The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. Podcast explores what judgment looks like in practice when certainty is impossible.
I am a judgment guide. I help people act when the stakes are real, tradeoffs are unavoidable, and certainty isn’t coming. My value is not tactical insights, prediction, or optimization. It is guiding people to build their capacity for judgment under uncertainty.
Each episode examines a real decision moment—where real outcomes, real people, and real tradeoffs were at stake. Rather than focusing on outcomes or hindsight explanations, the conversations stay close to the decision itself: what could not be known at the time, what pressures were present, and how judgment was exercised without guarantees.
This is not a podcast about best practices, leadership slogans, or forecasting the future. It is about how people responsible for consequential decisions actually decide when responsibility can’t be delegated and waiting for clarity is itself a risk.
The podcast is for people accountable for decisions that matter—often without full control or authority—who must act with clarity and judgment when certainty is impossible.
Listeners might be interested in The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. newsletter as well. Check out at www.theuncertaintyedge.com. Hosted by Sam Sivarajan.
The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. Podcast explores what judgment looks like in practice when certainty is impossible.
I am a judgment guide. I help people act when the stakes are real, tradeoffs are unavoidable, and certainty isn’t coming. My value is not tactical insights, prediction, or optimization. It is guiding people to build their capacity for judgment under uncertainty.
Each episode examines a real decision moment—where real outcomes, real people, and real tradeoffs were at stake. Rather than focusing on outcomes or hindsight explanations, the conversations stay close to the decision itself: what could not be known at the time, what pressures were present, and how judgment was exercised without guarantees.
This is not a podcast about best practices, leadership slogans, or forecasting the future. It is about how people responsible for consequential decisions actually decide when responsibility can’t be delegated and waiting for clarity is itself a risk.
The podcast is for people accountable for decisions that matter—often without full control or authority—who must act with clarity and judgment when certainty is impossible.
Listeners might be interested in The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. newsletter as well. Check out at www.theuncertaintyedge.com. Hosted by Sam Sivarajan.
In this episode, Sam Sivarajan is joined by Mary Schmid, expert in communication and creator of the Conversational Edge system. Together, they dive into the transformative power of communication in financial advising and explore how financial professionals can foster trust and deepen client relationships through more meaningful, emotionally intelligent conversations.
Mary explains the neuroscience behind effective communication and how advisors can transition from surface-level transactions to deeper, transformational engagements. The conversation covers key communication blind spots, the importance of empathy and vulnerability, and how to create a safe space for clients to open up.
The episode also touches on the evolving role of technology, how it should enhance—not replace—human connection, and the critical role of emotional intelligence in navigating today’s advisory landscape. In a heartwarming close, Mary shares a profound lesson from a seven-year-old that underscores the idea that there’s often more than one right answer in both life and advising.
“Good communication doesn’t always build trust—but trust is reinforced or eroded with every conversation.” – Mary Schmid
"Clients don't remember everything you say. They remember how you made them feel."
"Being right isn’t the goal—getting it right together is."
"Curiosity, empathy, and vulnerability are what make conversations transformative."
01:34 – Mary’s Journey: From Healthcare Executive to Conversation Expert
06:36 – The Invisible Conversation: How Neuroscience Shapes Client Trust
09:19 – Transactional vs. Transformational: Understanding the 3 Levels of Conversation
17:01 – Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-Term Relationships
27:47 – Creating Emotional Safety in High-Stakes Conversations
🔗 Learn more about Mary and her work: maryschmid.com/futureready
📚 Book: Make or Break Conversations by Mary Schmid
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💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn and connect with other future-ready professionals.
transformative communication, financial advisors, neuroscience, client relationships, trust, meaningful conversations, behavioral finance, emotional intelligence, conversational edge, client engagement, communication, empathy, financial advice, technology, vulnerability, conversational skills, safety