Lead With Your Voice | Podcasting, Thought Leadership, Authentic Communication

If you've been thinking about starting a podcast for months—or even years—but still haven't hit record, you're not alone."Just do it."It's probably the most common advice aspiring podcasters hear. It's well-intentioned, but what if it's also the reason so many people stay stuck?After spending the weekend at a podcast festival and speaking with dozens of incredible people who all shared the same dream—starting a podcast "one day"—I came home questioning the advice I've given for years.In this episode, I explore why motivation and more information aren't the missing pieces, why waiting to feel ready rarely works, and the surprising mindset shift that can finally help you move forward.If you've ever wondered why you keep putting your podcast idea on hold despite knowing exactly how much you want to do it, this conversation is for you.In this episode, you'll discover:Why "just do it" isn't always helpful adviceThe real reason so many aspiring podcasters stay stuckA powerful mindset shift that changes how you think about launching a podcastThe one question to ask yourself if you've been waiting for the "right time"Whether you're dreaming of starting your first podcast or you've been talking yourself out of it for years, this episode might change the way you think about taking that first step.Connect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://reginalarko.com/newsletter/A sudden Facebook account closure made me reflect on something most of us don’t like to think about when we’re building our presence online.We are not actually building on platforms we own.And yet, so much of how we measure success is tied to them . Just think of the way you approach followers, likes, reach, downloads.It feels real. It feels like growth. But it’s fragile in ways we often only notice when something disappears.In this episode, I explore what it really means to build a voice in today’s digital world and why visibility alone is not enough if it isn’t anchored in ownership.Because the deeper work isn’t about chasing more attention.It’s about building something that lasts beyond the algorithm.Something that stays with you, even if a platform changes overnight.In this episode I talk about:voice leadership in a world obsessed with metricspodcasting and podcast growth beyond algorithmsauthentic communication as the foundation of trustthought leadership as a long-term body of work, not a content sprintvisibility vs. building an audience you actually ownAnd I share why your podcast is not just content, it’s infrastructure. A living archive of your thinking, your leadership, your perspective.This episode is for you if you’re in that in-between space:You’re showing up. You’re building. But part of you is starting to ask what actually lasts.I hope this episode gives you a new lens on your work and that my passionate call to action (yes, you'll hear my voice picking up) to ask yourself some different questions about what it is that you’re currently building. And what you are building on. Connect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

How do you keep showing up when no one is making you?In this episode of Lead With Your Voice, I sit down with podcaster, creative, coach, and wonderfully curious human TJ Bennett, host of the Desuckify Work podcast. For nearly three years and more than 130 episodes, TJ has shown up week after week to have meaningful conversations about making work more human, more fulfilling, and yes, a little less sucky.We talk about what drew him to podcasting in the first place, how he launched his podcast alongside his coaching business, and the simple act of public accountability that helped him begin before he felt fully ready.This conversation is really about something bigger: what happens when you trust your curiosity enough to follow it. TJ shares why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills, how decades in the advertising world shaped his approach to coaching, and why creating space for other people's stories has become central to both his work and his podcast.We also explore the tension many of us feel between being professional and being human online, the importance of playfulness and experimentation, and why your voice matters long before you have everything figured out.If you've been waiting for the perfect moment to start your podcast, share your ideas, or put your voice out into the world, this episode is a reminder that the people making the biggest impact are often the ones willing to begin before they're ready.Connect with TJ Bennett:Website | Desuckify Work Podcast | TJ on LinkedInConnect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected] 

In this episode, I’m speaking about the question so many podcasters quietly carry:“Why isn’t my podcast turning into real opportunities?”If you’ve ever felt like your podcast has become just another thing on your to-do list… if you’re creating content consistently but still wondering how it all connects back to your work, your visibility, or your business… this episode is for you.I’m sharing:the mindset shift that completely changed how I approach podcastingthe difference between building a podcast on top of your business vs inside itand why your podcast may already be doing more than you realiseThis is a look into voice, leadership, sustainability, and creating a podcast ecosystem that actually supports the life and business you want to build.Plus, I’ll share more about my Shift series with 4 quick but powerful shifts to help you rethink your podcast strategy and relationship with your voice.Listen now — and access the Shift series here: www.reginalarko.com/shiftConnect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠

In this conversation, I sit down with a geophysicist-turned writer and podcaster Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge who’s done something many of us quietly long for. She’s learned how to move from future anxiety into genuine curiosity about what’s ahead.We look at how her voice has evolved since starting her podcast back in 2020. Not in a polished and linear way but through showing up before she felt ready, building confidence gradually, and making some uncomfortable decisions along the way.One of those shifts? Moving her podcast from Norwegian to English to open the door for more conversations. It wasn’t an easy call. It came with doubt, discomfort, and the very real risk of losing part of her audience. And still, she chose it.We also get into what it actually looks like to run a business this way. Not rigid. Not overly strategic. But experimental. Following what feels alive. Letting go of the pressure to be consistent just for the sake of it and instead returning to the mic when there’s something real to explore.Because for her, the podcast isn’t the end product. It’s part of a bigger platform. One that connects to her writing, her book work on Substack, and her thinking as it evolves in real time.We talk about resisting the pressure to niche down, simplifying tools and workflows, and finding aligned guests. And she shares the four pillars shaping her next chapter: energy transition, entrepreneurship, the future, and health.It’s an honest conversation about finding your own pace, trusting your voice, and building something that actually fits your life and work, not the other way around.Featured Guest:Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge: ⁠Stories for the Future (Podcast+ Substack) | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠⁠Community⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | Resources⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠[email protected] Mentioned in this episode:PodMatch: A great platform to find and book guests for your podcast. You can join here: JoinPodMatch.com/regina 

Event podcast recordings can feel exciting…and a little intimidating.You’re in the middle of a busy event, conversations are short, energy is high and it’s easy to think the recording itself is the main thing.But what if the real opportunity goes far beyond that moment?In this episode, I’m sharing a different way to approach live podcast recordings. One that helps you create deeper connections, extend your visibility, and turn a single appearance into something that keeps working for you long after the event is over.If you’ve ever considered recording your podcast live (or said yes to an opportunity and wondered how to make the most of it), this episode will give you a new perspective.In this episode, we explore:Why event live podcast recordings are about more than just hitting “record”What most people overlook when recording at eventsSimple ways to stay connected with the people you meetHow to create momentum that continues after the event endsA more intentional approach to showing up with your voice in live settingsLoved this episode?Take a screenshot, share it, and tag me. I always love seeing where you’re listening from.Connect with Regina Larko: www.reginalarko.com/start⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠Mentioned in this episode: Zoom H4N (love to record with this one at events) 

If you’ve ever had the idea to start a podcast, but something in you said “not yet”, this is for you.Maybe you’ve already recorded a few episodes. Maybe work got busy. Maybe that mic you ordered is still sitting in the box.Or maybe life just keeps happening and you’re still waiting for the “right moment” to begin.I had the idea for this episode at 10:30pm.I hit record at 11.Edited it by 11:30.And now it’s almost midnight as I’m writing this, about to press publish.I don’t usually work like this.But sometimes something feels so heavy on my heart, it just needs to get out.This is one of those.It’s what I wish I had heard when I first wanted to start.And maybe it’s exactly what you need to hear today.Connect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Community⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Mentioned in this episode: Regina's flagship production #impact - A Podcast about stuff that matters.

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: If you want your podcast to finally feel clear, focused, and worth your time, start here. I’ve created a series of one-minute shifts to help you get there, step by step.Connect with Regina Larko:⁠⁠Work with me⁠ | ⁠⁠Community⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠[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] ​