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Artwork for The Unburdened Leader

The Unburdened Leader

Rebecca Ching, LMFT
Leadership
Mental Health
Creativity
Power
Polyvagal Theory
Personal Power
Emotional Regulation
Self-Care
Toxic Leadership
Misinformation
Right Use Of Power
Glimmers
Art and Music
Nervous System
Brené Brown
Healing
Emotional Well-Being
Art
Internal Family Systems
Faithful Skepticism

Meet leaders who recognized their own pain, worked through it, and stepped up into greater leadership. Each week, we dive into how leaders like you deal with struggle and growth so that you can lead without burnout or loneliness. If you're eager to make an impact in your community or business, Rebecca Ching, LMFT, will give you practical strategies for redefining challenges and vulnerability while... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes157Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessManagementEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for The Unburdened Leader

Latest Episodes

Some words and experiences come with a lot of baggage, conjuring up fear, stigma, and shame.

But being afraid or ashamed doesn’t protect us from those experiences or those words. It just keeps us from really understanding them or being able to talk ... more

Every system we move through runs on norms: rules and agreements that are both explicit and implicit. And nowhere are they more powerful–or more invisible–than in how we lead and how we build our businesses. 

In fact, sociologists have consistently ... more

It is hard to be human. And right now, it is even harder to be humane, to ourselves and to others.

And so many high-achieving, deeply caring leaders are under pressure to stay regulated, calm, and adaptable, no matter what they’re facing. They look ... more

The way you relate to power is the way you relate to everything around and within you–your work, your people, your sense of what's possible. And most of us have never actually examined that relationship.

And in this season we are in, when everything... more

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Recent Guests

Nilofer Merchant
Co-founder of Intangible Labs; author of Our Best Work
Intangible Labs
Episode: EP 155: Hidden Cost of Caretaking at Work: Nilofer Merchant on Invisible Norms Limiting Your Leadership
Deb Dana
Licensed clinical social worker, consultant, author, and leading translator of Polyvagal Theory into practice
Polyvagal Institute
Episode: EP 154: Leading from Safety, Not Survival: Deb Dana on Co-Regulation and Leadership
Chris Burris
Senior lead trainer with the Internal Family Systems Institute, licensed psychotherapist
Internal Family Systems Institute
Episode: EP 152: Trauma Happens When We're Left Alone: Chris Burris on Psychological Safety and IFS in Groups
Monique Kelley
Professor at Boston University, consultant, published author
Boston University
Episode: EP 151: Why Networking Feels Gross and How to Build Relationships That Actually Last with Monique Kelley
Shabnam Mogharabi
Entertainment executive producer, author, founder of The Joy Brigade; former EVP at Participant and co-founder/CEO of SoulPancake
The Joy Brigade; SoulPancake (formerly)
Episode: EP 150: The Leadership Practice of Joy: Shabnam Mogharabi on Story and Service
Dr. Ingrid Clayton
Licensed clinical psychologist; author of Fawning
Private practice in Los Angeles; Psychology Today contributor
Episode: EP 149: Interrupting the Fawning Trauma Response: Leadership, Safety, and Self-Trust with Dr. Ingrid Clayton
Soraya Chemaly
Award-winning author and activist, cultural critic
Episode: EP 148: Naming as Leadership Practice: Soraya Chemaly on Language and Power
A'shanti Gholar
President and CEO of Emerge, a network training women to run for office.
Emerge America
Episode: EP 147: Despair Is Not a Strategy: Emerge America CEO A'shanti Gholar on Servant Leadership and the Long Game
Dr. Kurt Gray
Social psychologist and author specializing in moral psychology and polarization.
The Ohio State University
Episode: EP 145: Leading Through Outrage: Why Moral Imagination Matters with Dr. Kurt Gray

Host

Rebecca Ching
Host of The Unburdened Leader

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 107 ratings
  • Such a special podcast - synthesizing psych, leadership, and hope

    Rebecca is a really gifted integrative practitioner and she brings her wide ranging skill set to these deeply thoughtful, uplifting, and ever so timely and essential conversations. If you're looking to listen in on intelligent, open hearted leaders finding new possibilities for a better world - internal and out- this is your place.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tituba1984
    United States3 months ago
  • Well structured and deeply impactful

