The Path To Leadership

Hosted by Catalyst Development

Business Management

Website RSS feed

Episodes

113

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

Leadership should not feel like a lecture. It should feel like a conversation you actually want to be part of. Welcome to The Path to Leadership , where Dr. Katie Ervin and creative strategist Rhonda Jolyean Hale team up to bring you real talk, real tools, and real transformation. Think of it as your weekly coffee date where leadership development meets creativity, brain science, humor, and the beauty found in both breakthroughs and breakdowns. Dr. Katie brings the research, the practicality, and her signature no-fluff honesty. Rhonda Jolyean brings the creativity, the reinvention energy, and a fresh perspective on how your brain, your story, and your environment shape who you are as a leader. Together, they explore what it takes to grow, adapt, inspire, and stay human in a world that never slows down. If you are leading people, leading projects, leading at home, or simply leading your own next chapter, this podcast gives you the mindset and momentum to do it with clarity, courage, and joy. Because leadership is not about being perfect. It is about showing up, getting curious, and choosing who you want to be today. Connect with the hosts: Dr. Katie Ervin www.katieervin.com www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/ Rhonda Jolyean Hale www.jolyean.com www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 3122 min

What If Your Leadership Certainty Is Wrong

Send us Fan MailYou can’t lead well if you’re constantly guessing what people “meant”. We dig into the assumption trap that shows up in everyday leadership moments and turns normal human behaviour into labels like disengaged, difficult, lazy, or resistant. When we let those stories run the show, we don’t just misread one person, we start building a culture based on suspicion instead of clarity.We walk through real workplace scenarios leaders wrestle with all the time: someone is late, someone misses a deadline, someone goes quiet in meetings, or someone pushes back on change. Instead of defaulting to motive, we talk about what might actually be happening: unclear norms, mismatched expectations, caregiving demands, stress, fear, low confidence, or a lack of psychological safety. We also unpack how “common sense” differs across jobs and backgrounds, and why the loudest voice in the room isn’t always the best idea, especially when introverts and internal processors need space to think.We also connect the dots to burnout and performance. When priorities are unclear and everything is urgent, people’s brains narrow under stress and creativity drops, making innovation an impossible ask. Our big takeaway is simple and hard: curiosity is a leadership skill you can build, and the questions you choose become the employee experience. If you’re ready to lead with more clarity and less mind reading, listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave an honest review. Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

June 9, 2026Episode 3032 min

Stop Believing Every Thought

Send us Fan MailA single vague email can hijack your whole week, and your brain will swear it’s “just being realistic.” We sit down on a Friday afternoon and get honest about the stories we tell ourselves, where they come from, and why they feel so convincing, especially when we’re leading teams, presenting in high-stakes rooms, or simply trying to get through a busy day.We talk about the subtle ways we reject compliments, deflect praise, and act like we have to earn every kind word. Then we zoom out to the psychology behind it: negativity bias, pattern matching, and the brain’s obsession with predictability. The result is familiar to a lot of leaders: we remember the one negative comment on a survey, fixate on the hardest employee, and miss the 497 things that went well. We also unpack confirmation bias and the “mind movie” effect, where we start searching for evidence that someone is judging us even when we don’t know what’s actually going on in their life.You’ll leave with practical tools you can use immediately: journaling or saving positive feedback, using your Notes app or voice memos, even texting yourself so you can build a real record of wins to reread on hard days. We also share reflection questions that help separate fact from story, and why professional support like counselling can be a powerful part of rewriting old narratives. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s stuck in their head, and leave a review so more leaders can find us. Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

June 2, 2026Episode 2937 min

Stop Believing The Story In Your Head

Send us Fan MailYour brain is a world-class storyteller, and under stress it becomes a sloppy fact-checker. We’re laying the foundation for our new series on the stories we tell ourselves, the assumptions we default to, and the quiet way those internal narratives shape leadership decisions, workplace relationships, and even our creativity.We talk through moments almost everyone recognizes: rereading an email to guess tone, assuming someone’s silence means disapproval, or building a worst-case scenario before a hard conversation even happens. Using Brené Brown’s “the story I’m making up is” framework, we unpack why the brain fills gaps for certainty and safety, how negativity bias ramps up in survival mode, and why curiosity can vanish when fear takes over. We also share personal examples of how family patterns, early mentors, and old labels can echo into adult work life, sometimes pushing us to overprotect, overreact, or shrink ourselves.From a practical leadership coaching lens, we offer simple tools you can use immediately: pause before reacting, name what you know versus what you’re assuming, ask what else could be true, and check whether you’re reacting to facts or fear. We also connect this to inclusive leadership and psychological safety, reminding ourselves that different processing styles, neurodiversity needs, and life stressors can change how people show up at work. If you want better communication, fewer avoidable conflicts, and a steadier leadership presence, this conversation gives you a clear starting point.Subscribe, share the show with someone who overthinks like we do, and leave a review so more leaders can find the series. What’s the most common story you catch yourself repeating? Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

