Trust can be built or broken in a moment - and leaders set the tone. In this episode, we unpack what it means to extend trust as a deliberate leadership act, not just a reaction to someone's performance. We explore the trust formula, share real-world examples, and reveal how presence, tone, and energy often speak louder than words. You'll walk away with practical ways to build psychological safety, strengthen relationships, and lead with authenticity.

Your leadership doesn't end when the meeting ends. In this episode, we explore how your inner narrative shapes your outer impact, and how that impact echoes far beyond your words. From the emotional tone you carry to the culture you create, your leadership leaves a lasting imprint.

Join Simone and Jonna as they unpack how unseen forces like mindset, self-talk, and emotional presence influence how others feel around you. Whether your inner story brings calm or chaos, it sets the stage for trust, connection, and growth. Or confusion or disengagement.

They explore how to examine and reshape your inner dialogue so that your leadership echo is one of clarity, presence, and purpose.

Our inner narrative, the silent story we tell ourselves, shapes how we show up in every room, conversation, and decision. In this episode, Simone and Jonna explore how these narratives are formed, why they matter in leadership, and how to shift them when they hold us back. Through personal reflections and grounded research, they offer strategies to notice, name, and reframe your inner dialogue so it aligns with the leader you want to be. Because the most powerful leadership doesn't begin with action, it begins with awareness.

In this episode, Simone and Jonna explore what it really takes to lead when the path ahead is unclear. From letting go of the illusion of control to embracing curiosity as a leadership superpower, they offer practical ways to lead with confidence, not certainty. The conversation also touches on resilience, emotional intelligence, and how to create clarity and trust when nothing feels stable.

In this episode, Jonna and Simone explore the pause as a powerful leadership tool. The "pause" in leadership is a moment of intentional stillness supports clarity, presence, and more thoughtful decision-making. They discuss how pausing in conversation can sift communication from reactive to reflective, allowing space for others to feel seen and heard.

They also share how silence strengthens emotional intelligence and contributes to a leader's presence. This is not presented as a tactic but rather as a meaningful practice to lead with greater focus.

Feedback isn't a verdict - it's a mirror.

In this episode of Quest 2 the CORE, Simone and Jonna explore feedback as one of the most underused leadership superpowers. When delivered well, feedback doesn't just correct, it connects, clarifies, and accelerates growth.

They unpack:

• Why feedback is foundational to self-awareness
• The connections between emotional intelligence how we give and receive feedback
• Why not all feedback requires action
• The powerful distinction of using feedback as a mirror instead of a measure

With personal stories and practical takeaways this episode will help leaders build trust and elevate performance.

In this episode of Quest to the CORE, Jonna and Simone explore the deceptively simple yet transformative practice of asking better questions. As leaders, parents, and teammates, the questions we ask shape not only the conversations we have, but also the confidence and identity of those around us.

Together, they unpack the shift from being the "answer-giver" to becoming a more curious, reflective question-asker. You'll hear real-life stories, practical strategies, and a few surprising connections between leadership and parenting.

You'll learning:

• Better questions lead to better thinking
• How to build trust and empowerment through asking questions
• The difference between confidence-building and compliance-driving questions
• How to create psychological safety using curiosity
• One "pocket question" every leader should keep in mind

Whether you're leading a team, raising a child, or navigating your own growth, this episode will give you tools to elevate your impact, one question at a time.

Because when we ask better questions, we shape more than conversations - we shape culture.

In this episode of Quest 2 the CORE, Simone and Jonna explore the "R" in the C.O.R.E. framework: Reflection. Far from being passive pause, reflection is a powerful practice that refines instincts, strengthens presence, and builds leadership effectiveness from the inside out.

Simone shares a deeply personal story of uncovering hidden grief through reflection and how it reshaped her internal dialogue and energy. Jonna walks us through three types of reflective leadership -- goal-based, problem-based, and open reflection -- and explains why each is essential for growth.

Whether you journal, walk, talk it out, or sit in stillness, this conversation will challenge your assumptions about what it means to lead with intention. Because as Simone reminds us, "Reflection isn't a retreat from leadership. It's a return to it."