Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
Anne Bonney
Let's face it, life is uncomfortable. Whether it's interacting with other humans (or trying to), going after our goals and improving our lives, or understanding other people's perspectives, preferences and proclivities, being able to face the discomforts in life with courage, compassion, confidence and resilience will make life a lot more enjoyable! So join me as we DANCE IN THE DISCOMFORT ZONE! We'll explore new ideas, learn how to build our confidence, courage and resilience, and laugh a little too, because life is serious enough. We need a little cha cha, and a little ha ha every once in a while! Welcome to the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney!
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
The “Joy Wave” Effect: How Lisa W. Miller’s Research is Changing the Game!
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
03/31/25 • 43 min
What if joy was the key to economic recovery? That’s exactly what consumer strategist and data whiz Lisa W. Miller (https://www.lwm-associates.com/) discovered when the world turned upside down in 2020. Instead of getting stuck in fear and uncertainty, Lisa had a bold realization: When joy is greater than fear, everything starts to turn around.
Armed with this insight, she launched the Journey Back to Joy research project, gathering a staggering 78,000+ surveys over five years. Her groundbreaking data didn’t just track what makes people happy—it became a leading economic indicator, landing her on the pages of The Wall Street Journal and NBC Nightly News.
💡 Joy vs. Fear: The surprising connection between happiness and economic recovery.
💡 Data that Predicts the Future: How Lisa’s research became a crystal ball for businesses.
💡 The Youth Crisis: What her data reveals about job satisfaction and social connection.
💡 The “Joy Wave” Hypothesis: Can joy really be contagious? Lisa says yes!
💡 The Power of Connection: Why human interaction beats digital convenience every time.
If you’re ready for a fresh, data-backed perspective on happiness, business, and the economy, this episode is a must-listen! 🎙️✨
All the places you can find Lisa are here https://linktr.ee/lisawmiller
One Chart in 2 Minutes or Less - Sign Up Here bit.ly/3Rwh6FO
BIO:
Lisa W. Miller is a consumer strategist, researcher, and author with three decades of experience. As Vice President of Innovation at Brinker International and Vice President of Insights at Frito Lay/PepsiCo, she led transformative initiatives. Her groundbreaking Journey Back to Joy research, based on over 78,000 consumer interviews, became a key indicator of economic recovery during the pandemic. A trusted media resource to the WSJ, Fox New, and more, her work has been featured in over 250 media interviews. Lisa is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), blending storytelling and data-driven insights driving business growth and meaningful connections.
Thanks for the Concern… But I’ve Got This: Understanding Naysayers
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
04/21/25 • 8 min
Ever had a bold idea or dream and immediately heard, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” or “What if it doesn’t work?” Cue the naysayers. 🙄
In this episode with your host Anne Bonney (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com), we’re unpacking the well-meaning, fear-fueled advice that often shows up just as we’re about to take a leap. (pair those with the voice of doubt already yelling "WTF ARE YOU DOING???", and NOT doing something starts to look pretty tempting.) The truth is, most naysayers aren't out to sabotage your dreams—they're trying to protect you. But if we’re not careful, their fear can become your hesitation... and that’s when dreams stall.
Let’s shift the way we hear those voices. Instead of caving to pressure, what if we got curious about the why behind their doubt—and then made our own empowered choices anyway?
🎙️ This episode dives into:
- Why naysayers often come from a place of love (but their advice isn’t always helpful)
- How to tell the difference between real red flags and projected fears
- Tools to stay grounded in your vision—even when others can’t see it yet
If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself because someone else did first, this one’s for you. Hit play and get ready to reframe the noise so you can keep moving forward with confidence.
Anne Bonney, CSP® (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com), is a high-energy keynote speaker, engaging emcee, and transformational workshop facilitator specializing in resilience, change leadership, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication. Known as the go-to authority on embracing change and thriving through discomfort, Anne delivers unforgettable and fun keynotes and corporate trainings—both in-person and virtually—that spark confidence, connection, and resilience in audiences around the world.
With over 20 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership, Anne brings practical, real-world strategies that empower teams to navigate change, lead with emotional intelligence, and tackle tough conversations head-on. She's the author of two impactful books on leading through change and host of the top-rated Dancing in the Discomfort Zone Podcast (you're here now! You already know that!), where she interviews people (some thought-leaders, some regular people who have experienced challenges) and shares content to help YOU get more comfortable being uncomfortable and build your resilience in transition and uncertainty!
