July 28, 2025 • 23 mins
In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, CEO Dr. Linda Schubring shares what it was like to record the audiobook version of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane. She discusses how holistic preparation, a lifetime of practice, and the courage to be fully present shaped this emotional experience—and how these lessons apply to leadership and life.
Listen as Linda shares:
- Why recording the audiobook was more emotional than expected
- How she prepared physically and mentally for the recording
- Why practice includes both reading and self-compassion
- What it means to bring your full presence to the mic—and your work
Key Takeaways:
- Preparation isn’t just about logistics. It’s about knowing yourself and creating the conditions to thrive.
- Practice includes emotional rehearsal and self-kindness in the face of failure.
- Presence is what makes any performance—whether on stage or in the board room—transformational.
Links and Resources:
- Buy the book: Unfolded by Dr. Linda & Brian Schubring
- Learn more about Leadership Vision: leadershipvisionconsulting.com
- Subscribe to the Podcast: [Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [Google Podcasts]
🎉 Unfolded is a National Bestseller!
#1 in Business & #5 Overall on USA Today
#17 on Publisher’s Weekly Nonfiction
📘 Grab your copy + get the FREE Reflection Guide!
-
Read the full blog post here!
CONTACT US
- email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.com
- Leadership Vision Online
ABOUT
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And so for me, when I was dialing it in and was the
most present and I would say aname or say a phrase, it would
be this flood of emotion and itwas this sense of like.
I really believe this, andthere was a couple times I did
get choked up, and it wasn'tbecause the words are so great,
but I allowed myself toexperience the book for the
(00:23):
first time and I think thatthere's times where whatever
you're doing, giving yourselfpermission to experience
something for the first time,will invite, sometimes, emotion,
and it will invite new thoughtsand a new perspective.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
You are listening to the Leadership Vision Podcast,
our show helping you buildpositive team culture.
Our consulting firm has beendoing this work for the past 25
years so that leaders arementally engaged and emotionally
healthy.
For more information about ourwork, you can visit us on the
web atleadershipvisionconsultingcom or
click the link in the shownotes.
Hello everyone, my name isNathan F Freeberg and today on
(01:05):
the podcast, I am joined by DrLinda Shubring, our CEO here at
Leadership Vision and co-authorof the book Unfolded Lessons in
Transformation from an OrigamiCrane.
In this episode, linda reflectson her recent experience
recording the audiobook versionof Unfolded.
Yes, that comes out late Augustof 2025.
Make sure to go get your copytoday, wherever good audiobooks
(01:27):
are sold.
She reflects on everything fromthe technical setup to the
emotional highs and moments ofpresence, and she shares three
core lessons she took away fromthis process that I really think
apply to anything that we'retrying to accomplish in life.
Those are preparation, practiceand presence.
Now, as you listen to thisepisode, I invite you to reflect
(01:47):
on this question when was thelast time you fully showed up
I'm talking mind, body and heartfor something that truly
mattered?
Okay, so let's jump into ithere with Dr Linda Shubring
reflecting on her experiencerecording the audiobook for
Unfolded reflecting on herexperience recording the
audiobook for Unfolded, linda,so this is big, exciting news
(02:10):
for us here at Leadership Vision.
You just finished recording theaudiobook version of Unfolded
Lessons in Transformation froman Origami Crane.
What was that like?
I'm very jealous because as youknow I love all things tech and
audio.
And the pictures you sent I waslike ooh, what kind of sound
deadening foam are that?
So just big picture before wedive into the specific takeaways
(02:33):
.
What was that like?
I'm so jealous.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Big picture.
It was so fun.
It was so fun.
It was a moment for me that Ifeel like I was preparing for my
whole life Awesome.
I was nervous, appropriately.
I was excited appropriately,and afterwards I was exhausted
appropriately and I learned alot through the process and I
(02:56):
really enjoyed it, and I'mexcited to share the audiobook
with the world.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Well, today we're going to be talking about you've
reflected a little bit on thatexperience and sort of summarize
into these kind of three Pwords preparation, practice and
presence which I think are.
As I was reading through thenotes and just briefly chatting
about it, I was like these areactually great takeaways for
anything that we're attemptingto do in life?
Be it a job promotion, runninga marathon getting ready to go
(03:26):
sit through a kid's band concertlike whatever the thing is that
we're doing.
Before we get to that, though,can you just briefly tell us,
like, what can we expect fromthis audiobook?
Is it just Linda reading thebook?
