🎧 In Episode 227, you’ll discover...

This one’s a gift to your future self.

If you’ve been sprinting through Q4 feeling stretched, scattered, or secretly wondering, “Is it just me?” — this episode is your pause, your reset, and your reminder that your brain is far more trainable than your stress would have you believe.

And you’re learning from the best.
Dr. Richard Davidson — world-renowned neuroscientist, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds, TIME 100 honoree, and co-author of Altered Traits — joins us to break down the science of attention, compassion, and resilience in a way every high-achieving tech leader in the digital economy needs right now.

This episode feels like a masterclass + warm hug + brain upgrade all in one. 🍂✨

• 💛 A beautiful Loving-Kindness guided pause from Dr. Davidson himself

• 🧠 How attention training literally reshapes your brain structure

• 🤝 What the latest research reveals about compassion practices

• ⏱️ The ideal length to meditate (yes… shorter than you think)

• 🌱 What to do if you “don’t meditate” but crave real change

• 🔄 How meditation rewires emotional patterns + boosts resilience

• 🪞 Dr. Davidson’s own pause + transformation practices

• 📲 The four scientific pillars of well-being — and the app that helps you cultivate them

• 🙌 The (surprisingly high!) percentage of Americans who meditate weekly

Why you need to know Dr. Davidson: One of the most influential voices in the science of well-being:

• William James & Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at UW–Madison

• Founder & Director — Center for Healthy Minds

• PhD in Psychology from Harvard

• Author of 400+ scientific articles and 14 books

• Co-author of Altered Traits with Daniel Goleman

• Named to TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People

• Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

• Advisor to the World Economic Forum and UNESCO

• Leading global researcher on the neural basis of emotion, meditation, and human flourishing

  
  

  #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #TechLeadership #DigitalEconomy #MindfulnessAtWork #Pausecast #Neuroscience #ResilientLeadership #WomenInTech #HighAchievers #CenterofHealthyMinds #drricharddavidson

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