courageous communication, and change leadership.

September 21, 2026Episode 40640 min

Think You Can Spot a Liar? Your Brain May Disagree | Traci Brown

Think you’re good at spotting a liar? Your own brain might be working against you. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/jm6tURgN0ws Traci Brown (https://www.bodylanguagetrainer.com/) is a three-time U.S. collegiate national cycling champion, former Team USA cyclist, and body language and deception detection expert who has trained alongside law enforcement, and her path to becoming a human lie detector started in one of the most notorious eras of professional cycling. In this episode, Traci takes us inside the world of elite cycling, including racing alongside the generation of athletes that included Lance Armstrong, the complicated reality of doping, and what high-level competition taught her about preparation, persistence, and never freakin quitting. Then we get into the REALLY fun stuff: How do you spot deception? What does body language reveal? And why are we so damn good at rationalizing away evidence that conflicts with what we already believe? Because spotting a liar isn’t just about watching them . Sometimes you need to watch yourself. Anne Bonney helps organizations stop waiting for people to “get on board” with change. She gets them moving through the discomfort and into action and self-accountability. Anne Bonney is a change keynote speaker and emcee specializing in the human side of organizational change, including resistance to change, redefining success, emotional intelligence, courageous communication, and change leadership.

September 14, 2026Episode 40537 min

When Success Still Feels Like Failure | Elli Overton

What happens when you’re one of the best in the world…and still feel like a failure? Three-time Australian Olympic swimmer Elli Overton (https://www.ellioverton.com) knows exactly what that feels like. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/IL56sy9fKS0 At 22, Elli walked into her second Olympics confident, accomplished, and ready to win a medal. She’d built her life around that goal; training, eating, sleeping, sacrificing and visualizing that one race. Then she finished fifth. FIFTH. IN. THE. WORLD. And her brain translated that extraordinary accomplishment into: I’m a failure. In this episode, Elli gets incredibly honest about the dangerous line between pursuing excellence and tying your entire identity and worth to the outcome. We talk about the crushing disappointment of missing the podium the question she still hates being asked the perspective she wishes she’d had as a young elite athlete. Now pursuing a career in mental health, Elli is using those hard-earned lessons to help athletes, parents, coaches, educators and high-performing organizations rethink success and failure. Because there’s a HUGE difference between “I failed at something” and “I am a failure.” How do we chase extraordinary goals, push ourselves to our potential…and still be okay when we don’t get the medal? THAT’S the conversation. Elli Overton is a three-time Australian Olympic swimmer, a mother, a TEDx speaker, and a children’s book author. She is also pursuing licensure as a marriage and family therapist. Through her speaking and consulting, Elli helps individuals, teams, and organizations thrive in life and sport by fostering sustainable excellence through self-awareness, resilience, and healthy perspectives on success and failure. Anne Bonney helps organizations stop waiting for people to “get on board” with change and gets them moving through the discomfort and into action. Anne Bonney is a change keynote speaker and emcee specializing in the human side of organizational change, including resistance to change, seeking excellence and resilience, emotional intelligence, and change leadership.

September 7, 2026Episode 40438 min

500 Rejections. She Did It Anyway | Kate Delaney

What do you do when the world tells you “NO” 500 times? If you’re Kate Delaney (https://katedelaneyspeaker.com/) apparently you keep going until they finally get the hell out of your way. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/U9j2caW-OeE Kate is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, author, speaker, and one of the first women to host a solo nationally syndicated sports talk show. But before the awards, big-name interviews and 700+ locker rooms (yes, there are stories), there were years of rejection, including being flat-out told that women didn’t belong in sports broadcasting. So how do you keep rejection from turning into discouragement, bitterness, or the sneaking suspicion that maybe everyone else is right? THAT’S where this conversation gets juicy. Kate and I talk about what it actually takes to keep betting on yourself when all signs point to Quitsville and how she built the confidence, resilience and tiny-but-mighty army of “raving fans” that helped her break through. We also get into: The spectacularly inappropriate on-air slip that helped Kate WIN an award. Why she stopped telling certain people about her dreams and who she listened to instead. The confidence lesson she learned from watching men claim what they were good at…sometimes before they were actually good at it. Come for the sports. Stay for the glorious reminder that someone else’s “you can’t” does not have to be yours. Anne Bonney helps organizations stop waiting for people to “get on board” with change and gets them moving through the discomfort and into action. She is a change keynote speaker and emcee specializing in the human side of organizational change, including resistance to change, confident change leadership, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

