The Path To Leadership

Hosted by Catalyst Development

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120

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Jul 2026

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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/

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July 28, 2026Episode 3533 min

End of Season: A Leadership Resource Roundup

Send us Fan Mail A single question can change how you lead: “Was I giving you feedback or was I an asshole?” We start there, unpacking what it takes to notice when our “help” is really just control, and why self-awareness matters more than good intent when you are building trust at work. We also talk about choosing your battles, using the “start with the heart” mindset from Crucial Conversations, and deciding when a repair attempt is worth the time and emotional energy. Then we switch gears and do something we love: a practical, listener-tested resource roundup. We share podcasts that deliver real professional development without the fluff, including the Harvard Business Review IdeaCast, plus local Kansas City favorites like Four O’Clock Somewhere and The Corporate Couch, and a calming wellness show from Jenna Washnowski. Rhonda brings in a standout mindfulness and neuroaesthetics recommendation from the Getty Museum called the Ohm podcast, a short guided experience that uses art, history, and attention to help center your nervous system. We also drop our best LinkedIn follows for leaders who want higher quality inputs, including marketing ideas that actually make Gen Z strategy feel usable, plus Nicole Bradford’s AI radar for staying current on artificial intelligence and human-centered AI strategy. And because leadership is also about regulation, not just results, we share our favorite intentional brain breaks like explore.org live nature cams and even underwater streams that can reset your focus before a meeting or a brainstorming session. We’re taking about a month break after this season-ending conversation, but we want to stay connected. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a rating or review, then tell us what you want us to tackle next season. Rhonda's recommendations: Podcasts Ommm Podcast by Getty Museum, part history, part mindfulness, part aesthetic engagement. Intentional Brain Break Explore Live Nature Cams Explore.org (bears in Alaska, Katineye Park) LinkedIn Pretty Little Marketer Big Think Nichol Bradford —AI; Friday “AI Radar” and she reposts variety of AI thought leaders Book Lena Dunham, Famesick Katie's Recommendations: Harvard Business Review IdeaCast 4:00 somewhere-Marc Shaffer and Jeff Pallacio (The Corporate Couch) In with the…Jenna Washnaski Intentional Brain Break: Pompano Beach Underwater Camera: https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/usa/florida/pompanobeach-underwater-pier-cam.html LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanadavidphd/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/normcraig/ Books: Revealing by Leslie John Emotion Rules by Joshua Freedman Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/ www.jolyean.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

July 21, 2026Episode 3438 min

You Might Be an A$$hole: Not all Feedback Is A Gift

Send us Fan Mail Someone can sound “helpful” and still be out of line. We’re unpacking a messy leadership reality: feedback only helps when it’s grounded in intent, consent, and context. When it isn’t, it stops being a growth tool and turns into ego, control, or someone else’s personal preference dressed up as professionalism. Katie tells a real story from a leadership program where a fellow facilitator books time on her calendar under the guise of aligning sessions, then delivers unsolicited “tips” about her credibility, her examples, and how she should run a room. We break down why that kind of critique hits so hard, especially when you’re riding the high of doing great work, and why “feedback is a gift” can be a harmful mantra when it pressures people to accept every opinion with a smile. From there, we get practical. We use a crucial conversations lens to define the difference between feedback and preference, and we share simple questions leaders can ask before offering critique: am I helping them succeed or making them more like me, is this about results or my comfort, did they ask, and do I have enough trust built to be heard. If you’re on the receiving end, we talk about how to look for evidence, give yourself grace, and then flush the rest without letting it steal your confidence. If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a rating or review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. What’s one piece of feedback you wish you’d ignored, and what’s one that truly helped you grow? Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/ www.jolyean.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

July 14, 2026Episode 3443 min

World Cup Leadership Lessons From Kansas City

Send us Fan Mail The World Cup turns ordinary decisions into high-stakes leadership tests, and watching Kansas City host the world has made us think hard about what great teams actually do when things get messy. We do not have a guest this week, just an honest conversation about what we’ve seen behind the scenes: the early transportation hiccups, the public pressure, and the way leaders responded with accountability, fast fixes, and better communication. If you’ve ever led a team through a visible mistake, you’ll recognize how hard it is to stay calm, stay present, and keep moving. From there, we pull practical leadership lessons straight from soccer. Star players get the headlines, but outcomes depend on the full roster, especially the bench players and “silent contributors” who change the game when the plan breaks. We talk about why alignment and trust beat individual brilliance, and why a leader’s job looks a lot like a coach: prepare people well, then give them real autonomy when the whistle blows. We also get candid about emotional regulation, because teams mirror what leaders model under stress. Then we zoom out to the human side of this tournament: the community stories, the feeling of belonging across language barriers, and the concept of collective effervescence, that electric sense of “we” that teams and workplaces often miss. We also highlight Kansas City’s leadership in women’s sports through the Kansas City Current, and ask the question we keep coming back to: where are we waiting for permission to build what people already need? If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who leads teams, and leave a review. And tell us who you think wins it all, plus the best World Cup story you’ve seen so far. Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/ www.jolyean.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