Like, tell us what it is.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yes, let me tell you, I am narrating the book and
although Brian and I wrote ittogether and he wrote some
specific parts, and those wouldbe the meditations, I read the
whole thing and not only that.
(04:15):
One of the things withaudiobook to print and in the
audio book postscript we get toanswer some questions that our
readers have had, and a lot ofit has to do with like how did
the two of you do this togetherand who did what?
And did you take turns withchapters?
So, I'm excited about that.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And then I had to read all the legalese which I
which I I'm excited to hear thatyes, no, no, this this may not
be distributed or copyrighted,or without express certain
consent.
So I write it or, withoutexpress certain consent.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
So I um brian was sending me photos and some
videos, and I was looking at oneof them when one of my kids was
around.
They're like what is that I was?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
like, remember that book we were reading.
Well, linda's reading theaudiobook and, uh, vivian's big
question is did you do thevoices for the animals?
Oh does the owl have a voice inthe fox, or is it all just
linda?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
it is all just linda with a little.
It has the emotion of thedifferent characters.
But I didn't do okay, so when I, when I read it, I know my, I
mean, this isn't a children'sbook.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
When I read my kids books, I do voices and they hate
it.
They don't like the voices.
They're like, yeah, don't dothe voices, just read your voice
in your voice.
So anyway, uh, so.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
So that was interesting because I wanted to
make sure that I didn't read,you know, like an announcer or
read yeah like I'm screaming ata whole group or that I'm, you
know, just people yeah, exactly,totally exactly, and I didn't
want to overdo it with thevoices, and so there'd be times
where even brian say, hey,remember.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yes, remember that he's not trying.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
He's not mad, he's not mad.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
He's just this character's not mad.
Well, let's get into thesethree kind of three takeaways.
The first one is preparation,and you talked about this
preparation as holistic.
What is that?
Is that just like?
La, la, la, la, la, la, la Like?
What does that look like?
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Some of that is getting your voice ready, but
anytime you're doing somethingnew, so that I'm not a voice
actor, so I don't exactly knowhow to do all this.
However, I've had a lot ofexperience behind microphones
and part of this is at theLeadership Vision podcast.
So when I was asked to do this,I realized that I wanted to be
(06:27):
prepared holistically, and partof that that looked like
Googling things that I should door asking people advice or
learning some hot tips, orthinking about when I speak to a
large audience or if I'mgetting ready to do a keynote,
what will I drink, how will Itake care of my voice, how will
(06:49):
I show up that way?
And when I say that I had toprepare, part of it was the
holistic, physical preparationof getting my body ready.
And that may sound kind ofstrange, but maybe you know this
from listening to theLeadership Vision podcast, but I
have lung issues and so I knewthat I needed to make sure that
(07:12):
I was caring for my lungs, thatI was prioritizing hydration and
sleep and deprioritization howdo you say that?
And deprioritization.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Not doing, you say that.
And deprioritization Not doingstuff and not doing other stuff
there you go.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And not doing other things like eating gluten or
drinking wine or dairy leadingup to the recording because I
wanted to sound as good as I can, knowing that you can hear the
rattle in my lungs and mysinuses, and that's just how it?
(07:52):
Was, so I wanted to be readythat way.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
That's so cool and I think that's something people
forget that if you're goingagain some of the example a big
meeting, a big whatever that youmight need to sleep better.
Some of the example a bigmeeting, a big whatever that you
might need to sleep better, youmight need to eat better, you
might need to go on some runs,as you mentioned.
Was there any sort of, I wasgonna say, like emotional
preparation, or like Deb andChip and people who have?
(08:18):
been involved in the process,like you got this, like what was
that part of the prep?
Speaker 1 (08:23):
like Well, I'm the person that needs the fan club
to rally a bit, and I thinksometimes it's just like well,
you got this, that's easy foryou.
And I think there is this sensethat when I have been signed,
when I signed up to do something, I feel the weight of it and I
feel the responsibility ofstaying true to the text or
staying true to the inspiration.
(08:45):
And so for me, when we weredriving to the studio in
Minneapolis for the recording, Ilooked down at my phone and
there were two text messages,and one was from Deb on the East
Coast and one was from Chip onthe West Coast of the USA, and
they were both the messages ofyou've got this, remember who
(09:07):
you are, we are with you, we arecheering for you.
You were built for this.
And some of those messages atthat time, knowing that we were
about to go into the studio, Ithink it settled my emotions and
then it released some of them.
So at least I got a few tearsout before I actually got into
the studio.
But our work and the book isdesigned to be emotional.
