If you tend to avoid conflict, smooth things over, or jump in to fix problems yourself, this episode is for you.

As your business grows, tension and discomfort don’t mean something is broken; they’re signs that your business is evolving. In this episode of Be the Anchor, Kari explores the critical (and often uncomfortable) shift from being a capable problem-solver to becoming a true leader.

You’ll learn why avoiding hard conversations keeps you stuck in reaction mode, how fixing problems for your team actually limits their growth, and what leadership looks like when responsibility is shared instead of absorbed.

This episode is a continuation of the recent conversation about becoming the bottleneck in your business and what it really takes to move from management into confident, sustainable leadership.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why conflict and tension are not signs of failure but indicators of growth
• The predictable stages of business ownership: provider → manager → leader
• How “being helpful” can quietly keep you stuck fixing instead of leading
• The hidden cost of avoiding hard conversations in your business
• Why leadership is about developing people, not preventing problems
• A real-world example of addressing performance issues without micromanaging
• How naming standards and impact builds ownership and accountability
• Why asking questions is more powerful than giving answers
• The role of space, calm, and regulation in effective leadership conversations

You’re not behind. You’re evolving.

Learning how to lead through discomfort calmly, clearly, and without carrying everything yourself is one of the most important shifts a business owner can make. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

If this episode resonated, let it be an invitation, not to push harder, but to pause. To step back just enough to lead forward.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’ve built a strong reputation, hired good people, and still feel like everything runs through you - this episode is for you.

In this continuation of last week’s conversation, Kari dives into what happens after you realize you’ve become the bottleneck in your business. Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because leadership has quietly been squeezed into the margins of your day.

This episode explores why clarity doesn’t come from trying harder, working faster, or stacking better systems on top of an already full plate. It comes from something most business owners avoid: creating space.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why being deeply involved in the day-to-day makes it nearly impossible to lead well
• The hidden cost of making leadership decisions “in the margins”
• How service-based owners end up holding two full-time jobs: revenue generator and leader
• A real story from Kari’s own business, and the moment she realized her leadership was the constraint
• Why your team may feel uncertain or disengaged even when everything “looks fine”
• The renovation analogy that perfectly explains why growth feels so hard at this stage
• Why peers, perspective, and protected space are essential for the next level of leadership
• How slowing down can feel uncomfortable and why it’s often the most productive move you can make

Leadership at this stage isn’t about becoming more efficient, more productive, or more resilient. It’s about recognizing that the way you’ve been operating (the pace, the proximity, the constant availability) is no longer serving the business or the people in it.

If you’re feeling worn down, unclear, or quietly frustrated, that’s not a personal failing. It’s information. It’s a signal that leadership needs space, not squeezed into the margins between clients, emails, and late-night notes.

You don’t need all the answers right now. You don’t need a perfect plan. What you need is altitude. Space to think. Space to see patterns. Space to lead with intention instead of reacting in real time.

And most importantly, you don’t have to do that alone. Leadership gets lighter, clearer, and more effective when it’s done in the right rooms, with people who understand the weight you’re carrying.

If this episode resonated, let it be an invitation, not to push harder, but to pause. To step back just enough to lead forward.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien,

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’ve built your business by being reliable, responsive, and indispensable but now feel like things won’t move unless you do, it may be time for a leadership shift.

In this powerful solo episode, Kari speaks directly to business owners who are feeling stretched thin, not quite burnt out, but heavy with responsibility. You’ll hear stories, practical insights, and compassionate coaching about what to do when you realize you’ve become the bottleneck in your business.

This episode gives you permission to step back, reassess, and redesign your leadership, without guilt.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why your competence might be quietly holding your business back
• The difference between being needed and being effective
• How to shift from being the go-to problem solver to building decision-making capacity in your team
• A powerful script you can use to start coaching your team to think critically
• How the lack of systems, not trust, creates team dependence
• Real-life client stories that show how these dynamics play out and how to fix them

If you’re starting to feel like everything in your business runs through you, that no decision gets made without your input, that your team is waiting on you, and that you’re constantly “just checking one more thing” this episode was your permission slip to pause and rethink.

You haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, your business has likely grown because of your care, your consistency, and your competence. But now, your leadership needs to evolve with your business. It’s time to move from being the anchor that holds everything together to becoming the anchor that stabilizes and empowers a team to grow and lead alongside you.

Remember: your goal isn’t to be indispensable. Your goal is to build something that doesn’t fall apart when you exhale.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the secret to better leadership, team culture, and resilience isn’t more hustle but more play?

