Podcasts

In this episode of Think Your Way to an Epic Life, Coach Schug and Dr. Ron Stotts reveal the powerful idea behind “The Maple Tree Moment” — a life-altering experience that reshaped Dr. Ron’s entire meaning of leadership, impact, and legacy. If you're a leader, entrepreneur, or creator who feels pulled between short-term demands and the deeper purpose you know you're meant to fulfill… this conversation will hit home. 🌱 What kind of ancestor are you becoming? 🌳 What world are you leaving behind for generations you’ll never meet? In this episode, we explore: - The Quarterly Trap — Why short-term thinking is crippling modern leadership - The Japanese Maple Awakening — Dr. Ron’s emotional vision that reframed his entire purpose - Redefining Success — Why true leadership goes far beyond profit - The Ripple Effect — How conscious leaders shape humanity through everyday interactions - Legacy Questions — Practical prompts to align your leadership with long-term impact Packed with research from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, the Long Now Foundation, and more, this episode blends neuroscience, leadership strategy, emotional storytelling, and ancient wisdom into one of our most profound conversations yet. 🎧 What You’ll Walk Away With - A new framework for leadership success - Insight into how your daily decisions shape the future - Practical reflection exercises to reconnect with your purpose - The motivation to become an ancestor future generations will thank 🌟 Want Support on Your Leadership Journey? 📅 Schedule a complimentary discovery call: • With Kara: zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall • With Ron: ronstottsclientscheduling.as.me 📚 Research Referenced Washington University • Harvard Medical School • MIT Sloan • McKinsey • UCLA (Hal Hershfield) • Long Now Foundation • Future of Work Institute • Northwestern (Adam Waytz) • Gallup • B-Corp Movement • MIT Collective Intelligence • HeartMath Institute • Presencing Institute • And more.

In today’s episode we sit down with Emily Cole, co-owner of Fans First Entertainment and a driving force behind the world-famous Savannah Bananas. You may know the Bananas for their bold yellow tuxedos, unforgettable fan experience, and internet-breaking baseball, but today we go deeper—into purpose, family, and a mission much bigger than the game itself. Emily shares her and Jesse's journey in building a movement that puts people first—creating joy, connection, and memories that last. But this episode shines even brighter because of Emily’s heart for something beyond baseball: foster care and adoption. We talk about the creation of Bananas Foster, the nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster families and bringing more children into safe, loving homes. Emily opens up about the calling that led her and Jesse into fostering, what the system desperately needs, and how the platform of the Savannah Bananas is being used for good that matters. Whether you're a Bananas fan, a parent, a leader, or someone curious about how joy and purpose can collide—you’re going to love this conversation. 💛 Topics We Covered Fans First Philosophy & how it transformed entertainment The Cole family's journey into fostering & adoption The mission behind Bananas Foster Turning passion into real-world impact Joy, service, and building community through sports 📍 Connect with Bananas Foster & Emily • Bananas Foster: bananasfoster.org • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSavBananas • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emcole3/?hl=en

Burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s often the turning point that leads to a leader’s greatest breakthrough. In this episode of Leadership on the Leading Edge, Kara and Dr. Ron Stotts unpack the real causes of burnout, the hidden beliefs that keep high achievers stuck, and the transformational inner work that helps leaders reclaim peace without sacrificing their edge. Through powerful reflections, proven research, and real client stories, you’ll learn: ✨ Why burnout is more than exhaustion — and what it’s trying to tell you ✨ The three levels of awareness leaders move through before they finally shift ✨ How hidden beliefs like perfectionism, pressure, and over-responsibility drive burnout ✨ Personal + professional ways burnout shows up (often before we notice it) ✨ A guided sentence-completion exercise to reveal what you’ve been avoiding ✨ Real breakthrough stories from leaders who rebuilt their lives and careers ✨ The proven pathway to healing burnout at the root — not just coping with it You’ll also hear inspiring transformations from leaders who rebuilt their energy, reconnected with what matters, and learned a new, sustainable way to succeed. If burnout has been whispering (or shouting) for your attention… this episode is your invitation to pause, breathe, and choose a new way forward. 🔗 Want to Work With Kara or Ron? Ready for a breakthrough of your own? Our team works with a select group of high achievers ready to do the deeper work that leads to lasting peace and high performance. 📅 Schedule a complimentary discovery call: • With Kara: zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall • With Ron: ronstottsclientscheduling.as.me