Anne’s unforgettable presentations blend humor, heart, and high-energy storytelling—drawing on her wildly diverse experiences: from growing up overseas, training animals, and climbing Kilimanjaro to running marathons on all seven continents, singing opera, and entertaining troops in Iraq. She might even surprise your audience with a custom song on her guitar!
Whether you’re planning a leadership retreat, sales kickoff, association event, or hybrid conference, Anne Bonney is the motivational speaker who will light up your stage, fire up your people, and leave them ready to embrace change, boost resilience, and lead boldly.
Dr Andrea Hollingsworth: Radical Self-Compassion
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
03/11/24 • 42 min
Humans make mistakes! It’s just one of the undeniable truths about being humans. Sometimes they’re big mistakes, sometimes they’re small, but whatever the case, shame is a dark and moist bedfellow (ew!) of those mistakes, and in this episode, Dr Andrea Hollingsworth (www.hollingsworthconsulting.com) and I talk about how to own up to your mistakes, and how to move through them with strength and compassion for the damage we may have done, and compassion for ourselves as we recover from those mistakes and learn and grow from them so we don’t repeat unhealthy and destructive patterns.
We talk about
- Weak times that lead to weak responses
- How embracing the “Brutiful truth” (thank you Rachel Hollis) can help you build self compassion
- The 3 level structure of her self-compassion scaffold
- Parenting, and how great intent can turn into another mistake we need to recover from
Want more from Dr Andrea Hollinsworth? Here you go!
Website: www.hollingsworthconsulting.com
Vimeo https://vimeo.com/904573133?share=copy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-hollingsworth-ph-d-0644058b/
The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace https://thisnakedmind.com/the-alcohol-experiment/
Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth is a speaker, researcher, and seasoned psychotherapist who has spent decades studying the transformative power of compassion and self-compassion in life and leadership. Andrea’s articles on the science and spirituality of compassion have been published more than a dozen times in peer-reviewed journals, and she’s taught at prestigious institutions like Princeton and Boston University. Today, she spends most of her time helping leaders use her Compassion Advantage framework to boost emotional wellbeing, fight shame and perfectionism, increase resilience, and solve workplace problems. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Episode 91: Jason Borowicz, Courageously Making it Work
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
08/18/20 • 43 min
In episode 91 we explore courage as it relates to surprise opportunities, international adventures and derailing interactions, and how they never stopped Jason from moving forward, "pushing out the canoe", "stepping through the fabric" and making it work! Inspirational stories of courage and achievement through innovation and life!
Jason Borowicz is an international speaker and collaboration coach who has helped teams all over the world to perform at their best when their best is required. His proven methodology - UNSTOPPABLE US - has been used by hundreds of leaders, creating over $100 million of economic impact over the last 5 years. Realizing that "We perform to the level of our disbeliefs", JB is on a mission to help every team be a great team to be in. After all, doesn't everyone deserve to drive to work knowing they are in a great team that respects their strengths and has their back?
Jason is also a former teacher who achieved a near 100% passing rate, and a former national team coach in the Czech Republic, where he played quarterback and led his team to 2 championship appearances. Additionally, having spent nearl a decade in New Zealand has given Jason global perspective on teams, collaboration and navigating BIG differences across executive teams and project delivery teams.
In addition to his work with sports, education, and business, Jason is passionate about travelling and exploring new ideas, which he does through his You Tube channel titled Better Questions, and his podcast.
With a passion for both the science and the art of collaboration, Jason travels the world coaching leaders on how they can apply his trademark brand of team dynamics for exponential growth results. As a grounded and intriguing keynote speaker, Jason's evidence based approach, infused with an inviting sense of humor and quick wit, make him a safe choice to be a huge hit at your event.
Penny Zenker: The Focusologist!
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
04/22/24 • 34 min
PROCRASTINATION! Distractions! Self-sabotage! All the things that keep us from being as productive as we can, and I don’t know about you, but the thought of being “as productive as possible” is exhausting! In this fun and insightful episode, Productivity expert Penny Zenker (https://pennyzenker360.com/) shares what she has learned through experience and research about the psychology of productivity, and how we can get better at it.
