What really sets humans apart in the age of AI? Presence.In this episode, I’m joined by Martine Croxall (BBC presenter) and Neil Midgley (former lawyer-turned-journalist & media trainer) to unpack why communication isn’t a “soft skill” at all, it’s an essential skill for leaders who want to influence, persuade, and build a personal brand that actually feels real.We talk about media training vs presentation skills, the biggest communication faux pas (hello jargon + “delighted to announce…”), and why every interview or public appearance is an exchange of commercial value. You’ll also hear how to stay truthful without oversharing, how to avoid sounding scripted in the social media era, and how to show up as an amplified version of your “resting state self”, confident, warm, and credible.If you’re a lawyer, exec, founder, or leader who’s ever thought “I’m not a natural speaker” or “I just want to be authentic,” this episode will give you a practical framework (and a few laughs) to show up better, on stage, on podcasts, on panels, and in the room.Timestamps0:00 – Introduction2:27 – The AI era: why “presence” is the real differentiator9:20 – Traits Martine sees in female leaders + transferable confidence13:45 – Personal brand today: authenticity that isn’t performative16:19 – “Amplify your resting state self” (authentic vs “media-trained”)21:46 – Media training vs presentation skills: what each actually covers28:05 – Biggest communication faux pas: jargon, no purpose, no stories31:12 – Every interview is an exchange of commercial value57:11 – Death by PowerPoint: why dense slides dilute your impact1:16:02 – How to measure if your speaking is “working” + getting real feedbackWhat we cover- Why presence becomes the differentiator as AI automates technical tasks- The difference between media training (answering questions) and presentation skills (speaking on your feet)- The communication framework: audience, purpose, and one key message- How to build a personal brand that’s true to you, not a performance- Why clarity beats jargon when you want your message to travel- Print interview strategy: the 8 quotes + 10-word headline approach- The biggest presentation trap: slides as scripts and “death by PowerPoint”- Why audiences disengage when they sense manufactured emotion- How to use warmth, humor, and playfulness appropriately to connectKey takeaways- Communication is not “soft.” It’s an essential leadership skill, especially in the AI era.- The goal isn’t to become someone else, it’s to be a bigger, better version of you.- Authenticity isn’t oversharing. You can be truthful while staying within professional and legal guardrails.- Every public appearance is an exchange of value, know what value you want before you say yes.- Start answers with the point, not the preamble. Attention is a two-second decision now.- If your slides work as handouts, they’re probably too dense to support great delivery.- When audiences smell fakery, they tune out, online and on stage.Guest ResourcesUpstage Training: https://upstagetraining.comMartine Croxall on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themartinecroxall/?hl=enMartine Croxall on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martine-croxall-b0988a5/Neil Midgley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-midgley/Lift Your Voice, Power Your Ambition: https://www.upstagetraining.com/2026Connect with Me🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out NewsletterIf this episode resonated with you, share it with a high-performing leader who’s brilliant at what they do — but knows their message deserves to land more powerfully.

What makes someone musical, talent, training, or timing?

In this episode, Raffaello Morales (conductor, pianist, and founder of Fidelio Café & Live Music Restaurant Farringdon) joins me for a conversation that reshaped how I think about musicality, performance, and the pressure baked into the classical music world.

We talk about the nature vs nurture debate (especially through the lens of childhood and parenting), why the “right teacher at the right time” can change a life, and why Raffaello believes music isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.We also go into a side of the industry most people don’t see: oversupply, shrinking audiences, intense competition, and the anxiety that follows musicians everywhere.

Finally, we explore how Raffaello brought music into food through Fidelio, creating a space where music belongs back in everyday life, not locked behind elitism, silence, and strict rules.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro: nature vs nurture + what musicality really is

2:34 – Childhood dreams, identity, and why music can’t be “everything”

8:30 – Parenting, exposure, and whether a child can develop an ear

10:19 – The “right teacher at the right time” and how paths shift

20:15 – First instrument, early training, and stage anxiety

24:20 – “Music isn’t about perfection”, what matters more

33:18 – Why conducting can feel easier than playing

37:55 – What happens if the conductor isn’t there?

