In this episode, Alyssa Nolte talks with Tim Townsend about leadership, motivation, and what actually drives people at work. They dig into why KPIs often fail, how fear shows up inside big organizations, and what gets lost when work becomes impersonal.

Why You Should Listen

This conversation cuts through corporate theory and gets real about human behavior at work. If you lead teams, work inside large organizations, or feel frustrated by politics and misaligned incentives, this episode gives language and perspective for what you are seeing every day and how to think about it differently.

3 Key Takeaways

1. KPIs can backfire when they reward the wrong behavior and disconnect people from the bigger goal.
2. As teams grow, individual accountability often shrinks unless leaders actively reinforce shared purpose.
3. Personal connection and belief in the work drive better outcomes than measurement alone.

People and Resources Mentioned

• Simon Sinek
• Kevin McLeod
• Grand Designs

This episode looks at how teams actually build things together... and why so many groups still protect their own turf. Alyssa and Beau talk about architecture, construction, leadership, and how shared risk can transform the way people work. Beau explains why craft, coordination, and empathy matter more than ever, especially as AI begins reshaping technical work.

This conversation is worth a listen if you work on any team where silos slow things down. Beau breaks down the real reasons teams clash and offers practical ways to build trust and make collaboration easier.

Key takeaways:

• Better buildings start with better teamwork. You can’t improve outcomes without understanding each person’s risks.
• Craft matters. When quality drops, trust erodes and silos harden. When craft rises, collaboration gets easier.
• AI will reshape the profession. Teams that work with shared values and strong coordination will have a major advantage.

People and resources mentioned:

• Norman Foster
• The Toyota Way
• The Innovator’s Dilemma

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It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.Connect with AlyssaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPodFollow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

This episode goes deep into what it takes to grow as a leader. Alyssa talks with Aslak de Silva about how lessons from martial arts can shape the way we lead, recover, and build trust with our teams. Aslak shares how he went from world champion fighter to CEO and why the habits he built in the dojo still drive his success today.

This is a great listen if you want to lead with intention, handle pressure with more control, and build instincts that help you show up better for your team.

3 takeaways
» Leadership instincts come from repetition and feedback, not theory.
» Recovery is part of performance. You can’t lead well if you never reset.
» Owning your mistakes is the fastest way to rebuild trust and grow your influence.

Mentioned
Josh Kosnik
The Black Belt in Leadership (book)
The Black Belt in Leadership podcast

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

Alyssa and Rachel Burr talk about what real transformation looks like, far beyond the feel good quotes online. Rachel shares the story behind her book Butterfly Goo and explains why change often starts the moment you admit you are on the wrong path. This episode is worth a listen if you feel stuck, half committed, or unsure how to take the first step toward something new.

Key takeaways

1. Transformation is messy, but the mess is part of the process.
2. You can leave any path, even if you have invested years into it.
3. You build your path by knowing your values, not by waiting for perfect timing.

Mentioned

• Butterfly Goo by Rachel Burr
• Films to Be Buried With (podcast)
• Brett Goldstein / Ted Lasso
• Sesame Street / Muppets
• butterflygoobook.net

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

When Mireia became a mother, everything changed. What started as a struggle to balance work and family became the spark for an entirely new path—one built around authenticity, courage, and redefining what “having it all” really means.

In this conversation, Alyssa and Mireia talk about the moment when life forces you to pause and ask, is this really what I want? They share honest stories about identity, motherhood, and how to rebuild a life that fits the person you’ve become—not the one you used to be.

Why listen:
If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming, this episode will remind you that change isn’t failure—it’s growth.

Key takeaways:
→ “Having it all” only matters if you define what “all” means for you.
→ Sometimes clarity starts by asking what you don’t want anymore.
→ Courageous authenticity makes life and leadership lighter, not harder.

People and resources mentioned:
Stephen Bartlett – Diary of a CEO podcast
Bare and Brave – Mireia’s coaching company

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

What happens when the thing you’ve been chasing suddenly doesn’t feel worth it anymore?

In this conversation, Alyssa Nolte and Eric Nehrlich unpack the pressure to achieve constantly and the freedom that comes from saying no. Eric shares the story of how working 100-hour weeks at Google led to a total collapse and a life-changing realization: success means nothing if it costs your health, joy, and relationships. Alyssa reflects on her own “mirror moment,” realizing she’d been modeling the same burnout cycle for her kids.

This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever asked yourself, is it worth it? or felt trapped by the pace of your own ambition.

Key takeaways:

• Saying no is a skill and it’s one that can change your life.
• Energy audits help you find what fuels you and what drains you.
• The best leaders set clear expectations and model the balance they want for their teams.

Mentioned in this episode:

• TooManyTrees.com (Eric’s coaching site)
• LinkedIn – Eric Nehrlich
• Google, Apple (referenced in Eric’s story)

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

When Alyssa sat down with Dr. Munira Zahabi, known as The Niche Navigator, the conversation quickly turned to one of the hardest lessons for any entrepreneur - you can’t be everything to everyone.

Munira shares how her own career twists led her to help others uncover their unique “nucleus” - the core of who they are and what they’re meant to do. Together, Alyssa and Munira unpack how knowing your niche doesn’t limit you; it sets you free to grow stronger roots and stand taller in your lane.

Why listen:
If you’ve ever struggled to define what you want to be known for (or felt pulled in too many directions) this episode will help you focus, simplify, and rediscover what makes you different.

Key takeaways:

• Finding your niche starts with curiosity, pay attention to what energizes you most.
• Your story is your superpower, learning to tell it clearly builds connection and credibility.
• Growth happens when you stay in your lane long enough to be recognized for it.

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

In this episode, Alyssa sits down with Dr. Dee Trudeau Poskas to talk about how understanding your triggers can change the way you lead. They explore what happens in your brain when you’re under stress, how language shapes influence, and why self-awareness is the secret to better communication at work.

It’s a conversation about the science behind calm, confident leadership and how small language shifts can transform your team culture.

Why you should listen:
If you’ve ever walked away from a meeting thinking “I wish I’d handled that better,” this episode will help you understand why. Dr. Dee breaks down how to rewire your reactions, build trust through communication, and lead with presence instead of pressure.

3 Key Takeaways:
» Triggers aren’t bad - they’re clues that help you understand yourself and lead others with empathy.
» Changing your words changes your brain. Language can calm tension, build trust, and create influence.
» Great leaders don’t avoid emotion - they learn to use awareness and compassion to drive better results.

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod