In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa sits down with Lori Baker to talk about language, belonging, and the hidden barriers people face at work. Lori went from engineer to English teacher for international professionals, and her story shows how much language shapes confidence and inclusion.

This conversation is a reminder that work isn’t just about skills on paper. It’s about how we communicate, connect, and make space for people to bring their full selves into the workplace.

Why listen: If you’ve ever worked across cultures, led a team, or wanted to create a more welcoming workplace, this episode gives you practical insight into why language matters and how empathy changes everything.

3 key takeaways:
» Language shapes how people are seen at work… and it doesn’t always match their true expertise.
» Belonging requires more than translation… it’s about cultural awareness and empathy.
» Success looks different for everyone… the American dream is personal, not one-size-fits-all.

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 sits down with Dr. Apollo Emeka for a powerful conversation about the choices that shape our lives. Apollo shares his journey from high school dropout to Green Beret, FBI agent, entrepreneur, and coach. Together, they explore why big decisions (not habits) are the true turning points. This episode will challenge how you think about discipline, shortcuts, and creating the life you want.

Why listen?
If you’ve ever felt stuck chasing habits or grinding through routines that don’t get you closer to your goals, this conversation will give you a new lens. Alyssa and Apollo show how changing your decisions and your environment can shift everything.

Key Takeaways

• Big decisions change your trajectory...habits only optimize it.
• You can create environments that make discipline easier, instead of forcing willpower.
• A clear decision gives you criteria to avoid distractions and stay focused on what really matters.

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 of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa sits down with Dr. Erin Wilson, co-author of Strategic Rest in Leadership. Together they dive into why rest isn’t a luxury...it’s a leadership strategy. From Erin’s own story of burnout to her framework for “strategic rest,” this conversation challenges the way you think about hustle culture, success, and what it means to truly show up as your best self.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to do more, be more, and stay “busy” just to keep up, this episode will help you reframe. It’s not about working harder, it’s about working smarter and resting better.

Why Listen
This episode gives you permission to pause, rethink what “busy” really means, and see how rest can fuel your ambition instead of slowing it down. Alyssa and Erin share real stories, practical tips, and a refreshing take on leadership in today’s world.

3 Key Takeaways

• Booked, not busy: Why great leaders don’t glorify hustle—they value outcomes and balance.
• Rest is strategy: Pauses and rest days aren’t wasted time, they are fuel for long-term success.
• Small steps matter: Start with micro-pauses and one protected boundary to build a healthier rhythm.

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 of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Dr. Kimberly Harden to explore a hard truth: too many leaders build for their own comfort instead of building real connection. Kimberly shares her experiences in corporate America, the moments that pushed her to write Cultural Intelligence: A Blueprint for 21st Century Leadership, and why servant leadership is more important than ever. Together, Alyssa and Kimberly dig into what it takes to create workplaces where everyone can thrive...not just survive.

If you’ve ever questioned why leadership often feels out of touch, or wondered how to lead with courage and care, this conversation will give you the insight (and push) you need.

3 Key Takeaways
→ Leadership built for comfort protects the status quo, not people.
→ Servant leadership means seeing your team’s success as your own.
→ Real leaders create psychological safety by admitting what they don’t know.

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 of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Kirstin Carey to explore what happens when your strength becomes your biggest obstacle. From growing up in a “walk it off” culture to burning out while helping others heal, Kirstin shares how her identity as a high performer masked deeper patterns of overgiving, undercharging, and self-sacrifice.

Alyssa and Kirstin talk about what it means to lead, price, and live with integrity - especially for women who were raised to prove their worth by carrying more than their share.

If you’ve ever felt like your hustle was hurting more than helping, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways
→ Being a martyr at work isn’t noble...it’s exhausting, and it sends the wrong message to your team
→ Undercharging doesn’t help your clients - it keeps them disengaged and keeps you depleted
→ Your childhood patterns don’t have to dictate your business model or your worth

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 of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Christelle Biiga - speaker, coach, and founder of Exposure Maven - to explore the unexpected power of visibility and the journey that led her to podcasting as a path to purpose.

Christelle shares her unbelievable origin story, from arriving in the U.S. without speaking English to being wrongly detained for nine months, and how that experience shaped her mission to help others find their voice. Together, Alyssa and Christelle unpack why visibility isn’t about ego...it’s about impact.

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t “qualified enough” to share your story, this one’s for you.

→ Your story can change lives, even if you think it’s not “big enough”
→ Visibility builds trust faster than a polished website ever could
→ The first step isn’t finding your why—it’s making sure it’s yours

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 of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Johanna Sanchez to talk about what it really means to build a business—and a life—on your own terms.

From working 70-hour weeks in child protection to building a six-figure business and still burning out, Johanna shares the pivotal moment that forced her to rethink everything. Together, Alyssa and Johanna explore how to set real boundaries, reject hustle culture, and redefine what success looks like.

If you've ever felt like rest had to be earned, this episode will challenge that mindset. It's a reminder that you don’t need to do more to be enough—and that taking care of yourself is good for business.

Key takeaways:

→ You don’t need to earn rest—rest is the standard, not a reward
→ Boundaries work better when they’re tied to your real values
→ Burnout isn’t the cost of ambition, it’s a sign to realign

Listen in for a conversation that’s honest, human, and a little bit rebellious—in all the right ways.

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 of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Jenny De Leon—IT consultant, reluctant inventor, and founder of Repeatable Travel Systems—to unpack what it really takes to bring an idea to life...especially when no one else sees the vision.

From small-town hardware stores to fighting the U.S. Patent Office for six years, Jenny shares the gritty truth about staying the course when the odds (and your own self-doubt) are stacked against you. Together, Alyssa and Jenny explore what it means to take yourself seriously—even before the world does.

Key Takeaways:

• Unreasonable belief is a requirement. You can’t wait for permission to solve the problem only you see.
• Quitting is easy. Not quitting is a decision you make every day.
• The next step is always enough. Big visions are built one small, logical move at a time.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:17 Jenny's Origin Story
02:00 From IT Consulting to Skincare Solutions
07:40 The Challenges of Invention
16:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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