Tales From The Lane

Hosted by Kate Kayaian

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Episodes

128

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to Tales from The Lane—the podcast for high performers who are ready to build a life that's not just impressive on paper, but deeply fulfilling. I'm your host, Kate Kayaian—former professional cellist turned writer, coach, and strategist for people who've already achieved a lot… and are now asking, What's next? Each week, we dive into the mindset, habits, and strategies of high-achieving creatives, entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders who are committed to playing at the top of their game without burning out, selling out, or slowing down their growth. You'll hear solo episodes packed with insights and tools, candid conversations with industry trailblazers, and the kind of honest talk most successful people don't get to have anywhere else. If you're here to pursue excellence on your terms—to lead, to grow, and to thrive—this is your show. Subscribe to Tales from The Lane and join a global community of high performers building meaningful, sustainable success.

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60 recent

September 7, 2026Episode 12919 min

Episode 129: My Favorite Back-to-School Rituals for Grown-Ups

Remember the thrill of a brand-new Trapper Keeper, freshly sharpened pencils, new clothes, new classes, and walking into school knowing you were officially one grade older? Why did we stop getting that feeling just because we grew up? In Episode 129 of Tales from The Lane , Kate takes a playful look at the internet's obsession with "September resets" and asks what back-to-school season could look like for those of us whose lives require slightly more maintenance than washing the duvet cover, restocking the fridge, and taking a hot-girl walk. Because while a Saturday reset probably isn't going to overhaul a grown-up life, there is something powerful about using these natural moments of transition to notice where we are, shake up our routines, and decide who we want to become next. Kate shares seven ways she's harnessing that back-to-school energy this September, including: Choosing something new to learn or improve Picking up an "extracurricular" purely because it's fun Finding your grown-up version of the new Trapper Keeper Refreshing your wardrobe without buying an entirely new one Using scent to mark a new season Renewing old friendships and making room for new ones Creating your own step-up ceremony to celebrate how much you've grown Kate also reflects on her own six-year evolution from professional cellist and teacher to coach, author, speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur, and the throughlines she can finally see emerging from all of the experiments along the way. Because you didn't become the person you are today overnight. And you're not done becoming her. If this episode has you excited about what's next, enrollment is open for the Creators Leadership Mastermind , officially beginning in October. But you don't have to wait until then to start benefiting from the group, office hours, conversations, and accountability. The Creators Leadership Mastermind is designed for people with a meaningful project, goal, or next chapter they're ready to actually follow through on. Book a short call with Kate to learn more and see whether the room is right for you. 📚 Get my book Beyond Potential 🎯 Interested in a 90-minute Strategy Session ? or DM me "Strategy" 📩 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Weekend List 📸 Instagram: @kkayaian

August 31, 2026Episode 12824 min

Episode 128: How to Design Your Calendar for the Results You Want

What if you could predict where you'll be six months from now simply by looking at your calendar today? In this episode of Tales from The Lane , Kate walks through four common ways we manage our calendars, from allowing everyone else to determine how we spend our days to creating wildly ambitious schedules that leave no room for being human. Then she shares a practical framework for building a calendar around the results you actually want: WHO: Who needs your time and attention? WHY: Why do you want what you say you want? WHAT: What actually deserves a place in this season of your life? WHEN: Where will it realistically fit? HOW: What habits, systems, and accountability will help you follow through? This isn't about optimizing every minute of your day. It's about building a week that can actually support the life you say you want. And at the end of the episode, Kate gives you one question to answer: If I keep spending my time this way, am I going to like the results I have a year from now? Ready to make your biggest goal part of the plan? Enrollment is open for the Creators Leadership Mastermind , officially beginning in October. But you don't have to wait until then to start benefiting from the group, office hours, conversations, and accountability. The Creators Leadership Mastermind is designed for people with a meaningful project, goal, or next chapter they're ready to actually follow through on. Book a short call with Kate to learn more and see whether the room is right for you. 📚 Get my book Beyond Potential 🎯 Interested in a 90-minute Strategy Session ? or DM me "Strategy" 📩 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Weekend List 📸 Instagram: @kkayaian

