Taking Back Monday

I've lived by "be all in or be all out" for years. Then I realized I was the half-in person I couldn't stand.

In this micro episode, I'm reflecting on my recent conversation with Rachel Burr, author of "Butterfly Goo," and something she said that stopped me mid-sentence: "When we choose to stay stuck, it is still a choice."

I'm unpacking what that forced me to confront. Why comfort zo...

This episode goes deep into what it takes to grow as a leader. Alyssa talks with Aslak de Silva about how lessons from martial arts can shape the way we lead, recover, and build trust with our teams. Aslak shares how he went from world champion fighter to CEO and why the habits he built in the dojo still drive his success today.

This is a great listen if you want to lead with intention, handle pressure with more control, and build i...

Alyssa and Rachel Burr talk about what real transformation looks like, far beyond the feel good quotes online. Rachel shares the story behind her book Butterfly Goo and explains why change often starts the moment you admit you are on the wrong path. This episode is worth a listen if you feel stuck, half committed, or unsure how to take the first step toward something new.

Key takeaways

1. Transformation is messy, but the mess is par...

When Mireia became a mother, everything changed. What started as a struggle to balance work and family became the spark for an entirely new path—one built around authenticity, courage, and redefining what “having it all” really means.

In this conversation, Alyssa and Mireia talk about the moment when life forces you to pause and ask, is this really what I want? They share honest stories about identity, motherhood, and how to rebuild...

When your high school coach tries to sum you up in a few words, "Alyssa likes to talk," it can feel like a punchline. But what if that label was actually the throughline?

In this Field Note, Alyssa shares the story behind her umbrella brand, Alyssa Likes to Talk - a home for every conversation, project, and lesson that’s shaped how she builds, leads, and learns.

She reflects on:

•  The moment “Alyssa likes to talk” stopped...

What happens when the thing you’ve been chasing suddenly doesn’t feel worth it anymore?

In this conversation, Alyssa Nolte and Eric Nehrlich unpack the pressure to achieve constantly and the freedom that comes from saying no. Eric shares the story of how working 100-hour weeks at Google led to a total collapse and a life-changing realization: success means nothing if it costs your health, joy, and relationships. Alyssa reflects on h...

When Alyssa sat down with Dr. Munira Zahabi, known as The Niche Navigator, the conversation quickly turned to one of the hardest lessons for any entrepreneur - you can’t be everything to everyone.

Munira shares how her own career twists led her to help others uncover their unique “nucleus” - the core of who they are and what they’re meant to do. Together, Alyssa and Munira unpack how knowing your niche doesn’t limit you; it sets you...

In this episode, Alyssa sits down with Dr. Dee Trudeau Poskas to talk about how understanding your triggers can change the way you lead. They explore what happens in your brain when you’re under stress, how language shapes influence, and why self-awareness is the secret to better communication at work.

It’s a conversation about the science behind calm, confident leadership and how small language shifts can transform your team cultur...

When Alan Lazaros says passion isn’t enough, he means it. In this conversation, Alyssa and Alan dive deep into what it really takes to live a meaningful life, not just a busy or successful one. From near-death experiences to redefining what work should look like, Alan shares how he turned pain into purpose and why the key to fulfillment isn’t chasing what you love... it’s building a life around meaning.

If you’ve ever wondered how t...

In this episode, Alyssa sits down with Angie Callen, a self-described “recovering engineer who loves people,” to talk about the pressure we all feel to define ourselves by what we do instead of who we are. Angie shares how she walked away from a traditional career path to build a life and business that align with her real values. Together, they unpack what authenticity actually means and why it’s okay to admit that your priorities ...

What if leadership isn’t something you’re born with? In this episode, Alyssa sits down with Jen Silva Boucher to explore why leadership is a skill you can learn, practice, and grow.

Jen shares her own origin story of moving from individual contributor to people leader, the struggles of being a first-time manager, and how she built For the Middle Academy to support others in the same place. Alyssa and Jen talk openly about the mindse...

What happens when the dream career you built turns into the very thing that drains your joy? In this episode, Alyssa talks with Renee Murphy about leaving behind a successful career in fashion to find peace, purpose, and a new passion in science and sustainability.

This is a powerful conversation about knowing when it’s time to let go, how to tell the difference between excitement and peace, and why creativity doesn’t disappear just...

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa sits down with Lori Baker to talk about language, belonging, and the hidden barriers people face at work. Lori went from engineer to English teacher for international professionals, and her story shows how much language shapes confidence and inclusion.

This conversation is a reminder that work isn’t just about skills on paper. It’s about how we communicate, connect, and make sp...

Alyssa sits down with Dr. Apollo Emeka for a powerful conversation about the choices that shape our lives. Apollo shares his journey from high school dropout to Green Beret, FBI agent, entrepreneur, and coach. Together, they explore why big decisions (not habits) are the true turning points. This episode will challenge how you think about discipline, shortcuts, and creating the life you want.

Why listen?
If you’ve ever felt stu...

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa sits down with Dr. Erin Wilson, co-author of Strategic Rest in Leadership. Together they dive into why rest isn’t a luxury...it’s a leadership strategy. From Erin’s own story of burnout to her framework for “strategic rest,” this conversation challenges the way you think about hustle culture, success, and what it means to truly show up as your best self.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure ...

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Dr. Kimberly Harden to explore a hard truth: too many leaders build for their own comfort instead of building real connection. Kimberly shares her experiences in corporate America, the moments that pushed her to write Cultural Intelligence: A Blueprint for 21st Century Leadership, and why servant leadership is more important than ever. Together, Alyssa and Kimb...

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Kirstin Carey to explore what happens when your strength becomes your biggest obstacle. From growing up in a “walk it off” culture to burning out while helping others heal, Kirstin shares how her identity as a high performer masked deeper patterns of overgiving, undercharging, and self-sacrifice.

Alyssa and Kirstin talk about what it means to lead, price, a...

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Christelle Biiga - speaker, coach, and founder of Exposure Maven - to explore the unexpected power of visibility and the journey that led her to podcasting as a path to purpose.

Christelle shares her unbelievable origin story, from arriving in the U.S. without speaking English to being wrongly detained for nine months, and how that experience shaped her mission ...

In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Johanna Sanchez to talk about what it really means to build a business—and a life—on your own terms.

From working 70-hour weeks in child protection to building a six-figure business and still burning out, Johanna shares the pivotal moment that forced her to rethink everything. Together, Alyssa and Johanna explore how to set real boundaries, reject hustle culture, and...