Ep 45: Stop Performing, Start Leading: Nervous System Leadership with Brian Bogert

If you’ve ever felt like you're performing leadership instead of living it—this episode is for you.

We’re back after a summer break with one of the most raw and radically honest conversations we’ve had yet—with human behavior strategist and leadership disruptor Brian Bogert.

This is not another productivity hack.

This is a masterclass in nervous system leadership—leading from identity, emotional regulation, and self-trust, not performance or pressure.

“If you don't know who you are, how do you know what you're actually leading?” – Brian Bogert

Brian breaks down why so many high-achievers burn out trying to earn approval through performance—and what it takes to lead with alignment, clarity, and conviction instead.

What We Cover:

• The trauma that rewired Brian’s nervous system—and how he turned pain into purpose
• Why emotional awareness is the gateway to sustainable success
• The hidden cost of performing leadership instead of embodying it
• The truth about self-abandonment and leadership burnout
• The difference between being liked and being aligned

Key Timestamps:

[2:14] – How Brian’s childhood trauma shaped his emotional resilience and identity

[4:13] – The moment he realized pain wasn’t his enemy—it was his teacher

[7:53] – What happens when leaders suppress pain and chase validation

[15:11] – The cost of leadership without embodiment: burnout and disconnection

[18:17] – Why nervous system regulation is the missing piece in performance

[35:18] – Brian’s “awareness equation” to lead without abandoning yourself

[42:39] – Three ways leaders handle emotion—and which one leads to peace

[45:06] – Why Brian stopped using the word “boundaries” (and what he says instead)

[1:02:33] – “I want anybody who’s listening…” Brian’s call to stop outsourcing your identity

Resources Mentioned:

Book Mentioned: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Work with Brian:

Brian’s website: https://brianbogert.com/

Flipping the Lid Podcast: https://flippingthelid.com/

Connect with Brian on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube

Work with Caroline:

Join the Soulful Healing Membership

Explore Retreats & 1:1 Leadership Coaching

Email: [e-mail]

My website: www.carolinebaird.com

Connect with Me on Instagram | LinkedIn |