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The Reins of Leadership
Merinda Smith
38 episodes
2 weeks ago
In this episode, I’m joined by Jill Macauley for a powerful and honest conversation about blindspots, leadership superpowers, and the point where strengths can quietly turn into limitations. We explore what happens when you fully lean into your natural strengths — not just to perform, but to grow. As leaders, we’re often encouraged to play to our strengths. Yet while strengths are rightly celebrated, they can also become places we stop questioning… and that’s where blindspots live. The very t...
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Entrepreneurship
Education,
Business,
Management,
Self-Improvement
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In this episode, I’m joined by Jill Macauley for a powerful and honest conversation about blindspots, leadership superpowers, and the point where strengths can quietly turn into limitations. We explore what happens when you fully lean into your natural strengths — not just to perform, but to grow. As leaders, we’re often encouraged to play to our strengths. Yet while strengths are rightly celebrated, they can also become places we stop questioning… and that’s where blindspots live. The very t...
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Education,
Business,
Management,
Self-Improvement
Episodes (20/38)
The Reins of Leadership
Blindspots, Superpowers & When Strengths Go Too Far with Jill Macauley
In this episode, I’m joined by Jill Macauley for a powerful and honest conversation about blindspots, leadership superpowers, and the point where strengths can quietly turn into limitations. We explore what happens when you fully lean into your natural strengths — not just to perform, but to grow. As leaders, we’re often encouraged to play to our strengths. Yet while strengths are rightly celebrated, they can also become places we stop questioning… and that’s where blindspots live. The very t...
Show more...
2 weeks ago
55 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Trauma-Informed HR, Culture Shifts & Lessons from the Saddle with Shae Noble
Shae Noble shares her leap from traditional employment into her own trauma-informed HR consultancy. Her story highlights the growing need for HR approaches that understand the human beneath the role description. The Evolution of HR → People & Culture In conversation, Shae and Merinda explore the changing landscape of HR. Understanding Workplace Dynamics The episode digs into what’s really happening beneath the surface in teams and organisations—patterns, tensions, unspoken expecta...
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4 weeks ago
45 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
The Hidden Gaps in Leadership
Every leader has them: those hidden perspectives and ingrained habits we call blindspots. In this insightful episode of The Reins of Leadership, Merinda shares a personal story to illuminate how our own aversions and outdated beliefs can inadvertently steer our leadership off course. Discover why blindspots aren't weaknesses, but rather uninspected areas ripe for growth. Here are some questions to help you: What are you truly resisting?Is your preference masquerading as a princi...
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1 month ago
17 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
The Space Between the Ask and the Answer
In this episode we explore a quiet moment with a yearling who had never been handled before. What began as a simple interaction — allowing the young horse to follow and accept a halter — became a powerful lesson in leadership, trust, and patience. Through stillness, observation, and gentle invitation, we explore how true leadership isn’t about pressure or control, but about creating space — the space for others to respond, choose, and trust. Reflective Question: Where in your leadershi...
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1 month ago
16 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Writing Your Legacy: Lessons from Life and Loss
In this powerful episode, we explore the true meaning of legacy - moving beyond achievements and accolades to examine the emotional imprint we leave on others. Through personal reflection and real-world stories, we discuss how leadership is not just about results, but about the courage, compassion, and connection we spark in those around us. We also confront how the reality of loss deepens our understanding of legacy and challenges us to lead with greater intention. Do you have a favori...
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2 months ago
14 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Nancy Griffin - Beyond Wealth: A Heartfelt Conversation on Worth, Wellness & Legacy
In this episode of The Reins of Leadership, I sit down with the remarkable Nancy Griffin — Legacy Advisor to Accomplished Women and founder of Women, Worth & Wellness™. What begins as a conversation about financial wealth soon expands into something much deeper — exploring self-worth, wellness, purpose, and the profound legacy women can create through generosity. Nancy’s story is deeply inspiring and this is an episode reminds us that true wealth lives in how we give, how we l...
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2 months ago
49 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Let It Come: The Quiet Power of Relaxation in Leadership
Drawing inspiration from the natural world and Tomas our gorgeous donkey, we delve into: The Illusion of Control & The Grip of Monofocus. We'll explore the dangers of "monofocus" and how it limits our leadership potential. Breaking the Cycle: Relaxation as Receptivity. Opening you up to intuition, insights, and creativity that are inaccessible when you're braced and rigid. Leading from Trust: The Power of Broad Awareness. We'll discuss how softening your grip actually strengt...
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2 months ago
12 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Heather McDaniel - Trust, Teams, and the New Leadership Paradigm
In this episode I sit down with Heather McDaniel — leadership coach, founder of the Life Love Leadership Project, and creator of the REBEL Method. Heather brings a fresh perspective on what it means to lead in today’s world of rapid change, especially in the high-stakes environment of B2B SaaS. We dive into the heart of leadership — trust. Trust in ourselves, trust within teams, and the kind of trust that builds psychological safety and resilience in organisations. Heather shares her belief t...
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2 months ago
48 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Who's Really Holding the Reins? Moving from Blame to True Responsibility.
Have you ever found yourself in a frustrating situation, blaming circumstances or other people for a lack of progress? It’s a natural human reaction, but for a leader, it’s a trap that drains power and erodes trust. In this episode, we explore a simple but transformative leadership model called "Above and Below the Line." Through personal stories, I'll show you how this model plays out in real-time. We'll break down the difference between the land of powerlessness and the land of empowerment ...
