28. Lies My Ego Told Me: Cathyrine (Lilo) Armandie on Redfining Success

In this episode of Limitless, host Tracy Poizner welcomes Cathyrine “Lilo” Armandie, retired U.S. Air Force officer, combat aviator, branding executive, and host of the podcast Lies My Ego Told Me. From commanding 600 people in a high-stakes military role to confronting burnout and choosing a new life of alignment, Lilo shares a raw and refreshing perspective on leadership, identity, motherhood, and walking away from “success” when it’s no longer serving you.This conversation is a masterclass in mental health advocacy, high-performance detox, and rewriting the script on what it means to be strong. Lilo’s journey from decorated commander to storyteller and purpose-driven entrepreneur is a reminder that our greatest strength is not pushing harder—it’s listening inward and leading with truth.The story behind Lies My Ego Told Me—and why it hit like a ton of bricks “You can have it all” and other lies high performers believeWhy Lilo walked away from a 20-year military career at its peakThe difference between mentors and sponsors—and why both matterBurnout, motherhood, identity, and the danger of performance-based worthWhy mental health needs more than lip service in leadership cultureThe epidemic of suicide in the military (22 per day) and why we’re not talking about itLife after leaving the military: navigating fulfillment vs. chasing successHyper-focus, high-functioning anxiety, and the path to conscious entrepreneurshipHuman design, personal expansion, and the gift of letting go“Just because you can do something—and do it well—doesn’t mean you have to.”“Now, I’m chasing fulfillment. I don’t need to be everything anymore.”“Success cost me everything I didn’t think I was allowed to want.”“We lose more service members to suicide than to combat. That’s an epidemic.”Cathyrine Armandie—known as Lilo—is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, combat aviator, and former commander of 600 personnel. Today, she is the founder and CEO of GauxMax, a boutique PR and branding firm, and the host of the podcast Lies My Ego Told Me, which explores mental health, identity, and truth-telling through storytelling. A recovering high performer and fierce advocate for veterans and mental wellness, Lilo is redefining what strength looks like—from the inside out.Connect with Lilo:🎧 Listen to Lies My Ego Told Me on all major platforms🌐 GauxMax Agency📱 LinkedIn | InstagramPlay and adventure are essential elements in expanding your potential. Our travel partner, Particles of Adventure, will make your next adventure dream a reality! Let them take care of all the details, from flights and transfers to finding your dream accomodation anywhere in the world. Contact them now with the code "LIMITLESS" for a free, no-obligation quote on a holiday unlike any other.🌍 Visit https://particlesofadventure.com/.LIMITLESS, hosted by Tracy Poizner, brings together visionaries, rebels, and innovators exploring human potential at the outer edge of consciousness, business, healing, and transformation.📲 Follow Tracy on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Substack💌 Subscribe to Limitless on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.Produced by Neil Haley | Music by Danny ColombyConnect with Tracy for High-Impact Concierge Coaching to transform your professional & personal life: ⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠If you loved this episode, rate and review LIMITLESS on your favorite podcast platform! 🔔⭐ Subscribe & Leave a Review!