This week, we welcome the dynamic and deeply inspiring Brandy Heather, a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and internationally recognized expert on the science of play. Brandy brings the fire, compassion, and neuroscience to back her mission: restoring playful intelligence in a world that’s overworked and underplayed.

From boardrooms to classrooms to burnt-out entrepreneurs, Brandy’s work shows us why play isn’t the opposite of productivity; it’s the fuel for it. In this emotional, laugh-out-loud, and goosebump-inducing conversation, Brandy dismantles the “show home” culture, reveals why fear and play can’t coexist, and offers real strategies to return to joy, belonging, and creative problem-solving, even if you’ve forgotten how.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why “play” is a biological necessity, not a luxury
• The neuroscience behind why fear blocks innovation (and how play unlocks it)
• What “play” actually looks like in the workplace (hint: it’s not ping pong tables)
• The real reason most professionals avoid play and what it costs us
• How Brandy cracked corporate walls with cautious delight
• The difference between play as service and play as self
• What’s really happening in “show home” culture and how it’s disconnecting us
• Brandy’s personal story of burnout, hospitalization, and rediscovering play through a tacky ceramic frog
• Why play is the path to building more human businesses, safer relationships, and resilient teams

If you’ve been running on empty, feeling disconnected from your work, or just wondering where the joy went, this episode is your reminder: play isn’t the opposite of work, it’s the soul of it.

When you bring joy, curiosity, and playfulness back into your life, you don't just perform better, you lead better, love better, and live better.

Brandi Heather is a best-selling author, educator, and internationally recognized expert on Playful Intelligence™. She helps individuals and organizations prevent burnout and reconnect with creativity, energy, and meaningful connection by bringing play back into the way we work and live.

Connect with Brandy and learn more about her incredible work here:
www.brandiheather.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandiheather/

https://www.instagram.com/brandi__heather/
https://www.facebook.com/b3brandiheather

The Anchored Leadership Academy is launching a new cohort in January; spots are limited.

🔗 Learn more and book your discovery call here.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this heartfelt final episode of 2025, Kari Lotzien, business and leadership coach, invites listeners into a deep year-end reflection filled with honesty, resilience, and grace.

If you're feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unsure how you made it through the year, this episode is for you.

Rather than a highlight reel, Kari gets real about what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. From struggling with unexpected health challenges during a milestone birthday year to rediscovering the power of strong systems, support, and data-driven truth, this episode is an intimate look behind the curtain of entrepreneurship.

Kari shares how slowing down and reassessing her own "stories" about the year helped her uncover hidden wins and how you can too.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why turning the calendar doesn’t magically change who you are, but pausing to reflect just might.
• How Kari’s vision of hitting 50 as her fittest self collided with the unexpected reality of perimenopause.
• The mindset reframe that helped her shift from “this year was a write-off” to “this year was record-breaking.”
• A reminder that challenge and success are not opposites, they often walk hand in hand.
• How to find YOUR hidden wins by asking: “What’s the data say?”
• Ways that struggle might actually be setting you up for a more sustainable, scalable business.

As 2025 comes to a close, Kari leaves listeners with a heartfelt invitation to pause and reflect, not just on what didn’t go as planned, but on the hidden wins that quietly shaped the year. Her message is clear: growth doesn’t always look like fireworks, and success often walks hand in hand with struggle. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Kari reminds her audience that they don’t have to navigate entrepreneurship alone. With the Anchored Leadership Academy launching a new cohort in January, she’s more committed than ever to helping business owners build systems, support, and resilience for the year ahead.

The next cohort starts in January. Spots are limited.

🔗 Learn more and book your discovery call here.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As a seasoned business and leadership coach, Kari Lotzien takes listeners behind the curtain of 2025 to reveal the real patterns shaping small business and where the biggest opportunities (and caution flags) lie in 2026. Drawing from private coaching sessions, the Anchored Leadership Academy, and her trusted membership community, Kari brings together powerful insights from across industries.

If you're a small business owner looking for clarity, connection, and direction as you plan for the year ahead, this is the episode you cannot afford to miss.

