Do you want to f***ing improve individual and team performance in your workplace? Do you think mediocrity f***ing sucks and you shouldn't have to put up with it? Do you aim to be more than a good boss and aspire to be a great leader? Then join Ken and Russell for thoughtful and at times f***ing irreverent conversation on the topics of leadership and organizational culture.
Sometimes difficult conversations suck, but you need to have them. Sometimes you may even need to have them with yourself. On this podcast we have thought provoking conversations with business leaders from across North America and discuss ideas that can help you be an even better leader and not simply a ‘boss’.
Co-hosts Ken Cameron and Russell Stratton literally wrote the book on navigating difficult workplace conversations. We are authors of the 5 star Amazon book ‘I Need To F***ing Talk To You’, the result of more than three decades of in-the-field consulting This groundbreaking book is the basis for our training programs and podcast and continues to f***ing positively shape how managers in organizations address performance, behavioural and attendance issues in the workplace.
Advertise on I Need To F***ing Talk To You
Advertise on I Need To F***ing Talk To You to promote your brand to thousands of podcast listeners
Unlock I Need To F***ing Talk To You podcast Email contact info, Listeners & Audience details
Email contact information
Direct podcast contact details
Listeners
Audience numbers & engagement insights
Audience details
Podcast Insights
Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from I Need To F***ing Talk To You podcast
153 - The Employee Wasn't the F-ing Problem: A Leadership Reckoning with Kathy Coffey Solberg
2026/10/20
Kathy Coffey Solberg has spent 25 years helping leaders across business, government, and nonprofits see what's actually happening before they rush to fix it. She's a TEDx speaker, founder of CommonUnity Consulting, and author of Reweaving What Matters: Practical Tools for Workplace Transformation. Her approach starts with what she calls Unweaving — the discipline of slowing down and noticing what's really going on, especially inside exhausted teams and strained institutions — before moving into the work of Reweaving.
The conversation gets personal in the second half, when Kathy walks through a conversation with an underperforming employee — one where she realized partway through that the real issue wasn't the employee's performance, but how she herself had failed to set that person up to succeed. She shares how she pivoted mid-conversation, what she did to draw out the employee's actual strengths, and how the two of them moved forward together from there.
Links Mentioned
TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6D1clAMFyw
CommonUnity Consulting: https://www.commonunity-us.com/
Kathy's website: https://www.kathysolberg.com/
The First 90 Daysby Michael D. Watkins: https://hbr.org/books/watkins
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
152 - From Dick Blasters to a Shareholder Coup: James Lang's Wild Ride Through Workplace Chaos and AI Innovation
2026/10/06
James Lang, former Director of Customer Experience at Launch Medical which created the The Phoenix device (for erectile dysfunction), reveals a jaw-dropping account of corporate turmoil, false accusations, the sudden death of his CEO, financial malfeasance and a ruthless shareholder power struggle. But James's story extends beyond the boardroom. He openly shares his battle with PTSD, an autism spectrum diagnosis, and an incurable health condition. This episode is a raw, inspiring deep dive into resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose amid extreme personal and professional adversity.
Resources from this episode:
OverLang.com
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
151 - Getting to Better: Why "Best" Is the Wrong F-ing Goal with Stephen De Groot
2026/09/22
What if "best" is actually the wrong goal? Stephen De Groot, co-founder and President of Brivia Consulting, joins the podcast to make the case for "better" — small, doable increments of improvement that build real momentum, instead of the paralyzing pursuit of perfection.
A self-described "recovering academic," Stephen has spent 30 years developing a practical, field-tested model for human performance, drawn from work with runaway teens, gang members, surgeons, nurses, and CEOs alike. He and Russell dig into why leadership's toughest challenges — engagement, communication, and culture — haven't changed in 40 years, why fear and insubordination can look identical from the outside, and why "I don't know" might be one of the most powerful things a leader can say.
In the second half, Stephen walks through one of the hardest workplace conversations he's ever facilitated: coaching a senior surgeon through 15 years of unaddressed, disrespectful behavior — and the deceptively simple questions that turned it around.
Key Quotes
"Did you know that fear and insubordination behaviorally look exactly the same?"
"Rocket science isn't rocket science to a rocket scientist."
