Tutum Talk with Cara Nance

Ep. 56 | Navigating Change, Celebrating Wins & Embracing What's Next with Dr. Jesse Erdheim

Cara Nance — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:31:16 -0400

Change can be uncomfortable, uncertain, and even overwhelming. But what if navigating change starts with reconnecting to your vision and recognizing the progress you're already making?

In this episode of Tutum Talk with Cara Nance, I reconnect with Dr. Jesse Erdheim to explore how we can approach change with intention, build confidence through small wins, and embrace what's next without losing sight of how far we've come.

Inspired by the experience of someone in our shared community embarking on a new career chapter, Jesse shares practical wisdom for navigating transitions, overcoming negativity bias, and staying focused on what matters most.

We also explore how reflecting on our accomplishments can help us move through rejection and setbacks. Jesse shares a personal story about supporting his daughter through the challenges of musical theater, illustrating how documenting our progress can remind us of our growth, strengths, and potential.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Align with your vision: Get clear on where you want to go so you can navigate change with greater purpose.
Count your wins: Recognize the small steps that move you forward, even when progress feels slow.
Challenge negativity bias: Shift your attention toward what's working instead of focusing only on setbacks.
Honor your past while embracing the present: Appreciate your experiences without allowing them to define or limit your future.
Help others recognize their growth: Use reflection and tangible reminders of accomplishments to rebuild confidence after rejection or disappointment.

About Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D.

Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D. is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with 20 years of experience working with individuals and groups to enhance well-being, resilience, and connection. He is passionate about empowering others to flourish using evidence-based strategies from Positive
Psychology, Mindfulness, and Behavioral Change. In his private practice, he works with individuals, couples, and groups to strengthen resilience, deepen connection and create intentional thriving lives.

Connect with Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D.

Website: https://www.jesseerdheim.com/

LinkedIn: Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D. (hyperlinked text)

📖 Check out Jesse's new book! A FULL CUP: Reflections on Living Well ☕️ ❤️

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

Cara Nance is a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths Coach and founder of Tutum Leadership Coaching. Through strengths-based coaching, team development, workshops, and retreats, Cara helps leaders and teams move from chaos to clarity and connection.

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

🎙️ Subscribe to Tutum Talk with Cara Nance wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who believes leadership begins with people.

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Tutum Talk with Cara Nance is a podcast for leaders who lead with heart - even when they doubt themselves. Through honest conversations about presence, intuition, courage, and connection, Cara helps listeners build leadership rooted in humanity, not perfection.

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 55 | Choosing Love Over Fear: Ubuntu, Authenticity & the Courage to Live Your Values

Cara Nance — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What does it mean to live authentically and remain grounded in our values when the world feels heavy?

In this solo episode, Cara Nance shares personal reflections on identity, representation, compassion, and the importance of speaking up when something conflicts with what we believe. Through an exploration of Ubuntu and the practice of choosing again, Cara invites listeners to consider how everyday choices can foster greater connection, understanding, and humanity.

This is a conversation about choosing love over fear, honoring our authentic selves, and remembering that our humanity is interconnected.

In This Episode, We Explore

Authenticity and representation: Why seeing ourselves reflected in the world matters and the freedom that comes with honoring our identities.
Living your values: The importance of naming what you stand for and responding when events in the world conflict with your values.
Ubuntu and interconnected humanity: How the philosophy “I am because you are, and you are because I am” reminds us that our lives and well-being are connected.
Choosing love over fear: How we can make intentional choices rooted in compassion, even during challenging times.
The practice of choosing again: Inspired by Gabrielle Bernstein, Cara explores how we can take one small step toward a more helpful feeling or perspective without expecting ourselves to move instantly from despair to joy.
Creating connection in everyday life: How our words, choices, and actions can help us build a more compassionate world.

A Few Reflections to Carry With You

As you listen, consider these questions:

Where in your life are you being invited to show up more authentically?
What values are most important to you, and how do your everyday choices reflect them?
When fear, frustration, or despair shows up, what might choosing again look like for you?
What is one small action you can take today to create more connection, compassion, or understanding?

You don't have to change everything at once. Sometimes, meaningful change begins with one intentional choice.

A Message from Cara

Our humanity is interconnected. We may not always agree, and we may not always know what to say or do, but we can choose how we respond to the world around us.

Choosing love doesn't mean ignoring difficult realities. It means staying connected to our values and looking for ways to respond with compassion, courage, and intention.

Thank you for being part of the Tutum Talk community. Your presence here matters, and I'd love to hear what resonates with you in this episode.

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 54 | The People Behind the Journey: Belonging & Inclusion with Dr. Taj Smith

Cara Nance — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:57:07 -0400

What if the people who shape our educational journeys are just as important as the education itself?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, I’m joined by Dr. Taj Smith, a higher education professional, social justice educator, and advocate for creating more inclusive and supportive academic communities.

Taj and I talk about his own journey into higher education and the people behind the scenes who made a meaningful difference in his experience as a first-generation college student. Those experiences shaped not only his path, but also his commitment to creating spaces where students, faculty, and staff can feel supported, seen, and like they truly belong.

We explore the often-overlooked role of higher education staff, the energy and creativity students bring to our work, and what it looks like to foster diversity, inclusion, access, and engagement across an entire institution.

But perhaps one of my favorite parts of this conversation is Taj’s reminder that working in education means being a lifelong learner yourself. Whether he’s learning more about different cultures, engaging with deaf and hard of hearing communities, or adapting to the changing landscape of higher education, Taj approaches his work with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to keep growing.

And underneath all of it is a question that I think applies far beyond higher education:

Who are the people behind our journey, and how are we becoming that person for someone else?

In this episode, we talk about:

Taj’s unexpected journey into higher education
The people behind the scenes who support student success
His experience as a first-generation college graduate
Why student energy and curiosity continue to inspire his work
Diversity, inclusion, access, and engagement in higher education
Creating belonging for both students and employees
The importance of professional development across an entire institution
Learning from communities and experiences different from our own
Why adaptability and lifelong learning matter in leadership
The impact we can have when we create spaces where people feel supported and seen

Taj’s story is a beautiful reminder that education is never just about classrooms, degrees, or institutions. It’s about people. It’s about relationships. And it’s about the people who choose to show up along the journey and help someone else find their way.

If you’ve ever had a teacher, mentor, staff member, colleague, or leader who made you feel like you belonged, this conversation may remind you just how much that person mattered.

And perhaps more importantly, it may leave you asking:

Who might need you to be that person for them?

Connect with Dr. Taj Smith

Learn more about Dr. Taj Smith and his work in higher education, diversity, inclusion, and social justice education through his professional and social media channels.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-taj-smith-38570124/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtajsmith

Email: tajpsmithconsults@gmail.com

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 53 | Three dimes and an Elsa sticker: Signs from Beyond

Cara Nance — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:01:00 -0400

Sometimes the signs we need arrive in the most ordinary places.

In this deeply personal solo episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance reflects on the spiritual nudges she has been receiving from two beloved souls who are no longer physically here: her brother Devin, who passed away in 2007, and her beloved dog Schatze.

For Cara, those nudges have shown up as three dimes and an Elsa sticker.

She shares her belief that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, and that our souls are here for continued growth and development. She also explores what it feels like to move through a season of life where not everything makes sense, while still choosing to trust that there is something unfolding beyond what she can currently see.

Three Dimes and an Elsa Sticker

The three dimes have become a familiar sign from Devin. They show up unexpectedly, sometimes in the most mundane moments, and serve as a gentle reminder that Cara is not alone and that everything will work out.

And then there’s Elsa.

An unexpected Elsa sticker became another meaningful little nudge, connecting Cara to Schatze and reminding her that love, connection, and support can continue even after someone has crossed over.

Whether you believe these moments are signs from loved ones, meaningful coincidences, or simply invitations to pause and pay attention, Cara invites you to consider:

What signs might be showing up in your own life?

When the Path Doesn't Make Sense

Cara also gets candid about her current season of work and life, including Tutum Leadership Coaching, her work at the bar, and other opportunities that have found their way into her life.

It doesn't all fit neatly into a traditional career story. And she's learning to be okay with that.

"When none of it makes sense, that's when you're right on track."

She talks about the reality of diversifying income, particularly for coaches and entrepreneurs navigating an evolving economy, and the importance of releasing the shame or judgment that can sometimes come with having multiple streams of work.

"There's no shame in diversifying your portfolio for income."

Each experience can hold purpose, even when we don't immediately understand what that purpose is. Sometimes a job is about income. Sometimes it's about community. Sometimes it's about the people we meet and the conversations we have along the way.

And sometimes, you're coaching someone at a bar without ever intending to.

Trusting the Journey

At the heart of this episode is a reminder to stay open.

Open to the signs.

Open to the unexpected.

Open to the possibility that the path you're on doesn't have to make perfect sense right now.

And open to the idea that the people and souls we love may still find ways to remind us that we're supported.

Cara's journey is a deeply personal one, but the invitation is universal:

Pay attention. Trust yourself. Notice the nudges. And remember that you may be exactly where you're supposed to be, even when you can't yet see why.

Thank you for being here and for continuing to explore leadership, life, and all the spaces in between with me.

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 52 | One of One: Unlocking Your Strengths & Leading from Who You Are with Sheneka Johnson

Cara Nance — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if you stopped trying to become who you think you’re supposed to be and started discovering more of who you already are?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, I’m excited to welcome Sheneka Johnson, MBA, ACC, a leadership development and mindset coach and fellow Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. Sheneka is the first Gallup Certified Strengths Coach to join me on the podcast, making this conversation especially meaningful for me!

Sheneka and I explore what becomes possible when we understand and embrace our unique strengths, challenge the limiting beliefs that can keep us playing small, and intentionally invest in our own growth.

One of the ideas that stayed with me from our conversation is Sheneka’s reminder that “I’m one of one.” There is no other you. No one else brings your exact combination of experiences, perspectives, talents, relationships, and strengths to the table.

And yet, how often do we spend our energy comparing ourselves to others or trying to become someone we think we should be?

For Sheneka, strengths awareness creates an opportunity to name what is already present, build greater self-awareness, and begin to unlearn the beliefs and narratives that may have shaped how we see ourselves.

We also talk about the importance of investing in yourself, the influence of family and education on our personal growth, and what happens when we connect our internal alignment to the way we lead.

In this episode, we explore:

✨ What it means to truly embrace being “one of one”
✨ The transformative power of strengths awareness
✨ How understanding our strengths can shift the way we see ourselves
✨ Limiting beliefs and the process of unlearning
✨ Why investing in yourself is an important part of growth
✨ The connection between internal alignment and leadership
✨ How our experiences and backgrounds shape the way we show up
✨ What becomes possible when we stop trying to be someone else and start leading from who we are

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that you don't have to become someone else to unlock your potential.

Sometimes, the work is about becoming more aware of who you already are, learning how to use what you bring to the table, and giving yourself permission to lead from there.

If you’re curious about your strengths, navigating a season of growth, or simply wondering what might be possible if you stopped comparing your journey to someone else’s, I think you’ll find something meaningful in this conversation.

🎙️ Listen to Ep. 52 of Tutum Talk: One of One: Unlocking Your Strengths & Leading from Who You Are with Sheneka Johnson.

And then ask yourself:

What might become possible if I fully embraced the fact that I am one of one?

About Sheneka Johnson

Sheneka Johnson is a leadership development and mindset coach who helps high-achieving women overcome internal barriers, deepen their self-awareness, and create meaningful transformation. As a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Sheneka brings a strengths-based approach to helping people recognize and leverage what makes them uniquely themselves.

Connect with Sheneka

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emergecoachingsolutionsllc
Instagram: @emergewithsheneka
Facebook: Emerge Coaching Solutions, LLC
Website: www.emergecoachingsolns.com

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 51 | Rewriting Limiting Beliefs: From Corporate Success to a Life of Possibility with Chealsea

Cara Nance — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:56:52 -0400

What happens when you’ve achieved the career success you thought you wanted, but something inside you is still asking, “Is this all there is?”

In this episode of Tutum Talk, I’m joined by Chealsea, a keynote speaker and digital course creator who spent more than 30 years in the tech industry, including 14 years at Google, where she helped launch multiple multimillion-dollar products.

From the outside, Chealsea had built an incredibly successful career. But in her mid-to-late 40s, she found herself sitting on her couch wondering why that success wasn’t translating into the fulfillment she expected.

That question became the beginning of a much bigger journey.

Chealsea shares what it looked like to examine the beliefs she had carried for years, especially her deeply rooted fear around money and the belief that she could never make as much outside of tech. Rather than forcing herself to immediately have all the answers, she began shifting the story from “I’ll never make as much money” to “I’m open to the possibility of finding a different path.”

And that small shift opened a door.

In our conversation, we explore:

✨ How limiting beliefs can shape the choices we make without us even realizing it
✨ The connection between our past experiences and the fears we carry into adulthood
✨ What happens when external success doesn't equal internal fulfillment
✨ Why fear doesn't necessarily mean we're on the wrong path
✨ How changing the questions we ask ourselves can create new possibilities
✨ The importance of moving from learning to action and actually pursuing the things that call us
✨ Why seeking support, whether through coaching, mentorship, or community, can make a difference
✨ What it means to give yourself permission to want something different
✨ And perhaps most importantly, why it’s never too late to rewrite your story

Chealsea’s journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest thing standing between us and possibility isn't a lack of ability. It’s the story we’ve been telling ourselves about what is possible.

And changing that story doesn't necessarily mean blowing up your entire life overnight.

Sometimes it starts with simply becoming curious.

What if this belief isn't true?
What if there’s another way?
What if I’m open to the possibility?

Because possibility creates space for action. And action is where transformation begins.

If you’re at a crossroads in your career, questioning what success means to you, or simply feeling the nudge that there might be something more waiting for you, I hope this conversation gives you permission to get curious about the stories you’re carrying, challenge the ones that no longer serve you, and take one brave step toward what’s possible.

Connect with Chealsea

Chealsea is currently offering The Aligned Ambition Career Reinvention Program, a 6-month coaching experience designed to help mid-career women get clear on what their next chapter is and build a real, financially sound plan to move toward it without blowing up their lives.

🌐 Website: www.chealseaw.com
📱 Instagram: @chealsea_w_

Learn more about Chealsea, her work, and The Aligned Ambition Career Reinvention Program through her website and Instagram.

About Chealsea

Chealsea is a keynote speaker and digital course creator with more than 30 years of experience in the tech industry, including 14 years at Google. After building a successful corporate career and helping launch multiple multimillion-dollar products, she turned her attention toward helping women recognize and shift the subconscious patterns and limiting beliefs that can keep them from pursuing bigger opportunities and more fulfilling lives.

