Some leadership frameworks are born in classrooms. Others are born in suffering. In this deeply personal episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola shares the story behind the Emotional Connection (EmC) process—a journey shaped by years of workplace conflict, disconnection, and emotional pain, and ultimately transformed into a path of healing, clarity, and hope. Rather than offering another set of leadership tips or behavior-change techniques, this conversation explores what actuall...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Merry Brown—a philosopher-turned-mediator, ombuds, facilitator, and host of Conflict Managed—to explore how her unique journey from academia to workplace conflict resolution is reshaping the way organizations think about tension, triggers, and team relationships. Merry brings a calm, grounding presence and a rare ability to connect the intellectual world of philosophy with the emotional realities of human behavior at work. Her story offers a refre...

In this special and heartfelt episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and co-host Polina Marian welcome a uniquely insightful guest—16-year-old CEO, influencer, and long-time EmC practitioner, Elli Goldberg. Elli shares her remarkable journey of navigating family transitions, growing through emotionally focused therapy, and applying the Emotional Connection (EmC) process to her relationships, her business, and the world of social media influence. Despite her age, Elli brings an emoti...

In this heartfelt Thanksgiving-week episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and co-host Polina Marian explore a surprisingly common but rarely discussed experience at work—how even a small moment of feeling forgotten or unseen can shake an entire team. Drawing from a real situation (shared with permission) with a CEO and CFO, they walk through how a simple birthday misunderstanding spiraled into days of emotional distance, avoidance, confusion, and team-wide tension. More importantly...

In this episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and her daughter and co-host, Polina Marian, explore one of the most universal leadership challenges: how to keep your focus during stressful situations. We often believe that staying focused means staying on the problem—the facts, the content, the mistakes, the timeline. But as Lola and Polina explain using the Emotional Connection (EmC) framework, true focus comes from shifting your attention away from the content and toward the under...

In this insightful episode of The Leader in You, Polina and Dr. Lola Gershfeld sit down with Dr. Jamie Goff, author of The Secure Leader, to explore how attachment science shapes leadership, team relationships, and the emotional culture of the workplace. Jamie shares her personal journey—from teaching emotionally focused therapy (EFT) to stepping into leadership and realizing how her own attachment patterns showed up in her role as a department chair. A single moment with her administr...

In this heartfelt episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld speaks with Niamh Hannan, EmC Certified Trainer in Ireland, about what it truly means to bring people home—to themselves, to one another, and to emotional safety at work. Fresh from leading a two-day EmC Master Class in Ireland, Niamh shares moving stories of leaders and coaches who discovered how to transform disconnection into trust and teamwork through the Emotional Connection (EmC) process. Together, Lola and Niamh explore...

In this episode, Polina and Dr. Lola unpack what happens when workplace conflicts take an unexpected turn — what they call “the curveball.” Whether it’s defensiveness, shutdown, or denial, these moments often derail even our best intentions to connect. Together, they explore how emotional disconnection fuels these reactions and how leaders, managers, and teammates can use the EmC process to slow things down, recognize protective behaviors, and create safety for real conversations to happen. T...

What happens when two aerospace engineers just can’t get along—and a manager decides not to force a resolution? In this insightful and entertaining episode from Day 2 of the ATD OrgDev Conference, Dr. Lola Gershfeld, Polina Marian, and guest Matt Gjertsen with Better Everyday Studios uncover how a workplace conflict turned into an unexpected story of connection, understanding, and emotional growth. Matt shares a true story about two teammates who went from frustration to friendship—not throug...

In this lively conference edition of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and her daughter and co-host, Polina Marian, bring listeners behind the scenes at the ATD OrgDev Conference in Houston — joined by special guest Beth Messick, leadership coach and advisory board member for OrgDev. Together, they unpack key insights from keynote speaker Galen Emanuele, who used the principles of improv — especially the “Yes, And” mindset — to illustrate how openness, flexibility, and emotional p...

When conflict and loneliness take over your workplace, your body and mind pay the price. In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian explore the powerful link between emotional connection and well-being — drawing from the landmark Harvard Happiness Study and decades of attachment science. Discover how the EmC Process helps you repair relationships, restore safety, and reawaken joy at work. Because when we feel seen, supported, and secure, everything — from performance to health — be...

What if the key to transforming your team’s culture, connection, and performance wasn’t another system or strategy—but something far more human? In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian reveal the secret ingredient to true team transformation: self-awareness. Drawing from real data in the Team Emotional Safety Assessment (TESA), they share how one company’s 13% increase in self-awareness led to stronger relationships, fewer conflicts, and measurable improvements in emotional safe...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina explore a powerful new framework for understanding conflict and restoring balance - L-TEMPO. Just like dancing, relationships move to a rhythm, and emotions are the music that guides us. El TEMPO stands for: L – Longing for connectionT – TriggersE – EmotionsM – MeaningP – Protective behaviorsO – OrganizingTogether, Lola and Polina break down each step, showing how teams and leaders can use this simple yet transformati...

In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and psychologist Niamh Hannan unpack what happens when workplace dynamics feel like a game of Pac-Man—one person chasing, the other running away. They explore how this destructive pattern shows up in meetings, teams, and leadership, and why it leaves everyone anxious, stuck, and disconnected. More importantly, they reveal how the EmC Reconnection Process helps teams step out of the game and into genuine connection, trust, and collaboration. From de-escalati...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian respond to the shocking news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination — not with politics or speculation, but with a focus on what truly matters: how leaders, teams, and organizations can process collective trauma and its ripple effects in the workplace. We introduce the Emotional Connection (EmC) process, a step-by-step method to: De-escalate emotions and create emotional safetyRestructure conversations to repair relat...

In this engaging episode of The Leader in You Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Alaina Szlachta, author of Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring. Alaina shares her inspiring journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and why thinking like a researcher can transform the way we make decisions—whether in leadership, learning, or life. Together, we explore: Why data isn’t just about numbers, but about noticing patterns and insights.How fear of failure often hides behind resistance to measu...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld reveals the secret to creating and sustaining healthy team relationships. Drawing from attachment science and the Emotional Connection (EmC) process, she shares how teams can move beyond surface-level communication to build trust, resilience, and true emotional safety. You’ll discover: Why traditional conflict resolution misses the heart of the problem.How to recognize the hidden “dance of disconnection” that derails teams.The p...

In this week’s episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld takes on some of the most common — and challenging — questions about team dynamics and workplace relationships. What happens when one teammate thrives on emotional connection while another prefers to stay task-focused? How do we stop labeling colleagues as “too emotional” or “too shut down”? And what’s the one small action you can take today to infuse your team with safety, trust, and connection? Drawing on attachment sci...

When a team feels “off,” the damage goes deeper than missed deadlines—it erodes trust, safety, and connection. In this solo episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld reveals how to spot the subtle signs of disconnection, shift the “emotional music” that drives team dynamics, and repair relationships before it’s too late. Learn how leaders can create a culture where people feel safe, valued, and ready to collaborate. The Leader in You is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants to create a workplace culture w...

In this riveting and emotionally charged episode, dive into a viral workplace scandal that rocked social media—the infamous kiss-cam moment at a Coldplay concert featuring the CEO and Chief People Officer of Astronomer, both of whom resigned. Licensed therapist Jack Gershfeld joins to explore the deeper emotional and relational dynamics behind infidelity, both in personal relationships and in organizational settings. The episode explores the three phases of infidelity (distraction, substituti...