If you have ever felt unwelcome, underestimated, or like the only woman in a room full of men who seem convinced you don’t belong—this episode is for you.

This week, I sit down with business advisor, speaker, and bestselling author Patty Azzarello, whose new book, Why Is She Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom tells the story of how she rose through some of the toughest, most male-dominated rooms in tech—all while battling social anxiety, subtle biases, and expectations so low she felt like she had to prove her right to exist in every meeting.

In this conversation, Patty and I talk about:

Not the marketing version—the emotional truth: what it feels like to be the woman people silently (or loudly) underestimate… and why Patty simply refused to leave.

Patty shares how every major step in her career was accompanied by fear—and why courage isn’t the absence of fear but the willingness to show up anyway.

Her brilliant, brave younger self shows up in the book for a reason—and Patty explains how reconnecting with the child you were before the world hurt you can unlock creativity, resilience, and truth.

Patty unpacks the 1963 “smart rat / stupid rat” experiment and connects it to modern corporate life in a way that will stop you in your tracks. (This one hit me hard.)

Patty shares stories, strategies, and the mindset that allowed her to keep standing, keep leading, and keep advancing.

Why being “all business” works—until it doesn’t. And how a simple, human question transformed Patty’s executive presence.

From romantic partners to friends to colleagues: who lifts you up, who drains you, and why managing your energy may matter more than managing your calendar.

• Patty’s Book: Why Is She Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom

• Patty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattyazzarello/

• Patty on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patty.azzarello

My friend… if the close out of 2025 is leaving you feeling disoriented, stretched, hurried, or like that internet-famous cat with the eyes pointing in two different directions, you’re in the right place. This episode is your invitation to pause, breathe, and make meaning of a year that has been a lot. We are deeply seasonal creatures — we need endings, beginnings, rituals, and space to gather our strength before a new year sweeps us up.

Don’t have time to listen, but want to join in the fun? Head over to my Substack (bronwyncommunications.substack.com) and you’ll find each prompt, question, and reflection — all here for you to work through at your own pace, without needing to re-listen. Grab your pen, your calendar, and your coffee. Let’s reclaim your power, honor what 2025 taught you, and prepare your spirit for a bold, brave 2026.

What if authentic connection became the new gold standard for modern masculinity?

This week, I’m thrilled to bring you a conversation that weaves together the power of connection, vulnerability, and the active work of redefining and expanding our understanding of what it means to be a man.

My guest, Stephen Seidel—TEDx speaker, storyteller, brand strategist, and founder of the Gents Journey men’s collective—delivers on every level. His candor, humor, and depth make this an episode you’ll want to bookmark, share, and revisit.

• Connection as Currency: Steve and I dig into the idea that real, present-moment connection (”from the heart, not from the head”) is what fuels deep relationships, community, and leadership.

• The Stories We Tell: We explore how our inherited family stories, personal histories, and even first names shape our sense of self, and how reframing those stories can unlock new directions.

• “Growth Friends”: Stephen shares the genesis of his men’s group, the importance of “growth friends,” and the transformational power of safe, structured spaces where men can talk openly (about business, marriages, grief, and everything in between).

• Modern Masculinity, Redefined: Through honest dialogue, we unpick generational expectations around “manliness” and what true strength means. Vulnerability, emotional awareness, and making time for fun all have a place at the table.

• Toolkits for Change: Whether it’s the “Journey Deck” of conversation cards, weekly meetings with spouses, or exercises borrowed from The Artist’s Way, this episode is packed with practical tools you can try this week.

Helpful Links:

• Gent’s Journey Card Deck

• Men’s Group: GentsJourney.co

• TEDx Talk: https://rebrand.ly/seidelspeaking

What would you do if your organization became the center of a national crisis? In this episode, strategist and cultural architect Jen Randle takes us inside a five-week sprint to design a company-wide intervention for Starbucks’ 175,000 employees—and how it changed her understanding of leadership, trust, and repair forever.

Jen shares what it means to build trust at the micro (self), meso (teams), and macro (systems) levels—and why most leaders wait until a full-blown crisis to start thinking about it. She explains why trust isn’t a “soft skill” but a business multiplier, how storytelling with integrity builds psychological safety, and why true repair starts with aligning your head, heart, and gut.

Whether you’re leading through disruption, guiding a team after layoffs, or simply trying to rebuild confidence in your culture, this conversation is a masterclass in becoming the signal in the noise.

In this episode:

• The inside story of Starbucks’ 2018 trust-repair initiative

• Why trust isn’t performative

• How leaders can embody their company’s stated values

• The power of storytelling with integrity

• Jen’s framework for trust mapping and “intrinsic wayfinding”

Helpful Links:

• A Story of Access Stanley Nelson film for Starbucks

• Jen Randle - SGNL Advisory; and connect with her on Instagram, Substack

• WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addresses player criticism, CBA, officiating, job security, The Athletic

Last week, in Part 1 of this series, we talked about the broken workflow most of us use to prepare for presentations — the one that looks like this: procrastinate → panic → recycle an old deck → cram → survive.

Sound familiar?