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 50 | Entrepreneurship After 40: Purpose, Possibility & Building a Business with Yaritza Báez

Cara Nance — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:31:19 -0400

What if starting something new after 40 isn't starting over, but starting from experience?

In Episode 50 of Tutum Talk, I’m joined by Yaritza Báez, MBA, Business Growth Strategist, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, and the possibilities that can emerge when women trust what they already know and begin building something that fits the life they want to live.

Yaritza helps women over 40 build meaningful and profitable coaching and service-based businesses through practical strategy, accountability, and consistent action. In this conversation, we explore why midlife can be such a powerful time to pursue entrepreneurship, especially for women who are ready for something different after years in traditional careers.

We talk about the importance of getting clear on your purpose and the problem you want to solve, building a strong foundation without trying to do everything at once, and surrounding yourself with people who can provide support and accountability. We also explore the value of setting realistic goals, taking consistent action, and staying grounded and adaptable when the entrepreneurial journey doesn't go exactly as planned.

But beneath all of the strategy is something even more important: permission to believe that what's next is possible.

Whether you're dreaming about starting a business, growing an existing coaching or service-based business, navigating a career transition, or simply wondering what this next chapter could look like, this conversation offers encouragement and practical wisdom for taking the next step.

In this episode, we explore:
Why entrepreneurship can be a powerful path for women over 40
Turning your life experience, passions, and purpose into a business
Finding clarity around the problem you want to solve
Building a strong business foundation without becoming overwhelmed
The importance of accountability, mentorship, and community
Setting realistic goals and taking consistent action
Staying grounded while remaining adaptable
Avoiding the pressure to do everything at once
Building a business that supports the life you actually want
Trusting yourself and embracing possibility in your next chapter

Meet Yaritza Báez

Yaritza Báez, MBA is a Business Growth Strategist who helps women over 40 build meaningful and profitable coaching and service-based businesses. Through practical strategy, accountability, and a focus on consistent action, she helps women create momentum and grow businesses that fit their lives.

Yaritza also hosts My Entrepreneurial Journey with Yaritza Báez, where she shares honest insights and lessons from building a business in midlife.

Learn more about Yaritza:
https://www.yaritzabaez.com/

Connect with Yaritza on LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/yaritzabaez-business-growth-strategist

Follow Yaritza on Instagram:
@yaritzabcoach

Listen to My Entrepreneurial Journey with Yaritza Báez:
buzzsprout.com/2423027

Free training: Why You're Not Getting Clients Yet (and What to Fix First)
Visit YaritzaBaez.com to access Yaritza’s free training.

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 49 | Rewriting the Stories We Carry: Self-Discovery, Abundance, and Trusting the Process

Cara Nance — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:26:24 -0400

What if some of the stories you've been telling yourself aren't actually yours to keep?

In this deeply personal solo episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance reflects on the stories, beliefs, and experiences that shape how we see ourselves—and what can happen when we become willing to question, rewrite, and reimagine them.

Drawing from her own experiences with moving, life transitions, self-discovery, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Cara explores the ways childhood beliefs can quietly influence our adult choices, relationships, work, and relationship with abundance.

She shares the unexpected story of mowing lawns and babysitting, and how a seemingly ordinary childhood experience became a powerful metaphor for the beliefs we carry about earning, worth, work, and what we believe is possible for us.

This episode is an invitation to pause and get curious:

What stories are you carrying?

Where did they come from?

And what might become possible if you allowed yourself to believe something new?

Cara also reflects on the tension between taking action and trusting divine timing, the courage it takes to be honest with ourselves, and the importance of creating safe spaces for the tough and brave conversations that lead to real growth.

Most importantly, she offers a reminder she is learning to practice herself:

“I get to believe that good things will continue to happen to me.”

In This Episode, Cara Explores:

How Internal Family Systems (IFS) has helped her better understand herself and her internal world
The ways childhood experiences can shape our adult beliefs and behaviors
The surprising story of mowing lawns and babysitting—and what it taught her about work, earning, and abundance
Why reflection and self-awareness are essential parts of personal growth
Moving as both a physical experience and a metaphor for transition, change, and growth
How we can begin identifying and rewriting limiting beliefs
The difference between taking aligned action and trying to force an outcome
Learning to trust timing, the process, and the possibility of good things happening
The importance of creating safe spaces for tough, brave, and honest conversations
What it means to make room for abundance—not just financially, but in all areas of life
A Question to Take With You

What story are you carrying that might be ready to be rewritten?

And perhaps an even more important question:

What would change if you allowed yourself to believe that good things could continue to happen to you?

Sometimes the work isn't about forcing ourselves to believe something completely new.

Sometimes it's simply becoming curious enough to ask whether the story we've been carrying is still true.

Sometimes growth isn't about becoming someone new.

Sometimes it's about rewriting the story of who you've always been.

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

💻 6 in 6 Experience: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 48 | Behind the Business: Sisterhood, Authenticity, and Becoming Who You Really Are with Mary Jacobs and Tiffaney Webb

Cara Nance — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What happens when you stop performing and start showing up as who you really are?

In this special episode of Tutum Talk with Cara Nance, we're going behind the business—and behind the scenes—with two people who know each other in a way most business partners and friends never could: sisters Mary Jacobs and Tiffaney Webb.

This conversation is honest, funny, vulnerable, and deeply human. Cara, Mary, and Tiffaney talk about what it's really like to build a business, navigate personal growth, become more visible, and figure out who you are along the way.

Because entrepreneurship isn't just about building a business.

It has a way of building—and revealing—you, too.

As Tiffaney approaches her first year in business, she shares the very real moments of wondering, “What the F am I doing, girl?” and the courage it takes to keep going anyway. Mary reflects on how difficult it can be to hide from yourself when you're doing your own inner work—and how the things you've tried to push down have a funny way of showing back up.

The conversation also explores authenticity and visibility, especially the vulnerability of allowing more of your real self to be seen online and in business. What happens when you stop trying to be “on” all the time? What if, instead of building from a performance, you built from truth?

And, of course, there's the sister dynamic.

You'll hear what it's like for Cara to watch people discover that Mary and Tiffaney are sisters, the unique connection that exists between them, and the ways sisterhood has shaped their individual journeys.

This is a conversation about sisterhood, entrepreneurship, authenticity, self-discovery, personal growth, vulnerability, and the courage to become who you really are.

Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do in business—and in life—is stop performing and simply come home to yourself.

In This Episode

The surprising sister connection between Mary Jacobs and Tiffaney Webb
What entrepreneurship can teach us about ourselves
The vulnerability of building a business from the ground up
Why you can't always hide from the parts of yourself you've pushed down
The courage it takes to become more visible and authentic
Letting go of the pressure to constantly be “on”
Building a business from truth instead of performance
The relationship between personal growth and professional growth
How sisterhood influences our identity, confidence, and journey
What it means to become more fully yourself

Meet Mary Jacobs
Mary Jacobs is the founder of Tao of Oneness, where she explores awakening, wholeness, and the journey of reconnecting with the truth within.

Mary is also the author of:

The Tao of Oneness: A Memoir of Awakening the Truth Within

Holistic Self-Care: Embracing the Mind, Body & Soul

Connect with Mary

Website: https://www.taoofoneness.com/

📖 Mary's Books

The Tao of Oneness: A Memoir of Awakening the Truth Within
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFV9F6CH

Holistic Self-Care: Embracing the Mind, Body & Soul
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1FXML79

🌑 Eclipse Season Newsletter

Mary's latest newsletter explores “The Sacred Space Between Eclipses…”

Meet Tiffaney Webb

Tiffaney Webb is the founder of Stillness & Skin, where skincare becomes an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and care for yourself.

Tiffaney is currently offering $15 off the New Client Stillness Essential and also offers a free course, “Understanding Your Skin.”

Connect with Tiffaney

Website & Free Course: https://www.stillnessandskin.com/courses

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

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Honoring Schatze St. John: Lessons in Rest and Reflection

Cara Nance — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 14:29:59 -0400

A heartfelt reflection on love, loss, and the importance of pause.

Today marks a bittersweet anniversary for me — the first year since my beloved pup Schatze St. John crossed over the rainbow bridge. This day, mingling gratitude with remembrance, brings to mind the profound lessons she imparted during our time together.

A Transformation of Love
In our culture, death is often shrouded in sadness, yet I find comfort in the belief that it is a transformation. This perspective has been reinforced by various cultures that celebrate the souls of loved ones, honoring their release from physical form. I’ve come to understand that while Schatze’s presence is deeply missed, her spirit remains vibrant and free.

Reflecting on our journey together, I remember the moment I brought her home after decades of wanting a dog. The detailed application process I went through to adopt her was a testament to ensuring a perfect match between us. **Divine timing** was at play, as I believe every event in our lives happens for a reason, even the painful ones.

The Hardest...and Easiest Decision
August 23rd last year was a day filled with mixed emotions. After returning from a business trip, I noticed Schatzei’s condition had worsened. The hardest, and easiest, decision I ever faced was to let her go, yet I knew it was a pact we had made long before — that she would never suffer unnecessarily. Her passing was both heart-wrenching and liberating, a duality that continues to shape my reflections.

"It was the hardest and the easiest decision I've ever made in my life."

Embracing Rest
As I honor Schatze’s memory today, I’m reminded of the importance of rest. Throughout our time together, she taught me to press pause — a much-needed reminder in our busy lives. This idea of rest being more important than the work itself is counterintuitive, but it’s a message that resonates profoundly with me.

In my athletic journey, I learned that recovery is essential, not just physical but also mental and emotional. Like Schatze, who always knew when it was time to step away from work and take a break, we too can embrace these moments of pause.

Reflections on a New Moon
Schatze’s passing coincided with a new moon, symbolizing new beginnings and the thinnest veil between worlds. Each part of her journey, from her adoption to her passing, feels divinely orchestrated, reminding me that every creature we encounter has a lesson to share.

I invite you to reflect on your own experiences with loss and love today. Consider the lessons that arise from those you hold dear, whether they walk on four legs, three, two, or none and roll through life. Let us celebrate their memory and the teachings they impart, as we navigate our own paths through life.

You can read more about my reflections and the lessons Schatze taught me in Cara's Corner on LinkedIn here (hyperlinked text).

Thanks for hugging your dog for me. :)

---

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 47 | Coming Home to Your Voice: Visibility, Self-Trust, and the Courage to Be Fully Seen with Cytel Schults

Cara Nance — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:11:49 -0400

What if being visible didn’t feel like something you had to force, but something that felt like home?

In this deeply personal and practical conversation, Cara Nance sits down with business coach and marketing astrologer Cytel Schults to explore voice, visibility, self-trust, authentic expression, and what it really takes to let yourself be seen and heard.

Cytel shares a powerful perspective: our ability to express ourselves publicly is often limited by how freely we allow ourselves to express ourselves privately. When we struggle to communicate what we think, feel, need, or want in our closest relationships, that same hesitation can show up in our businesses, our leadership, our marketing, and our relationships with ourselves.

Together, Cara and Cytel explore what happens when we begin to trust our own voice.

Cytel walks Cara through her personal journaling practice, including a simple three-part process designed to help uncover what you actually think, feel, and want to say. They talk about the difference between forcing clarity and creating space to receive it, and how self-leadership becomes the foundation for authentic leadership.

The conversation also dives into CliftonStrengths, including Cytel’s experience discovering Developer as her top theme and learning to apply that strength more intentionally in her content, coaching, and business.

And then the conversation gets even more personal.

Cara and Cytel explore vulnerability, marriage, being understood, and the difference between true vulnerability and simply feeling exposed. They also talk about voice as an expression of the soul, mind, body, and spirit, and how authentic vocal expression can create a sense of safety, connection, and belonging.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that your voice is not something you need to manufacture. It is something you can learn to trust.

When you become more fully yourself, you don’t just communicate differently.

You lead differently.

In This Conversation

Why visibility can feel like home instead of something threatening
How private expression shapes public confidence and visibility
Why being heard by yourself can be the first step toward being heard by others
How journaling can help uncover what you really think, feel, and want to say
Cytel’s three-part journaling practice: write, inspire, receive
The difference between forcing clarity and creating space to receive
Why marketing becomes difficult when communication lacks a strong foundation
How communication patterns show up across business, leadership, relationships, and self-talk
Why self-leadership is foundational to authentic leadership
Cytel’s experience with CliftonStrengths and discovering Developer as her top theme
The difference between knowing your strengths and actually applying them
How Developer influences Cytel’s content creation and business strategy
The role of feedback, reassurance, and audience engagement
Vulnerability versus exposure in intimate relationships
Voice as an expression of soul, mind, body, and spirit
Why authentic vocal expression can create a feeling of safety and belonging
How astrology can offer another lens for understanding communication and expression
Why being fully expressive can feel vulnerable
The power of creating a safe container to say what you really mean
Why doing what lights you up can create momentum in every other area of life

A Few Moments to Listen For

02:04 — Why “visibility that feels like home” lands so deeply

03:05 — How private expression shapes public confidence

08:12 — Using journaling to discover what you really feel and want to say

19:09 — Cytel’s three-part journaling process

25:41 — “Write, inspire, receive”

35:57 — Why self-leadership is central to leadership

43:42 — Cytel’s CliftonStrengths journey and discovering Developer

49:02 — Information matters, but application creates impact

65:28 — A vulnerable conversation about marriage, pleasure, and being understood

74:39 — Singing as expression

77:42 — Voice as an expression of soul, mind, body, and spirit

81:57 — Singing as a signal of safety and being seen

100:44 — Vulnerability versus exposure

102:25 — Creating a safe container for authentic expression

114:31 — What Cytel is most passionate about: communication

A Few Words from Cytel

“Visibility can feel like home.”

“Our ability to express and to let ourselves be seen and heard will always be smaller in public than it is in private.”

“This gave me permission to be more of me, and when I’m more of me, I’m a better leader.”

Connect with Cytel Schults

Cytel Schults is a business coach and marketing astrologer who helps people market in a way that feels aligned rather than forced. Her work brings together communication, self-expression, business strategy, astrology, and a deep understanding of what helps people feel more at home in themselves.

Website: https://www.soulsound.co/

Free Resource: Cytel’s Moon Sign Impact Guide is available as a free experience. When you select “Buy,” the next screen will show that the experience is $0.

Get Cytel's Free Moon Sign Impact Guide here: https://www.soulsound.co/products/courses/view/1194239

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If you're ready to better understand your strengths, strengthen your leadership, and create a workplace where people can do their best work, 1:1 coaching may be your next step.

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 46 | Living Out Loud: Confidence, Self-Trust, and the Freedom to Be Fully You with Morgan Barkus

Cara Nance — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if confidence isn’t something you have to find before you take action?

