In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with executive coach and author Rebecca Arora to explore somatic intelligence, or the intelligence of the body, and why it matters so much for leadership, communication, and connection.

Rebecca works with senior leaders at companies like Google, Salesforce, and IDEO, helping them move beyond “head-only” leadership and use posture, pace, presence, and physical awareness to lead with more empathy, courage, and impact. Drawing on her new book, Somatic Intelligence, she shares how our bodies influence executive presence, resilience, creativity, and the way others experience us.

Together, Ilene and Rebecca unpack the leadership archetypes many people unconsciously fall into, the role posture plays in empowerment and connection, and why learning to notice and shift your body can change the way you think, feel, and lead.

This conversation is especially relevant for leaders, coaches, and high-achieving professionals who spend a lot of time in their heads and want to lead in a way that feels more grounded, human, and sustainable.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

Can tapping actually help calm your nervous system? In this In the Moment episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer is joined by SVChange coach Lisa Zigarmi to share one of her favorite tools for reducing stress and finding calm: tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

This conversation is part of our mini-series Inside the Coach Toolbox, where Ilene sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the real-life practices they rely on when life feels stressful.

Lisa explains how tapping works, why it helps the body feel safe, and what the science says about its impact on the nervous system. By gently tapping on specific points on the upper body, people can help regulate stress, lower cortisol, and allow emotions to move through rather than get stuck.

This episode is a grounded introduction to a simple, practical tool you can use before a difficult conversation, after a stressful moment, or anytime you need to reconnect with calm in just a few minutes.

_______

Inside the Coach Toolbox is a special In the Moment mini-series from What’s Possible, where Ilene Schaffer sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the real-life practices they use to regulate stress, manage pressure, and stay grounded in high-stakes moments.

These short episodes offer practical, science-backed tools you can use immediately, whether you’re leading a team, navigating uncertainty, or simply wanting to show up with more steadiness and intention.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with leadership and executive coach Darren Barrett to explore what leaders can learn from the world of elite sport.

Darren’s background in executive leadership and his current studies in sports psychology led him to a simple but powerful framework: train, perform, recover. In this conversation, Ilene and Darren explore how leaders can begin thinking of themselves as business athletes: people who need to prepare intentionally, show up when it matters most, and recover well enough to sustain performance over time.

They discuss the hidden cost of staying in constant “performance mode,” why recovery is often the missing piece for high-achieving leaders, and how stress and anxiety can quietly undermine judgment, creativity, and presence. This episode offers both mindset shifts and practical ways for leaders to perform at a high level without sacrificing their health, energy, or long-term effectiveness.

If you’re a leader, coach, or professional trying to do meaningful work without burning out, this conversation is for you.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

In this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer is joined by SVChange coach Shannon Polly to explore an unexpected but powerful path to calm: creativity.

This conversation is part of our mini-series Inside the Coach Toolbox, where Ilene sits down with SVChange coaches to share the real-life practices they rely on when life feels stressful.

For Shannon, those practices include knitting, watercolor painting, and making music. These creative outlets that help her slow down, focus, and reconnect with herself. Together, she and Ilene talk about why learning something new can be surprisingly regulating, how creative activities support flow and well-being, and why play matters just as much for adults as it does for kids.

If you’re looking for a gentler way to reset your mind and nervous system, this episode is a reminder that calm doesn’t always come from doing less, sometimes it comes from making something with your hands.

Learn more from Shannon on her YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@ShannonPolly/

_____

Inside the Coach Toolbox is a special In the Moment mini-series from What’s Possible, where Ilene Schaffer sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the real-life practices they use to regulate stress, manage pressure, and stay grounded in high-stakes moments.

These short episodes offer practical, science-backed tools you can use immediately, whether you’re leading a team, navigating uncertainty, or simply wanting to show up with more steadiness and intention.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

AI is moving fast. In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with AI consultant Alex Lee for a thoughtful, practical conversation about how to thrive in the age of AI.

Rather than focusing on tools, prompts, or technical skills, Alex makes the case that the future belongs to people who can bring something deeply human to AI: taste, discernment, emotional intelligence, and the ability to know what “good” looks like. Instead of trying to keep up with every new AI tool, Alex argues that we should focus on becoming better tastemakers, or people who can use AI to amplify their unique voice, values, and perspective.

Together, Ilene and Alex explore AI anxiety, human flourishing, psychological safety at work, brand integrity, and the soft skills that will matter most as AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives. Alex also offers two practical steps listeners can take right now: invite AI to the party by using it on real tasks, and ask AI for multiple perspectives so you can practice discernment and choice.

This conversation is for leaders, coaches, HR professionals, creatives, and anyone who wants to stay relevant, grounded, and fully human as technology continues to evolve.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

In this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer is joined by SVChange coach Niels Gott to share a simple but powerful technique for calming your nervous system in moments of stress.

This conversation is part of our mini-series Inside the Coach Toolbox, where Ilene sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the practices they personally rely on when life feels overwhelming.

Niels introduces a three-step reset called “Name, Breathe, Widen.” The process begins by naming what you’re feeling, which helps engage the prefrontal cortex and create distance from the stress response. Techniques like this work because they activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping us regain perspective and choice even in chaotic moments.

If you’re looking for a quick way to reset your mind and body during a stressful day, this episode offers a practical tool you can use immediately.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

What if productivity wasn’t about doing more, but about creating the right conditions for focus, flow, and meaningful work? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Steven Puri, CEO of The Sukha flow state app, to explore a radically different way of thinking about productivity, leadership, and modern work.

Steven shares lessons from a career that spans engineering, Hollywood visual effects, studio leadership, and tech startups, and how failure, trust, and flow states shaped his perspective along the way. Together, Ilene and Steven unpack why the most important work doesn’t happen in the minutes between meetings, how leaders can create conditions for deep focus, and why understanding how people actually work is essential in a hybrid and remote world.

This conversation is both thoughtful and practical, offering a “toolkit for 2025” filled with ideas leaders can use right now to support healthy productivity, creativity, and fulfillment at work.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

In this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer sits down with SVChange coach Alex Jack to explore practical, evidence-informed tools for calming your nervous system in real time.

This conversation is part of our new mini-series, Inside the Coach Toolbox, where Ilene interviews SVChange coaches about the practices they personally rely on when life feels overwhelming.

Drawing from positive psychology and lived experience, Alex shares five simple tools he uses regularly to reset stress quickly:

• Intentional breathing
• Music as emotional regulation
• Grounding through sensory awareness
• Movement and dance
• Connecting with someone you trust

From watching Planet Earth to standing barefoot on grass, Alex explains how small, accessible practices can shift your state in seconds and why these tools are backed by research, not just preference.

If you’re leading a team, navigating uncertainty, or simply feeling stretched thin, this short episode offers practical ways to return to calm and clarity, starting now.

___

Inside the Coach Toolbox is a special In the Moment mini-series from What’s Possible, where Ilene Schaffer sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the real-life practices they use to regulate stress, manage pressure, and stay grounded in high-stakes moments.

These brief, practical episodes offer science-backed tools you can use immediately — whether you're leading others or simply trying to show up as your best self.

- - - - - - -
Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.