11 Oct 2026
#32 Power is Energy, Not Control
In a world that continuously rewards relentless output and penalizes the need for rest, women in leadership often find themselves completely disconnected from their bodies and their intuition. In this expansive episode of the Veriditas Leadership Podcast, Dr. Lauren Borden is joined by Karly, founder of Mushroom Moves and an executive leadership coach, to decode the absolute necessity of authentic, embodied power. Karly shares her personal evolution from a high-performing athlete and corporate tech sales leader, where domination and constant performance were the only currencies she knew, to a grounded, somatic leader who understands that true influence requires profound attunement.
Throughout this conversation, Lauren and Karly dismantle the complex dynamic between masculine and feminine energies, dispelling the myth that these concepts are strictly tied to gender. They illustrate how the structuring banks of the masculine and the flowing river of the feminine are constantly in dialectical motion, and how a patriarchal over-indexing on output has villainized the art of receiving. By tuning into physical cues and taking even the smallest moments for stillness, they reveal how leaders can completely shift the energy of a corporate team, replacing the exhaustion of forced directives with the aeration of collaborative, intuitive coaching.
Delving into the specific nuances of somatic awareness, Karly offers guidance on how leaders can stop relying on quick fixes and start nurturing the fundamental pillars of their well-being. From fighting for stillness in overstimulating environments like New York City to recognizing that doing nothing in a remote cabin is a necessary precursor for creative channeling, this episode is a deep dive into the sovereignty of the female experience. It is a powerful invitation to stop gripping the reins of constant productivity and redefine what it means to influence a room.
In This Episode, We Explore:
The shift from using power as a form of domination to cultivating power through intuitive influence and grounded presence
How the societal conditioning to constantly produce overrides our ability to comfortably ask for and receive what we actually need
The dialectical relationship between masculine (structuring) and feminine (flowing) energies and how to integrate both seamlessly in leadership
Why creating intentional space for stillness and boredom is the ultimate catalyst for creative problem-solving and authentic manifestation
The absolute necessity of tuning your physical and emotional instrument before trying to lead, sell, or heal others
This Episode Is For You If:
You are a high-performing leader who feels exhausted by the constant demand for output and struggles to simply rest without guilt
You find it terrifying to ask for what you need and want tangible ways to reconnect with your own desires and bodily cues
You are curious about how to bring somatic awareness, breathwork, and intuitive coaching into rigid corporate or high-stakes environments
You feel a deep call to step out of strict performance metrics and into a more joyful, fluid, and authentic expression of your power
If this conversation resonates with your spirit, please share it with a woman in your life who is ready to step back into her fully expressed power. To dive deeper into integrating somatic practices into your daily routine, you can learn more about Karly's movement and supplement brand, Mushroom Moves. You can also discover her latest creative projects, including Fuerza Cruda, a raw and vulnerable nude photography coaching container designed to help women see themselves deeply and honestly.
To step deeper into this work or to connect directly with Karly, visit her online spaces or follow her latest creative projects and community events in New York City.
