by Chinazom Sunny Nwabueze and Ije Jemie Nwabueze
Welcome to Real Talk, a podcast for high-performing leaders hosted by Chinazom Sunny Nwabueze and Ije Jemie Nwabueze. Our Real Talk community is for visionary founders and C-suite executives in fast-scaling environments who are building extraordinary things without sacrificing themselves in the process. Level up, ignite values-driven change, and transform the world around you. Subscribe now to prioritize your mental fitness and kickstart a journey of real growth with Real Talk.
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Publishing Since
6/5/2023
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March 20, 2026
<p>"Most CEOs won't tell you about the years before the title.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/preload/#"><u> Nicholas Thompson</u></a> — CEO of The Atlantic, record-breaking marathon runner, and one of the most influential media executives in the world — spent his twenties being fired, busking on subway platforms in New York City, and wondering if he'd ever figure it out. What he learned in those years is what's running one of the most respected publications in the world today. This is that story."</p><p><br></p><p><strong>The CEO Who Was Fired at 22 and Built a Media Empire | Nick Thompson | Real Talk</strong></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Real Talk, Nick sits down with Chinazom and Ije to talk about what it really takes to lead at the highest level without losing yourself in the process — the mental discipline behind elite performance, what running ultramarathons taught him about leadership under pressure, why he believes moving at an uncomfortable pace is the only way to grow, and how leaders can protect their mental fitness in an era of AI, information overload, and relentless change.</p><p>This is a rare, honest conversation with one of the most thoughtful executives in the media today.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li><p>How Nick rebuilt his confidence after being fired at 22</p></li><li><p>The leadership philosophy behind The Atlantic's extraordinary turnaround</p></li><li><p>What running 50K races teaches you about resilience and mental fitness</p></li><li><p>Why "moving at an uncomfortable pace" is his #1 rule for growth</p></li></ul><p>#Leadership #MentalFitness #CEO #TheAtlantic #RealTalk #NickThompson #Podcast</p><p><br></p>
February 6, 2026
<p>Welcome to another episode of Real Talk - Mental Fitness! Today, we’re diving into the power of connection, curiosity, and the often-overlooked art of networking with our extraordinary guest, Shelly Lombard.</p><p><br></p><p>From her high-stakes career on Wall Street and her unique experiences as a Black woman in finance, to the launch of Schmooze Biz—a vibrant networking space uplifting professionals into board opportunities—Shelly Lombard shares her journey and the lessons she wishes she’d known earlier. </p><p><br></p><p>Shelly shares honestly about her time on Wall Street, including what she wished she’d known sooner: relationships matter more than just a stellar work ethic. Despite a successful career in distressed investing (aka “vulture investing”), Shelly opens up about missing the intentional networking piece. She reminds us it’s not just about “doing the work”–it’s also about connecting, following up, and being seen.</p><p><br></p><p>This episode explores how intentional relationships, energy management, and challenging labels like “introvert” can open doors and transform careers.</p><p><br></p><p>Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, eyeing your first board seat, or just looking to build stronger professional connections, this conversation is packed with insights, real talk, and aha moments. Plus, you’ll get practical advice on nurturing your network, handling the energy drain, and showing up authentically—even when circumstances feel challenging.</p><p><br></p><p>Get ready for stories, strategies, and some memorable quotes—like why it’s okay to<strong> “take five minutes to feel sorry for yourself, then get back to being a gangster.</strong>” Tune in and tap into the wisdom that will help you fuel your own mental fitness and professional growth!</p><p><br></p><p>Your Invitation:Want to experience more of Shelly’s wisdom? Subscribe to her newsletter and check out Schmooze Biz, her networking platform designed to help others avoid the mistakes she made and build lasting, impactful relationships.</p><p><br></p>
October 3, 2025
<p>Welcome back to <strong>Real Talk – Mental Fitness</strong>. In today’s episode, hosts Ijeoma and Chinazom sit down with the remarkable Jen Fisher, a trailblazer in workplace wellbeing and the former Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte. The conversation dives deep into Jen’s personal journey—from her own experience with severe burnout, to her transformative embrace of hope as a daily leadership strategy. Together, they explore the nuanced challenges high-performing leaders face in today’s workplaces, and Jen shares powerful insights on why redefining success, changing incentive structures, and proactively managing cognitive load are paramount for sustainable mental fitness.</p><p>Jen also reveals what inspired her to write her upcoming book on hope, why it’s crucial for leaders to engage with the “ugly stuff,” and how wellbeing must become a core part of leadership accountability—not just another perk. Whether you’re a senior executive, a fast-scaling founder, or someone passionate about reshaping work cultures, get ready for a refreshingly candid and practical guide to making mental fitness the heart of high performance. Let’s jump in.</p><p>Practical Steps for Leaders</p><ul><li><p>Challenge incentive structures that reward burnout behaviors.</p></li><li><p>Build trust on your team (sometimes your team needs to call you out!).</p></li><li><p>Address cognitive load (not just workload)—think about how meetings, processes, and unclear roles add up.</p></li><li><p>Make hope and well-being part of your daily, intentional leadership practice.</p></li></ul><p><br></p><p>💡 Standout Quote:</p><p>“Hope is not fluffy or wishful thinking. It’s putting in the day-to-day work that leads to meaningful change.” – Jen Fisher</p><p><br></p><p>What’s Next? Jen is publishing a new book on hope as a leadership strategy—keep your eyes peeled in the new year!</p><p>If you’re feeling inspired to bring more hope, purpose, and well-being into your work (and your team’s!), let us know how these insights are landing for you. Hit reply or drop your thoughts in our community space.</p><p>To listen to the full episode, click here.</p><p>Stay mentally fit, The Real Talk Team</p><p>00:00 Leadership Insights and Mental Fitness</p><p>06:19 Struggling with Burnout in Silence</p><p>09:08 "Transformative Burnout Recovery Journey"</p><p>10:46 "Leading with Hope and Change"</p><p>16:39 Workplace Burnout and Leadership Challenges</p><p>18:37 Reimagining Workplace Dynamics</p><p>23:30 Leadership Loneliness and Mental Health</p><p>26:45 Redefining Success Beyond Work</p><p>29:01 Rethinking Success and Work Culture</p><p>31:47 "Vacation Email Policy Resistance"</p><p>37:31 Understanding Burnout in Leadership Systems</p><p>39:29 Mastering Cognitive Load Limits</p><p>43:56 "Embrace Async Work for Wellbeing"</p><p>47:24 Recognizing External Cognitive Load</p><p>49:29 Engaging and Impactful Communication</p><p><br></p>
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Elaine Lin Herring
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Welcome to Real Talk, a podcast for high-performing leaders hosted by Chinazom Sunny Nwabueze and Ije Jemie Nwabueze.
Our Real Talk community is for visionary founders and C-suite executives in fast-scaling environments who are building extraordinary things without sacrificing themselves in the process. Level up, ignite values-driven change, and transform the world around you. Subscribe now to prioritize your mental fitness and kickstart a journey of real growth with Real Talk.
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