If you're a high-achieving leader who’s already mentally drafting Q1 OKRs between bites of pumpkin pie…

this episode is your invitation to pause - in service to all your doing!

Because here’s the truth: you are more productive, more grounded, and way more inspiring when you unplug from work and plug into gratitude.

Yep. Gratitude isn’t fluffy. It’s a performance enhancer.
Research shows that practicing gratitude at work can make you up to 50% more productive—and just 3 minutes a day for 14 days rewires your brain toward joy, ease, and emotional resilience. (Take that, endless Slack pings.)

In this Thanksgiving-week Pausecast, we explore:

1. Why gratitude is a secret leadership edge—not just a holiday hashtag.

2. Wildly compelling stats on how gratitude impacts your brain, energy, and leadership presence.

3. Simple gratitude practices you can integrate during a season that’s supposed to be warm and meaningful… but often feels like a sprint.

4. How gratitude helps you thrive (especially when work is intense or life feels “a lot”).

5. Your personalized Gratitude Pause Plan—so you leave with something you can use immediately.

If you’re craving more ease, more grounding, and a holiday season that feels like connection instead of another item on your to-do list… you’ll love this one. 🧡

#ThanksgivingWeek

• #GratitudeSeason

• #HolidayWellbeing

• #ThankfulLeader

  #Techleaders

"We can’t see the forest from inside it. Strategic pauses create the distance required for clarity." — Rachael O’Meara

I just released a new episode of the podcast, and it’s a personal one. I’m sharing a few unexpected leadership lessons from my recent trip to Thailand—especially from the Lantern Festival, where thousands of glowing lanterns lifted into the night sky.

It reminded me how much leaders need moments of wonder to stay inspired… and how easy it is to forget that when we’re deep in deadlines and decisions.

In this episode, I talk about:
– Why beauty and play actually fuel clarity and creativity
– How adaptability becomes a superpower when things don’t go as planned
– What gentle strength (thank you, elephants) can teach us about grounded confidence
– Why collaborating with strangers can open up new possibilities
– And the one thing every tech leader needs more of right now: strategic pausing

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, reactive, or low on inspiration lately, I think this one will feel grounding.

Why you need to know Rachael O'Meara

Rachael O’Meara is an author, TEDx speaker, executive coach, and host of The Pausecast. She helps high-achieving tech leaders move beyond overwhelm and self-doubt to reclaim confidence, energy, and clarity—so they can lead with purpose on their terms for what's next.

What if curiosity was your greatest leadership skill?
In this inspiring episode, Rachael sits down with Aidan Booth, Director at one of the big techs, to explore how curiosity, reflection, and joy shape powerful, authentic leadership.

💡 Aidan opens up about his career journey — from the lessons learned through failure to the boundaries he’s set to protect his energy and well-being.

He shares how staying curious helps him grow, lead with empathy, and pay it forward to those coming up behind him.

🔥 Whether you’re navigating a big decision, leading through change, or simply ready to feel more confident in your leadership — this episode reminds you that your only real competition is who you were yesterday.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Curiosity is your secret weapon for growth and clarity.

• Self-reflection strengthens confidence and presence.

• Boundaries protect your energy — and your joy.

• Failure isn’t the end — it’s how you evolve.

• Paying it forward expands what’s possible for everyone.

🎙 Favorite Sound Bites:

“I want to earn it each and every day.”
“I try to be fully present and engaged.”
“Pay it forward — 10X, like 100X.”

To connect with Aidan, you can find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-booth-37199a8/

High-achieving leaders know how to perform.

But do they know how to pause?

In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Ariane de Bonvoisin — former management consultant, Tony Robbins coach, TED speaker, and now author of the Giggles and Joy children’s book trilogy — to explore what it really means to bring mindfulness into leadership (and life). Ariane and I go waayy back to when I hosted her at Google, which we chat about this in the episode.

💡 We talk about:
✨ The difference between a work pause and a personal pause — and why both are vital for growth.
✨ How children embody mindfulness and joy — naturally.
✨ Simple ways to bring more calm and connection into your day.
✨ How to name your non-negotiable pause.

🎧 Listen now to learn how mindfulness can make you a more grounded, emotionally intelligent leader — one who leads from presence, not pressure.

Ariane writes, coaches and speaks frequently on issues of personal and professional change, happiness and inspiration, entrepreneurship, women in the workplace, parenting and the topic of mindful living and wellness in business. Her ‘9 Principles of Change’ Workshop has become a cornerstone of her teachings and has received rave reviews. Learn more at https://www.arianedebonvoisin.com/

Landing a new role can feel like a win...and a test of your values.

