In this episode of Underrated to Unstoppable, Charlene sits down with Chris West, founder of Video Narrative, for an honest conversation about self-trust, identity, and what happens when you finally stop abandoning yourself to meet everyone else’s expectations.

Chris shares the deeply personal shift that changed his life. Learning that true leadership begins with honoring your own integrity first.

Together, Charlene and Chris explore the tension many high achievers live with quietly. The pressure to care for others, solve problems, and carry responsibility that slowly pulls you away from yourself.

This conversation challenges a belief many leaders have been taught for years: that self-sacrifice equals strength.

Instead, they unpack what becomes possible when service comes from wholeness rather than depletion.

In this episode, Charlene and Chris discuss:

• Why self-trust is the foundation of authentic leadership • The difference between serving others and losing yourself • How patterns repeat until someone chooses to change them • What it means to lead from alignment instead of obligation • The courage required to choose yourself without guilt • The moment you realize you are enough

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying too much, struggled to balance care for others with care for yourself, or questioned whether fulfillment and leadership can coexist, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and perspective.

🎧 Listen in for a powerful conversation about alignment, personal responsibility, and leading from a place of truth.

About Chris West: Chris West is the Founder and CEO of Video Narrative, a brand design firm helping speakers and thought leaders grow their impact through brand clarity, storytelling, and strategic visual narrative. Drawing from his graduate work in Narrative Therapy, Chris partners with leaders to amplify their message and expand their influence through authentic storytelling. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his three children.

🌐 Learn more about Chris: Website: https://videonarrative.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/videonarrative/

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In this deeply personal episode of Underrated to Unstoppable, Charlene sits down with Ralph Henderson for a conversation about loss, identity, and the lasting impact of a life lived with extraordinary potential.Ralph shares the story of losing his identical twin. Not just the grief of losing someone who looked like him, but the heartbreak of losing someone whose brilliance burned bright and fast.

Together, Charlene and Ralph explore what it means to carry the legacy of someone who shaped you, how comparison can quietly shape our sense of worth, and the powerful journey toward believing in yourself.This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the people who leave us the soonest leave us with the deepest lessons.

In this episode, Charlene and Ralph unpack:• The emotional complexity of losing an identical twin• How grief can reshape identity and perspective• The tension between potential, comparison, and self-belief• What it means to honor someone’s legacy through your own growth•

The moment when you realize you are enough just as you are• Why believing in yourself changes everythingIf you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, loss, or living in the shadow of expectations, this episode will meet you with honesty, compassion, and hope.🎧

Listen in for a conversation about resilience, remembrance, and the courage to step fully into your own potential.About Ralph Henderson:Ralph brings a heartfelt perspective shaped by personal loss, reflection, and a deep belief in the power of self-discovery. His story invites us to examine how we define worth, how we carry memory, and how we move forward with intention.

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In this episode of Underrated to Unstoppable, I sit down with Elissa Kalver — speaker, author, and founder of WeGotThis.org, the first nonprofit gift registry for cancer patients.

At just 34, Elissa was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Instead of letting that diagnosis define her, she chose to redefine what it means to truly live.

Through her nonprofit and her new book, We Got This: How I Learned to Thrive with Terminal Cancer, Elissa is rewriting the narrative around illness, resilience, and success. In our conversation, Elissa opens up about thriving — not just surviving — through adversity.

We talk about the power of community, why no one should face hardship alone, and how humor, joy, and unapologetic authenticity can become lifelines in the darkest moments. About Elissa Kalver Elissa is a speaker, author, and advocate whose mission is to help people thrive through adversity.

With WeGotThis.org, she’s created the first nonprofit gift registry for cancer patients, providing tangible support when it’s needed most.

Her book, We Got This: How I Learned to Thrive with Terminal Cancer, shares her powerful lessons on resilience, joy, and rewriting what it means to “beat” cancer.

🌐 Website: elissakalver.com

💝 Nonprofit: WeGotThis.org

📸 Instagram: @elissakalver

📘 Facebook: Elissa Kalver 🎥 Watch now and be reminded: even in the face of uncertainty, We Got This.

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In this episode of Underrated to Unstoppable, Charlene Wheeless sits down with JGo to talk about belonging, authenticity, and how play transforms kids, companies, and communities.

From Ivy League classrooms to the stage, JGo’s journey is proof that joy and self-worth can change everything. About JGo JGo (pronounced "jay-go") is a keynote speaker, educator, and leader of multiple teams across various industries.

As an educator, JGo has taught Social Studies, Language Arts, Economics, Music, Storytelling, and Theory of Knowledge in multiple states and countries. He has facilitated workshops in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia, and has taken the stage at such notable venues as The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

JGo graduated from Yale with a B.A. in Anthropology and went on to get his masters in Educational Leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

🌐 Website: www.jgospeaks.com

🔗 LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/in/jgo3000

📸 Instagram: @jgo3000

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What if AI wasn’t just a tool—but a teammate?

In this episode of Underrated to Unstoppable, I sit down with futurist and speaker Neil Redding to explore the next wave of AI. Neil shares why the future of work isn’t about replacing people with technology, but about creating more humanity through it. By skillfully connecting the possible with the practical,

Neil Redding is a Near Futurist and Innovation Architect with 30+ years of experience in unlocking the transformative power of emerging technologies. A sought-after keynote speaker for venues like SXSW, Dubai Future Forum, and AWE, and at corporate events for Meta, Microsoft, and more, Neil inspires audiences with the reality-shifting capabilities of AI and spatial computing for our physical, digital and natural ecosystems, and for activating pragmatic interpersonal and business value.

