In this episode, Elena Armijo sits down with executive coach and facilitator Natalie Rothfels for a rich exploration of what it truly means to meet people where they are. Drawing from Natalie's background as a startup operator, educator, and team coach, the conversation moves beneath surface-level performance and into the deeper dynamics shaping how leaders and teams relate, communicate, and grow together.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena opens with a coaching reflection on curiosity over assumption, honoring capacity alongside expectation, and anchoring leadership conversations in shared humanity and dignity. This creates a strong foundation for a thoughtful conversation on group energetics, trust, and the unseen forces shaping collaboration.

Natalie shares how her early experiences navigating family dynamics sharpened her sensitivity to group patterns, unspoken tension, and emotional undercurrents. She explains how this awareness now informs her work with co-founders and leadership teams, especially in high pressure and fast moving environments. Natalie emphasizes the importance of starting in the language people already speak, building safety first, and slowly expanding awareness through lived experience, instead of introducing unfamiliar language too quickly.

The episode also dives into groups and experiential learning, highlighting why real time feedback, relational practice, and developmental pacing matter more than quick fixes. Together, Elena and Natalie unpack trust as a behavioral experience rather than a vague concept, explore how teams move through cycles of formation and disruption, and reflect on the long term legacy leaders create through their inner work.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen more deeply, and recognize leadership as both a personal and collective responsibility. It offers grounded insight for anyone working with teams, partnerships, or communities who wants to lead with clarity, presence, and care.

If this conversation resonated with you, tune into Natalie's podcast Is It Just Me? where real coaching conversations transform work frustration and overwhelm into clarity, action, and growth.

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Natalie Rothfels:

LinkedIn | X (formerly Twitter) | Website | Podcast

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

As 2025 comes to a close, Elena Armijo offers a heartfelt solo episode filled with reflection, gratitude, and a few favorite moments from this year's podcast conversations. From exploring holistic health and empathy to the power of artistry and resilience, this episode is a warm invitation to pause, look back, and plant seeds for what's to come.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena revisits powerful conversations, including her episode with Dr. Sonal, whose journey from medicine to holistic healing reminds us to take ownership of our well-being before burnout takes hold. She also highlights her time with Mimi Nicklin, whose global mission around empathy brought fresh insight into human connection and leadership during complex times. And, in a personal highlight, Elena reflects on her first interview with her partner, J. Aaron Boykin, whose story weaves music, artistry, and depth with everyday leadership and grounded joy.

Elena also shares the practices anchoring her end-of-year transition: reviewing the calendar with curiosity, honoring the rhythm of goal setting, choosing a meaningful word for the year ahead, and celebrating personal growth. She opens up about the certifications and trainings she completed, especially her journey into team coaching and somatic breathwork. These new tools, grounded in nervous system regulation and community, are already reshaping how she serves leaders and teams.

This episode is a thoughtful send-off for the year, encouraging space to reflect, reconnect with purpose, and celebrate how far you've come. It's a gentle nudge to slow down and remember that wellness and leadership always begin within.

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This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Ulrich Wolvaardt, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this inspiring episode, Elena Armijo speaks with tenor, producer, and creative entrepreneur Nathan Granner. With a career spanning 30 years, Nathan shares his path through the world of classical music, opera, film, and now, innovation at the intersection of technology and art. From humble beginnings in a small Iowa church to starring roles in Pulitzer Prize-winning productions and a bold leap into startup culture, his story is one of resilience, reinvention, and deep commitment to connection.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Nathan and Elena explore the role of values in artistic innovation, the changing landscape of the opera world, and the surprising skills that transfer from stage to boardroom. With clarity and heart, Nathan shares personal stories of triumph and struggle, from finding belonging in music to confronting burnout, navigating leadership, and launching a startup that brings physical touch and value back into the music industry.

Nathan introduces his latest venture, Curiyo Embedded, a company redefining what a "record" can be by turning everyday objects into collectible, musical experiences that are tangible, protected, and artist-first. At the heart of his message is a call to lead with love and create in alignment with purpose.

This episode is a celebration of artistry, leadership, and innovation grounded in human connection. Whether you're in the arts, in business, or in a season of personal transformation, there's something here for you.

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Nathan Granner:

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | IMDB | Bluesky | TikTok | Website

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this special episode, Elena Armijo is joined by the love of her life, J. Aaron Boykin - a vocalist, song writer, actor, and producer whose creativity, depth, and heart shine in every space he enters. Their nine years together have been marked by a deep mutual witnessing: of growth, of dreams pursued, and of the quiet courage it takes to live a creative life with heart. Aaron's artistry is rooted in authenticity and joy, with music as his first safe haven, a place where emotion could move freely when words fell short. Today, that same music continues to be his most powerful tool for healing, connection, and belonging. His story is one of resilience, self-expression, and the kind of leadership that flows from love.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena and Aaron reflect on the role music plays in emotional safety, resilience, and leadership. From recording songs on a childhood tape recorder to performing on global stages and starring in national commercials, Aaron's career is a testament to staying aligned with purpose. Whether writing feel-good R&B or standing firm in the face of online criticism, his grounding comes from knowing who he is and why he creates.

The episode also explores the challenges and beauty of creative partnerships. Aaron shares lessons from working with trusted collaborators, his perspective on feedback, and the importance of clarity in shared goals. His mantra: trust the process, stay open, and keep creating from a place of truth.

As Aaron steps into new ventures, including a forthcoming album and expanding his acting career, his focus remains clear: create art that invites others to feel seen, safe, and inspired.