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3 months ago
17 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Bryan White – Boundaries, Growth, and the Power of Selfishness
In this episode, I’m joined by Bryan White – author of Get Selfish: Filling Your Bucket First, keynote speaker, and host of The RETURN Project. Bryan’s work is devoted to helping people reclaim their lives, rediscover their worth, and thrive beyond adversity. We dive into Bryan’s transformative framework that encourages us to prioritise self-care, establish healthier boundaries, and embrace personal growth as the bedrock of lasting change. Bryan shares his own lived experiences that make his ...
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3 months ago
1 hour 4 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
The Leader's Most Important Circle: Moving From Worry to Action
Do you ever feel like you're wasting energy worrying about things you can't change? As a leader, it’s easy to get fixated on the "spooky corners"—the difficult market, a colleague's bad mood, or a project that feels doomed. But what if your focus on the problem is the one thing preventing you from finding the solution? In this solo episode, I share a personal story from my return to riding that revealed a powerful truth about where we place our energy. We dive into a classic leadership model—...
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3 months ago
17 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Angela Hodgson on Spinning Plates, Redefining Luxury, and Leading with Sanity
Ever feel like you're spinning a million plates, trying to grow your business while also keeping your own sanity in check? You're not alone. Our next guest, Angela Hodgson, has been there, done that, and has the insights to help us all find a better way. After five years of running her own successful business, Angela is on a mission to help leaders build brilliant businesses without the burnout that so often comes with it. But her journey wasn't a straight line. Angela shares her incredible s...
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3 months ago
39 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Raven Rabbit - Intuition, Animals, and Ancestral Wisdom
In this rich and heart-opening conversation, Merinda is joined by Jackie Cope of Raven Rabbit, a soulful educator and consultant whose journey weaves together animal communication, spiritual practice, and indigenous wisdom. Together, they explore how working with animals, using intuition, body awareness, and deep listening, can offer insights into how we show up in our own workspaces and leadership. From her early career in teaching to her current work in consulting and spiritual mentor...
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4 months ago
24 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
The Donkey Uprising – What Mini-Donkeys Can Teach You About Leadership
What do two cheeky mini-donkeys and a paddock full of personality have to do with leadership? A lot more than you might think. In this episode of The Reins of Leadership, we explore an unexpected rebellion - not in the boardroom, but in the paddock - and the powerful lessons it holds for business leaders, teams, and anyone managing people with purpose. Meet Dotty and Sparky, the unlikely masterminds of the Great Donkey Uprising, and discover how their dynamic mirrors the strategist-impl...
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4 months ago
17 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Emotional Intelligence in the Age of AI
In this episode, Merinda explores the role of emotional intelligence in the age of artificial intelligence - and how our ability to connect, attune, and lead from the heart is becoming more essential than ever. As machines grow faster and more capable at cognitive tasks, it’s our human qualities; empathy, presence, intuition, that truly set us apart. Drawing on her own leadership practice and moments of quiet connection with her equines, Merinda shares how heart-to-heart presence liter...
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4 months ago
15 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Shae Noble’s Journey of Healing, Horses, and Human-Centred Leadership
In this episode I’m joined by the truly remarkable Shae – a leader, HR specialist, and equine soul whose story is both deeply personal and powerfully inspiring. We explore how horses have shaped Shae’s personal growth, leadership style, and trauma-informed approach to HR. From childhood memories with her grandparents' horses to transformative moments in adulthood, Shae shares how equine therapy helped her reconnect with herself and lead others with greater empathy and emotional intelligence. ...
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4 months ago
31 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Leadership Is a Mirror: What Are You Really Seeing
In this week's episode, Merinda teams up with the insightful Jina Hardy to explore the powerful and provocative idea that leadership is a mirror. What if the challenges you face with your team, your clients, and your goals aren't just external problems to be solved, but reflections of your own inner world? Jina and Merinda dive deep into this concept, sharing personal stories of navigating difficult dynamics and discovering that true leadership begins with radical self-awareness. They unpack ...
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4 months ago
45 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Kelly Wendorf on Equine Wisdom and Embodied Leadership
Are you leading from your head, disconnected from your intuition? What if the greatest leadership tool wasn't another framework, but a direct connection to your own authentic presence? This week on The Reins of Leadership, we are joined by the remarkable Kelly Wendorf - founder of EQUUS, author of Flying Lead Change, and a guide who bridges the worlds of equine wisdom, neuroscience, and ancient Indigenous teachings. In This Episode, You Will Discover: The Horse as the Ultimate Truth-Teller: H...
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5 months ago
48 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
Their Fear Is Not Your Forecast
What happens when the people closest to you don’t cheer you on? When their silence, their doubt, or their discomfort makes you question whether you're ready - or even capable? In this episode, Merinda shares a powerful story from the herd and reflects how it mirrors the human experience of stepping into something unfamiliar while surrounded by well-meaning fear. We explore the subtle ways resistance shows up, the hidden loyalty we carry to those we love, and what it truly means to show ...
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5 months ago
17 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
When Your Best Employee is a Ticking Clock
Is your star player always saying "yes," taking on more, and smiling through it all? What if that incredible willingness is masking deep stress, putting them on a collision course with burnout... or worse, an unexpected exit? Too many leaders miss the subtle signs until it's too late. In this episode of The Reins of Leadership, we step into the arena to understand the "Eager Pleaser" – that invaluable team member whose desire to do right might be pushing them to their breaking point. Ke...
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5 months ago
15 minutes

The Reins of Leadership
In this episode, I’m joined by Jill Macauley for a powerful and honest conversation about blindspots, leadership superpowers, and the point where strengths can quietly turn into limitations. We explore what happens when you fully lean into your natural strengths — not just to perform, but to grow. As leaders, we’re often encouraged to play to our strengths. Yet while strengths are rightly celebrated, they can also become places we stop questioning… and that’s where blindspots live. The very t...