What if confidence is something you build by taking action?

In this episode of Tutum Talk with Cara Nance, I’m joined by confidence coach Morgan Barkus for a candid, funny, and deeply human conversation about confidence, self-trust, embodiment, relationships, leadership, and the freedom that comes from living life on your own terms.

Morgan openly shares her unconventional path, including her experiences with disordered eating and body dysmorphia, her 13-year career as an exotic dancer, and her journey toward no longer allowing other people’s opinions to determine how she sees herself.

At the heart of Morgan’s work is a powerful idea: you don’t have to wait until you feel confident to begin.

We explore how confidence can be built through action, how movement and posture influence the way we feel, and why self-worth shapes what we accept in relationships. We also talk about owning every chapter of your story, knowing which feedback is actually yours to carry, and giving yourself permission to try, learn, and pivot.

And we bring confidence into the workplace, exploring why vulnerability isn’t weakness and how leaders who show up as real human beings can create greater trust, connection, and psychological safety.

In This Episode:

• Why confidence often comes after action, not before it
• Morgan’s journey toward owning her story without shame
• Confidence, embodiment, movement, and posture
• Self-worth and what we tolerate in relationships
• Letting go of other people’s opinions
• Rewriting the narratives we carry about ourselves
• Vulnerability as a strength in leadership
• Authenticity, trust, and psychological safety
• Why you’re allowed to try something and pivot
• Morgan’s Confidence Club and creating judgment-free spaces for women

Mentioned in This Episode:

You Are a Badass
The Four Agreements
Love Life
The work of Louise Hay
Morgan’s Confidence Club

A Reminder to Carry With You:

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you move.

You can try.
You can learn.
You can change your mind.
You can pivot.

As Morgan reminds us:

“If you don’t try, you don’t know.”

Connect with Morgan Barkus

Ready to keep the conversation going with Morgan?

✨ Instagram: @morganbarkus
✨ Website: www.morganbarkus.com
🎙️ Podcast: Your Unapologetic Life — available on Spotify

The Confidence Club
Morgan’s Confidence Club brings women together for authentic, judgment-free conversation and connection, creating space to build confidence, practice self-trust, and live more fully as themselves.

Learn more about The Confidence Club and Morgan’s confidence coaching at morganbarkus.com or connect with her on Instagram at @morganbarkus.

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If this conversation resonated with you, I'd love to continue it.

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 45 | Brand with Purpose: Leadership, Storytelling, and the Power of Clarity with Raquel Furman

Cara Nance — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:41:16 -0400

What if your brand isn't something you create, but something you reveal?

In this episode of Tutum Talk with Cara Nance, I sit down with brand strategist, coach, and host of The Vignette Effect podcast, Raquel Furman, for a conversation that reaches far beyond logos, websites, and marketing campaigns.

Together, we explore how purposeful leadership, authentic storytelling, and intentional decision-making create brands that people trust and remember. Raquel shares why clarity is one of the greatest competitive advantages a leader can have, how curiosity unlocks creativity, and why the stories we tell—about ourselves, our organizations, and the people we serve—shape every interaction.

Whether you're leading a business, a nonprofit, a school, or a team, this conversation offers practical wisdom for communicating with greater authenticity and building meaningful connections that last.

In this episode, we explore:

Why branding is far more than a logo or visual identity
How leadership shapes every aspect of a brand
The importance of clarity before investing in marketing
Standing out by embracing what makes you uniquely different
How storytelling creates emotional connection and trust
The role of transparency in leadership and communication
Brain science, creativity, and overcoming mental roadblocks
The power of curiosity, play, and movement in problem-solving
Building brands that reflect your values instead of following trends
Why authentic human connection is the foundation of lasting influence

Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, educator, or emerging leader, you'll leave this conversation with a renewed perspective on branding—not as a marketing exercise, but as an expression of purposeful leadership.

Connect with Raquel Furman

Raquel Furman is the founder of Vignette Brand Studio and the host of The Vignette Effect Podcast, where she helps founders and business owners build purposeful brands rooted in clarity, strategy, and authentic storytelling.

🌐 Website: https://vignettebrandstudio.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquellaurenfurman

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raquel.furman

🎙️ The Vignette Effect Podcast

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If this conversation resonated with you, I'd love to continue it.

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Together, we can create workplaces, schools, and communities where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Tutum Talk:

Music provided by Music_Unlimited

Ep. 44 | The Relationship Within: Self-Leadership, Love, and Emotional Intelligence with Emily Blessington

Cara Nance — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if the quality of every relationship in your life begins with the one you have with yourself?

In this episode of Tutum Talk with Cara Nance, I sit down with Emily Blessington, relationship coach and guide for women who are ready to break free from repeating the same relationship patterns, to explore the profound connection between self-leadership, emotional intelligence, and authentic love.

Together, we unpack why creating inner safety, self-awareness, and self-trust isn't just the foundation of healthy relationships, it's also essential for leading others with authenticity, compassion, and courage.

Drawing from neuroscience, leadership principles, and transformative coaching practices, Emily shares practical tools for recognizing emotional triggers, shifting limiting beliefs, strengthening intuition, and cultivating relationships that begin with a secure relationship within ourselves.

Whether you're leading a team, growing personally, navigating relationships, or simply seeking a deeper connection with yourself, this conversation will leave you with practical insights and a renewed perspective on what it means to lead from the inside out.

In this episode, we explore:

Why self-leadership begins with the relationship you have with yourself
Creating inner safety as the foundation for healthy relationships
The connection between emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and leadership
How to recognize and regulate emotional triggers
The role of intuition in personal and professional decision-making
Breaking free from limiting beliefs and old relationship patterns
Why authenticity, vulnerability, and self-trust transform every relationship
Love as a leadership value in both work and life
Cultivating possibility consciousness to create meaningful change

If this conversation encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a reminder that every meaningful relationship begins within.

Connect with Emily Blessington

Emily works with women who keep finding themselves in the same experience in love - different person, same feeling - and are ready to understand why. Through compassionate coaching and practical tools, she helps women break long-standing relationship patterns and create healthier, more fulfilling connections rooted in self-awareness and self-trust.

Emily's Current Offer

Break The Pattern is a private 7-day coaching experience designed for women who are ready to stop repeating the same relationship patterns and begin creating something different.

The experience includes:

One private coaching session
Daily Voxer support for seven days
Personalized guidance to uncover and shift recurring patterns

Emily is currently offering a limited number of spaces for £97 in exchange for honest feedback and a testimonial.

Apply here (hyperlinked text)

Resources Mentioned
📖 Calling in "The One" by Katherine Woodward Thomas
📖 The Gene Keys by Richard Rudd
📖 Your Word Is Your Wand by Florence Scovel Shinn
🎙️Tune Into Love - The Emily Blessington Podcast

Connect with Emily

🌐 Website: emilyblessington.com (hyperlinked text)

📸 Instagram: @em_blessington (hyperlinked text)

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If this conversation inspired you to lead yourself, and others, with greater courage, self-awareness, and intention, I'd love to connect.

Tutum Leadership Coaching partners with leaders and organizations to build thriving, strengths-based cultures where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to do their best work.

Whether you're interested in leadership coaching, CliftonStrengths® team development, keynote speaking, or organizational workshops, let's start the conversation.

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com (hyperlinked text)

📅 Schedule a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect (hyperlinked text)

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance (hyperlinked text)

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching (hyperlinked text)

🎙️ Tutum Talk with Cara Nance is available wherever you enjoy podcasts.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who would benefit from the conversation. Every share helps us spread more human-centered leadership into the world.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 43 | Learning to Ride the Waves: Resilience, Human Connection, and Flourishing with Diane Weaver

Cara Nance — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if resilience isn't about resisting life's waves, but learning to ride them?

In this inspiring conversation, Cara sits down with entrepreneur, inventor, and human-centered AI innovator Diane Weaver to explore what it truly means to flourish in a rapidly changing world. Together, they discuss why our greatest technological advancements should ultimately strengthen, not replace, our humanity.

Drawing from her journey as a founder, lifelong innovator, and student of human potential, Diane shares how curiosity, mindfulness, resilience, and authentic connection have shaped both her life and her work. Through the powerful metaphor of water and waves, she offers a refreshing perspective on navigating uncertainty with greater grace, presence, and hope.

Whether you're leading a team, navigating personal change, or simply seeking a more grounded way to move through life's challenges, this conversation will remind you that flourishing isn't found by controlling every wave. It's found by learning how to ride them.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why resilience is less about resistance and more about adaptability
How the metaphor of riding waves can transform the way we respond to change
Why human connection should remain at the center of technological innovation
The role mindfulness and presence play in sustainable leadership
How curiosity fuels both innovation and personal growth
Why context matters when supporting people through change
How strengths, reflection, and meaningful conversations contribute to human flourishing
Practical ways leaders can create cultures where people thrive—not just perform

About Diane Weaver

Diane Weaver is an entrepreneur, inventor, and advocate for human-centered technology. As a leader in AI innovation, she believes technology should amplify our humanity, deepen connection, and support individual and organizational flourishing. Her work brings together innovation, resilience, neuroscience, and leadership to help people and organizations navigate an increasingly complex world with wisdom and intention.

If this conversation encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a reminder that even life's biggest waves can become opportunities for growth.

Connect with Diane:
• LinkedIn
• Baryons

Connect with Cara:
🌐 www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com
🎙️ Tutum Talk with Cara Nance
📅 calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 42 | Ubuntu: Leading from Our Shared Humanity

Cara Nance — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:23:28 -0400

What if leadership begins not with influence, strategy, or authority, but with remembering our shared humanity?

In this solo episode of Tutum Talk, Cara explores Ubuntu, a South African philosophy often expressed through the words, "I am because you are." More than a cultural concept, Ubuntu invites us to recognize that our humanity is deeply interconnected. That we are shaped by one another, strengthened through one another, and called to care for one another.

Inspired by the teachings of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and personal conversations with strangers during recent travels, Cara reflects on what Ubuntu looks like in everyday life and why this timeless philosophy has profound implications for leadership, relationships, workplaces, and communities.

Whether you're leading an organization, raising a family, serving your community, or simply seeking to become a more compassionate human being, this episode offers an invitation to pause, listen, and remember that connection is one of our greatest strengths.

In this episode, you'll discover:

What Ubuntu means and why its message is more relevant than ever.
How Archbishop Desmond Tutu's teaching on interconnectedness reshapes the way we see one another.
Why seeking to understand others can transform our relationships and leadership.
The connection between Ubuntu and strengths-based leadership.
How compassion, curiosity, and love create cultures where people can truly flourish.
Practical ways to embody Ubuntu in your everyday interactions.

Memorable moments from the episode:

"I am because you are, and you are because I am."
Why two conversations on two different flights revealed very different responses to the same idea.
How seeing people through an asset-based lens changes teams, organizations, and communities.
Why love remains one of the most transformative forces available to every leader.

Ubuntu reminds us that leadership is ultimately relational. When we choose curiosity over judgment, compassion over certainty, and connection over division, we create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and safe to become who they are meant to be.

If this conversation encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who believes leadership starts with people.

Thank you for being part of the Tutum Talk community.

With gratitude,

Cara

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

🌐 Website: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com (hyperlinked text)

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance (hyperlinked text)

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutumleadershipcoaching (hyperlinked text)

🎙️ Subscribe to Tutum Talk with Cara Nance wherever you enjoy podcasts.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 41 | Scaling with Clarity: Leadership, Operations, and Intentional Growth with Heather O'Donnell

Cara Nance — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if the biggest obstacle to your organization's growth isn't your strategy, but the lack of alignment behind it?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara sits down with fractional COO and Chief Strategy & Operations Officer Heather O'Donnell to explore what it really takes to scale an organization with intention. Together, they unpack the relationship between leadership, operations, communication, and culture, revealing why sustainable growth begins long before new systems or processes are introduced.

Heather shares practical wisdom from partnering with founders and growth-stage organizations navigating rapid change. She explains how operational clarity creates space for leaders to lead, teams to thrive, and organizations to grow without sacrificing the people who make that growth possible.

The conversation also explores an often-overlooked truth: the way we manage our personal lives frequently shows up in our professional leadership. From clearing mental clutter to building communication rhythms that foster trust, Heather offers thoughtful strategies that leaders can begin applying immediately.

Whether you're leading a nonprofit, school, small business, or growing organization, this episode is an invitation to slow down, create clarity, and build systems that support both people and purpose.

In this episode, you'll discover:
How to recognize when your organization has outgrown its current way of operating.
Why operational clarity is a leadership responsibility—not just an operational one.
The connection between personal organization and professional effectiveness.
Practical ways to reduce overwhelm and create greater focus.
Why communication rhythms build trust and alignment across teams.
How intentional systems create healthier, more sustainable organizational growth.
What founders and leaders often overlook when scaling their organizations.

Leadership isn't about adding more complexity.

It's about creating enough clarity that your people can do their best work together.

If this conversation resonates with you, please follow Tutum Talk, leave a review, and share this episode with a leader who's navigating growth or organizational change.

Connect with Heather O'Donnell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-o-donnell/
Elevate and Align Co.: https://elevatealignco.com/
Entrepreneurs - check out Heather's New Owner Blueprint Retainer here: https://elevatealignco.com/services-retainer-packages/

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If your team is experiencing growth, transition, restructuring, or simply wants to lead with greater intention, Tutum Leadership Coaching helps organizations build trust, strengthen communication, and create psychologically safe cultures through CliftonStrengths® coaching and leadership development.

Learn more or schedule a conversation:
https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

Connect with Cara on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance/

Subscribe to Tutum Talk so you never miss an episode exploring leadership in the everyday and beyond.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a rating and review—it helps more people discover the show and join our growing community of leaders.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 40 | Heart-Led Leadership: Why the Future of Leadership Begins with People

Cara Nance — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:22:35 -0400

What if the future of leadership isn't about becoming tougher, faster, or more efficient?

What if it's about becoming more human?

In this solo episode of Tutum Talk, I explore the idea of heart-led leadership—a leadership philosophy that places people at the center of every decision without sacrificing performance, accountability, or results.

For decades, many organizations have measured success primarily through financial outcomes. While strong business performance matters, sustainable success is built by leaders who intentionally create environments where people feel safe, valued, trusted, and empowered to contribute their best work.

Heart-led leadership isn't about lowering standards or avoiding difficult conversations. It's about leading with courage, empathy, and intentionality. Recognizing that when people flourish, organizations flourish.

Throughout this episode, I share reflections from my own leadership journey, lessons I've learned through coaching leaders and teams, and why I believe this shift is one of the greatest opportunities facing organizations today.