We talk about
- The dangers of habits and being on Auto-Pilot for too long
- Reset Moments and the importance of taking a pause to be sure we’re on the right course
- Her 1-3-5 method of planning her day
- And how dog barf can really mess up your plan!
Do you want more from Penny?
Website: https://pennyzenker360.com/
LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyzenker/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pennyzperspective
Twitter https://twitter.com/pennyzenker
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pennyzenker/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/PennyZenkerKeynoteSpeaker
PREORDER the new book: https://pennyzenker360.com/the-reset-mindset/
Penny Zenker is The Focusologist, an international speaker, business strategy coach, and best-selling author. Before her 31st Birthday, Penny founded, developed, and sold her first multi-million dollar business while living in Zurich, Switzerland. Later at the world's 4th largest Market Research company, she managed business unit turnarounds and was a Tony Robbins business coach helping entrepreneurs around the world to double their businesses. Penny is one of America’s leading experts in the psychology of productivity to eliminate distraction, perfectionism, and self-sabotage to maximize results in every area of your life. Penny’s book The Productivity Zone was an instant Amazon Best Seller and her TEDx, "The Energy of Thought", has gained attention around the world with over 1M views. Her engaging, inspiring interactive talks teach people to think and act more strategically. Penny has been featured on NBC News, Forbes, Inc, ESPN, and Wharton Business Radio among others.
Gorillas, Growth & Going Off Script: Steve Fredlund’s Wild Life Pivot
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
04/14/25 • 48 min
Ready to trade safe and expected for wild and extraordinary? In this bold and inspiring episode, Steve Fredlund (https://stevefredlund.com/) takes us on a journey from buttoned-up actuary to gorilla-hugging nonprofit founder (ok, he didn't HUG the gorilla...listen in to find out what he actually did!). He's a professional speaker, and author of Do the Unright Thing. Spoiler alert: the magic didn’t happen when he followed the "rules"—it happened when he didn’t.
Steve’s story is a masterclass in what can happen when you ditch the “right” path and say yes to discomfort, curiosity, and the road less traveled (literally—he starts off with a life-changing story from deep in the Rwandan jungle 🦍).
Whether you're stuck in a career that looks good on paper but feels wrong in your gut, or just craving more meaning in your life, this episode will fire you up to color outside the lines.
🔥 Key Takeaways:
- Extraordinary doesn’t live in your comfort zone—you have to be willing to do the “un-right” thing to find it.
- Impact starts with listening. Steve shares how trusting local leadership transformed his nonprofit work in Rwanda.
- Growth and courage go hand-in-hand—especially when you’re letting go of security to pursue your passion.
- “Un-right” choices don’t guarantee success, but they open the door to magic.
- Living your own life means rewriting the rules—and maybe tearing up the whole rulebook.
👉 Tune in for inspiration, unforgettable stories, and a nudge (okay, maybe a shove) to follow your own “un-right” path.
Want more from Steve? Check out the interwebs!
- https://stevefredlund.com/
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefredlund/
- Watch him speaking in person! - https://youtu.be/wTz3Flwwhf4
- Grab Steve's book. https://www.amazon.com/Do-Unright-Thing-Memoir-Pleaser/dp/B0CRVJQMGW
Steve Fredlund is a breakthrough expert and founder of The Safari Way, a global movement to help individuals, teams and organizations breakthrough the “good” to reach the extraordinary. His 30 years as a corporate actuary, nonprofit executive, entrepreneur, and leader of African safaris combine into award-winning keynotes, transformational trainings, and bestselling books.
Eduardo Placer, Fearless Communicator and Authentic Discomfort Facer
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
07/22/24 • 49 min
Public speaking is one of those things that terrifies people, and for Eduardo Placer, (https://eduardoplacer.com/) if started with show-and-tell in second grade! Finding that inner confidence and safety in that vulnerability is a challenge, and in this insightful, love-filled episode, we explore that theme throughout Eduardo’s life, and discuss how he’s now using that to help other people belong and find empathy for others!
We discuss
- His upbringing as a queer kid in Miami in the 1980s
- Professional acting, and how playing a role is where he initially found safety.
