Shows / The Pausecast
The Pausecast
The Pausecast podcast helps high-achieving leaders move beyond overwhelm and self-doubt to reclaim their confidence in their next career moves using Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and more. Hosted by Rachael O’Meara, MBA, MA, is a PCC executive coach with over a decade at Google and co-founder of SIC Venture Studio. Her 3 books 'Pause', 'Pause the Journal', and her latest collaboration 'Leading with Self-Awareness' are key resources for career growth. Her work is featured in…
Episodes
- The Pausecast
Ep. 256: When You Let Go of Control: Leadership Lessons from the Field
What if a pause isn’t about taking time off, but about changing how you show up?In this solo episode, I reflect on a series of experiences that took me from…
The PausecastEp. 255: Leadership Lessons from Kauai: Rethinking What it Means to Lead with Elise Birkhofer
What if the thing missing from your leadership isn't another framework... but your body? 🌺I reconnect with fellow former Googler Elise Birkhofer, who led…
The PausecastEp. 254 Myth or Fact: There’s No Place For Emotions At Work with Wendy Chin
In Episode 254 of The Pausecast, Rachael sits down with her friend and colleague Wendy Chin, an EQ coach and executive recruiter, to unpack something many…
- The Pausecast
Episode 253: How to Know When It's Time to Pivot with VIP Guest
What if the next step in your career isn't about pushing harder... but pausing long enough to hear yourself think? 🤔In this episode, I sit down with my former…
The PausecastEp. 252 🎙️ Burnout Is a Two-Way Street with Janice Litvin
"Without the people, there is no company." - Janice LitvinBurnout is often framed as a personal problem to solve.Practice more self-care. Set better…
The Pausecast🎙️ Ep. 251: Olympic Silver Medalist: Finding Your Next Big Career Move with Kate Johnson
What happens when a Silver Medalist, Olympic athlete, F100 leader, women's sports advocate, and cancer survivor shares the lessons she's learned about…
The PausecastEp. 250🎙️ Why High Achievers Struggle to Trust Themselves
I share what it's like to go from overthinking to self-trust, and how to navigate career decisions with greater confidence.What happens when you've done…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 249 Grow Where You’re Planted: The Power of Intention with Monique Sanchez
You may not be stuck, you may simply need more intention. What if your next career move isn’t a promotion… but a deeper alignment with what actually energizes…
The PausecastEp. 248 From Autopilot to Awe with VIP Saul Blinkoff
What if the shift you desire isn’t about DOING more, but becoming more intentional about who you are BEING as you DO? ✨I got to sit down with former Disney…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 247 Networking Minus the Dread 🤝⚡
Networking shouldn’t feel like another task on your already full mental stack.And yet for many of us high-achieving leaders, it still does.Or worse, that dark…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 246 From Overwhelm to Authority: How To Make Your Next Move 🚀
This one is for you as a high-achieving leader who’s doing everything right on paper…and still feels that quiet disconnect underneath.In this episode 246, I…
The PausecastEp. 245 You Built the Career… Now What? Purpose & Resilience in Tech Leadership: Ishwar Joshi
You’ve done everything “right.” Career milestones, promotions, accolades. And yet… something still feels off.In this episode, we dive into what it really takes…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 244 9 Years Later… Pause Matters More Than Ever
Nine years ago, Pause was a helpful idea when the book came out April 4, 2017.Today, it’s essential.In this pause-a-versary episode, I share what's different…
The PausecastEp. 243 Getting Real with Sharon Salzberg
In this Ep. 243, I sit down with Sharon Salzberg, renoun author and someone known for helping the western world "learn how to meditate." We unpack what “pause”…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 242: Layoffs & AI: The Real Fear No One Talks About
👉 It’s not just layoffs or AI—it’s an identity shift. If your role changed tomorrow… who would you be? 👀 It’s not just layoffs.It’s not even just AI.It’s the…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 241 🎙️ Ruthless Priorities, Relationships, and Resetting for Tech Careers
"Where do you prioritize, ruthlessly prioritize, and where do you focus your time and your energy? It's about investing in meaningful relationships and…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 240 Lead Your Career Like a System: SRE Wisdom for Burnout-Free Tech Careers
What if you managed your career, energy, and life the same way elite engineers manage mission-critical systems?In Ep 240 of The Pausecast, I chat with Jennifer…
The PausecastEp. 239 How to Recharge Tech Leadership: Full Spirit Workout
Ever feel like your career is moving fast, but your energy and focus aren’t keeping up? What if the secret to leading at your best isn’t doing more, but…
The PausecastEp. 235 When Success Isn’t Enough: A Career Wake-Up Call w Sandra Ma