42:01 – Music as wellbeing vs music as a profession full of anxiety

54:39 – Fidelio: combining music + food to bring art back to normal life

What We Cover

• Nature vs nurture in musicality (and what shapes it early on)

• Why teacher timing and guidance can change everything

• Music as connection, not perfection

• What a conductor actually does (tempo + expressive meaning)

• The anxiety behind classical music as a career

• Oversupply of musicians + shrinking audiences (and how that creates pressure)

• Why the industry is becoming “either huge or invisible”

• How Fidelio blends music, food, and real-life atmosphere

• Leadership lessons: vision, people, and knowing when to speak (or stay quiet)

  
  

  Key Takeaways

  • Musicality is rarely “just talent”, it’s exposure + guidance + timing.

  • Perfection is not the point; connection is.

  • A conductor is the human layer between notes and meaning: tempo + expression.

  • The anxiety many musicians carry isn’t personal, it’s structural.

  • Music becomes more powerful when it’s reconnected to everyday life and community.

  • Building something meaningful requires people, trust, and restraint, not just opinion.

    
    

    Resources

    Fidelio Café (London): https://fidelio.cafe/

    Raffaello’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raffomorales/?hl=en

    Fidelio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearefidelio/

    Raffaello’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raffaello-morales-85b455213/

    Order Raffaello’s Book: The Earth of the Skies

    
    Connect With Me

    🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter

    If this episode resonated, share it with someone who loves music, but has forgotten it’s meant to feel human.

    
    

What happens when a high-achieving woman hits her mid-to-late 30s, wants a baby more than anything… and realizes nobody ever taught her how fertility actually works?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified in OBGYN and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, and co-founder of Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas. We talk directly to the “Stephanie” archetype: the brilliant, driven, time-poor, high-performing woman who’s crushing her career… and now feels like fertility is the one thing she can’t outwork.

We cover what to do before jumping into IVF, how to think about genetic testing, how many IVF rounds are “safe,” and the emotional reality of the two-week wait (and why you shouldn’t go through it alone). Dr. Crawford also breaks down the science of stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance, without the dismissive “just relax” narrative.

If you’re trying to conceive, considering IVF, navigating pregnancy loss, or planning baby #2 in your 40s, this conversation will give you data, clarity, and a calmer way to make decisions.

Timestamps

0:00 – Why fertility planning matters for high-achieving women

5:18 – IVF at 38: should you fast-track or gather data first?

10:42 – Family goals (1 vs 3 kids) and why strategy changes

15:27 – Genetic testing: benefits, limits, and embryo expectations

21:08 – IVF rounds, safety, and clinic age cutoffs

28:54 – The emotional weight of the two-week wait

34:36 – Chronic stress, cortisol, and egg quality

41:22 – Support systems: therapy, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, community

48:03 – Planning baby #2 in your 40s + embryo banking

54:10 – Who The Fertility Formula is for + pre-order bonuses

What We Cover

• Fertility planning for high-achieving women with low time and high stress

• What to test before IVF: ovarian reserve, anatomy, semen analysis, cycle tracking

• IVF vs trying naturally at 38+: how to choose based on your family goal

• Genetic testing (PGT-A): pros, limitations, and decision-making benefits

• How many IVF rounds are safe + why “caps” aren’t one-size-fits-all

• The two-week wait, infertility grief, and reducing isolation

• Stress physiology: inflammation, glucose, insulin resistance, and egg/sperm quality

• Planning postpartum IVF/embryo banking for baby #2 in your 40s

  
  

  Key Takeaways

  • Your plan should reflect your family goal (one child vs multiple), not just “get pregnant now.”

  • Data first: you can’t make good fertility decisions without testing and cycle awareness.

  • Genetic testing can reduce time, cost, and heartbreak by prioritizing embryos with higher potential.

  • Chronic stress has real biological effects, support and recovery time aren’t optional add-ons.

  • If you want baby #2 in your 40s, embryo banking can keep the door open while you recover postpartum.

    
    

    
    

    Connect With Natalie

    Website: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/about Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NatalieCrawfordMDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliecrawfordmd/?hl=en

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-crawford-md

    Pre-order Natalie’s “The Fertility Formula Book”: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book

    
    

    Connect With Me

    🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter

    📖Read Your Fertility-Ready Home