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The Path To Leadership

The Path To Leadership

By: Catalyst Development
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Leadership should not feel like a lecture. It should feel like a conversation you actually want to be part of.


Welcome to The Path to Leadership, where Dr. Katie Ervin and creative strategist Rhonda Jolyean Hale team up to bring you real talk, real tools, and real transformation. Think of it as your weekly coffee date where leadership development meets creativity, brain science, humor, and the beauty found in both breakthroughs and breakdowns.


Dr. Katie brings the research, the practicality, and her signature no-fluff honesty. Rhonda Jolyean brings the creativity, the reinvention energy, and a fresh perspective on how your brain, your story, and your environment shape who you are as a leader. Together, they explore what it takes to grow, adapt, inspire, and stay human in a world that never slows down.


If you are leading people, leading projects, leading at home, or simply leading your own next chapter, this podcast gives you the mindset and momentum to do it with clarity, courage, and joy.


Because leadership is not about being perfect. It is about showing up, getting curious, and choosing who you want to be today.


Connect with the hosts:

Dr. Katie Ervin
www.katieervin.com
www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/


Rhonda Jolyean Hale
www.jolyean.com
www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/

© 2026 The Path To Leadership
Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • What If Doubt Is Proof You Are Growing
    May 26 2026

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    Imposter syndrome has a sneaky way of showing up right when you are doing the work that matters most: presenting in a big meeting, taking a new role, leading a team through change, or simply being seen. We talk honestly about why that doubt does not automatically mean you are unqualified. Sometimes it is the signal that you are stretching, learning, and building a growth mindset. The goal is not to eliminate imposter syndrome forever, but to manage the negativity bias so it does not run your decisions or shrink your voice.

    We break down practical leadership tools you can use immediately: building a real support system and advisory group, “borrowing confidence” when you need it, and keeping an evidence list of wins and hard things you have already survived. We also challenge comparison, especially the trap of measuring your beginning against someone else’s polished middle, and we explain why asking questions is a strength that creates psychological safety. If you have ever felt pressure to perform rather than serve, we offer a cleaner focus: impact over image.

    Then we go deeper into nervous system regulation, because overwhelmed humans do not lead well. We share approachable ways to reset through creativity practices, journaling and reflection, aesthetic engagement, and making room for fun and pleasure without guilt. From there, we zoom out to the team level: how insecurity can look like disengagement, why belonging drives contribution, and how a feedback culture built on coaching helps confidence grow.

    If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a colleague who is stretching into something new, and leave a rating and review so more leaders can find the show. What triggers your imposter syndrome most right now?

    Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

    www.jolyean.com

    www.katieervin.com

    Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

    Order Dr. Katie's books:

    • 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
    • You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

    Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders


    Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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    40 mins
  • Stop Faking It And Start Learning It
    May 19 2026

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    You can be talented, prepared, and respected and still hear that inner voice whisper, “Do I belong here?” We get real about imposter syndrome in leadership, why it spikes during busy seasons and big transitions, and how it can distort the way we speak up, set boundaries, and show up for our teams.

    We unpack why “fake it till you make it” often backfires for leaders who care about authenticity, and we offer a better frame: learn it while you earn it. Drawing on neuroscience and lived experience, we talk about negativity bias, how the brain overestimates threats, and why uncertainty can feel like danger. We also look at perfectionism as a common signal, especially for high achievers, and why imposter feelings are not the same thing as incompetence.

    Comparison is a major accelerant, and social media makes it constant. We explore how other people’s wins can land in our nervous system like loss, why imposter syndrome can feel lonelier the higher you climb, and what leaders can do to change the culture. That includes psychological safety, honest feedback loops, and the kind of grounded vulnerability that builds trust and boosts engagement. You’ll also hear a powerful reminder to stop shrinking: sometimes your voice is inconvenient, and it still needs to be heard.

    If this resonates, share it with a leader who needs it, then subscribe, rate, and review the show so more people can find these conversations. What’s one moment when imposter syndrome shows up for you most?

    Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

    www.jolyean.com

    www.katieervin.com

    Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

    Order Dr. Katie's books:

    • 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
    • You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

    Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders


    Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Whose Trance Is Running Your Leadership
    May 12 2026

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    Leadership gets messy the moment we pretend to be someone we’re not. That’s why we invited evolutionary astrologer Jason Dilts to help us use astrology as a leadership tool, not for fortune telling, but for self awareness, communication, and growth you can actually apply at work.

    We start with the basics that most people never get beyond: your Sun sign is only one piece. Jason breaks down the Big Three of a birth chart: Sun (identity and expression), Rising (your instinctive operating system and how others experience you), and Moon (your emotional landscape and what creates safety). From there, we connect the chart to leadership development and real workplace dynamics including how Mercury placements shape communication style, how different houses point to career visibility and leadership, and why two “Capricorns” can still lead in totally different ways.

    Then we zoom out to the bigger shift many teams are feeling right now. Jason frames the Age of Aquarius as a move away from command and control toward empowerment, authenticity, and community. We also explore generational astrology through Pluto placements, why younger generations are challenging old power structures, and how leaders can respond without falling into judgment or fear. If you’ve been curious but skeptical, we talk about why pop horoscopes turn smart people off, and how to explore astrology in a grounded way through your chart and current transits, including what Mercury retrograde is really inviting you to do.

    Subscribe for more leadership conversations, share this with a colleague who loves personal development tools, and leave a review so more leaders can find the show.


    Connect with Jason on social media at https://www.instagram.com/tegakaldeep/ or https://www.tiktok.com/@tegakaldeep

    Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

    www.jolyean.com

    www.katieervin.com

    Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

    Order Dr. Katie's books:

    • 52 Weeks of LEADERship: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
    • You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

    Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute: www.katieervin.com/leaders


    Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
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