Best Foster 50 Challenge Podcasts (2025)

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73: Own Your Genius: Reclaim Confidence Beyond Imposter Phenomenon 6:16

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1d ago6:16

6:16

Discover how the “Imposter Phenomenon” holds high-achieving women back—and learn actionable strategies to reclaim your confidence. In this episode, Sharon Ehrlich, leadership expert and executive coach, unpacks the origins of intellectual phoniness, explores how systemic bias fuels self-doubt, and shares three proven exercises, Evidence Backlog, Pe…

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53: Summer Reading for the Soul - Thom’s Top 5 Books 10:13

8d ago10:13

10:13

Thom shares five meaningful book recommendations to inspire self-reflection, healing, and human connection this summer – not just for teachers, but for everyone.

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72: Neuroinclusive Leadership: How to Unlock 30% More Innovation in Your Team 6:59

14d ago6:59

6:59

Unlock the power of neuroinclusive leadership in this episode of Living While Leading. Discover why designing for cognitive diversity boosts team innovation by up to 30%, learn a simple “Communication Preference Pulse” mini-challenge you can run tomorrow, and get expert tips on creating inclusive meetings, workspaces, and rituals. Ready to elevate …

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52: Five Ways to Truly Reset This Summer 5:47

22d ago5:47

5:47

In this restorative episode, Thom Stecher offers five powerful reminders for educators to slow down, unplug, and embrace true self-care this summer.

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71: Master Multigenerational Teams: 5 Proven Strategies for Cross-Gen Collaboration 7:05

29d ago7:05

7:05

Harness the power of age diversity in “Master Multigenerational Teams,” where leadership expert Sharon Ehrlich reveals five proven strategies to transform generational gaps into collaborative superpowers. Discover how simple shifts, like tailoring communication channels, reverse mentoring, and “Five-Word Friday” rituals, boost engagement by up to 5…

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51: Staying Grounded in These Challenging Times 7:43

1M ago7:43

7:43

This episode is a gentle yet powerful invitation to reclaim your attention, show up with intention, and speak up for what matters most– even when it feels the most challenging.

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50: What is Essential in Education? 8:55

2M ago8:55

8:55

Thom Stecher reflects on what remains essential in education—building relationships, inspiring purpose, and serving the greater good—after more than 50 years of experience.

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70: 6-Step Career Clarity Blueprint: Crush Unspoken Expectations & Fast-Track Your Success 7:16

2M ago7:16

7:16

Discover how unspoken expectations are quietly sabotaging your success—and learn Sharon Ehrlich’s Six-Step Blueprint to Future-Proof Your Career to transform hidden assumptions into crystal-clear agreements. In this episode, you’ll get actionable strategies for high-performing women to set realistic deadlines, negotiate like a leader, and turn setb…

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49: Service is Healing 9:34

2M ago9:34

9:34

In this heartfelt episode, Thom Stecher shares a deeply personal story of injury, loss, and the unexpected healing power of service. Through reflection and lived experience, he reminds us that when our burdens feel heaviest, offering care to someone else may be the very thing that helps lighten our own.…

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69: How High-Performing Women Transform Their Careers Using Communication “Dials” to Accelerate Growth 5:54

2M ago5:54

5:54

Master the Four Communication Dials and fast‑track your rise in today’s competitive workplace. In this episode of Living While Leading, we explore the four key communication styles every woman in leadership needs: Analytical, Empathic, Directive, and Visionary, and reveal the 90‑Second Dial Check, a quick‑start strategy to own any meeting. Perfect …

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Getting Pets Adopted from Foster Homes 24:50

3M ago24:50

24:50

Foster homes are great for pets, but they’re also a marketing goldmine. Learn about creating a process to market pets in foster homes and get them adopted- right from the couch. PLEASE NOTE: Office Hours have been changed due to the Memorial Day holiday. They will now be Mondays, May 5, 12, 19, and Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 12pm PT/3pm ET. GUESTS:…

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How to Find New Fosters in Your Community 32:17

3M ago32:17

32:17

Tired of asking the same people over and over to foster? This episode is all about fresh recruitment ideas and proven ways to bring in new faces from all parts of your community. PLEASE NOTE: Office Hours have been changed due to the Memorial Day holiday. They will now be Mondays, May 5, 12, 19, and Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 3pm ET/12pm PT GUESTS:…

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48: The Roots of SEL: Thom’s Version 23:58

3M ago23:58

23:58

Thom’s historical perspective on SEL. SEL has always been around; we’ve just called it something different.

