What if you didn’t have to wait for your job to change… to feel better at work? 😌
This week on The Pausecast VIP, I’m joined by the legendary Marci Shimoff—#1 NYT bestselling author of Happy for No Reason and a global thought leader in personal development.

I met Marci a while back at a women's business conference where she spoke, and I fell madly in love with her (and her concepts lol). I couldn't wait to host her and help amplify her message knowing pausing plays a big part in cultivating and sustaining happiness.

If you’re successful on paper but quietly tired, stretched, or wondering “Is this it?”—this career-meets-inner-work conversation is for you. Marci shares practical, science-backed ways to create happiness from the inside out—so your leadership gets lighter, clearer, and more fulfilling. ✨

In this episode, we explore:

• A simple 2x2x2 pause you can use before tough meetings 🧠

• How to activate your body’s “feel-good” chemistry (hello, oxytocin 💛)

• Why heart rate variability (HRV) matters for performance + resilience

• The daily question that upgrades your well-being

• Marci’s “rooms of happiness” framework (think: building a house for your joy 🏠)

• What you can—and can’t—control when it comes to fulfillment at work

This isn’t “be positive” advice.
It’s grounded wisdom for leaders navigating growth, pressure, and what’s next—without burning out. 🔥

👉 Subscribe to The Pausecast so you don’t miss these leadership conversations.
Ready to feel more fulfilled at work and navigate your next level of leadership?

👉 Book a call with me and let’s explore how to bring “happy for no reason” into your leadership—on your terms.

#ThePausecast #TechLeadership #PersonalGrowth #FulfillmentAtWork #InnerWorkMeetsLeadership #PauseToLead

What if the next level of your leadership doesn’t come from pushing harder—but from pausing on purpose?

In this episode of The Pausecast, I sit down with Melody Olson, former Senior Engineering Director at Google, for a refreshingly honest conversation about leadership, career evolution, and what happens when you stop following the “expected” path.

After a successful, high-profile career at Google, Melody chose to pause—and that decision opened the door to a new chapter defined by curiosity, intentional growth, and smarter risks.

We talk about:

• Why pausing can be a strategic move (not a setback)

• How smart risks build stronger leaders and teams

• The reality of balancing family life with ambitious careers

• Why investing in personal growth pays off long-term

• Setting boundaries, protecting deep work, and redefining success

• Letting go of linear career ladders and embracing a “jungle gym” path

If you’re a leader who’s successful on paper—but sensing there’s more available to you—this conversation will resonate.

Real talk.

Grounded wisdom.

Permission to evolve.

Connect with Melody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-olson/

Thanks for tuning in this week—and as always, remember: your pause might be the most powerful move you make.

In Ep. 233 of The Pausecast, I sit down with my former big tech colleague Ada Lau and we explore her journey from aspiring journalist to successful big tech leader.

Ada shares how she built a career bridging technology and people, and the lessons she’s learned leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, and the challenges that she also overcame.

We dive into the joys and challenges of tech leadership, including building team dynamics, fostering collaboration, and navigating AI and enterprise-scale change.

Ada also shares candid insights on professional growth, work-life balance, and the power of pausing to reflect, make better decisions, and maintain resilience.

Maybe you can relate if you're also riding the tech waves these days.

Key Takeaways:

• Transitioning to tech allowed Ada to combine logic, problem-solving, and her love of people.

• Strong team dynamics and collaboration are essential for sustainable success.

• Embracing mistakes fuels learning, creativity, and resilience.

• Work-life balance is an ongoing challenge—but intentional pauses help.

• True success can be measured by happiness, not just achievements.

Whether you’re leading in tech or navigating constant change, Ada’s story is a masterclass in adaptability, authentic leadership, and finding joy along the way.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to lead with confidence, clarity, and happiness.

Yes, you read that right—AI read my book Pause and pulled out the gold.

In this special episode, I share the AI Audio 17 minute synopsis by two completely digital voices as they have coffee chat about the book Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break - from Google’s new NotebookLM.

The results? Pretty surreal. Surprising. Spot-on. Pause-worthy!

Whether you're an AI enthusiast or just need a real reason to stop spinning in overdrive, this episode gives you:

• 🧘 The timeless leadership lessons from Pause, now filtered through Google’s AI

• 🧠 Why pausing isn’t lazy—it’s neuroscience-backed clarity

• ⚡️ How this book still hits, 7 years later, in the middle of our always-on tech culture

• 🔄 Real-life reset tools you can apply today to lead, think, and feel better

It was a lot of fun to upload the book and get this back in return in a matter of minutes - truly AMAZING and frankly, a lot of fun to listen to!

If you love pausing, AI, leadership, and coffee talk about self-mastery—please check this out between the male and female vapors of Pause. :)

📘 Grab the book that started it all: Pause: Harness the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break → https://www.amazon.com/Pause-Harnessing-Life-Changing-Giving-Yourself/dp/0143129244
💡 Sometimes the smartest thing you can do… is pause...and not gush because something seems so cool - this was such a trip to listen to - what do you think?!

