Live Stoked, Lead Stoked

Hosted by Sarah Bettman

Entrepreneurship Education

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Have you ever wondered if there is something more? Are you ready for something to change, but aren’t sure how to get started…or even what to change? Do you dream of living life on your own terms, full of purpose and the ability to choose what’s best for you? Are you ready to live stoked? You’ve come to the right place! In this podcast, we will explore what it means to live stoked. To live a life on your terms, one where we’ve tossed away the pressures of roles, expectations, and identities that have been put on you and that you did not choose, is a bold choice. Frankly, it’s a series of small choices in micro-moments that lead to a bold life. I am Sarah Bettman, coach, consultant, and speaker, but more importantly, I’m a person who found myself waking up in the wrong life and needed to find a way to me. I am on a mission to unravel the things we tell ourselves, the roles and/or identities we’ve taken on, and the expectations that drive our decision making, so that we can begin to live our most authentic and stoked lives. My guests and I will share our stories, solutions, and multitude of ideas…since one size definitely doesn’t not fit all. My hope is that you will find something meaningful for you, in the moment, that will move you forward on your path.

Listen to episodes

51 recent

October 22, 202636 min

50. Be a Doer, Not a Consumer with Matthew Spence

For my first guest of season two, I’m welcoming back my friend Matthew Spence. A lot has changed since the last time he joined me on the podcast. Over the past two years, Matthew has completed three more 29029 Everesting challenges, published his first book, Lessons From the Wall: 15 Things I Learned About Leadership and Life By Doing Something Really Hard , delivered a TEDx talk, stepped further into entrepreneurship, and expanded his work as a speaker and leadership consultant. But this conversation is about more than everything Matthew has accomplished. We talk about what it takes to step away from the security of a corporate career, question the identities and expectations you’ve carried with you, and figure out who you are when your job is no longer the thing defining you. Matthew also shares one of my favorite lessons from his book: “Be a Doer, Not a Consumer.” We dig into why he decided to stop relying on other people’s stories and start creating his own, and how that decision has shaped his work, leadership, and life. We also talk about why living a life you’re stoked about matters to the way you lead, the power of bringing more of your humanity into your work, and what Matthew is learning as he steps onto stages and tells his own stories instead of someone else’s. Connect with Matthew: LinkedIn - @matthewtspence Website - lessonsfromthewall.com Book- Lessons From the Wall: 15 Things I Learned About Leadership and Life By Doing Something Really Hard Previous Episode - 38. Finding Balance: Health, Career, and Personal Growth with Matthew Spence TedX - How to persevere after hitting the wall | Matthew Spence | TEDxSonomaCounty Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Production

October 8, 202623 min

49. The Cornell 7: What We’re Missing When We Say “Speak Up”

This episode tackles a difficult subject, but it’s one I believe we need to be talking about. Using the recent Cornell 7 case as a starting point, I’m looking beyond the question of why people don’t simply “speak up” when they see something wrong. While speaking up matters, decades of research and experience across healthcare, emergency services, corporate environments, and other systems tell us there are very real human and cultural reasons people stay silent. I share some of my own experiences with safety culture and what I’ve learned about creating environments where people actually feel safe enough to challenge what’s happening, even when there are power dynamics, loyalty, secrecy, friendships, or a strong group culture working against them. I also talk about the conversations I think we need to be having with young people before they ever find themselves facing an impossible decision. Instead of only teaching them to speak up when something goes wrong, how can we help them recognize the informal behaviors and cultural norms that signal an unsafe environment in the first place? This isn’t about excusing anyone’s behavior or letting people off the hook. It’s about understanding the systems and cultures that influence human behavior so we can change them, hold people accountable, and hopefully prevent more people from being put in situations where someone else’s safety depends on an incredibly difficult decision. I don’t have the answer for how we stop this cycle. But I believe we have to keep looking at the cultures we create, the environments we choose to participate in, and what it really takes to make it safe for people to speak up. Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Production

October 1, 202619 min

48. I’m Back! A New Season of Live Stoked, Lead Stoked

After more than a year away, I’m back behind the mic and a lot has happened. In this episode, I’m sharing what led me to step away from the podcast and why I now see that time as a “fallow season”, a period when life required me to get quieter, slow down, and focus inward. I’ll take you through some of what that season held, including navigating a difficult work experience, caring for and losing my mom, an unexpected move, health concerns, and the impact of perimenopause and stress along the way. That season also caused me to question something at the heart of this podcast: What does it mean to Live Stoked when life is hard? Is choosing your own path still possible when things don’t look or feel the way you hoped they would? Now, I’m entering a new season. I’m back in entrepreneurship, spending more time surfing and swimming, writing again, saying yes to new experiences, and intentionally bringing more fun back into my life. I don’t have a perfectly mapped-out plan for where the podcast goes from here and I think that’s kind of the point. Live Stoked is returning to where it began: sharing real stories, learning from people who are creating lives that are uniquely theirs, and exploring what it looks like to make your own choices even when there isn’t a roadmap to follow. Season two starts here, and I’m stoked to be back. Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Production

January 23, 202510 min

47. What's in Store for 2025

Welcome to year TWO of the podcast! In this episode, I explore what’s in store for the Live Stoked | Lead Stoked podcast for 2025, and embrace a new video format for the podcast as the episodes will be on YouTube as well. This transition, driven by my desire for authenticity, aims to deepen our conversations through visuals as so many of my guests have been amazing at storytelling. Throughout the year, I will focus on themes of empowerment and the challenges of caregiving, especially in dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's. Additionally, I will address the often-taboo subjects of physical well-being and aging, fostering open discussions to benefit both myself and our listeners. My goal is to facilitate meaningful conversations that resonate deeply and inspire growth and connection. Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Management

December 19, 202451 min

46. Authentic Sales and Life Lessons with Nick Loise

In this episode, I chat with Nick Loise, a seasoned sales leader, about the idea of “living stoked” by seizing life's opportunities. We talk about his personal journey, including his battle with prostate cancer, which reshaped his priorities. Nick shares insights on fostering inclusivity in the corporate world, challenging sales stereotypes through empathy and authenticity. We explore the importance of work-life balance and how technology, particularly AI, is transforming sales strategies. Meet Nick: Nicholas Loise has been a salesperson, sales leader, successful entrepreneur, marketing and sales executive, Presidents Club winner, speaker, and author. His third entrepreneurial endeavor is Sales Performance Team, a company focused on helping small—to midsize businesses improve their sales leadership, sales processes, systems, and playbooks. His passion is, and always has been, helping entrepreneurs, businesses, and professional practices market and sell better, faster, and more efficiently to help the owners improve profitability and valuations. He is an author and co-author of many books on sales and marketing, a sought-after speaker, creator of the GKIC/Magnetic Marketing educational courses Sales Mastery with Dan Kennedy and Dave Dee, Sales Mastery, How to Create a High Impact Sales Team, a contributor to NO BS Guide to Direct Response Marketing, Magnetic Marketing and the NO BS Letter, Author of Moving the Sales Needle in Your Business, The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Sales Team, and was the co-presenter of the GKIC/Magnetic Marketing Sales Boot Camps and Marketing Boot Camps focused on helping small- to medium-size businesses sell and market better. He has also been an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at North Park University in Chicago. Connect with Nick: LinkedIn - nicholasloise Facebook - nicholas.loise Website - salesperformanceteam.com FREE Quota Busting Sales Team Pack Guest Book Rec: Let’s Get Real Or Let’s Not Play by Maham Khalsa & Randy Illig Entitlement by Rumaan Alam Creativity by John Cleese Professor at Large: The Cornell Years by John Cleese Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Management