(09:30):
It's designed to create a senseof emotional safety so that you
can actually address and talkabout some of your emotions
throughout the story and in someof the reflection at the end?
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Was there anything you weren't prepared for or you
were surprised once you got intothat booth?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I was surprised at the words that tripped me up,
because the words that I couldjust smooth out and that were
flowing in my practice.
I was surprised that there werethings that I just could not
say and the engineer would belike stand up, just you know,
right on like take a break, orwhatever you need.
(10:08):
I was surprised how nervous Iwas, and I wasn't because that's
part of my process, so I thinkit's the familiarity of this is
how I prepare.
I prepare holistically.
I need the support around me,and then I'm willing to just
take off and soar.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
It's interesting how I, you know, when I do our
podcast, I'll create a littleintro that I'll go back and read
.
You know, it's only like, youknow, 60 to 90 seconds and
sometimes I'll be reading it andI'll trip up on a word and then
it's like I can't read anythingafter that.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I'm like what happened here.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
What is going on so?
Speaker 1 (10:48):
that's good.
Well, we never hear that,Nathan, because your
post-production is brilliant.
Of course not.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, exactly Before I move on to the next idea of
practice, just one takeawayabout preparation.
What would you share withleaders about preparation that
you learned?
That's just like a littlenugget.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Know what you need, know that if you need the right
comfort.
So I even brought a sweater incase the studio was too cold.
I wore an outfit that I wantedto be feel strong in and bright
in, knowing what you need tobring the best of you to the
(11:24):
occasion.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, so the next P is practice.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And you said that you've been practicing for this
moment your whole life?
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Tell us more about how your early life experiences
has sort of led up to this, thismoment of reading a audio book.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I've always been a reader.
I love to read, I love to readout loud and you know, when
Brian was five years old, he wasdreaming of flying a plane and
I was reading.
So when I was, when I was five,and and I think that there were
ways that I would read voicesor read emotions, and Brian was
(12:07):
asking me, this reflection ofthe practice like what did you
learn?
And I said I think even playingpiano at a young age gave me an
opportunity through music andthrough putting my hands to the
keys, gave me a release of theemotions that I was carrying.
I think I'm an emotional person.
(12:29):
I'm very in tune with myemotions and the emotions of
others, and there's times whereI just need a release.
So it was.
It was the practicing of that.
It was the practicing ofreading in front of I don't know
school programs or asking toshare this or that.
(12:49):
You know, I was sitting down.
I'm like, oh, this feelsfamiliar, this feels like the
leadership vision podcast, thisfeels like sitting with Nathan,
and so there was a reminder oflike I've been, I've been
practicing for this moment.
And so there was a reminder oflike I've been practicing for
this moment, and not that it waslike the be all, end, all
moment, but the opportunity tolet me breathe life and words
and emotions into the words thatwe had written with that same
(13:13):
spirit.
That was everything for me.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Did you actually practice reading it ahead of
time, like out loud sitting.
What was that?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yes, many times I read the book.
Well, as I was writing andrewriting the chapters, I would
meet up with Brian and we wouldeither sit outside or whatever
and I would read the chapter,and the first time I read a
chapter he wept.
And there would be times whereI would work on something, or
(13:44):
work on a paragraph or a part.
I reread it and there was thesame kind of emotion like that
was it?
That's what we wanted to say, Iget it, and so there was a lot
of practice that way, and I'm avery much.
I was an only child, so I wouldspend time, my mom said, in
front of a mirror, so no onepsychoanalyzed that.
(14:07):
However, there's this pointwhere I want to make sure that I
have the right posture to read,that I'm matching the right
facial expressions to what I'mreading and not just reading
with fervor so there's a lot ofpractice.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
You also mentioned practicing self-compassion
during this process.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Oh, Nathan.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I don't know if we have time to go into much about
self-compassion.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
maybe just a brief like expand on that a little bit
yeah self-compassion, theself-compassion journey of just
being mindful of what'shappening and treating yourself
like a good friend and offeringthe right phrases to reassure
yourself and not just beatyourself up.
So the act of practicingcompassion with yourself.
(14:51):
For me, when I would mess upyou mentioned not being able to
read the intro that you've reada million times there were times
where I could easily get reallymad at myself and instead I
picked up a tick and it was likestate and I would say something
(15:13):
like that.
And that was the moment ofpeople mess up words every day
and that was the moment ofpeople mess up words every day.
This is not as easy as thebrilliant voice actors make it
sound.
How do I translate who I am?
How do I make sure that I'menunciating but not annoying,
(15:38):
and when I mess up, just otherpeople mess up and I can show
kindness to myself and I'm goingto eventually get it.
