In this first episode of the New Year 2026, host Mark Cundiff revisits a powerful conversation from a previous episode with Marianne Renner, author of 'Self-Talk: 10 Stories You Tell Yourself That Hold You Back'.

Mark outlines five key takeaways for growth-minded leaders. These include the significance of self-talk, the impact of self-doubt on workplace culture, strategies to challenge negative stories, the importance of differentiating facts from personal narratives, and Marianne’s SEAR framework for rewriting mental scripts.

Listeners are encouraged to read Renner's book for deeper insights and to access LeaderNotes available in the show notes to enhance their leadership journey.

00:00 Introduction to the Learning to Lead Show

00:10 Recap of Marianne Renner's Insights

00:37 Key Takeaways for Growth-Minded Leaders

01:21 Understanding Self-Doubt and Its Impact

02:26 Challenging the Invisible Bubble

03:18 Confusing Facts with Stories

04:12 The SEAR Framework for Rewriting Mental Scripts

05:08 Conclusion and Next Steps

Connect with Marianne Renner:

Email: marianne@mariannerenner.com

LinkedIn

mariannerenner.com

Marianne’s Books

• Self-Talk
• From Chaos to Clarity Success Journal
• Stop Thinking Like an Employee

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go.

It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: mark@markjcundiff.com