May 26, 2026Episode 2839 min

What If Doubt Is Proof You Are Growing

Send us Fan MailImposter syndrome has a sneaky way of showing up right when you are doing the work that matters most: presenting in a big meeting, taking a new role, leading a team through change, or simply being seen. We talk honestly about why that doubt does not automatically mean you are unqualified. Sometimes it is the signal that you are stretching, learning, and building a growth mindset. The goal is not to eliminate imposter syndrome forever, but to manage the negativity bias so it does not run your decisions or shrink your voice.We break down practical leadership tools you can use immediately: building a real support system and advisory group, “borrowing confidence” when you need it, and keeping an evidence list of wins and hard things you have already survived. We also challenge comparison, especially the trap of measuring your beginning against someone else’s polished middle, and we explain why asking questions is a strength that creates psychological safety. If you have ever felt pressure to perform rather than serve, we offer a cleaner focus: impact over image.Then we go deeper into nervous system regulation, because overwhelmed humans do not lead well. We share approachable ways to reset through creativity practices, journaling and reflection, aesthetic engagement, and making room for fun and pleasure without guilt. From there, we zoom out to the team level: how insecurity can look like disengagement, why belonging drives contribution, and how a feedback culture built on coaching helps confidence grow.If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a colleague who is stretching into something new, and leave a rating and review so more leaders can find the show. What triggers your imposter syndrome most right now? Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

May 19, 2026Episode 2734 min

Stop Faking It And Start Learning It

Send us Fan MailYou can be talented, prepared, and respected and still hear that inner voice whisper, “Do I belong here?” We get real about imposter syndrome in leadership, why it spikes during busy seasons and big transitions, and how it can distort the way we speak up, set boundaries, and show up for our teams.We unpack why “fake it till you make it” often backfires for leaders who care about authenticity, and we offer a better frame: learn it while you earn it. Drawing on neuroscience and lived experience, we talk about negativity bias, how the brain overestimates threats, and why uncertainty can feel like danger. We also look at perfectionism as a common signal, especially for high achievers, and why imposter feelings are not the same thing as incompetence.Comparison is a major accelerant, and social media makes it constant. We explore how other people’s wins can land in our nervous system like loss, why imposter syndrome can feel lonelier the higher you climb, and what leaders can do to change the culture. That includes psychological safety, honest feedback loops, and the kind of grounded vulnerability that builds trust and boosts engagement. You’ll also hear a powerful reminder to stop shrinking: sometimes your voice is inconvenient, and it still needs to be heard.If this resonates, share it with a leader who needs it, then subscribe, rate, and review the show so more people can find these conversations. What’s one moment when imposter syndrome shows up for you most? Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

May 12, 2026Episode 261 hr 1 min

Whose Trance Is Running Your Leadership

Send us Fan MailLeadership gets messy the moment we pretend to be someone we’re not. That’s why we invited evolutionary astrologer Jason Dilts to help us use astrology as a leadership tool, not for fortune telling, but for self awareness, communication, and growth you can actually apply at work.We start with the basics that most people never get beyond: your Sun sign is only one piece. Jason breaks down the Big Three of a birth chart: Sun (identity and expression), Rising (your instinctive operating system and how others experience you), and Moon (your emotional landscape and what creates safety). From there, we connect the chart to leadership development and real workplace dynamics including how Mercury placements shape communication style, how different houses point to career visibility and leadership, and why two “Capricorns” can still lead in totally different ways.Then we zoom out to the bigger shift many teams are feeling right now. Jason frames the Age of Aquarius as a move away from command and control toward empowerment, authenticity, and community. We also explore generational astrology through Pluto placements, why younger generations are challenging old power structures, and how leaders can respond without falling into judgment or fear. If you’ve been curious but skeptical, we talk about why pop horoscopes turn smart people off, and how to explore astrology in a grounded way through your chart and current transits, including what Mercury retrograde is really inviting you to do.Subscribe for more leadership conversations, share this with a colleague who loves personal development tools, and leave a review so more leaders can find the show.Connect with Jason on social media at https://www.instagram.com/tegakaldeep/ or https://www.tiktok.com/@tegakaldeep Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

