Building Leadership Community
Are You Feeling Lonely at the Top? As leaders, we often find ourselves isolated, carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. The pressure to perform, make tough decisions, and always be “on” can be overwhelming. It can feel like there’s no one to turn to, no one who truly understands the challenges we face. But what if we told you it doesn't have to be this way? Introducing the Building Leadership Community podcast, hosted by Coach Dora Mendez. Coach Dora understands the unique struggles leaders face. She knows that, while it might feel like you're alone, you’re not. That's why she's created a space for leaders to connect, learn, and grow together. Authenticity is your superpower. On this podcast, you’ll discover the power of vulnerability and authenticity. You’ll learn how to embrace your true self and build genuine connections with others. You’ll be inspired to step into your leadership potential and create a positive impact on your team and your community. Get ready to be inspired. The Building Leadership Community podcast is your go-to resource for practical insights, inspiring stories from our guests, and actionable steps to advance your inclusive leadership journey.
Episodes
An Encore Presentation | Building Leadership Community Podcast
Workplace wellness is often treated as something optional until burnout forces people and organizations to respond.
In this special Encore Presentation, Coach Dora Mendez revisits one of her favorite conversations from Season 3 with nonprofit leader Stephan Spilkowitz. Together, they explore why caring for people begins with caring for the people who lead them.
In this con...
It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be. In this behind-the-scenes episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez and podcast producer Dylan Rogers break down the practical steps to taking your leadership story and turning it into a high-impact podcast. From defining your show’s core mission to selecting beginner-friendly gear, leveraging AI workflows, and deciding between DIY or done-for-you produ...
Leadership can sometimes feel isolating, but it doesn't have to be. In this opening episode of the season, Coach Dora Mendez welcomes author, activist, and leader Zenaida Mendez for an enriching conversation on teamwork, global perspectives, and community building. Drawing parallels between world-class sportsmanship and grassroots organizing, Zenaida shares how honoring individual talents and fostering mutual care creates unstoppab...
How do you build a high-performing team when everyone brings different strengths, backgrounds, and lived experiences? ⚽✨
In this special bonus mini-episode of the Building Leadership Community podcast, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with her sister, fight and intimacy director Rocío Mendez, to unpack the ultimate leadership lessons from the FIFA World Cup.
Using the global stage of the World Cup as a starting point, this warm and ground...
As we reach the midpoint of the year, Coach Dora Mendez and producer Dylan K. Rogers pause to reflect on the conversations, leadership lessons, and shared experiences that shaped Season 3 of the Building Leadership Community Podcast.
This special live episode celebrates a season of meaningful dialogue with nonprofit executives, educators, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, community advocates, authors, and corporate changemakers. Whil...
Championships are rarely won by talent alone—they require communication, trust, and shared vision. In this encore archive episode from Season 2, Coach Dora Mendez revisits an essential conversation with Angela R. Lewis, former pro basketball player, coach, author, and Head of Operations at Speaker Hub. This episode unpacks what it truly means to navigate professional transitions, manage cross-border teams, and combat the isol...
Leadership Lessons from the FIFA World Cup | Hope, Teamwork, Resilience & Human Connection
Welcome back to the Building Leadership Community Podcast. I'm your host, Coach Dora Mendez.
This is Part Two of our special World Cup-inspired series exploring how global events bring people together across cultures, generations, and communities.
In this episode, we reconnect with two returning Building Leadership Community guests,...
When the biggest sporting event on Earth comes to our backyard, it cracks open new perspectives on how we connect and lead. In this special episode of the Building Leadership Community Podcast, Coach Dora Mendez gathers her family to explore the beautiful, complicated diversity of the World Cup. Featuring a heartfelt interview between her children , practical advice on collaboration and self-care from fight and intimacy director Ro...
When we discuss leadership, corporate environments tend to direct our attention entirely toward bottom-line outcomes, execution, and performance matrices. But what happens when the standards for how a professional is "supposed" to look and communicate end up fracturing their identity?
In this encore presentation, Coach Dora Mendez welcomes public speaking coach Sammie Walker Herrera to look closely at the personal transformations un...
Why Stephen Colbert's Final Episode Matters to Leaders Everywhere
On Thursday, May 21st, 2026, Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of The Late Show, marking the end of an 11-year tenure characterized by unmistakable moral clarity, sharp humor, and public resilience. In this special, reflective episode of Building Leadership Community, host Coach Dora Mendez brings her husband and co-producer, Dylan Rogers, out from behi...
What does leadership look like when it’s rooted in service, community, and lived experience?
In this special encore episode honoring AAPI Heritage Month, Coach Dora Mendez welcomes Bora Lee, Chief of Staff at the Fifth Avenue Committee in Brooklyn, New York.
Bora reflects on growing up as the child of Korean immigrant...
Some conversations cannot fit neatly inside a traditional interview format.
In this special episode of Building Leadership Community Podcast, Coach Dora Mendez speaks directly to the community about leadership, accountability, and the workplace conversations too many organizations stil...
n this special encore presentation of Building Leadership Community Podcast, Coach Dora Mendez welcomes back activist, advocate, and author Zenaida Mendez for a deeply personal conversation about migration, leadership, identity, and community.
Zenaida reflects on arriving in New York as a teenager, the political realities that shaped her family’s migration...
Show Notes
This episode is different in the best way.
In honor of Take Your Children to Work Day, Coach Dora invites her children to step into the role of co-hosts. What unfolds is a conversation that moves beyond leadership theory and into something more grounded, personal, and real.
They ask about how the podcast is built...
Show Notes:
This encore presentation of one of our most requested episodes takes you behind the scenes of how Building Leadership Community is created.
Coach Dora Mendez is joined by producer Dylan Rogers to walk through the real systems behind launching a podcast—from definin...
In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez welcomes Dr. Lori Marie Huertas—an organizational leader, educator, and advocate for workplace cultures where belonging and innovation thrive.
Together, they explore people-centered leadership as both a philosoph...
In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, founder of Equity Warrior Strategies, LLC, to explore what it truly means to lead with purpose in today’s complex systems.
Jonathan shares his journey from nonprofit fundraising to systems-level leadership, including raising over $14 million, coaching...
In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Nikki Groom, CEO and founder of Raised Voices, a personal brand strategy firm dedicated to helping leaders articulate their expertise and amplify their impact.
Nikki shares her journey from growing up in a working-class town in England to building a business that helps speakers, e...
What does it take to rebuild your life, career, and leadership identity from scratch?
In this episode of the Building Leadership Community Podcast, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Anisha Jennings, a systems administrator, entrepreneur, and founder of Jennings Tech Corner, to explore what it means to lead through transition and uncertainty.
Read more
In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez speaks with Jean Westrick, CEO of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), about leading at the intersection of technology and equity.
Jean shares her journey in philanthropy, her approach to mission-driven lea...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.