July 7, 2026Episode 3348 min

The Super Connector Playbook with Marc Shaffer

Send us Fan Mail Networking has a reputation problem. Too many of us picture awkward name tags, forced small talk, and that sinking feeling that we’re being sold to. So we brought on someone who’s known across Kansas City for doing the exact opposite: Marc Shaffer, a financial planner and community builder who’s earned a reputation as a true “super connector” by leading with generosity, curiosity, and follow-through. We talk about how Marc learned the craft of relationship building through Rotary and mentorship, then turned it into a clear, repeatable system. We dig into the philosophy behind his book One For All, including the idea that what you give “in slices” can come back “in loaves” when you play the long game. You’ll hear how an abundance mindset changes the way you lead, how you follow up, and how you show up in your community without making everything about business. You’ll also get practical tools you can steal today: how to network as an introvert by going deeper with fewer people, how to use milestones and small acts of kindness to strengthen trust, and how templates, reminders, newsletters and social media can help you stay present even when life is full. Marc also shares how he uses personality assessments to understand working styles and build better partnerships. If you want to become the kind of leader people remember and recommend, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who hates networking, and leave us a review. What relationship habit are you ready to build next? Connect with Marc: https://searcyfinancial.com/oneforall Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/ www.jolyean.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

June 30, 2026Episode 3249 min

Love Isn't Soft: The Leadership Mistake That's Killing Performance

Send us Fan Mail What if the most effective leadership strategy isn't tougher accountability, better technology, or another employee engagement initiative? What if it's love? Before you roll your eyes, stay with us. This week on Path to Leadership, Dr. Katie Ervin and Rhonda Jolyean sit down with leadership expert and former executive Mark Mears to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions in leadership: that caring for people and holding them accountable are opposing forces. Mark has led some of America's most recognizable brands, and he's seeing a troubling trend. Employee engagement continues to decline. Managers are exhausted. Teams are doing just enough to get by. Too many organizations are confusing comfort with care, and the result is lower performance, lower morale, and frustrated high performers. We explore: • Why tolerating underperformance damages your culture more than difficult conversations • The connection between accountability, trust, and belonging • What quiet quitting and disengagement are really telling leaders • Why purpose-driven organizations outperform those focused solely on profits • The difference between shareholder value and stakeholder value • How hybrid workplaces are creating new challenges for connection and recognition • The role AI will play in leadership—and why human wisdom still matters At the center of the conversation is Mark's LOVE framework: Listen. Observe. Value. Empower. It's a practical leadership approach that helps people feel seen, supported, challenged, and connected to something bigger than themselves. If you're trying to create a culture where people thrive without sacrificing results, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership. Because the best leaders don't choose between people and performance. They understand that one drives the other. Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markamears/ https://www.markamears.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/ www.jolyean.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

June 23, 2026Episode 3238 min

The Stories in Your Head Are Running Your Leadership (Here's How to Rewrite Them)

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever convinced yourself you were in trouble because a meeting got canceled? Assumed a teammate didn't care because they went quiet? Or created an entire worst-case scenario from one small piece of information? You're not alone. In this final episode of our Stories We Tell Ourselves series, Dr. Katie Ervin and Rhonda Jolyean explore how the narratives we create can quietly influence our confidence, communication, relationships, and leadership effectiveness. We unpack why our brains are wired to focus on threats, how negativity bias fuels assumptions, and why comparison can damage confidence through what psychologists call the spotlight effect. From entrepreneurship and fear of failure to navigating major life transitions, we share personal experiences and practical strategies for challenging the stories that no longer serve us. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why your brain fills in missing information with assumptions • How negativity bias and comparison distort reality • Questions that help separate facts from stories • Simple language shifts that move you from certainty to curiosity • Leadership communication practices that reduce anxiety and build trust • How psychological safety helps employees feel valued, heard, and supported If you've ever found yourself overthinking, assuming the worst, or letting self-doubt influence your decisions, this conversation will give you practical tools to rewrite the narrative. Ask yourself: What do I know to be true? What information am I missing? Am I reacting to facts or assumptions? Have I had the conversation? Because the stories you tell yourself shape the leader, colleague, partner, and person you become. Subscribe, share this episode with a leader in your life, and leave a review with the story you're working to rewrite. Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/ www.jolyean.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

June 16, 2026Episode 3122 min

What If Your Leadership Certainty Is Wrong

Send us Fan Mail You 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.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn 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 Mail A 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.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn 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 Mail Your 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.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn 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 Mail Imposter 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.com www.katieervin.com Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge Order Dr. Katie's books: 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6 Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/