Shut Up & THRIVE!

Shut Up & Thrive with Craig Coyle

In this episode of Shut Up & Thrive, Debra Sunderland and Brandon Styll are joined by Craig Coyle, a West Point graduate and former Army Apache pilot turned leadership consultant. Craig shares his journey from high-achieving individual contributor to struggling first-time leader—and the wake-up call that changed everything. Despite early success, he realized that emotional awareness, mindset, and self-leadership were the missing pieces. Together, they unpack: * Why success as an individual doesn’t always translate to leadership * How emotional dysregulation and perfectionism impact teams * The importance of self-awareness and internal dialogue * Moving from victim mindset to personal agency * How leaders unintentionally create disengaged teams * Practical ways to navigate emotional triggers and lead with intention Craig also shares how a simple but powerful framework—awareness, identification, and action—can help leaders respond instead of react in high-pressure moments. This episode is a real, honest look at what it takes to grow as a leader—from the inside out.

Shut Up & Thrive with Dimitri Elipoulos

In this powerful and insightful episode of Shut Up and Thrive!, hosts Debra Sunderland and Brandon Styll sit down with Curi Capital CEO Dimitri Eliopoulos for a deeply human conversation about conscious leadership, self-mastery, and what it takes to grow — both personally and professionally — in the face of uncertainty. Dimitri shares his journey of stepping away from the familiar to launch something new, navigating fear-based decisions, and ultimately choosing growth through discomfort. From leading a startup through uncertainty to merging two firms, he reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership and the mindset required to lead with clarity, courage, and intention. Together, Debra, Brandon, and Dimitri explore how leaders often operate from fear, control, and autopilot — and how real transformation begins when we shift inward, take radical responsibility, and align our decisions with what truly matters. This episode weaves together leadership, emotional intelligence, discipline, and purpose, highlighting how conscious leadership shows up not only in business, but in our daily habits, relationships, and the way we navigate life’s biggest decisions. Topics include: ✅ Making decisions from opportunity instead of fear ✅ Growth through discomfort — and why it’s required for real change ✅ Leadership as self-mastery, not just a title ✅ The power of curiosity in personal and organizational growth ✅ Letting go of misaligned opportunities (even when they look like success) ✅ Building organizations rooted in relationships, not just results ✅ Daily disciplines that strengthen leadership (meditation, journaling, routine) ✅ Navigating uncertainty with clarity — in business and in life ✅ Why alignment matters more than “winning” ✅ How mindset shapes financial decisions and long-term outcomes This episode is an invitation to quiet the inner critic, move beyond fear-based thinking, and step into a more aligned, intentional, and conscious way of leading — in your business, your relationships, and your life.

Shut Up & Thrive with Mark Bortz

In this powerful and reflective episode of Shut Up and Thrive!, hosts Debra Sunderland and Brandon Styll sit down with entrepreneur and Premier Companies founder Mark Bortz for a deeply human conversation about conscious leadership, radical responsibility, and what happens when life forces you to slow down. Mark shares how decades of achievement, hustle, and “chasing the next thing” were radically interrupted by a near-death experience that changed everything — his priorities, his pace, and his definition of success. Together, Debra, Brandon, and Mark explore how leaders unconsciously operate from fear, control, and the need for approval — and how true transformation begins when we take responsibility for our inner world. This episode weaves together leadership, faith, self-awareness, and legacy, touching on how conscious leadership shows up not only in the boardroom, but in relationships, parenting, and the way we model life for the next generation. Topics include: ✅ Radical Responsibility: “What part do I play in the result I don’t want?” ✅ Slowing down as a leadership practice — and why speed often masks fear ✅ Near-death experiences as wake-up calls for deeper purpose and alignment ✅ Letting go of achievement-driven identity and embracing sufficiency ✅ Conscious leadership at home: parenting, legacy, and modeling self-worth ✅ Unconditional self-love as the foundation for leading others well ✅ Why growth, discomfort, and struggle are essential teachers This episode is an invitation to shut up the inner critic, stop chasing what was never meant to fulfill you, and step into a slower, truer, more conscious way of leading — at work and in life.

Shut Up & Thrive with Shannon Hooper

In this deeply human and insight-packed episode of Shut Up and Thrive!, hosts Debra Sunderland and Brandon Styll sit down with Shannon Hooper — President of Unlock Health and a nationally recognized leader in healthcare growth and operational transformation. Shannon opens up about the formative experiences that shaped her resilience, from early athletic discipline to navigating chronic health challenges that redefined her identity, leadership, and sense of purpose. She shares how stoicism, curiosity, and conscious leadership guide her work today — and why embracing obstacles, slowing down, and leading with values is the key to unlocking both personal and organizational potential. Topics include: ✅ How early challenges shaped Shannon’s resilience and leadership ✅ Stoicism, “amor fati,” and the practice of focusing on what you can control ✅ Why the best leaders invest deeply in their own growth ✅ Slowing down to speed up: curiosity, presence, and cognitive empathy ✅ Building teams through trust, psychological safety, and whole-body yeses Integrative thinking: moving beyond either/or decisions to create breakthrough solutions This is the episode to listen to if you're ready to shut up the ego, embrace discomfort as a growth catalyst, and lead from clarity, presence, and purpose.

Shut Up & Thrive with Yesenia Sevilla

In this deeply insightful episode of Shut Up and Thrive!, Debra Sunderland and Brandon Still are joined by Yesi B. Sevilla, TEDx speaker and seasoned leader in biotech, ad tech, and education. Yesi shares her journey of healing from early trauma — and how that healing transformed her leadership. She introduces her forthcoming book (due out in December), a collection of powerful lessons shaped by lived experience, and offers a bold vision for what it means to lead with humanity, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence. Topics include: ✅ Why leaders must be people first ✅ How unprocessed trauma blocks team performance ✅ The power of body, emotional, and adaptability intelligence (BQ, EQ, AQ) ✅ Creating safety and abundance in work culture ✅ Moving from fear-based to love-based leadership ✅ Yesi’s personal tools for navigating trauma and turning pain into purpose This is the episode to listen to if you're ready to shut up the ego and thrive from the heart.