August 24, 2026Episode 12719 min

Episode 127: The Success Cycle: When to Invest, When to Test, and When to Rest

Are you supposed to be hustling right now...or resting? Should you be launching something, learning something, or stepping away for a while? Spend enough time watching other successful people online, and you'll find completely contradictory advice. One person is pulling all-nighters during a massive launch. Someone else is spending the summer at the lake house while their business runs without them. Another successful creator disappears for months, only to emerge with a new book, project, or idea. So...which one are we supposed to be doing? In this episode of Tales from The Lane , Kate introduces a framework she's noticed playing out again and again in successful careers, businesses, creative practices, and even in nature: Invest. Test. Rest. You'll learn how to recognize which phase you're currently in, why each one matters, and what happens when you get stuck in one phase for too long. Kate shares how investing in Beyond Potential eventually created opportunities for speaking, coaching, and visibility; why learning without eventually testing what you've learned can leave even incredibly smart people frustrated; and why rest isn't something you earn after you've exhausted yourself. It's an essential part of the cycle that allows you to evaluate what happened and prepare for what comes next. You'll also hear: How to tell the difference between a purchase and an investment Why successful careers require repeated periods of learning and experimentation The danger of becoming a perpetual student Why testing requires visibility, action, and sometimes a little hustle How intentional rest helps you capture what you've learned How Invest, Test, and Rest can overlap in different areas of your life A simple exercise for identifying your next investment, experiment, and period of rest Ready to invest in your next level? The Creators Leadership Mastermind is designed for people with a meaningful project, goal, or next chapter they're ready to actually follow through on. Book a short call with Kate to learn more and see whether the room is right for you. 📚 Get my book Beyond Potential 🎯 Interested in a 90-minute Strategy Session ? or DM me "Strategy" 📩 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Weekend List 📸 Instagram: @kkayaian

August 17, 2026Episode 12648 min

Episode 126: What Nature Can Teach Us About How We Work, with Mary Cay Durrant

This week on Tales from The Lane , I'm joined by speaker, facilitator, and transformational leadership guide Mary Cay Durrant , whose work has touched thousands of senior leaders at more than 100 organizations, including Deloitte, Pepsi, KPMG, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Seattle Children's Hospital. Mary Cay spent years succeeding inside the corporate world while privately realizing that something was missing: joy, wonder, and a sense of being fully alive. An unexpected experience with horses changed the way she thought about leadership, work, and transformation and eventually led her to develop her Vibrant W.O.R.K. model , a framework inspired by living systems, neuroscience, and the patterns we see everywhere in nature. In this conversation, we explore: Why successful people can become disconnected from their own sense of aliveness What nature can teach us about careers, change, and letting go Why telling yourself the truth is often the beginning of transformation Mary Cay's four-part Vibrant W.O.R.K. model How to distinguish hard work that's draining you from hard work that's growing you Why relationships matter even more when you're becoming someone new The fascinating transformation of a caterpillar and what its "imaginal cells" can teach us about reinvention Why Mary Cay thinks we should pay more attention to ROE: Return on Energy How wonder, play, curiosity, and experimentation can change the way we experience work And perhaps most importantly, we talk about something that so many mid-career high achievers need to hear: Sometimes transformation really does feel like beating your wings against the inside of a cocoon. You can't see what's waiting on the other side yet. But that doesn't mean the work isn't working. Follow Mary Cay Durrant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycaydurrant/ Check out her website: MaryCayDurrant.com 📚 Get my book Beyond Potential 🎯 Interested in a 90-minute Strategy Session ? or DM me "Strategy" 📩 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Weekend List 📸 Instagram: @kkayaian

