Many high performers are so used to functioning under pressure that they no longer realize how much stress they’re carrying - until their body forces them to pay attention.

In this episode of Play It By Your Rules, I sit down with Dr. Lizette Warner - executive coach, keynote speaker, healthcare executive, and former Chief Science Officer - to explore the hidden cost of chronic stress in high performers.

After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, Lizette began examining not just the stress she felt in the moment - but the long-term, chronic stress running in the background of her life. That discovery became an obsession: why are smart, capable leaders so good at adapting to pressure… that they stop noticing the damage it causes?

This conversation dives into nervous systems, emotional awareness, chronic stress, and what Lizette calls “turning down the volume” — not to do less, but to increase capacity, clarity, and sustainable performance.

Because over-adaptation may look productive from the outside. Until the body starts setting boundaries for you.

• Why high performers often normalize unhealthy levels of stress
• How chronic stress quietly impacts focus, memory, emotions, and leadership
• The difference between hustle and true capacity
• Why regulated leaders create calmer, stronger teams
• How “closing loops” reduces cognitive load and nervous system overwhelm

• Audit your energy levels throughout the day - notice what drains or fuels you
• Build small “volume-down” rituals like walking, pausing, or resetting between meetings
• Close loops intentionally: clear tasks, notes, and mental tabs before moving on
• Stop confusing constant activation with high performance
• Prioritize capacity, not just productivity - sustainable energy changes everything

This episode is for high achievers, people pleasers, and leaders who are used to coping brilliantly - but are starting to wonder about the long-term cost of always pushing through.

Because leadership is about learning how to regulate, recover, and lead without losing yourself in the process.

🔗 Follow Dr. Lizette Warner on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizettewarner/

🧠 Subscribe to Lizette’s LinkedIn newsletter: Your Growth Down to a Science

🎤 Interested in Lizette’s “Turn Down the Volume” workshop or keynote work? Connect with her directly on LinkedIn.

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

What if leadership isn’t about having the right answers - but asking better questions?

In this episode of Play It By Your Rules, I sit down with entrepreneur, speaker and curiosity champion Tyler Chisholm to explore why curiosity may be one of the most underrated leadership skills of our time.

Tyler argues that the best leaders don’t perform certainty. They practice curiosity. And in a world shaped by uncertainty, rapid change, AI, and career reinvention, that may be a serious competitive advantage.

Together we explore how curiosity helps us challenge old conditioning, run courageous experiments, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively - including a powerful idea Tyler shares:

“The meaning of my communication is the result I get.”

In other words: communication isn’t what you intended. It’s what landed.

That insight opens up a radically more curious way of leading, listening, and speaking up.

This conversation is playful, practical, and surprisingly deep - moving from leadership behaviours and team dynamics into mindset, identity, and what it means to experiment your way into the next chapter, rather than trying to have it all figured out.

• Tyler’s three levels of curiosity: self, relational, and strategic
• Why the best leaders ask better questions instead of pretending to know
• How curiosity creates courage, psychological safety, and better communication
• Why experimentation often beats certainty in times of change
• How curiosity can turn career crossroads into possibility

• Run small curiosity experiments - ask more questions before chasing bigger answers
• Notice which “version of you” shows up - and choose consciously
• Use curiosity, not judgment, in tough conversations (“Tell me more…” is powerful)
• Create more space for ideas in teams - without attachment to who said what
• Treat your next chapter less like a decision to get right - and more like a series of experiments to explore

This episode is for leaders, high achievers, and anyone at Basecamp wondering what comes next - and sensing the answer may not lie in pushing harder, but in getting more curious.

Because courage doesn’t always begin with a leap. Sometimes it begins with a question.

🔗 Connect with Tyler and explore his work: https://www.tylerchisholm.com/

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

What if your problem isn’t your pitch - but your clarity?

In this episode of Play It By Your Rules, I sit down with speaker, coach, and former teacher Danny Brassell, who has built a highly successful speaking and coaching business after multiple career pivots - and one major life setback that changed everything.

From losing everything financially to rebuilding through speaking, Danny shares a simple but powerful shift: communication isn’t about impressing people - it’s about serving them.

Because before you say anything, you need to know: Who do you help? And what problem do you solve?

This is where many people get stuck. Instead of getting clear, they try to say more - listing experiences, achievements, and credentials - hoping something will land.

But without clarity, it doesn’t.

This conversation is practical, energising, and directly relevant for anyone navigating a career transition, preparing for interviews, or figuring out how to communicate their value in a way that actually connects.