And that practice ofself-compassion led me to read
chapters three to five almostwithout mistake.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
That's good.
Yeah, I was listening to abaseball game the other day and
the announcer who is in thebroadcast hall fame okay uh,
messed up like three or fourtimes in one inning and I was
like man you've got to have Iwould be so self-conscious.
You know giant nationalbroadcast but I guess you just
gotta, like an athlete, justroll with it and forget about it
(16:11):
and move on to the next thing.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So yes, you know you.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
And that's our part number three here Presence,
being here, being aware, beingin the moment, and also, you
wrote, being fully Linda.
I had joked with you earlier,like before we recorded it.
I'm like you know what voiceare you going to do and you're
like I'm going to be me.
What was it like to be, Linda,not the announcer, the
(16:39):
facilitator, what kind of helpedyou get into that authentic
place of you?
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Sometimes I can get in my head.
I'll answer your question, butI'll say this first Sometimes I
can get in my head and thinkabout all the people that are
going to listen to whatever Isay.
So I can start thinking aboutthat, and and also I can look
back and think about as I'm evenreading, think about all the
people that shaped the dialogueand shaped the points that we
(17:10):
wanted to drive home with thebook Unfolded, and, and and what
I realized is that the feedbackthat I've received my whole
life is that when I am presentand I am fully aware of my
surroundings and what's being,bit more space with that, with
my words or my sentiments or mysilence, I can create the kind
(17:45):
of spaces where people areinvited to step into that space
of being present as well, notwith me, but with themselves.
And there was just this.
I had some.
I had an unfolded map with mefrom some work that we had done
with a client, and so I feltconnected to that group of
(18:06):
people in particular, and evenjust just touching that map was
this reminder to me.
I am present, I'm here, let meenjoy what the process of, of
reading, let me learn somethings and let me help someone
else.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I love that you had mentioned getting choked up.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
There are some moments that you know I don't
know if you well, I'm curious,just tell me about that Like,
did you have to stop and take abreak?
Like, what was that?
Like, what was going throughyour head?
Was that a result of being sofully present that you forgot?
Uh, or not forgot, but thatyou're just like I'm here, I'm
in this sentence, talk aboutthat I was so in the sentence
(18:50):
that I would feel the emotion.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Now some people will call adaptability presence, but
I think it's a whole differentthe strength of adaptability,
the strength of adaptability, orpeople being adaptable, because
there's a movement that thatgoes with that can, that can
feel hurried or flustered andnot present.
And so for me, when I wasdialing it in and was the most
(19:15):
present and I would say a nameor say a phrase, it would be
this flood of emotion and it wasthis sense of like.
I really believe this, andthere was a couple times, couple
times I did get choked up andit wasn't because the words are
so great, but the I allowedmyself to experience the book
(19:37):
for the first time, and I thinkthat there's times where
whatever you're doing, givingyourself permission to
experience something for thefirst time, will invite,
sometimes, emotion, and it willinvite new thoughts and a new
perspective.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I have two final questions for you.
What do you hope people get outof listening to the audio book?
Is it a different?
I know it's the same message,but is it different experience,
like is there something thatyou're like?
I really hope people take thisaway from the audio book.
That may be different from theprinted book.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
I am hoping that people will listen to the audio
book and and be called intosomething greater.
I think there's going to bemoments, just like when people
are reading the book and theyneed to pause and look up and
wonder and wonder what it meansfor me or their family or their
teams me or their family ortheir teams.
(20:46):
I'm hoping that the audio bookwill cultivate the kind of
emotional awareness in people totake the next step with the
book, because I hope that thebook will be a springboard into
greater reflection and moreeffective action.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Linda, I had another question, but I think that's the
one to end on what is the lastone?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Well, I was just curious.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
The book's been out for a little while now.
You've interacted with peoplearound it.
Is there anything that you'veheard someone be like this book
touched me in this way?
They're like I didn't thinkthat, just something that
surprised you of the way peopleare receiving it.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Every day.
You name the age you name.
A friend of ours sent audiorecordings of her two sons
reflecting on the book and whichcharacters they liked, and I've
heard from people that areretired.
I've heard from people that nowwant to give this book to
(21:45):
others.
I've I've heard perspectivesthat we weren't trying to write
into it but the allegory allowssome of those bounces and I am
hoping that we'll do a podcastor two or ten on some of the
some not just feedback thatwe're getting, but the way
Unfolded will launch people withthe kind of courage and
(22:06):
compassion to take on theirdreams and to take on this world
.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I love it.