Resources & Links
Stephen's book, Getting to Better: gettingtobetter.com
Brivia Consulting - https://briviaconsulting.com/
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
150 - The BrandJitsu Way: Find, Shape, and Share Your F-ing Story with Michael Dargie
2026/09/08
This week on "I Need to F-ing Talk to You," we’re joined by Michael Dargie, the creative zealot behind Make More Creative and author of the BrandJitsu. Michael takes us deep into his revolutionary brand framework, and shares how this approach helps entrepreneurs uncover their business's core DNA.
Michael also discusses his seasoned approach to tackling difficult workplace conversations. He advocates for "giving notes"—clinical, outcome-focused feedback aimed at maintaining high standards. Critically, he reveals how he reframes roles to align team members with their inherent strengths (Ikigai), ensuring everyone shines where they're meant to. This episode is a masterclass for leaders and entrepreneurs eager to build authentic brands and cultivate high-performing, purpose-driven teams.
The Hard Conversation
Michael recounts a recurring challenge with a talented team member whose performance was inconsistently high, creating significant risk on large client projects. His difficult conversation involved direct, "clinical" feedback about the non-negotiable standard of precision required. The key lesson learned was not to dismiss the individual, but to pivot their role within the organization to leverage their strengths, aligning them with tasks where their natural abilities ensured consistent excellence, while assigning detail-oriented work to others. This ensured the client always received the best output and the team member thrived.
Resources mentioned during the conversation:
BrandJitsu.com
MichaelDargie.com
MakeMoreCreative.com
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
149 - The 90-Second F-ing Fix for Any Diffiuclt Conversation, with Doug Noll
2026/08/25
In this episode, we sit down with Doug Noll — a trial lawyer turned peacemaker who ditched the courtroom to spend his career teaching people how to stop screaming at each other. We get into why "communication skills" is kind of a bulls*** phrase, why trying to be rational with someone mid-meltdown just pours gas on the fire, and the weirdly simple trick — grounded in actual neuroscience — that calms a nervous system down in under 90 seconds.
Doug has mediated over 1,500 disputes, teaches at Pepperdine's Straus Institute, and co-founded the Prison of Peace Project, where he trained maximum-security inmates to de-escalate violence using empathy skills. If a guy can teach that inside a prison yard, he can probably teach your management team something too.
Why This Episode Matters
If you lead people, manage a team, or have ever watched a conversation go sideways the second someone got emotional, this episode is for you. Doug's method isn't therapy-speak or soft-skills fluff — it's a neuroscience-backed system for keeping your cool and keeping the relationship intact when everything in you wants to explain, fix, or win. Turns out the fastest way through conflict isn't being right. It's being heard first.
Resources in This Episode:
Doug's new book, Empathy Leadership: A Powerful Skill That Drives Business Success, is out September 8th. Pre-order here!
View Doug's TedXTalk here
Subscribe & Share:
If this one hit home, subscribe and leave us a review — and send it to the person on your team who still thinks "let's be rational about this" is a de-escalation strategy.
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
148 - Why Were Ken and I Wearing Viking Helmets… and What the F*ck Has That Got to Do with Leadership Communication?
2026/08/11
What do Viking helmets, HR professionals, and difficult workplace conversations have in common?
More than you might think.
In this episode of I Need to F*ing Talk to You, Russell Stratton shares a memorable story from the CPHR Alberta Conference in Calgary, where he and co-author Ken Cameron spent the day wearing Viking helmets while talking to HR leaders about difficult employees.
The surprising part?
Nobody needed the metaphor explained.
Almost everyone who walked past immediately said, “I know exactly who that person is.”
That’s because we’ve all worked with someone who resists change, digs in their heels, and seems impossible to coach.
But are they really difficult… or are they simply wearing the wrong hat?
Drawing on the leadership framework from I Need to Fing Talk to You*, Russell introduces the Four Hats model—a practical and memorable way to separate behaviour from personality, making difficult conversations less emotional and far more productive.
Instead of labelling people as “problem employees,” you’ll learn how to identify the behaviours that are getting in the way and, more importantly, how to help people move forward.
In this episode you’ll discover:
Why most “difficult employees” aren’t actually difficult people.
How resistance to change sits behind many workplace conflicts.
Why separating behaviour from identity transforms difficult conversations.
The meaning behind each of the Four Hats:
The Viking Helmet – resistant to change and quick to push back.
The Sun Hat – comfortable, complacent, and content with the status quo.
The Hard Hat – willing to change but needing guidance and support.
The Graduate Cap – engaged, proactive, and consistently delivering results.
Why awareness must come before coaching.
How to decide whether a behaviour is something to live with temporarily—or challenge directly.
Why passing a difficult employee to another manager rarely solves the problem.