• Why most people struggle with messaging - and why it’s not their pitch
• The “5 C’s” of a powerful message: clarity, connection, content, call to action, and close
• How to build trust quickly using RAP: relatable, authority, purpose
• Why sharing failures connects more than listing achievements
• How everyday stories create stronger impact than “impressive” ones

• Get clear before you communicate - clarity beats cleverness
• Stop selling yourself - focus on helping the other person
• Build a “story bank” from your everyday experiences
• Prioritise connection - people need to see themselves in you
• Practice deliberately - confidence comes from repetition

This episode is for anyone at Basecamp - successful, experienced, and now asking: How do I position myself for what’s next?

Because the goal isn’t to say more. It’s to say what matters - clearly.

🎁 Free Well-Crafted Story Guide (Danny’s framework to build powerful stories): https://freestoryguide.com

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

What if the reason you feel stuck or exhausted isn’t a lack of ambition — but a lack of alignment, recovery, and conscious thinking?

In this episode of Play It By Your Rules, I sit down with Dorota Kosiorek — AI startup leader, certified brain coach, and creator of Strategic Off-Season — to explore how high achievers can move beyond constant doing into more intentional, fulfilling ways of working and living.

Dorota operates in two worlds: leading high-performance teams in tech, while coaching ambitious professionals to rethink success, mindset, and energy. Her approach blends neuroscience, elite sports psychology, and real-world leadership — with a strong focus on something most high performers overlook: strategic rest.

This conversation dives into why so many successful people keep chasing “more” — and how to break that loop without losing your edge.

• Why high achievers lose sight of their “why” — and keep chasing more
• The hidden loop of performance, recognition, and burnout
• How subconscious patterns, self-talk, and confidence shape decisions
• Why boundaries are hard — and essential for sustainable success
• How to use AI intentionally without outsourcing your thinking

• Reconnect with your “why” — you may already have what you’re chasing
• Build awareness of patterns — change starts with noticing
• Set boundaries early — protect your time, energy, and focus
• Focus on discipline over motivation — consistency beats intensity
• Prioritise recovery and small mindset shifts (e.g. “I get to”, “yet”)

This episode is for high achievers, leaders, and ambitious professionals who are successful on paper — but want more clarity, energy, and fulfillment in how they work and live.

Because real performance isn’t about doing more. It’s about thinking better, choosing consciously, and knowing when to pause.

🔗 Follow Dorota Kosiorek on LinkedIn: https://dorotakosiorek.com/contact/#book-a-consultation

🧠 Take Dorota’s free self-assessment for high achievers (reflection across key areas): https://elite-mind-assessment-dk.lovable.app/

✍️ Read Strategic Off-Season on Substack: https://substack.com/@thestrategicoffseason

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

Many leaders spend years climbing the mountain of success.

They work hard, take on responsibility, and build careers that look impressive from the outside. But at some point, the pace becomes unsustainable. Energy drops, pressure builds, and something inside begins to question whether the current path still makes sense.

In this episode of Play It By Your Rules, Meggi speaks with Rachael Edmondson-Clarke, founder of ellevar, about the moment many high-performing leaders quietly reach - the moment when the body finally says “no.”

After years climbing the corporate ladder, Rachael experienced a sudden collapse that forced her to stop and reconsider how she was living and leading. What followed was not a dramatic career leap, but a deeper process of reflection, recalibration, and redefining what sustainable leadership really means.

Together they explore why so many experienced leaders ignore the warning signs for too long - and why the moment that feels like a breakdown can actually become the start of a more conscious next chapter.

• The moment Rachael’s body forced a pause after years of pushing through pressure and responsibility
• Why many high-performing leaders ignore early warning signs of burnout
• How external success can quietly disconnect us from our own needs and signals
• Why sustainable leadership starts with learning to lead ourselves first
• How moments of breakdown can become turning points for a more conscious way of working and leading

• Pay attention to early signals from your body and energy before they become crises
• Build pauses and reflection into your leadership practice
• Redefine success in a way that supports both impact and wellbeing

This episode is for leaders and high performers who have climbed far in their careers — and are beginning to question whether the pace, pressure, or expectations are still sustainable.

Because sometimes the moment that feels like a breakdown… is actually the beginning of a different way of leading.

🔗 Connect with Rachael Edmondson-Clarke on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-edmondson-clarke/

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

What if the real leadership crisis isn’t strategy - but consciousness?

In this episode of Play It By Your Rules, I sit down with executive coach and adventurer Martin Palethorpe to explore what happens when high achievement stops feeling meaningful.

At just 27, Martin hit what he calls an early midlife crisis. He was outperforming his peers, climbing fast in the tech world, earning well - and quietly feeling empty. Instead of pushing harder, he paused. What followed was a five-year reinvention that led him from corporate executive to conscious leadership coach, guiding leaders for the past 25 years.