What if one skill could make you 40% more effective as a leader—and almost no one is actually practicing it? In this episode, we break down the science behind self-awareness and why it’s the single strongest predictor of leadership success, business performance, and long-term growth. Backed by research from Harvard Business Review, Daniel Goleman, MIT, Stanford, and the Center for Creative Leadership, we explore how self-aware leaders outperform their peers in revenue growth, team performance, customer retention, innovation, and decision-making. You’ll learn: • Why 95% of leaders think they’re self-aware—but only 10–15% actually are • How self-awareness reduces strategic errors, emotional derailment, and burnout • Why emotional intelligence drives 58% of job performance • How self-awareness literally rewires your brain for better decisions • Why authentic leadership boosts engagement, retention, and creativity • How self-aware leaders create ripple effects across entire organizations Throughout the episode, we guide you through powerful sentence-completion exercises that help you uncover blind spots, recognize emotional patterns, and strengthen your internal leadership “GPS.” If you're an entrepreneur, executive, coach, or leader wanting to upgrade your mindset, increase your impact, and operate at a higher level—this episode is a deep dive into the research, neuroscience, and practices that create transformational results. If you'd like personalized insight into your leadership patterns or blind spots: 💬 Book a Free Discovery Call: zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall 🌐 Learn More: ronstotts.com Sources Mentioned in the Episode: • Harvard Business Review – Self-aware executives outperform peers by 40% • Dr. Tasha Eurich – 5,000+ leader self-awareness study • Stanford University – Default mode network & reflective learning • University of Rochester – Reflective learning increases retention • Mayo Clinic – Dopamine and learning • Center for Creative Leadership – Emotional derailment • Daniel Goleman – Emotional intelligence research • MIT Sloan – EQ and executive performance • Google Project Oxygen – Key traits of great leaders

Calm isn’t weakness — it’s power. In this episode of Leadership on the Leading Edge: The Inner Game of Lasting Success, Kara Schug and Dr. Ron Stotts reveal how your breath can become your greatest leadership superpower. When pressure rises, most leaders rely on control or speed — but the real edge comes from learning how to regulate your nervous system through conscious breathing. You’ll discover: 🧠 The 3 levels of awareness that shape your stress response 💨 How your breathing patterns impact your leadership presence 🪷 3 simple, science-backed breathwork tools (Box Breathing, Coherent Breathing, and Breath + Intention Reset) you can use before meetings, decisions, or tough conversations ✨ What happens when calm becomes your default state — personally and professionally Key Takeaway: You can’t out-hustle stress. But you can master it — and when you do, you unlock clarity, trust, and powerful leadership presence. 🎯 Work with Ron & Kara 💬 Book a Free Discovery Call: zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall 🌐 Learn More: ronstotts.com #Leadership #Breathwork #MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #StressManagement #RonStotts #KaraSchug #CalmIsPower #ConsciousLeadership

Many high achievers reach incredible success—yet still feel something’s missing. In this powerful conversation, we explore why traditional definitions of success often leave us unfulfilled, and how true growth begins when we turn inward. Join Kara Schug and Dr. Ron Stotts of Next Level Coaching as they reveal how to move beyond external achievements and uncover the inner patterns that hold you back from deeper fulfillment and purpose. ✨ Go deeper after today’s session: 💬 Book a Free Discovery Call: zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall 🌐 Learn More: ronstotts.com 📩 Email: kara@karaschug.com | ron@ronstotts.com #NextLevelCoaching #ConsciousLeadership #PersonalGrowth #SuccessWithoutStruggle #InnerGame #LeadershipDevelopment #Mindset #Fulfillment #HighPerformance #SelfAwareness