#AIforleaders #pausebook #powerofpause #executivecoaching #resilientleadership #notebookLM #googleai #innerwork

How emotional intelligence, unfinished business, and pausing unlock real confidence.

As we kick off another new year, this episode is an invitation to slow down—and lead differently.

Why listen now:Start 2026 with more self-trust, emotional clarity, and leadership ease—without working harder or pushing through.

In this special re-release, I’m joined by my leadership mentor, Dr. Bob Wright, one of the most influential thinkers in human development and emotional intelligence.

This conversation goes beneath strategy, performance, and productivity—and into the inner work that quietly shapes how you show up as a leader.

If you’re a high-achieving leader who’s successful on paper but still feels tension, self-doubt, or emotional reactivity under pressure, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it.

Together, we explore how emotional intelligence, pausing, and awareness of your “unfinished business” can radically shift how you lead, decide, and relate in the new year.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why emotional intelligence is the foundation for sustainable leadership—not a soft skill

• What “unfinished business” really is, and how it quietly drives stress, overwork, and self-doubt

• The five primary emotions—why they matter, and how working with them creates more ease and pleasure

• How projections and transferences show up at work (especially in high-stakes environments)

• Why pausing is essential when emotions are high and decisions matter

• How leaders unconsciously decide whether they do or don’t matter

• An introduction to the Wright Transformational Developmental Model and the six levels of emotional and leadership development

This episode is not about fixing yourself.
It’s about understanding yourself—so you can lead with clarity, presence, and internal authority in 2026 and beyond.

Dr. Bob Wright is a globally recognized leader in human development and emotional intelligence. He is the co-founder of LiveWright and former cofounder and Professor of Transformational Leadership at Wright Graduate University.

Named by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the nation’s top executive coaches, Dr. Wright has spent decades helping leaders understand the emotional and developmental patterns that shape their lives and leadership.

This Model of Human Growth and Development—considered one of the most comprehensive models of its kind—translates deep theory into practical, everyday leadership awareness, and continues to influence coaches, executives, and organizations worldwide.

It’s a wrap! ❤️
HAPPY… NEW… YEAR!! 🎉🎉🎉

The new year is your fresh canvas — a moment to breathe, reset, and choose how you want to lead yourself forward. This episode helps you pause with intention so you can set the tone for a powerful and purposeful 2026.
(And yes… you can do this any time of year — but year-end adds a natural energetic shift that helps your system integrate and realign.)

Here’s what we’ll dive into:

✨ Clear the Slate — Reflect on the lessons, wins, and challenges of the past year so you can release what no longer supports your energy or leadership.
✨ Create Your Future Roadmap — A simple, grounding flow to craft your 2026 vision, goals, and guiding word without overwhelm.
✨ Mindful Celebration — Meaningful ways to ring in the year with intention — whether with your team, your loved ones, or quietly with yourself.

This episode will leave you feeling centered, confident, and ready to step into the new year with clarity and heart. 💛

Tune in and make your #NewYearsEve a moment of meaningful pause.
#Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #MindfulNewYear #NewYearReflection #PowerOfPause #Pausecast

In Ep. 178 of The Pausecast...

OMG it's Christmas Week - a time to slow down, connect, and reflect.

But as leaders, how do we truly embrace the moment and share that sense of presence with others?

In this special holiday seasonal episode of The Pausecast, we’ll unwrap the keys to leading with heart and intention this holiday season.

Here’s what we’ll explore:

1. The Art of Presence: How to be fully engaged with loved ones, your team, and yourself during the holidays.

2. Reflect and Recharge: Rachael's guided pause to close out the year with gratitude and clarity.

3. Stories of Connection: Hear how Boxing Day is coming back to Rachael's family. What's your inspiring holiday tradition or story to remember or bring out joy, connecting, and reflection?

I invite you to listen to this episode and pause as we embrace the moment and step into the last week of 2025.

🌟 Celebrate. Reflect. Lead with love!

Happy Holidays, beautiful loving leaders!

What if this year, you could step into the holidays with calm, clarity, and joy?

Join me, Rachael, for this special holiday episode of The Pausecast, where we’ll explore practical and mindful ways to navigate the season stress-free.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. 🌀 Design Your Vision for the New Year

   • Meet your future self in Rachael's Guided Pause

     Choose your guiding word or theme for next year to anchor your goals and aspirations.

2. ✨ Embrace the Wonder of the Holidays

   • Discover how pausing to savor the magic of the season can benefit you and positively impact those around you.

   • Practical tips to stay present and soak in moments of connection and joy.

3. ⚡ Sidestep Common Holiday Pitfalls

   • Learn how to avoid energy-draining drama and shift away from a fixed mindset.

   • Strategies for bringing more playfulness into your holiday traditions to naturally boost learning and enjoyment.

4. 🌟 The Gratitude Advantage

   • Explore how cultivating gratitude can amplify your sense of joy, wonder, and productivity both during the holidays and beyond.

This episode is your invitation to lead yourself and those around you with more ease, presence, and intention this holiday season.

Tune in to Episode 177 of The Pausecast and let’s create a season that energizes, rather than depletes, you.