If you're leading a team, navigating change, building culture, or simply reflecting on the kind of leader you want to become, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What heart-led leadership really means—and what it doesn't
• Why people-first leadership actually strengthens organizational performance
• The connection between psychological safety, trust, and high-performing teams
• How empathy and accountability can exist together
• Practical ways to cultivate stronger relationships and healthier workplace cultures
• Why the future of leadership begins with creating environments where people can thrive

At Tutum Leadership Coaching, I believe leadership begins by creating spaces where people feel safe enough to grow, contribute, and become their best selves. This episode captures the heart of that belief.

Thank you for being part of this community and for choosing to lead in ways that create lasting impact.

If this episode resonates with you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is working to build a healthier workplace culture.

And if you're navigating organizational change, developing leaders, or looking to strengthen your team's culture through CliftonStrengths®, I'd love to connect.

Let's continue building workplaces where people—and organizations—can truly flourish.

Connect with Cara:
🌐 www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com
📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect
✨ 6 in 6 Mastermind: https://tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration
☀️ Summer Strengths Coaching Information (hyperlinked text)
📰 Tutum Times | June 2026 (hyperlinked text)
🎙️ New episodes of Tutum Talk are released every Thursday.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 39 | Teach to Sell: Leading Through Service, Trust, and Ethical Influence with Dan Rochon

Cara Nance — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:57:34 -0400

What if the best salespeople never actually sell?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara sits down with author, coach, and entrepreneur Dan Rochon to explore a refreshing perspective on sales, leadership, and human connection. Rather than relying on persuasion or pressure, Dan shares why the highest performers focus on teaching, listening, and creating trust.

Together, Cara and Dan discuss why ethical influence begins with genuine curiosity, how meaningful questions uncover what truly matters to people, and why leadership is less about telling others what to do and more about helping them think differently.

Whether you're leading a team, running a business, coaching clients, or simply hoping to build stronger relationships, this conversation offers practical insights that extend far beyond sales.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why "teaching to sell" creates more authentic and lasting relationships

• How ethical influence differs from traditional sales techniques

• The three components of Dan's CPI Communication Model:

Building genuine rapport
Asking adept questions
Practicing active listening

• Why vulnerability creates trust rather than weakness

• How curiosity helps people discover their own best decisions

• The connection between leadership, communication, and influence

• Why listening for emotion—not just information—changes conversations

• Practical ways to become a more intentional communicator at work and at home

This conversation is an invitation to rethink what influence really means. When we shift from convincing to understanding, from pitching to teaching, and from talking to listening, we create the conditions for trust—and trust is where meaningful leadership begins.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who believes leadership is built one conversation at a time.

Connect with Dan Rochon

• Learn more about Dan's work
• Explore Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell and What They Do Instead
• Follow Dan for additional leadership and communication insights

Connect with Cara

If you're looking to grow as a leader, strengthen your team, or discover how your CliftonStrengths can transform the way you lead, I'd love to connect with you.

Learn more about coaching and workshops through Tutum Leadership Coaching or schedule a conversation to explore how strengths-based leadership can support you or your organization.

Learn more about Tutum Leadership Coaching:
https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

Connect with Cara on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance/

Schedule a conversation:
https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Subscribe to Tutum Talk so you never miss an episode exploring leadership in the everyday and beyond.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a rating and review—it helps more people discover the show and join our growing community of leaders.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 38 | Curiosity, Connection, and the Future of Human Potential with Mike Hruska

Cara Nance — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 05:13:57 -0400

What if the greatest advantage we'll have in the age of AI isn't technology... but our humanity?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, I sit down with Mike Hruska, CEO of Baryons, to explore one of the most important leadership conversations of our time: how curiosity, self-awareness, and meaningful connection will shape the future of human potential.

While artificial intelligence continues to transform the way we work and live, Mike offers a refreshing perspective: technology is at its best when it helps us become more human—not less.

Together, we explore why the questions we ask matter just as much as the answers we seek, how curiosity fuels innovation and trust, and why leaders who embrace lifelong learning will be best equipped for the future.

Whether you're leading a team, navigating change, or simply wondering how to remain grounded in an increasingly digital world, this conversation offers practical wisdom and hopeful perspective.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why curiosity is one of the most important leadership skills of the future

• How asking better questions creates stronger relationships and deeper trust

• The intersection of AI, self-awareness, and human performance

• Why technology should amplify—not replace—our humanity

• The role of mindset, systems thinking, and continuous learning in leadership

• How voice-first AI can support reflection, accountability, and personal growth

• What leaders can learn from chaos theory, emergence, and interconnected systems

• Practical ways to cultivate curiosity in your work and everyday life

Memorable Quotes

"The leaders who will thrive aren't necessarily the ones with all the answers—they're the ones who never stop asking questions."

"As technology evolves, our humanity becomes even more important, not less."

Connect with Mike Hruska

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehruska/

Learn more about Baryons: https://www.baryons.com

2gastronauts (food!): https://2gastronauts.com/

Connect with Cara

If this conversation resonated with you and you're looking to grow as a leader, I'd love to connect.

Whether you're navigating change, building stronger teams, or seeking greater alignment in your own leadership, coaching creates space to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Learn more about Tutum Leadership Coaching:
https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

Connect with Cara on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranance/

Subscribe to Tutum Talk so you never miss an episode exploring leadership in the everyday and beyond.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a rating and review—it helps more people discover the show and join our growing community of leaders.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 37 | Leadership Under Pressure: Lessons from a Life of Service with Steve Nance

Cara Nance — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What does leadership look like when the stakes are high?

In this special episode of Tutum Talk, I sit down with my dad, Steve Nance, to explore the lessons he's learned through a lifetime of leadership. Steve served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, including service during the Vietnam War, before transitioning into the private sector as an advertising executive. Throughout our conversation, he shares the principles that guided him through moments of uncertainty, responsibility, and change.

Together, we explore what it means to lead under pressure, the importance of situational awareness, and why listening is one of the most powerful leadership tools available. Steve reflects on lessons learned from military service, insights gained from leading teams in civilian organizations, and the responsibility that comes with being entrusted to lead others.

Whether you're leading a team, a family, a classroom, a business, or simply yourself through a challenging season, this conversation offers practical wisdom that remains just as relevant today as it was throughout Steve's decades of service.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How early life experiences shaped Steve's leadership philosophy

• The importance of active listening and situational awareness

• Why leaders must take ownership when responsibility falls to them

• The difference between leadership and management—and why both matter

• Lessons learned from military service that apply to everyday leadership

• How preparation creates confidence during uncertainty

• Leading people through challenges while maintaining trust and clarity

• The value of humility, service, and lifelong learning

One of the most memorable lessons Steve shares comes from a four-star general:

"When you're in charge, take charge."

Simple. Direct. Timeless.

This conversation is a reminder that leadership isn't reserved for a title or position. It's reflected in how we show up, serve others, make decisions, and respond when circumstances demand our best.

Thank you for listening to Tutum Talk. If this conversation resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with someone who may benefit from it.

If you're interested in exploring your own leadership journey through strengths-based coaching, I'd love to connect. Learn more about one-on-one coaching opportunities at tutumleadershipcoaching.com.

Connect with Cara:
Website: www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caranance

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 36 | The Power of Psychological Safety: Why We Grow Where We Feel Safe with Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D.

Cara Nance — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What helps people thrive at work, in relationships, and in life?

According to leadership researcher and organizational psychologist Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D., one of the most important ingredients is psychological safety.

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Jesse and Cara explore what psychological safety really means beyond the workplace buzzword. Together, they discuss why people are more likely to learn, contribute, innovate, and grow when they feel safe enough to be themselves, take risks, and speak honestly without fear of judgment or punishment.

The conversation extends beyond leadership and organizations into everyday life, exploring how psychological safety influences our relationships, parenting, friendships, and personal development.

Whether you're leading a team, raising children, supporting loved ones, or simply seeking to create healthier connections, this episode offers practical insights for fostering trust, belonging, and growth in the spaces that matter most.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What psychological safety is—and what it isn't

• Why psychological safety is essential for learning, creativity, and innovation

• The connection between trust, vulnerability, and growth

• How leaders can create environments where people feel safe to contribute

• The impact of psychological safety on team performance and workplace culture

• Why psychological safety matters in friendships, families, and personal relationships

• The role of curiosity, empathy, and active listening in building trust

• How mistakes can become opportunities for learning when safety is present

• Practical ways to foster psychological safety in everyday interactions

Key Takeaways

✔ People grow where they feel safe.

✔ Psychological safety encourages honest communication and healthy risk-taking.

✔ Trust is built through consistency, transparency, and empathy.

✔ Growth happens more readily when mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities.

✔ Leaders set the tone for whether others feel safe to speak up and contribute.

✔ Psychological safety is not just a workplace concept—it is a foundation for healthy human relationships.

About Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D.

Connect with Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D.

Website: https://www.jesseerdheim.com/

LinkedIn: Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D. (hyperlinked text)

Connect with Cara Nance & Tutum Leadership Coaching

If this conversation resonated with you and you're interested in creating stronger connections, healthier team cultures, or more psychologically safe workplaces, Cara would love to connect.

Schedule a complimentary conversation:
https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

Learn more:
www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep. 35 | The Quiet Wisdom Behind Great Leadership with Connie Nance

Cara Nance — Thu, 28 May 2026 04:01:00 -0400

There’s a certain kind of wisdom that doesn’t demand attention. It quietly shapes the way we lead, listen, prepare, and care for others.

In this special episode of Tutum Talk, Cara sits down with her mother, Connie Nance, for a heartfelt conversation about the leadership lessons that only life experience can teach. Drawing from decades of professional and personal leadership experience, Connie shares practical insights on planning ahead, listening beyond words, asking thoughtful questions, and using storytelling to build trust and connection.

Together, they explore the kind of leadership that isn’t always loud or flashy, but deeply impactful — the kind rooted in curiosity, preparation, humility, and human understanding.

In this episode, we explore:
• Why great leaders always have a Plan B (and sometimes a Plan C)
• The power of active listening and paying attention to what isn’t being said
• How storytelling creates connection and trust
• Why curiosity is one of the most underrated leadership skills
• Leadership lessons passed from one generation to another
• The importance of humility, preparation, and emotional awareness

About Connie Nance:
Connie Nance brings decades of leadership experience across labor relations, occupational safety, team leadership, and public service, including her work with the Department of Defense. Her thoughtful perspective and lived experience offer timeless reminders that leadership is less about authority and more about awareness, adaptability, and connection.

Thank you for listening to Tutum Talk — a space for exploring leadership in the every day and beyond.

If this episode resonated with you and you’d like support in your own leadership journey, I’d love to connect with you for one-on-one coaching:
https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 34 | Ambition, Motherhood, and the Courage to Want More with Alicia Grantham

Cara Nance — Thu, 21 May 2026 07:48:57 -0400

What happens when the version of success you worked so hard to build no longer feels aligned with the life you want to live?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara sits down with Alicia Grantham, founder of Lavender and Lemons Coaching, for an honest conversation about ambition, motherhood, identity, burnout, and redefining success on your own terms.

After years of climbing the corporate ladder, Alicia began to realize that while she still desired meaningful work and financial freedom, she no longer wanted achievement at the expense of her well-being, family, or sense of self. Together, Cara and Alicia explore the quiet tension many ambitious women carry: wanting more while also longing for peace, flexibility, and alignment.

This conversation is a gentle but powerful reminder that success can evolve alongside us — and that choosing a different path does not mean you’ve failed. It may simply mean you’re becoming more honest about what truly matters.

Whether you’re navigating leadership, motherhood, career transition, burnout, or the pressure to “hold it all together,” this episode offers encouragement, reflection, and permission to redefine success in a way that feels sustainable and true.

In this episode, Cara and Alicia discuss:
• Redefining success beyond titles and external validation
• The hidden emotional weight many ambitious mothers carry
• Career pivots, identity shifts, and evolving priorities
• Why self-care is essential, not selfish
• Creating boundaries that support both ambition and well-being
• Learning to trust yourself during seasons of change
• Building a life and career that align with your values

About Alicia Grantham:
Alicia Grantham is the founder of Lavender and Lemons Coaching and a strategic coach for ambitious moms who feel successful on paper but internally exhausted. After a successful corporate career as a CPA and leader, Alicia now helps women build careers and lives that feel aligned with who they are becoming — without sacrificing themselves in the process.

Connect with Alicia on Instagram: @a.s.grantham
Listen to: The Mom’s Got This... Mostly Podcast

If this episode resonated with you, please consider subscribing, sharing with someone who may need this conversation, or leaving a review. And if you’re navigating leadership, burnout, transition, or personal growth, Cara would love to connect with you for one-on-one coaching support.

Connect with Cara:
https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com/

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 33 | Unlearning Money Shame and Reclaiming Financial Confidence with Sarah Elder

Cara Nance — Thu, 14 May 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if your relationship with money didn’t actually begin with you?

Many of us inherited unconscious beliefs about money through family dynamics, cultural conditioning, silence, stress, scarcity, or messages we absorbed long before we understood their impact. Over time, those beliefs can quietly shape our confidence, leadership, decision-making, self-worth, and relationship with success.

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara sits down with Sarah Elder for a thoughtful and deeply honest conversation about money shame, leadership, and healing our relationship with money.

Inspired in part by Sarah’s Substack release, “Taught Not to Talk About Money? It’s Time to Unlearn That One,” this conversation explores the emotional and societal layers many people, especially women, carry around finances.

Together, Cara and Sarah discuss:

How subconscious money stories shape adulthood
Why money conversations can feel emotionally charged
The historical and cultural roots of money shame
Leadership, visibility, and financial self-trust
The importance of financial literacy and awareness
Healing inherited beliefs around worth and success
Creating healthier, more honest conversations about money

This episode is a compassionate reminder that awareness creates choice, and that healing our relationship with money can become part of healing our relationship with ourselves.

Show Notes

In this episode, Cara welcomes Sarah Elder for a meaningful conversation about money shame, inherited beliefs, leadership, and financial empowerment.

Sarah shares insights from her work supporting women in business and reflects on how early experiences and societal conditioning often shape our emotional relationship with money long before adulthood. Together, Cara and Sarah explore how silence around finances can impact confidence, stress, leadership, and personal growth.

Listeners will hear reflections on:

Generational beliefs around money
Money shame and emotional conditioning
Leadership and financial confidence
Self-worth and visibility
Financial literacy and empowerment
Healing subconscious money patterns
Why open conversations around money matter

This episode was inspired in part by Sarah’s Substack release:
“Taught Not to Talk About Money? It’s Time to Unlearn That One”

Learn more and subscribe to Sarah’s highly informative Substack:
I Make the Rules substack

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 32 | Reclaiming Beauty on Your Own Terms with Tiffaney Webb

Cara Nance — Thu, 07 May 2026 13:42:11 -0400

What if beauty was never something you had to chase… but something you defined for yourself?

