• Trauma-Informed HR, Culture Shifts & Lessons from the Saddle with Shae Noble
    2025/12/09

    Shae Noble shares her leap from traditional employment into her own trauma-informed HR consultancy. Her story highlights the growing need for HR approaches that understand the human beneath the role description.

    The Evolution of HR → People & Culture
    In conversation, Shae and Merinda explore the changing landscape of HR.

    Understanding Workplace Dynamics
    The episode digs into what’s really happening beneath the surface in teams and organisations—patterns, tensions, unspoken expectations—and how a trauma-informed lens can transform how we lead and support others.

    Leadership Lessons from the Saddle
    Merinda wraps the conversation with insights drawn from working with horses, including the universal moment of overcoming fear on horseback.

    Books mentioned int his episode:

    • Game free life by Stephen Karpman
    • Becoming Fearless by Dr Benjamin Ritter


    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    45 分
  • The Hidden Gaps in Leadership
    2025/11/25

    Every leader has them: those hidden perspectives and ingrained habits we call blindspots. In this insightful episode of The Reins of Leadership, Merinda shares a personal story to illuminate how our own aversions and outdated beliefs can inadvertently steer our leadership off course.

    Discover why blindspots aren't weaknesses, but rather uninspected areas ripe for growth.

    Here are some questions to help you:


    • What are you truly resisting?
    • Is your preference masquerading as a principle?
    • Are you looking for evidence, or letting emotion lead?
    • Who can offer a trusted, outside perspective?
    • Are you choosing short-term discomfort for long-term ease?

    It's time to ask: "Is this actually a limitation, or is it just the place where I need to get out of my own way?"

    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    17 分
  • The Space Between the Ask and the Answer
    2025/11/11

    In this episode we explore a quiet moment with a yearling who had never been handled before. What began as a simple interaction — allowing the young horse to follow and accept a halter — became a powerful lesson in leadership, trust, and patience.

    Through stillness, observation, and gentle invitation, we explore how true leadership isn’t about pressure or control, but about creating space — the space for others to respond, choose, and trust.

    Reflective Question:
    Where in your leadership, work, or relationships could you step back — and allow trust to walk toward you?

    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    16 分
  • Writing Your Legacy: Lessons from Life and Loss
    2025/11/04

    In this powerful episode, we explore the true meaning of legacy - moving beyond achievements and accolades to examine the emotional imprint we leave on others.

    Through personal reflection and real-world stories, we discuss how leadership is not just about results, but about the courage, compassion, and connection we spark in those around us. We also confront how the reality of loss deepens our understanding of legacy and challenges us to lead with greater intention.

    Do you have a favorite story about someone who left a lasting legacy in your life?

    Share it with us on social media using #ReinsOfLeadership or send us a voice note- we might feature it in a future episode!

    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    15 分
  • Nancy Griffin - Beyond Wealth: A Heartfelt Conversation on Worth, Wellness & Legacy
    2025/10/28

    In this episode of The Reins of Leadership, I sit down with the remarkable Nancy Griffin — Legacy Advisor to Accomplished Women and founder of Women, Worth & Wellness™. What begins as a conversation about financial wealth soon expands into something much deeper — exploring self-worth, wellness, purpose, and the profound legacy women can create through generosity.

    Nancy’s story is deeply inspiring and this is an episode reminds us that true wealth lives in how we give, how we live, and the legacy we leave behind.

    💬 Favourite Quote

    “Legacy isn’t just what we leave behind — it’s how we live our values every day, and the generosity we extend to others.” – Nancy Griffin

    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    49 分
  • Let It Come: The Quiet Power of Relaxation in Leadership
    2025/10/22

    Drawing inspiration from the natural world and Tomas our gorgeous donkey, we delve into:


    • The Illusion of Control & The Grip of Monofocus. We'll explore the dangers of "monofocus" and how it limits our leadership potential.
    • Breaking the Cycle: Relaxation as Receptivity. Opening you up to intuition, insights, and creativity that are inaccessible when you're braced and rigid.
    • Leading from Trust: The Power of Broad Awareness. We'll discuss how softening your grip actually strengthens your impact.

    Take a moment today to consciously relax your shoulders and unclench your jaw. Notice how this small shift changes your energy.

    Share your experience with us on social media using #ReinsOfLeadership.

    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    13 分
  • Heather McDaniel - Trust, Teams, and the New Leadership Paradigm
    2025/10/14

    In this episode I sit down with Heather McDaniel — leadership coach, founder of the Life Love Leadership Project, and creator of the REBEL Method. Heather brings a fresh perspective on what it means to lead in today’s world of rapid change, especially in the high-stakes environment of B2B SaaS.

    We dive into the heart of leadership — trust. Trust in ourselves, trust within teams, and the kind of trust that builds psychological safety and resilience in organisations. Heather shares her belief that leadership is no longer about hustling harder or pushing strategy for strategy’s sake — it’s about presence, grounded clarity, and leading without abandoning ourselves or those we serve.

    Find Heather on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermcdanielcreative/


    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    48 分
  • Who's Really Holding the Reins? Moving from Blame to True Responsibility.
    2025/10/07

    Have you ever found yourself in a frustrating situation, blaming circumstances or other people for a lack of progress? It’s a natural human reaction, but for a leader, it’s a trap that drains power and erodes trust. In this episode, we explore a simple but transformative leadership model called "Above and Below the Line."

    Through personal stories, I'll show you how this model plays out in real-time. We'll break down the difference between the land of powerlessness and the land of empowerment and give you the tools to steer any situation. You'll learn why your team, just like a horse, is an instant mirror for your own accountability and how a simple shift in your mindset can turn resistance into a willing partnership.

    In This Episode, You Will Learn:

    • The difference between living 'Above the Line' and 'Below the Line'.
    • What the acronyms BED (Blame, Excuses, Denial) and OAR (Ownership, Accountability, Responsibility) mean for your daily leadership.
    • How to spot the subtle language of excuses and blame in yourself and your team.
    • The one powerful question you can ask yourself to immediately pull yourself Above the Line.

    A Challenge For You This Week

    Your challenge is not to be perfect - we all slip Below the Line. The challenge is simply to notice. Listen for the language of Blame, Excuses, and Denial in your own thoughts and conversations. When you catch it, don't judge. Just pause, take a breath, and ask yourself the one question that changes everything: "What's my part in this?"

    Key Insight from the Episode

    Your team, just like a horse, doesn't respond to your excuses or your blame. They respond to your energy and your ownership. When you live Below the Line, you create resistance; when you lead from Above the Line, you invite trust and partnership.

    Connect with Merinda:


    Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

    Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

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    18 分