Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans

Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans

Welcome to Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans, the podcast where we dive into the experiences of current Titan leaders to uncover how their teenage years shaped their paths to success and how a coach might have helped them along the way. Hosted by Lorraine Connell, Teen Leadership Coach and founder of Peers Not Fears, this show offers parents, teens, and aspiring leaders invaluable insights and practical advice. In each episode, we candidly talk with leaders who reflect on their challenges, triumphs, and pivotal moments from their youth. We explore how mentorship and coaching helped or could have impacted their journey, and we invite them to become mentors for our program teens, sharing their wisdom and experiences. Whether you’re a parent seeking to empower your child, a teen navigating the complexities of adolescence, or an aspiring leader looking for guidance, Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans provides the tools and inspiration needed to cultivate leadership skills, foster resilience, and embrace potential. Join our community dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders. Subscribe now and embark on a transformative journey towards unlocking your teen’s leadership potential!

Episodes

July 3, 2025 38 mins

In this inspiring episode of Leaders of Today, Lorraine Connell sits down with Chelsea Fournier, business strategist, intuitive mentor, and advocate for self-trust, to explore the pivotal moments and inner work that have shaped her journey.

Chelsea reflects on her evolution from a creative and driven teenager to a business leader deeply rooted in self-awareness and intuition. She opens up about her experiences navigating college li...

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In this insightful episode of Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with Nikki Innocent, a 2-time TEDx speaker, podcast host, and certified career coach focused on women's leadership and DEI strategy. Nikki shares her journey from feeling like an outsider in Corporate America to becoming a powerful advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Introduction: Lorraine introduces Nikki, highlighting her impressive backgroun...

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Tanya Hart, beauty industry, leadership, resilience, bullying, salon culture, empowerment, four agreements, mentorship, teen advice   In this episode of Leaders of Today, Lorraine Connell interviews Tanya Hart, a successful entrepreneur in the beauty industry. Tanya shares her inspiring journey from a troubled adolescence marked by bullying and substance abuse to becoming a trailblazer in her field. She emphasizes the importance of...
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    Victoria Carrington Chávez is a celebrated storyteller, visual arts expert and social media strategist, known as "pure magic" in her field. Leading Lilac & Aspen and La Mezcla Creative Co., she blends creativity with community building in her branding strategies.

    A Colorado native with Afro-Indigenous Latinx roots, Victoria is a dynamic speaker on multiculturalism, leadership, and entrepreneurship, acclaimed for her TEDx talk a...

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    In this heartfelt and insightful conversation, Lorraine Connell speaks with Jenny O’Dell—life coach, Bowen work practitioner, and mother—about her path from a challenging childhood to a life centered on healing, connection, and intentional parenting. Jenny shares how moving frequently as a child and struggling with belonging shaped her values and her deep commitment to building community.

    The episode explores how Jenny’s experience...

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    In this first enlightening episode of the Teens to Titans season three podcast, Lorraine Connell, a teen leadership coach, sits down with Dr. Brittney Ezell, CEO of Keller Williams Realty in Northeast Tennessee, to discuss the vital role of parental involvement in fostering teen leadership. Together, they delve into the importance of allowing teens to make mistakes, the significance of failure in building courage and confidence, an...

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    In this conversation, Lorraine Connell interviews Julie Costa, who shares her transformative journey from experiencing profound loss at a young age to becoming a certified hypnotherapist. Julie discusses the impact of losing her mother in a car accident, the challenges she faced during her teenage years, and how these experiences shaped her identity. She emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships and how her journey with ...
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    What happens when we call teens “leaders”—especially those previously labeled as “troublemakers”? In this thought-provoking video, Lorraine Connell, founder of Peers Not Fears, explores how traditional leadership programs can unintentionally alienate the very teens they aim to empower.​

    These teens have learned to expect rejection. When invited into leadership roles, their instinct may be to test boundaries—not out of defiance, but...

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    Episode Summary: In this powerful and practical conversation, Lorraine Connell sits down with Noel Foy, a neuroeducator, executive function and anxiety coach, and author of A.B.C. Worry Free, to unpack the complicated relationship between anxiety, mindset, and learning. Noel opens up about her own journey with perfectionism and social anxiety and how those formative experiences shaped her work today with anxious students and overwh...

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    In today's fast-paced world, leadership isn't just for adults—it's a skill that begins in adolescence. Join Lorraine Connell, founder of Peers Not Fears, as she delves into the transformative power of teen leadership coaching. Discover how tailored coaching helps teens build confidence, enhance communication, and develop the resilience needed to lead in schools, communities, and future careers.​

    What You'll Learn in This Video:

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    Summary In this conversation, Lorraine Connell speaks with Colleen Norris, a network spinal chiropractor and wellness expert, about her journey from a troubled teen to a resilient adult. Colleen shares her experiences with trauma, the importance of self-acceptance, and the healing techniques she employs to help herself and others. The discussion emphasizes the significance of awareness, challenging negative inner narratives, and th...
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    As a teen leadership coach and a parent of two teenage boys, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles teens face—and the frustrations parents feel trying to connect with them. From privacy concerns (like knocking before entering their rooms) to trust issues surrounding phones and social media, and even more serious challenges like vaping, the underlying issue always seems to come b...

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    In this episode, Lorraine sits down with Michael Nicolson to discuss his journey in educational leadership, mentorship, and plans for the future. Michael shares insights on empowering youth through leadership roles and how he plans to build a podcast focusing on youth mentorship. Lorraine also offers valuable advice on interview strategies and building a supportive leadership environment.

    Key Highlights:

    1. Empowering Youth Through...

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    In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Lorraine sits down with Leesh Pike—a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and former professional boxer turned women's health advocate. Together, they explore Leesh's journey from struggling with disordered eating, overtraining, and mental health challenges to becoming a coach who empowers women over 40 to build confidence, strength, and resilience—on their own terms.

    Leesh shares how her t...

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    In this episode of Leaders of Today, I share my personal journey from teaching chemistry to coaching young leaders. What started as a career in science turned into a calling—helping students discover their own leadership potential.

    I reflect on the pivotal moments that led me to create Peers Not Fears and the lessons I’ve learned along the way:

    • How my experiences as a high school teacher revealed the hidden leadership pote...
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    In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Lorraine sits down with Diane to explore her powerful journey from a shy and approval-seeking teen to a compassionate advocate for children, families, and conscious parenting. Diane opens up about the struggles she faced with loneliness, perfectionism, and inherited patterns of fear—and how she transformed those challenges into her life’s purpose.

    Together, Lorraine and Diane discuss the i...

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    In this heartfelt episode of Leaders of Today, we dive into the connection between parenting and leadership—two roles filled with challenges, learning curves, and the inevitable mistakes that shape our journeys.

    As parents, we often put immense pressure on ourselves to "get it right." But what if true leadership in parenting isn't about perfection, but about how we respond when things don’t go as planned?

    In this episode, I explore...

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    In this powerful episode of Leaders of Today, Lorraine Connell sits down with Alisha to discuss the importance of open and honest conversations about health, bodies, and self-acceptance. Alisha shares her deeply personal journey of navigating her daughter’s ovarian cancer diagnosis and how it led her and her husband to have candid discussions with their young children about health and body awareness.

    Beyond her family’s...

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    In this conversation, Lorraine Connell discusses her journey from being a classroom teacher to a leadership coach and author. She shares the inspiration behind her book, which aims to empower teachers and redefine leadership in the classroom. Lorraine emphasizes the importance of accountability, community, and recognizing the leadership potential in every student. Through personal anecdotes and lessons learned, she encourages educa...
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    Show Notes:

    In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with Courtney, Director of the Center for New Americans, to explore the transformative power of mentorship and leadership for young people—especially those from immigrant backgrounds.

    Courtney shares her personal journey from being a high school mentee to becoming a peer leader and eventually dedicating her career to youth empowerment. Toge...

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