Key Topics Discussed:

2025 in Review:

• The 3 phases of AI adoption Kari observed in business (curiosity → chaos → cautious strategy)
• How AI created both a surge in innovation and a “trust recession”
• The slow, strategic buyer: why trust-building took longer and how to adapt

What’s Coming in 2026:

• The 4-part strategy Kari believes small businesses must embrace to thrive:

1. Get Real – authenticity over polish
2. Get Clean – simplify your offerings and processes
3. Amplify Human Connection – bring back personal touch in a digital world
4. Collaborate – leverage aligned partnerships without growing your team

AI + Human Synergy:

• Why 2026 isn’t about “AI vs. people,” but how well you balance automation with deep personal service
• Real examples of how AI can support both life and business (from meal planning to creative brainstorming)

Small Business Advantage:

• How staying small and nimble allows for deeper trust and customization
• Practical insights from Kari’s work with real leaders inside her Anchored programs
  

It's clear that small business success in 2026 won’t be about doing more, it will be about doing what matters, better. By embracing simplicity, leading with authenticity, leveraging AI thoughtfully, and building trusted partnerships, entrepreneurs have the opportunity to thrive in a rapidly shifting landscape. This is your moment to step into leadership, refine your strategy, and reconnect with the human side of business. The future belongs to those who are willing to evolve and do it with heart.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this eye-opening episode of Be the Anchor, Kari is joined by Meg Clarke, founder of Clapping Dog Media, an SEO and AI visibility agency helping small businesses get found by Google and recommended by AI. If SEO has ever felt overwhelming or if AI feels like it’s changing too fast to keep up, this conversation is your new best friend.

Meg breaks down the shifts from traditional Google search to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. More importantly, she explains how AI is holding us accountable to show up consistently and authentically across platforms and how that's actually great news for small business owners who are just being themselves.

From personal branding to practical visibility tips, Meg and Kari dive into real strategies that help you get found without needing to game the system.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why AI is not replacing SEO but how it’s changing the game.
• How to show up in a way that earns trust from AI (and your audience).
• The surprising role LinkedIn, podcasts, and YouTube play in visibility.
• Why personal Instagram content may actually confuse AI.
• How custom GPTs can simplify and amplify your business operations.
• Real-life examples of using AI as a team member not a threat.
• Meg’s favorite visibility hacks you can implement today.
• What “authenticity” really means when it comes to online presence.
  

Whether you’re just beginning to explore SEO and AI or you’ve been navigating the digital landscape for a while, this episode is a powerful reminder that visibility doesn't have to mean overwhelm. As Meg so beautifully shared, showing up consistently, clearly, and authentically is not only enough, it's exactly what both your audience and AI are looking for.

Meg Clarke is the founder of Clapping Dog Media, an SEO and AI visibility agency that helps local businesses get found by Google and recommended by AI. Based in Northern Virginia, she leads a team that blends strategy, data, and heart to help clients grow online. A sought-after speaker and former Wheel of Fortune contestant, Meg is known for making SEO approachable, effective, and even a little fun.

Connect with Meg and learn more about her incredible work here:
www.clappingdogmedia.com
www.linkedin.com/in/clappingdogmedia

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this powerful and timely episode of Be the Anchor, Kari Lotzien dives into a conversation that many are having behind closed doors but it’s time to bring it into the light.

Are we raising and employing a generation that lacks grit, resilience, and accountability? Or are we missing a deeper opportunity to lead differently?

Kari explores the cultural shift from hyper-independence to overprotection and how both employers and young professionals are caught in the middle. Drawing from her 25 years of experience working with youth and leaders, Kari challenges business owners and leaders to reflect on their own relationship with discomfort and how that directly impacts their teams.

This episode will spark self-reflection, uncomfortable truths, and ultimately, a new way to support growth, resilience, and leadership in both ourselves and others.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why resilience doesn’t grow in comfort
• The leadership challenge of holding space for discomfort
• How cultural shifts have changed the resilience landscape
• The 4-quadrant model of support vs. challenge (from Challenging Coaching)
• Why avoiding conflict leads to business stagnation
• The dance of high support & high challenge leadership
• Questions to ask instead of giving quick solutions
• How to build true grit in your team without micromanaging
  

Growth isn’t supposed to be comfortable but it is worth it.

If this episode sparked something in you, whether it was a nudge of recognition, a moment of truth, or a new perspective then you’re exactly where you need to be.

The Anchored Leadership Academy was built for business owners and leaders just like you, those who are ready to stop reacting and start leading with purpose. In this 12-week, high-impact program, you’ll develop the tools to lead with clarity, confidence, and courage. No fluff - just practical, tested strategies that work in real life and real business.

The next cohort starts in January. Spots are limited.

🔗 Learn more and book your discovery call here.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.