Live Brave with Dr Margie Warrell

What happens when trust in leaders and institutions breaks down? In this episode, I'm joined by journalist and speaker Mariana Atencio, who grew up in Venezuela and witnessed firsthand what happens when trust slowly erodes across government, media, and social systems. That lived experience reshaped her understanding of courage, purpose, and self-trust. Her story isn't just about politics. It's about what we can all learn when certainty disappears and fear starts shaping decisions.
We explore why self-trust is foundational to great leadership, how personal adversity can clarify purpose, and why authenticity is so vital in a fractured and polarized world. Mariana shares her concept of a "signal audit" to help leaders stay grounded when external validation falls away, and the power of giving ourselves permission to be imperfect to lead with greater courage and humanity. This conversation is an invitation to trust yourself more deeply and to lead bravely, even when the ground feels unsteady.
Sign up for Mariana's Substack, PERMISSION TO BE by Mariana Atencio: 
https://substack.com/@marianaatencio?r=56ynk2&utm_medium=Click
About Mariana Atencio 
Mariana Atencio is a Peabody Award-winning Venezuelan American journalist,
bestselling author, and keynote speaker who helps leaders build trust and lead high-
performing teams in times of change. A former Univision anchor and NBC News
correspondent, she reported for over a decade from high-stakes environments where
truth is tested and courage is essential. Mariana also teaches executive
communication—helping professionals speak with clarity and confidence when it
matters most. Her TEDx talk "What makes YOU special?" has over 25 million views.
She writes PERMISSION TO BE by Mariana Atencio on Substack—an honest,
practical space for anyone ready to give themselves permission to speak, lead, and be
fully themselves.
Join me in February for the Courage Is Calling Reset Retreat: https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/courage-is-calling-reset-on-your-bravest-path/ 

✉️ Stay connected https://margiewarrell.com/newsletter/

Leadership today is more complex, faster-paced, and more uncertain than ever before, and I see how that's leaving many capable leaders stuck between playing to win and playing not to lose. In this episode of the Live Brave Podcast, I'm joined by Alan Guarino, who I worked alongside for many years, and together we reflect on what modern leadership truly demands when clarity is elusive and the stakes feel higher.
Drawing on decades of advising senior leaders and insights from his new book Greatness Code, Alan shares a practical framework for sustained success built on social capital and five essential qualities: stamina, courage, resilience, persistence, and passion. Together, we explore how leaders can redefine success beyond titles, prepare for life after peak roles, and build leadership capacity that lasts across an entire career.
This conversation offers a grounded look at leadership as a long game, shaped by character, relationships, and the choices we make when certainty isn't guaranteed.
Alan's book: Greatness Code
Alan Guarino is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1982. His father immigrated to the United States in the 1920's, and then left school after the eighth grade, Alan was raised by working class parents to value service, and strive to achieve. Like many Baby Boomers, he has lived the American Dream—rising from humble beginnings to become a trusted advisor to global leaders.
Over the course of his career, Alan has advised and recruited hundreds of top executives—guiding careers, transforming boards, and helping organizations around the world execute their strategies. 

Join me in February for the Courage Is Calling Reset Retreat: https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/courage-is-calling-reset-on-your-bravest-path/ 

✉️ Stay connected https://margiewarrell.com/newsletter/

So often we tell ourselves that growth will come once we feel more confident, more prepared, or more certain. But what I've learned, through my own life and through conversations like this one, is that growth usually begins much earlier than that.
I sit down with Lisa Nichols to explore what happens when we stop waiting and start saying yes. Yes to what's already within us. Yes to the next step, even when it feels unfamiliar. And yes, to using our gifts, rather than focusing on what we think we lack.
Lisa shares the deeply personal story behind her book Something Extra, inspired by her daughter Allie, and how that journey reshaped the way she thinks about courage, leadership, and possibility. Together, we talk about comparison and how easily it pulls us off course, the quiet ways we hold ourselves back, and why stepping forward before we feel ready is often the very thing that changes us.
This conversation is an invitation to notice where you might be sitting on the sidelines of your own life and to consider what could shift if you simply said yes and stepped in.
My question for you:
Where are you being invited to say yes right now, even if a part of you would rather wait until you feel more ready? 
Get Lisa's book Something Extra:  https://somethingextrabook.com/ 
Join me in February for the Courage Is Calling Reset Retreat: https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/courage-is-calling-reset-on-your-bravest-path/ 

✉️ Stay connected https://margiewarrell.com/newsletter/

Your personal brand is shaped by the stories you tell and the truths you hide. And when those stories come from fear, self-protection, or old narratives, they quietly limit your confidence, visibility, and leadership presence. In this conversation with personal branding expert Goldie Chan, I explore what happens when you stop shrinking your story and begin showing up with more honesty, courage, and authenticity. We talk about how personal branding really works, how to protect your energy in a digital world, and how evolving your narrative helps you step forward as the leader you are becoming.
On this episode, we explore:
How your personal brand is shaped by your inner stories

Why hiding your story limits confidence and visibility

What authentic personal branding looks like in real life

The role of community in strengthening your courage

Practical shifts for showing up bravely online and at work

 
Join me in February for the Courage Is Calling Reset Retreat 
• The Courage Gap — Available on Amazon + independent bookstores 
 •LinkedIn Learning Course: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/activating-courage-transform-discomfort-into-bold-confident-action
✉️ Stay connected Www.margiewarrell.com/newsletter
▶️ Watch the Live Brave Podcast on YouTube
@margiewarrell  https://www.youtube.com/@margiewarrell
 
Goldie Chan is a keynote speaker, author, advisor and cancer survivor. Goldie founded Warm Robots, an award-winning social media strategy and creative agency based in Los Angeles with global clients. 
Get Goldie's book: Personal Branding for Introverts  
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldiecylon/

How often do you put off the very thing you most need to do because it will feel awkward?
You hold back from asking, saying, or doing what matters, not because it's wrong, but because it feels uncomfortable.
In this episode, I explore why awkwardness is not a sign you're failing. It is often evidence that you're choosing your values over comfort. Confidence does not come before action. It follows it. Courage is not about eliminating discomfort or waiting until you feel ready. It is about acting in alignment with who you want to be, even when your nervous system would prefer you play it safe.
Avoiding awkwardness does not make life safer. It makes it smaller and quietly sells you short. Every time you decide to brave an uncomfortable moment, you cast a vote for the person you are becoming and strengthen your capacity to lead with integrity, clarity, and influence.
Episode Takeaways 
Avoiding awkward situations limits personal growth and leadership potential.
Putting off uncomfortable conversations, requests, or actions keeps you stuck in patterns that feel safe but prevent progress.

Awkwardness is a signal of values-aligned action, not failure.
Feeling uncomfortable often means you are choosing integrity and long-term impact over short-term comfort.

Confidence is built through action, not before it.
Waiting to feel ready or confident delays growth. Taking small courageous actions rewires the brain and builds self-trust over time.

The brain is wired to favor comfort and certainty.
Understanding this helps explain why hesitation shows up even when you know what the right next step is.

Leadership requires choosing values over emotional discomfort.
Effective leaders act based on who they want to be, not how they feel at the moment.

Repeated courageous behavior strengthens confidence and credibility. Neuroscience shows that practicing bravery makes future courageous actions easier and more natural.



Resources 
Courage is Calling: Reset Your Bravest Path 
Transform discomfort into bold, confident action: The LinkedIn Course 
✉️ Stay connected Www.margiewarrell.com/newsletter
▶️ Watch the Live Brave Podcast on YouTube @margiewarrell