In this heartfelt conversation, Cara sits down with Tiffaney Webb, founder of Stillness & Skin, to explore aging, self-care, hormonal wellness, and the quiet courage it takes to go against the grain in a culture constantly telling women they are not enough.

Together, they unpack the pressure of “anti-aging” culture, the importance of human touch and nervous system regulation, and the growing concern around beauty marketing aimed at children. Tiffaney also shares how leadership sometimes means creating what you wish existed, even when it feels unconventional or difficult.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and reclaim beauty on your own terms.

Show Notes

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance welcomes Tiffaney Webb, founder of Stillness & Skin, for a thoughtful conversation about beauty, aging, leadership, and self-trust.

With more than 15 years of experience in holistic skincare and wellness, Tiffaney supports women navigating hormonal shifts from postpartum through menopause. Her work centers around helping women reconnect with themselves beyond the noise of media messaging and unrealistic beauty standards.

Together, Cara and Tiffaney discuss:

The emotional weight of anti-aging culture
Why aging is something to honor, not fear
The connection between nervous system regulation and self-care
The healing power of touch and human connection
Mindful skincare for children and the impact of early beauty marketing
How leadership sometimes means creating a different path
Reclaiming beauty, wellness, and self-worth on your own terms

This episode offers a gentle but powerful reminder that self-care is not about perfection. It’s about presence, awareness, and learning to trust yourself again.

Learn more about Tiffaney’s work: stillnessandskin.com

If this conversation resonates and you’re local to the Triangle, Tiffaney and her team at Stillness & Skin are offering a Mother’s Day special for the month of May: The Stillness Essential facial with a complementary LED add on, all for $150.

A beautiful way to care for yourself… or someone you love.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 31 | When Leadership Changes the Relationship — Navigating Friendship, Distance, and What Still Remains

Cara Nance — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What happens when a friendship changes… because leadership entered the picture?

In this solo episode of Tutum Talk, Cara reflects on a question that emerged from her Spring 2026 6 in 6 Mastermind—one that many leaders and team members quietly carry:

How do you navigate a relationship that once felt close and easy… when that person steps into a leadership role and suddenly feels distant?

This conversation explores the emotional and relational shifts that can happen when roles change inside an organization. Cara offers a compassionate lens for understanding both sides of the experience—honoring the hurt of feeling left out, while also acknowledging the unseen weight that leadership can bring.

If you’ve ever felt like you “lost” a friend to leadership… or if you’ve stepped into a role and sensed relationships shifting around you… this episode offers language, perspective, and grounded ways to move forward with care.

Because sometimes, the relationship isn’t gone.
It’s just changing shape.

Show Notes

In this episode, Cara explores the often unspoken impact leadership transitions can have on relationships—especially when a trusted colleague becomes less accessible after stepping into a leadership role.

This reflection was inspired by a real question from a participant in the 6 in 6 Mastermind, and speaks to the emotional complexity of navigating connection, distance, and evolving roles within a workplace.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why relationship shifts in leadership are more common than we talk about
How to process feelings of hurt, loss, or disconnection without dismissing them
What may be happening beneath the surface for someone stepping into leadership
How to approach a conversation with honesty, care, and grounded intention
Ways to expand your support system during seasons of change
A gentle reframe: is the relationship gone, or is it evolving?

This episode also offers an important reminder for leaders:
Even as your role grows, your relationships still matter—and small moments of intentional connection can make a meaningful difference.

Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, especially if you're navigating a shift in your own relationships or leadership role, you don’t have to hold it alone.

Cara offers one-on-one coaching as a steady, supportive space to reflect, process, and lead with clarity and intention.

You can schedule time through the Let’s Connect link here (hyperlinked text) to explore what support might look like for you.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 30 | The Myth of Motivation: How to Engineer Your Drive with Zoë Dehmer, MPS, ACC & Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D.

Cara Nance — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if motivation isn’t something you have… or don’t have?

What if it’s something that can be intentionally built?

In Episode 30 of Tutum Talk, Cara is joined by returning guests Zoë Dehmer and Dr. Jesse Erdheim for a thoughtful and practical conversation about the myth of motivation—and what leaders often misunderstand about it.

Together, they explore what’s really happening when individuals or teams feel “unmotivated,” and why the answer isn’t more pressure, incentives, or pushing harder.

Instead, this conversation invites a different perspective: motivation is something that can be designed.

Through the lenses of leadership, psychology, and real-world experience, Zoë and Jesse share how factors like growth, autonomy, and purpose shape engagement in lasting ways.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, burnt out, or unsure how to re-engage yourself or your team, this episode offers both a reframe and a way forward.

🎧 Tune in to explore how motivation is not found—it’s engineered.

If this conversation resonates, you don’t have to navigate it alone. You’re always welcome to connect 1:1 through the Let’s Connect link to explore what support could look like for you.

📝 Show Notes

In this episode, Cara sits down with returning guests Zoë Dehmer and Dr. Jesse Erdheim to explore one of the most common—and often misunderstood—topics in leadership: motivation.

Rather than viewing motivation as something people either have or lack, this conversation reframes it as something shaped by environment, leadership, and access to growth.

Together, they unpack the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and why so many organizations unintentionally focus on the wrong drivers.

Zoë and Jesse share practical insights for leaders who want to create conditions where motivation can actually take root and sustain itself over time.

In this episode, we explore:

Why “lack of motivation” is often a signal, not the root problem
The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
How mastery, autonomy, and purpose influence engagement
The role of learning and development in sustaining motivation
Why personalized growth matters more than one-size-fits-all approaches
How leaders can more clearly communicate purpose and connection
The real cost of disengagement, including burnout and turnover

This episode offers both a mindset shift and practical strategies for leaders who want to move from frustration to intentional design.

Connect with Zoë Dehmer, MPS, ACC at https://www.zoedehmer.com/

Connect with Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D. at https://www.jesseerdheim.com/

Connect with Cara Nance, M.Ed. at https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com/

6 in 6 Mastermind info here

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 29 | When the Data Isn’t Enough — Leading with Intuition and Truth

Cara Nance — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:01:26 -0400

In this solo episode, Cara Nance explores the balance between intuition and data in leadership.

Many leaders appear calm and confident externally while internally navigating doubt, uncertainty, and pressure to make the “right” decision. When the data is unclear or incomplete, leaders can feel stuck, seeking more input, overanalyzing, or questioning their own capability.

This episode offers a grounded perspective on intuition as a valuable leadership tool. Not as a replacement for data, but as a complement to it.

Cara shares how developing trust in your internal guidance system can help quiet self-doubt, support clearer decision-making, and create a steadier, more authentic leadership presence.

Key Topics:

Internal vs. external leadership experience
The pressure to “get it right” as a leader
Decision-making beyond spreadsheets and pros/cons lists
Building self-trust in moments of uncertainty
Leading with both clarity and intuition

Reflection Question:
Where in your leadership are you being invited to trust yourself more?

Work with Cara:
If you’re a leader navigating uncertainty, decision fatigue, or self-doubt, Cara offers one-on-one coaching to help you build clarity, confidence, and trust in your leadership.
Connect to learn more: Schedule a conversation (hyperlinked text)

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 28 | The Leadership Within — Understanding Yourself to Lead Others

Cara Nance — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What if the most important leadership work isn’t about what you do… but who you understand yourself to be?

In Ep 28 of Tutum Talk, Cara sits down with Annah Elizabeth, healing specialist and creator of a holistic framework for understanding the different parts of who we are, to explore the deeper layers of self-leadership.

Together, they unpack how self-awareness shapes the way we lead, relate, and navigate both conflict and connection in our personal and professional lives.

This conversation moves beyond surface-level leadership strategies and into something more human — the patterns, experiences, and internal dynamics that quietly influence how we show up every day.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between getting things done and being fully present… or found yourself navigating conflict that feels deeper than the moment… this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded way to understand what’s really at play.

Because leadership doesn’t start with others.
It starts within.

✨ Show Notes

In this episode, Cara and Annah Elizabeth explore the inner work of leadership and how understanding yourself can transform the way you lead others.

They discuss the importance of self-leadership, the different parts of who we are that shape our behaviors and decisions, and how unprocessed experiences can show up in moments of conflict.

This conversation is especially relevant for leaders who are:

Navigating team dynamics or interpersonal conflict
Feeling the pull between productivity and presence
Seeking a more grounded, self-aware approach to leadership
Curious about the deeper patterns influencing how they show up

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why self-leadership is the foundation of effective leadership
How different parts of your identity influence your leadership style
A new way to understand conflict through a more compassionate lens
The connection between unresolved experiences and present-day reactions
How increasing self-awareness can improve both leadership and relationships

🎙️ About Annah Elizabeth

Annah Elizabeth is a healing specialist with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and organizations in navigating life’s challenges with greater clarity and self-understanding. Her work focuses on helping people understand the different parts of themselves so they can reduce conflict, deepen relationships, and lead more authentically.

Learn more about Annah here: https://www.annahelizabeth.com
Follow Annah here:

🌱 Reflection

As you listen, consider:

Where might deeper self-understanding shift the way you lead or relate to others?

✨ Let’s Connect

If this conversation resonates and you’re ready to explore your own leadership more deeply, I’d love to support you.

You can learn more about coaching or connect with me here:
https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com/

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 27 | When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned - Trusting What’s Still Unfolding

Cara Nance — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:04:07 -0400

What happens when something you hoped for… doesn’t happen?

In this solo episode of Tutum Talk, Cara explores the quiet, often unspoken experience of navigating disappointment—when a role, relationship, or opportunity you believed would unfold… doesn’t.

Instead of rushing to “move on,” this conversation creates space to pause, reflect, and gently reconnect with yourself in the unknown.

Cara shares a grounded perspective on grief that isn’t always visible, the disorientation of losing a path you thought you were on, and how to begin moving forward—softly, and with intention.

This episode is an invitation to trust that even when life doesn’t go as planned, something is still unfolding with you.

And that what you’re looking for… may be looking for you, too.

✨ With a special note of care for those honoring Passover and Easter—seasons that hold both release and renewal.

📝 Show Notes

In this episode, Cara explores:

The “quiet grief” of losing something that never fully came to be
Why disappointment can feel disorienting—not just painful
The loss of identity and certainty when a path disappears
How to move forward without forcing clarity or rushing the process
What it means to lead yourself through uncertainty with compassion
The power of staying curious when doors close
Trusting that new possibilities may already be waiting for you

🌿 Key Takeaways

You are allowed to grieve what didn’t happen
You are not defined by missed opportunities or outcomes
Moving forward doesn’t have to be fast—it can be soft and intentional
Clarity often comes after we allow ourselves to pause
When one door closes, others may already be open—you just can’t see them yet
Staying curious can open paths you didn’t know existed

💬 Reflection Questions

What am I grieving that I haven’t fully acknowledged yet?
Who am I without the thing I thought would happen?
What feels supportive or grounding for me right now?
Where might life be inviting me to stay curious instead of certain?

🔗 Ways to Connect

If this episode resonated with you and you’re navigating a season of transition, uncertainty, or rebuilding…

Cara offers one-on-one coaching as a space to slow down, reflect, and move forward in a way that feels grounded and aligned.

✨ Learn more + connect: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com/
✨ Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tutumleadershipcoaching/let-s-connect

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 26 | When Your Body Says No: Leadership, Burnout, and Letting Go with Erin Treacy

Cara Nance — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What happens when the leader who holds everything together… starts running on empty?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara sits down with leadership and career coach Erin Treacy to explore the quiet reality of burnout — the kind that doesn’t always look like breaking down, but instead looks like continuing to show up while your body is signaling something needs to change.

Together, they unpack what it means to lead when your capacity is real — not infinite.

This conversation offers a grounded look at:

emotional steadiness under pressure
the hidden cost of over-functioning in people-first leadership
why clarity and communication are essential to sustainable leadership
and how letting go can actually create more trust, growth, and time

Erin shares insights from her own leadership journey across hospitality, media, and nonprofit spaces, along with practical ways leaders can begin to listen to their own limits — before those limits force a stop.

If you’ve been carrying more than your share, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and consider a different way of leading.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Burnout doesn’t always look dramatic — it often shows up as quiet exhaustion while continuing to perform
Emotional steadiness is a leadership skill that can be practiced, not something you either have or don’t
Over-functioning for your team can unintentionally limit their growth and ownership
Investing time upfront with your team can create clarity that saves time later
Listening to your body is not a weakness — it’s leadership data
Letting go and setting boundaries can strengthen trust, not diminish it

🌿 Reflection Questions

Where am I continuing to carry something that may not actually be mine to hold?
What signals has my body been sending that I’ve been pushing past?
What would it look like to lead from steadiness instead of urgency this week?

👤 About Erin Treacy

Erin Treacy is a leadership and career coach who helps growing leaders and business owners build strong teams without burning themselves out. With more than two decades of leadership experience across hospitality, media, and nonprofit sectors, Erin brings a practical, real-world approach to people-first leadership.

Rooted in her experience growing up in a family business in Appalachia, Erin’s work centers on emotional steadiness, clear communication, and building sustainable leadership practices that support both business growth and personal well-being.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.coacherintreacy.com/

💛 Connect with Cara

If this conversation resonated and you’re feeling the weight of leadership right now, you don’t have to carry it alone.

Cara offers one-on-one coaching for leaders who want to build stronger, more connected teams while leading in a way that feels sustainable and aligned.

✨ Learn more or connect: https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com/

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 25 | Podcasthon Spotlight — Before It Existed: The Leadership Behind Hope Renovations

Cara Nance — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:03:05 -0400

What does it look like to believe in a vision before it becomes real?

In this special Podcasthon episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance highlights Hope Renovations — a North Carolina nonprofit creating safer homes for older adults while opening doors for women and gender expansive folks entering the skilled trades.

Cara shares a personal reflection on meeting founder Nora Spencer in 2019 — before the organization physically existed — and the experience of watching that vision grow into a thriving, community-centered nonprofit.

This episode explores leadership through a different lens:
not as authority or visibility, but as persistence, care, and a deep commitment to meeting real human needs.

✨ If you’ve ever felt called to build something meaningful — or wondered what it takes to stay committed to a vision over time — this conversation offers a grounded and hopeful perspective.

📝 Show Notes

This week, Tutum Talk is proud to participate in Podcasthon — a global initiative where podcasters dedicate an episode to highlighting nonprofits making a meaningful impact in their communities.