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All About the Foster 50 Challenge 17:12

3M ago17:12

17:12

Welcome to the Foster 50 Challenge! Thank you for joining us on this important journey to grow your foster network programming. In our first episode, you’ll hear real talk about what actually works to build a foster program that scales and sustains. We’ll also discuss the important checkpoints of the Foster 50 program to prepare you for grant submi…

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Make Foster Onboarding Work for You 18:33

3M ago18:33

18:33

Let’s talk about low-barrier foster onboarding! What works, what doesn’t, and how to make it simple enough that people actually sign up and stay involved. PLEASE NOTE: Office Hours have been changed due to the Memorial Day holiday. They will now be Mondays, May 5, 12, 19, and Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 12pm PT/3pm ET. HOSTS: Kristen Hassen, Princip…

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47: Diversity is Life 5:43

3M ago5:43

5:43

In this powerful episode, Thom Stecher draws on 51 years in education to unpack the growing discomfort around words like diversity, equity, and inclusion. With honesty and heart, he challenges the narrative and offers a grounding truth: diversity isn’t a debate—it’s a fact of life and an essential part of being human.…

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68: The Silent Dream Killer: How Negative Thoughts Hold You Back 7:18

4M ago7:18

7:18

This episode addresses the pervasive issue of negative thoughts. From personal experience, Sharon explores how self-doubt can hinder professional growth, particularly for high-achieving women. She offers practical strategies to reframe negative thinking, including gratitude practices and affirmations, and emphasizes that success isn't about perfect…

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67: Social Media Strategies for Women Leaders 6:27

4M ago6:27

6:27

Sharon Ehrlich, host of Living While Leading, shares insights on leveraging social media for leadership impact. She shares her LinkedIn success, including doubling her clients and winning speaking gigs. She advises leaders to prioritize authenticity over metrics, stay aware of audience reach, and avoid comparing themselves to social media stars. Co…

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66: Is Your Leadership Ready for 2025? The Great Work Reinvention 7:27

4M ago7:27

7:27

Sharon Ehrlich explores the evolving work landscape in 2025, addressing challenges leaders face in a rapidly changing environment. She discusses the shift from traditional 9-to-5 models to flexible, outcome-focused approaches, emphasizing the importance of employee engagement and well-being. Sharon offers strategies for maintaining team cohesion in…

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65: Authentic Leadership Secrets: How Heart-Based Strategies Empower High-Performing Women 5:41

5M ago5:41

5:41

Are you a high-achieving woman feeling the pressure to balance performance with genuine connection? This episode dives into the power of heart-based leadership, revealing how authenticity can drive meaningful success and create a thriving workplace. Discover practical strategies to move beyond metrics and lead purposefully, building trust, loyalty,…

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64: Invisible Ladders: Career Strategies for Ambitious Women 6:37

6M ago6:37

6:37

Sharon Ehrlich, host of Living While Leading, explores the transformative power of networking for women's career advancement. She challenges the misconception that networking is self-serving by sharing a client's journey from reluctance to embracing meaningful connections. Sharon offers strategies for effective networking at various career stages, …

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63: The Lunch That Launched a Career: Shocking Networking Secrets from a Global Tech Leader 27:54

6M ago27:54

27:54

Dorothee Ritz, Senior Vice President and Global Leader at Kyndryl, discusses networking mastery with Sharon Ehrlich, host of the Living While Leading podcast. With more than 30 years of digital transformation experience, Dorothee explores networks' crucial role in shaping her career path. She provides practical advice on building and maintaining pr…

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I have terminal cancer but 'I'm as happy as ever’ 9:02

7M ago9:02

9:02

By BBC Radio 4

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62: Redefining Success: How High-Achieving Women Can Uncover Hidden Victories 4:31

7M ago4:31

4:31

In this mini-episode, Sharon Ehrlich explores the concept of hidden victories. She shares a coaching experience with a high-achieving client who felt unsuccessful despite notable accomplishments and challenges listeners to redefine success by recognizing often-overlooked achievements and personal growth. The episode encourages listeners to focus on…

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61: Women at the Top: Strategies for Professional Growth and Organizational Inclusion 38:29

7M ago38:29

38:29

In this episode, I speak with Sonja Aboulez, the Executive Vice President of the Parcel Business at Austrian Post (Österreichische Post AG) She shares her journey from her early days at IBM to spearheading transformational initiatives for numerous multinational organizations. We explore the challenges women face in leadership, including those they …

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60: LinkedIn Secrets for Professional Women to Transform Your Network in Just 10 Minutes a Day 6:36