In The Pausecast Ep. 235, Rachael O’Meara sits down with tech entrepreneur Sandra Ma for a refreshingly honest conversation about career reinvention, leaving…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 238: From Self-Doubt to Strategic Clarity w Product Manager Chealsea Wierbonski
The path from humble beginnings to tech leadership isn’t linear—and it’s rarely just about working harder. In this honest conversation, I sit down with Chelsea…
The PausecastEp. 236 Advocate, Influence, and Lead in big tech with Liz Heaney
What if doing meaningful work isn’t enough—you also have to know how to advocate for it?In this episode of The Pausecast, I sit down with my former colleague…
The Pausecast🎧 Ep. 237: Happy for No Reason: A Career + Leadership Convo Marci Shimoff
What if you didn’t have to wait for your job to change… to feel better at work? 😌This week on The Pausecast VIP, I’m joined by the legendary Marci Shimoff—#1…
The PausecastEp. 234 Exploring New Horizons - Career Convo with Melody Olson
What if the next level of your leadership doesn’t come from pushing harder—but from pausing on purpose?In this episode of The Pausecast, I sit down with Melody…
The PausecastEp. 233: Riding the Wave: Ada Lau on Confident Leadership, Constant Change
In Ep. 233 of The Pausecast, I sit down with my former big tech colleague Ada Lau and we explore her journey from aspiring journalist to successful big tech…
- The Pausecast
🎧 Ep. 233: AI Read My Book PAUSE... Here's What Happened
Yes, you read that right—AI read my book Pause and pulled out the gold.In this special episode, I share the AI Audio 17 minute synopsis by two completely…
The PausecastEp 232: Dr. Bob Wright on the 2026 Inner Work That Changes How You Lead This Year
How emotional intelligence, unfinished business, and pausing unlock real confidence.As we kick off another new year, this episode is an invitation to slow…
The Pausecast🎉 Ep 179: New Year, Clear You: Design Your Vision for 2026 📚
It’s a wrap! ❤️HAPPY… NEW… YEAR!! 🎉🎉🎉The new year is your fresh canvas — a moment to breathe, reset, and choose how you want to lead yourself forward. This…
The PausecastEp. 178: Presence 🎁 Is Your Power
In Ep. 178 of The Pausecast...OMG it's Christmas Week - a time to slow down, connect, and reflect. But as leaders, how do we truly embrace the moment and share…
The Pausecast🎄 Ep. 177: Ditch Stress & Meet Your Joy-full Future Self 🎉
What if this year, you could step into the holidays with calm, clarity, and joy? Join me, Rachael, for this special holiday episode of The Pausecast, where…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 228: From Overthinking → Optimal Thinking: Your Guided Reset
Ahhh, it's breathing time, YAY! Join me for this moment to realign and get back to your optimal being (and thinking using the guided technique below.Your Go-To…
The PausecastEp. 227: Dr. Richard Davidson on Neuroscience
🎧 In Episode 227, you’ll discover...This one’s a gift to your future self.If you’ve been sprinting through Q4 feeling stretched, scattered, or secretly…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 226 Max Your Attitude of Gratitude as a tech leader 🦃💛
If you're a high-achieving leader who’s already mentally drafting Q1 OKRs between bites of pumpkin pie… this episode is your invitation to pause - in service…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 225: 5 Lessons from Thailand Travels
"We can’t see the forest from inside it. Strategic pauses create the distance required for clarity." — Rachael O’MearaI just released a new episode of the…
The Pausecast🎧 Ep 224:How Curiosity Fuels Confident Leadership - with Aidan Booth
What if curiosity was your greatest leadership skill?In this inspiring episode, Rachael sits down with Aidan Booth, Director at one of the big techs, to…
The PausecastEp 223: Mindfulness for High Achievers — How Kids Teach Leading with Calm + Clarity
High-achieving leaders know how to perform. But do they know how to pause?In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Ariane de Bonvoisin — former…
- The Pausecast
🎧 Ep. 222: How to Lead Big Moves Without Losing Yourself — with Alex Phillips
Landing a new role can feel like a win...and a test of your values.In this energizing convo, Alex Phillips shares what it’s really like to take a bold…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 221 How to Get Into Your Groove—and Stay There with Rich Berta
Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things but still not quite in your flow? In Ep. 221 of The Pausecast, Rachael sits down with her former and inspiring…
- The Pausecast
🎧 Ep. 220 – Heart Coherence for Tech Leaders: Breathwork to Reboot Clarity + Calm
In this episode of The Pausecast...💡 Discover how conscious breath creates heart coherence—a science-backed state that enhances focus, intuition, and emotional…
The PausecastEp. 219 - VIP Christine Comaford : Going from critter brain to clarity
Here’s what you’ll discover in Ep. 219👇🌱 Why humans are “meaning-making machines” (and how that can help or hurt you)🎡 The SmartTribe Emotional Wheel —a…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 218: From Overwhelmed to In Control: 3 Boundaries WFH Leader Need