In this energizing convo, Alex Phillips shares what it’s really like to take a bold leap—moving his family across the world for a leadership role in big tech —and how he learned to redefine success from the inside out.

We talk about boundaries, burnout prevention, and the art of staying human in a world that emphasizes “always on.” 🌏💼

🔑 Key Takeaways
02:07 – Big Moves, Bigger Lessons: The reality of relocating a family and leading through uncertainty.
05:00 – Boundaries = Freedom: Why asking for what you need and saying no are leadership superpowers.
07:41 – Invest in Your Edge: How personal development fuels your confidence and clarity.
09:15 – From Chaos to Clarity: How Alex creates calm routines for anchors in leadership.
12:59 – Health Is Non-Negotiable: Why energy management—not time management—is the true edge.
15:10 – Feeling Stuck? Use the quiet seasons to retool, refocus, and rise stronger.

My Favorite Soundbites:

“Don’t be afraid to say no.”
“Your job is never finished.”
“Ownership is super critical.”

Who should listen: high-achieving leaders navigating growth, transition, or a new chapter.

If you’re craving more clarity, calm, and confidence—this episode will help you reset your mindset and rise stronger.

#techleaders #leadershipinaction #pausecast #emotionalintellignece #confidentleaders

Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things but still not quite in your flow?

In Ep. 221 of The Pausecast, Rachael sits down with her former and inspiring teammate tech leader + mentor Rich Berta to explore what it really takes to get into your groove — and stay there — especially when the ground is constantly shifting.

Rich shares how he’s navigated bold career moves, built teams across continents, and found meaning through mentoring others. 💡

Together, we dive into how curiosity, alignment, and intentional pauses can help you lead (and live) from a place of grounded confidence — even in uncertain times.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• (2:10) How to recognize when you’re stuck in “push mode” instead of true flow

• (6:40) Why getting your groove back isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing differently

• (10:15) The small daily practice that reconnects you to your energy and purpose

• (14:45) The role of self-compassion when you’re rebuilding confidence

• (18:05) How to re-enter your next chapter with clarity and calm

🎯 Who should listen: If you’re a high-achieving leader who’s lost your spark and ready to feel clear, confident, and in your groove again — this conversation will remind you it’s not too late to realign and rise.

In this episode of The Pausecast...
💡 Discover how conscious breath creates heart coherence—a science-backed state that enhances focus, intuition, and emotional regulation under pressure.
🧘‍♀️ Practice an integrative breathwork session to find your own rhythm of coherence.
💬 Learn how to tune into your “heart brain” and unlock intuitive decision-making with two powerful reflection questions.

✨ Pro tip: Before you begin, think of someone or something you’re grateful for. Visualize it, then start breathing—gratitude accelerates coherence and calm.

Want to explore the science behind breathwork? Check out this 11 minute primer I made: Listen here → https://youtu.be/pVxWNcC63zo

Here’s what you’ll discover in Ep. 219👇
🌱 Why humans are “meaning-making machines” (and how that can help or hurt you)
🎡 The SmartTribe ⁠⁠Emotional Wheel⁠⁠ —a game-changer for navigating feelings (graphic linked!)
📊 The surprising % of people who actually know what they’re feeling in the moment
❓ The 3 transformative questions to ask yourself if you want a new outcome
🐾 What a “critter state” is, how to get out of it, and exactly how long to stay there
🌀 The 4 stages of consciousness (⁠view graphic) and how to move through them.
🌳 How nature can reset your nervous system and open your perspective

💫 Christine’s secret to life (you’ll want to hear this one!)

This episode is part science, part soul—and all about giving you tools to feel more grounded, clear, and confident in your next move. ✨

🎧 Tune in now—you’ll leave with a breath of fresh air + a powerful reset.

• 
  

  About Christine Comaford

  Bill Gates calls her “super high bandwidth.”

  For over 30 years Leadership and Culture Coach, Serial Entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author Christine Comaford has helped leaders navigate growth and change.

  Christine is sought after for providing proven strategies to shift executive behavior to create more positive outcomes, enroll and align teams in times of change, profoundly increase sales, product offerings, and company value.

  Her coaching, consulting and strategies have created hundreds of billions of dollars in new revenue and company value for her clients. The potent neuroscience techniques she teaches are easy to learn and immediately applicable to help leaders see into their blind spots, expand their vision, and more effectively influence outcomes.

  
  

  About Rachael O'Meara

  Rachael O'Meara, MBA, MA, PCC helps high achieving leaders move beyond overwhelm and self-doubt to reclaim their confidence and make their next big career move. Her book Pause was a top business book for your career based on her burnout of Google, and she has been featured in the New York Times, WSJ.com, HBR and on the TEDx stage.