Evoke Greatness Podcast

Whitney Faires, an internationally recognized executive coach and leadership expert, shares her inspiring journey from athlete to executive. She discusses the identity crisis of becoming a working mom and redefines success on her terms. Whitney highlights her Excellence Equation framework, focusing on the essential readiness reality check. She opens up about battling self-doubt and the importance of mentors, while also sharing powerful strategies to manage negative thoughts and promote resilience. Leadership, she asserts, is about courage, not titles.

Send us a text🎧 Episode 172: Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life If statistics were the deciding factor in my life… I’d be a nobody.I came from a broken home, raised by a single mom who worked three jobs just to keep the lights on. I didn’t graduate high school. By all accounts, I wasn’t supposed to become a CEO, start a business, or lead anything of significance.But statistics don’t determine your destiny, your mindset does.In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how your beliefs are building your life ...whether you realize it or not. I share my own journey of breaking free from a fixed mindset and how I rewired the limiting stories I used to tell myself. I also unpack the science of neuroplasticity and how you can start training your brain to believe something better.This one’s for anyone who’s been playing small, shrinking to fit, or wondering if it’s too late to go after something bigger.Here’s what I dive into:Why most people don’t fail from lack of skill, they fail because they feel unworthyThe mindset that kept me stuck for 30+ yearsWhat neuroplasticity is and how it proves you’re never too old to changeHow I went from CNA to CEO...and why I’m just getting started at 47How to audit your self-talk and write a new narrativeWhat to do when shame, fear, or past trauma tries to keep you in your cageAnd why it’s time to walk out of the jail cell that’s been wide open all along🔑 Here’s what I want you to take away:You are not broken. You’re not behind. You’re not too late.You can rewrite your story...starting now.Your brain will believe whatever you train it to.The same voice telling you “you can’t”… can be trained to say “let’s go.”💡 A few things I said that I hope you carry with you:“The thoughts we think and the stories we tell ourselves… become the limits of our lives.” “If the door’s not open, kick it down. If that doesn’t work, find a window. There's always another way.” “You are worthy. You are capable. You are just getting started.” “You don’t need permission. You need belief.”A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 171: Wealthy, Well-Known & Wildly Intentional with AJ Vaden (Part 2)In Part 2 of our powerful conversation, AJ Vaden returns to share what happens after the breakdown, how she redefined identity, rebuilt her priorities, and found peace on the other side of losing everything.From re-centering faith and family to redefining success through obedience and clarity, AJ opens up about the deeper message behind Wealthy and Well-Known and why your past might just be the key to your purpose.We explore:How AJ unraveled the lie that her identity was tied to workWhat obedience looked like after her “super firing”The moment that shifted her question from “Why is this happening?” to “What do you want to teach me?”How she and Rory restructured their life, marriage, and business from the ground upWhy being seen in the struggle creates real connectionThe principle behind her most quoted line: “You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were”What she hopes every reader takes away from Wealthy and Well-Known🔑 Key takeaways:Your identity is not your titlePeace starts when purpose takes the leadReal leadership begins in the valleys not the mountaintopsYou don’t need more platforms, you need more alignment💡 Quotes to remember:“Work doesn’t come first anymore. It’s not who we are. It’s what we do.”“Real relationships are found in the struggle.”“You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were.”📚 Resources mentioned:✨ Order Wealthy and Well-Known: www.wealthyandwellknown.com🎧 Get the audiobook for FREE: freebrandaudiobook.com/aj📲 Follow AJ on Instagram: @aj_vadenA rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 170: Wealthy, Well-Known, and Wildly Intentional — Redefining Success with AJ Vaden (Part 1)In Part 1 of this two-part series, Sonnie sits down with personal branding powerhouse AJ Vaden—co-founder of Brand Builders Group and co-author of the brand-new book Wealthy and Well-Known (pre-order by July 1 for $350.00 in amazing bonuses!).AJ shares her incredible story of reinvention after being “super fired,” losing everything she had built—and the unexpected opportunity that followed with Lewis Howes. This episode is a masterclass in redefining success, reclaiming peace, and building a brand rooted in purpose.We explore:The true