

Shameless Leadership
Sara Dean
Welcome to Shameless Leadership! This show is for women, transgender people, non-binary folks, and allies who are committed to advancing their leadership and the leadership of those around them. In this space, we believe everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Our mission is to help you foster these feelings within your own circles of influence to build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging.In each episode, we dive into essential topics impacting women in leadership - everything from shutting down your inner critic and imposter syndrome to overcoming perfectionism to using your voice in new ways to advocate for yourself, your ideas, and other folks carrying marginalized identities. You'll hear practical tips, effective strategies, and inspiring stories that will not only enhance your leadership skills but also broaden your perspective to become a more confident, thoughtful, and empathetic leader.Our stories come from people carrying identities who are often underrepresented, underestimated, and excluded. By sharing their experiences, we aim to provide you with invaluable lessons that will transform your leadership journey. We are thrilled to have you join this community of Shameless Leaders who are actively creating a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can intentionally lead through a more curious, compassionate, and inclusive lens.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 27, 2021 • 1h 3min
515: Megan Hadley: Fork Your Food Rules
Megan Hadley, MS, RDN, and LDN is a nutrition therapist and owner of Simple Nutrition, a nutrition counseling practice in Greensboro, NC, and founder of Fork the Food Rules, a membership for people who have decided not to diet. She believes that all bodies are good bodies and that from cake to kale, all foods are good foods. After helping hundreds of clients recover from diet culture, Megan knows that when women think less about food and body and more about what really matters to them, they begin to thrive in all areas of their life.When she’s not working, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. She loves cooking, traveling, long naps, good wine, and french fries. Megan finds her strength, both personally and professionally, rooted in her deep faith in Christ, as she knows she was created to live a life of abundance and to help other women believe and discover that, as well.Listen in to hear Megan share:
Why she walked away from the pharmaceutical industry to become a registered dietician in order to have a bigger impact in people’s lives
What originally drew her into her work with intuitive eating and health at any size
The difference between an eating disorder, disordered eating, and non-disordered eating
All the (tricky and subconscious) ways that negative relationships with food show up
What intuitive eating is and how it differs from food plans and programs
How the media breaks our ability to trust our own bodies
How restrictive eating is the number one predictor of overeating/emotional eating/binge eating behaviors
Why comfort foods can be beautiful and affirming and should absolutely be a part of your life
What steps to take to start being more intuitive with your eating
The truth about BMI and life span/longevity
What kind of freedom comes with choosing not to diet or changing your body
Links Mentioned:
Enrollment is open for Momentum Mamas
Connect with Megan: Simple Nutrition counseling
Fork The Food Rules
IG: @nutritionissimple & individual professional: @tasteandseerd
FB: Simple Nutrition Counseling
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Jan 25, 2021 • 30min
514: Stop Faking Fine
Let’s just stop.Stop faking fine. When you’re hurting, let it be known. When you’re tired, let it be known.When you’re depleted, let it be known.When you’re worried, let it be known.When you’re lonely, let it be known.When you’re uncertain, let it be known.When you’re DONE, let it be known.Stop faking fine. Everytime you fake being fine, you perpetuate this ideal that women should button up and stuff it down and dishonor themselves by disowning their pain. This is not only detrimental, it’s downright dangerous.Model being less-than-fine to others. You go first. Let them know:I’m struggling.I’m hurting.I’m tired.I need help.It is in owning and honoring where you’re really at that you will find the soft places and most sacred spaces to land - where others will be waiting to hold you, arms open wide.Links mentioned:Enrollment is open for Momentum Mamas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 20, 2021 • 1h 9min
513: Julie Neale and Caren Lettiere: Sisters Making Magic in E.P.I.C. Ways
Today we have an extra special episode with two guests, who are not only powerhouse Shameless Moms and entrepreneurs making deep impact in the world, but also sisters.Caren Lettiere is the Founder and President of Democracy Clothing, the casual lifestyle brand designed for the modern, multitasking woman who grew up with fashion, then got busy with life.Best known for its “Ab”solution jeans with fit technology, Democracy Clothing embraces women of all shapes and sizes, providing them with confidence-building clothing that helps them look good and feel good, while doing good.Alongside Democracy, Caren’s proudest accomplishment is the fulfilling family life she’s built with her husband of 29 years, David, and their amazing kids Nicole and Josh.Julie Neale is a life and leadership coach, community builder, writer, and mom to two high energy boys who challenge her to grow into her best self. Alongside a 20 year career in youth development, it was Motherhood that transformed her and set her on a course to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.Now, as the founder of Mother’s Quest and the Mother's Quest Podcast, Julie provides inspiration, coaching, and community-building so that mothers, and those who care for young people, can connect to support and resources, fulfill their unique purpose, and live their E.P.I.C. lives.I’ve been so excited for this conversation for months now and I just know you’re going to love so much about it.Listen in to hear Julie and Caren share:
How you can have the audacity to forge your own path without having to prequalify yourself
The birth of Mother’s Quest podcast and Democracy Jeans
How their separate businesses and goals converged into a collaborative working relationship
How Julie and Caren were able to participate at Sybrina Fulton’s (Trayvon Martin’s mom) Circle of Mothers event to bring joy to mothers who lost children and family members to gun violence
Shawna Free Jeans Freakout article https://shawnamorrow.com/free-jeans-freakout/
Caren’s philosophy around “My body is the carriage I arrive in”
Julie’s philosophy of leading and living an E.P.I.C. life
The power of opening the door for yourself instead of waiting for someone else to open the door for you
How ignorance can actually help you be a problem solver
Links mentioned:
Make sure to sign up for my Momentum Mamas announcement
Mother’s Quest Podcast: Mother's Quest
Julie on IG: Mother's Quest
Julie on FB: Mother's Quest
Julie and Caren’s interview on Mother’s Quest Podcast:
Save 20% off your order of Democracy Jeans (my FAVE jeans): (1 use per customer for total purchase, ends 02/28/21)
Julie’s article on committing to anti racism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 18, 2021 • 35min
512: 10 Ways to Honor MLK Day With Your Family
As we continue to see white supremacy reign here in the US, it’s critically important to pause and reflect on where we have come from, how we can do better, and how we can talk to our kids about it all. I am not a race educator, but I will point you to some excellent people and resources in this episode from whom you can learn on an ongoing basis.I am showing up for this conversation because, while I want you to be learning about race from people other than middle class white ladies (me!), I want to share some things that we have been doing in our family to educate our 8-year-old while also taking big responsibility for our commitment to our own anti racism journeys. My intentions in this episode are 3 pronged:
To share resources
To invite you into longer term commitments in your anti racism journey
To push pause to reflect on the importance of carrying out Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy
Please note all the resources below as you continue to listen and learn and take action.Links mentioned:
Get my email announcement about Momentum Mamas enrollment
Podcast: First Name Basis: The Untold Story of Martin Luther King Jr.
Video: I Have A Dream speech with subtitles
Article: 19 of the Most Influential Civil Rights Leaders of the 21st Century
Stacey Abram’s Documentary: All In: The Fight For Democracy
Book: Becoming Ms. Burton
Book: Dear Martin
Book: Something Happened In Our Town
Thank you to our sponsor:
Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 13, 2021 • 57min
511: Mirna Valerio: The Many Identities of the Legendary Mirnavator
Mirna Valerio is a native of Brooklyn, NY, a former educator, cross-country coach, ultramarathoner, and author of the bestselling memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress. Although she began running in high school, she recommitted to the sport after a health scare in 2008 and started her blog Fatgirlrunning—about her experiences as a larger woman in a world of thinner endurance athletes— while training for her first marathon. Mirna's athletic story has been featured in the WSJ, Runner’s World, on NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in the viral REI-produced documentary short, The Mirnavator. Her writing has been featured in Women’s Running Magazine, Self Magazine Online, Outside Online, and Runner's World Magazine. In 2018 she was chosen as one of the National Geographic Adventurers of the Year, and most recently appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show, Access Hollywood, and the short Running Through Barriers, produced by LLBean.Listen in to hear Mirna share:
How she is discerning about who gets her time and energy