May 5, 2026Episode 2540 min

What If Rest Were A Leadership Skill

Send us Fan MailYour calendar might look full, but your brain might be emptier than you realise. When every “day off” becomes laundry, errands, email catch-up, and prep for Monday, we never truly power down and it shows up everywhere: short patience, fuzzy thinking, reactive leadership, and that feeling of being too tired to make one more decision.We dig into the “French Sunday” concept, the idea of protecting time for rest, pleasure, and connection, and why it can be a legitimate leadership skill. We talk burnout prevention through a neuroscience lens: decision fatigue, dopamine dips, chronic stress, and how emotional regulation gets harder when you stay always on. We also explore third spaces and novelty, why leaving the house and being in community can shift your energy, and why slowness often unlocks creativity and better problem-solving.Stillness is not one-size-fits-all, so we share options that work for different nervous systems, including alternatives to meditation and small ways to reduce sensory overload. From a leadership perspective, we get practical about boundaries that build psychological safety: modelling recovery, avoiding after-hours emails, and using delayed send so you can rest without creating urgency for your team.We end with simple homework: carve out a non-negotiable rest window and remove one “setup day” habit from it, then notice how your mindset and leadership presence change. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with the “French Sunday” habit you’re trying next. Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

April 28, 2026Episode 2442 min

The Art Of Saying No

Send us Fan MailSaying no can feel like slamming a door, but for most leaders it’s really a fight with belonging, approval, and the fear of missing out. We dig into why our default becomes “yes” even when we’re exhausted, why that split-second decision feels so personal, and how it quietly turns into resentment, inconsistent priorities, and burnout. If you’ve ever looked at your calendar and felt your stomach drop, you’re not alone and you’re not “bad at time management.”We also get specific about the neuroscience of overcommitment. When we chase the dopamine hit of being needed and avoid the social threat of rejection, we can end up in chronic stress. We talk about decision fatigue, what burnout can do to the prefrontal cortex, why cortisol isn’t built to run high forever, and how joy can literally stop registering when dopamine blunts. This isn’t just a productivity problem. It’s a leadership health problem with real consequences for how you think, decide, and lead.From there, we shift into practical tools you can use immediately: reframing no as alignment, using no to protect your yes, and modeling healthy boundaries so your team feels permission to do the same. We share simple filters to run every request through alignment, capacity, impact, and ownership plus ways to say “not now” when a full no feels like an identity loss. If you want better focus, stronger trust, and more sustainable leadership, this is your reset.Subscribe for weekly leadership conversations, share this with someone who’s drowning in yeses, and leave a review with the hardest boundary you’re trying to set right now. Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

April 21, 2026Episode 2312 min

How To Lead Like A Human In An AI Workplace

Send us Fan MailAI can write your performance reviews, summarize your meetings, and draft your agenda in seconds. But when you walk into a room and your top performer has gone quiet, two teammates are tense, and everyone is bracing for bad news, no algorithm can do the most important job: make people feel safe, seen, and steady.We break down the AI-proof leadership skills we lean on when the workplace is moving fast. We talk about reading the room with emotional intelligence, creating real psychological safety (and why it is neurological, not fluffy), and building trust the only way it is built: hundreds of small moments where you do what you said you would do. We also dig into accountability, because when a leader owns a miss publicly, defensiveness drops and ownership spreads.From there we go to the tough stuff AI cannot carry for you: the feedback you have been holding back, the conflict everyone is avoiding, and the “don’t be nice, be kind” courage it takes to tell the truth and stay present for what happens next. We close with meaning-making in uncertainty and the daily character choice AI cannot make for you: who you decide to be at work.If you want practical leadership development for the AI era, take our challenge: pick one skill and practise it deliberately this week. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review with the skill you are choosing to build. Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

April 14, 2026Episode 2335 min

AI Proof Leadership Skills

Send us Fan MailAI can draft the email, summarize the meeting, and even mimic a friendly voice. What it cannot do is make your team trust you, feel safe, or do brave work when the pressure is on. That’s where leadership gets real, and where the “AI-proof skills” conversation stops being hype and starts being a career advantage.We dig into what the research is signaling about the future of work, including the World Economic Forum’s prediction that a major share of core job skills will change by 2030 and that empathy, active listening, leadership, and social influence are rising fast. We also talk about the practical reality behind the headlines: AI targets tasks, not whole careers, which means the leaders who only manage transactions are the most exposed, while leaders who can lead humans become more valuable.From there we go deep on the skills AI cannot touch: trust building that drives engagement, creative problem framing that turns chaos into clarity, and resilience that keeps teams solving problems instead of stopping at “no.” We also connect psychological safety to neuroaesthetics, showing how environment, rituals, and small cues like visuals, plants, music, and feedback loops can change how people feel and perform. Finally, we challenge leaders to stop trying to “motivate” people and start removing demotivators that quietly drain energy, trust, and productivity.If you’re navigating AI adoption, culture change, or leadership development, listen, share it with a manager or teammate, and then leave a review. What’s the one AI-proof skill you want to build next? Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/www.jolyean.comwww.katieervin.comCheck out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForgeOrder Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGzYou Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/