Episodes

  • High Achieving Women and Mental Health: The Hidden Cost of Holding It All Together - with Dr. Kelly Dries

    High Achieving Women and Mental Health: The Hidden Cost of Holding It All Together - with Dr. Kelly Dries
    May 7 2026
    In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode creates space for a conversation that often goes unseen, especially among high achieving women. Leanna sits down with Dr. Kelly Dries, a strengths-based leadership coach, to explore the complex and often hidden relationship between ambition, success, and mental health. Together, they unpack what it really looks like to be high functioning on the outside while struggling internally. This conversation goes beyond surface-level discussions of burnout and productivity. It dives into the pressure to “hold it all together,” the identity of being the strong one, and the quiet belief that there isn’t room to not be okay. Dr. Dries shares her personal journey with depression, eating disorders, and recovery, and how those experiences shaped her work supporting high achieving women today. They also explore the importance of emotional awareness, self-trust, and creating space to reconnect with yourself in a world that rewards constant achievement. This episode is both honest and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt like you should be able to manage it all, or like there’s no room for your struggle, you are not alone. Content warning: this episode contains discussion around topics including suicide, self harm, death, cancer, and eating disorders. Please take care of yourself. If you need support, please reach out to someone you trust or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Connect with Kelly and learn more about her RISE Women’s Leadership Group at https://www.kellydries.com/. Connect with Leanna and sign up for a free Try Coaching session in May in observation of ICF’s International Coaching Week.
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    48 mins
  • What a Nail in My Tire Taught Me About Resilience, Gratitude, and Empowerment

    What a Nail in My Tire Taught Me About Resilience, Gratitude, and Empowerment
    May 2 2026
    What do you do when something goes wrong at the worst possible moment? In this episode, I'm sharing a story from earlier this week — a flat tire, pouring rain, and a coaching mastermind I didn’t want to be late to — and the one sentence that kept me from completely spiraling. That sentence: "This is my curriculum for today." It sounds simple, but the shift it creates is profound. When we hit an unexpected obstacle, most of us default to resistance — why me, why now, this always happens — and without even realizing it, we hand over our power to the situation. This reframe does the opposite. It cuts through the drama, puts you back in the driver's seat (pun intended), and opens the door to something most people don't expect to feel in a hard moment: gratitude and genuine power. In this episode I walk you through exactly what happened, how I handled it, and why the way we think about our circumstances determines not just how we feel, but how we show up — at work, at home, and everywhere in between. This one is for every high-achieving woman who has ever let a curveball derail her day, her mood, or her confidence. In this episode you'll learn: Why fighting against reality is always a losing battle — and what to do instead How one sentence can interrupt a panic spiral before it takes over The difference between things happening to you vs. for you How your thoughts directly shape your emotions and your ability to show up powerfully Why gratitude is accessible even in the most frustrating moments — and how to get there quickly Coaching is the thing that’s helped me choose more empowering sentences to support me in these tough moments. If you’d like to experience the power of coaching for yourself, join me in May to celebrate ICF’s International Coaching Week with a “Try Coaching” session. It’s the one time a year I offer free 1:1 coaching. Sign up here.
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    11 mins
  • From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Why High Achieving Women Feel Stuck and How to Take Back Control

    From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Why High Achieving Women Feel Stuck and How to Take Back Control
    Apr 30 2026
    What if the reason you feel overwhelmed isn’t just about your circumstances, but also how you’re thinking about them? In this episode, Leanna Laskey McGrath explores the shift from feeling stuck and out of control to becoming truly empowered in your life and leadership. Drawing from her own experience as a corporate executive and new mom, she shares how easy it is to fall into a pattern of overwhelm, even when you’ve created the life you thought you wanted. Through a powerful comparison of two women with identical circumstances but completely different experiences, Leanna reveals the real difference maker: mindset. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re operating from a disempowered place, the subtle ways it shows up in your thoughts and stories, and how to shift back into control, starting with what’s already within your power. If you’ve been feeling stuck, stretched thin, or like life is happening to you, this episode will help you reconnect with your agency and take your power back. 🎯 Ready to go from overwhelmed to empowered? Free “Try Coaching” sessions are available this May. Come experience the shift for yourself. Schedule Now!
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    16 mins
  • Three High Achieving Women on Choosing Themselves in Motherhood and Leadership - with Annemieke Rice and Andrea Palmer

    Three High Achieving Women on Choosing Themselves in Motherhood and Leadership - with Annemieke Rice and Andrea Palmer
    Apr 23 2026
    This episode is a candid, thought-provoking conversation with three executive mom friends: Leanna Laskey McGrath, Annemieke Rice, and Andrea Palmer, on what happens when high-achieving women can no longer rely on the same habits, identities, and definitions of success that once drove them. Together, they explore the shift from effort-based value to experience-based leadership, and why motherhood doesn’t diminish ambition, but transforms it. This conversation challenges the idea that success comes from pushing harder, and instead invites a more nuanced question: What actually matters in this season of your life? They discuss: Why “doing what’s right for you right now” is more powerful than planning for forever How motherhood expands your capacity and your leadership The redefinition of value beyond hard work and long hours Choosing presence over urgency (and why you’ll “lose the time” either way) The role of aligned environments in making success sustainable Turning up joy instead of trying to eliminate difficulty The idea that there isn’t one path to fulfillment, leadership, or contribution At its core, this episode is about self-trust, seasons, agency, and the courage to choose a version of success that reflects who you are now, not who you used to be. Connect with Annemieke here. Connect with Andrea here. Last call for April "Defining Enough” Mini-Sessions! If you are constantly feeling like you’re not giving enough at work and/or at home, join me for a free 45 minute mini session. You’ll walk away feeling a little lighter and a lot more empowered. Register now!
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    55 mins
  • Designing a Life You Actually Enjoy While Pursuing Big Goals: How High Achieving Mothers Can Work Hard and Still Love Their Lives - with Camille Jaramis