Russell also explains why great leaders don’t waste energy trying to “fix” people. Instead, they focus on changing behaviours through curiosity, clear communication, and accountability.
The Four Hats aren’t a personality test. They’re a shared language that helps leaders remove emotion from difficult conversations and replace frustration with practical coaching.
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
147 - What Happens at Stampede… Stays at the F-ing Stampede (Or Does It?)
2026/07/28
Calgary Stampede is one of the highlights of the year. It’s a chance to reconnect with colleagues, strengthen relationships, thank employees, meet clients, and enjoy a well-earned celebration.
But where does having fun end and leadership responsibility begin?
In this solo episode, Russell explores a fictional—but very believable—story of a respected manager whose decision to continue celebrating after a company Stampede event leads to an uncomfortable Monday morning conversation.
Through the story of Mike and Riverside Consulting, Russell examines the subtle pressures leaders create, often without realizing it, and why leadership doesn’t simply disappear when the workday ends.
Rather than asking whether Mike’s behaviour was “right” or “wrong,” this episode explores a far more important question:
What are the consequences when a leader’s actions shape how others experience the workplace?
Along the way you’ll discover why difficult conversations are rarely about bad people—they’re about good people making decisions without fully appreciating their impact on others.
Whether you’re heading to Stampede, a conference, a client event, a Christmas party, or any workplace social function, this episode offers practical insights that every leader can apply.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “It’s after work—it doesn’t matter,” this conversation may cause you to look at leadership through a different lens.
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a colleague. Every workplace eventually has its own “Monday morning conversation.” The better we become at having those conversations, the stronger our leaders, teams, and organizations become.
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
146 - Hard F-ing Conversations and Hard F-ing Lessons: Entrepreneurship, Adversity, and the Power of Persistence with Stan Peake
2026/07/14
In this episode, we sit down with serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and TEDx speaker Stan Peake. With experience as a 9-time entrepreneur and 7-time bestselling author, Stan brings raw, real-world insight into what it actually takes to build, sustain, and recover in business. From navigating personal health crises and business setbacks to managing difficult clients and teams, this conversation dives into the realities of entrepreneurship that rarely make the highlight reel.
We explore the uncomfortable truths behind success—stress, resilience, persistence—and why the ability to handle difficult conversations may be one of the most underrated entrepreneurial skills.
About Our Guest
Stan Peake is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling business author, and TEDx speaker who supports entrepreneurship development at Bow Valley College. Recognized for both business excellence and ethics, Stan combines academic credentials from Royal Roads University, Queen’s University, and Harvard Business School Online with decades of lived experience. He also serves as a global chapter organizer for Harvard’s entrepreneurship network. And yes—he’s a loyal Buffalo Bills fan.
What We Talk About
The Reality of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship isn’t just strategy and growth—it’s stress, uncertainty, and responsibility. Stan shares what it feels like to carry the weight of payroll, problem-solving, and constant decision-making with no safety net.
When the Business Gets Personal
From managing difficult clients to navigating unexpected team challenges, we unpack the communication skills required when stakes are high and emotions run even higher.
Adversity as a Turning Point
Stan opens up about facing a broken back, a heart attack, COVID-related revenue loss, the death of a co-founder, and difficult business partnerships—and how those moments reshaped his approach to leadership and resilience.
The Resilience Gap
We discuss a growing societal challenge: the shift toward instant gratification and risk aversion, and how that mindset limits personal and professional growth.
Key Takeaways
Crisis can unlock creativity – When quitting isn’t an option, you find another way.
Transparency builds trust – Honest conversations, especially when things go wrong, create stronger relationships.
Persistence pays off – Sometimes it takes 18 follow-ups to rebuild trust—but it works.
Passion fuels performance – You excel when you care deeply about what you’re doing.
Discomfort is a competitive advantage – Growth comes from pushing through what others avoid.
Micro-adversity builds resilience – Small challenges prepare you for bigger ones.
Why This Episode Matters
If you’re leading a team, building a business, or navigating tough conversations, this episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t built in comfort—it’s built through challenge. Stan’s perspective cuts through the noise and brings us back to what really drives success: persistence, honesty, and the willingness to stay in the hard moments.
Links:
How Entrepreneurs Learn survey: https://forms.gle/8BBKycHYR4R19Ha8A
Fixing Leadership on Amazon link here
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
145 - Clarity, Pressure, and the “Third Way” with Eric Nitzberg
2026/06/30
In this episode, Russell sits down with Eric Nitzberg, founder of Sierra Leadership, executive coach, and trusted advisor to CEOs and senior leaders. Eric works with high-performing executives to help them focus on what truly matters—bringing clarity, confidence, and deeper self-awareness to leadership in complex and fast-moving environments.