8M ago6:36

6:36

Host Sharon Ehrlich explores LinkedIn's transformative power for professional women in this episode. She shares personal experiences demonstrating how regular engagement on the platform can create unexpected opportunities such as partnerships, collaborations, and new connections. Sharon offers practical tips to enhance your LinkedIn presence, inclu…

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59: CEO of Austrian Airlines on Authenticity, Transparency, and Organizational Culture 31:58

9M ago31:58

31:58

In this episode of the Living While Leading podcast, host Sharon Ehrlich engages in a compelling conversation with Annette Mann, CEO of Austrian Airlines. The discussion centers on authentic leadership, particularly during challenging times. Annette shares her insights on maintaining authenticity and transparency within an organization, drawing fro…

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58: Craft Your Success Blueprint: A 7-Day Challenge 7:00

9M ago7:00

7:00

In this episode of "Living While Leading," host Sharon Ehrlich introduces the 7-Day Define Your Success Challenge, a transformative tool for women at various career stages. Sharon shares her journey of aligning career goals with core values, emphasizing the importance of strategic decision-making and mentorship. The challenge guides listeners throu…

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Best of Today: What should children learn? 39:51

9M ago39:51

39:51

The government has started a major review of the curriculum and assessment in England's schools, chaired by education policy expert Becky Francis. But how could we rethink England's curriculum and assessment? Today hears from schools across the country trying new ways of doing things from using AI in classrooms to a more skills based approach and l…

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57: Break the 'One More Thing' Habit to Elevate Your Executive Mindset 5:45

10M ago5:45

5:45

Unlock the secrets to effective leadership in this Living While Leading Podcast episode! Explore the "one more thing" mindset that often challenges women executives. Discover practical strategies for navigating workplace pressures, enhancing work-life balance, and fostering resilience. Tune in for expert insights that empower you to thrive in your …

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Today Listener Series: Young people and politics 9:20

10M ago9:20

9:20

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them. Herbie and Ayesha both voted for the first time this year. They wanted to look at the disconnect they believe exists between young people and politicians. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC S…

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Today Listener Series: NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpool 13:32

10M ago13:32

13:32

All this week we've been hearing stories brought to us by Today listeners. Dr Lisa Wright and Dr Mark Walton are both clinical psychologists, who work on Merseyside in the only NHS unit of its kind - where they are trying to cut criminal offending rates using therapy. It's not an alternative to prison - the NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpo…

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Today Listener Series: Is university worth it? 17:02

10M ago17:02

17:02

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them.Anna and Chloe - along with Chloe's 19 year-old daughter Pearl - wanted to ask "University: Is it worth it?" and interrogate the value of a university education in 2024.As part of our coverage, Today has exclusively seen a blueprint for the…

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56: Strategies for Women to Take Control and Achieve Their Goals and OWN THE ROOM 29:52

10M ago29:52

29:52

In this episode of the "Living While Leading" podcast, host Sharon Ehrlich takes the spotlight as a guest on Michelle B. Griffin's "Standout Women Live" show. Sharon shares her insights on the empowering concept of "owning the room," a framework designed to help women take control of their time and strategically pursue their goals. The discussion c…

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Today Listener Series: Where's my bus? 16:13

10M ago16:13

16:13

Earlier this year we gave listeners the chance to ask us to look at an issue for them. Martin and Sandra from Macclesfield, in East Cheshire called their application Where’s my bus? They both rely on the buses to get around and met on a Facebook group dedicated to their local bus service. The new government has plans to give local authorities more …

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Today Listener Series: The disappearing children 12:28

10M ago12:28

12:28

All this week the Today programme is looking at stories that have been brought to us by our listeners. Vanessa and Toby are parent governors at a secondary school in South London. They have noticed far fewer children and families where they live, and primary schools closing down as a result. Exclusive research for Today has shown that primary schoo…

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Garry Richardson's 50 years at the BBC 7:56

10M ago7:56

7:56

Garry Richardson has finished his last sports bulletin on Radio 4's Today programme - 50 years to the day since he started at the BBC. Garry is best known for his sporting interviews, but his career has ranged from climbing towers for Radio Oxford to singing with the great Buddy Greco. James Naughtie picks some of the highlights from Garry's half c…

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55: 5 Powerful Strategies for Professional Women to Overcome the Need to Please 7:02

11M ago7:02

7:02

In this episode of Living While Leading, host Sharon Ehrlich explores the pervasive issue of people-pleasing among high-performing professional women. She explores the cultural conditioning that drives this behavior and its detrimental effects on authenticity and career progression and offers five actionable strategies to break free from the cycle …

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54: How High-Performing Women Can Navigate Maternity Leave & Empower Their Career Transition 9:24