Well, linda, thank you so much.
Thank you and thank you,listeners, for listening to the
Leadership Vision Podcast, ourshow helping you build positive
team culture.
If you want to get a copy ofUnfolded, you can go to
shoobringscom and you can buythe hardcover book version and
the audio version as soon asthat is out in August.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
We think we don't have an exact date.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Mid-August or wherever good books are sold or
recorded.
I'm Nathan Freeberg.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
I'm Linda Schubring.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
And on behalf of our entire team, thanks for
listening, thanks for listening.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
I think I said thanks for listening on the audiobook
too, oh nice.
And so for me, when I was dialing it in and was the
most present and I would say aname or say a phrase, it would
be this flood of emotion and itwas this sense of like.
I really believe this, andthere was a couple times I did
get choked up, and it wasn'tbecause the words are so great,
but I allowed myself toexperience the book for the
(00:23):
first time and I think thatthere's times where whatever
you're doing, giving yourselfpermission to experience
something for the first time,will invite, sometimes, emotion,
and it will invite new thoughtsand a new perspective.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
You are listening to the Leadership Vision Podcast,
our show helping you buildpositive team culture.
Our consulting firm has beendoing this work for the past 25
years so that leaders arementally engaged and emotionally
healthy.
For more information about ourwork, you can visit us on the
web atleadershipvisionconsultingcom or
click the link in the shownotes.
Hello everyone, my name isNathan F Freeberg and today on
(01:05):
the podcast, I am joined by DrLinda Shubring, our CEO here at
Leadership Vision and co-authorof the book Unfolded Lessons in
Transformation from an OrigamiCrane.
In this episode, linda reflectson her recent experience
recording the audiobook versionof Unfolded.
Yes, that comes out late Augustof 2025.
Make sure to go get your copytoday, wherever good audiobooks
(01:27):
are sold.
She reflects on everything fromthe technical setup to the
emotional highs and moments ofpresence, and she shares three
core lessons she took away fromthis process that I really think
apply to anything that we'retrying to accomplish in life.
Those are preparation, practiceand presence.
Now, as you listen to thisepisode, I invite you to reflect
(01:47):
on this question when was thelast time you fully showed up
I'm talking mind, body and heartfor something that truly
mattered?
Okay, so let's jump into ithere with Dr Linda Shubring
reflecting on her experiencerecording the audiobook for
Unfolded reflecting on herexperience recording the
audiobook for Unfolded, linda,so this is big, exciting news
(02:10):
for us here at Leadership Vision.
You just finished recording theaudiobook version of Unfolded
Lessons in Transformation froman Origami Crane.
What was that like?
I'm very jealous because as youknow I love all things tech and
audio.
And the pictures you sent I waslike ooh, what kind of sound
deadening foam are that?
So just big picture before wedive into the specific takeaways
(02:33):
.
What was that like?
I'm so jealous.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Big picture.
It was so fun.
It was so fun.
It was a moment for me that Ifeel like I was preparing for my
whole life Awesome.
I was nervous, appropriately.
I was excited appropriately,and afterwards I was exhausted
appropriately and I learned alot through the process and I
(02:56):
really enjoyed it, and I'mexcited to share the audiobook
with the world.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Well, today we're going to be talking about you've
reflected a little bit on thatexperience and sort of summarize
into these kind of three Pwords preparation, practice and
presence which I think are.
As I was reading through thenotes and just briefly chatting
about it, I was like these areactually great takeaways for
anything that we're attemptingto do in life?
Be it a job promotion, runninga marathon getting ready to go
(03:26):
sit through a kid's band concertlike whatever the thing is that
we're doing.
Before we get to that, though,can you just briefly tell us,
like, what can we expect fromthis audiobook?
Is it just Linda reading thebook?
Like, tell us what it is.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yes, let me tell you, I am narrating the book and
although Brian and I wrote ittogether and he wrote some
specific parts, and those wouldbe the meditations, I read the
whole thing and not only that.
(04:15):
One of the things withaudiobook to print and in the
audio book postscript we get toanswer some questions that our
readers have had, and a lot ofit has to do with like how did
the two of you do this togetherand who did what?
And did you take turns withchapters?
So, I'm excited about that.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And then I had to read all the legalese which I
which I I'm excited to hear thatyes, no, no, this this may not
be distributed or copyrighted,or without express certain
consent.
So I write it or, withoutexpress certain consent.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
So I um brian was sending me photos and some
videos, and I was looking at oneof them when one of my kids was
around.