    Designing a Life You Actually Enjoy While Pursuing Big Goals: How High Achieving Mothers Can Work Hard and Still Love Their Lives - with Camille Jaramis
    Apr 16 2026
    What if enjoying your life wasn’t about changing your circumstances, but changing how you think about them? In this episode, Executive Coach Leanna Laskey McGrath sits down with Camille Jaramis, an Australian entrepreneur, full-time professional, and mom, who is intentionally building a life that reflects what matters most to her. She works very hard. She’s building a platform to support parents. She’s building her family and raising her kids. She’s living her life. But what stands out most isn’t everything she’s doing; rather, it’s how she’s thinking and approaching it all. Camille brings a grounded, intentional approach to life, work, and motherhood. She doesn’t wait for the perfect conditions to feel fulfilled. She takes ownership of how she spends her time, how she prioritizes, and how she experiences her life. She’s done the work to understand herself, and she uses that clarity to deliberately design a life she actually enjoys. This conversation explores the mindset behind that way of living. The belief that her life is hers to shape, that she can add real value to the world, and that hard work and enjoyment are not mutually exclusive. If you’re a high-achieving woman who wants to pursue meaningful goals and feel present and fulfilled in your life, this episode will challenge you to think differently about what’s possible. Check out what Camille is building to support parents and listen to her podcast here. Leanna is offering a free coaching mini session in the month of April. Book now!
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    39 mins
  • The Missing Piece in Women’s Health: Why Information Alone Doesn’t Drive Change - with MD + Life Coach Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb

    The Missing Piece in Women’s Health: Why Information Alone Doesn’t Drive Change - with MD + Life Coach Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb
    Apr 9 2026
    We’ve all heard plenty of advice when it comes to our health: what to eat, how to move, how to take care of ourselves. And for many high-achieving women, the challenge isn’t a lack of information… it’s actually following through. In this episode, Leanna is joined by Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb, a triple board-certified physician and certified life coach, to explore the missing piece in women’s health. We talk about the gap between knowing and doing, why traditional approaches often fall short, and what actually drives sustainable behavior change. This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice and into the mindset, patterns, and internal barriers that can keep even the most driven women feeling stuck. Dr. Garcia-Webb shares a more compassionate and realistic approach to health, one that supports long-term change without relying on willpower alone. If you’ve ever felt frustrated with your ability to stay consistent or wondered why “knowing better” hasn’t translated into doing better, this episode will give you a new perspective. Visit Dr. Meghan’s website and follow her YouTube channel for more information. Leanna is offering a free coaching mini session in the month of April. Book now!
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    40 mins
  • Why High Achieving Women Never Feel Like They’re Doing Enough (And How to Change It)

    Why High Achieving Women Never Feel Like They’re Doing Enough (And How to Change It)
    Apr 2 2026
    If you’ve ever ended a full, productive day and still thought “it’s not enough” or “I should’ve done more,” this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Executive Coach Leanna Laskey McGrath unpacks one of the most common (and invisible) patterns she sees in high-achieving women: the constant feeling of falling short, even when you’re doing everything right. The root issue? Most high achievers have never actually defined what “enough” means, so their brain keeps moving the goalposts to keep them focused. Through a powerful client story and practical coaching tools, Leanna explores: Why your default will always be “never enough” (and why that’s not your fault) How the “inner critic” or “drill sergeant” keeps you stuck in overdrive The difference between your absolute best and your relative best A simple daily practice to define success on your terms This episode will challenge how you think about productivity, performance, and self-worth, and help you start closing the gap between what you’ve done and what you believe you should have done. If you’re ready to feel more grounded, more intentional, and finally enough, this is your starting point. 🎯 Leanna is offering a limited number of free April mini sessions to get personalized support on defining enough. Sign up at coachleanna.com!
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    12 mins
  • Endometriosis Awareness Month: My Journey to Answers – and the Doctor Who Changed Everything – with Dr. Nicole Donnellan

    Endometriosis Awareness Month: My Journey to Answers – and the Doctor Who Changed Everything – with Dr. Nicole Donnellan
    Mar 26 2026
    So many women live with debilitating pain that no test can explain. This is Leanna’s story and her journey to finding answers and solutions. Despite multiple ER visits, specialist referrals, scans, and procedures, everything continued to come back “normal.” With no clear answers, she began to question her own experience—and eventually, like so many women, started to accept the pain as something she might have to live with. In this deeply personal episode, Leanna shares her six-year journey to a diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis, and the moment everything changed when she was finally referred to a doctor who listened differently and was able to determine the underlying issue and provided a solution. She is joined by that doctor: Dr. Nicole Donnellan, a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon and Director of the UPMC Magee Women’s Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Center. Dr. Donnellan specializes in the treatment of complex pelvic pain conditions and is a leading advocate for advancing research and care in women’s health. Together, they explore the challenges of diagnosing endometriosis, why so many women go years—sometimes decades—without answers, and the limitations of current diagnostic tools. They also discuss the wide range of symptoms associated with endometriosis and adenomyosis, the role of pelvic floor physical therapy, and the importance of patient advocacy. This episode sheds light on a condition that affects millions of women, yet remains widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed. For anyone navigating unexplained pain, questioning “normal” test results, or seeking answers, this conversation offers both validation and hope. Connect with Dr. Donnellan. Connect with Leanna To learn more about Leadership & Motherhood and join the initiative, visit leadershipandmotherhood.info and sign up to receive updates.
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    55 mins