- How he got into being a public speaking coach
- How “Fearless’ doesn’t mean WITHOUT fear...
- And a few Spanish terms to help us in our dance
Want more from Eduardo?
- www.fearlesscommunicators.com
- www.eduardoplacer.com
- bit.ly/EduardoPlacerSpeaks
- Instagram: @stand4fearless
- Here is the free resource Eduardo mentioned: 10 Simple Backstage Tips:
A dynamic keynote speaker, charismatic event emcee, and global facilitator, he is a former professional actor who has a rare ability to help people find common ground through compelling narratives that inspire and unite. He is the founder of Fearless Communicators, a diverse, inclusive public speaking coaching company that works with emerging and accomplished thought leaders on what they say and how they say it.
His clients range from presidential candidates and UN diplomats to startup founders, social activists, and industry leaders. Drawing from his experiences in the U.S. as a proud Cuban American and member of the LGBTQ+ community, Eduardo shares his message of empowerment and belonging with audiences around the world. He is committed to creating inclusive organizations where everyone feels comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
Robin Bozarth for Genesis Whole Body Donation
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
10/31/22 • 35 min
We often wonder what happens to our souls when we die, and don't like to think about what happens to our bodies when we die. It's uncomfortable...so let's dance! On this episode I welcome Robin Bozarth with MERI-Genesis, speaking on behalf of the Genesis Legacy Whole Body Donation Foundation (https://www.genesislegacy.org/) and we have an absolutely fascinating and heart warming conversation about Whole Body Donation, something I knew NOTHING about, but am now very interested in because it will allow me to keep contributing to the world in a positive way once I'm all done with my earthly body! In this episode we talk about
- How they humanize the donor and refer to their body as "the gift".
- How the gift is used.
- How Genesis stays in touch with the families and what they do with the donor remains once the gift has been fully utilized.
- How donating to an accredited organization is vital!
If you want to learn more
Website: https://www.genesislegacy.org/
Facebook link: facebook.com/GenesisLegacyofLife
Instagram link: instagram.com/genesislegacyfoundation/
Genesis is a willed body donor program for those wishing to donate their bodies for the advancement of science. The program plays a vital role in the educational and research activities conducted at the Medical Education & Research Institute (MERI).
Physicians, surgeons, nurses, EMTs, and other medical professionals and students from around the world come to the MERI to gain invaluable hands-on experience in the latest medical techniques and technologies, taking this newfound knowledge back to their patients. Donors make this critical education and training possible through their selfless and generous gift.
More about Robin:
Robin Bozarth is a skilled medical professional with over 30 years’ experience within the industry. Robin currently leads the Genesis Legacy Whole-Body Donation Foundation, as the Genesis Manager, for the Medical Education Research Institute (MERI). She has held various leadership positions at the MERI, a nonprofit medical teaching institution/bioskills facility, since her start in 2003 after ten years’ service within orthopedic surgery. Robin is committed to her profession and maintaining the highest levels of ethical responsibility within the non-transplant anatomical donation industry for medical education and research.
Robin was born in Memphis, TN and raised in DeSoto County, MS, where she graduated from Horn Lake High School. Robin holds an Associates of Applied Science Degree and is a licensed Funeral Director in the State of TN. She is a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist (CTBS) through the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and CQA (Certified Quality Auditor) certified through the American Society of Quality (ASQ). Robin is a professional member of many societies and involved in various community-based volunteer programs. Robin is a proud mom to beautiful twin daughters and is blessed with three gorgeous grandchildren in her life. Robin loves her family, her community and helping those around her. Two rescue cats (Zoie and Cap) are lucky to have claimed Robin’s place as their own.
Episode 207 Alison Bladh, Menopause Nutritional Specialist
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
11/21/22 • 34 min
Menopause. Something we don't want to talk about, but when it hits us, it's hard not to! In this episode, I welcome Nutritional Therapist Alison Bladh (https://www.alisonbladh.com/) to talk to us about how to naturally minimize peri menopause symptoms with lifestyle changes. A fascinating and mindset shifting episode to help you ease into menopause a little less uncomfortably, so listen in!