They're like what is that I was?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
like, remember that book we were reading.
Well, linda's reading theaudiobook and, uh, vivian's big
question is did you do thevoices for the animals?
Oh does the owl have a voice inthe fox, or is it all just
linda?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
it is all just linda with a little.
It has the emotion of thedifferent characters.
But I didn't do okay, so when I, when I read it, I know my, I
mean, this isn't a children'sbook.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
When I read my kids books, I do voices and they hate
it.
They don't like the voices.
They're like, yeah, don't dothe voices, just read your voice
in your voice.
So anyway, uh, so.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
So that was interesting because I wanted to
make sure that I didn't read,you know, like an announcer or
read yeah like I'm screaming ata whole group or that I'm, you
know, just people yeah, exactly,totally exactly, and I didn't
want to overdo it with thevoices, and so there'd be times
where even brian say, hey,remember.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yes, remember that he's not trying.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
He's not mad, he's not mad.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
He's just this character's not mad.
Well, let's get into thesethree kind of three takeaways.
The first one is preparation,and you talked about this
preparation as holistic.
What is that?
Is that just like?
La, la, la, la, la, la, la Like?
What does that look like?
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Some of that is getting your voice ready, but
anytime you're doing somethingnew, so that I'm not a voice
actor, so I don't exactly knowhow to do all this.
However, I've had a lot ofexperience behind microphones
and part of this is at theLeadership Vision podcast.
So when I was asked to do this,I realized that I wanted to be
(06:27):
prepared holistically, and partof that that looked like
Googling things that I should door asking people advice or
learning some hot tips, orthinking about when I speak to a
large audience or if I'mgetting ready to do a keynote,
what will I drink, how will Itake care of my voice, how will
(06:49):
I show up that way?
And when I say that I had toprepare, part of it was the
holistic, physical preparationof getting my body ready.
And that may sound kind ofstrange, but maybe you know this
from listening to theLeadership Vision podcast, but I
have lung issues and so I knewthat I needed to make sure that
(07:12):
I was caring for my lungs, thatI was prioritizing hydration and
sleep and deprioritization howdo you say that?
And deprioritization.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Not doing, you say that.
And deprioritization Not doingstuff and not doing other stuff
there you go.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And not doing other things like eating gluten or
drinking wine or dairy leadingup to the recording because I
wanted to sound as good as I can, knowing that you can hear the
rattle in my lungs and mysinuses, and that's just how it?
(07:52):
Was, so I wanted to be readythat way.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
That's so cool and I think that's something people
forget that if you're goingagain some of the example a big
meeting, a big whatever that youmight need to sleep better.
Some of the example a bigmeeting, a big whatever that you
might need to sleep better, youmight need to eat better, you
might need to go on some runs,as you mentioned.
Was there any sort of, I wasgonna say, like emotional
preparation, or like Deb andChip and people who have?
(08:18):
been involved in the process,like you got this, like what was
that part of the prep?
Speaker 1 (08:23):
like Well, I'm the person that needs the fan club
to rally a bit, and I thinksometimes it's just like well,
you got this, that's easy foryou.
And I think there is this sensethat when I have been signed,
when I signed up to do something, I feel the weight of it and I
feel the responsibility ofstaying true to the text or
staying true to the inspiration.
(08:45):
And so for me, when we weredriving to the studio in
Minneapolis for the recording, Ilooked down at my phone and
there were two text messages,and one was from Deb on the East
Coast and one was from Chip onthe West Coast of the USA, and
they were both the messages ofyou've got this, remember who
(09:07):
you are, we are with you, we arecheering for you.
You were built for this.
And some of those messages atthat time, knowing that we were
about to go into the studio, Ithink it settled my emotions and
then it released some of them.
So at least I got a few tearsout before I actually got into
the studio.
But our work and the book isdesigned to be emotional.
(09:30):
It's designed to create a senseof emotional safety so that you
can actually address and talkabout some of your emotions
throughout the story and in someof the reflection at the end?
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Was there anything you weren't prepared for or you
were surprised once you got intothat booth?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I was surprised at the words that tripped me up,
because the words that I couldjust smooth out and that were
flowing in my practice.
I was surprised that there werethings that I just could not
say and the engineer would belike stand up, just you know,
right on like take a break, orwhatever you need.
(10:08):
I was surprised how nervous Iwas, and I wasn't because that's
part of my process, so I thinkit's the familiarity of this is
how I prepare.
I prepare holistically.