Feeling pulled in a million directions while working remote, hybrid, or even in-office? Boundaries can get flimsy, leaving you drained, stressed, and stretched…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 217: 😭 Don't Panic! How to Stay Calm When Your Manager Pushes Your Buttons
In Ep. 217 of the Pausecast...🔹 The #1 thing to do the moment frustration hits🔹 How to move the relationship forward even when things feel stuck🔹 Why…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 216: From Scattered Stressball To Top Tech Exec - Hacks to Keep Your Cool In The Hot Seat
What Stress? :XStress usually comes from holding onto fear, anger, sadness, or hurt — and not letting ourselves fully experience or process it.Instead, we…
- The Pausecast
🚨 Ep. 215: Lead Like a Visionary, Not a Taskmaster
Are you leading your team (or yourself for that matter)… or just managing? 🤔In this episode, we dive into the real differences between managing tasks and…
The Pausecast🎙️ Ep. 214: The Secrets to High-Performing Teams with Dr. Vanessa Druskat
Why Emotional Intelligence Isn’t Just Personal—It’s Team-Based. 👥🔥You don’t need another personality assessment or trust fall.You need the right team norms…
The PausecastEp. 213: Reclaim Your Identity Beyond Work + Redefine Success 🚀
In this episode of The Pausecast, we’re continuing the conversation from Ep. 212 and taking it a step further. You’ll learn practical tools to untangle your…
- The Pausecast
🎙Ep. 212: I Am Not My Job (Part 1): Untangling Work from Identity
You know you’re more than your job… but why does it feel so hard to actually believe it? 🤯 In this first of a 2-part series, we get into the messy truth of why…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 211: Moving beyond the grind: The New Paradigm
Here’s what you’ll get when you hit play:💡 Why “being” will supercharge your “doing” (and your results)🤯 The zillion-dollar Q: If you had all the money in the…
The Pausecast🎙️ Ep. 210: Your To-Die-For Life — A Wake-Up Call You Didn’t Know You Needed
What if your to-do list is actually holding you back from the life you really want? 📝💀In this powerful and playful episode, bestselling author + behavioral…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 209: Why Fulfillment at Work Isn’t Fluff—It’s Foundational 💼✨
You’ve crushed goals, led teams, and made an impact—but fulfillment?That still feels… mushy—or like a luxury you don’t have time for.Especially when:✅…
- The Pausecast
🎧 Ep. 208 — The Surprising Power of Surrender at Work
What if getting unstuck didn’t mean pushing harder — but letting go?When you hit a wall in your leadership or career, your instinct might be to fix it fast…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 207: Belonging Isn’t Earned—It’s Claimed 💥 The Leadership Gap No One Talks About
Do you ever feel like you’re in at the table —yet you still don’t belong? 🤔In this Ep. 207 of The Pausecast, we dive into a powerful leadership truth most…
The PausecastEp. 206: Emily Fletcher on Manifesting, Momentum & Meaningful Leadership
In this powerful episode 206 (Formerly Ep 37) of The Pausecast, Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and one of my mentors, invites you into a…
The Pausecast🎧 Ep. 205: Neurodivergence, Sensitivity & the Pause That Changed Everything
Ever feel like your brain works differently—faster, deeper, or just... more? You’re not alone. Over 30% of us are neurodivergent—and in this powerful episode…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 204: 🔥 The High Achiever’s Reset: 5 Micro-Pauses to Stay Sharp, Calm, and Clear
If you're constantly on—leading teams, hitting deadlines, and juggling priorities—this episode is for you. Because high demands in tech doesn’t have to mean…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 203: 3 Trends That Will Define Winning Tech Teams This Year
Recently I had the honor of leadingfour workshops — two in-person, two virtual — for innovative companies across fintech, wealth management, adtech, and…
The Pausecast🎙️ Ep. 201: VIP Dr. Rick Hanson - Resilient Leaders Aren’t Born—They’re Built
What if your next level of leadership isn’t about doing more—but rewiring how you respond under pressure? 🧠🔥In this powerful episode, I’m joined by one of my…
- The Pausecast
🎙️ Ep. 200: Stop Procrastinating - Start Leading
Still putting off the things that matter most - in 12 minutes you will learn exactly what to do.You’re not lazy—you’re caught in a loop your brain thinks is…
- The Pausecast
Ep. 199 🚀 Boldness & Humble Brags – Owning Your Story and Helping Others
We’re taught not to brag. To be humble. To downplay. But here’s the thing: if you don’t own your story, no one else will. 🤷🏽♀️In this episode, we cover:✅ what…
- The Pausecast
🎧 Ep. 198 PRACTICE — 🌬️ Reset Your Body, Calm Your Mind
Feeling wired, overwhelmed, or just not yourself lately? 😵💫This episode is a brief moment to pause, reset, and come back home — to your breath, your body, and…
The PausecastEp. 197: 🎙️ VIP Dr. Amishi Jha Train Your Brain to Stay Present
Ever wonder if you can actually train your brain to be more focused, present, and resilient—especially when the pressure’s on?In this standout re-airing of one…