We talk about
- What is menopause? Perimenopause? And what happens during the stages
- Foods to help reduce menopause symptoms
- Lifestyle changes rather than dieting
- What times should I eat
- How much should I eat
- and some fun facts about the Mediterranean diet vs the Standard American Diet.
Want more? Check out these links.
website https://www.alisonbladh.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/pinktearoom
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisonbladh/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alisonbladhnutrition/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-bladh-b5178638/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.se/AlisonBladhNutrition/_created/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/ @alisonbladh
About Alison
I am a registered Nutritional Therapist BSc (hons), mBANT, mCNHC, mNWTF who is passionate about empowering women globally to reclaim their health during the menopause transition (perimenopause, menopause, post menopause and beyond) through realistic evidence-based nutrition, mindset and lifestyle modifications. I was lucky enough to grow up on a farm in Southern England which gave me a great love for nature and the outdoor life and on top of that my mother was a professional chef who allowed me from a very young age to help and watch her in the kitchen. This was the beginning of my love for food. I have travelled extensively and lived in different parts of the world. This has given me the opportunity to experience different cultures, cuisines and lifestyles.
Having had a career in the health and beauty industry for over 30 years, I was always amazed to see how simple lifestyle and nutritional changes could improve not only women’s health and well-being but also their happiness. Throughout my career journey, my underlying passion has always been about improving midlife women’s health using the power of nutrition, lifestyle modifications and mindset. It gives me great pleasure to help midlife women overcome their health issues so that they can look and feel amazing. I truly believe that with good nutritious food, a positive mindset and health promoting lifestyle choices the body can heal itself and age healthily. My aim is to focus on positive nutrition - it's not about restriction, it's about what we can include in our diet for maximum health.
I combine my understanding, enthusiasm and passion with my love of food to help people become the best versions of themselves.
When I'm not at work I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, being in the kitchen and experimenting with new recipe ideas. I am also a keen scuba diver, golfer, hiker, beekeeper and enjoy being in the great outdoors. I am British but am living in Swe
Connection Isn’t Complicated: The Real J.O.B. of Belonging with Ginger Johnson
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
05/12/25 • 49 min
Ever feel like connection is harder than ever these days? You’re not alone—but this week’s guest says it doesn’t have to be that way.
Join your host Anne Bonney as she chats with connection evangelist and keynote speaker Ginger Johnson (https://gingerjohnson.com/), who’s here to blow up the myth that human connection is complicated. (Spoiler alert: it’s not!)
From waving at strangers to building bridges in brand-new communities, Ginger drops powerful, practical truths about why belonging starts with YOU—and how the tiniest gestures can create the biggest impact. 🙌
🎯 Whether you're a leader, a speaker, or just a human who wants more genuine connection (don’t we all?), this episode delivers a mic-drop message: connection isn’t a luxury—it’s a choice. And it’s way more accessible than you think.
🔥 In this episode, we dive into:
- Why "self-connection" is the first step to authentic relationships
- How waving at a stranger can change your brain (and your community!)
- What Ginger means by “The Joy of Belonging” (aka the real J.O.B.)
- Why post-pandemic connection isn’t dead—we just forgot how to start
- Real strategies to build meaningful moments in both life and leadership
Get ready to reframe connection, rediscover your power to belong, and maybe—just maybe—wave at someone today.
Want more from Ginger?
- Speaker Reel https://gingerjohnson.com/speaker-reel/
- Website https://gingerjohnson.com/
- LinkedIn land https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerjohnsonconnector/
- YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GingerJohnson
“Spectacular energy”
“Endless supply of positivity”
“insightful, practical, and useful tools [that] remind you why you love the work you do”
and “completely unique ... from any other speaker you hire.”
With energy and enthusiasm matched only by Anne Bonney, Ginger delights groups of all sizes, online and on-premises, across the globe.
Ginger tailors experiences for the people she serves, all powered by Human Connection.
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney have?
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney currently has 337 episodes available.
What topics does Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney cover?
The podcast is about Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Emotional Intelligence, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education, Boss Lady, Business and Communication.
What is the most popular episode on Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney?
The episode title 'Episode 209: Kerri Pagliarini talks about SUGAR' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney?
The average episode length on Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney is 30 minutes.
How often are episodes of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney released?
Episodes of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney?
The first episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney was released on Nov 21, 2018.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