Blind Spots with Gail McDonald

How Erin Treacy Helps Leaders Spot Burnout Patterns, Boundaries, and Hidden Pressure

What happens when competence becomes camouflage — when being capable, driven, and dependable keeps you moving so fast you can no longer see what’s quietly running your life? In this episode of Blind Spots, Gail McDonald sits down with Erin Treacy, Owner/President of Erin Treacy Coaching, to explore the unseen patterns that shape how high performers lead, work, and live. Erin brings a grounded, real-world perspective from broadcast news, small business ownership, and decades of work across hospitality, marketing, and communications — along with a deeply personal turning point: a burnout collapse that forced her to stop and confront the cost of constant motion. Together, they unpack emotional intelligence, self-regulation, boundaries, people-pleasing, and what it means to recover clarity without abandoning ambition. Erin shares how blind spots often form around worth, control, and responsibility — and why clarity begins when we slow down enough to notice what has been quietly driving our choices. Rooted in a people-first view of leadership shaped in her family’s business and reinforced throughout her career, Erin brings an approachable, direct coaching style that blends empathy with strategy. This conversation is a powerful reminder that sustainable leadership is not about flawless execution — it’s about awareness, communication, and the courage to lead in a way that feels human. In This Conversation * How blind spots show up in the body before the mind catches up * Erin’s burnout turning point and what changed after it * Busy vs. forward: why motion isn’t always progress * Emotional intelligence as a practical leadership skill * Listening without reacting * The cost of saying yes beyond capacity * Why “no” can be a self-awareness practice * Burnout recovery through small systems and boundaries * Letting go of control (including Erin’s “backwards-folded laundry” metaphor) * Resilience, recovery, and starting again without shame About Erin Erin Treacy is a leadership and business coach. She works with high performers navigating pressure, responsibility, and the unseen patterns that shape how they lead and live. With a background in broadcast news and small business ownership — and nearly three decades of experience across hospitality, marketing, and communications — Erin brings a grounded, real-world perspective to conversations about emotional intelligence, self-awareness, communication, and sustainable growth. Her work focuses on helping people notice the blind spots that keep them stuck, especially beliefs around worth, control, and responsibility. Erin’s coaching is approachable and direct, rooted in empathy and strategy, and tailored to what each person needs in the moment. She helps clients strengthen confidence, communication, and connection so they can lead with more clarity, balance, and intention. Contact Erin www.coacherintreacy.com [https://www.coacherintreacy.com/] Find Erin on Social Media: https://www.coacherintreacy.com/contact-us [https://www.coacherintreacy.com/contact-us] Books & Resources * When the Body Says No — Gabor Maté If this conversation surfaced a pattern you’ve been outrunning, consider this your pause — not to judge yourself, but to notice what has been quietly shaping your choices. Awareness is rarely dramatic at first. Sometimes it begins with one honest no, one small boundary, or one moment of listening differently.

When Your Body Knows Something Is Wrong | Charles Young

Sometimes your body starts sending signals long before anyone can explain them. Dizziness. Disorientation. A sense that something is deeply wrong, even when tests come back “normal.” In this episode of Blind Spots, Charles Young shares what it was like to live inside that uncertainty, and how listening to his instincts ultimately saved his life. Host Gayle MacDonald sits down with Charles Young to explore his experience of living with a rare, benign brain tumor that went undiagnosed for years. What began as unexplained vertigo and nausea eventually escalated into psychosis, hospitalization, and emergency brain surgery. Charles reflects on navigating the healthcare system, losing his career overnight, and facing the emotional aftermath of survival. This is not a story about easy answers. It is a grounded conversation about self-advocacy, recovery, and how perspective can shift after trauma. What You’ll Hear or Learn * What it feels like when your symptoms are real, but answers are slow to come * How psychosis showed up and what awareness looked like from the inside * The moment Charles chose to actively participate in his recovery * Letting go of negative self-talk during illness and healing * Grieving the loss of a career while building a different kind of life * Why connection matters more than isolation during long-term illness * How sharing your story can help others feel less alone About Charles Charles Young is a former educator and senior leader in learning and development with the Government of Alberta. Raised on a family farm in rural Alberta, he built a career rooted in service, teaching at NorQuest College and Grant MacEwan College before moving into provincial leadership roles supporting staff development across multiple ministries. Charles’s life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with a rare colloid brain cyst that caused severe neurological and psychological symptoms. After a high‑risk seven‑hour brain surgery at the University of Alberta Hospital, he began a long recovery journey marked by resilience, determination, and what he calls his “great reset.” Now nearly two years post‑surgery, Charles embraces a healthier lifestyle, prioritizes mental well‑being, and openly shares his story to help others facing medical or mental health challenges. He is an active member of global colloid cyst support groups, offering hope and encouragement to people navigating similar diagnoses. Known by friends for his newfound gentleness, perspective, and gratitude, Charles advocates for connection, self‑advocacy, and the importance of strong health benefits and early life planning. Though legally disabled and unable to return to work, he describes his life today as meaningful, connected, and better than before. Connect With Charles Young * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-young-8515b926/] Listen with curiosity. Reflect on where you may need to trust your instincts more deeply. And if this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with someone who may be navigating illness or recovery quietly.

