Leaders Lead Even When It Hurts

Hosted by Tony Taylor

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168

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Leaders Lead Even When It Hurts is a show about the real moments that shape us. Every week Tony Taylor sits with people who have lived through something hard and came out changed. Caregivers, creators, entrepreneurs, survivors. People in the messy middle who kept going even when it hurt. These conversations are raw, honest, and unscripted. We talk about the moments that broke you open, the choices that changed everything, and the strength you didn’t know you had. If you’re carrying a lot and trying to stay true to yourself while you build

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October 19, 20261 hr 11 min

Candidate for Mason County Commissioner, District 3 | Miguel Gutierrez | On The Record™

Miguel Gutierrez, a Shelton City Councilmember and candidate for Mason County Commissioner, District 3, joins Tony Taylor for a wide-ranging conversation on On The Record. Gutierrez talks about why he entered public service, his experience on the Shelton City Council, and why he believes he can take what he has learned at the city level and bring it countywide. Pasted text The conversation covers housing affordability and development, healthcare access, the Mobile Integrated Health Program, public safety and privacy concerns surrounding Flock cameras, the influence of money in politics, community engagement, and his concerns about the future of democracy. Pasted text Miguel also discusses working across political differences, his belief in being accessible to voters regardless of party, and his message of “housing, healthcare, and hope” and “peace, love, and justice.” Toward the end of the conversation, he challenges voters to stay engaged, hold elected officials accountable, and even vote him out if he fails to do what he promises. His closing message centers on keeping the American Dream and representative democracy alive through participation, community, and voting.

October 16, 20261 hr 20 min

Washington State Representative Candidate Terry Carlson | On The Record™

Terry Carlson is the Democratic candidate for Washington State Representative in the 19th Legislative District, Position 2. In this episode of On The Record, Terry talks about growing up in Washington timber country, working as a logger, organized labor, affordability, rural healthcare, education, taxes, jobs, and why he decided to run again for office. We also talk about the increasingly personal nature of the race, his opponent Joel McEntire, and questions that surfaced around court, CPS, and law-enforcement records from Terry’s past. Terry was given the opportunity to respond directly and explain his side on the record. This conversation is not an endorsement. On The Record exists to give voters a chance to hear directly from the people asking for their vote and make their own decision. Subscribe to Leaders Lead and On The Record so you don’t miss upcoming candidate interviews.

October 16, 20261 hr 13 min

Candidate for WA State Representative, Kevin Moynihan | 19th LD, Position 1 | On The Record

I sat down with Kevin Moynihan for a full On The Record™ conversation about why he’s running for Washington State Representative in the 19th Legislative District, Position 1. Kevin currently serves on the Aberdeen City Council and describes himself as a working-class person who decided to run after seeing the struggles facing his neighbors and communities throughout the district. We talked about rural healthcare, hospitals closing, people having to travel long distances for specialty care, schools, affordability, economic development, mental health and addiction services, and what he believes rural Washington needs from Olympia. We also talked about how he would represent a district made up of very different communities. Kevin said that means actually going to places like Vader and Pe Ell, talking to people who may otherwise feel overlooked, holding town halls, and making himself available instead of expecting everyone to come to Olympia. We got into his approach to political parties, why he says the district would come before party loyalty, healthcare, economic development, environmental issues, accountability, and what he wants voters to be able to hold him accountable for if he’s elected. One of the reasons I created On The Record™ was to give voters more than campaign signs, mailers, ads, and short clips. I want people to hear the longer conversation, get a feel for the person behind the campaign, and make up their own minds. Watch the full conversation and let me know what stood out to you. Powered by the Leaders Lead Network#KevinMoynihan, #WA19, #OnTheRecord, #WashingtonPolitics, #RuralHealthcare, #AberdeenWA, #LongviewWA, #VaderWA, #PeEllWA, #GraysHarbor, #LewisCounty, #CowlitzCounty

October 15, 20261 hr 14 min

State Rep. Tarra Simmons | From Prison to the Washington Legislature

Title: State Rep. Tarra Simmons | Washington's 23rd Legislative District | On The Record Washington State Representative Tarra Simmons joins me for a conversation on On The Record . Tarra represents Washington's 23rd Legislative District, Position 1, and is running for reelection. We talk about her journey to becoming a state representative, the experiences that shaped her, and the work she's doing in Olympia. Our conversation covers criminal justice reform, housing, healthcare, working across party lines, and legislation involving PANS/PANDAS, an issue that's especially personal to my family. We also get into the challenges of public service, what she's learned during her time in office, and why she believes voters should send her back to Olympia. One of the things I enjoy about these long-form conversations is getting beyond the campaign signs, talking points, and political arguments to learn more about the person behind the title. That's what On The Record is about. Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself. On The Record is produced by Leaders Lead Media and hosted by me, Tony Taylor. Conversations with candidates and elected officials are intended to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from them. An interview does not constitute an endorsement. #OnTheRecord #TarraSimmons #WashingtonPolitics #WA23 #LeadersLead

October 2, 202655 min

Washington State Senate Candidate Tamara Stramel

Tamara Stramel is running for Washington State Senate in Washington’s 31st Legislative District. She is certified to appear in the 2026 general election. WA Secretary of State In this episode of On The Record, Tamara talks about the experiences that shaped her, why she decided to step from working behind the scenes in politics into becoming a candidate herself, and what she’s hearing from voters across the district. We talk about affordability, transportation and infrastructure, public education, healthcare, Washington’s tax system, gun policy, political participation, and what she believes accessibility and accountability should look like from an elected official. On The Record: isn’t here to tell you who to vote for. Listen to the conversation. Compare the answers. Decide for yourself. Because informed voters build stronger communities.

September 27, 202651 min

Healing From Narcissistic Abuse: Trauma, Chronic Pain & Reclaiming Yourself

What happens after you recognize narcissistic abuse? How do you actually begin healing? In this episode of Leaders Lead, Tony Taylor sits down with narcissistic abuse recovery coach Adriana Bucci, founder of Let’s Get Your Shift Together , for an honest conversation about narcissistic abuse, trauma, chronic pain, survival mode, boundaries, people-pleasing, and reclaiming yourself. Adriana shares her own experience growing up with a narcissistic mother and spending years struggling with chronic pain, anxiety, people-pleasing, and few boundaries before beginning the healing journey that changed her life. Together, Tony and Adriana explore the emotional patterns that can keep people stuck, including guilt, shame, fear, gaslighting, love bombing, devaluation, fight-or-flight, freeze and fawn responses, and the difficulty of setting boundaries after years of conditioning. But this conversation isn't just about identifying narcissistic behavior. It's about what comes next. How do you stop living in survival mode? How do you set boundaries without being consumed by guilt? How do you reconnect with yourself? And what does healing look like when you've spent years taking care of everyone else's emotions while ignoring your own? Adriana also shares her personal experience with chronic pain and the mind-body approaches she says played an important role in her recovery. If you've experienced narcissistic abuse, emotional manipulation, people-pleasing, chronic stress, difficult family relationships, or simply feel like you've lost pieces of yourself along the way, this conversation is about finding your way back. Subscribe to Leaders Lead for more conversations about leadership, healing, mental health, resilience, relationships, and the experiences that shape us. Disclaimer: This episode includes personal experiences and discussion of trauma, mental health, chronic pain, and mind-body approaches. It is provided for educational and informational purposes and is not medical or mental health treatment. Chronic pain can have many causes, and listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals regarding their individual circumstances.

September 25, 202650 min

Congressional Candidate Alex Scheel: From Combat Veteran to Anti-War Activist

Alex Scheel is a combat veteran, organizer, Democratic Socialist, and candidate for Congress in Washington’s 10th Congressional District. Alex was a late addition to this episode, and I’m glad we had the opportunity to talk. In this conversation, Alex shares how his experiences serving in Army intelligence and deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan changed the way he understood war. He talks about one experience in particular, sitting across from a young Iraqi man and hearing how the war had affected his family and his life. Alex says those experiences eventually helped lead him from soldier to anti-war activist. We also talk about his work with the Democratic Socialists of America, organizing around housing and workers’ rights, and what democratic socialism actually means to him. Alex doesn't shy away from some of the bigger issues either. We get into Medicare for All, housing affordability, U.S. military spending, Israel and Gaza, and why ending U.S. involvement in overseas wars is such a major part of his campaign. The conversation also gets personal. We talk about mental health, loss, and why politics ultimately affects real people and real families. Alex shares the loss of his sister to an overdose and his best friend to suicide, and why those experiences matter to him. I’m looking forward to learning more about Alex’s journey, especially how he went from serving in the military to becoming an organizer and activist. This conversation is not an endorsement of Alex Scheel or his campaign. On The Record™ gives candidates an opportunity to share their stories, positions, and perspectives in their own words. Listen to Leaders Lead Podcast on all major podcast platforms. #OnTheRecord #AlexScheel #WA10 #WashingtonPolitics #Congress #Veterans #AntiWar #DemocraticSocialism #LeadersLeadPodcast

September 24, 20261 hr 19 min

Candidate for WA State Representative, 31st Legislative District | Stephen Szczurko-Walton

Candidate for WA State Representative, 31st Legislative District, Stephen Szczurko-Walton joins On The Record™ for a long-form conversation about his background, military service, leadership, and the issues shaping his campaign. The conversation covers healthcare, affordability, Washington’s tax structure, artificial intelligence, corporate money in politics, rural transportation, climate policy, and public trust in government. Szczurko-Walton also discusses his nine and a half years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear reactor operator and what he says he is hearing from voters across the district. On The Record™ gives voters the opportunity to hear directly from the people asking for their vote, beyond the campaign ads, headlines, and soundbites. Watch the full conversation and make up your own mind.

September 22, 20261 hr 7 min

Candidate for Congress, WA-03: Troy Rasband:

Troy Rasband joined me for On The Record to talk about why he decided to run for Congress in Washington's 3rd Congressional District and the issues driving his campaign. We talked about his story, what shaped his political views, the challenges facing working families, healthcare, immigration, government accountability, the transgender community, and what he believes needs to change in Washington, D.C. This is a long-form conversation designed to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidate, beyond campaign ads, social media posts, and sound bites. On The Record doesn't tell you who to vote for. The goal is simple: ask the questions, give candidates room to answer, and let voters decide for themselves. Learn more about Troy Rasband: Troy Rasband for Congress #TroyRasband #WA03 #OnTheRecord #WashingtonPolitics #Election2026 #Congress #CandidateInterview #SouthwestWashington

September 20, 20261 hr 13 min

Kevin Moynihan: Candidate for WA State Representative, 19th LD, Position 1 | On The Record

I sat down with Washington State Rep candidate Kevin Moynihan for a candid talk about his platform and his vision for our state.We step away from the campaign trail to have a real, unscripted interview. This conversation is not a polished sound bite or a press release, but a chance to hear directly from him about the topics that matter most to voters. We talk about his background, the challenges he sees in our district, and the specific insights he has gained while running for office.Whether you are familiar with his work or just discovering his story, this podcast conversation offers a clear look at the person behind the campaign. We move past the surface level to talk about what he believes, why he makes the decisions he does, and what he sees on the horizon for local politics. This political interview is designed to help you get a better sense of who you are voting for this year.Subscribe to the Leaders Lead Podcast for weekly long-form discussions, and let me know in the comments who you want to see on the show next.