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Leadership
Resilience
Mental Health
Government Shutdown
Personal Growth
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Emotional Intelligence
Team Dynamics
Empathy
Self-Awareness
Entrepreneurship
Leadership Strategies
Time Management
Diplomacy
Career Transition
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Aurelia Brazeal
Communication
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On Leadership Tea, we talk about what it takes to reach the executive level, and how to thrive when you get there. Powerful leaders share their journeys, insights, and triumphs in conversations with hosts Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson Farrier.

Join us every other Wednesday to be inspired by the unvarnished stories of amazing executives who know what it's like to be "the only" at the tab... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes82Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEducationCareersSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for Leadership Tea

Latest Episodes

Surprise! We recorded from a new space this week, Cowo & Crèche here in the DMV, and it feels like the start of a new chapter for Leadership Tea. We're also making an announcement we've been sitting on: Rooted & Rising, our first international leader... more

What happens when the career you've spent decades building suddenly ends?

In this special re-release of one of Leadership Tea's most impactful conversations, executive leader Cathy Duffy shares how being unexpectedly pushed into early retirement bec... more

After nearly three decades of public service, Shelby shares her experience navigating a Reduction in Force (RIF), the grief that follows career loss, and the challenge of rebuilding professional identity after an unexpected transition.

In this candi... more

Leadership often means making difficult decisions, staying calm under pressure, and showing up for others. But what happens when the hardest leadership challenge isn't at work, it's at home?

In this episode, Shelby and Belinda sit down with former d... more

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Recent Guests

Shelby Smith-Wilson
Former diplomat who was laid off
U.S. State Department (previously)
Episode: When the Career You Loved Ends: Rebuilding After a Layoff
Brittany Carroll
Native Washingtonian, former US diplomat, manager of event operations at the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Episode: When Leaders Become Caregivers: Family Crisis, Boundaries & Hard Decisions
Kahana Samms
Owner and founder of Good Spirit Cafe
Good Spirit Cafe
Episode: Brewing Purpose: Building a Life-Giving Space from the Ground Up
Bobby Staten III
Business and transformation coach and speaker
Episode: Change the Tape: How Leaders Break Out of Stuck Patterns
Nadeen Matthews-Berr
Founder and CEO of Crescent Advisory Group
Crescent Advisory Group
Episode: AI Can’t Replace Leadership: Wisdom, Strategy, and the Human Edge
Jeremiah Knight
Author and Foreign Service Officer, known for his expertise in culinary diplomacy.
Self
Episode: Culinary Diplomacy: Leadership, Relationships, and Soft Power with Jeremiah Knight
Sam Salmon
Vice President of Retail Business Development
State Department Federal Credit Union
Episode: Smart Money Moves for 2026: Tips to Manage Your Financial Health | S4 EP 19
Josh Barrett
Manager for Overseas Operations
State Department Federal Credit Union
Episode: Smart Money Moves for 2026: Tips to Manage Your Financial Health | S4 EP 19
Ayanda Nkosi
Platform Engineer
Episode: Why Resilience Isn’t a Flex — And What Women Leaders Should Do Instead | S4 EP16

Hosts

Shelby Smith-Wilson
Host with deep leadership experience across government, private sector, and academia; specializes in practical leadership development and organizational strategy.
Belinda Jackson Farrier
Co-host and senior leader with a focus on authentic leadership, career growth, and empowering diverse professionals.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 101 ratings
  • Phenomenal!

    Inspiring, encouraging, and a breath of fresh air! This podcast is exactly what every professional absolutely needs. The conversations offer concrete insights you can use to both elevate yourself and navigate challenging waters. Thank you to the creators for such wonderful work and for breaking ground for so many of us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    O_Bos3
    United Statesa year ago
  • So incredibly helpful; in more ways than one! - A 5+ Star Podcast!

    I was introduced to this podcast at this time last year but was admittedly in a different headspace and position in my public health leadership role/journey. I believe it was Belinda I met in person at the American University Podcast Summit in May 2024 in DC. If you recall, I was the young lady with absolutely no plan or work done (nor knowledge other than being an avid podcast listener) regarding podcasts but was/am super curious and motivated so much so that I traveled from the NYC/Tri-Stat... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Patrice Peterson
    United Statesa year ago
  • A refreshing look at the day to day challenges and opportunities for leadership!

