Unleashing Brilliance

About Unleashing Brilliance

If you've been following this podcast from the beginning, we will have explored together the stories and insights of incredible individuals who have reached that magical tipping point of moving from striving to being in flow. Over a hundred episodes have featured interviews with inspiring business owners, philanthropists, thought leaders and game changers. The wisdom shared by these amazing guests became the foundation for my third bestselling book, Be Brilliant. However, along this journey, something interesting happened. Many of you have reached out and asked for more. More of my story, more of my business journey and more of what I have learnt. Surprisingly, there has also been a demand for more solo episodes. Although it’s much easier to put the spotlight on someone else, I’ve decided to take the advice of a wise individual who once told me to "do it scared." So here I am, doing it scared, with a simple intention to serve you by sharing what I have learnt. Buckle up, my friends. It’s going to be a wild ride as I share the messy, beautiful journey of how I got where I am. Here's to doing it scared. Here’s to the unexpected. And here's to unleashing the brilliance within each and every single one of us.

Publisher

Janine Garner

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Feb 2017

Latest episode

30 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

242 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Aug 2026

   The Connect Effect with Kylie Paatsch

   Janine Garner speaks with Kylie Paatsch about her new book, The Connect Effect, and why engagement in organizations keeps slipping despite more tools, more process, and more measurement. Kylie shares the leadership lessons behind the book, the model she has used for decades, and how connection becomes the pathway to trust, accountability, and performance.This conversation is especially useful for senior leaders who want more than inspiration. It gets practical about how to know people better, show that you know them, and grow them with intention. Key topics Kylie shares why she wrote The Connect Effect now, and names the five P’s behind the decision: problems, purpose, practicality, positioning, and proof. She explains the problem she is trying to solve: declining engagement, and the way many organizations still underestimate the relational side of leadership. Kylie reflects on the moment that pushed her to turn years of experience into a book, including the realization that she already had a model that worked. She talks about proving to herself that she could write, and how an old comment from an English teacher shaped her self-doubt for years. Janine and Kylie discuss the difference between having expertise and actually articulating it clearly in a structured, usable way. Kylie breaks down why engagement is dropping, including the impact of multiple generations in the workforce, hybrid work, and the growing distance between senior leaders and everyone else. She warns against surface-level fixes like return-to-office mandates, breakfast events, morning teas, and ping pong tables when the real issue is disconnection. Kylie shares how assumptions after engagement surveys can make things worse if leaders do not get curious and ask better questions. The conversation centers on Kylie’s three-part model: know them, show them, grow them. Kylie explains that connection is not the outcome itself, but the pathway to trust, loyalty, accountability, engagement, and performance. She describes the leadership mistake of expecting people to step up while leaders continue to micromanage instead of building capability, responsibility, and initiative. Janine and Kylie both stress that meaningful leadership requires time, presence, and deliberate attention to the people in your team. Key frameworks The five P’sKylie says she wrote the book because of: Problems Purpose Practicality Positioning Proof Know, show, growKylie’s core leadership model for building connection and engagement: Know them Show them Grow them Know them,Start by understanding: Their why Their way Their wants Show them,Kylie breaks this into three parts: Show you know Show you care Show them the way Grow themHelp people develop: Capability Responsibility Initiative Connect with Kylie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyliepaatsch/ Notable quotes “Connection is the pathway to trust, it’s the pathway to engagement, it’s the pathway to accountability, it’s the pathway to performance.” “Human connection is going to be the glue that keeps us together.” “When you show you know, you’re actually saying to someone else, ‘Yeah, I get you.’” Timestamps 00:00 - Why Janine wanted Kylie on the show 02:33 - The moment Kylie realized her book was already inside her work 05:18 - What writing the book taught Kylie about structure and clarity 08:03 - Why leaders want practical help, not just ideas 09:25 - Why engagement is declining across generations and hybrid teams 14:33 - Surface-level fixes that do not solve disengagement 16:23 - The danger of making assumptions instead of asking questions 18:06 - Why connection is the pathway to trust and performance 20:08 - The origin story of the know, show, grow model 24:37 - Know them: why, way, and wants 27:15 - Show them: show you know, show you care, show them the way 30:34 - Grow them: capability, responsibility, and initiative 31:52 - Why the model demands intentional time from leaders 33:30 - Why AI has not yet created the leadership time people expected 34:53 - Accountability and conscious discipline in leadership 36:16 - Kylie’s wishes for the book and what she hopes it changes 39:05 - Janine’s role in helping Kylie bring the book into the world

2. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Why You Filter Yourself Before You Speak - and Why It's Not a Confidence Problem

