Public outrage is everywhere. Some of it is for good reason. But, what if the outrage is really just revealing more about our culture than the events themselves.

In the first part of my new Rebel Leadership in Real Time series, I'm taking a step back from the headlines to explore the leadership lessons hiding beneath today's outrage-driven culture. Every day brings a new controversy, public takedown, or social media firestorm—but what is that constant cycle of reaction doing to the way we lead, communicate, and build trust?

In this episode, I examine how fear-based environments impact psychological safety, why accountability and humanity should never be at odds, and what happens when people become more concerned with avoiding mistakes than contributing their best ideas. Most importantly, I share why emotionally intelligent leaders choose steadiness over reactivity and curiosity over instant condemnation.

I believe we all want healthier workplaces, stronger relationships, and cultures where people can grow instead of simply survive. Getting to that means understanding that it starts with the way we choose to lead and how we show up in a team, family or community—especially when emotions are running high.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:29] Why Public Outrage Reveals Deeper Leadership Lessons

• [1:33] How Fear-Based Cultures Destroy Psychological Safety

• [2:55] Why Accountability and Humanity Must Coexist

• [3:54] What's the Upside? Leading with Steadiness Instead of Reactivity

Episode Show Notes

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Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

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If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

200 episodes. Hundreds of stories. And one idea that continues to prove itself: there is always an upside.

For this milestone episode of Finding the Upside, I’m doing something a little different. Instead of another interview, I’m looking back at some of the conversations, people, and lessons from our last 100 episodes—and the wisdom that stayed with me long after the cameras stopped rolling.

I’ve talked with entrepreneurs, athletes, executives, authors, artists, coaches, innovators, and people who refused to let their circumstances define them. Their stories may be different, but again and again, they’ve reminded me how much we share: the desire to belong, find purpose, make a difference, grow through what we experience, and leave something better behind.

This episode is a celebration of those stories—and of every listener who has been part of this community. Because Finding the Upside has never been about pretending that everything happens for a reason or that difficult experiences are easy. It’s about asking what an experience can teach us, what we can do with it, and how even the hardest chapters can sometimes become turning points.

As I celebrate 200 episodes, I’m incredibly grateful for you the listeners, the guests, my team and where we’ve been. But what excites me most is where we’re going next.

Here’s to the next 200—and to continuing to find the upside together.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:58] Looking Back at 100 Incredible Conversations

• [2:20] Turning Life’s Challenges Into Opportunities for Growth

• [2:33] What 200 Episodes Have Taught Me About Leadership

• [3:00] Different Stories, Shared Humanity

• [3:31] What “Finding the Upside” Really Means

• [4:18] The Stories That Remind Us Our Own Story Isn’t Over Yet

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Most of us don't stay silent because we don't care. We stay silent because we don't want to make things worse, create conflict, or say the wrong thing. But what if our silence is communicating more than we realize?

In this episode of Finding the Upside, and as part of the series “Living Your Values”, I explore the hidden cost of staying quiet—both in our personal lives and as leaders. From the workplace to our communities, I examine how the moments we choose not to speak can shape culture, relationships, and the values we claim to stand for. I also share why courage isn't always loud or dramatic.

More often, it's found in the ordinary choices we make every day to stand beside someone, ask a difficult question, or simply refuse to look away.

If you've ever wrestled with whether to speak up or stay silent, this conversation is an invitation to reflect on what your choices are communicating—and how one act of courage can create space for others to do the same.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:44] Why Silence Is Never Truly Neutral

• [5:26] The Culture Leaders Create by What They Tolerate

• [8:16] How Relationships Make Courage Personal

• [11:19] The Hidden Cost of Staying Silent

• [15:19] What's the Upside? Why Courage Is Contagious

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

You don't need all the answers to lead. We're living in a world that rewards certainty. The loudest voices often sound the most convincing, we're expected to have instant opinions, and leaders can feel enormous pressure to project confidence—even when the path ahead is anything but clear. But here’s the thing…certainty isn't the goal.

In this episode of Finding the Upside, and as part of the series “Leading Through The Noise”, I explore why some of the most effective leaders aren't the ones who claim to have all the answers—they're the ones who help others navigate uncertainty with honesty, curiosity, and hope. I share why complexity deserves more than quick conclusions, how intellectual humility builds trust, and why moving forward often requires courage before clarity.

If you've ever felt the pressure to know exactly what's next, this conversation is a reminder that leading, your team or yourself, isn't about KNOWING the future. It's about helping people move forward when the future is still UNFOLDING.

Here's a quick look at what you can expect from today's episode...

• [1:28] Why We're Addicted to Certainty

• [3:52] Leadership Isn't About Predicting the Future

• [5:37] Curiosity Is a Leadership Superpower

• [8:28] Why Honest Leaders Build More Trust

• [11:21] Clarity Comes After Movement, Not Before

• [12:27] What's the Upside? Leading Without All the Answers

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Welcome to Season 6 of Finding the Upside. Every season begins with possibility. But this one feels different. As I reflect on nearly 200 episodes, one thing has become clear: people don't need more information—they're hungry for wisdom, perspective, and meaningful conversations that help them navigate an increasingly complex world.

This season, we're asking bigger questions than ever before. Together, we'll explore leadership in the age of AI, the future of work, belonging, purpose, and what it truly means to create impact in our organizations, our communities, and our lives.

I'll also take you behind the scenes of an exciting new chapter for MDR Brands, sharing stories from our partnerships with the New Jersey Devils, New York Jets, and New York Red Bulls, and the leadership lessons unfolding along the way.

Most importantly, this season is an invitation. Not just to listen, but to participate. To challenge your assumptions, start meaningful conversations, and discover new perspectives that help you show up and lead with greater humanity and purpose.

Thank you for being part of this community. Whether this is your first episode or you've been here since the beginning, I'm so grateful you're here. Welcome to the next chapter of Finding the Upside.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:02] Looking Back to Season 5: The Leadership That We Need NOW

• [2:43] Why We Need Better Questions, Not More Information

• [3:56] What's Coming in Season Six

• [7:20] Behind the Scenes with MDR Brands & Professional Sports Partnerships

• [10:05] Growing Our Impact Through the Give Back Program

• [11:29] An Invitation to Be Part of the Conversation

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

People remember how you made them feel. That is the foundation in everything.

When we think of hospitality, most of us picture hotels, restaurants, or great customer service. But I’m proposing that hospitality is actually one of the most powerful—and overlooked—leadership skills we have.

In this episode of Finding the Upside, and as part of the series “The Connection Revolution”, I discuss why leadership isn't just about strategy, decision-making, or driving results. It's about creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and like they truly belong. From the workplace to our everyday relationships, the way we make people feel shapes trust, culture, and ultimately the impact we have on others.

As technology transforms the way we work and connect, genuine human connection has never been more valuable. Join me as we look at how small, intentional moments of hospitality can become one of the greatest leadership advantages we have—and why helping people feel welcome may be the key to helping them thrive.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:18] Why Hospitality Is One of Leadership's Most Overlooked Skills

• [4:25] Culture Begins with How People Feel

• [7:48] The Leadership Question Everyone Is Quietly Asking: Do I Matter Here?

• [12:25] Why Human Connection Matters More in the Age of AI

• [15:25] What's the Upside? Creating Places Where People Thrive

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.