With more than two decades of experience coaching senior leaders, Eric shares insights into how executives navigate pressure, decision-making, and personal growth while leading organizations through rapid change.
A central theme of the conversation is the reality of leadership today: faster decisions, less information, and the growing influence of AI on how leaders think and operate. Eric discusses how leaders can maintain perspective in high-growth, high-pressure environments—and why being kind to yourself may be one of the most important leadership practices.
As Eric reminds us during the conversation:
“Perfect is the enemy of good.”
The discussion also explores Eric’s unconventional career journey—from working in the church to becoming an executive coach—and how that experience shaped his understanding of leadership, listening, and personal development.
Eric also shares a fascinating story about navigating a difficult professional situation involving his client and another stakeholder. in the company. Faced with the question of who to speak to first, Eric discovered an unexpected “third way” that ultimately resolved the situation and strengthened the relationships.
Eric and Russell also revisit a classic leadership concept from The One Minute Manager—the idea of the “monkey”—and how leaders can unintentionally take on other people’s problems, adding unnecessary stress and distraction to their already full plates.
This episode is a thoughtful and practical conversation about leadership in an era of complexity, speed, and constant change.
Links
How human and AI coaches can work together
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
144 - Building a F-ing Human-Centered Social Media Agency and Leading Through Change with Beth Trejo
2026/06/16
In this episode, we talk with Beth Trejo, CEO and Co-Founder of Chatterkick, a social media operations agency focused on building systems that actually work — while keeping people at the center of the process. Beth has been featured in USA Today, Business Insider, and Yahoo, and has delivered more than 100 keynotes on leadership, culture, and the realities of modern social media.
Beth shares her approach to building a strong team culture grounded in trust, communication, and real understanding of people — not just performance metrics. She explains why leaders need to genuinely talk to their employees, not just manage them, and how family-friendly policies can create sustainable workplaces.
We also explore Beth’s perspective on a powerful but often misunderstood idea: your family is your family — your employer is not your family. Beth explains how clear boundaries can actually strengthen workplace relationships and build healthier cultures.
One of the most compelling parts of the conversation focuses on the difficult leadership moment of telling employees she was selling the company. Beth discusses the emotional weight of the conversation, how she prepared for it, and what she learned about transparency, trust, and leadership during times of uncertainty.
This episode is a practical and honest look at leadership conversations, organizational change, and building a culture that respects both work and life.
Links
Book a free strategy consultation: https://chatterkick.com/contact/
Get free stuff!
https://chatterkick.com/free-stuff/
For a free copy of “Making the Invisible Sale, Visible.” This ebook gives leaders a practical roadmap for communicating their full suite of B2B services in a way customers actually understand.
And also 30 DIY Content Ideas, 30 Lead Generation Tips, Tricks & Ideas, Social Media Tips and more.
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
143 - When an Advocate Puts Her Foot in Her F-ing Mouth with Jenna Udenberg
2026/06/02
In this episode, Jenna Udenberg — author, disability advocate, accessibility educator, and 2020 Bush Fellow — hares a deeply honest difficult conversation — a moment when, despite more than a decade of experience as a social advocate and educator, she made an off-hand comment that landed wrong. We unpack what happened next: owning the misstep, repairing trust, and why accountability doesn’t disappear just because you're one of the goods guys.
Diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at just seven years old, Jenna has spent her life navigating systems that weren’t built with her in mind. Through her book, Within My Spokes, and her nonprofit, Above & Beyond With U, she works to break down barriers and create more accessible, human-centered spaces.
Links
Above & Beyond With U
Within My Spokes: A Tapestry of Pain, Growth & Freedom: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
142 - Systems Without Selling Your Soul, with Stacey Bailey
2026/05/19
In this episode, Ken sits down with Stacey Bailey — leadership coach, strategist, former COO, and a fierce advocate for the System & Soul approach to leadership. Stacey works with leaders who are done choosing between structure orhumanity, performance or culture, clarity or care.
Stacey shares one of the most difficult conversations of her career: a moment that unfolded mid-session with four founding partners, when it became clear that two of them needed to leave. It’s a conversation about accountability, courage, and what it means to lead with both backbone and soul.