The good news: great presenting isn’t as binary as innate talent — it’s about having a workflow that brings out the best in you and your ideas. And today, I’m giving you the full workflow — the step-by-step system I’ve refined over 20 years coaching leaders at NVIDIA, Zoom, LinkedIn, Cisco, Stanford University, Pixar, and more. It’s also the same process that’s helped over 140 speakers deliver game-changing TED, TEDx, and TEDGlobal talks.

Need free detailed shownotes with the framework all in one spot? Head over to https://bronwyncommunications.substack.com/ See you there!

If you’ve ever found yourself procrastinating until the night before a big presentation, frantically cramming slides together, and then white-knuckling your way through the delivery…you’re not alone.

The truth is, most of us were taught (or fell into) a broken workflow for preparing talks. We procrastinate, panic, recycle old decks, and overload our audiences with information. No wonder presenting feels stressful — and no wonder audiences struggle to stay engaged.

But here’s the good news: great communication isn’t about innate talent. It’s about having the right workflow.

In this week’s episode of 20 Minutes with Bronwyn, I share the first three steps of a system I’ve honed over 20 years coaching leaders at NVIDIA, Zoom, LinkedIn, Cisco, Stanford, Pixar, and more. I’ve also used this exact approach to help more than 140 people give TED, TEDx, and TEDGlobal talks that change the way audiences see the world.

• Why procrastination + panic is its own (terrible) workflow

• How today’s shrinking attention spans demand a new way of preparing

• Step 1: The Logistics Check — the baseline questions that save you from nasty surprises. And here’s a PDF of that checklist handy and printable.

• Step 2: Audience Empathy — the mindset shift that changes everything about how your message lands.

• Step 3: The Sandbox — a game-changing way to collect ideas, inspiration, and data so your subconscious can work with you instead of against you.

This is the foundation for upgrading how you show up as a communicator. Whether you’re presenting to your team, pitching an idea, or stepping onto a big stage, these simple shifts will make the process less stressful — and your talks infinitely more powerful.

Need a quick breakdown of the episode? Here ya go …

00:00 Introduction to 20 Minutes with Bronwyn

01:23 Debunking the Myth of Innate Talent in Communication

03:20 The Old Workflow: Why It Fails

04:41 Introducing the my 24k Workflow

05:23 Step One: The Logistics Check

12:05 Step Two: Audience Empathy

17:23 Step Three: Creating a Sandbox

21:05 Conclusion and Next Steps

And stay tuned — in Part 2, I’ll show you how to move from a pile of ideas to a structured, compelling presentation that actually lands.

Shine on. We need your light! Bronwyn

Friends, I’m thrilled to share that the podcast is back for Season 6 — and we’re kicking things off with a powerhouse conversation that I cannot wait for you to hear.

This season is about sharpening our communication edge, nourishing our creativity, and finding new ways to thrive in a world that seems busier (and noisier) than ever. And who better to launch with than Natalie Nixon?

My guest today is Natalie Nixon, PhD — creativity strategist, president of Figure 8 Thinking, and one of the most generous, provocative thinkers I know. Natalie has spent her career helping leaders and organizations unlock creativity as a strategic advantage. She’s the author of The Creativity Leap and her brand-new book Move. Think. Rest.:Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time, which reframes how we think about productivity, burnout, and flourishing.

In our conversation, we dive into:

• Why “real rest” is a radical act — and why most of us have never actually witnessed it.

• How daydreaming and procrastination aren’t signs of laziness but tools for sharper thinking.

• What Taylorism (the stopwatch-on-the-factory-floor era) has to do with our guilt around taking breaks.

• The Motor Framework — Natalie’s elegant approach to work rooted in move, think, rest.

• The difference between Chronos time (clock time) and Kairos time (time outside of time — the magic moments).

• Why intuition is not woo-woo, but actually grounded in neuroscience and the vagus nerve.

• Practical rituals to bring creativity back into your workflow: from Bill Gates’ “think weeks” to gamifying daydreaming.

• How rethinking meetings can transform culture (Zapier’s no-meeting week, question-storming, the law of two feet).

• The power of collective effervescence — how joy with others fuels our best work.

Want links to resources mentioned in the show? Head on over to my Substack!

Shine on, my friend. We need your light!

Today I am talking with the sensational Shira Gill about her gorgeous new book, Lifestyled: Your Guide to a More Organized and Intentional Life.

Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert and bestselling author with a minimalist philosophy. She has inspired thousands of people to clear clutter from their homes and lives, and developed a process and toolkit that anyone can employ, regardless of budget, space, or lifestyle. In addition to LifeStyled, Shira is the author of Minimalista and Organized Living, and has been featured in 100+ print and media outlets including Good Morning America, Architectural Digest, Vogue, Real Simple, and The New York Times.

For her latest book, Shira interviewed some of the most intentional, organized people on the planet and found there were three KEY themes running through each of their lives. Fascinated, and inspired by what she had learned, she began to apply these same themes in her own life, and watched the subsequent transformation.

Lifestyled gives us access to these themes, along with the systems and habits that will unlock a more intentional life.

Here’s how to find Shira:

Links:

www.shiragill.com

@shiragill

Newsletter + Community

Books:

Organized Living

Minimalista

LifeStyled

This conversation with Shira was so clarifying, I’ve decided to wind down Season 5 in order to regroup and recharge on the podcast front. I will pick it up again in early 2025.

So grateful for your time and your presence.

Shine on, my friend. We need your light!B