December 12, 202455 min

45. Creating Creative Possibilities with Lisa Hopkins

In this episode, I chat with creative coach Lisa Hopkins, whose journey highlights living intentionally and embracing personal agency. We redefine "being stoked" as a deeper engagement with life and true joy, exploring Lisa's evolution from a shy girl in Canada to an influential figure in dance and coaching. Our discussion focuses on the transformative nature of coaching, the importance of authenticity, and cultivating creative possibilities for everyone, not just artists. We also touch on diverse inspirations for personal growth and the significance of being present to find joy amid challenges. This conversation encapsulates the essence of living stoked—choosing authenticity and growth. Meet Lisa: Lisa Hopkins partners with creative people who want to be challenged and energized to explore, recognize and celebrate their potential and break through fears and limiting beliefs that hold them back from being artists in all areas of their lives. She has lived and worked alongside inspiring creative people her whole life. Lisa has experienced first hand what it means to lead with passion and to follow her heart . She knows what it feels like to perform at the highest level and leave it all on the dance floor (literally & metaphorically). Lisa understands that success is often the very thing that stands in the way of becoming all that she can be in this world. She refuses to be defined by what she’s done, or to make choices based on what she thinks she should be doing next. Lisa believes that the journey is the thing, that life is a gift and that possibilities exist in every moment if we choose to open our minds and hearts. Connect with Lisa: Instagram - @wideopenstages Website - wideopenstages.com Book - The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating a Life of Creative Possibilities Podcast - Stoptime: Live in the Moment Guest Book Rec: Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life by Twyla Tharp The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes by Elizabeth Lesser Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Management

December 5, 202436 min

44. Redefining Success From Corporate to Coaching with Kristeen Barth

Today I have leadership development coach, Kristeen Barth on the podcast to talk about living authentically and empowered. We explore the balance between professional expectations and personal fulfillment, emphasizing agency and self-discovery. Kristeen shares her journey from a corporate IT career to coaching, explaining the key moments and the influence of mentors on her path. Her coaching philosophy centers on helping clients find their inner voice while navigating societal pressures. We also discuss the significance of community, curiosity, and personal identity in defining success, particularly for women in male-dominated fields. Kristeen's reflections inspire listeners to embrace their own journeys toward fulfillment and authentic leadership. Meet Kristeen: Kristeen Barth is a career and leadership coach and mentor dedicated to helping individuals and teams foster a healthier relationship with their work. By identifying and overcoming limiting beliefs and inner saboteurs, she helps clients build a mindset for sustained success and happiness. With compassion, creativity and honesty, Kristeen guides clients to explore their core identity and clarify their priorities. She challenges current thinking to identify what is working and what needs to evolve. Committed to personal growth, she assists clients in becoming the most expressive version of themselves. Her experience spans IT project and product management, post-acquisition cultural integration, leadership development, employee experience and engagement programs, coaching at all organizational levels, team culture work, and DEI initiatives. Kristeen is trained through The Coaches Training Institute and the Agile Coaching modality and holds a BS in Technology Management and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors, documentaries, kettlebells, walking her dog Toby, traveling with her husband, Matt, and oat milk lattes. Connect with Kristeen: LinkedIn YouTube www.kristeenbarth.com Guest Book Rec: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Management