August 31, 2026Episode 40336 min

Curiosity Changes Everything | Lois Barth

When life throws you a curveball, what's your first instinct? Defend yourself? Shut down? Get angry? According to leadership expert Lois Barth (www.loisbarth.com), there's a better option: Get curious. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/4kUmYfmi5go In this episode, Lois shares how curiosity, compassion, connection, and courage can completely transform the way we live, work and interact with others. From overcoming a life-changing eating disorder to helping organizations build healthier workplace cultures, Lois offers practical tools for replacing judgment with curiosity and "being nice" with something far more powerful: genuine kindness. If you've ever struggled with difficult conversations, imposter syndrome, change, conflict, or your own relentless inner critic, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can start using immediately. In this episode: • The difference between being nice and being kind • How to have difficult conversations without damaging relationships • Why disruption can become your greatest teacher • Replacing your inner critic with curiosity and compassion • How healthy workplace cultures are actually built Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Disruption as a Mindset 01:45 Lois Barth's Journey and Philosophy 07:17 The Four C's: Curiosity, Compassion, Connection, and Courage 11:26 Curiosity's Role in Disruption 14:30 Implementing the Four C's in the Workplace 20:34 Creating a Culture of Beautiful Honesty 27:59 The Structure Behind Honest Conversations Want more from Lois? www.loisbarth.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/loisbarth/ Lois works with heart-centered go-getters who crave greater meaning, fulfillment, and impact in their lives by helping them clarify their goals, foster well-being, and be more effective leaders. A term she refers to as Behavioral Wellness Meets professional development. She has been the makeover life coach for SELF Magazine; Fitness Magazine and Fit Blog (Sears) which to date 3 million people registered for. Lois has been quoted and published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and SELF Magazine. Her speaking clients include Capital One Bank, L'Oreal, Women in Banking & Invesco to name a few. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

August 24, 2026Episode 40235 min

Design a Life You Don't Need a Vacation From | Hilary Colvin

What if the life you've been dreaming about...doesn't have to wait until retirement? WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/4NgnzjIF4l4 Hilary Colvin and her husband asked themselves that question, and then did something most people only talk about. They intentionally built careers that let them work from anywhere and then traded their regular ol' home for a camper van (named Lucy!), and that was just the beginning. But this episode isn't about living in a van or on a boat. It's about letting go of the things that quietly keep us stuck. Stuff, schedules, expectations, and the belief that "someday" is guaranteed. We talk about creating space for adventure, building a life around experiences instead of possessions, trusting other humans, and why asking yourself how many "good summers" you have left might completely change your priorities. Whether you dream of traveling the world or simply want to live with more intention, this conversation will challenge the assumptions you've been making about what's possible. Chapters 00:00 Exploring a Life of Adventure 03:00 Transitioning to RV Life 06:08 The Joy of Minimalism 08:45 Lessons from the Road 12:00 Embracing New Experiences 15:02 Highlights of the Journey 18:10 Navigating Work and Adventure 19:31 Growing Together: Relationships on the Road 21:28 The Leap to Sailing: A New Adventure 24:00 Life on the Boat: Surprises and Adjustments 27:52 Community at Sea: Bonds Among Boaters 32:14 Trusting Humanity: The Spirit of Travel Interested in learning more about Hillary? https://colvincpa.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-colvin-cpa/ Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

August 17, 2026Episode 40130 min

What Will They Say? Breaking the Rules We Inherited : Denise Soler Cox

What if some of the rules running your life aren’t actually yours? **WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YouTube: https://youtu.be/ty1VIuHSMDY Award-winning filmmaker, keynote speaker, and author Denise Soler Cox (https://denisesolercox.com/) returns to Dance in the Discomfort Zone with her new book, What Will They Say? , an exploration of the cultural taboos, inherited expectations, and unspoken rules that shape how we live, lead, belong and sometimes hold ourselves back. ** BUY THE BOOK NOW: https://denisesolercox.com/book The book was born after touring with her documentary Being Ñ . After viewing the film, people repeatedly approached her and revealed secrets they’d never told anyone and dreams they were afraid to go after. Denise began noticing a pattern: underneath many of those stories was the same powerful fear... what will people say? While Denise writes through the lens of her Latino perspective, this conversation is wildly universal. Because every culture, family, workplace, and community has rules that encourages hiding things from others to "save face". The fun begins when we start asking whether we still want to follow them. We get into: The surprising “line” that inspired an entire book A cultural phrase that can quietly follow you into your career and life The deeply personal taboo Denise almost didn’t write about What an AP Physics lesson unexpectedly reveals about emotional healing Why breaking a generational cycle may be much simpler than we think More from Denise: https://denisesolercox.com/ https://www.instagram.com/denisesolercox/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisesolercox/ Denise's original appearance here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-182-denise-soler-cox-film-maker-and-expert-in/id1444223443?i=1000560093054 Denise Soler Cox is a cultural excavator — award-winning filmmaker, keynote speaker, and author who goes inside the cultures that shape how we lead, belong, and who we become. Her debut book ¿Qué Dirán? / What Will They Say? (Simon & Schuster, August 2026) uncovers the ten inherited rules keeping us shrinking and shows us how to stop. She’s spoken on 400+ stages, including two TEDx talks, and her podcast The Self-ish Latina has listeners in 32 countries. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

