Thriving Outside the Box

Self-Advocacy: The Ultimate Act of Self-Care

Self-advocacy is one of the most misunderstood skills we have — often confused with entitlement, self-centeredness, or being "too much". In this solo episode, I make the case that self-advocacy is not only a critical leadership skill but one of the deepest expressions of self-love and self-care. Self-advocacy has a ripple effect. When we advocate for ourselves, we create permission and possibility for others to do the same. Woven throughout the episode is a voice note I recorded in real time during a solo trip to Paris — an unfiltered, in-the-moment account of what self-advocacy actually looks and sounds like when it's happening. Raw, personal, and pragmatic at the same time. Credits Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr. Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com [https://www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com] | kimberly@verveandvision.com [kimberly@verveandvision.com] | IG: @drkimbgrocher

Season 2, EP4: More Than One Way: Purpose, Risk & the Courage to Recover

What does it look like to stay true to your mission when the path changes? In this episode of Thriving Outside the Box, Dr. Kim sits down with Robin Rosenberg, PhD — clinical psychologist, executive coach, business advisor, and mentor — for a conversation about purpose, risk, and what recovery really looks like after a major chapter closes. Robin shares her remarkable journey from writing a psychology textbook to founding a venture-backed startup in the San Francisco Bay area that used virtual reality to address unconscious bias in the workplace — and what it took to keep going when that company had to close in 2020. This is a conversation about the many different forms a mission can take, the courage it requires to pursue it, and the mentorship relationships that sustain us along the way. Guest Bio Robin S. Rosenberg is a clinical psychologist with psychotherapy and coaching practices in California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and Utah. She is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and has taught psychology at Lesley University and Harvard University. Dr. Rosenberg specializes in treating anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression, relationship and work-related issues, and couples and families. She is a Past President of the Women's Mental Health Consortium. She writes about psychology for general audiences — often using fictional characters to illustrate psychological concepts — and has authored psychology textbooks for college students. She received her BA from New York University and her MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, with clinical training at Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Harvard Medical School and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Guest Links & Info Website: drrobinrosenberg.com [https://www.drrobinrosenberg.com] Connect with me: Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com [https://www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com] Email: kimberly@verveandvision.com [kimberly@verveandvision.com] Instagram: @drkimbgrocher [https://www.instagram.com/drkimbgrocher/] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher] Wealth, Water, & Wellness Retreat- May 15th-16th, 2026-Clearwater Beach, FL [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nYhCaAhlOpgi2JgHcDi1ZG36KZ-CnIPgLIuJJXeOYAg/edit?usp=drive_link] Credits: Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr. Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC [https://www.instagram.com/hitzmuzic/]

Season 2, EP3: Listening In Before You Listen Out

What does it really mean to listen to yourself — and how does that shape the way you show up for everyone else? In this episode of Thriving Outside the Box, Dr. Kim sits down with Marie Deveaux, inclusive leadership coach and CEO of High Tides Consulting, for a deeply personal and honest conversation rooted in Marie's own journey and her work with leaders. They explore discernment as a daily practice, what it means to have a real relationship with fear, and how trusting yourself and staying in alignment with your own vision is foundational to every relationship you're in. Marie shares her perspective on what transformation actually requires: being resourced through community, an ecosystem of support, the humility to say you're at capacity, and the willingness to ask for — and allow yourself to receive — help. A rich, grounded conversation about the inner work that makes everything else possible. Marie Deveaux is the Founder and CEO of High Tides Consulting, a learning and development agency dedicated to magnifying the voices of women and people of color in the workplace. Rooted in Black feminist praxis, her work blends applied sociolinguistics with practical leadership tools to challenge dominant narratives, dismantle bias, and foster truly inclusive cultures. Through workshops, coaching, and cohort learning, Marie empowers individuals and organizations to step boldly outside the "traditional" leadership box and thrive. Her approach is grounded in the belief that authentic communication—shaped by equity and lived experience—is the catalyst for cultural change. Guest Links & Info Websites: hightidesconsulting.co [https://hightidesconsulting.co] & mariedeveaux.com [http://mariedeveaux.com] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mariedeveaux [https://linkedin.com/in/mariedeveaux] Resources: Barriers to Bridges Leadership Assessment to explore traits of your own leadership ethos an culture [https://hightidesconsulting.co/inclusive-leadership-persona-assessment/] Barriers to Bridges ebook [https://hightidesconsulting.co/bridges] Courses for Managers focused on interpersonal skill development [https://academy.hightidesconsulting.co/] Connect with me: Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com [https://www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com] Instagram: @drkimbgrocher LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher] Credits: Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr. Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

Season 2, EP2: Fearlessly Facing Your Shadow

What if the parts of yourself you've been hiding are actually your greatest gifts? In this episode of Thriving Outside the Box, Dr. Kim sits down with psychotherapist and author Melanie Ryan, LCSW — founder of The Golden Shadow Method — for a rich conversation about fearlessness, authenticity, and the parts of ourselves we've learned to conceal. Drawing on 30 years of clinical experience and the ancient wisdom traditions that underpin her work, Melanie offers a deeply humanizing framework for understanding the "golden shadow" — not as something to fear, but as the source of our truest potential. If you've ever felt like you were shrinking yourself to fit in, this episode will challenge you to reclaim what you left behind. Guest Bio Melanie Ryan has been a psychotherapist for 30 years. She is the author and founder of The Golden Shadow Method & Ancient Wisdom Today. Melanie specializes in helping others achieve their full potential by connecting with their true nature hidden within the golden shadow. Guest Links & Info Website: https://www.goldenshadowmethod.com/ [https://www.goldenshadowmethod.com/] Instagram: @golden.shadow.method | @ancientwisdomtoday Facebook: @Melanie Ryan | @Ancient Wisdom Today The Golden Shadow Method Retreat — August 2026, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY [https://www.eomega.org/workshops/golden-shadow-method] Connect with Dr. Kim Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com [https://www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com] Email: kimberly@verveandvision.com [kimberly@verveandvision.com] Instagram: @drkimbgrocher LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr. Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

Season 2, EP1: We're Back!

Welcome back to Thriving Outside the Box — Season 2 is here. This season, we're going a little deeper. I've lined up conversations with people who are living proof that your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's. I'll also be drawing on 20+ years of helping people get honest about their path — the one they're on, and the one their heart is calling them toward — whether those are the same road or something entirely different. In this opener, I set the intention for Season 2 — and invite you into what we might discover together along the way. Get comfortable. Season 2 starts now. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. Connect with me: Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com [http://www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com] Email: kimberly@verveandvision.com Instagram: @drkimbgrocher LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher [http://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher] Credits Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT [https://www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com] Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr. Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC [hitzmuzicgroup@gmail.com]