November 27, 202448 min

43. Embracing Freedom and Visibility with Bibigi Haile

In this episode I have an amazing conversation with Bibigi Haile, a dedicated coach and advocate for women’s visibility. We explore the concept of living through choice and personal agency, as Bibigi recounts her journey towards embracing freedom, shaped by her diverse cultural background and supportive upbringing. Our discussion highlights the significance of creating spaces for women to express themselves authentically, highlighting the connection between visibility and personal fulfillment. Meet Bibigi: Bibigi Haile founded The Beauvoir Group to give women the license to be Unapologetically Visible, make bold moves, and stop apologizing for what they want from their professional lives. As a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor to women in leadership, Bibigi has rightfully owned spots on national and international stages sharing her refreshingly fierce approach to women’s visibility, imposter syndrome, and personal branding. With a background in organizational transformation and change, her career expands over several industries including finance and investment management. She holds an M.Sc. in Strategy and an undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies. She applies a research and evidence-based approach to guide her clients through transformational change. When she isn’t on stage, she’s still speaking – her 5-star rated, award-winning podcast Speaking with Women explores the experience of women as they navigate the complexities of crafting a career and brand that feels right for them. Bibigi is also and especially the mother of a wise 9-year-old, third culture kid, podcast and book nerd, and a CrossFit enthusiast. Connect with Bibigi: LinkedIn - bibigi-haile visiblewomenconference.com Podcast - Speaking With Women Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Management

November 21, 202421 min

42. 29029 Trail: What If It's Not So Deep

In this final 29029 Trail series episode, I explore the contrasting approaches to life: viewing it through the lens of expectations versus embracing it as a series of personal choices. Drawing from my own experiences, particularly the challenges faced during the 29029 ultra-endurance event, I reflect on the lessons learned about growth, agency, and the importance of community. I discuss how shifting my perspective on struggles can transform them into valuable learning experiences rather than obstacles. As I look forward to future challenges and the excitement of new goals, I invite you to embark on your own journeys, celebrate personal growth while fostering connections with supportive communities. 29029 Episodes: 18. Becoming More of Me 35. Conquering 29029 Everesting and How it Has Affected My Life 36. 29029 Trail: The Path to Get There 37. 29029 Trail: What Happened 39. 29029 Trail: The Deep Sh*t Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Management

November 14, 202442 min

41. Redefining Success: From Corporate Roles to Entrepreneurial Ventures with Courtney O'Brien

Today my guest, Courtney O’Brien and I are diving deep into the complex world of work-life balance, personal fulfillment, and the empowering journey toward authentic living. Courtney has recently transitioned from a 22-year career in beverage marketing to embarking on an entrepreneurial path with her new venture, The Outlier Initiative. In this episode, we explore the often-unappreciated toil that comes from acting based on perceived responsibilities, as Courtney reflects on her past experiences. We'll look at distinguishing tasks that align with personal values versus organizational demands, touching on the grieving process that leaving a job can feel like. Courtney shares poignant insights on balancing family life, shedding the "supermom" persona, and breaking free from the cycle of linking productivity to self-worth. Meet Courtney: Courtney O’Brien is a seasoned marketing leader with 22 years of experience driving the success of iconic brands at global powerhouses like Coca-Cola, Danone, and E&J Gallo Winery. With a track record of turning under-the-radar products into household names—like launching Coke Zero into a $1 billion brand and leading Apothic Red to dominate its category—Courtney knows what it takes to win in the competitive beverage market. As the founder of The Outlier Initiative, Courtney brings her expertise to growth-stage brands, helping them cut through the noise and achieve breakout success. Her approach is rooted in creating deep human connections between brands and consumers, clearly defining how a brand will win, and activating a bold ecosystem around it that is unconstrained by category norms. Courtney’s passion lies in helping brands beat the odds and scale successfully in a landscape where only a small fraction manage to sustain long-term growth. Courtney earned her MBA in Marketing and Strategy from the Anderson School at UCLA, and her BA in Government and Economics from Dartmouth College. She lives in Oakdale, CA with her husband and three young children. Connect with Courtney: LinkedIn - @courtney-obrien Website - theoutlierinitiative.com Guest Book Rec: We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers Connect with Sarah: Follow on Instagram - @livestoked_leadstoked (business) & @sea2mountains (personal) LinkedIn - sarahbettman Website - www.sarahbettman.com & www.livestoked.com Follow on Facebook - CoachBettman Books Featured on The Live Stoked | Lead Stoked Podcast Cover Art Photo by: Kim Thomson Steel Podcast Production by: Allison Nitsch | Podcast Management