We promoted the wrong people not because they weren’t capable, but because we never taught them how to lead.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Katie Gaebel to talk about what’s really happening inside organizations today. Managers are overwhelmed, teams feel disconnected, and culture often looks very different from what’s being said.

We get into the pressure managers carry, why burnout is rising, and what happens when people are expected to lead without being prepared for it.

This is a conversation about how work actually feels, not how it’s supposed to look.

What if one simple phrase could change how we lead, connect, and make decisions?In this episode of the You Gotta NO! Podcast, we sit down with Mary Messner, keynote speaker and former executive, to unpack what she calls one of the greatest failures in leadership today.From the outside, leadership often looks confident and decisive. But behind the scenes, many leaders are navigating uncertainty while feeling pressure to have all the answers.That’s where things start to break.In this conversation, Mary shares why leadership is struggling right now, how conformity is quietly shaping decisions inside organizations, and how one simple shift in language can open the door to creativity, trust, and better outcomes.--------------------------------What You’ll Learn:The early warning signs of burnout leaders ignoreHow chronic stress impacts your body and decision-makingWhat happens after a stroke and the road to recoveryWhy high performers struggle to slow downHow to rebuild your life and leadership after a health crisisTopics Covered:stroke at 44, leadership burnout, executive stress, mental health in leadership, high performance pressure, work stress, recovery after stroke, leadership wellness, emotional capacity, burnout warning signsSign up to my newsletter:🤝 https://nobrief.beehiiv.com/🔗 Watch more from You Gotta NO!Leadership. Mental health. Real conversations:👉 https://ygnpodcast.com📌 Subscribe for more conversations on:Building & Scaling a companyLeadershipLeadership DevelopmentMental healthWorkplace cultureBurnout & recovery

At 44, everything changed.

In this episode, we sit down with a leader who experienced a stroke at the height of their career. What looked like success on the outside was hiding years of pressure, stress, and burnout.

This is a conversation about what leadership really costs and what happens when your body forces you to stop.

We talk about:

• The reality of stress in leadership
• Burnout and the warning signs most people ignore
• Life after a stroke and the recovery journey
• Redefining success after a health crisis

This episode is for anyone carrying more than they show.

If you're a founder, executive, manager, or ambitious professional, this is a conversation you need to hear.

In this roundtable conversation from the You Gotta NO! live event, we brought leaders together to talk about what doesn’t usually get said on stage:

What leadership actually feels like.

• Not the highlight reel
• Not the LinkedIn version
• Not the performance metrics

But the weight, expectations ,pressure to hold culture together.
The invisible emotional labor, The constant demand to say yes — even when capacity is low.

This conversation sets the tone for Season 2 and for the rebrand of You Gotta NO! as a full leadership ecosystem.

Because before leaders can grow, connect, or build better companies — they have to understand what they’re carrying.

And what needs to change.

This season marks a rebrand, not because the mission changed, but because it became clearer.

You Gotta NO! is no longer just a podcast.
It’s a leadership ecosystem built around one core idea:

Sustainable leadership requires knowing what to say no to.

Season 2 reflects that shift.

We’re expanding beyond conversations and into a deeper framework, one that connects the Podcast, the Next Level Series, and the YGN Workplace Summit under a single belief system.

Why the rebrand?

Because too many leaders are burning out trying to say yes to everything.

• Yes to growth
• Yes to performance
• Yes to expectations
• Yes to pressure

But no one is teaching them how to protect clarity, capacity, and culture in the process.

Season 2 is about sharper conversations and more intentional leadership. And building organizations that don’t collapse under success.

Welcome to You Gotta NO!

Heliona Live RSVP: Heliona.eventbrite.com

Leadership isn’t just about filling roles, it’s about developing people. In this episode of Heliona Insight, I sit down with Paul Kempinski, former President & CEO of Children’s Mercy and now Founder and President of Kempinski Consulting, LLC.

Paul shares the lessons he learned about building executive teams, why developing both current and emerging leaders is essential, and how investing in people creates lasting organizational resilience.

Through Kempinski Consulting, Paul is paying forward his 42 years of leadership experience by providing personalized executive coaching, governance and advisory services, and public speaking engagements for meetings and conferences. Learn more about Paul and Kempinski Consulting.

RSVP Today for Heliona Live: ⁠Workplace Unfiltered: A Heliona Experience

Retention isn’t just about paychecks or perks—it’s about creating cultures where people feel supported, inspired, and connected to purpose.

In this episode of Heliona Insight, I sit down with Tarnu Mulbah, founder of Dwell Real Estate, seasoned sales leader, and passionate advocate for “making purpose popular.” With over 14 years of experience driving growth, mentoring teams, and navigating high-pressure industries, Tarnu has seen firsthand how retention and mental health directly impact performance.

We unpack what leaders often get wrong about keeping talent, why mental health can no longer be sidelined, and how connecting people to purpose transforms both individuals and organizations. If you’re looking for actionable insight on building teams that last, this conversation is for you.

RSVP Today for Heliona Live: ⁠Workplace Unfiltered: A Heliona Experience

In this candid conversation, entrepreneur and operator Chris Jones breaks down the real work of scaling: set a clear vision, communicate it relentlessly, and build capacity at every step.

We dig into the “stair‑step” model of growth, hiring and letting go in fast-moving seasons, and why retention depends less on perks and more on three disciplines: clarity, communication, and capacity.

Chris also talks openly about burnout and boundaries—how to lead when life expands, and how to design systems that support your most human moments, not just your star performers.

If you’re growing a team, leading through change, or trying to keep momentum without losing people, this one’s a blueprint.

Connect with Chris Jones:

Linkedin

Website