The CEO of Your Brain: How Self-Awareness Changes Everything

What if the key to better leadership, emotional regulation, and resilience isn’t willpower but understanding how your brain actually works? In this episode of Blind Spots, host Gayle MacDonald sits down with Dr. Lisa Riegel to explore how self-awareness, brain biology, and perception shape the way we think, feel, and behave, often without us realizing it. Using a powerful “brain as a corporation” analogy, Dr. Riegel explains why so many of our reactions happen below conscious awareness, and how learning to lead your own brain can change everything from stress and anxiety to leadership effectiveness and personal fulfillment. This conversation bridges neuroscience, leadership, mental health, and everyday life, offering practical insight into why we react the way we do, how past experiences quietly influence the present, and what it really means to take control as the CEO of your own mind. In this conversation, they discuss: * Why most of our thoughts and reactions happen unconsciously * The difference between reality and perception and how filters shape behavior * How stress hijacks the brain and shuts down critical thinking * Why self-awareness is the foundation of emotional regulation and resilience * How understanding brain biology reduces shame and increases self-compassion * What it means to lead yourself before leading others * Practical ways to retrain the brain for calmer, healthier responses * Why intention, not perfection, is the key to lasting change This episode is a must-listen foranyone who wants to better understand their own patterns and learn how to work with their brain instead of fighting it. About Lisa: Dr. Lisa Riegel is deeply passionate about organizational reform across education, government, and the nonprofit sectors. She consults with organizations to strengthen human capital management, improve collaboration, and bring strategic plans to life. While many organizations have a strategy on paper, her work ensures those plans are implemented and monitored with genuine commitment rather than compliance. In the education sector, Lisa is recognized for her expertise in social and emotional learning, differentiation, and student engagement. She is a strong advocate for partnerships among schools, families, businesses, and communities. Her consulting includes facilitating strategic planning for diverse stakeholder groups, supporting data visualization, and developing effective communication strategies. Lisa is also the author of NeuroWell, a book that helps educators understand how academic and social behavior emerge from the interaction between biology and context. The book provides practical step-by-step guidance for creating a NeuroWell culture in schools. Contact Lisa: lisariegel@epinstitute.net | [lisariegel@epinstitute.net]www.lisariegel.com [https://lisariegel.com/] Books & Resources: NeuroWell [https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Lisa-A-Riegel-Ph.D/author/B0GHGY5V3X] — by Dr. Lisa Riegel Aspirations to Operations [https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Lisa-A-Riegel-Ph.D/author/B0GHGY5V3X] — by Dr. Lisa Riegel The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk EP Institute [https://www.epinstitute.net/] When the Body Says No — Gabor Maté

From Nanny to the United Nations: Lisa Purcell's Career Journey

Gail McDonald sits down with Lisa Purcell to explore a career journey shaped by curiosity, courage, and a willingness to move forward without having everything figured out. From leaving Canada at 23 with a suitcase and a backpack, to working as a nanny and English teacher in Spain, joining the United Nations Development Programme in Geneva, navigating international banking in London, and eventually returning to Canada to raise a family and build a career in education and public service, Lisa’s story challenges the idea that careers must follow a straight line. Together, Gail and Lisa unpack the fears that stop people from making changes, the pressure to “pick one path,” and the freedom that comes from reframing uncertainty as possibility. They explore how values and priorities shift over time, how work-life balance looks different in each life stage, and why it’s never too late to return to school or change direction. This Conversation Covers: * Trusting curiosity when you don’t have a clear plan * Leaving without burning bridges * The hidden pressure to settle into one identity or career * Why fear often shows up right before growth * Reframing nonlinear paths as strength, not failure * Navigating career change across different life stages * Balancing ambition, family, and personal values Lisa’s story is a powerful reminder that meaningful careers are often built through exploration, not certainty — and that sometimes the most important step is simply being willing to begin. Books & Resources Referenced • 17 Lies That Are Holding You Back & the Truth That Will Set You Free — Steve Chandler

Joy Over Perfection: Reflections Before the New Year

In this special year-end episode of Blind Spots, host Gail McDonald offers an unscripted, reflective conversation about gratitude, boundaries, and easing the pressure we place on ourselves during the holidays. Recorded just days before Christmas, this episode isn’t about doing more — it’s about letting go. Gail reflects on the power of gratitude, the gift of time, and why perfection is often the biggest source of holiday stress. From family traditions and emotional triggers to intentions (instead of resolutions) and the freedom that comes from releasing control, this episode invites listeners to pause, breathe, and choose what truly matters. Gail also shares personal stories, practical mindset shifts, and gentle reminders that joy doesn’t require perfection — only presence. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, reflective, or simply in need of permission to slow down, this episode offers a grounding close to the year and a compassionate bridge into what comes next. As Blind Spots looks ahead to the new year, Gail invites you to be part of the conversation. If there’s a topic you’d love to hear explored in 2026 — a blind spot you’re curious about, a challenge you’re navigating, or a question you’d like unpacked — send an email [https://blindspotscoaching.ca/contact] and share your ideas. Your input helps shape the conversations to come.