Why We Avoid Conflict—and How to Communicate in a Healthy, Connected Way with Lauren Brainard, LMFT

The Truth About Business Value No One Talks About with Eric Togneri

In this powerful conversation, business coach Connie Jones sits down with business valuation expert Eric Togneri to unpack a truth most business owners overlook: if you don’t understand the value of your business, you’re likely building something that can’t sustain you—or sell.Together, they explore why valuation isn’t just a number for an exit strategy—it’s a lens for how you build, lead, and grow your business from day one.Eric shares what he sees behind the scenes: talented, hardworking owners who are unknowingly creating stress, instability, and limitations because they’re operating inside their business instead of leading it from a CEO perspective. Without clarity on value, structure, and scalability, the business becomes dependent on them—rather than an asset that works for them.Connie brings her perspective from coaching high-capacity leaders, highlighting the internal side of this struggle—the overextension, decision fatigue, identity entanglement, and nervous system dysregulation that keep owners stuck in survival mode instead of stepping into strategic leadership.This episode bridges the gap between strategy and self—showing how true business growth requires both: * building a business that has real, transferable value * and becoming the kind of leader who can actually hold and sustain that growth If you’ve ever felt like your business depends too much on you, or wondered what it would take to build something that’s not just profitable—but truly valuable—this conversation will shift how you think about leadership, ownership, and long-term success.  Mr. Togneri is co-founder of Neri Capital Partners and is the Managing Director for Neri Capital Partners. Previously, Mr. Togneri held various positions of increased responsibility during his twenty-five years in the consumer products goods industry. His professional tenure includes director / department-head level positions in sales, category management, and trade marketing. Mr. Togneri has been associated with several high-profile brand acquisition and divestitures in the health and beauty market sector. His most recent mergers and acquisition work has focused on licensing and marketing of four brands focused on International extensions into new categories. To contact Eric directly etogneri@nericap.com or (678) 764-1732nericap.com

When Intimacy Feels Hard: Moving Toward Connection Together with Kelsey Newcome MA, LPC

In this episode, Connie Jones sits down with Kelsey Newcome, therapist at Arise Counseling and Coaching, for an honest and insightful conversation around one of the most important—and often avoided—areas of relationships: sex and intimacy. Kelsey shares her expertise in helping couples navigate intimacy challenges with clarity, compassion, and real tools that create change. Together, they explore the common barriers couples face—disconnection, mismatched desire, communication breakdowns, shame, and unspoken expectations—and why so many couples struggle silently in this area. You’ll hear how Kelsey helps couples move out of frustration and avoidance into deeper understanding, emotional safety, and renewed connection. She breaks down how emotional intimacy and physical intimacy are deeply connected, and how couples can begin rebuilding both in a way that feels authentic, safe, and fulfilling. This episode is both practical and empowering—offering a path forward for couples who want more connection, more openness, and a more vibrant, thriving relationship.

Make Space, Move Forward: The Power of Acceptance and Commitment with Grace Heus

In this episode, Connie Jones sits down with therapist Grace Heus, Therapist at Arise Counseling and Coaching, for a powerful, honest, and deeply grounding conversation about what it really takes to create lasting life change. Grace shares her therapeutic lens through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), offering a refreshing perspective on growth—one that moves away from trying to “fix” ourselves and instead invites us to build a different relationship with our thoughts, emotions, and internal experiences. Together, they explore how so many of us get stuck in patterns of avoidance, overthinking, and emotional struggle—and how true transformation begins when we learn to make space for discomfort rather than run from it. You’ll hear how getting clear on your values becomes the anchor for change, and how small, intentional actions—taken even in the presence of fear or doubt—can begin to shift your life in meaningful ways. Grace brings both depth and practicality, making these concepts accessible and applicable to real, everyday life. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in cycles they can’t seem to break. It’s an invitation to stop fighting yourself, reconnect with what matters most, and start moving forward with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Why We Avoid Conflict—and How to Communicate in a Healthy, Connected Way with Lauren Brainard, LMFT

Most people don’t hate communication—we hate the feelings that come with conflict. In this episode, Connie and LMFT Lauren Brainard explore the deeper reasons conflict feels overwhelming and why our nervous system often interprets hard conversations as threat. We get honest about the patterns we pick up from childhood, the fear of rejection or disconnection, and the stories we tell ourselves that make conflict feel explosive, unsafe, or too risky.Then we shift into what healthy communication actually looks like—the kind that builds trust, creates emotional safety, and strengthens connection even in the middle of disagreement.Together we walk through: * Why your brain and body react so strongly during conflict * Communication habits that keep couples stuck * Why avoiding conflict damages connection over time * How to speak clearly without shutting down, blaming, or escalating * Tools for staying regulated during hard conversations * How to repair well when things don’t go perfectly * Why healthy conflict is essential for intimacy, teamwork, and long-term trust This episode will help you understand why conflict feels so hard—while giving you the practical communication tools to navigate it with more confidence, compassion, and clarity.

The Magic of Letting Yourself Be Seen with Connie Jones

In this heartfelt solo episode, Connie explores one of the most overlooked truths in leadership: you don’t have to do it all alone.She talks about the hidden cost of hyperindependence, why so many leaders learn to hide behind strength, and what happens when you finally allow yourself to be supported, known, and seen as a whole human—not just the one who “handles everything.”Connie shares her own turning point this year and the circles that shifted everything for her—her mastermind, her coach, her tennis team—and how these spaces expanded her leadership more than anything she tried to figure out alone. You’ll learn: • why leaders shrink and isolate • how hiding keeps you small • what being “seen” really means (and what it doesn’t) • how authenticity builds trust, resilience, and true influence • simple ways to open yourself to support as a leaderIf you’ve been carrying too much, keeping it all inside, or trying to be the strong one all the time, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. Being seen isn’t weakness. It’s leadership.