meaning of being wealthy (hint: it’s not money or time)Why being well-known is more about alignment than audience sizeHow hustle culture leads to burnout and distractionThe core philosophy behind Brand Builders Group: “Diluted focus gets diluted results”The myth of multiple income streams—and the surprising truth about growthHow AJ and Rory’s lowest point became the launchpad for their life’s workWhy trust and reputation—not followers—are your greatest assetsWhat it really means to be a “mission-driven messenger”🔑 Key takeaways:Peace is the new profit—and it’s available nowYou already have a personal brand… but is it the one you want?Focus is a growth strategy—not a limitationYour greatest influence happens offline, in real relationships💡 Quotes to remember:“You don’t have to have a lot of money or time to have peace… but you do have to live in your purpose to find it.”“Reputation precedes revenue. Value precedes transaction.”📚 Resources mentioned:✨ Pre-order Wealthy and Well-Known by July 1st and claim $350 in free bonuses: https://www.wealthyandwellknown.com/Learn more about AJ’s work at Brand Builders Group: https://www.brandbuildersgroup.com/AJ's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aj_vaden/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 169: Stop Micromanaging, Start Leading — Building Unbreakable Trust & Navigating Tough Conversations with Ashley Cox (Part 2) In Part 2, Sonnie and Ashley go beyond delegation—straight into the art (and science) of trust. This episode is packed with real talk about what it takes to build a team you can rely on, how to let go of micromanagement for good, and the not-so-obvious reason your toughest conversations are often the most powerful.We explore:Ashley’s “Triangle of Trust” framework—and why most leaders get trust backwardsHow micromanagement destroys trust (and how to fix it)Why your fear of being outshined is holding everyone backHow to balance compassion and assertiveness (even in hard conversations)“Help me understand…”: The 3 words that transform every difficult conversationWhy your team’s “bad boss baggage” is sabotaging success (and what to do about it)The simple mindset shift that turns feedback into fuel for growthWhy real leadership is about love, not control🔑 Key takeaways:You hired smart people—now get out of their wayTrust starts with YOU (and how you show up)Difficult conversations are a muscle—start training it nowCompassion and assertiveness are not opposites; together, they’re unstoppable💡 Quotes to remember:“Love others. See the humanity in each other—it makes all the difference.”📚 Resources mentioned:Ashley Cox’s Empowered Leader Experience: https://ashleycox.co/Connect with Ashley on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-cox-phr-shrm-cp-30565017/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleycox.co/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 168: Stop Micromanaging, Start Leading: Your Guide to Building a Team You Trust with Ashley Cox (Part 1)In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Cox, founder of the Empowered Leader Experience, to unpack why so many women founders and executives feel trapped running their businesses instead of leading them. Ashley shares her own evolution from overworked “worker bee” to empowered mentor and reveals the hard truths and practical solutions that help ambitious women escape burnout, build thriving teams, and reclaim their vision.We explore:The myth of “doing it all” and why it keeps leaders stuck in overwhelmHow self-awareness and ego-checks are the non-negotiable starting points for growthThe damaging leadership advice women are told (“Be tougher, be less emotional…”) and what actually worksWhy your team’s problems are often a mirror of your own leadershipThe control vs. growth paradox: Why you have to let go to level upDelegation 101: How to empower your team without handing over the keys to the kingdomBuilding a culture where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to go above and beyondPractical ways to stretch into letting go (without watching everything fall apart)🔑 Key takeaways:When you let go of ego and listen to feedback, you unlock real leadership potential.Your team’s performance is a direct reflection of your leadership approach.Empathy and vulnerability are strengths, not weaknesses—in fact, they’re how you build high-performing, loyal teams.Effective delegation is about giving others a chance to grow, not abdicating responsibility.When leaders do the hard work of self-awareness, everyone wins: the business, the team, and the leader.💡 Quotes to remember:"If your team isn’t doing what you want them to do, it’s a mirror of your leadership." "Leadership is one of the most vulnerable experiences you’ll ever have—but that’s where greatness is born." "You don’t have to give away the keys to the kingdom to get the help you need."Final wisdom: Stepping back and letting go isn’t just good for your sanity, it’s the key to real growth, for you and everyone you lead.