This episode is an invitation to rediscover the power of creativity as a tool for connection and resilience. For anyone navigating growth, reinvention, or visibility, Aaron's story is a reminder that joy and truth are not just artistic values - they are leadership ones.

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J.Aaron Boykin:

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | IMDB | Spotify | AppleMusic | Website

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this uplifting episode, Elena Armijo is joined by keynote speaker, podcast host, and beatbox entertainer Parker Kane. Known for his viral McDonald's performance that reached over a billion views, Parker shares the deeply personal story behind that moment, and the emotional journey that led to it. From a low point of burnout and disconnection to finding renewed purpose through creativity and community, Parker's path is a powerful reminder that small decisions can lead to life-altering change.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

The conversation highlights the importance of presence, resilience, and self-expression during difficult times. Elena reflects on personal practices for nervous system regulation, from morning walks in nature to breathwork during moments of tension. Parker shares how rhythm and music helped him stay grounded, and how reconnecting with others - even through something as simple as a late-night meal - can reignite hope.

Elena and Parker unpack the impact of real connection in leadership and community, touching on mental health, authentic communication, and creative leadership. Parker's mantra, "real over loud," encourages leaders to listen deeply and lead from grounded presence rather than performance. The episode invites anyone facing burnout or stagnation to engage with life again, to interact instead of isolate.

This episode is a celebration of purpose, possibility, and the creative spark that lives in all of us. Whether you're in a leadership role or simply navigating personal growth, it's a reminder that presence, creativity, and trust in yourself can change everything.

Parker's McDonald's beatbox commercial

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Parker Kane:

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Podcast

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this heart-centered episode, Elena Armijo speaks with bestselling author and global empathy advocate Mimi Nicklin. With a mission to reconnect one million people through the power of empathy, Mimi brings years of research, corporate training, and lived experience to a timely and transformational conversation - one that reveals how empathy shapes leadership, drives innovation, and transforms the way we connect with ourselves and others.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Mimi shares the pivotal moment that redefined her career: a simple yet life-changing question posed by a coach "Is it intuition or empathy you're using to lead?" That question led her down a path of deep exploration into empathy as a skill, not just a feeling. From the neuroscience behind attunement to real-life stories of unexpected connection, Mimi illustrates how empathy is not just a soft skill, but a necessary foundation for resilient cultures and impactful leadership.

The conversation also addresses common misconceptions that empathy means agreement or emotional overload. They invite leaders to see empathy as a form of grounded presence - one that enables performance, clarity, and deeper human connection. Whether in a boardroom or a coffee line, the smallest acts of care can create lasting ripples.

This episode is an invitation to slow down and reconnect - with yourself, with others, and with the purpose behind your leadership. It offers a powerful reminder: empathy isn't optional. It's a strategic essential for sustainable impact, meaningful connection, and real change. If you're ready to lead with more presence, intention, and heart, let this be your starting point.

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Mimi Nicklin:

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Amazon

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this heartfelt Mother's Day episode, Elena Armijo is joined by a very special guest - her mother, Sky Armijo. For the first time on the podcast, Elena invites a family member to share a deeply personal and moving conversation about motherhood, leadership, resilience, legacy, and the strength passed down through generations.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena opens by reflecting on the five most meaningful gifts she received from her mother: resilience, the belief that everyone belongs, the courage to fly, the value of working through hard things, and the enduring power of love.

Sky shares her remarkable journey from aspiring veterinarian to decades of service in nursing, including labor and delivery, school nursing, and disaster relief. Her story reveals the deep well of compassion and strength required to show up for others, even in the most challenging circumstances. Together, they explore how maternal wisdom shows up in quiet moments - through service, healing, and the unseen labor of care.

They reflect on the evolving relationship between mothers and daughters, the magic and messiness of raising bold-hearted children, and the importance of allowing them to chart their own path. Sky shares her dream of building community programs that support intergenerational healing and speaks to the vital role grandparents can play in fostering resilience in younger generations.

This episode is a tender celebration of the women who shape us - reminding us that leadership often begins not with a title, but with the simple act of being there. Whether you're honoring your own lineage, raising the next generation, or finding your way back to family, this conversation offers warmth, wisdom, and hope.

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This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this heartfelt episode, Elena Armijo welcomes pianist, writer, and coach Robert Kuang back to the show for a deeply grounding and expansive conversation on the powerful intersections between creativity, leadership, and the human need for care. Through personal stories and grounded insight, they explore how slowing down, honoring emotions, and reconnecting with the body are not luxuries, but essential foundations for innovation, emotional processing, and navigating change with intention and heart.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Together, they reflect on the creativity that often lies dormant beneath structured systems and the myth that only certain people are "creative." Robert shares his journey from New York to Vancouver and how writing, music, and embodiment became lifelines in moments of transition. Elena offers reflections on the practices that help her stay grounded, including walks in nature and learning to sit with discomfort through meditation. Both speak to the importance of intentional self-care - not as luxury, but as necessity - for those holding space for others in turbulent times.

Their conversation opens up fresh perspectives on navigating rapid change, emotional processing, and what it means to bring multidimensionality into leadership and life. Through stories of client work, cultural shifts, and inner realignments, Robert and Elena offer practical wisdom for creating space for intuition, joy, and resilience.

This episode is an invitation to reconnect with the parts of ourselves that may have been left behind in the name of productivity. Whether facing uncertainty, creative stagnation, or simply longing for more meaning, this conversation reminds us that returning to the body, slowing down, and making space for joy are revolutionary acts of leadership.

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Robert Kuang:

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Podcast

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager