Untrained is a webcast by two elite executive coaches/moms/ recovering Olympians* dedicated to sharing the lessons, tools and skills that are trending in our coaching sessions. Sometimes seriously, more often through laughter, we share the skills and mindsets that are helping our clients find a more aligned and vibrant way of working and living.
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July 24, 2025Episode 41146 min
That’s a Wrap: What we Learned from Season 3. Hosted by Olympian Joe Jacobi
In this episode of Untrained, we flip the script! Olympic gold medalist and performance coachJoe Jacobi joins Whitney and Iris from his home in Catalonia to be this episode’s host. Joeweaves in his expertise on a life worth living and then turns the tables on Whitney and Iris toask the Untrained duo about Season 3; recapping highlights from 3 episodes.This conversation dives into:The Wave Mindset: Joe introduces the concept of "thinking in waves," a powerful metaphor for navigating life's challenges and opportunities with grace and intention.Joe flips the script and interviews Iris and Whitney: The trio recaps episodes includinglegendary coach Kathy Delany-Smith, Olympians Cassidy Krug and Connor Fields.Whitney and Iris weigh in on their current Untraining journey and where it finds them. Untraining for Success: Joe shares a personal story of untraining his competitive mindset,revealing how letting go can lead to unexpected triumphs and greater enjoyment.We had a great time connecting with Joe, wrapping up the season, and reflecting on Untraining as powerful strategy in each of our lives.If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review!Follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.Connect with Joe Jacobi: LinkedIn, Website
June 24, 2025Episode 41047 min
Untraining through Internal Family Systems: A Beginner’s Guide to IFS
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”—RumiStep inside the transformative world of Internal Family Systems (IFS) with Whitney and Iris on the "Untrained" podcast. Joined by IFS experts Barti Bourgault and Guthrie Sayen, co-founders of the Institute for Healing and Awakening, this episode unpacks Dr. Richard Schwartz’s groundbreaking model that’s revolutionizing personal growth, coaching, and therapy. If you are curious about self-discovery, you’ll find practical insights and tools for understanding your inner world and leading your life with greater clarity and compassion.Key Takeaways:IFS’s Three Big Ideas: Discover the foundational concepts that will change how you see yourself and others.Understanding Your Inner “Parts”: Learn how manager parts, protectors, and exiles shape your emotions and behaviors.Accessing Your “Self”: Explore ways to connect with your calm, compassionate core for healing and clarity.Barti Bourgault, PCC and Guthrie Sayen PhD, PCC are the founders of The Institute for Healing and Awakening which offers life-changing training for those seeking to work more deeply in service of healing, presence, and global wellbeing. https://www.healingandawakening.instituteWhitney’s executive coaching is IFS informed. www.whitneyottocoaching.comBook on IFS: No Bad Parts by Dick Schwartz
June 5, 2025Episode 40949 min
Resurfacing: A conversation on life's transitions with Olympian Cassidy Krug
Resurfacing: A Conversation on Life’s Biggest Transitions fwith Olympic Diver Cassidy KrugIn this episode of "Untrained," hosts Iris and Whitney welcome Cassidy Krug, a former Olympic diver and author of "Resurface." Cassidy shares her journey from elite athlete to navigating life after sports, offering insights on the universal challenges of major life transitions.Key highlights include:Cassidy's experience transitioning out of competitive divingThe importance of community support during life changesUnderstanding and processing grief in all types of transitionsThe power of rituals in marking significant life eventsCassidy's story resonates beyond sports, touching on career shifts, personal growth, and finding new purpose. She emphasizes that no matter the transition you're facing, you're not alone.This episode offers valuable perspectives for anyone grappling with change, from career pivots to personal transformations. Cassidy's book "Resurface" provides further exploration of these themes, making it a must-read for those seeking guidance through life's transitions.Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, self-discovery, and the unexpected opportunities that arise when we navigate change.
May 27, 2025Episode 40828 min
A Conversation About Slowing Down with Amanda Smith
In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, we sit down with Amanda Smith—former NASA engineer turned coach for high-achieving women navigating chronic illness.We explore what it really means to slow down to speed up healing, and Amanda shares both science-backed tools and deeply personal insights on how to rewire the brain-body connection. Key Takeaways:Functional Neurology 101: How Amanda helps clients retrain their nervous systems for balance and recoveryThe Power of Sound: Humming and singing to stimulate the vagus nerveCurated Playlists: Using music strategically to calm or energizeThe Gutsy Chick Archetypes: Meet the Bruiser, the Brainster, the Stickler, and the Chillster—and how each one relates to healingA real-time reflection on what happens when Iris untrains her habit of going fast through lifeThis episode is a reminder: Slowing down isn’t weakness—it’s a tactical strategy that at some point we will all have to embrace. Amanda Smith is a former NCAA Division I and Division II softball player and a trained aerospace engineer who has worked on projects for NASA. Now she helps female high performers with confusing health challenges to identify their unique path to clarity, relief, and optimum performance.GutsyChickQuiz.comBodyWhisperHealing.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@Body.Whisper.Healing https://www.instagram.com/amanda.g.smith/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-ritchie-smith/
May 1, 2025Episode 40737 min
Embodiment Strategies for Stressful Times
What We Cover:What somatics is and how it's different from traditional approaches to behavior changeHow body-based practices help us build awareness, resilience, and alignmentRedefining resilience: Not grit, but nourishment through nature, creativity, connection, and careDr. J draws from decades of experience in education, athletics, and healing work to illuminate how somatic awareness can shape everything from how we lead to how we grieve.Whether you’re navigating stress, leading through change, or just trying to feel more like yourself again—this episode offers tools and perspective you won’t want to miss.Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And if you loved this conversation, leave us a review and share it with a friend.You can find Dr. J Sikes on he website here: https://strozziinstitute.org/coach/j-sikes/
April 17, 2025Episode 40644 min
Why Confidence is Overrated
In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, hosts Whitney and Iris are joined by Travis Thomas, a renowned speaker, author, and coach. Together, they challenge the traditional belief that confidence is essential for success and explore why courage and action may be far more impactful.Episode Highlights:Reframing Confidence and Courage: Travis explains why courage often trumps confidence in high-stakes environments. Actions, not feelings, ultimately drive performance.Creating Psychological Safety: Discover how leaders can foster environments where team members feel safe to take risks and grow, a crucial element for high-performing teams.Responding to Uncertainty: Travis shares strategies for focusing on controllable factors like attitude and effort, maintaining a proactive mindset even in unpredictable situations.The Power of Validation: Understand why allowing individuals to express emotions before guiding them toward solutions enhances leadership effectiveness.Pausing for Conscious Choice: Inspired by Viktor Frankl, Travis discusses the importance of pausing between stimulus and response to make thoughtful decisions.Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that redefines confidence and equips you with practical tools for leadership and personal growth. Connect with Travis Thomas and explore his work through his books, Confidence is Overrated and Three Words for Getting Live.If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Follow us on LinkedIn at The Untrained Podcast.
April 3, 2025Episode 40545 min
A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome
In this episode of the "Untrained" podcast, we welcome Dr. Lisa and Dr. Richard Orbe-Austin to discuss their insightful new book, "Your Child's Greatness: A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome." The conversation is a treasure trove of strategies for nurturing confidence, resilience, and healthy self-esteem in children, tackling challenges like performance anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressures of toxic academic cultures.Key Concepts: Belonging, Blooming, and BeingIntroduction to the three-part framework for child developmentImportance of fostering a sense of belonging independent of achievementNavigating High-Stress EnvironmentsApplying book principles to high-pressure situations like competitive sportsStrategies for parents to support children in challenging environmentsPerformance Anxiety and PerfectionismTechniques for addressing performance anxiety in children-Understanding the roots and impacts of perfectionism Building Self-Care RoutinesImportance of modeling self-care behaviors as parentsStrategies for incorporating self-care into children's routines Toxic Academic and Sports CulturesAddressing challenges in academic and sports environmentsEncouraging parents to advocate for their children's well-being Curiosity and Understanding in ParentingEmphasizing the importance of curiosity in understanding children's behaviorsEncouraging open communication and data-driven conclusions in parenting Whether you're a parent, coach, teacher or anyone who works with kids, you'll find valuable wisdom in this episode on fostering resilience and confidence in the next generation.Join us for this enlightening discussion and discover how to foster a nurturing environment where children can truly thrive. For more insights, connect with Dr. Lisa and Dr. Richard Orbe-Austin and explore their book, "Your Child's Greatness."Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and co-founder of Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting. She specializes in career advancement, leadership development, and helping high-potential professionals overcome imposter syndrome. Her expert insights have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, NBC News, and more, and she’s been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Careers.Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and author who specializes in imposter syndrome, leadership development, and workplace well-being. He is a TEDx speaker whose insights have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and more.Together they have written, Own Your Greatness and Your Unstoppable Greatness, and Your Child's Greatness: A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome.
March 13, 2025Episode 40445 min
Untraining from Toxic Productivity with Israa Nasir
In this episode of The Untrained Podcast, we dive into a conversation that every high performer can likely relate to: Toxic Productivity. We sit down with Israa Nasir, psychotherapist and author of Toxic Productivity, to explore the pervasive mindset in which our self-worth becomes tethered to achievement. We examine the cultural, familial, and emotional roots of this mindset, the rewards and costs it carries, and the long-term impact on our well-being.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The definition of toxic productivityCultural influences that shape our productivity mindsetThe emotional underpinnings that drive overachievementStrategies for untraining from toxic productivityThe role of intentional mediocrity in achieving healthy productivityIsraa shares her personal journey through toxic productivity, provides powerful client examples, and invites us to radically reimagine what productivity truly means. Her approach blends psychological insights with practical strategies, offering a roadmap to breaking free from the achievement treadmill.If you’ve ever felt like you are only as good as your latest accomplishment, this episode is for you.Listen now and start untraining from unconscious toxic productivity.Guest Bio: Iraa NasirIsraa Nasir, MHC-LP, is a New York City-based psychotherapist, writer, and the founder of WellGuide—a digital community for mental health awareness. A Pakistani-Canadian child of immigrants, she has a specific focus on mental health, identity formation and healing for the AAPI first- and second-generation immigrant community.Resources & Links: https://www.israanasir.com/about-israa
February 27, 2025Episode 40322 min
The Goodness Game: with Bryan Driscoll
Episode Summary:If the February blues are hitting hard, this episode might be just what you need. We’re talking about simple, meaningful ways to bring more goodness into our communities—because even small acts can create powerful ripple effects.Our guest this week is Bryan Driscoll, author of The goodness game and a passionate advocate for kindness. His journey of paying it forward began 20 years ago when a stranger’s small act of generosity changed his life. Now, he’s on a mission to inspire others to spread goodness in ways that feel natural and sustainable.In this episode, we explore:The surprising experiment that sparked Brian’s missionHow to identify your unique "helper style"Tips for giving without burning outThe five rules of The Goodness GamePractical ways to incorporate kindness into daily lifeResearch backs it up—helping others isn’t just good for them; it’s good for us, too. Studies have shown that acts of kindness boost happiness, reduce anxiety, and strengthen social connections across cultures.Brian reminds us that generosity doesn’t have to be grand and offers tips to keep kindness sustainable.This conversation left us with practical tips for getting goodness flowing.Guest Bio: Bryan DriscollBryan Driscoll is an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for kindness. His journey with The Goodness Game began after a stranger’s simple act of generosity changed his life 20 years ago. Since then, he’s been dedicated to paying it forward and helping others find their own ways to spread goodness. When he’s not writing or speaking on the power of kindness, Bryan runs a digital marketing agency, invests in real estate, and enjoys mountain biking and skiing with his family in Pittsburgh.Resources & Links:Check out goodnessgame.com for free resources, including Bryan’s book and the Helper’s Heart Test.
February 6, 2025Episode 40241 min
Three Olympics, Three Lessons: A Champions Journey to Growth
Have you ever wondered what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in a sport where a single mistake could cost you your life? BMX Athletes "have to have the explosive power of a 100-meter sprinter, the endurance of a 400-meter runner, the balance of a gymnast, and the mental fortitude of a boxer".In our latest Untrained episode, we explore the mind of an athlete who's experienced the fullspectrum of Olympic outcomes. The first time Connor went to the Olympics he “choked” and earned 7th place. The second time he won an Olympic Gold and in the final Olympics, Connor suffered a life threatening injury. His story is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and the power of perspective in his athletic career and beyond.Here are 3 key insights from our conversation with Connor: Adaptability is Key: BMX racing demands a unique blend of skills. Connor explains how this translates to success in life beyond sports as well as what mindsets he needed to UNTRAIN. Redefining Success: Learn how Connor's sport and life transitions have forced him to continually redefine success and what it means to him now that he is a TV host and Keynote speaker.Unlearning Black and White Thinking: Discover how Connor is navigating the "gray areas" of life after a career of clear-cut wins and losses.This episode offers a raw look into the mindset of an elite athlete transitioning to life beyondcompetition. Hint: it involves a lot of untraining!You can learn more about Connor at: https://www.connorfields.comDon't forget to:- Pass this on to someone who could benefit from these insights.- Subscribe to Untrained for more inspiring conversations!
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