    If you’re looking for validation, practical guidance for handling everyday workplace challenges, and creative approaches that allow you to think outside the box and present your best self in the workplace, check out the Leadership Tea podcast series. The hosts engage successful professionals who share nuggets of wisdom that helped propel them in their careers and who are recognized as change makers in their respective professions! Thanks for keeping it real!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sleeplessinchile
    United States2 years ago
  • Much Needed Conversation

    Thank you Ladies for bringing a much needed and necessary conversation to this space for anyone (shout out to the GenX listeners) who have experienced similar career hurdles and lessons. I can’t wait to hear and learn more from you and your panel of guests…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rozzy R.
    United States2 years ago
  • Great end to your debut season

    Thanks Belinda and Shelby for a great season and for allowing me to be Tori first guest. Thoroughly enjoyed the season. Well done and take care of yourselves during your much needed break. Community is key for us to thrive

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cathyawakening
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Candid and encouraging, with a collaborative host dynamic.
Practically actionable leadership advice you can apply immediately.
Guests bring diverse perspectives from public and private sectors.
Genuine, warm conversations with real-world leadership stories.
High-quality conversations that feel like a mentorship session.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When Leaders Become Caregivers: Family Crisis, Boundaries & Hard Decisions
Q: What practical advice would you give to someone entering the caregiving space?
Being highly organized is crucial; establish a system, review your finances to understand hidden costs, set clear boundaries, and prepare documents like powers of attorney and death arrangements in advance to ease future decisions.
When Leaders Become Caregivers: Family Crisis, Boundaries & Hard Decisions
Q: What are one or two of the biggest systemic failures you've seen and what needs to change?
Brittany highlights that systems often don't communicate well with each other, leading to fragmented processes and repeated paperwork; she emphasizes the need for cross-training, uniform procedures, and better customer-focused design in public aid programs like Medicaid to reduce confusion and delay.
Change the Tape: How Leaders Break Out of Stuck Patterns
Q: What advice would you give to someone taking on their first leadership role?
Focus on identity, show up authentically, and be willing to be vulnerable and rely on input from others rather than needing to have all the answers.
Change the Tape: How Leaders Break Out of Stuck Patterns
Q: How do you coach leaders to redefine success in a way that feels authentic to them?
Begin with a baseline of who you are, then map that to a future state using tools like personality assessments, and implement systems that enforce new habits aligned with that authentic identity.
Change the Tape: How Leaders Break Out of Stuck Patterns
Q: What are two to three practical steps you give your clients when they feel stuck or overwhelmed?
Start by stopping to slow down, take inventory of what's happening, then map out a clear desired future state and the identity of the person who would exist in that future, so habits and actions can be realigned accordingly.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Leadership Tea

What is Leadership Tea about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A leadership-focused show that centers on practical strategies for climbing to and thriving in executive roles. Across episodes, hosts pull from a broad mix of guests—from government leaders and diplomats to business executives and researchers—to explore crisis management, ethical AI use, difficult conversations, financial health, resilience, and personal empowerment. Listeners often hear real-world stories about tough decisions, navigating organizational dynamics, and building authentic leadership presence. The format blends candid storytelling with actionable takeaways, making it helpful for seasoned leaders and aspiring executives alike. A notable throughline is the emphasis on human-centered leadership, cross-cultural communication, and... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Leadership Tea?

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How many listeners does Leadership Tea get?

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What are the audience demographics for Leadership Tea?

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How many subscribers and views does Leadership Tea have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Leadership Tea has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Leadership Tea?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Leadership Tea:

1. Up First from NPR
2. The Daily
3. Oprah's Super Soul
4. The Mel Robbins Podcast
5. The Opinions

How many episodes of Leadership Tea are there?

Leadership Tea launched 2 years ago and published 82 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Leadership Tea?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Leadership Tea?

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What guests have appeared on Leadership Tea?

Recent guests on Leadership Tea include:

1. Shelby Smith-Wilson
2. Brittany Carroll
3. Kahana Samms
4. Bobby Staten III
5. Nadeen Matthews-Berr
6. Jeremiah Knight
7. Sam Salmon
8. Josh Barrett

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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