This is a deep conversation that moves between boardrooms and inner worlds. We talk about conditioning, intuition, stress, ego, and even spirituality - alongside very real leadership pressures, performance demands, and health challenges. While these themes are often kept separate, this episode shows they belong together. Conscious leadership isn’t about choosing between results and reflection. It’s about integrating both.

Because leading well externally requires clarity internally.

• Why success can feel hollow - even when everything looks right on paper

• The difference between climbing the mountain because you want to - or because you think you should

• How hidden beliefs about achievement, money, and hard work shape our decisions

• Why midlife often becomes the moment of truth

• The role of retreats and intentional disconnection in breaking the hamster wheel

• Intuition vs. mental noise - and how to tune into deeper wisdom

• Why passion is not indulgent, but intelligent

• Conscious leadership and the ripple effect it creates in organizations

• Health, stress, and why addressing root causes matters

• Spirituality beyond religion - and why inner work is pragmatic, not “woo”

• Audit your “why” before chasing the next promotion
• Notice what consistently lights you up - energy is data
• Shift how you show up before you change what you do
• Build regular reflection into your leadership practice
• Address root causes - in stress, health, and performance

This episode is for leaders and high achievers who feel successful - but not fully alive - and sense there must be a deeper, more conscious way to lead without abandoning ambition.

Because conscious leadership isn’t softer. It’s braver.

Explore More:

🧭 Curious about your current leadership consciousness? Take Martin’s free Quality of Mind Indicator and reflect on where mental noise may be limiting clarity, energy, and impact.

🔗 Follow Martin Palethorpe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinpalethorpe/

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

What if exhaustion isn’t a sign you’re doing too much - but a sign you’re doing the wrong things?

In this episode of Play It By Your Rules, I sit down with career strategist and licensed therapist Rachel Spekman, founder of Made for More Coaching, to explore what happens when success on paper no longer feels aligned in real life.

After building a thriving career in the startup world, Rachel reached a moment many high-achieving professionals recognize: she had the title, the trajectory, and the credibility - but something felt off. Instead of continuing to climb, she made what she calls “the largest adult calculated risk” of her life. She stepped off the ladder, retrained, and intentionally redesigned her career around her values.

This conversation dives into what career clarity requires at midlife - and why redefining success often takes more courage than chasing it.

We covered:

• Why midlife often triggers the quiet “Is this it?” moment
• The difference between refining, redefining, and restructuring your career
• The hidden cost of reputation fear in career transitions
• How to reverse engineer your ideal workday
• Why clarity alone isn’t enough - and where courage comes in
• What it means to design values-based, soul-aligned work

Practical Takeaways:

• Audit your current work - what energizes you and what drains you
• Experiment before making a radical move
• Redefine success based on alignment, not external validation
• Consider restructuring your work before abandoning your expertise

This episode is for leaders, high achievers, and midlife professionals who feel accomplished - but misaligned - and are ready to rethink the ladder without burning everything down.

Explore More: 🔗 Follow Rachel Speckman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelspekman/

🌱 Made for More Coaching: https://www.rachelspekman.com/

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

Playing it by your rules isn’t about getting your way at all costs. A mindful rebellion means recognising that our choices affect others - especially the people we love most.

Caring for aging parents is one of the most emotional, complex, and often unspoken challenges of midlife. In this deeply human episode of Play It by Your Rules, I sat down with gerontology expert, facilitator, and founder of Talk About Aging, Janice Goldmintz.

Drawing on both her academic background and her lived experience of supporting both parents through Alzheimer’s disease, Janice shares practical wisdom, compassionate insights, and grounded guidance for navigating aging, caregiving, and family dynamics - without losing yourself in the process.

🎧 In this episode, we explore:

• Why avoiding conversations about aging creates more stress later - and how to start them gently

• Early signs and “quiet red flags” adult children often miss

• How to approach tough topics like driving, autonomy, and end-of-life wishes without damaging relationships

• Why caregiving should never fall on one person alone - and how families can share the load

• How to care for aging parents and continue living your own life

Janice also shares simple, practical first steps - from normalising these conversations early to creating one central place for essential documents - that can make an enormous difference when life takes an unexpected turn.

✨ This episode is for anyone navigating midlife while supporting or worrying about the wellbeing of aging parents - or for those who want to be prepared before a crisis hits.

Because the goal isn’t perfection. It’s dignity, balance, and the highest quality of life - for everyone involved.

Your life. Your rules. For more freedom, flow, and fun.

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🌿 Join the Mindful Rebellion - let’s rewrite the success script. Keep your impact. Lose the exhaustion.

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