What if the key to leading powerful, innovative teams isn’t control — but trust? In this episode of Think Your Way to an Epic Life, Kara Schug and Dr. Ron Stotts explore what happens when leaders evolve beyond fear-based management and step into conscious leadership — where collaboration, trust, and empowerment fuel performance and innovation. 💡 You’ll discover: - Why traditional “top-down” leadership stifles creativity and engagement - The neuroscience behind trust, collaboration, and high-performance teams - How conscious leaders create psychological safety and unleash innovation - The surprising paradox of leadership: giving away power makes you more influential - Practical tools to move from micromanagement to empowerment This isn’t just theory — it’s science-backed transformation for real-world results. If you’re ready to grow as a conscious, empowered leader, this conversation will change the way you lead forever. 🎧 Presented by: Kara Schug & Dr. Ron Stotts 💬 Podcast: Think Your Way to an Epic Life 📞 If you're curious about working with us directly, you can schedule a complimentary consultation with Kara at zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall or with Ron at ronstottsclientscheduling.as.me #ConsciousLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #NeuroscienceOfLeadership #TrustBasedLeadership #Entrepreneurship #ThinkYourWayToAnEpicLife

What do billion-dollar CEOs know that others don’t? It’s not just strategy — it’s the inner game of leadership. In this powerful episode of the Success Without Burnout series, Dr. Ron Stotts and Kara Schug reveal why healing your inner world is the true key to authentic, sustainable success. You’ll discover how unresolved emotional patterns quietly limit your growth — and how to break free through awareness and breathwork. Through guided breathing exercises and grounded conversation, they’ll help you calm your nervous system, unlock subconscious blocks, and start rewiring your brain from burnout and stress toward clarity, confidence, and fulfillment. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why you can’t “outhustle” unresolved emotional wounds - How breathwork opens the door to deeper awareness - Tools to release burnout and reclaim balance - Why true leadership begins from within If you’re ready to move beyond overwork and lead from a place of clarity, peace, and purpose — this conversation is for you. 💬 Book a Discovery Call: https://zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall 🌐 Learn more: Dr. Ron Stotts — ronstotts.com #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #MentalHealth

What do billion-dollar CEOs know that others don’t? It’s not just strategy — it’s the inner game of leadership. In this powerful episode of the Success Without Burnout series, Dr. Ron Stotts and Kara Schug reveal why healing your inner world is the true key to authentic, sustainable success. You’ll discover how unresolved emotional patterns quietly limit your growth — and how to break free through awareness and breathwork. Through guided breathing exercises and grounded conversation, they’ll help you calm your nervous system, unlock subconscious blocks, and start rewiring your brain from burnout and stress toward clarity, confidence, and fulfillment. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why you can’t “outhustle” unresolved emotional wounds - How breathwork opens the door to deeper awareness - Tools to release burnout and reclaim balance - Why true leadership begins from within If you’re ready to move beyond overwork and lead from a place of clarity, peace, and purpose — this conversation is for you. 💬 Book a Discovery Call: https://zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall 🌐 Learn more: Dr. Ron Stotts — ronstotts.com #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #MentalHealth

High achievers often believe that more hustle leads to more success — but what if your unhealed wounds are holding you back? In this powerful episode, Dr. Ron Stotts and Kara Schug reveal why healing is the missing link in leadership and success. They guide you through simple yet profound breathing exercises designed to help unlock subconscious patterns, calm the nervous system, and begin to rewire your brain from burnout and stress to joy and fulfillment. Setup a discover call below: - https://zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall Ron Stotts - ronstotts.com This is the next installment in the “Success Without Burnout” series, where you’ll learn how to build a thriving, purpose-driven life without sacrificing your well-being. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why you can’t “outhustle” unresolved emotional wounds - How breathwork opens pathways to deeper awareness - Practical tools for releasing burnout and finding balance - How true leadership begins from within If you’re ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and peace — this episode is for you.