Expectations quietly shape our experiences—and often steal our joy. In this solo episode, Penny explores how releasing expectations can reduce stress, create more ease, and help you reset as you move forward. A timely reminder that joy grows when we focus on what’s within our control.

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Stop running away from the tough conversations—start cultivating Fruitful Friction® instead. Our guest, Hilary Blair, CEO, CSP Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Group Facilitator, is here to explain why embracing that "messy middle" is essential for true innovation and team co-creation. She unpacks how to move beyond merely being polite, which can act as a wall, to adopt a kindly direct approach that honors relationships and builds trust. Hilary shares practical, actionable methods like "rocking your awkward" and leveraging playfulness to expand the space between "avoid" and "attack," helping you master the art of the proactive reset to elevate your communication, connection, and business results.

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Are you feeling scattered, unfocused, or like something inside you is shifting? You’re not alone. In this reflective solo episode, Penny explores the season of expansion—a powerful transitional phase where clarity hasn’t arrived yet, but transformation is underway.

Drawing from personal experiences—becoming an empty nester, changing homes, reinventing her work, and navigating major life transitions—Penny reveals why feeling “unfocused” isn’t a failure. It’s an evolution. She discusses how the writing of The Reset Mindset unfolded through its own unexpected transformation, and why clarity is not the starting point but the outcome.

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why periods of uncertainty are often signs of growth
• How to recognize whether you're in a season of narrowing in or zooming out
• Why focus is not attention—and how to expand your lens with intention
• How embracing exploration can lead to deeper alignment in your next chapter
• The mindset shift that frees you from the pressure to “figure it all out right now”

If you’ve been feeling lost, disconnected, or ready for a new direction, this conversation offers grounding, clarity, and permission to evolve at your own pace.

Listen in, breathe, and give yourself space—your next chapter is already working its way in.

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The landscape of career search and hiring is being rapidly redefined by technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence, which, while simplifying the application process, is causing companies to overlook some of the most qualified candidates whose value doesn't translate well onto an automated resume. Mitch McDermott from Talent Ascension Group explains that this challenge requires organizations to look beyond paper credentials and be willing to dig deeper into a candidate's story. Success in the modern workforce also demands that companies move beyond cookie-cutter systems by prioritizing a highly personalized onboarding process and recognizing non-monetary "currencies"—such as impact, fulfillment, freedom, and growth potential—to ensure long-term employee retention and engagement.

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Feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or constantly racing from one meeting to the next?

In this episode, Penny Zenker pulls back the curtain on her newest AI experiments — including her custom-trained AI agent built on her books, exercises, and leadership tools — and reveals how simple, science-backed reset moments can transform your day.

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You’ll learn:

• Why stress isn’t always about your workload — it’s about the lack of recovery between tasks.
• How AI-powered nudges can scan your calendar and remind you to reset exactly when you need it.
• The neuroscience behind real mental clarity, including why closing your eyes reduces up to 80% of sensory input.
• A powerful 60-second breathing technique (“Ninja Breathing”) that brings your executive function back online.
• How micro-rituals — like scent-based reset anchors — instantly calm or energize your nervous system.
• Why back-to-back meetings are sabotaging your focus (and what organizations must change).
• What Penny is building next with AI to help leaders reduce burnout and show up more present.

If you want to think clearer, stress less, and work smarter — this episode gives you practical tools you can use today.

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Market Eminence is more than visibility; it’s the art of earning respect, influence, and recognition by thinking differently. In this energizing conversation with keynote speaker and marketing strategist David Newman, host Penny Zenker explores how leaders can rise above the noise and become the “only” in their space rather than just the best. David reveals why the old “how-to” approach is obsolete and how to instead focus on how to think, what to believe, and how to prepare for what’s next. They discuss the power of storytelling, differentiation, and filtering faster in today’s crowded marketplace. With humor and clarity, David shares how founders, executives, and thought leaders can build market Eminence that attracts ideal clients, strengthens brand trust, and drives unstoppable growth.

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We consume more information in a single day than most people a century ago encountered in their entire lives. No wonder we feel overwhelmed, distracted, and constantly “behind.” In this episode, Penny breaks down why the real challenge today isn’t keeping up — it’s learning how to filter faster.

Penny introduces her framework of Gatekeepers — the personal systems we use (or should use) to protect our time, attention, and energy from the constant flood of news, notifications, expectations, and mental clutter.

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What does it take to turn adversity into your greatest advantage? In this episode of Time to Reset, resilience expert and leadership coach Sara Schulting Kranz shares her powerful journey of rebuilding life after trauma—and how she now helps others do the same. 🌄

As the founder of transformational leadership retreats in the Grand Canyon, Sara has guided executives, athletes, and even a blind para-athlete to record-breaking success. Drawing from over 30 years of experience, she reveals her 5-component framework for resilience, designed to help individuals and organizations navigate change with courage, collaboration, and creativity.

Tune in to learn how to lead through uncertainty, embrace change as growth, and create a culture of resilience—whether in business, leadership, or your own personal reset.

🎙️ Because when life shifts, the way out is always forward.

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