📚 Resources mentioned:Ashley Cox’s Empowered Leader Experience: https://ashleycox.co/Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-cox-phr-shrm-cp-30565017/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 167:  Leading Through the Hard: What Defines a Real Leader In this episode, Sonnie kicks off by going straight into the fire, unpacking what it truly means to lead through hard times. Whether you’re navigating chaos at work, managing internal doubts, or facing unforeseen challenges in life, this episode is the rally cry you didn’t know you needed.We're reminded that leadership isn’t about avoiding difficulty, it’s about who you become in the midst of it. We dive deep into:Why calm is contagious (and how your team mirrors your energy)The power of doing it scared and showing up steady—even when you're not confidentHow fear masks itself as leadership and how to call it outPracticing radical responsibility and separating fact from fearThe honest questions every great leader must ask when things go sidewaysHow to model trust, resilience, and real leadership cultureThis episode isn’t just a pep talk...it’s a practical, vulnerable, and empowering masterclass on how to be the kind of leader people choose to follow.💥 Because mediocre people don’t listen to Evoke Greatness—and you’re not here for surface-level inspiration.🎧 What You’ll Walk Away With:A proven mental framework for navigating adversity without spiralingA leadership mirror to check your tone, energy, and presence in tough momentsA reminder that growth isn’t in the easy, it’s forged in the fireTools to create psychological safety and trust on your teamThe boldness to rise, not just survive, the hard🔗 Connect:🎤 Leave me a voice message with your biggest takeaway from this episode: https://evokegreatness.com/contact-me 💌 Share this episode with someone in the thick of it ⭐ Rate & review if this lit something up in you!A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 166: Smart Power and Authentic Leadership with Dr. Sylvia Rhode-Liebenau (Part 2)In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Sylvia Rhode-Liebenau, we go deeper into the embodied aspects of leadership and explore what the future holds for effective decision-making in an AI-driven world. Sylvia shares practical techniques for internal alignment, reveals the most dysfunctional "organ" in today's leadership ecosystem, and discusses her provocative new book "Who's in Charge?"We explore:The ABC technique for embodied leadership: Awareness, Balance, and Core relaxationWhy setting clear intentions transforms every interaction and meetingWhat power-hungry leaders consistently misunderstand about true influenceThe "heart" as the most neglected vital organ in organizational leadershipHow to distinguish between genuine intuition and "pseudo-intuition" in decision-makingThe multiple layers behind the question "Who's in Charge?" in our chaotic worldWhy the future of leadership depends on creativity vs. reactivity with AIEssential human skills that AI can never replace in leadership🔑 Key takeaways:The ABC Practice: Use Awareness (feel your whole body), Balance (find your center), and Core relaxation (release tension) to get present before important interactionsIntentional Leadership: Always clarify your purpose before meetings - Do you want to influence, gather information, or create connections?Control vs. Influence: Power-hungry leaders fail because they try to control everything instead of building influence through relationship and trustThe Heart Dysfunction: Organizations suffer when leaders believe emotions don't belong in the workplace, missing the fact that most decisions are emotional first, then rationalizedTrue vs. Pseudo-Intuition: Real intuition assesses capability objectively; pseudo-intuition is just favoritism disguised as gut feelingSovereignty in Chaos: Being truly "in charge" means self-awareness and sovereignty, not external controlHuman-AI Partnership: The future belongs to leaders who use AI as a tool while maintaining creativity, critical thinking, and human connection💡 Quotes to remember:"When I relax, I can be even more present because where I'm tense, I'm not really present.""The heart, the emotions don't have a place, whereas they have a very important place... most of our decision makings are actually emotional. And then afterwards we rationalize what's going on.""It's really just the distinction between creativity and reactivity... I can remain in creativity to first be a creative human being to say, what is the purpose? What do we want here?"Final wisdom: "Feel the gratitude of life each moment and every day - it makes such a difference."