I need the support around me,and then I'm willing to just
take off and soar.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
It's interesting how I, you know, when I do our
podcast, I'll create a littleintro that I'll go back and read
.
You know, it's only like, youknow, 60 to 90 seconds and
sometimes I'll be reading it andI'll trip up on a word and then
it's like I can't read anythingafter that.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I'm like what happened here.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
What is going on so?
Speaker 1 (10:48):
that's good.
Well, we never hear that,Nathan, because your
post-production is brilliant.
Of course not.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, exactly Before I move on to the next idea of
practice, just one takeawayabout preparation.
What would you share withleaders about preparation that
you learned?
That's just like a littlenugget.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Know what you need, know that if you need the right
comfort.
So I even brought a sweater incase the studio was too cold.
I wore an outfit that I wantedto be feel strong in and bright
in, knowing what you need tobring the best of you to the
(11:24):
occasion.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, so the next P is practice.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And you said that you've been practicing for this
moment your whole life?
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Tell us more about how your early life experiences
has sort of led up to this, thismoment of reading a audio book.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I've always been a reader.
I love to read, I love to readout loud and you know, when
Brian was five years old, he wasdreaming of flying a plane and
I was reading.
So when I was, when I was five,and and I think that there were
ways that I would read voicesor read emotions, and Brian was
(12:07):
asking me, this reflection ofthe practice like what did you
learn?
And I said I think even playingpiano at a young age gave me an
opportunity through music andthrough putting my hands to the
keys, gave me a release of theemotions that I was carrying.
I think I'm an emotional person.
(12:29):
I'm very in tune with myemotions and the emotions of
others, and there's times whereI just need a release.
So it was.
It was the practicing of that.
It was the practicing ofreading in front of I don't know
school programs or asking toshare this or that.
(12:49):
You know, I was sitting down.
I'm like, oh, this feelsfamiliar, this feels like the
leadership vision podcast, thisfeels like sitting with Nathan,
and so there was a reminder oflike I've been, I've been
practicing for this moment.
And so there was a reminder oflike I've been practicing for
this moment, and not that it waslike the be all, end, all
moment, but the opportunity tolet me breathe life and words
and emotions into the words thatwe had written with that same
(13:13):
spirit.
That was everything for me.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Did you actually practice reading it ahead of
time, like out loud sitting.
What was that?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yes, many times I read the book.
Well, as I was writing andrewriting the chapters, I would
meet up with Brian and we wouldeither sit outside or whatever
and I would read the chapter,and the first time I read a
chapter he wept.
And there would be times whereI would work on something, or
(13:44):
work on a paragraph or a part.
I reread it and there was thesame kind of emotion like that
was it?
That's what we wanted to say, Iget it, and so there was a lot
of practice that way, and I'm avery much.
I was an only child, so I wouldspend time, my mom said, in
front of a mirror, so no onepsychoanalyzed that.
(14:07):
However, there's this pointwhere I want to make sure that I
have the right posture to read,that I'm matching the right
facial expressions to what I'mreading and not just reading
with fervor so there's a lot ofpractice.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
You also mentioned practicing self-compassion
during this process.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Oh, Nathan.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I don't know if we have time to go into much about
self-compassion.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
maybe just a brief like expand on that a little bit
yeah self-compassion, theself-compassion journey of just
being mindful of what'shappening and treating yourself
like a good friend and offeringthe right phrases to reassure
yourself and not just beatyourself up.
So the act of practicingcompassion with yourself.
(14:51):
For me, when I would mess upyou mentioned not being able to
read the intro that you've reada million times there were times
where I could easily get reallymad at myself and instead I
picked up a tick and it was likestate and I would say something
(15:13):
like that.
And that was the moment ofpeople mess up words every day
and that was the moment ofpeople mess up words every day.
This is not as easy as thebrilliant voice actors make it
sound.
How do I translate who I am?
How do I make sure that I'menunciating but not annoying,
(15:38):
and when I mess up, just otherpeople mess up and I can show
kindness to myself and I'm goingto eventually get it.
And that practice ofself-compassion led me to read
chapters three to five almostwithout mistake.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
That's good.
Yeah, I was listening to abaseball game the other day and
the announcer who is in thebroadcast hall fame okay uh,
messed up like three or fourtimes in one inning and I was
like man you've got to have Iwould be so self-conscious.
You know giant nationalbroadcast but I guess you just
gotta, like an athlete, justroll with it and forget about it
(16:11):
and move on to the next thing.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So yes, you know you.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
And that's our part number three here Presence,
being here, being aware, beingin the moment, and also, you
wrote, being fully Linda.
