Leading Without Illusions

Hosted by Athena

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Leading Without Illusions is Athena’s podcast for leaders navigating the fast-moving, often misunderstood world of artificial intelligence. Co-hosts Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly bring candid conversations with innovators on what AI is, where it goes wrong, and how to lead with better questions, sharper judgment, and real accountability. Expect practical clarity on bias, trust, risk, and the human choices shaping what comes next.

Listen to episodes

58 recent

June 1, 202640 min

Garry Ridge | WD-40 | June

What does it take to build a culture where people genuinely love coming to work?In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Holly Smithson and Jay Connolly sit down with leadership icon and former WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge to explore the principles that transformed a simple household product company into one of the world’s most admired workplace cultures.Garry shares the leadership philosophy that guided his 25-year tenure as CEO, including why leaders should think of themselves as coaches instead of managers, how “learning moments” can replace fear of failure, and why the three most powerful words a leader can say are, “I don’t know.”Together, they examine the connection between culture, accountability, employee engagement, and business performance, offering practical lessons for leaders navigating uncertainty, change, and growth. From psychological safety and servant leadership to purpose-driven performance, this conversation is a masterclass in building organizations where people feel safe, valued, and connected.Whether you lead a team of two or two thousand, this episode will challenge you to rethink what leadership looks like and what kind of legacy you want to create.

May 4, 202649 min

Kaye Foster | BCG | May

In a world shaped by disruption, uncertainty, and accelerating AI adoption, what does effective leadership actually look like?In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly are joined by Kaye Foster, Senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group, for a candid, unfiltered conversation on the realities leaders are facing today. From declining employee engagement and broken organizational systems to the pressure of navigating AI-driven change, this discussion goes beyond surface-level insights.Kaye draws on decades of executive leadership, board experience, and advisory work to challenge conventional thinking. She breaks down why many leaders are being asked to succeed inside systems that are fundamentally misaligned, and what it takes to lead anyway.This episode explores:Why today’s workplace systems are failing both leaders and employeesThe growing gap between leadership intention and employee experienceHow AI is reshaping work—and where leaders are getting it wrongThe importance of investing in people, not just productivityWhy leadership must start with personal accountability and self-awarenessThis is not a conversation about quick fixes. It is about clarity, ownership, and the opportunity to lead differently in a moment that demands it.

April 6, 202643 min

Dr. Carlos Nunez | Resmed | April

Artificial intelligence is moving fast—but is it really as disruptive as it seems?In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly sit down with Dr. Carlos Nunez of ResMed to separate signal from noise in the AI conversation.From being in the top 1% of global AI users to leading innovation in healthcare, Dr. Núñez shares a grounded perspective on what AI can actually do today—and where the real transformation is happening.This episode explores:Why AI is a “slow rising tide,” not an overnight disruptionHow AI is reshaping healthcare and the future of workThe real risk: not AI itself, but falling behind in how to use itThe difference between hype-driven solutions and meaningful innovationIf you’re feeling the pressure to keep up with AI, this conversation will help you refocus on what actually matters—and how to lead through it.

March 2, 202651 min

Dr. Stephen Morse | Unchained Solutions | March

In this episode of Athena’s Leading Without Illusions, hosts Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly sit down with Dr. Stephen Morse, founder of Unchained Solutions, an Australian-based consulting firm focused on modern slavery risk in global supply chains. Sparked by a recent conference in Perth on battery minerals and the growing demand for critical resources in the AI era, the conversation explores the hidden human cost behind “cheap and fast” consumption, including forced labor, child labor, and trafficking.Dr. Morse unpacks why modern slavery persists, how globalization and consumer culture can normalize exploitation, and why legal mandates like Australia’s Modern Slavery Act are often what finally push organizations to look deeper. The discussion also challenges common narratives around ethical sourcing, exposing how “sustainable” claims can become marketing language without real traceability, verification, and accountability. The result is a provocative look at what we’re underwriting when we buy, and what it takes to build systems that make exploitation harder to hide.

February 2, 202652 min

Sean Harvey | Warrior Compassion | February

What happens when traditional leadership models stop working?In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Athena leaders Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly join Reverend Sean Harvey of the Warrior Compassion Institute to explore why many leaders—especially men—feel disconnected, burned out, and constrained by outdated definitions of strength.The conversation reframes compassion as a leadership capability, not a weakness, and examines how modern systems reward dominance over presence at a time when complexity, AI disruption, and polarization demand something different.A grounded discussion on evolving leadership, healing outdated playbooks, and upgrading the human system for the moment we’re in.