August 10, 2026Episode 12334 min

Episode 125: What Waiting One More Year Really Costs You

What if waiting one more year to pursue the thing you really want isn't as harmless as it seems? Most people don't consciously give up on their dreams. They postpone them. Work is busy. The timing isn't ideal. The kids need them. The economy feels uncertain. Maybe next year will be better. But one year has a funny way of becoming five. In this episode of Tales from The Lane , Kate explores the hidden costs of postponing the projects, career moves, businesses, books, creative ideas, and life changes that keep calling to us. You'll hear why waiting can make starting harder, how staying in the same role reinforces an identity you may already be outgrowing, and why starting earlier gives your work, skills, relationships, and opportunities more time to compound. Kate also explores one of the most overlooked costs of waiting: you delay the learning that can only happen once your idea enters the real world. As she says in the episode, "Most of the knowledge you need is waiting on the other side of the very action you're putting off." And perhaps most importantly, every year you postpone something that matters, you risk collecting evidence that you're someone who doesn't follow through, even when the real issue has nothing to do with your ability. By the end of the episode, Kate will ask you to imagine yourself one year from now and answer one uncomfortable question: If absolutely nothing has changed, how will you explain that to yourself? Then, she'll help you identify the first step you can take now to make sure next August tells a different story. Ready to stop carrying the same dream into another year? The Creators Leadership Mastermind is designed for people with a meaningful project, goal, or next chapter they're ready to actually follow through on. Book a short call with Kate to learn more and see whether the room is right for you.

August 3, 2026Episode 12416 min

Episode 124: The Projects That Change Your Life Rarely Have Deadlines

Ep. 124: The Projects That Change Your Life Rarely Have Deadlines Why is it so easy to finish work for someone else... but so hard to make progress on the projects that matter most to us? In this episode, I share a story from my years as a freelance musician in Boston. On paper, everything was going well. I had a thriving career, incredible opportunities, and a full calendar. But tucked away in a notebook were dozens of ambitious ideas that never became reality. Then, in March of 2020, one idea finally did. The Virtual Summer Cello Festival changed the course of my career and ultimately led me to coaching, writing Beyond Potential , and hosting this podcast. So what was different? It wasn't talent. It wasn't confidence. It was a deadline. In this episode, we'll explore why the projects that have the greatest potential to transform your career rarely come with built-in accountability—and how you can create the momentum they need. In this episode: Why meaningful projects are almost never assigned to us How urgent work crowds out important work The hidden power of public deadlines How to work backward from your launch date When to move a deadline—and when to keep going anyway Why perfectionism often disguises itself as preparation If you've been carrying around an idea for months—or years—this episode is your invitation to finally begin. Ready to work on your own career-defining project? Applications are now open for the Creators' Leadership Mastermind , where ambitious professionals come together to turn meaningful ideas into reality. 📅 Book a conversation with me 📖 Learn more about my latest book, Beyond Potential 📬 Subscribe to The Weekend List, my weekly newsletter 📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @kkayaian

July 20, 2026Episode 12315 min

Episode 123: Why Smart People Stay Stuck for Years

Have you ever looked around at your life and thought... "Everything is fine... so why do I feel so stuck?" This week, we're exploring one of the most common challenges I hear from high-achieving professionals. They have successful careers, strong reputations, and lives that look great from the outside, but inside, they can't shake the feeling that they've been standing still. In this episode, we explore why smart, capable people often stay stuck for years, even when they know they're meant for something more. You'll learn: Why success itself can become part of the problem How our identities keep us attached to lives we've outgrown Why doing the same things produces the same thinking The trap of waiting for the "right opportunity" Why momentum always feels awkward at first How embarrassment keeps high achievers from becoming beginners again The role community plays in creating lasting change Three simple things you can do today to start building momentum If you've been telling yourself that next year will be different, this episode is for you. 📚 Get my book Beyond Potential 🎯 Interested in a 90-minute Strategy Session ? or DM me "Strategy" 📩 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Weekend List 📸 Instagram: @kkayaian

July 6, 2026Episode 12213 min

Episode 122: What Could Change in the Next 90 Days?