I had joked with you earlier,like before we recorded it.
I'm like you know what voiceare you going to do and you're
like I'm going to be me.
What was it like to be, Linda,not the announcer, the
(16:39):
facilitator, what kind of helpedyou get into that authentic
place of you?
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Sometimes I can get in my head.
I'll answer your question, butI'll say this first Sometimes I
can get in my head and thinkabout all the people that are
going to listen to whatever Isay.
So I can start thinking aboutthat, and and also I can look
back and think about as I'm evenreading, think about all the
people that shaped the dialogueand shaped the points that we
(17:10):
wanted to drive home with thebook Unfolded, and, and and what
I realized is that the feedbackthat I've received my whole
life is that when I am presentand I am fully aware of my
surroundings and what's being,bit more space with that, with
my words or my sentiments or mysilence, I can create the kind
(17:45):
of spaces where people areinvited to step into that space
of being present as well, notwith me, but with themselves.
And there was just this.
I had some.
I had an unfolded map with mefrom some work that we had done
with a client, and so I feltconnected to that group of
(18:06):
people in particular, and evenjust just touching that map was
this reminder to me.
I am present, I'm here, let meenjoy what the process of, of
reading, let me learn somethings and let me help someone
else.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I love that you had mentioned getting choked up.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
There are some moments that you know I don't
know if you well, I'm curious,just tell me about that Like,
did you have to stop and take abreak?
Like, what was that?
Like, what was going throughyour head?
Was that a result of being sofully present that you forgot?
Uh, or not forgot, but thatyou're just like I'm here, I'm
in this sentence, talk aboutthat I was so in the sentence
(18:50):
that I would feel the emotion.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Now some people will call adaptability presence, but
I think it's a whole differentthe strength of adaptability,
the strength of adaptability, orpeople being adaptable, because
there's a movement that thatgoes with that can, that can
feel hurried or flustered andnot present.
And so for me, when I wasdialing it in and was the most
(19:15):
present and I would say a nameor say a phrase, it would be
this flood of emotion and it wasthis sense of like.
I really believe this, andthere was a couple times, couple
times I did get choked up andit wasn't because the words are
so great, but the I allowedmyself to experience the book
(19:37):
for the first time, and I thinkthat there's times where
whatever you're doing, givingyourself permission to
experience something for thefirst time, will invite,
sometimes, emotion, and it willinvite new thoughts and a new
perspective.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I have two final questions for you.
What do you hope people get outof listening to the audio book?
Is it a different?
I know it's the same message,but is it different experience,
like is there something thatyou're like?
I really hope people take thisaway from the audio book.
That may be different from theprinted book.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
I am hoping that people will listen to the audio
book and and be called intosomething greater.
I think there's going to bemoments, just like when people
are reading the book and theyneed to pause and look up and
wonder and wonder what it meansfor me or their family or their
teams me or their family ortheir teams.
(20:46):
I'm hoping that the audio bookwill cultivate the kind of
emotional awareness in people totake the next step with the
book, because I hope that thebook will be a springboard into
greater reflection and moreeffective action.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Linda, I had another question, but I think that's the
one to end on what is the lastone?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Well, I was just curious.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
The book's been out for a little while now.
You've interacted with peoplearound it.
Is there anything that you'veheard someone be like this book
touched me in this way?
They're like I didn't thinkthat, just something that
surprised you of the way peopleare receiving it.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Every day.
You name the age you name.
A friend of ours sent audiorecordings of her two sons
reflecting on the book and whichcharacters they liked, and I've
heard from people that areretired.
I've heard from people that nowwant to give this book to
(21:45):
others.
I've I've heard perspectivesthat we weren't trying to write
into it but the allegory allowssome of those bounces and I am
hoping that we'll do a podcastor two or ten on some of the
some not just feedback thatwe're getting, but the way
Unfolded will launch people withthe kind of courage and
(22:06):
compassion to take on theirdreams and to take on this world
.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I love it.
Well, linda, thank you so much.
Thank you and thank you,listeners, for listening to the
Leadership Vision Podcast, ourshow helping you build positive
team culture.
If you want to get a copy ofUnfolded, you can go to
shoobringscom and you can buythe hardcover book version and
the audio version as soon asthat is out in August.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
We think we don't have an exact date.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Mid-August or wherever good books are sold or
recorded.
I'm Nathan Freeberg.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
I'm Linda Schubring.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
And on behalf of our entire team, thanks for
listening, thanks for listening.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
I think I said thanks for listening on the audiobook
too, oh nice.
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