Why she is participating in NANOWRIMO and how it’s been transformational to her
What your identity truly is and how it dictates how you interact with the world
How she’s leaning into different parts of her identity and learning new things in this year
How she manages haters
How she steps into fear as she steps into new partnerships, especially her new position with Lululemon
How anxiety shows up for her and how she has learned to manage it
How she helped Will Smith train for a half marathon
The best lesson she learned from Will Smith
Links Mentioned:Get updates and announcements about Momentum MamasThank you to our sponsor:
EveryPlate: Get started with EveryPlate for just $1.99 per meal plus an additional 20% off another 2 weeks by going to EveryPlate.com and entering code SHAMELESS199. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 11, 2021 • 32min
510: 4 Simple Ways To Build Momentum In 2021
As you are thinking about what you want out of 2021, I'm inviting you to keep things super simple. We tend to make things too hard and way overcomplicated as we enter a new year. I think this is only because we want to make things super FAB, but still - no need to make things tricky, as this minimizes your chances of actually building any momentum and getting things done. So, how can you build momentum in order to have a few quick wins and feel like you are off to the races in 2021? Here are 4 tips:
Know Your No’s
Know What Works
Make It Up As You Go
Stay Connected
In today’s episode, I’m going to help you dig into each one of these tips so you can feel lighter and more inspired to GET STARTED in a year that has already proven to be cumbersome and tumultuous in so many ways.You absolutely have what it takes to make great things happen in 2021. Let’s get to work.Links mentioned:
Sign up for my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party
Get updates and announcements about Momentum Mamas
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Jan 6, 2021 • 59min
509: Jennifer Litner: Building Ease Talking About The Birds And The Bees
Jennifer Litner has over a decade of experience working, studying and teaching in the field of sexual health, with a specialization in sex therapy, sexuality education, and helping people thrive in their intimate relationships.Ms. Litner is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and sexuality educator whose passion is helping couples, individuals and families navigate sexual concerns. Ms. Litner is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), a Certified Member of the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and a member of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR).In addition to her clinical practice, Ms. Litner earned a Master’s of education and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in human sexuality studies at Widener University with emphasis in human sexuality education. Ms. Litner is also an adjunct professor at Adler University in the Departments of Counseling and Couple and Family Therapy where she teaches masters and doctoral students. Ms. Litner empowers individuals to make healthy choices about sexuality by providing them with accurate sexual health information.Listen in to hear Jennifer share:
Where caregivers can begin when they want to talk to their children about sexuality
How to talk to your kids about touch and hugs at an early age
Research based myths and truths about having “the talk” with your kids
How to talk to your kids about sex in a developmentally appropriate way (in grades 1-3 vs grades 3-5)
What it means to be sex positive and how you can be a sex positive caregiver
How to talk to your kids about gender identity and gender expression
Examples of shaming, sex negative messaging and the harm perpetuated in shameful messaging
The intersection of conversations around pleasure and privacy
How to be warm and neutral in conversations around sexuality with your kids
How to create a sex positive home for your kids - even if you had a sex negative upbringing
Links mentioned:
Join my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party
Connect with Jennifer
Get Jennifer’s course and use promo code SHAMELESSMOM to save 20% - GOOD THRU 1/31
Jennifer on Facebook and Instagram: @embracesexualwellness
Jennifer on Twitter: @ESW_LLC
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Jan 4, 2021 • 36min
508: How To Start Fresh In 2021
You get to start fresh. It’s true. While we are kicking off a new year in the middle of a continuous shitstorm, you still get to choose how you will begin.Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, says, “Uncertainty is chronic. Instability is permanent. Disruption is common. We can neither predict or govern events. There will be no new normal. There will only be a continuous series of not normal episodes defying predictions and unforeseen by most of us until they happen.”How’s that for affirming that change and evolution will continue to be constant disruptors?? Happy 2021, lol!In spite of all this, there is still plenty you can do to step into 2021 on your terms. You still get to dream. You still get to take charge. You still get to make great things happen. I’m waking up #everydamnday ready to own the day and make progress in the face of uncertainty. I want this for you too. Listen in to hear 4 simple steps to start fresh this year - in order take charge and disrupt the doubt and worry that has been so permanent over the last 10 months. You got this. 2021 is yours to own and nurture.Links mentioned:Join my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party