Links
Stacey-bailey.com
Intentioncollective.co
Stacey Bailey on LinkedIn
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode of I Need To F_*_ing Talk To You, we sit down with Joanna Lovering, a leadership and presence consultant and the founder of Copper + Rise. Joanna partners with organizations to engage, develop, and retain their pipeline of women leaders—helping them step fully into their authority, visibility, and impact.
Through Copper + Rise, she has designed and facilitated programs for companies like Google, Deloitte, and Lululemon, blending psychology, communication strategy, and professional image to support women at every stage of their leadership growth.
This conversation is practical, direct, and packed with actionable insight—especially for leaders who may not even realize how often they unintentionally shrink themselves in professional spaces.
In this episode, we explore:
Why presence is more than confidence—it’s about congruence and clarity
How diminishing language quietly undermines credibility
The role of silence in executive presence
Why visibility in virtual meetings still matters
Joanna’s 3 Pieces of Advice:
Stop the f-ing diminishing language.
Drop the “just,” “sorry,” and “I think.” Speak in statements, not apologies.
Stop f-ing talking—and allow silence.
Silence signals authority. It gives weight to your words and invites others to lean in.
Put your fing camera on.
In virtual meetings, presence isn’t optional. Visibility is leadership.
If you’ve ever softened your message, filled space out of discomfort, or hidden behind a blank screen—this episode is your reminder to take up space.
Joanna is also offering a free 5-day email series to help you strengthen your leadership presence.
Learn more at: www.copperandrise.com
This is a conversation about ownership, visibility, and the subtle ways we either claim—or surrender—our power.
Listen in.
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
140 - Authentic Leadership, Power Dynamics & When the F-ing Harasser Is in the Clique
2026/04/21
In this episode, we sit down with Oksana Lukash, a trailblazing People & Culture executive who has built high-performing organizations across multiple sectors. Known for combining sharp strategic vision with deep empathy, Oksana shares what it really takes to scale people operations in high-growth companies—without losing the human side of leadership.
We explore how authentic leadership and data-driven decision-making can coexist, and why cross-functional relationship building is essential when organizations are growing fast and complexity increases.
But we also go where many leaders hesitate to go.
Oksana opens up about navigating one of the most challenging workplace situations imaginable: addressing sexual harassment when the accused is part of the management clique. We unpack power dynamics, fear, loyalty conflicts, reputational risk, and the emotional toll on those who speak up. This conversation is an honest look at what courage, integrity, and accountability truly require when the stakes are high.
This episode is for leaders, HR professionals, founders, and anyone who believes culture isn’t what you say—it’s what you tolerate.
Resources in This Episode:
Be Yourself at Work
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
139 - Transforming Leaders from the F-ing Inside Out with Rashmir Balasubramaniam
2026/04/07
In this episode, we’re joined by Rashmir Balasubramaniam, a transformational leadership coach and thought partner to current and emerging leaders who are committed to creating a better world for all.
With an MBA from Yale and more than 30 years of experience working across countries and sectors, Rashmir has lived at the intersection of purpose and performance. Her career spans investment banking, management consulting, philanthropy, and international development, including work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That depth shows up in how she helps leaders slow down, listen inward, and lead with greater clarity and impact.
Our conversation explores Tim Kelley’s Parts Work and what becomes possible when leaders learn to connect with their higher guidance rather than pushing harder or doing more. We talk about how helping clients access their inner wisdom can unlock life purpose, reduce effort, and dramatically expand their impact.
This episode is a powerful reminder that real transformation doesn’t start with strategy decks or KPIs — it starts within. When leaders transform themselves, the ripples extend outward to teams, organizations, communities, and ultimately, the world.
Resources in This Episode:
Authentic Leadership Lab
Beyond The Gift Philanthropy Newsletter
Rashmir Balasubramaniam on LinkedIn
Subscribe & Share:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share it with your colleagues who might need a fresh perspective on thriving in challenging work environments!
—
Ready to take your difficult conversations to the next level?
Get our book: I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations
Available on:
Amazon
Owl's Nest Books
Shelf Life Books
Visit our website: ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Podcast reviews
Read I Need To F***ing Talk To You podcast reviews
5 out of 5
2 reviews
★★★★★
CenteredRight 2026/07/29
Must listen - real advice from veterans with a story to share.
Gracious host. Allowed for the conversation to develop naturally, without missing the key points of value unique to his audience.
★★★★★
BeCure88 2024/05/08
Thank you!
Great podcast, host, and opportunity to share and chat!