What Your Voice Held This Year

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.

Register to join me on Dec 17th for free 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.On December 17, I’m holding a gentle 45-minute end-of-year session: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝘆 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿.”It's open to 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. 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗖𝗘𝗧):10:00–10:45 AM 9:00–9:45 PMJoin either, or both. Everyone is welcome. 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. 📌Register for free HERE .Connect with me:https://reginalarko.com/start/[email protected]

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

I travelled to Denmark the other day, my first time in Copenhagen. While there, I stumbled upon a book about Hygge. As I understand it after reading, it’s more than just a word. It’s a way of life, one that brings presence, warmth, and cosiness into our days.And I LOVE this! The Scandinavians really have a way of living with nature, embracing the rhythm of the seasons, the dark winters, and the endless summer light. I’ve seen and felt this myself, being married to a Swede and raising our kids across so many cultures, from my native Austria to our shared years in China.This concept of Hygge got me thinking: how can we bring more of that same presence and depth into our professional lives? Especially into our podcasts.Because aren’t we all sometimes falling into the trap of thinking our podcast is just another thing we have to do, a box to tick, a Mittel zum Zweck, as we say in German, which translates as 'means to an end'.Where is the cosiness in your podcast creation? And no, I’m not just talking about lighting a candle for ambience.How can we approach our creative work with a sense of Hygge? And how will this impact our leadership voice?That’s what I’ll be exploring in this week’s episode of Lead with Your Voice.Grab your favourite pen and paper, I’ll invite you to journal along with me so you can start bringing a little more Hygge into your own work too.'Enjoy! Mentioned in the episode:Book: The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well Available here. +++++++Want more? Head over to reginalarko.com/start to see all my offerings, upcoming free events, and resources.Connect with Regina: Reach out to me at [email protected]

What does legacy really mean? Some say it’s what you leave behind. Others say it’s what you build while you’re here.Legacy can be:The stories people tell about you when you’re not in the room.The courage you model that makes someone else speak up.The ripple you create through your work, your words, your presence.I used to think legacy was something that came later in life, something you reflect on once everything’s “done.”But lately, in conversations with friends (and my husband), I’ve realised it’s something we shape every single day.Even the smallest choices, what we say, what we stand for, what we create, are part of it.This week on Lead with Your Voice, I dive into this question:What is my legacy, and how do we even begin to define it for ourselves?It’s not a dark or sentimental conversation. It’s an honest one.We’re all already leaving traces of ourselves, through our voice, our impact, our way of showing up.I hope this episode sparks reflection.Find free resources for your own journey here:https://reginalarko.com/free/

In this episode, I explore what it means to lead (and live!) with more gentleness in the middle of it all. The life, the work, the constant change we’re navigating in an AI-driven world that’s accelerating at lightning speed.And then, in the most unexpected moment, a leadership lesson shows up, straight from my kids’ room.Through the mess and the noise, as well as the calm, you’ll hear leadership in action. And it all begins with one question.I wonder how you would answer it today?Mentioned in this episode: Courage Map. Grab it here.More resources: https://reginalarko.com/free/

When we talk about visibility, we often hear about marketing strategies and algorithms. There are recommendations for how often you should post, how many comments you should leave on LinkedIn, how to “show up consistently.”But the part we rarely talk about is this:sometimes it’s hard to let yourself be seen (or heard) in a way that feels true to who you are now.Hands up if you didn’t leave that comment because you were worried someone might judge you. Or you didn’t post that opinion piece, fearing the trolls. Or you stayed quiet in a meeting even though you had something meaningful to say.And maybe, like many of us, you’ve built your credibility over years in a certain field, and it now feels risky to admit that your views have evolved.You’ve changed.But the world still sees you as who you used to be.Sometimes, it’s not the fear of being unseen that holds us back — it’s the fear of being seen differently.Because something shifted.Something that might not even be work-related (a divorce, a move, a sickness, a burnout, a loss, a new beginning).And suddenly, you find yourself standing in a quiet in-between.You’ve outgrown your old voice and you’re still learning how to use the new one.You’re not quite sure what you want to say… or how… or if you even dare to say it out loud.That’s what I explore in this latest episode of Lead with Your Voice, a reflection, a thinking-out-loud about what it means to give yourself permission to be seen and heard, again.In ways that still feel uncertain, but more aligned with the person you’re becoming.Offerings & free resources: ⁠⁠⁠https://reginalarko.com/start/⁠⁠Any questions? Contact me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠Connect with me on ⁠LinkedIn

What better way to celebrate International Podcast Day than with a live recording alongside podcasters I deeply admire?Proudly presenting:Maaike Steinebach, Voice of Femtech at WorkValentin Farkasch, Creator of Orbit for CreatorsTogether we dive into:+ A GORGEOUS Rick Rubin quote+ Rules, and how to break them+ Creation and creativity+ Audio and video + Success metrics and return on investment+ and much more. If you’ve ever wondered whether starting a podcast is worth it, or if you’ve already started but feel like you’ve lost some spark, this conversation will inspire you to play by your own rules and create on your own terms.+++++Looking for support & community on your Podcasting journey" Work with me! https://reginalarko.com/startFree Podcasting Resources: https://reginalarko.com/free/Starting soon: Join my 6 weeks Podcasting for Beginners class over at Johns Hopkins University / Odyssey

Every few months, the podcasting world buzzes with a new “must-do” trend. I know, you’ve seen them too.Join the Community! This is your space to start leading with your voice. Not long ago, I scrolled past a post saying something along the lines of Podcasting today isn’t what it was 10 years ago. Don’t take advice from people doing it the old-fashioned way.Ouch.Well, the person was selling a shiny YouTube podcast optimisation package, so… yeah, I rolled my eyes and kept scrolling.But it got me thinking. Am I irrelevant if I don’t follow every new trend? Am I just stubborn? A late adopter? Out of touch?Maybe. But I still do things my way. And that has kept me not just relevant, but aligned.Because I don’t ignore the industry. I read the research. I test new tools. I get excited about what’s emerging. But I’ve also learned to mute the 'should's' and focus on what actually feels right for me, my podcast, my business.That’s what this week’s episode is about: 3 podcasting trends I don’t follow. Not because they’re bad. But because they don’t fit me (and maybe they won’t fit you either).This episode is your gentle reminder that relevance doesn’t come from chasing every shiny thing. It comes from learning how to hear your own voice in all the noise.⁠Join the Community! This is your space to start leading with your voice. ⁠