In this episode, Cara spotlights Hope Renovations, an organization working at the intersection of housing stability and workforce development.

Hope Renovations:
• Provides accessibility home repairs so older adults can remain safely in their homes
• Trains women and gender-expansive individuals for careers in the skilled trades
• Creates pathways to economic opportunity while strengthening local communities

Cara reflects on:
• Meeting founder Nora Spencer before the nonprofit launched
• The leadership required to bring a vision to life over time
• The power of practical solutions that restore dignity and independence
• Why mission-driven leadership belongs alongside traditional definitions of innovation

The episode also celebrates Nora Spencer’s recognition on the Inc. Female Founders 500 (2026) — a powerful acknowledgment of the impact nonprofit leaders are making across the country.

🌱 Key Takeaways

• Leadership often begins long before anything is visible
• Community-centered solutions can address multiple needs at once
• Small, practical changes can have life-changing impact
• Persistence is one of the most important leadership traits
• Mission-driven work is innovative work

💭 Reflection Question

Where in your community might someone be quietly building something that is making a difference?

🔗 Learn More + Support

Take a few minutes to learn more about Hope Renovations and the work they are doing:

🌐 https://www.hoperenovations.org

🎧 About Tutum Talk

Tutum Talk is a leadership podcast exploring what it means to lead with clarity, care, and connection.

Hosted by Cara Nance, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and leadership facilitator, each episode offers reflections and conversations designed to support leaders in building healthier, more connected teams.

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Ep 24 | The Journey Back to Yourself with Mary Jacobs

Cara Nance — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:01:00 -0400

What happens when the path forward requires turning inward?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance sits down with Mary Jacobs, founder of The Tao of Oneness, Reiki Master, and Ordained Minister of Self-Ascension, for a thoughtful conversation about the journey back to your authentic self.

Mary shares her personal path into spiritual healing, including the transformative experiences that led her to study indigenous healing traditions and energy work. Through her work today, she helps people reconnect with their truth, regulate their nervous systems, and live with deeper intention and alignment.

Together, Cara and Mary explore the quiet inner work that shapes how we show up in life and leadership - including emotional integrity, spiritual awareness, and the importance of supportive community.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to realign with yourself or wondered how inner healing influences the way we lead and live, this conversation offers a gentle invitation to listen more closely to that inner voice.

In This Episode, We Explore

What it means to reconnect with your authentic self
Mary’s personal journey into energy work and spiritual healing
How practices like Reiki can support emotional and energetic balance
The role of nervous system regulation in personal transformation
Why community and shared spaces for healing matter
How inner alignment shapes the way we show up in life and leadership

About Mary Jacobs

Mary Jacobs is the founder of The Tao of Oneness, a space devoted to healing, self-awareness, and spiritual alignment.

As a Quantum Avesa and Reiki Master and Ordained Minister of Self-Ascension, Mary supports individuals through intuitive life coaching, energy work, and sacred self-care experiences designed to help people reconnect with their truth and live with deeper authenticity.

Her work blends practical transformation with spiritual wisdom, honoring both the human experience and the soul’s journey.

Learn more about Mary and her work: www.taoofoneness.com

Connect with Tutum Talk

Tutum Talk explores the human side of leadership - the self-awareness, courage, and connection that allow us to lead with authenticity.

Hosted by Cara Nance, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and founder of Tutum Leadership Coaching, the podcast offers thoughtful conversations for leaders who want to grow from the inside out.

Learn more about Cara’s leadership coaching and facilitation work: Tutum Leadership Coaching

Reflection Question

Where in your life might you be feeling the quiet invitation to reconnect with your authentic self?

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 23 | Leading While Doubting Yourself

Cara Nance — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 04:01:00 -0500

You’re in the seat.
The title is official.
People are looking to you for direction.

And quietly… you’re wondering if you’re actually qualified to lead.

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance explores what it means to lead while doubting yourself. If you’ve ever replayed a decision before bed, questioned whether you belong in the room, or worried that you’re about to be “found out,” this conversation is for you.

Doubt doesn’t disqualify you from leadership. In many cases, it’s a sign that you understand the weight of influence.

Cara breaks down the three common types of leadership doubt, how unexamined doubt can quietly impact your team, and the practical shifts that help you move from performance-based leadership to steady, values-aligned presence.

If you care deeply about your people and want to lead with clarity — even when you don’t feel completely confident — this episode will remind you that you’re not alone.

And that becoming a leader is different than pretending to be one.

Show Notes

In This Episode, We Explore:

Why self-doubt is often a responsibility signal — not a red flag
The three types of leadership doubt: skill doubt, belonging doubt, and identity doubt
How unexamined doubt can lead to over-functioning, micromanaging, and burnout
The shift from “Am I good enough?” to “What does this moment need?”
Practical anchors for leading steadily, even when uncertainty is present
How reflective leadership builds resilience and psychological safety

Key Takeaways

✨ Doubt does not disqualify you — it often signals care and awareness.
✨ Leadership is presence, not performance.
✨ When you shift your focus from self-evaluation to situational awareness, steadiness grows.
✨ Unnamed doubt can quietly shape team culture — but examined doubt strengthens it.
✨ You don’t have to eliminate uncertainty to lead well.

Reflection Questions

Consider journaling on one of these prompts this week:

What type of leadership doubt shows up most for me — skill, belonging, or identity?
When doubt surfaces, how do I typically respond?
What would shift if I asked, “What does this moment need from me?” instead of “Am I doing this right?”
Where might over-functioning be connected to unexamined fear?

Work With Cara

If this episode resonated, you don’t have to navigate leadership alone.

Cara Nance is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and leadership facilitator who helps emotionally intelligent leaders bring calm to chaos, build psychological safety, and strengthen team connection.

Through 1:1 executive coaching and leadership team facilitation, Cara creates reflective spaces where leaders can examine doubt, build clarity, and lead with grounded confidence.

If you’re ready to lead with steadiness — even in uncertainty — reach out to explore one-on-one coaching.
Learn more at: www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 22 | Tapped for Leadership… But Quietly Terrified

Cara Nance — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 04:01:00 -0500

You were tapped for leadership because you’re capable, steady, and trusted.

So why does it feel like you’re secretly one misstep away from being “found out”?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara explores the hidden experience of newly elevated leaders — the ones who look calm on the outside but quietly question themselves on the inside.

If you’ve ever wondered:

“Are they sure they picked the right person?”
“Why does everyone else seem more confident than me?”
“How do I lead when no one actually taught me how?”

This conversation is for you.

Cara unpacks the gap between being promoted and being developed, the internal spiral so many thoughtful leaders experience, and what actually builds sustainable leadership confidence.

This isn’t about faking it until you make it.

It’s about building alignment, integration, and steady self-trust — one decision at a time.

If you're navigating imposter syndrome, first-time leadership, or the quiet loneliness of holding responsibility for others, this episode will remind you:

You’re not behind.
You’re becoming.

Show Notes

In This Episode, We Explore:

The “promotion gap” — why technical excellence doesn’t automatically translate to leadership confidence
The hidden anxiety of high-capacity, emotionally intelligent leaders
Why imposter syndrome often signals care, not incompetence
The difference between loud confidence and quiet alignment
What actually builds sustainable leadership confidence
Why you don’t need to become someone else to lead well

Who This Episode Is For:

First-time leaders
Newly promoted managers
High-potential professionals navigating leadership anxiety
Emotionally intelligent leaders who care deeply about their teams
Anyone asking, “Am I doing this right?”

Key Takeaway

Leadership confidence is not bestowed the day you receive the title.

It’s built — through self-awareness, reflection, support, and integration.

You were tapped for a reason.
Now it’s time to grow into the role without losing yourself in the process.

Work With Cara

If this episode resonated, Cara offers one-on-one leadership coaching for thoughtful, high-capacity leaders who want steadiness and clarity behind the scenes.

You don’t have to navigate leadership alone.

Learn more at: www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 21 | The Wellness Gap at Work with guests Zoë Dehmer, MPS, ACC & Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D.

Cara Nance — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:01:00 -0500

Episode Description

In a time when “wellness” has become a workplace buzzword, are we actually addressing what helps people feel well?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance is joined by industrial-organizational psychologist Dr. Jesse Erdheim and leadership development expert Zoë Dehmer for a candid conversation about The Wellness Gap at Work — the disconnect between what organizations think employees need and what truly creates sustainable well-being.

Together, they explore:

Why perks and programs often miss the deeper issue
The tension between efficiency and humanity
How the pandemic shifted workplace culture — and where we may be sliding backward
The role of leadership modeling in creating real psychological safety
What healthy vs. unhealthy workplace cultures actually look like

This conversation moves beyond surface-level solutions and into the structural, relational, and leadership behaviors that shape daily experience at work.

Because wellness isn’t created in the HR portal.
It’s created in how we lead, listen, and design our cultures.

If you’re a leader who wants your people to do more than survive — this episode is for you.

Connect with Zoë Dehmer, MPS, ACC at https://www.zoedehmer.com/

Connect with Jesse Erdheim, Ph.D. at https://www.jesseerdheim.com/

Connect with Cara Nance, M.Ed. at https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com/

6 in 6 Mastermind info here

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 20 | Leadership That Leaves Room for Becoming

Cara Nance — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:01:00 -0500

Podcast Episode Description

You’re not a finished product, and neither are your people.

In a culture that pressures leaders to “arrive,” to project certainty, and to have all the answers, it can feel unsettling to admit you’re still learning. Still evolving. Still becoming.

But what if leadership was never meant to be a destination?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara explores the quiet myth of the “finished leader,” the cost of demanding arrival from ourselves and our teams, and what shifts when we lead with curiosity instead of control.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing leadership “right,” this conversation will remind you: growth is not a liability, it’s a strength.

✨ And if you’re craving space to reflect, slow down, and lead from alignment, registration for the 6 in 6 Mastermind is open now.

Show Notes

Leadership Isn’t a Finish Line

Many leaders carry a silent pressure to have it all figured out.

To appear decisive.
To project confidence.
To lead without hesitation.

But leadership is not a performance — it’s a practice.

In this episode, Cara invites leaders to release the myth of arrival and embrace leadership as an ongoing process of becoming.

In This Episode, We Explore:

The myth of the “finished leader” and why it quietly undermines trust
Why becoming is not instability — it’s integrity
How psychological safety grows when leaders model reflection
The hidden cost of demanding certainty from ourselves and others
What leadership sounds like when curiosity replaces control
How to create space for growth without sacrificing steadiness

Why This Conversation Matters

When leaders feel pressured to appear “done,” teams feel it too.

Fear increases.
Creativity shrinks.
Burnout grows.

But when leaders allow themselves to evolve — openly and thoughtfully — they give their teams permission to do the same.

Leadership that leaves room for becoming creates:

deeper trust
healthier communication
stronger retention
more resilient cultures

A Space for Your Own Becoming

If this episode resonates, the 6 in 6 Mastermind was created for leaders exactly in this season.

For those who:

pour into everyone else
carry responsibility quietly
sense they are evolving but haven’t had space to reflect

The 6 in 6 Mastermind is a six-week experience designed to slow leadership down — to create room for clarity, recalibration, and grounded growth.

Early bird pricing is available for the spring session, and group pricing is offered as well.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to belong here.

You just need to be willing to stay present to who you’re becoming.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you’re navigating a season of transition, growth, or quiet recalibration in your leadership, I’d love to support you.

Explore the 6 in 6 Mastermind or schedule a one-on-one coaching conversation at:
👉 tutumleadershipcoaching.com

You are not behind.
You are becoming.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 19 | The Quiet Art of Repair

Cara Nance — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 04:01:00 -0500

Episode Description

You messed up.
Or maybe they did.
Either way — repair is part of real leadership.

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara explores the quiet, often unseen work of repair — what it means to return after rupture with courage instead of ego. Whether you’re navigating a misstep of your own or addressing harm that came from someone else, this conversation offers a grounded, human approach to rebuilding trust, integrity, and connection.

Because leadership isn’t about never getting it wrong.
It’s about what you do next.

Show Notes

Repair is rarely loud.
It doesn’t come with applause or recognition.
But it shapes culture, trust, and belonging more than almost anything else.

In this episode, we explore:

Why repair is a leadership skill — not a failure
What meaningful repair sounds like when you miss the mark
How leaders can address harm without defensiveness or avoidance
When repair requires boundaries rather than reconciliation
Why quiet, consistent repair builds psychological safety over time

This conversation is for leaders who care deeply — about their people, their impact, and the integrity of how they lead.

A Gentle Invitation

If this episode stirred something — a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a repair you’re carrying, or a leadership season that feels tender — you don’t have to navigate that alone.

✨ The 6 in 6 Mastermind is open for registration now.
✨ Early bird pricing is available for the spring session through March 15th.
✨ This six-week, small-group experience offers space to pause, reflect, and resource yourself alongside other thoughtful leaders.

And if one-on-one coaching feels like the right next step, you’re always invited into that conversation as well.

Schedule time with me using this link.

Leadership doesn’t require perfection.
It asks for presence.
And sometimes, leadership looks like coming back to the table — quietly, courageously, and with care.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 18 | When Your Strengths Are Misunderstood

Cara Nance — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:01:00 -0500

You’re direct - and they say you’re cold.
You’re steady - and they say you’re not passionate enough.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood in your leadership, your relationships, or simply in how you show up, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara explores what happens when your natural strengths are mislabeled, flattened, or filtered through other people’s expectations - and the quiet toll that takes over time. Together, we unpack why misunderstanding is so common for thoughtful, values-driven leaders, and how to reclaim the truth of who you are without shrinking, hardening, or over-explaining yourself.

This is a conversation about self-trust, internal alignment, and remembering that your strengths were never the problem - even when the story being told about them suggests otherwise.

You don’t have to navigate this alone.

Have you ever been told you’re too direct, too calm, or not expressive enough - even though you know how deeply you care?

In this episode, Cara holds space for leaders and givers who feel quietly misunderstood. Those who lead with steadiness instead of urgency. Those who bring consistency instead of performance. Those whose strengths are often misread in cultures that prize speed, volume, and constant reassurance.

This episode explores:

Why strengths are so often misunderstood in workplaces and relationships
How mislabeling can slowly erode self-trust and confidence
The hidden cost of over-explaining, over-functioning, or self-editing to be accepted
What it really means to reclaim your strengths without defensiveness
How internal alignment matters more than universal understanding

Cara also shares how community plays a vital role in this reclamation - and why spaces where you don’t have to translate yourself are so deeply healing.

If this conversation resonates because you’re tired of explaining who you are, or you’re ready to reconnect with the truth of your strengths, the 6 in 6 Spring Session is now open for registration.

✨ Early bird pricing is available for those who register on or before March 15th
✨ Group pricing is also available for colleagues, friends, or community members who want to participate together

Learn more and register at:
👉 https://www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com/mastermind-registration

And as always, if one-on-one coaching would feel more supportive right now, you’re warmly invited to reach out and connect.

👉 Schedule time here.

Thank you for being here.
Thank you for leading in the steady, thoughtful, deeply human way you do.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 17 | Healing from “Toxic Leadership” - Yours or Theirs

Cara Nance — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 04:01:00 -0500

Whether you were harmed by a toxic leader - or fear you may have been one - this episode holds space for honest reflection, healing, and the possibility of repair.

In this tender conversation, Cara explores how toxic leadership often grows from unhealed stress, chronic over-functioning, and systems that reward urgency over care. With compassion and clarity, she invites listeners to examine both sides of the experience: the pain of being led in ways that hurt, and the quiet reckoning that can come when we recognize moments we wish we’d led differently.

This episode is not about blame or perfection. It’s about presence. Awareness. And choosing to lead - and heal - with intention.

You are not alone. You have community.

Leadership can leave marks - especially when it’s shaped by fear, burnout, or emotional isolation.

In Episode 17 of Tutum Talk, we slow the conversation down and gently explore what it means to heal from toxic leadership - whether that harm came from someone else, or from moments when we ourselves were leading from depletion rather than care.

This episode offers space for reflection, compassion, and growth - without shame.

In this episode, we explore:

What “toxic leadership” really means - beyond labels and blame
How unhealed stress and over-functioning show up in leadership
The lasting impact of being led in ways that don’t feel safe
Why awareness is the first step toward repair (not condemnation)
How leaders can heal even when apologies or closure aren’t possible
Why healing leadership requires space, gentleness, and community

A healing invitation

This episode also shares an invitation into 6 in 6, a six-week mastermind experience designed as a healing space for people who pour deeply into others - personally and professionally - and are ready to pour back into themselves.

6 in 6 is for anyone who:

Has experienced toxic leadership
Has found themselves leading from exhaustion or survival
Gives generously and is ready to reconnect with their own well-being
Desires reflection, grounding, and meaningful community

Over six weeks, participants gather in a supportive container to reflect, release old patterns, restore self-trust, and lead from a more resourced place.

✨ Registration for 6 in 6 is now open.
🪴 Learn more about 6 in 6 here

If this episode resonates and you’re craving a steady space for healing and reflection, you’re warmly invited to join 6 in 6 - or to reach out for one-on-one coaching support.

Reflection Question

What might change in your leadership - or your healing - if you led from care instead of criticism?

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 16 | Leadership in a Grieving Body

Cara Nance — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:01:00 -0500

What happens when you’re expected to lead - while your body is grieving?

In this tender episode of Tutum Talk, we explore what it means to lead through loss - whether you’re grieving a person, a dream, a role, or a version of yourself that no longer exists. This conversation gently challenges the myth that strong leadership requires emotional distance, and instead honors the truth that real leaders feel.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen to your body, and lead with honesty, compassion, and care - especially in seasons when life feels heavy. If you’re navigating leadership while grieving, you are not alone. And you are not doing it wrong.

Grief doesn’t pause just because leadership responsibilities continue.

In Ep 16: Leadership in a Grieving Body, Cara speaks directly to leaders who are showing up every day - making decisions, supporting others, holding it together - while quietly carrying loss beneath the surface.

This episode creates space for the kinds of grief that often go unnamed in leadership:

Grieving a loved one
Grieving a dream that didn’t unfold
Grieving a role, identity, or season of life
Grieving the version of yourself who once had more energy, certainty, or ease

You’ll hear why grief isn’t a leadership failure - but a human response - and how unacknowledged grief can show up as exhaustion, irritability, numbness, or disconnection.

Cara explores:

Why leaders are often praised for “pushing through” grief - and the cost of that expectation
How grief lives in the body, not just the mind
What leadership can look like when capacity has shifted
Why slowing down, setting boundaries, and choosing presence are acts of strength
How leading with honesty during grief builds psychological safety and trust

This episode also includes gentle reflection questions to help you tune into what your body may be asking for - without judgment or urgency.

If you are leading while grieving, this episode is here to remind you:
You are not broken.
You are not behind.
You are adapting to life as it is - with courage and care.

✨ If this episode resonates and you’d like support navigating leadership during a tender season, Cara offers one-on-one leadership coaching rooted in compassion, clarity, and sustainability. You’re warmly invited to reach out. Schedule time to explore coaching options here.

Thank you for being here - and for leading with your whole self.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 15 | Rest Is Recovery - and Leadership

Cara Nance — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:01:00 -0500

In a culture that praises hustle, rest can feel like rebellion. But burnout isn’t a badge of honor—and exhaustion is not proof of commitment.

In this episode of Tutum Talk, we explore why rest isn’t something leaders earn after everything is finished—it’s a foundational leadership practice. We talk about how chronic overwork impacts presence, decision-making, and psychological safety, and why rested leaders create healthier, more connected teams.

This is a gentle invitation to slow down, listen inward, and reclaim rest as a form of responsibility—not retreat. Because when leaders recover, clarity returns. And when leaders rest, cultures begin to heal.

If leadership has felt heavy, lonely, or draining lately, this episode is for you. You’re not alone—and there is another way to lead.

Show Notes

Rest is often framed as optional. Extra. Indulgent.
Especially for leaders who care deeply and feel responsible for holding everything together.

In this episode, Cara explores the quiet cost of leading without recovery—and why rest is not a reward for finishing, but a requirement for leading well.

Together, we reflect on:

Why hustle culture makes rest feel unsafe for leaders
How burnout subtly erodes leadership presence and connection
The role of the nervous system in effective leadership
Why regulation—and dysregulation—are contagious on teams
How rested leaders foster psychological safety and trust
Small, sustainable ways to begin recovering without stepping away from leadership

This episode is especially for leaders who:

Feel pressure to always be “on”
Struggle with guilt when they slow down
Notice themselves leading from survival mode
Want to model healthier, more human leadership

Reflection Questions from the Episode:

Where has rest felt unsafe in your leadership?
What are you afraid might happen if you slowed down?
What has already happened by pushing through for too long?
Who are you as a leader when you’re rested—even just a little more than usual?

Rest isn’t quitting.
It’s regulating.
It’s repairing.
And it’s one of the most powerful leadership tools you have.

If this episode resonated and you’re craving support in reclaiming your energy, leading without burnout, or creating a culture rooted in trust and psychological safety, I’d be honored to support you through one-on-one leadership coaching.

You don’t have to wait until you’re exhausted to ask for support.
Rest can begin now. Schedule time with me here.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 14 | The Cost of Not Feeling Safe at Work

Cara Nance — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:01:00 -0500

Psychological safety isn’t a buzzword — it’s the foundation of trust, connection, and sustainable leadership.

When people don’t feel safe at work, the cost shows up quietly: in silence during meetings, in chronic stress, in second-guessing, and in talented people slowly pulling away. Leaders feel it too — carrying more than their share, avoiding vulnerability, and navigating decisions from a place of self-protection rather than clarity.

In this New Year’s Day episode of Tutum Talk, Cara explores what psychological safety really is, how its absence impacts individuals and teams, and how leaders can begin rebuilding safety — starting with themselves.

You’re also invited into a reflective practice for times of adversity: instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?” — gently asking, “What is this here to teach me?”

This episode is a grounded, compassionate starting point for leaders who want to enter the new year with more honesty, presence, and care — for themselves and the people they lead.

In this episode, we explore:

What psychological safety truly means (and what it doesn’t)
How lack of safety shows up in the body, behavior, and culture
The hidden costs of unsafety for both leaders and teams
Why silence, over-functioning, and disengagement are often signs of fear — not apathy
A powerful reflection practice for navigating adversity with curiosity instead of self-blame
Small, everyday ways leaders can begin rebuilding safety and trust
Why safety isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence and repair

Reflection questions to carry into the new year:

Where do I feel safe at work — and where do I find myself bracing?
What has the absence of safety been teaching me?
What is one small way I can model psychological safety this year — for myself or my team?

A gentle invitation:
If this episode resonates — if you’re realizing you’ve been leading while feeling unsafe, or carrying the emotional weight of a culture that needs care — you don’t have to do that alone.

You’re invited to click the “Let’s Connect” button on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule one-on-one coaching. It would be an honor to support you as you build leadership rooted in clarity, trust, and connection.

Thank you for listening.
Thank you for your leadership.
And thank you for choosing reflection as you begin this new year.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 13 | You Don’t Have to Have All the Answers

Cara Nance — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 04:01:00 -0500

You’re allowed to say, “I don’t know… yet.”

In this Christmas Day episode of Tutum Talk, Cara gently challenges one of the most exhausting leadership myths: that credibility comes from having all the answers. Instead, we explore how vulnerability builds trust, how asking thoughtful questions can be more powerful than certainty, and why releasing the pressure to “know” can create deeper connection with yourself and the people you lead.

Drawing inspiration from A Course in Miracles, which teaches that Love is the only true reality and that Christmas is a sacred invitation to remember and live that truth, this episode invites leaders to soften, slow down, and lead from presence rather than perfection.

If leadership has felt heavy, uncertain, or lonely lately, this episode is a reminder: you don’t have to figure it all out alone - and you don’t have to have it all figured out at all.

Leadership often comes with an unspoken expectation: know the answers, be certain, don’t waver.
But what if that pressure is doing more harm than good?

In this reflective, Christmas Day conversation, Cara explores how grounded honesty, curiosity, and love create stronger leadership than certainty ever could.

In this episode, we explore:

Why saying “I don’t know… yet” can actually strengthen your credibility
How vulnerability builds trust without oversharing or self-doubt
The difference between confidence and control in leadership
Why asking the right questions can be more impactful than providing quick answers
A Christmas reflection inspired by A Course in Miracles: Love as the foundation of leadership
How releasing the need to have everything figured out creates psychological safety and connection

This episode is especially for leaders who:

Feel pressure to always be the steady one
Are navigating uncertainty or transition
Want to lead with authenticity, not performance
Are craving a calmer, more compassionate way forward

As always, Tutum Talk is a space to breathe, reflect, and remember - you are not alone in this work, and you are not doing it wrong.

✨ If this episode resonates, you’re warmly invited to connect with Cara one-on-one. Click the “Let’s Connect” button on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule time for individual leadership coaching and support.

Wishing you a Christmas rooted in love, presence, and belonging - wherever you are listening from.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 12 | Boundaries Are a Form of Care

Cara Nance — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:01:00 -0500

In this episode, Cara reflects on the quiet truth many leaders carry: caring deeply doesn’t mean carrying everything.

Boundaries are often mistaken for being cold or unkind, especially for leaders who value connection, psychological safety, and trust. But without boundaries, burnout grows, clarity fades, and teams struggle to build confidence and ownership.

This episode explores how boundaries:

Protect your energy without disconnecting you from your people
Create clarity that builds trust and psychological safety
Help teams grow confidence instead of dependence
Support sustainable, grounded leadership

You’ll also hear a gentle reminder that over-functioning isn’t generosity - it’s a signal that something in the system needs care.

Whether you’re navigating leadership fatigue, decision bottlenecks, or the pressure to always be available, this episode offers a compassionate reframe: boundaries are not rejection - they are protection.

Cara closes with gratitude for listeners, warm Chanukah wishes, and an open invitation to connect for additional support.

Reflective Questions from This Episode

Where am I saying yes out of fear instead of alignment?
What boundary would support my leadership right now?
What might shift if clarity replaced overextension?

Let’s Connect

If this episode resonates and you’d like support setting clear, compassionate boundaries in your leadership, you’re invited to connect with Cara one-on-one.

Click the “Let’s Connect” button on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule time together. You don’t have to navigate leadership alone.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 11 | Over-Functioning Isn’t Sustainable — or Noble

Cara Nance — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 04:01:00 -0500

Being the one who “always steps up” may look like leadership on the surface - but when it’s rooted in fear, urgency, or over-responsibility, it comes with a cost. In this episode, Cara gently unpacks the hidden pattern of over-functioning and offers a grounded path back to clarity, shared ownership, and sustainable leadership.

If you’ve been carrying more than your share - quietly, automatically, and often without acknowledgment - this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we explore:

What over-functioning actually is - and why high-capacity leaders fall into it
The hidden emotional and systemic roots of over-responsibility
How over-functioning affects team trust, growth, and collaboration
The personal cost: burnout, resentment, loss of clarity, and constant urgency
Small, sustainable ways to step back without stepping away
How shared leadership creates stronger teams - and healthier leaders

This episode is especially for leaders who:

Are tired from being “the reliable one”
Struggle to delegate without guilt
Carry more than their share at work or at home
Worry that everything depends on them
Feel guilty even thinking about letting go
Know something has to change, but don’t know how to begin

Key takeaways:

Over-functioning may feel noble, but it’s not sustainable
Being needed is not the same as being valued
Leadership rooted in fear or urgency isn’t leadership - it’s survival
Shared clarity and shared ownership are essential for team growth
You deserve a leadership experience that doesn’t drain you

If this episode felt familiar or touched something tender, you’re not alone. Many leaders carry quiet emotional weight behind the scenes. If you’re ready to shift these patterns in yourself or your team, click the “Let’s Connect” button on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule time with Cara for one-on-one coaching.

You don’t have to lead from exhaustion. Support is here.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 10 | Calm is Contagious

Cara Nance — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 04:01:00 -0500

In this episode:
Cara explores the power of grounded leadership and how calm can become an anchor for teams experiencing stress, uncertainty, or overwhelm. Through reflection, practical examples, and actionable tools, this conversation helps leaders reclaim their presence and step into steady, emotionally intelligent leadership.

We cover:
• The myth that loud or high-energy leaders are “stronger” leaders
• Why grounded calm is a strategic advantage in today’s workplace
• What calm looks like in real, everyday leadership moments
• The inner work required to cultivate calm from the inside out
• How to respond when calm feels inaccessible or out of reach
• The ripple effect calm has on team culture and psychological safety
• A reflection moment to help you identify where calm is most needed in your leadership

This episode is for you if:
• You’ve been told you’re “too quiet” or “too calm”
• You often feel responsible for regulating the room
• You’re tired of absorbing everyone else’s urgency
• You want to lead with more clarity, steadiness, and emotional stability
• You’re ready to strengthen your grounded presence as a leader

If this episode spoke to you, I’d love to support you more personally.
👉 Click “Let’s Connect” on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule 1:1 coaching support - especially if you’re craving more calm, clarity, or confidence in your leadership journey.