Most people think planning season happens in January. I disagree. July might be the most powerful planning month of the entire year. By now, we have six months of evidence. We know what's working, what's draining us, and which goals still matter. Instead of waiting for another New Year, this is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and intentionally design the next 90 days. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own Q3 plans and sharing exactly how I approach quarterly planning. You'll hear: Why I believe 90 days is the ideal planning horizon My biggest priorities for Q3 How I'm thinking about my coaching business, speaking work, and second book Why I'm intentionally reducing some commitments The surprising power of creating assets for your future self Client stories of people who transformed their businesses, homes, and careers through focused quarterly planning The framework I'll be teaching during my Q3 Retreat Whether you're looking to launch something new, make progress on a long-delayed project, improve your systems, or simply create more intentional momentum, this episode will help you think differently about the next season of your life. Join the Q3 Retreat If you're listening in real time, registration is still open for my Q3 Retreat. Want More? If you're listening later, grab my free Quarterly Retreat Planning Guide and create your own stay-at-home retreat experience. 📚 Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Re-Assess, Re-Define, and Re-Ignite Their Careers 🎯 Interested in a 90-Minute Strategy Session? Let's talk. 📩 Subscribe to The Weekend List , my weekly newsletter 📸 Instagram: @kkayaian

June 22, 2026Episode 12118 min

Episode 121: What Eight Days in Idaho Taught Me About Success, Community, and Growth

I just returned from my first-ever Craft + Commerce conference in Boise, Idaho—and I came home with far more than a notebook full of quotes. In this episode, I share the biggest lessons I learned from spending eight days, twelve flights, and countless conversations with creators, entrepreneurs, speakers, authors, and friends whose work has shaped my own. We'll talk about: Why I almost didn't go The metrics everyone was (and wasn't) talking about Lessons from Simon Alexander Ong, Jay Papasan, Nicole Burke, Jonathan Fields, Barrett Brooks, Gannon Meyer, and Gabby Beckford How rooms change us I also share why these experiences inspired me to create something new: my online Q3 Stay-at-Home Retreat. July 6–10 Monday: Plan Tuesday: Create Wednesday: Organize Thursday: Optimize Friday: Put it all together Daily video lessons + live Zoom discussions each day at noon ET. Click HERE for details, or DM me RETREAT on Instagram (@kkayaian), 📚 Get my book Beyond Potential 🎯 Interested in a 90-minute Strategy Session ? or DM me "Strategy" 📩 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Weekend List 📸 Instagram: @kkayaian

June 15, 2026Episode 12059 min

Episode 120: You Don't Have to Do it All Alone! Hiring Fractional Support for Your Next Big Event, with Ginger Taylor

What does it actually take to create an event that people remember for years? Whether you're dreaming of hosting a conference, retreat, concert series, fundraiser, festival, or community gathering, there's a lot more happening behind the scenes than most people realize. Successful events require vision, strategy, leadership, budgeting, marketing, logistics, and perhaps most importantly, a deep understanding of the people you're bringing together. In this episode, I sit down with Ginger Taylor, founder of Ginger Taylor Collective and a Fractional Head of Events with more than 15 years of experience across hospitality, conferences, and live experiences. Ginger shares how she found her way into the events industry, what separates professional event strategy from simply "throwing a party," and why events can be one of the most powerful tools for building community, growing a business, and creating lasting impact. We also discuss: • The biggest mistakes first-time event hosts make • Why attendee experience begins long before people arrive • The power of intentional networking and community-building • How to know when it's time to bring in outside support • The role of sponsorships, partnerships, and long-term strategy • What makes an event feel magical from the attendee perspective • Why gatherings can become powerful engines for leadership, influence, and legacy If you've ever dreamed of creating an event of your own, or if you're currently wearing all the hats in your business and wondering how to make a bigger impact without burning yourself out, this conversation is for you. Connect with Ginger: LinkedIn: Ginger Taylor Collective Email: ginger@gingertaylorcollective.com Resources Mentioned: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker Ready to create something bigger? Many of the listeners of this podcast have ideas for retreats, conferences, workshops, festivals, concert series, and community-building events that could become meaningful parts of their legacy. If that's you, I encourage you to pick up a copy of my book, Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Re-Assess, Re-Define, and Re-Ignite Their Careers , where I walk through the frameworks I use to help people move from idea to action. And if you'd like personalized support mapping out your vision, you can book a 90-Minute Strategy Session with me. Together, we'll clarify your goals, identify your biggest opportunities and obstacles, and build a practical roadmap for bringing your ideas to life. Learn more at katekayaian.com . If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Tales from The Lane.

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