📚 Resources mentioned:Book: "Who's in Charge?" by Dr. Sylvia Rhode-LiebenauWebsite: https://www.smartpowermA rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 165: Smart Power and Authentic Leadership with Dr. Sylvia Rhode-LiebenauIn Part 1 of this insightful episode, we explore the transformative concept of "Smart Power" with Dr. Sylvia Rhode-Liebenau, founder of the Smart Power Method and leadership expert with over 30 years of experience. From her academic background in international relations to her 17-year tenure at the European Investment Bank, Sylvia brings a unique perspective that integrates artistic expression with executive coaching for organizations like UNHCR, European Central Bank, and Amazon.We dive deep into:Redefining power beyond force and controlThe three pillars of Smart Power: purpose, collaboration, and authenticityWhy showing emotions at work makes leaders more effective, not lessThe concept of "grounded leadership" in volatile timesHow to express emotions professionally without "polluting" the workplace environmentThe connection between physical presence and leadership resilienceLessons from Viktor Frankl on purpose-driven leadership during chaos🔑 Key takeaways:True power comes from inspiring others toward a shared purpose, not from controlling themCollaboration creates exponential results - "one plus one equals eleven"Authenticity requires showing up as your healthy self, not your unfiltered selfLeaders who hide their emotions lose trust and connection with their teams"Speak out but don't act out" - use emotions as signals, not weaponsPhysical presence and breath awareness enhance emotional and mental stabilityPurpose provides resilience during unprecedented change and complexity💡 Quotes to remember: "When we are grounded in a purpose, something that is really important to us, then we are more resilient and therefore also more powerful.""Speak out but don't act out. You can use some of your emotion to express that, but you will not pollute the environment with your unfiltered expression.""Authenticity doesn't mean I always say everything that just comes or I'm my unfiltered self... It means to show up fully, to be really present, to be open, but in the healthy way of being myself."https://www.smartpowermethod.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-rohde-liebenau-phd-b51b0328/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

Send us a text🎧 Episode 164: Lead Beyond Limits: Thriving with a Hidden Disability with Jennifer Koster (Part 2)In this second part of our conversation with Jennifer Koster, we talk through the deeper spiritual dimensions of her journey with HEDS and how her experiences have shaped her approach to leadership, vulnerability, and community. Jennifer shares powerful insights about overcoming internalized ableism and offers wisdom that extends far beyond those living with chronic conditions.We explore:The integral role of faith during both challenging and good timesThe importance of not underestimating yourself or your teamBalancing energy management with ambitious goalsThe power of vulnerability as a leadership toolRecognizing and addressing internalized ableismBuilding supportive communities that understand practical needsLeaving a meaningful legacy through presence and service🔑 Key takeaways:Sometimes we experience the most growth in our faith during the most difficult timesLeaders often underestimate both themselves and their teams - limiting vision limits possibilitiesEnergy management requires clarity about vision and values to know when to say "no"Vulnerability might feel uncomfortable but can be a powerful tool for connectionAddressing internalized ableism starts with identifying limiting beliefs and replacing them with empowering onesSupport comes in many forms - practical help can be just as valuable as emotional encouragement💡 Quotes to remember: "Sometimes I listen to my body and sometimes I tell it because if I listened all the time I wouldn't be making any progress toward any goals." - Jennifer Koster"Don't underestimate what you're capable of." - Jennifer Koster"We're built for community. We're built to be there for one another and try our best to understand and have a sense of belonging for people." - Jennifer Koster"My disability can't be thought away... I can't just wish my disability away. I can't take a vacation from it... it's always there as an undercurrent and all of us have undercurrents." - Jennifer Koster🌟 Featured Insights:The transformative power of reframing limiting beliefsHow the EDS community demonstrates exceptional resilienceThe importance of showing up for others even when you don't know what to sayFinding purpose through connecting leadership principles with personal challengesBalancing practical and emotional support for those facing difficulties📚 Wisdom to Remember: Focus your vision beyond the day-to-day struggles, love yourself and others, and build your community. If we leave our family, workplace, faith community, and friends better because of our presence, we create a lasting legacy.A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.comFollow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness