What do two cheeky mini-donkeys and a paddock full of personality have to do with leadership? A lot more than you might think.

In this episode of The Reins of Leadership, we explore an unexpected rebellion - not in the boardroom, but in the paddock - and the powerful lessons it holds for business leaders, teams, and anyone managing people with purpose.

Meet Dotty and Sparky, the unlikely masterminds of the Great Donkey Uprising, and discover how their dynamic mirrors the strategist-implementer tension within your own team. We also introduce Paddy - the wise, seen-it-all Guardian, and unpack the essential third role that too many leaders overlook.

This isn’t just a story about mini-hooves and bent fences. It’s a metaphor-rich exploration of how leadership really works: in the quiet moments, the unseen conversations, and the environments we create (or neglect).

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

In this episode, Merinda explores the role of emotional intelligence in the age of artificial intelligence - and how our ability to connect, attune, and lead from the heart is becoming more essential than ever.

As machines grow faster and more capable at cognitive tasks, it’s our human qualities; empathy, presence, intuition, that truly set us apart.

Drawing on her own leadership practice and moments of quiet connection with her equines, Merinda shares how heart-to-heart presence literally reshapes the brain, builds emotional resilience, and deepens your capacity to lead with clarity in uncertain times.

You’ll hear:

• Why emotional intelligence is no longer a “soft skill”
• The neuroscience behind presence, empathy, and regulation
• How horses co-regulate with us and help build leadership coherence
• Why AI can support us, but not replace our presence
• How to stay grounded, spacious, and strong when the world speeds up

💛 Featured Resource:
If you’ve been feeling caught in overthinking, overwhelm, or emotional spirals — grab my free guide:
👉 Are You Spiralling? — Click here to download it

🌿 For more resources, programs and soulful leadership tools, visit:
👉 https://merindasmith.podia.com

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

In this episode I’m joined by the truly remarkable Shae – a leader, HR specialist, and equine soul whose story is both deeply personal and powerfully inspiring.

We explore how horses have shaped Shae’s personal growth, leadership style, and trauma-informed approach to HR. From childhood memories with her grandparents' horses to transformative moments in adulthood, Shae shares how equine therapy helped her reconnect with herself and lead others with greater empathy and emotional intelligence.

Inside this episode:

• How horses taught Shae patience, presence, and emotional awareness
• The role of equine therapy in healing from childhood trauma
• Insights into trauma-informed HR and emotionally safe workplaces
• The power of non-verbal communication and co-regulation in leadership
• How one horse helped Shae reclaim her story on the very road where her trauma began

This conversation is a gentle yet powerful reminder that leadership isn’t just about strategy – it’s about connection, courage, and the willingness to feel.

Favourite moment?
Shae’s story about using equine therapy to gain insight into her past relationship is a must-listen. The clarity, compassion, and self-awareness it brought is something we can all learn from.

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

In this week's episode, Merinda teams up with the insightful Jina Hardy to explore the powerful and provocative idea that leadership is a mirror.

What if the challenges you face with your team, your clients, and your goals aren't just external problems to be solved, but reflections of your own inner world?

Jina and Merinda dive deep into this concept, sharing personal stories of navigating difficult dynamics and discovering that true leadership begins with radical self-awareness. They unpack how your personal energy, your unexamined anxieties, and the stories you tell yourself are constantly being broadcast to your team, shaping everything from psychological safety to the capacity for real innovation.

This isn't just another conversation about management tactics. It's an invitation to a greater journey, one that moves from just doing leadership to truly being a leader who inspires growth, resilience, and authentic connection.

Ready to see what's in your reflection? Here are three key steps to begin your journey:

Your Path to Conscious Leadership

1. Master Your Triggers: Look Inward, Not Outward.
The next time you feel challenged, frustrated, or backed into a corner, resist the urge to react. The real power move is to pause and ask yourself one transformative question: "What part of me feels under threat right now?" This simple act shifts you from a manager reacting to circumstance to a leader responding with intention. It turns moments of conflict into opportunities for profound self-discovery.

2. Model the Future: Your Vulnerability is a Superpower.
Innovation, disruption, and psychological safety aren't just buzzwords; they are the direct result of a leader's courage. By modelling vulnerability - apologising when you get it wrong, being open to feedback, and leading with authenticity, you grant your team the permission to be human, to take risks, and to bring their whole selves to work. Your authenticity isn't a weakness; it's the very foundation of a fearless team.

3. Commit to Your Evolution: Let Go of Who You Were.
Your leadership today is often guided by fears you adopted in childhood. To truly embrace change and lead your team into the future, you must be willing to examine your own default patterns and consciously let go of what no longer serves you. Through intentional reflection, like journaling, you can identify the patterns holding you back and actively choose the leader you want to become. This is the ultimate act of personal and professional growth.

Are you ready to stop managing problems and start leading a movement? Take a look in the mirror - your next evolution is waiting.

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

Are you leading from your head, disconnected from your intuition? What if the greatest leadership tool wasn't another framework, but a direct connection to your own authentic presence?

This week on The Reins of Leadership, we are joined by the remarkable Kelly Wendorf - founder of EQUUS, author of Flying Lead Change, and a guide who bridges the worlds of equine wisdom, neuroscience, and ancient Indigenous teachings.

In This Episode, You Will Discover:

• The Horse as the Ultimate Truth-Teller: How a horse’s reaction instantly reveals the incongruence between what you say and who you are, providing a powerful feedback loop for authentic leadership.
• Beyond the "Executive Presence" Façade: What true embodied leadership feels like in your body and how it commands respect and trust without a single word.
• Stories of Transformation: Hear firsthand accounts of the profound shifts leaders experience when they step out of the boardroom and into the arena with the EQUUS Experience®.
• Weaving Indigenous Wisdom into Your Work: How to move beyond hierarchy and burnout by applying ancient principles of reciprocity, community, and interconnectedness to modern teams.
• The Art of "Rewilding" Yourself: Tangible steps to shed rigid corporate conditioning, learn to trust your instincts, and lead with your whole, undivided self.

A Special Gift for Our Listeners!
As a generous gift to The Reins of Leadership community, Kelly is offering her online course, How to Lead a Transformative Life, absolutely free.

Course Link: How to Lead a Transformative Life (Use code EQUUS100KW)

• Mark your calendars for September 2025 and reserve your free spot today!

Connect with Kelly Wendorf:

• Kelly Wendorf's Website: kellywendorf.com
• EQUUS Website: equusinspired.com
• Book: Flying Lead Change: A Guide to Authentic Leadership and Inspired Action on Amazon

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

What happens when the people closest to you don’t cheer you on?

When their silence, their doubt, or their discomfort makes you question whether you're ready - or even capable?

In this episode, Merinda shares a powerful story from the herd and reflects how it mirrors the human experience of stepping into something unfamiliar while surrounded by well-meaning fear.
We explore the subtle ways resistance shows up, the hidden loyalty we carry to those we love, and what it truly means to show up for yourself in moments of uncertainty.

Where in your life are you mistaking someone else’s fear for a sign that you’re not ready? What might shift if you backed yourself anyway?

Listen now and reclaim your steps forward - even if you’re walking them alone.

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

Is your star player always saying "yes," taking on more, and smiling through it all? What if that incredible willingness is masking deep stress, putting them on a collision course with burnout... or worse, an unexpected exit? Too many leaders miss the subtle signs until it's too late.

In this episode of The Reins of Leadership, we step into the arena to understand the "Eager Pleaser" – that invaluable team member whose desire to do right might be pushing them to their breaking point.

Key Takeaways:

• Look beyond the 'yes' for hidden stress.
• Understand fear often drives over-pleasing.
• Create safety for honesty before breakdown.
• Model healthy boundaries yourself.

If this conversation about hidden pressures, sustainable success, and leading with authentic presence resonates deeply – especially if you see the "eager pleaser" in yourself or feel the weight of ensuring your team thrives without burning out – then The Leadership Realignment Session is your next powerful step.

This isn't just another coaching call. It’s a dedicated 1:1 experience designed for successful women leaders like you who are ready to:

• Break free from the cycle of overwhelm and constant output.
• Lead with genuine self-trust, presence, and unshakeable purpose.
• Realign your inner world with your outer success, creating impact without the internal cost.

Stop managing symptoms and start addressing the core. It's time to lead from a place of grounded power and authentic connection.
➡️ Book Your Leadership Realignment Session & Transform Your Approach: https://merindasmith.podia.com/aligned_success

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

In today’s episode, I’m joined by the remarkable Linda Willow Roberts – a spiritual teacher, medium, and manifestation mentor with over 35 years of experience. In this conversation we dive into the power of intuitive leadership, clearing internal blocks, and how connecting with your own inner magic can radically transform your personal and professional life.

If you’ve ever felt like something unseen is holding you back or you’re ready to lead with more purpose, presence, and clarity — this conversation will speak straight to your soul.

She’s also the creator of the I Am a Manifestor Magical Oracle Cards and The Manifestation Flowchart Course. Her work blends spiritual wisdom and practical tools to help you tune into your gifts, release what’s holding you back, and step into alignment with your highest potential.

💫 Find out more: https://lindawillowroberts.com

💥 Key Takeaways

1. The role intuition and spiritual practice play in everyday leadership
2. How manifestation can become part of your business and life toolkit
3. Common energy blocks leaders experience — and how to shift them

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au