January 5, 202639 min

Claire and Antony Roberts | Full Fathom Five AI | January

In the launch episode, Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly welcome Claire Roberts and Antony Roberts, co-founders of Full Fathom five, for a raw conversation on AI’s biggest illusions. They unpack why AI isn’t a panacea, what “hallucinations” really mean, who’s accountable when systems fail, and how bias can scale at speed. The throughline: modern leadership is questions, not certainty and curiosity is a competitive advantage.

December 1, 202527 min

Angela Pennella | Hugs in the Wild | November 2025

In this episode of Lifting While Climbing, Holly Smithson sits down with “hug dealer” Angela Pennella to explore the movement behind Hugs in the Wild. Angela shares how intentional connection, nervous system awareness, and small acts of kindness can reset our emotional balance and strengthen our relationships. From the science of oxytocin to real stories from her travels, this conversation is a warm reminder of the power we all have to make each other feel seen.

October 27, 202539 min

Dr. Tina Rinker | Syantra Inc. | October 2025

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Tina Rinker—co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer of Syantra Inc.—joins host Holly Smithson to unpack a breakthrough approach to early detection: a simple blood test that reads the immune system’s signals rather than hunting for tumor fragments. Dr. Rinker explains how Syantra’s 15-marker panelcan identify breast cancers at ~1 cm and below, addressing long-standing gaps in screening—especially for the 50% of women with dense breast tissue where mammograms can miss smaller tumors. They dive into why screening must prioritize stage-1 detection (where survival is highest), how a blood test can boost adherence by fitting into routine labs, and why “platform thinking” opens the door to multi-cancer applications. Beyond the science, Tina shares her path from chemical engineering professor to three-time founder, the team-first lessons she carried from NCAA championship gymnastics, and practical advice for scientists moving from lab bench to boardroom. With discussion of external validations, DOD grant support, and AI as an accelerant, this episode is a timely, hopeful blueprint for getting better tools to more women—faster. Tune in for a masterclass on staying signal-focused amid the noise, and why making screening easier can make it earlier—and lifesaving.

September 29, 202530 min

Esther Mutuma | Boreka Group | September 2025

From the slopes of Mount Kenya to the halls of Cambridge and the UN General Assembly, Esther Mutuma, founder & CEO of the Boreka Group, shares how a village girl with a love of math became a banking leader turned climate entrepreneur.In this Lifting While Climbing episode, Esther unpacks her journey from qualifying as an accountant at 22 to building a nature-based solutions company now partnering with 2,000+ farmers in Kenya—with an audacious goal to plant 50 million trees (a quarter-million last year alone).She and host Holly Smithson dig into the power of mentorship, activating your strengths, and leading with purpose amid shifting debates on gender equity and sustainability. Esther also reveals her most personal “why”: intentional motherhood and raising two young trailblazers—one Africa’s youngest certified drone pilot and the other a teen STEM advocate—proving the next generation is ready to bulldoze barriers. If you need a masterclass in resilience, community-first climate action, and walking the talk, this conversation delivers. Listen in and get inspired to turn your strengths into solutions.

August 26, 202538 min

Claude Jones | do.it.withAI | August 2025

In this episode of the Lifting While Climbing podcast, Athena CEO Holly Smithson sits down with Claude Jones, CEO of Do It With AI, for a powerful, perspective-shifting conversation about what it really means to lead with AI.Together, they explore how fear-based narratives around artificial intelligence are stalling progress—and how shaping AI, rather than reacting to it, is the key to ethical innovation, equity, and future-ready leadership.“We’re not just teaching people how to use AI—we’re preparing them to shape it.”— Claude JonesKey Takeaways:Why AI isn’t just a tech trend—it’s a leadership shiftHow co-creating with AI unlocks creativity, efficiency, and purposeWhy soft skills like empathy and communication are now mission-critical in the AI eraHow Athena’s AI Mastery Academy is transforming fear into fluency—one cohort at a timeOne of the most striking moments from the conversation came when Claude described today’s challenge:“The best sword in the world in the hands of a novice is no more functional than a wet noodle.That’s what’s happening with AI right now—we’re giving people the most powerful tool humanity has ever created, but we’re not teaching them how to become expert swordsmen.”Athena’s response?The AI Mastery Academy—a 3-week, hands-on leadership experience launching September 15, designed to build practical fluency, ethical awareness, and human-centered AI confidence.Tune in and discover how Athena is flipping fear into power—and helping STEM leaders shape a future worth leading.