Thank you for listening.
Your presence here matters.
Your calm is needed.
And you’re not leading alone - you have community here.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 9 | Relearning How to Trust Yourself

Cara Nance — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 04:01:00 -0500

Self-trust isn’t something you lose overnight. It thins slowly, softened by pressure, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and the weight of being responsible for others. But your inner voice - the one that used to feel clear and steady - hasn’t disappeared. It’s waiting for you to return to it.

In this heartfelt Thanksgiving episode, Cara explores what happens when leaders disconnect from their instincts, how to recognize the moments where self-trust is missing, and the small, meaningful steps that bring you back to your own grounded knowing.

Whether today feels joyful, complicated, or lonely, this episode offers a warm reminder: you’re not behind - you’re becoming. And you don’t have to walk that path alone.

In this episode, we explore:

How self-trust quietly erodes for heart-led leaders
Why environments and expectations can drown out your inner voice
The difference between a pause rooted in clarity vs. fear
The three everyday moments that reveal whether you’re trusting yourself
How your instincts and strengths work together as a reliable internal compass
Five practical ways to rebuild self-trust through micro-bravery, alignment, and truth-telling
A Thanksgiving reflection to help you honor where you’ve been and where you’re becoming

Who this episode is for:

Leaders who feel unsure, overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or disconnected from their own intuition - especially during a holiday season that can amplify loneliness, expectations, and invisible emotional labor.

A gentle reminder:

The holidays can feel lonely - even for leaders. If this episode stirred something in you, or if you’re realizing how much you’ve been holding quietly: You don’t have to hold it alone.
Click the “Let’s Connect” button on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule a 1:1 coaching conversation with Cara.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 8 | What If You’re Not the Problem - You’re the Pattern-Breaker?

Cara Nance — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 04:01:00 -0500

What if the heaviness you’re feeling isn’t a sign that you’re failing - but a sign that you’re healing something much bigger than you? In this episode, we explore the truth most heart-led leaders have never been told: discomfort is often evidence of transformation, not inadequacy.

If you’ve been questioning yourself, carrying inherited dysfunction, or wondering why your leadership feels so exhausting, this conversation will help you reframe what resistance really means. You may not be the cause of the struggle… you may be the one breaking the cycle.

In this episode, we explore:

Why reflective, emotionally intelligent leaders are quick to blame themselves
How organizational resistance can actually be a sign of healthy transformation
The difference between being “the problem” and being “the pattern-breaker”
Signs you’re carrying weight that was never yours to hold
Why discomfort often shows up when you’re healing inherited dysfunction
How self-awareness, boundaries, and inner work reshape the systems around you
A compassionate reframe for leaders who feel alone in their struggle

This episode is for you if:

You’re tired, stretched thin, or carrying more emotional labor than feels fair
You’re questioning your leadership, your decisions, or your impact
You inherited a team, culture, or system that wasn’t built with clarity
You’re trying to shift old patterns, even when it feels uncomfortable
You’ve been wondering, quietly, “Is it me?”

Key takeaway:
You’re not failing. You’re evolving.
And sometimes the person who feels the most pressure is the one doing the most healing.

If this message resonates with your heart or your leadership journey, I’d love to support you.
Click the “Let’s Connect” button here or on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule a one-on-one conversation with me. Sometimes the next step isn’t pushing through - it’s receiving support.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 7 | Carrying What Was Never Yours to Hold

Cara Nance — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 04:01:00 -0500

Sometimes leadership asks more of you than you ever signed up for.
You don’t just inherit a title - you inherit unspoken expectations, emotional labor, and systems that were never yours to fix alone.

In this grounding, compassionate episode, Cara explores the invisible weight leaders carry and why so many heart-led leaders quietly blame themselves for burdens that don’t belong to them. Through reflection, honesty, and gentle release, this episode invites you to finally set down what’s not yours… and reclaim the clarity and breath you deserve.

If you’ve been feeling tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix, this conversation will speak directly to your soul.

🌿 Show Notes

In This Episode, We Explore:

The hidden expectations leaders unintentionally inherit
Why emotional labor in leadership goes unacknowledged
How outdated systems become one person’s responsibility
The cost of over-functioning and carrying other people’s work
The difference between caring and carrying
How to identify what belongs to you - and what never did
A grounding moment to release what’s been weighing you down

This episode is for leaders who feel:

Overwhelmed by inherited dysfunction
Responsible for everyone’s feelings or morale
Pulled into roles they never agreed to
Tired from carrying the emotional climate of the team
Unsure how to put something down without letting people down

If this episode stirred something in you, or if you recognized patterns you’ve been carrying alone, I’d be honored to support you more directly. Click the “Let’s Connect” button on the Tutum Leadership Coaching website to schedule a 1:1 conversation so we can explore what you’re holding - and what you can finally put down.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 6 | The Power of Quiet Community

Cara Nance — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:04:50 -0500

You’re not the only one lying awake wondering if your decisions are helping or hurting.

This episode is a love letter to the hidden network of heart-led leaders doing the work behind the scenes - the ones whose leadership is steady, grounded, and deeply felt even when it’s not loud.

Cara invites you to explore the power of quiet community: the invisible web of influence built through presence, not performance. Together, we’ll unpack what it means to lead with calm, build trust in uncertain times, and create cultures of psychological safety where people feel seen and supported.

You’ll be reminded that quiet doesn’t mean small - it means intentional. And that your leadership, even when unseen, is shaping lives more than you know.

If you’re ready to lead with more clarity, compassion, and confidence, visit TutumLeadershipCoaching.com and click “Let’s Connect” to schedule a conversation with Cara. You don’t have to lead alone - and you don’t have to lead loud to make an impact.

💭 Reflection Prompts for Listeners

Who in your world embodies quiet leadership? What can you learn from the way they move through challenge?
When have you underestimated your own influence because it didn’t look “loud enough”?
How might you honor your quiet leadership this week—through rest, boundaries, or a small act of connection?

🔗 Connect with Cara

Website: www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caranance
Instagram: @tutumleadershipcoaching

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 5 | The Myth of the Natural Leader

Cara Nance — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 11:46:34 -0500

Were you born to lead - or just the one who couldn’t walk away?

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Cara Nance challenges the myth that real leaders are “naturals” who never doubt, struggle, or fail. Together, we explore what it really means to lead from truth instead of performance - and why vulnerability isn’t weakness, but a living example of courage.

You’ll discover how authentic leadership invites trust, strengthens teams, and creates cultures where people feel safe to show up as their full selves.

Because the best leaders aren’t born - they’re becoming.

🎧 Tune in for a grounded conversation about the invisible labor of leadership, the power of authenticity, and how modeling vulnerability transforms teams from the inside out.

💬 Key Takeaways

Leadership isn’t about being natural - it’s about being authentic.
The emotional and invisible labor of leadership deserves to be recognized and honored.
Vulnerability is strength; it’s the foundation of psychological safety and trust.
Teams thrive when leaders model honesty, not perfection.
True leadership is less about control and more about connection.

🪞 Reflective Prompt for Listeners

Where in your leadership are you performing instead of connecting?
What might shift if you allowed your true self to take the lead?

💡 Shareable Quote

“Your team doesn’t need a superhero. They need a steady human - someone brave enough to lead with truth instead of perfection.” – Cara Nance

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another leader who might need this reminder: authenticity isn’t the opposite of strength - it is strength. To explore strengths-based leadership coaching or team retreats, visit tutumleadershipcoaching.com and click “Let’s Connect.”

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 4 | When Confidence Feels Far Away

Cara Nance — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:50:12 -0500

Every leader experiences moments when confidence feels far away - the pause before you speak, the hesitation before you act, the question that stirs up doubt. In this episode, Cara Nance unpacks what confidence really means in leadership, and how to rebuild it from the inside out.

Rather than chasing confidence as a fixed state, Cara invites you to see it as a relationship with yourself - one built through honesty, recovery, and trust.

Through reflective storytelling, gentle guidance, and a strengths-based lens, this episode offers a grounded path back to self-trust and presence in your leadership.

💡 In This Episode:

The Myth of Effortless Confidence - why no one actually feels 100% sure all the time
Small Brave Moments - how courage grows in quiet, everyday choices
Why Confidence Feels Unnatural at First - the stretch that signals growth, not failure
Trust Before Confidence - a reframe that changes everything
A Strengths-Based Approach - how knowing your CliftonStrengths® helps you lead like you

🪴 Reflection Prompt

“What’s one small, brave moment you’ve had this month - something you did even while you felt unsure?”

Confidence doesn’t always announce itself.
Sometimes it whispers: keep going.

🤝 Want to Go Deeper?

If this conversation resonated with you and you’d like more support in building confidence and clarity as a leader, click the “Let’s Connect” button at tutumleadershipcoaching.com to schedule time with Cara. Together, you’ll explore how to lead from your strengths - and trust yourself in the moments that matter most.

🔗 Connect with Cara

Website: tutumleadershipcoaching.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caranance
Coaching: Explore 1:1 and team coaching rooted in trust, clarity, and strengths-based leadership.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 3 | Influence Over Image

Cara Nance — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:28:37 -0500

What if leadership wasn’t about perfection - but about presence?

In this reflective episode, Cara invites you to release the pressure of performance and rediscover your natural influence. You’ll explore what happens when authenticity becomes your leadership strategy - and how your energy, tone, and self-trust shape every room you walk into.

Through real coaching stories and quiet moments of reflection, you’ll learn how to:

Recognize the “mask” of performance many leaders wear - and why it’s so draining
Build trust through honesty, not heroics
Bring presence (not perfection) into your next meeting or conversation
Create psychological safety by leading with authenticity and groundedness

Because when you lead from who you are, not who you think you should be - your influence becomes effortless.

✨ Notable Quotes:

“People can feel when you’re performing - but they can also feel when you’re real.”

“Influence isn’t built on image - it’s built on trust.”

“Your authenticity gives others permission to exhale.”

“Your presence is your power.”

🌿 Reflection Prompt:

Where in your leadership might you be performing instead of connecting?
What shifts when you let presence - not perfection - take the lead?

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

Gallup CliftonStrengths® framework (Name it. Claim it. Aim it.)
Tutum Leadership Coaching: www.tutumleadershipcoaching.com
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn

💛 If you enjoyed this episode:

Follow or subscribe to Tutum Talk for new episodes on authentic leadership and team connection.
Share this episode with someone learning to lead in real life - not the polished version, but the human one.
Leave a short review to help others discover Tutum Talk.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 2 | Leading without a map

Cara Nance — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:04:24 -0500

When you step into leadership without a roadmap, it’s easy to feel lost, lonely, and unsure if you’re doing it right.

In this episode of Tutum Talk, Gallup-Certified Coach and founder of Tutum Leadership Coaching, Cara Nance, explores what it means to lead without a clear path - and how to find your footing when you’ve been handed responsibility without real preparation.

You’ll learn why so many new and seasoned leaders alike feel stuck in survival mode, and how unclear expectations and inherited dysfunction quietly drain trust and morale. Cara shares real stories, reflective questions, and practical ways to begin leading with more presence and less pressure - even when you don’t have all the answers.

💭 In this episode, you’ll hear:

The hidden emotional cost of unclear expectations
Why “readiness” is a myth - and how real growth happens in motion
How to rebuild trust and calm by leading with curiosity, not control
Three reflective questions to help you realign your leadership journey

Whether you’re a new leader learning as you go, or a seasoned one rebuilding after burnout, this episode is your reminder:
You don’t need the whole map to lead well - just the courage to take the next right step.

If this episode resonates with you, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review Tutum Talk wherever you listen.
It helps more leaders find this community - and reminds them they’re not alone on the journey.

Visit tutumleadershipcoaching.com to learn more about leadership coaching, retreats, and team experiences that bring calm to chaos and connection to teams.

About Tutum Talk:

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Ep 1 | You're Not Broken - You're Becoming

Cara Nance — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 08:22:18 -0500

Welcome to the first full episode of Tutum Talk with Cara Nance - a space for reflective leaders who care deeply, lead with heart, and sometimes wonder if they’re doing it right.

In “You’re Not Broken - You’re Becoming,” Cara explores the quiet ache of leadership doubt - that moment when you question your confidence or your capacity - and reframes it as an essential part of your growth.

You’ll learn how to:

Recognize doubt as feedback, not failure.
Reconnect with yourself in seasons of uncertainty.
Replace perfectionism with presence.
Lead from wholeness instead of depletion.
Trust the process of becoming - even when it feels messy.

This episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and remember that every leader is a work in progress - and that your uncertainty might actually be proof of your evolution.

Reflection Question:

Where in your leadership are you being invited to become right now?

💬 Key Takeaways

Doubt isn’t disconnection - it’s direction.
Growth often feels like discomfort before it feels like clarity.
Real leadership isn’t about having it all together - it’s about staying open, curious, and grounded through change.
You can’t pour from an empty well. Leading yourself first creates the trust and stability your team needs.

🔗 Connect with Cara

🌐 TutumLeadershipCoaching.com
💌 Subscribe to the Tutum Ttimes newsletter for monthly reflections and leadership tools.
📸 Follow on LinkedIn
and Instagram (@tutumleadershipcoaching)
🎧 Subscribe to Tutum Talk wherever you listen to podcasts.

About Tutum Talk:

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Trailer

Cara Nance — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:10:48 -0500

What if leadership doesn’t start with a title… but with a question?

In this trailer episode, Cara Nance - leadership coach, former educator, and founder of Tutum Leadership Coaching - introduces the heart behind Tutum Talk.

You’ll hear why this podcast was born, what “leadership is influence” truly means, and how real leadership begins not in the boardroom… but in the mirror.

Through personal story, gentle truth-telling, and a calm invitation to reconnect with your own power, Cara invites you into a new kind of leadership - one rooted in presence, healing, and humanity.

Whether you’re burned out, stepping into new responsibility, or simply craving space to reflect… you belong here.

Because together, we’re building a world where leadership feels a little more human… and a lot more tūtum.

🔑 In This Episode

Why influence - not title - defines true leadership
How Cara’s 20+ year career in education led to coaching
The role of healing in self-leadership
Why your leadership journey must start with knowing (and nourishing) yourself
The meaning behind the name Tutum
An invitation to slow down, reflect, and lead from a deeper place

🧭 Take What You Need

This episode is for you if:

You’ve been feeling stretched thin or quietly doubting your leadership
You believe in growth but crave gentleness along the way
You want to lead others without losing yourself in the process
You know you have influence… and want to use it with intention

💌 Stay Connected

If this message resonates with you, let’s stay in the conversation.
👉 Subscribe, rate, and follow Tutum Talk wherever you listen.
✨ You can also visit TutumLeadershipCoaching.com
and click Let’s Connect to schedule a conversation with Cara.

About Tutum Talk:

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