Through his boutique consultancy Redding Futures and previous roles, Neil has worked with world-class brands including Visa, Nike, Apple, and Verizon to distill these continually emerging possibilities, applying ecosystem-centered design to unlock sustainable growth, resilience, and transformative business opportunity.

We dive into:

✨ How AI is shifting from tool → participant on our teams

✨ What belonging and inclusion could mean for AI agents

✨ Why the biggest transformation isn’t digital—it’s personal

✨ The lessons Neil learned from authenticity (and a $10,000 mistake!)

✨ His journey to realizing “I am enough.” This conversation is smart, soulful, and thought-provoking—and yes, we laughed a lot too.

👉 Tune in for a future-focused conversation about AI, leadership, authenticity, and what it truly means to thrive.

Watch now and don’t forget to subscribe.

Connect with Neil! https://www.neilredding.com/

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Change isn’t always bad—it’s just different. But how we respond to it? That’s our power.

In this episode of Underrated and Unstoppable, I dive into what it means to be a chooser in life, not a victim of circumstance. Every day, we get 86,400 seconds to decide how we show up—and those decisions shape our purpose, our freedom, and our future.

I'm joined by the phenomenal Alicia Couri—CEO of Alicia Couri Inc., founder of Audacious Concepts Inc., and the voice behind Audacious Confidence®. She’s a media powerhouse, TEDx speaker, and award-winning consultant helping women rise with courage and visibility. Together, we talk about bold action, choosing intention over fear, and reclaiming your personal power—no matter what life throws your way.

Ready to take your power back?

This episode is for YOU. Alicia Couri is the CEO of Alicia Couri Inc. and a leading expert in confidence growth and visibility. As the founder of Audacious Concepts Inc. a boutique consulting firm and RedCarpetCEOTM a digital media platform, she empowers women leaders to step out boldly despite their feelings fears, or past failures.

To amplify themselves and their brands in Media. Alicia serves as BoldHaus Senior Faculty for Visibility, Accountability & Confidence, and her dynamic speaking engagements include TEDx and the First Ladies Forum in Dubai.

An 8-time bestselling author and award-winning leader, Alicia consults globally, driving transformation and performance. She also holds advisory roles, championing holistic wellness and leadership. Alicia’s mission is to inspire Audacious Confidence® and bold action.

Contact Alicia: https://RedCarpetCEO.com

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Making the Choice to Lead Brave Conversations | Nicole Bianchi on Tough Talks, Courage & Leadership What if your biggest breakthrough was one brave conversation away?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Nicole M. Bianchi — Chief Bravery Officer, Tough Talk Expert, and bestselling author — to explore how courageous conversations can transform your leadership, your relationships, and your results.

Nicole is the founder of Nicole M Bianchi Inc. and the creator of Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks: How to Lead Brave Conversations for Exceptional Results. With a Fortune 300 background and decades of experience coaching high-performing leaders and teams, she’s known for her no-fluff, human-first approach to leadership transformation. Her work has empowered countless organizations to rebuild trust, increase resilience, and create cultures where people actually thrive — all by leaning into discomfort with courage and compassion.

💬 In this episode, we dive into: How to turn tough talks into powerful leadership tools Why brave conversations are the key to trust, alignment, and growth Nicole’s personal journey and what led her to challenge leadership norms Her 5-framework approach to handling hard conversations at work Why “Small Brave Moves” can change your life — and your team Whether you’re a leader navigating change, a team builder seeking real connection, or someone just trying to speak up more — this conversation will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to be brave in your own life.

📕 Learn more about her new book Five Tough Talks and her online course that helps leaders and teams practice bravery together every day.

👇 Connect with Nicole Bianchi:

Website: nicolembianchi.com

LinkedIn: @nicolembianchi Instagram: @nicole.m.bianchi

Facebook: Nicole Bianchi Presents

Get a copy of my book "YOU ARE ENOUGH" 📚 https://charlenewheeless.com/bookshop

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In this episode of Underrated to Unstoppable, Charlene Wheeless sits down with Rashad Rayford—actor, spoken word artist, and corporate speaker—for a powerful conversation about voice, vulnerability, and choosing to believe you’re enough.

Rashad shares:

• How improv and poetry helped him find his purpose

• What he learned from fear and failure

• Why your story is your power—and how to use it

• A live, improvised spoken word poem that will stay with you long after the episode ends

Whether you’re searching for your next move, your voice, or your sense of self—this episode is your reminder that everything you need is already in you. 🎙️

Listen now. Be moved. And remember: You are enough.

Rashad Rayford is an award-winning speaker, actor, and poet featured at TEDx, on NPR, and in The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. As the founder of Elevate Your Vibe, he collaborates with top companies like Tractor Supply, Best Buy, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield to deliver impactful keynotes and workshops. A MOTH Story Hour GRANDslam champion, Rashad is known for his high-energy presentations that blend storytelling, spoken word, and actionable insights. Rashad’s mission is to inspire teams to harness the power of their stories, driving engagement, authenticity, and success across industries.

🔗 Subscribe for more conversations like this. New episodes weekly.

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