Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney

Running on Empty? Let’s Talk Emotional Energy (and Why You Keep Snapping at People).

Ever find yourself saying, “I know better, but I still lost it…” or “I had every intention of staying calm… until I didn’t”? Yeah. That’s emotional energy at work—or more accurately, at low battery.

In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, Anne Bonney dives into the unsung hero of emotional intelligence: emotional energy. It’s the fuel that...

Think de-escalation is just for law enforcement? Think again.

In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, Anne Bonney chats with Drew Moldenhauer (https://drewthespeaker.com/)—former police officer, emotional intelligence advocate, and founder of Blue Ethos (https://blue-ethos.com/) —about the surprising science and strategy behind de-escalation, communication, and psychological safety at work.

With over a decade of high-stake...

Ever been in a conversation where the heat rises... fast? 🥵 In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, Anne Bonney (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com) breaks down the power of taking a strategic timeout when emotions start to hijack a productive dialogue.

Whether it’s a tense team meeting, a tough feedback session, or a workplace conflict headed off the rails, knowing when (and how) to hit pause can be the difference between a ...

What do you do when 175 acres of your beloved land go up in flames? If you’re HeatherAsh Amara (www.warriorgoddess.com), you don’t just rebuild—you listen.

In this powerful and earthy episode, author of Warrior Goddess Training and all-around badass HeatherAsh Amara shares how losing nearly everything in a wildfire became an unexpected invitation to slow down, tune in, and completely reimagine what the next chapter really looks like...

Overwhelm.  Burnout.  So much is changing these days, and it's really easy to feel like you're being knocked around in the endless barrage of change!  If you want to feel a little better about your situation, especially when things get hairy, do what we talk about in this episode.  Focus on what you can CONTROL!

Thanks for listening.  

Anne Bonney, CSP®, is an electrifying keynote speaker, energizing emcee, a fun interactiv...

In this profound and deeply human episode, Anne Bonney sits down with speaker and mental wellness advocate Ryan Gallik to explore a life shaped by trauma—and transformed by healing, purpose, and leadership.

As a witness to and survivor of a middle school school shooting, Ryan’s journey through grief and trauma led him to a life of service—as a firefighter, paramedic, and now the founder of the Mental Hygiene Project  (www.mentalhygi...

What if the expiration date on your current life isn’t a dead end—but an invitation to reinvent yourself? 

In this inspiring, high-energy episode, Anne Bonney chats with Ken Hartley www.kenhartley.com  award-winning speaker, singer, and corporate magician, about his wild and courageous career pivot at 50 years old. After 36 years leading music ministries, Ken walked away from everything stable and familiar to chase a completely diff...

Ever catch yourself getting irritated because someone doesn’t think, talk, or act like you?  Surprise! That’s not a character flaw on their part—it’s just reality.
In this episode, your host Anne Bonney (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com) drops a truth bomb you didn’t know you needed:

 Stop expecting you from other people.

We're diving into the emotional intelligence mindset shift that can make your life so much less frustratin...

Ever feel like connection is harder than ever these days?  You’re not alone—but this week’s guest says it doesn’t have to be that way.

Join your host Anne Bonney as she chats with connection evangelist and keynote speaker Ginger Johnson (https://gingerjohnson.com/), who’s here to blow up the myth that human connection is complicated. (Spoiler alert: it’s not!)

From waving at strangers to building bridges in brand-new communities, Gin...

 In a world where people feel more isolated and overlooked than ever, belonging isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a leadership superpower. In this short but powerful episode, keynote speaker and discomfort-zone navigator Anne Bonney (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com) breaks down what it really means to create belonging for others—and how to do it with intention, whether you’re leading a team or simply showing up in your community. 

Forget...

What do unicycling in Japan, teaching English, and building a career in motivational speaking have in common? Joe Fingerhut, that’s what! (www.joefingerhut.com) In this upbeat, laugh-filled, wisdom-packed episode, Anne chats with speaker, author, and eternal curiosity-chaser Joe Fingerhut to explore what it really means to turn limitations into launchpads.

Joe’s life is proof that bold action, authentic storytelling, and relentless ...

Ever had a bold idea or dream and immediately heard, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” or “What if it doesn’t work?” Cue the naysayers. 🙄

In this episode with your host Anne Bonney (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com), we’re unpacking the well-meaning, fear-fueled advice that often shows up just as we’re about to take a leap. (pair those with the voice of doubt already yelling "WTF ARE YOU DOING???", and NOT doing something s...

Ready to trade safe and expected for wild and extraordinary? In this bold and inspiring episode, Steve Fredlund (https://stevefredlund.com/) takes us on a journey from buttoned-up actuary to gorilla-hugging nonprofit founder (ok, he didn't HUG the gorilla...listen in to find out what he actually did!).  He's a professional speaker, and author of Do the Unright Thing. Spoiler alert: the magic didn’t happen when he followed...

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a mental game of tug-of-war between what you should do and what you actually want to do? Welcome to the club, my friend—membership: basically everyone. In this episode, your host Anne Bonney (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com) dives into the oh-so-human struggle between following the path society (or family or convention) paved for us… and the one that lights our own fire.

This isn’t about being reckless o...

What if joy was the key to economic recovery? That’s exactly what consumer strategist and data whiz Lisa W. Miller (https://www.lwm-associates.com/) discovered when the world turned upside down in 2020. Instead of getting stuck in fear and uncertainty, Lisa had a bold realization: When joy is greater than fear, everything starts to turn around.

Armed with this insight, she launched the Journey Back to Joy research project, gathering...

 When the Job Hunt Drags On: Laurie’s Journey from Unemployed to Unstoppable

Job searching is rough—but nine months of rejection? That’s next-level tough. In this episode, Laurie gets real about what it’s like to be a seasoned professional suddenly feeling unemployable in a brutal job market. From self-doubt to ageism to the soul-crushing sting of rejection emails, she shares the highs, the lows, and the surprising lessons she learn...

What do business strategy, leadership coaching, and fronting a metal band have in common? Amber Swenor! (https://www.amber-swenor.com/)  This powerhouse entrepreneur and rockstar joins us to talk about the wild, sometimes uncomfortable journey of living authentically—even when the world expects you to fit into a neatly labeled box.

From trying to play by the rules in pageants (until she unleashed a bold, unexpected musical number) t...

What happens when you embrace life’s uncertainties and rewrite the rules as you go? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, Anne Bonney chats with Carmen Mims (https://www.relaxathand.com/), a fearless adventurer and holistic wellness practitioner who turned depression into discovery and boundaries into breakthroughs. From a silent Vipassana retreat to life-changing moments in Thailand, Carmen shares how stepping out of ...

Fasten your seatbelt—this episode is about to take off! Anne Bonney welcomes Emma Henderson (www.emma-henderson.com), a former airline captain, leadership expert, and charity founder, to share her journey of resilience, leadership, and making a difference. Emma’s story takes you from the skies to the frontlines of the pandemic, with lessons that will inspire you to lead with humanity, humility, and humor.

What You’ll Discover in Thi...