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Dec 30, 2020 • 51min
507: Catherine Gray: Why We Need More Women Investing And Inventing
Catherine Gray is a Producer, Author, Speaker, and Podcast Host. Catherine is also the Co-Founder of the SHE ANGELS FOUNDATION and 360Karma Productions. Catherine is producing a new original series for television called She Angels. It covers the exciting journeys of female founders and funders. The series, together with her SHE ANGELS FOUNDATION, has a vision to create a global initiative that will accelerate the funding of women, since currently they get less than 15% of the funding dollars. Catherine founded 360Karma Productions, which is a multimedia platform that creates everything from films and shows, to game changing events to empower women. These include past events such as the Live Love Thrive Conferences, workshops, and podcasts to the SHE ANGELS PITCHFEST, with the City of West Hollywood, CA. She will soon launch the SHE ANGELS TV series and the INVEST IN HER Podcast. The show and podcast series showcases ways to accelerate the funding of women, and provide resources and inspiration to the entrepreneur listeners.Gray says, “I am so proud to have produced several award-winning films including the very first documentary film about gay marriage entitled ‘I Can’t Marry You,’ narrated by Ellen DeGeneres’s mom Betty, which aired on PBS in more than 60 cities nationwide. I believe filmmaking is a powerful catalyst to change on every front. My focus now is on empowering female entrepreneurs. I enjoy working on socially conscious projects that are impacting the world in a positive and powerful way.”Listen in to hear Catherine share:
How telling our stories lead us to making societal changes that create equity and justice
Why we need more women inventors and investors
Why women only get 15% of business funding
What angel investing is and how you can become an angel investor at any level in order to support another person’s company/invention
How you can go ask for money and funding to start your company and bring your ideas to life
The first step to take if you have an idea to invent a product
The importance of bringing your visions to life to help others (why you must be brave and vulnerable!)
Links mentioned:
Join my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party
Connect with Catherine
Invest In Her Podcast
She Angles Pitchfest
She Angels Foundation
Catherine on Facebook and Instagram: @sheangels1, @sheangelsfoundation
Catherine on Twitter: @sheangesseries, @sheangelsfoundation
Catherine on LinkedIn: @catherinelgray, @sheangels, @sheangelsfoundation
Mindset Coach Andrea Quinn
Learn more about OSEA and Golden Seeds
Thank you to our sponsor:
Take2Minutes: Download Take2Minutes for free at: take2minutes.org/shameless. Check out their shop page and use the code SHAMELESS for 15% off your purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 28, 2020 • 36min
506: What If 2020 Wasn’t A Dumpster Fire?
What if 2020 wasn’t just a dumpster fire?What if, instead, 2020 was the year you:Built better boundariesGot clear on what really mattersLearned to sit in hard feelingsWorked on your most intimate relationshipsGot to know your kids betterPushed yourself to stretch in new uncomfortable waysBecame a million times more adaptableDecided your voice had valueSaid good bye to relationships and circumstances that were no longer serving youFound joy in ridiculously small thingsLearned to laugh at yourselfTried scary new things and didn’t dieStood up for your core values - even around those who disagreedGained clarity on who you are becoming and who you want in your cornerWhat if 2020, in spite of it’s pain and grief, was a year of massive growth and life changing accomplishments?As you prepare to close the door on 2020 and open the door to 2021, I invite you to think about what you are taking with you and what you are leaving behind. What if you left behind self doubt, over doing, over consuming, allll the noise, and ignorance & idleness?What if you took with you hope, power, patience, ease, adaptability, self trust, boundaries, empathy, and your voice? While we cannot flip a switch and heal the messes of 2020, we can step into 2021 realizing the potential that lies ahead - and the responsibility we have to meet that potential. Listen in to squash your dumpster fire and find some beautiful remains.Links mentioned:
Join my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party
SMA Ep 307: How To Be More Adaptable #everydamnday
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