August 10, 2026Episode 40049 min

Stop Trying to Solve Your Life (Start Discovering It) | Dr. Kelsey Miles

Have you ever worked your butt off to build the life you thought you wanted...only to get there and think, "...Wait. Is this it?" Dr. Kelsey Miles (https://www.drkelseymiles.com) knows that feeling firsthand. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/K83AKk4gm7k After earning a PhD in chemistry, she walked away from the career she'd spent years building to become a touring blues musician. Today, she's somehow both and she's discovered that science and creativity aren't opposites at all. In this fascinating conversation, we explore why so many of us treat life like a problem to solve instead of an experiment to run, how curiosity beats certainty, and why the scientific method might be one of the best tools for navigating change, uncertainty, and personal growth. If you've ever felt stuck, questioned your path, or wondered whether you're becoming the person you actually want to be, this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00 Dancing in the Discomfort Zone 03:10 From Chemistry to Music: A Journey of Self-Discovery 05:48 The Power of Music in Healing 08:57 Finding Common Ground Through Music 11:54 The Intersection of Science and Art 15:04 Embracing Change and New Opportunities 23:10 Redefining Success and Personal Discovery 30:09 Embracing Change and Continuous Growth 37:04 Navigating Discomfort and Life's Challenges 44:59 The Science of Experimentation in Life Want more from Dr Kelsey? https://www.drkelseymiles.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamkelseymiles https://www.youtube.com/@iamkelseymiles https://www.instagram.com/iamkelseymiles https://www.facebook.com/iamkelseymiles Music: kelseymiles.com Dr. Kelsey Miles invites audiences to stop treating life like a problem to solve and start approaching it as something to discover. Through live science and live music, she shows people how to read the signal, cut through the noise, and make decisions that feel more aligned with who they are becoming. She is the 2026 Professor of the Year at Avila University in Kansas City. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

July 31, 2026Episode 39812 min

Finding Your Voice in a World Full of Noise | July Wrap-Up

July was Voice Month on Dancing in the Discomfort Zone , and what started as four completely different conversations turned out to have one beautiful common thread: Your voice is how people experience you, and especially today...that matters! As Anne (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com) celebrates another trip around the sun (Happy Birthday Anne!), she reflects on the lessons shared by John Di Domenico, Joshua Seth, Hilary Blair, and Beth Z and explores why our voices matter now more than ever. In a world filled with AI, deepfakes, curated social media personas, and constant noise, authenticity has become one of our greatest superpowers. In This Episode, We Talk About: Why your voice is far more than just the sound coming out of your mouth How authenticity and human connection are becoming more valuable in the age of AI The ways your voice builds trust, relationships, and influence Why intentional communication matters more than being louder How to think about the "flowers" you're leaving in your footsteps Questions to Consider How do people experience you? Are you using your voice intentionally? What stories are you telling? What truths are you willing to speak? What kind of ripples are you creating? As Anne enters her 52nd year, she offers a powerful reminder: Maybe the goal isn't to be louder or more impressive. Maybe it's simply to use the voice we've been given to leave people feeling seen, heard, and a little bit better for having crossed our path. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

July 27, 2026Episode 39733 min

Someone Can Steal Your Voice Now (Here's How to Protect Yourself) | Beth Z

What if your voice wasn’t actually… your voice? In this eye-opening (and occasionally hilarious) episode, Anne welcomes back tech expert and self-proclaimed “nerdy best friend” Beth Z (YourNerdyBestFriend.com) for a fascinating conversation about AI voice cloning, deepfakes, and why your authentic voice may be more valuable than ever. From AI-generated songs to scary scams, Beth explains what’s possible today, and most importantly, what we all need to know to stay safe. Spoiler alert: Beth cloned Anne’s voice for the intro, and it’s just weird enough to make you question everything. In This Episode, We Talk About: The fun side of AI-generated songs, content, and creativity The frightening ways scammers are using cloned voices Why everyone need a “safe word” How to protect yourself from deepfakes and AI impersonation Why skepticism and human connection matter more than ever The truth about detecting AI-generated audio and video Connect with Beth: YourNerdyBestFriend.com Beth Z, “Your Nerdy Best Friend,” helps people make sense of emerging technology with humor, practicality, and zero jargon. She explores the tools shaping our future and teaches audiences how to use technology wisely while staying safe and human. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.