THIS Leader Podcast Â
64. Stop Feeding the Beast
April 28, 2026
"Things are so hard these days," "I'm busy," "Don't you just hate it when…"
Every time you hear yourself saying these words, STOP. Because these words are making your stress levels rise.Â
In this episode, I talk about the sneaky ways we feed our own stress, and why learning to stop is one of the most powerful leadership skills you can develop. Join me to reflect on ways to replace a few reactive self-sabotaging habits with proactive patterns.Â
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In this episode, Claire explores one of the most under-appreciated leadership skills there is: learning to pause, connect, and STOP feeding your own stress cycles. Through relatable personal stories and real science, she walks you through how we unconsciously rehearse and amplify the things that drain us — and what it costs us as leaders when we do.
We'll discuss how to catch stress early using your body as a signal. You'll discover practical tools for real-time regulation, and we'll explore the foundational philosophy that will finally make it all stick. The leaders who thrive don't have fewer stressors; they've just made a different choice.
"When we're spending all of our energy in a reactive state — fighting things we can't control, we have nothing left for the things we can. That is the real cost of feeding the beast."
64:Â Stop Feeding the Beast
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About your Host
Claire Laughlin, MA, Organizational Development Consultant
Hi! I'm Claire Laughlin, and I love helping leaders like you create workplaces where people truly thrive.
For over two decades, I've been rolling up my sleeves alongside teams and organizations, using hands-on methods that actually work (because let's face it - theory only gets you so far!).Â
I specialize in teaching leaders how to engage their teams, helping managers become more effective facilitators, and showing people how to work better together.
I'm also a master facilitator for the Six Types of Working Genius® - a fantastic tool that helps you understand and leverage your natural talents.
When I'm not helping leaders like you build happy, high-energy workplaces, I'm enjoying a hike in the forest with my dog Fiona, spending time with my family or curled up with a great book.
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Let's keep the party going!
We have tons of great episodes waiting for you! Check them out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
63. How to Get Unstuck with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson
Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right — putting in the work, building the skills — and still hitting the same walls? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and vertical development expert, to unpack the invisible operating system that's quietly driving your decisions, your reactions, and your leadership ceiling.
62. Engagement, Enablement, and Entitlement
You invested in them. You coached them, advocated for them, and showed up for them — and then they expected more than they'd earned. Sound familiar?
In this episode, we're naming the dynamic that so many leaders quietly struggle with, entitlement. And more importantly, we're talking about what you can do about it.
