The Currency of Connection: Redefining Influence in Silicon Valley

The Art of Listening | Mark Sephton

He's the King of Conversation. He has held the space for hundreds of women's stories in business, in leadership, in healing, and he has heard what most interviewers miss. But what does Mark Sephton actually believe about real connection? What has sitting across from so many remarkable women taught him about himself? And when Tricia Scott finally flips the script and asks the hard questions, what comes out? This is the episode we have wanted to make for a while. Tricia and Mark talk about the gap between communicating and truly connecting, the honest story behind why a male host anchors a female-led platform, what Mark believes is the real epidemic underneath all the healing conversations — and, in a closing that many listeners won't forget, what he wants to say to the woman who is wondering whether her voice actually matters. 🎙️ A special episode of The Female CEO podcast.

Building a Bigger Table — with The Female CEO Founder, Tricia Scott

A special edition: Mark Sephton interviews The Female CEO's own founder, Tricia Scott. From an anonymous blog she was certain no one would read to a brand in 181 countries — Tricia talks real-over-polished as an operating model, the 3am doubt that still surfaces, the loss that turned a side hustle into a now-or-never decision, and why every part of the platform is free. Warm, honest, and refreshingly unpolished — including a candid word on perimenopause and the brain fog nobody warns you about. In this rare, behind-the-scenes look at global media leadership, Tricia opens up about the constant pressure of living "five minutes from a deadline," why she refuses to build a corporate hierarchy, and how a devastating personal grief shifted her perspective on risk. If you are a female entrepreneur navigating the lonely moments of building a business, this deep dive into community, personal development, and soul-led success will remind you that you don't have to carry the container alone. Key Takeaways From This Episode: * The Reality Behind the Polished Headshots: Embracing authenticity and living as the same exact person at home as you are in the office. * The Power of an Open Ecosystem: Why Tricia intentionally keeps the Biz Love Letter, the magazine, and the platform free to eliminate barriers for women everywhere. * Navigating Midlife & Business: A raw conversation about perimenopause, permanent brain fog, and the human side of running a global media brand. * The Grief Catalyst: How losing her father instantly triggered a "now or never" decision to leave full-time corporate work and pursue her passion with her whole heart.

Life By Design. Not By Default. | Sue Stoneman

Somewhere in the early 2000s, we collectively decided that exhaustion was a sign of commitment. The busier you were, the more you mattered. The more you were always on, always available, always pinging back — the more valuable you must be. Psychologists call it costly signalling. Most of us just called it Tuesday. Sue Stoneman, founder of Moxie, has spent years working with global CEOs and high-performance teams — and she has a different framework entirely. In this conversation with Mark Sephton, she talks about the nervous system cycle we have broken, the three steps to rewiring a brain that rewards busyness over outcome, and what it actually looks like to redesign a life rather than just manage a stress level. And the snow globe. Listen for the snow globe. Recorded on location during a live reset in sunny Ibiza, Sue unpacks why our brains are constantly stuck in an "activation, activation, activation" loop and how that relentless cortisol drive impairs our decision making, emotional regulation, and authentic relationships. True high performance requires a deliberate pulse of activation and recovery, a strategy elite athletes have mastered but corporate leadership often dismisses as a luxury. If you are ready to put down the heavy weight of other people's expectations, this conversation will give you the practical toolkit to step off autopilot and step into clarity. Key Takeaways From This Episode: * The Evolutionary Brake: Why your brain views sudden behavioral changes as an emergency and how to safely override that resistance. * The Three Step Brain Rewire: How shifting focus from effort to outcome, interrupting automated thought patterns, and prioritizing recovery trains your neuroplasticity for success. * Science, Soul, and System: Inside the Moxie methodology that balances behavioral psychometric data with restorative mindfulness and actionable daily rituals. * The 90,Day Accountability Loop: How micro goals, automated AI coaching, and human expert support bridge the gap between weekend inspiration and sustainable life shifts. Connect With Us: * Learn more about Moxie: mymoxie.co.uk * Follow Moxie on X/Twitter: @discover_moxie * Connect with host Mark Sephton: marksephton.com

Leading from Presence (Not Pressure) with Stef Mandirola

Discover why high performance is a biological state, not just willpower, and how Female CEOs can avoid burnout by leading from presence. In this episode, we sit down with Stef Mandirola, a former aerospace COO who traded the high-stakes world of multi-million pound global operations for the disciplined path of Zen. As the founder of HASU, Stef bridges the gap between centuries-old Japanese tradition and modern stress physiology. We dive into: * The Corporate Trench to Zen: Stef’s personal battle with burnout and how it led her to coach executive teams to perform from a state of presence rather than pressure. * Challenging "Push Through" Culture: Why relying on willpower is a biological dead end and how to tap into your natural physiology for sustainable success. * The Discipline of Presence: Practical insights into moving away from reactive leadership and toward a centered, high-performance state. * Prevention over Cure: Understanding the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score and how early life conditioning can unknowingly drive us toward adult burnout. Whether you are navigating the pressures of the boardroom or looking to reclaim your energy, Stef’s "Surface to Soul" approach offers a masterclass in performing at your peak without sacrificing your well-being.

Lotta Spjut: Leading Beyond the Leash

Are you leading with authority or awareness? Join us as behavioral expert Lotta Spjut explains how the relationship with our dogs can transform our executive presence. Discover how to identify your triggers, set firm boundaries with empathy, and lead from a place of regulated power. As the founder of Lotta Dog PT, Lotta uses a powerful framework of behavioral science and emotional intelligence to prove that leadership isn't about dominance, it's about relational safety. We dive into: * The Mirror at the End of the Leash: How our dogs (and our teams) react to our internal energy and why self-regulation is the first step to being a better leader. * Moving Beyond Dominance: Why the "Alpha" mindset is outdated and how to build trust through consistency, awareness, and emotional safety. * The "Lead Yourself First" Principle: Why you cannot effectively lead another being—human or canine—until you have mastered the ability to lead your own emotional state. * Triggers and Boundaries: Practical ways to recognize when you are becoming reactive and how to reset your presence to maintain a "calm-assertive" leadership style. Whether you are navigating high-stakes business decisions or simply trying to improve the bond with your four-legged companion, Lotta’s insights offer a masterclass in the science of connection and the art of presence. Connect with Lotta Spjut: * Website: www.lottaspjut.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=http://www.lottaspjut.com] * Instagram & Facebook: @lottaspjutbusiness