    My favorite part of the Unburdened Leader is Rebecca’s ability, not only to evoke deep wisdom from a range of leaders, but to distill such wisdom at the beginning and end of each episode, and to connect it with other insights. Wonderful podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ross OM
    United States3 months ago
  • Always a good listen

    I discovered this podcast a few years ago and enjoy the thoughtful conversation around mental health, leadership, and everything in between.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kbrooney
    United States3 months ago
  • Thoughtful reflections and questions

    I can always tell when a host has done their homework and crafted their interview with care and intention. Rebecca does this with each of her guests, and it shows in the quality of the questions she asks, and the depth to which the interviews can therefor go.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aknowles78
    United States3 months ago
  • Thoughtful, Real and Practical

    Love the host, the guests and the conversations!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MitaM13
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality interviews with depth and practical takeaways.
Insightful and compassionate host who asks thoughtful questions.
Hosts what feels like a warm, human-centered leadership show.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 155: Hidden Cost of Caretaking at Work: Nilofer Merchant on Invisible Norms Limiting Your Leadership
Q: Walk me through how you came to your framework and what you mean by moving from servant leadership to situational leadership.
She explains that leadership should be matched to the moment and task, with teams organized around the law of the situation and the idea that people bring their distinct capital to projects, enabling a self-organizing approach rather than traditional hierarchy.
EP 155: Hidden Cost of Caretaking at Work: Nilofer Merchant on Invisible Norms Limiting Your Leadership
Q: What's your answer to this? Can you fix it all?
Merchant emphasizes that problems aren't solved by the same old approaches; systems are shaped by invisible norms and changing them requires new, collaborative metrics and a shift in leadership—moving from reacting to building anew.
EP 149: Interrupting the Fawning Trauma Response: Leadership, Safety, and Self-Trust with Dr. Ingrid Clayton
Q: How has Ingrid's expanded lens on fawning changed your own leadership or personal practice?
Rebecca describes how the expanded concept reframes self-protection as a systemic response rooted in safety and connection, not a personal flaw, and notes shifts toward recognizing parts, slowing down, and embedding self-trust through embodied practices like grounding and mindful self-care.
EP 149: Interrupting the Fawning Trauma Response: Leadership, Safety, and Self-Trust with Dr. Ingrid Clayton
Q: You write about fawning as a double bind, where there's a real consequence for not fawning, and the body has to choose between safety and self. Walk us through what happens when you state we have to choose safety or self.
The host explains that people face a literal cliff between meeting external safety (like a paycheck) and honoring their own values and boundaries; the body often prioritizes external safety due to past traumas, leading to self-abandonment unless they build awareness, supports, and new patterns that allow safety without sacrificing self.
EP 147: Despair Is Not a Strategy: Emerge America CEO A'shanti Gholar on Servant Leadership and the Long Game
Q: What should listeners do if they are struggling with hopelessness?
Find small, actionable ways to make a difference in your community, as even micro-actions can add up.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Unburdened Leader

What is The Unburdened Leader about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on leadership that acknowledges personal pain and systemic pressures, then moves toward sustainable impact without burnout. Conversations frequently blend psychology, trauma-informed practices, and practical leadership strategies—covering topics like nervous-system regulation, relationship dynamics, and humane leadership in tech, politics, and media. Guests range from researchers and clinicians to seasoned practitioners and organizers, all exploring how vulnerability, ownership, and community can reshape power, trust, and performance. The format tends to combine depth, real-world application, and compassionate inquiry, making it useful for leaders seeking measurable growth without sacrificing well-being.

A standout draw i... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Unburdened Leader?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Unburdened Leader:

1. The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
2. IFS Talks
3. Trauma Rewired
4. Therapist Uncensored Podcast
5. Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

How many episodes of The Unburdened Leader are there?

The Unburdened Leader launched 6 years ago and published 157 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Unburdened Leader?

Recent guests on The Unburdened Leader include:

1. Nilofer Merchant
2. Deb Dana
3. Chris Burris
4. Monique Kelley
5. Shabnam Mogharabi
6. Dr. Ingrid Clayton
7. Soraya Chemaly
8. A'shanti Gholar

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