   This conversation explores why so many capable people stay quiet in meetings, over-edit emails, or perform confidence they do not feel. Janine speaks with Michelle Fragias, keynote speaker, conscious communication coach, founder of The Conscious Voice, and creator of the Brave Method, about the real roots of voice suppression and how to move from survival mode into clear, grounded expression. We discuss the four layers of fear that shape how people communicate, why transactional speaker training often falls short, and how Michelle’s inside-out approach helps people build a voice that is both authentic and influential. Connect with Michelle: https://www.michellefragias.com/ Notable quotes "You can't think your way through fear. The only way through it is to move your body and move your voice through it." "Technical skills fall empty unless we deal with the root cause." "Your outer voice is a direct reflection of what's going on in your inner conversation." The Brave Method is explained as: Barriers Radical self-responsibility Radical self-acceptance Vocal presence Embodiment Timestamps 00:00 - The moment you realize you are editing yourself before you even speak 02:02 - Michelle Fragias and the shift from corporate leadership to conscious communication 03:57 - Why voice shutdown is not a confidence problem 06:06 - Fear in modern workplaces and why brilliant people stay silent 08:52 - Why technical communication training fails without root-cause work 10:12 - The first two layers of fear: judgment and getting it wrong 13:21 - The third and fourth layers: being too much and not belonging 19:24 - The Brave Method as the bridge from inner voice to outer expression 20:41 - Where radical self-responsibility ends and compassion begins 23:01 - Vocal presence as the skill layer, after inner safety is built 24:27 - Why performance-based speaker training can miss the point 27:42 - Transactional training versus compassionate leadership 28:49 - The full Brave Method framework 30:45 - Why Michelle’s work matters at the root of human communication 32:53 - How the Public Speaking Gym builds voice through repetition and community 34:59 - What to do if you are playing safe but know you want more 35:48 - Small, sustainable steps that build evidence and confidence through action

3. 

   14 Jul 2026

   The Power of Story Sharing: Authentic Connection in a Digital Age

   Discover how authentic storytelling can transform connections, build trust, and foster leadership, especially in today's complex and AI-driven world. Join us for insights on differentiating storytelling from story sharing, practical frameworks for sharing your stories effectively, and the impact of vulnerability in professional spaces. Main Topics: The distinction between storytelling and story sharing, and why it matters now The four-step process to craft compelling and authentic stories Common barriers to sharing stories: fear of judgment, perceived lack of stories, over-sharing concerns Practical prompts and exercises to uncover and mine your personal stories Tips for maintaining authenticity — avoiding script-like storytelling in professional contexts The deep personal shift that led the guest, Nimarta, to focus on human story sharing Neuroscience behind story sharing and its role in building trust and empathy Nimarta Verma is an award-winning leadership facilitator and creator of the StorySharing™ methodology - a practical approach to building trust through authentic stories. With two decades of experience shaping brand narratives for companies like Unilever and Woolworths, she now helps leaders craft compelling stories from their own experiences. Nimarta's work is built on a simple truth: people connect with leaders who are willing to be real. After years of watching brilliant leaders struggle to be seen as human (not just competent), she created StorySharing™ to close the gap between authority and authenticity. Connect with Nimata: nimartaverma.com (http://nimartaverma.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimarta-verma/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimarta-verma/) Harness the power of authentic story sharing—your unique stories are your greatest asset in building trust, leadership, and meaningful connections. Don’t hold back—start uncovering and sharing your stories today! Elevate Applications: https://janinegarner.com.au/elevate/ (https://janinegarner.com.au/elevate/) Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the importance of storytelling and story sharing 00:45 - Exploring the difference between storytelling and story sharing 01:55 - How media has commercialised storytelling and the rise of authentic story sharing 03:04 - The significance of authentic storytelling for trust and connection today 04:50 - Sharing impactful stories: a client’s journey in Paris 07:08 - The misconception that storytelling requires grand or polished narratives 08:28 - Barriers to sharing stories: unawareness, fear of oversharing, connecting personal stories in professional settings 09:44 - The importance of overcoming judgment and vulnerability 11:48 - The process of 'story mining' to uncover authentic moments 12:19 - Prompt examples for uncovering stories: failure, turning points, impactful conversations 14:44 - Crafting your story: starting with a key moment and ensuring engagement 17:56 - Using emotion and authenticity to deepen connection in storytelling 19:00 - Structuring your story: context, emotional peaks, and the "so what" 20:47 - The importance of showing emotion and physical grounding while sharing 26:07 - Nimarta’s personal story shift: loss, grief, and turning vulnerability into purpose 29:10 - Why story sharing is crucial for building trust and empathy in workplaces 31:19 - The role of stories in bridging divides and fostering understanding 34:15 - Practical advice: preparing stories without scripts, staying authentic 36:10 - Nimarta’s parting story and call to action for sharing more openly 37:07 - Final thoughts: unleash your stories for personal and professional growth Mentioned in this episode: Apply to our Elevate Mastermind Elevate Mastermind (https://unleashing-brilliance.captivate.fm/elevate-apply)

Who has been a guest on Unleashing Brilliance

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Fleur Marks
• Janine Esbrand
• Roxanne Calder
• Janine Allis
• Louise Gibson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

39,709

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.5 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

76

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

Contact Unleashing Brilliance

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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