11M ago9:24

9:24

In this episode of "Living While Leading," host Sharon Ehrlich, a performance and empowerment coach for high-performing professional women, explores the complexities of navigating pregnancy and career transitions. Tune in for practical advice and effective communication strategies for expecting and returning mothers, addressing common challenges an…

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46: Fostering Resilience and Building Assets in Our At-Risk Youth EDUC 532 17:47

11M ago17:47

17:47

Scott Heydt and Jessie McFarland join Thom to discuss their graduate course on resiliency and asset building for at-risk youth. EDUC 532 is a part of Neumann University's Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Social Emotional Learning program. More information can be found ⁠here⁠. This course is designed to move our students from risk …

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53: Building Confidence: A Leader’s Approach to Empowerment 28:45

11M ago28:45

28:45

In this Living While Leading podcast episode, host Sharon Ehrlich explores overcoming imposter syndrome with guest Alex Gaudiani, Vice President of Global Marketing for Medtronic's Cardiac Surgery Operating Unit. Alex shares her journey, discussing societal and cultural factors contributing to imposter syndrome, and offers strategies for balancing …

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45: Culturally Responsive Teaching EDUC 505 16:22

12M ago16:22

16:22

Dawn Mader and Deb Moore join Thom to discuss their graduate course exploring culturally responsive teaching. EDUC 505 is a part of Neumann University's Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Social Emotional Learning program. More information can be found here. This course will include provide students with a framework for becoming cul…

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52: Public Speaking Tips Every Professional Woman Should Know 28:03

12M ago28:03

28:03

In this Living While Leading podcast episode, host Sharon Ehrlich welcomes Carol Cox, founder and CEO of Speaking Your Brand. They discuss the importance of discovering and embracing your authentic voice, whether in the workplace or on a larger stage. Carol shares her journey from technology and politics to founding her coaching company, emphasizin…

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51: Professional Women Can Master Assertive Speech Without Saying Sorry 9:12

1y ago9:12

9:12

In this episode of "Living While Leading," host Sharon Ehrlich discusses the common practice of over-apologizing among women executives. Discover how frequent apologies can erode confidence and authority in the workplace. Explore the underlying reasons for excessive apologizing and gain practical strategies for transforming apologies into assertive…

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Dr Clare Bailey Mosley: We want to honour Michael’s work 15:14

1y ago15:14

15:14

Radio 4 is marking Friday 12th as “Just One Thing Day” in celebration of Dr Michael Mosley’s life and legacy. Throughout the week, we’ve asked his friends and colleagues to tell us what change they might have made that was down to him. Speaking to Today’s Justin Webb, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley shares touching tributes, and reflects on his work, influe…

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50: AI or Unemployment: The Stark Choice Facing Women Leaders 29:31

1y ago29:31

29:31

In this episode Sharon Ehrlich, Founder & CEO of Living While Leading, engages in a compelling conversation with Dominique Rose Van-Winther, CEO and Chief AI Evangelist of Final Upgrade. They explore the critical topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on women leaders. Dominique shares her insights on the gender gap in AI adoption, em…

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49: Balancing Tech with Purpose: Insights from Siemens Austria’s CEO 26:58

1y ago26:58

26:58

In this episode of the "Living while Leading" podcast, host Sharon Ehrlich, an executive coach, engages in a compelling conversation with Patricia Neumann, CEO of Siemens Austria. Patricia shares her journey from studying economics to leading a major tech company, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, passion, and purpose in technology. She disc…

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48: Top Strategies for Women Executives to Overcome Personal and Perceived Limits 27:47

1y ago27:47

27:47

In this episode, Belinda Jurisic and Sharon Ehrlich dive deep into their experiences and insights on navigating career growth and leadership roles as women in the tech industry. Belinda shares her personal journey, highlighting the sacrifices she made along the way, such as moving to Singapore for her career. They discuss the importance of resilien…

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47: Challenges and Opportunities for Men in Supporting Women's Leadership 23:25

1y ago23:25

23:25

This episode is a recording of a live broadcast of the Living While Leading Podcast. In this episode Sharon discusses the challenges and opportunities for men in supporting women's leadership and development with her guest, Ross McLean, Vice President of Aiven, a Finnish software start-up company. They talk about personal experiences and strategies…

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44: Philosophical Foundations for Instructional Leadership EDUC 500 23:05

1y ago23:05

23:05

Mark Eisenhuth and Chris Palochak join Thom to discuss their graduate course exploring philosophical foundations for instructional leaders. EDUC 500 is a part of Neumann University's Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Social Emotional Learning program. More information can be found here.…