In this episode, Amy and Jillian cut through the dense fog of self-help jargon and translate it back into… well, actual human language. From buzzwords like “holding space” and “embodiment” to phrases like “alignment,” “triggered,” and “shadow work,” they dig into why these terms became so popular, how they’re often misused, and the very real ways they can cause confusion, shame, or unintentional harm when taken out of context.

Together, they break down what these concepts were originally meant to describe, how the coaching industry has oversimplified or commercialized them, and what these ideas look like when practiced with integrity, cultural awareness, consent, and trauma-informed care. This conversation is grounded, accessible, and refreshingly honest—an antidote to the mystical-sounding language that can make personal growth feel intimidating or exclusive.

You’ll walk away with clearer definitions, practical alternatives, and a deeper understanding of why real transformation has nothing to do with mastering the right vocabulary—and everything to do with presence, curiosity, and humanity. If you’ve ever wondered what these words really mean, or felt lost in the sea of spiritual and coaching buzzwords, this episode is your invitation to exhale and re-enter this work with clarity.

👉 Listen now and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. And if this episode resonates, please leave a 5-star review—it helps others find the show and join the conversation.

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ABOUT THE HOSTS

Amy Lombardo is the founder of the Brilliance Coaching Academy and author of the award-winning book Brilliance. With more than 25 years of experience as a coach, leadership mentor, and yoga teacher, Amy weaves together somatic practices, deep listening, and inclusive leadership tools to guide people into authentic transformation. Her work is rooted in the belief that each of us has an inner brilliance waiting to be expressed—and that when we nurture it, we change not only our own lives but the world around us.

Jillian Arena is a holistic life coach, founder of Intuitive Balance Coaching, and an alumna of the Brilliance Coaching Academy . She brings together coaching, Reiki, yoga, and end-of-life doula work to help people move through transitions with compassion, humor, and presence. Jillian’s style is both grounding and expansive, empowering clients to embrace the full spectrum of being human.

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BRILLIANCE COACHING ACADEMY

Want to go deeper into this work? Explore the Brilliance Coaching Academy—a trauma-aware, equity-centered coach-training program led by Amy Lombardo and Jillian Arena. It’s more than certification; it’s a living laboratory for conscious leadership, embodied transformation, and meaningful impact. Apply Now at https://coach-brilliance.com/.

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BRILLIANCE COLLECTIVE APP

Both Amy and Jillian are also guides inside the Brilliance Collective App—a space for growth and connection. It’s where daily inspiration meets real practice, where you can return to yourself in small, meaningful ways. Think of it as your pocket-sized invitation to pause and remember your brilliance anytime and anywhere.

MORE RESOURCES ON THE BRILLIANCE COLLECTIVE APP

In this very first guest episode of Human Not Hacked, Amy Lombardo sits down with her dear friend and colleague Sharna Fabiano — world-renowned tango dancer, author of Lead and Follow, coach, and artist — for a deeply human exploration of leadership, followership, and the myth of control.

Through the lens of dance, art, and embodied practice, Sharna has spent years challenging one of our culture’s most persistent illusions: that power means control, and that growth requires constant self-improvement. In this soulful conversation, she and Amy unpack what happens when we stop trying to master ourselves and instead learn to move with life, not against it.

Together, they explore how the anti-self-help philosophy—the heart of Human Not Hacked—intersects with Sharna’s groundbreaking work on leadership and followership. From the dance floor to the boardroom, they talk about what it means to lead with presence, to follow with awareness, and to allow space for the unexpected. They also dive into how control shows up somatically: in the body, in relationships, and in the subtle ways we tighten around our desire to “get it right.”

Sharna shares her lived experience of unlearning the toxic self-help conditioning that tells us we must be endlessly optimized, productive, and emotionally contained. She speaks candidly about the courage it takes to unhook from those narratives, to honor our imperfections, and to build a new relationship with power—one rooted in responsiveness, humility, and connection.

Sharna also reflects on her experience in the Brilliance Coaching Academy, discussing how the training helped her shed the “shoulds” of performance-based leadership and reconnect to her authentic voice as a coach and teacher.

You’ll hear about:
✨ The myth of control and how it limits creativity and collaboration
✨ Why “followership” is not submission but an act of trust and responsiveness
✨ The difference between marketed empowerment and embodied empowerment
✨ What happens in the body when we truly let go
✨ How leaders can cultivate presence, partnership, and play instead of perfection
✨ What it means to be in right relationship—with ourselves, with others, and with power

This episode is an invitation to step off the hamster wheel of self-improvement and step into something more fluid, relational, and real.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Sharna Fabiano is an artist, coach, author of Lead & Follow: The Dance of Inspired Teamwork and host of the Lead & Follow podcast. Her long study of improvisation and partnering has made her a specialist in Argentine Tango, for which she is recognized internationally. She brings her insights from the world of social dance into the professional sphere with an innovative training programs on leadership and followership for teams and organizations. Learn more at sharnafabiano.com.

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Amy Lombardo is the founder of the Brilliance Coaching Academy and author of the award-winning book Brilliance. With more than 25 years of experience as a coach, leadership mentor, and yoga teacher, Amy weaves together somatic practices, deep listening, and inclusive leadership tools to guide people into authentic transformation. Her work is rooted in the belief that each of us has an inner brilliance waiting to be expressed—and that when we nurture it, we change not only our own lives but the world around us.

Jillian Arena is a holistic life coach, founder of Intuitive Balance Coaching, and an alumna of the Brilliance Coaching Academy . She brings together coaching, Reiki, yoga, and end-of-life doula work to help people move through transitions with compassion, humor, and presence. Jillian’s style is both grounding and expansive, empowering clients to embrace the full spectrum of being human.

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BRILLIANCE COACHING ACADEMY

Want to go deeper into this work? Explore the Brilliance Coaching Academy—a trauma-aware, equity-centered coach-training program. Next cohort begins January 31st. Apply Now at coach-brilliance.com.