Thriving as a Misfit: Through Resilience, Inclusion, and Podcasting (feat. Fyiona Yong | The Thriving Misfits Podcast)

Ever felt like you don’t quite fit in? But what if this was exactly where your power is? In this episode, I talk with Fyiona Yong, author of How to Thrive as a Misfit and host of the The Thriving Misfits Podcast, about turning what makes you different into your superpower.Fyiona shares how her cross-cultural journey, born in Malaysia, raised in Germany, navigating a career in oil & gas, and living as an expat in Asia, taught her that inclusion isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential. She opens up about launching her podcast from her book, moving past self-limiting beliefs, and shining a light on the inner stories of resilience that help listeners feel less alone.We dive into the cathartic process of writing her book during the pandemic, why misfits don’t have to wait for the world to change, and how you can shape your own environment. Plus, Fyiona gives a behind-the-scenes look at her evolving podcast seasons, what’s coming next on Asian leadership and breaking the bamboo ceiling, and her practical advice for starting a podcast.This episode is for anyone ready to embrace their quirks, speak their truth, and turn resilience into action.Featured Guest:Fyiona Yong: ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | The Thriving Misfits PodcastConnect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠⁠Community⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠[email protected] 

Recently, I’ve been looking through all my marketing materials and touch points with people who are new to my work.And one idea I had was to put together a cornerstone piece.A piece of content I could send to people who just discovered me.It’s definitely a smart thing to have. And it was such an interesting exercise, looking at my body of work and asking:What do I mention?Where can I point people?What story do they need to hear so they instantly get me?But then the funny thing happened.(One you might relate to, actually...)I rewrote that cornerstone piece over and over again.It got to the point where I had already spent a good amount of time creating visuals, drafting the text, even scheduling it on my socials…And then I didn’t post it.Something held me back.And then, during a very cosy lunch break in my home office, snow falling outside, it hit me.I finally understood why it felt so hard to put that cornerstone piece out into the world.Because the real block wasn’t what I expected.In this short voice note, I talk about that.Well… “short.” It’s 8 minutes long.But considering I had just sent a friend a voice note three times that length, it’s actually short by my standards :-)I hope it supports you if you've ever felt you weren't ready to post.🎧Just press play to start listening​Yours,ReginaPS: On March 24th I host a 2-hour session (virtual) on Courage, Confidence & Clarity. You can register through the Johns Hopkins page here. Everyone welcome, discounts available.Connect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠⁠Community⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]

Register here: Courage, Confidence & Clarity for Times of Change "We need grounded, courageous humans who know who they are," I said when I was talking about a workshop I get to run at Johns Hopkins University this March. And here's why I think this topic matters so much right now.And here's why I think this topic matters so much right now.Because these past few years, I know I am not the only one who has been feeling a little…lost. With work changing, with AI and new tech and roles shifting EVERYWHERE, it can feel like there’s this quiet, persistent question...Where do I fit as a human? What’s my place in all of this?And that’s exactly what this workshop is for. It’s two hours to slow down in the middle of the speed.We’ll explore what courage looks like when everything feels uncertain. What confidence feels like when it comes from the inside instead of trying to keep up with everything. What clarity might look like when life is shifting faster than you can plan.Through storytelling, journaling, and conversation, we’ll practice tools to navigate change more calmly, reconnect with what matters to you, and move forward with a little more trust in yourself, even when the world around us doesn’t feel that steady.No prep needed, no prior experience, just bring a notebook, your favourite pen, and a bit of curiosity.Because I think what the world needs now is not more efficiency and optimisation. It needs humans who are grounded, who know themselves, who can step into uncertainty and change with courage and curiosity.If that sounds like something you need, I hope you’ll join me.Courage, Confidence and Clarity for Times of Change. March 24th 8am-10am ET. ​Register here. Connect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠⁠Community⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠[email protected] ​

Upcoming session: Courage , Confidence and Clarity For Times Of Change. Register Here. In this episode of Lead with Your Voice, I’m sitting down with Charlotte Bayala — award-winning podcast host, cancer caregiver, and the beautiful force behind The Cancer Caregiver Podcast and her new show Caregiver Breathing Room.Charlotte and I first connected on LinkedIn (proof that the internet can actually be a generous place). What followed was a conversation about what it really takes to build a podcast that holds both strength and softness.We talk about:– how Charlotte found her voice while navigating caregiving– what it means to grow as a podcaster — not just technically, but emotionally– why “soft skills” aren’t soft at all– and how to create something meaningful without burning yourself out in the processThis isn’t just about microphones and downloads. It’s about identity. Capacity. Courage.About the tension between being a creator and being a human with limits.Charlotte shares honestly about her evolution  and I think anyone building something from the heart will see themselves in parts of her journey.If you’ve ever wondered how to make your podcast feel more like you (and less like a performance) this one’s for you.Featured Guest:Charlotte Bayala: Website | LinkedIn | The Cancer Caregiver Podcast | Caregiver Breathing Room Podcast 3 Tools to help you tame ScanxietyConnect with Regina Larko:⁠Work with me | ⁠Community⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Free Resources⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]

Upcoming session: Courage , Confidence and Clarity For Times Of Change. Register Here. When we put our voices out there, we make ourselves vulnerable. It’s like lifting a curtain and letting others really see us.And that is scary as sh**.The usual advice “What’s the worst that can happen? Just do it!” doesn’t really help.Because we’re human. We understand ourselves in relationship to others. And deep down, we all carry this very real desire to belong.So when we share what we care about, when we speak up, when we show up as ourselves, there’s always that risk that someone won’t like it. Or us.And when that happens…I don’t know about you, but I feel it in my whole body. A negative comment. A critical pushback. A clear “no, you’re not for me.”It’s hard to describe, but it’s deeply uncomfortable.Today, right after I received a negative comment from a complete stranger about a podcast idea I care about deeply, I had a choice to make.Do I let this get to me?Or do I turn it into something meaningful?So I did the only thing that felt helpful in that moment. I took out my phone and recorded you a voice message.Well, it’s a podcast. But it’s really a voice note. Unscripted. Recorded on my phone. Sitting on my living room floor.You’ll be getting more of these voice-note-style recordings from me. Because right now, they feel like the most honest version of me.I could polish this. Turn it into a neat lesson. Teach you how to “do podcasting the right way.”But I’ve been doing this long enough to know that there’s also power in showing up as I am.Rambling. Thinking out loud. Feeling it all.And maybe, just maybe, this invites you to reflect on how you want to show up.In your life.In your business.In your podcast.Even if it scares you. Start listening now. Connect with Regina Larko:⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠Community⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Free Resources⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]

Just announced: "Courage, Confidence, and Clarity for Times of Change" with Regina Larko. Find out more here.++++++Are we busy because we have to or because we’re trying to prove something?This conversation with Lauren Davis is one of those that stayed with me long after we stopped recording. It might be one of the most important ones I’ve ever had on the podcast. And I believe everyone needs to hear it.We talk about busyness, not the kind that comes from meaningful work or full lives, but the kind that keeps us constantly running. Hustle culture tells us to keep going, to stay productive, to fill every gap. But what if our packed schedules aren’t about necessity at all? What if they’re about proving our worth, earning validation, or avoiding what gets uncomfortable when things go quiet?Together, Lauren and I gently (but honestly!) explore what’s underneath our busyness. The proving. The performing. The fear of slowing down. And what all of this means for our mental and emotional well-being.If you’ve ever felt exhausted but unsure why, or successful on the outside but restless on the inside, this episode is for you.In this episode we talk about:Questioning hustle culture and the stories we’ve been toldBusyness, self-worth, and the need for affirmationWhat we might be running from when we never slow downFeatured Guest:Lauren Davis: Website | LinkedIn | Podcast (Beneath the Busy)Special Offer: Beyond Burnout & Demystifying Mental Health Online Courseshttps://www.ljdwellbeing.com/courses/Use coupon code for 50% discount: REGINA50%Connect with Regina Larko:Website | Community | LinkedIn | Free ResourcesEmail: [email protected]

Just announced: "Courage, Confidence, and Clarity for Times of Change" with Regina Larko. ⁠Find out more here.⁠+++++𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? All the unspoken courage. The boundaries you drew. The softness you protected. The stories you carried without applause.This episode is for anyone who leads, creates, supports, speaks, or simply wants to understand their voice in all of it a little more tenderly. What we’ll do together: We start with a grounding pause I’ll share a short teaching You’ll have time to reflect + journalThen, if you feel like it, you can share, or simply listen in.No prep. No pressure.If you want quiet over hustle, depth over doing, and a moment to hear your own voice again, this space is yours.Come as you are. Just bring curiosity, a pen, a notebook. Press play and enjoy. Connect with me:https://reginalarko.com/start/[email protected]

Just announced: "Courage, Confidence, and Clarity for Times of Change" with Regina Larko. ⁠Find out more here.⁠++++++++++This is a conversation that feels a bit like sitting around a kitchen table with people who get it. We talk about belonging, identity, and what it really means to build a sense of home inside, no matter where life takes you.Meet Nina Aziz Justin, resilience mentor and author of The Home Within, and Madison Keller, a third culture kid with stories woven across continents. Together, we explore the moments, memories, and inner shifts that shape who we are.What you’ll hear in this episode:💛 Why belonging starts withinNina opens the door to the idea that home is not a place, but a feeling, a quiet inner steadiness we build over time. Her reflections on emotional literacy, presence, and allowing ourselves to be “between worlds” will stay with you long after you listen.Growing up between culturesMadison brings her lived experience of being both local and global. She shares what it’s like to grow up everywhere and nowhere at the same time and how constant movement taught her empathy, resilience, and the beauty of holding multiple identities at once.Friendships that hold us.We talk about the people who make us feel safe, seen, and celebrated. “There is a quiet revolution that happens in the body when you are truly seen” We explore how friendships evolve, why some stay, why some fade, and what they all teach us about who we’re becoming.An invitation inwardThis episode is a gentle nudge to look at your own sense of belonging, your own roots, your own inner home. Consider it a warm tap on your back as you reflect, remember, and reconnect with the parts of you that have traveled far, whether physically or emotionally.If you’re craving a moment of grounding, or you’re navigating a season where belonging feels complicated, this one’s for you.Listen in and explore what “home within” might look like for you.

Just announced: "Courage, Confidence, and Clarity for Times of Change" with Regina Larko. ⁠Find out more here.⁠++++++Let me paint the picture. It’s 6:15am. My alarm rings. It’s dark, it’s quiet, all the kids are still asleep. I sneak out, pull on a warm pullover, and switch on the little Christmas lights we put up in the kitchen.I’m standing by the high table, just by the window. Outside, it’s foggy and grey. I make the sandwiches for the kids, one after the other, and when I’m done, I start the coffee machine. While it heats up, I grab my phone to turn on the radio.And even though I try to stay mindful and avoid diving straight into messages…, well, before the radio app even opens, I tap on my emails.And there it is.A message from one of my students.I open it.And...cue the tears.The best kind.The kind I tell my kids about. Happy tears.Listen in to hear what happened.More resources for your voice leadership journey: https://reginalarko.com/start/

In this episode, I sit down with Kimberley Cole, the powerhouse behind the podcast Risky Women Radio, ranking in the Top 3 % worldwide. (ListenNotes) She’s been a driving force in risk, regulation, and compliance for years and she’s built a global platform that lifts women’s voices in a space where they’re often overlooked.Kimberly didn’t set out to become a podcaster. The tech scared her, the “how” felt fuzzy, but she went for it anyway, and thank goodness she did. What began as an experiment grew into a lifeline during COVID, when in-person events disappeared overnight. The podcast became a way to stay connected and keep celebrating the incredible women in her industry.On Risky Women Radio Kimberley shines a light on women at every stage of their careers, giving them space to share their stories, insights, and expertise. It’s part inspiration, part mentorship, part “you’ve got this” for women who rarely get that kind of visibility.Another thing I love: Kimberley brings in guest hosts. Different voices, different angles, different storytelling styles. It keeps the show fresh and expands the circle even further. As she told me, “It’s been fantastic to open up and bring in new voices and new ideas.”In this episode, Kimberley is honest about the messy parts too, like the time she lost an entire interview with a legendary guest. She described it as feeling like she “lost one of her children.” Still, she found the courage to ask for a redo… and they recorded an equally brilliant conversation.This chat is a reminder that starting something new (especially something that asks you to step up and be heard) can change everything. Kimberly’s journey shows what’s possible when you take a risk, follow your curiosity, and trust your voice.Oh and we talk about podcast sponsorships too. Kimberley shares how she approaches it, and there’s a lot to learn from her there too.Featured in this episode:Kimberley Cole: Connect with her on LinkedInRisky Women Radio: Start listening here.Connect with Regina & find tons of helpful resources for your own voice leadership journey:www.reginalarko.com/start