You Might Try This
Leadership is complicated, especially when you’re figuring it out in real time. You Might Try This is a weekly podcast for people who want to lead well without , burning out, selling out, or pretending they have it all figured out. Hosted by executive coaches Stacey Philpot and Cade Cowan, the show brings decades of experience working with leaders at global brands like Nike, Google, Walmart, and Microsoft into honest, practical conversations about what leadership really looks like day to day. Each episode explores the messy, human side of work, from managing your first team and navigating power dynamics to bu...
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The Graceful Stumble: How to own what went wrong without letting it own you
<p>Leadership isn't about avoiding mistakes, it's about what happens after you make one. In today’s episode, Stacey and Cade explore why the moments after a leadership stumble can strengthen trust more than getting everything right the first time. Drawing on decades of research, they explain why leaders who own mistakes clearly, avoid defensiveness, and focus on what's next earn deeper credibility with their teams. You'll also learn the common traps leaders fall into after making mistakes and three practical exercises to help you recover well, build trust, and lead with greater confidence.</p><p></p><p>5 key takeaways</p>...
The Authority Illusion: Why the leaders with the most influence often have the least formal power
<p>Many new leaders assume that a title automatically gives them power, but they quickly discover that authority alone can only take them so far. In today’s episode, Stacey and Cade explore the difference between compliance and commitment, drawing on classic leadership research and real-world examples. They discuss why title-based authority often erodes over time, how influence is built through trust and relationships, and the hidden “currencies” that help leaders gain buy-in without relying on hierarchy.</p><p></p><p>Key takeaways:</p>Titles create compliance, but influence creates commitmentAuthority is a limited resourceThe most powerful forms of influence are ea...
The Chemistry Problem: Why stress and burnout aren’t mindset problems
<p>Welcome back! </p><p>In today’s episode, Stacey and Cade speak with executive coach and performance expert Jenny Evans about why stress and burnout are not just mindset problems, but deeply rooted in biology and chemistry.</p><p>Jenny explains how chronic stress triggers automatic chemical responses in the body that reduce access to the prefrontal cortex, shifting decision-making toward reactive, survival-based thinking. The conversation explores why traditional advice like “manage your mindset” only addresses symptoms, not root causes.</p><p></p><p>Key takeaways: </p>Stress is primarily a physiological and chemical process, not just a mindset issueD...
The Slow Drain: The early signals of burnout that high performers miss every time
<p>Welcome back!</p><p>In this episode, Cade and Stacey explore the hidden burnout signals that leaders and high performers often miss until it’s too late. Drawing on the original research of psychologist Herbert Freudenberger and burnout expert Christina Maslach, they unpack why burnout is rarely about laziness or lack of commitment. In fact, the people most at risk are often the ones who care the most, work the hardest, and continue producing results long after they’ve started emotionally checking out.</p><p></p><p>Key Takeaways:</p>Burnout was originally identified in highly committed, high-performing people, not...
The Silence Tax: Why psychological safety isn't soft—it's the operating system your team runs on
<p>Psychological safety shapes team performance more than talent alone. In this episode of You Might Try This, Stacey and Cade unpack the real meaning of psychological safety and why most organizations misunderstand it. </p><p>They discuss the hidden cost of silence in organizations, how leaders accidentally shut down dissent, and why “nice” teams often make worse decisions. Stacey and Cade also share practical leadership experiments for creating environments where people feel safe enough to challenge ideas, admit mistakes, and raise concerns before problems escalate.</p><p></p><p>What You’ll Learn:</p><p>• Why the highest-performing teams report m...
The Pressure Decision: How to think clearly when the stakes are high and the clock is running
<p>When the pressure is on and the clock is ticking, most leaders don’t rise to the level of their best thinking, they fall back on instinct. In this episode of You Might Try This, Cade Cowan and Stacey Philpot break down what actually happens in high-stakes decision-making moments, and why even experienced leaders can make poor calls under pressure.</p><p></p><p>What You’ll Learn:</p><p>• why pressure causes even smart leaders to make worse decisions</p><p>• how your brain’s “system one” thinking takes over under stress</p><p>• the difference between one-way and two-way deci...
The Boss Equation: How to build the most important relationship in your career without losing your integrity
<p>Managing up can feel uncomfortable, but avoiding it can quietly stall your career. In this episode of You Might Try This, hosts Stacey Philpot and Cade Cowan unpack why your relationship with your boss is the most important one at work. They explore the hidden risks of being “invisibly excellent” or overly agreeable, and why both approaches can limit your impact. Stacey and Cade reframe managing up as a mutual responsibility and share practical ways to build trust, increase visibility, and stay aligned. </p><p></p><p>If you’ve ever felt overlooked or misunderstood, this episode offers a more i...
The Conflict Reflex: Why your default response to tension is working against you—and what to do instead.
<p>Why do we still avoid difficult conversations, even when we know the cost? In this episode, Stacey Philpot and Cade Cowan explore the hidden reflexes driving conflict avoidance and escalation at work. Drawing on neuroscience and behavioral research, they explain how our brains interpret social conflict as physical pain, triggering automatic responses like silence or aggression. The discussion goes beyond awareness to offer practical ways to get “upstream” of these reactions by identifying what you’re protecting, whether it’s your relationships, self-image, or sense of control.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p>Avoidance is often a reflex, not a choice...
The Courage Tax: What you pay every time you delay the conversation that needs to happen
<p>Why do difficult conversations feel so much harder the longer we avoid them? In this episode, Stacey and Cade unpack the hidden “taxes” leaders pay when they delay hard conversations at work; from damaged relationships and declining performance to mental overload and unnecessary anxiety. They explore why silence often costs more than honesty. The conversation offers practical tools for leaders, including how to start difficult conversations, avoid climbing the ladder of inference, and use curiosity instead of judgment. </p><p>Takeaways</p>Avoidance has real costsSilence is often misinterpretedThe story in your head is usually worse than realityStart with obse...
The Good Soldier Trap: Why being dependable can become a liability with LaToya Jordan
<p>In this episode of You Might Try This, Stacey Philpot and Cade Cowan welcome Executive Coach and She Leads and Succeeds host LaToya Jordan for a powerful conversation about the “good soldier” trap: the career pattern where being dependable, helpful, and highly capable can quietly limit long-term growth.</p><p>Together, they unpack how high-performing professionals, especially women, can become boxed in by their own excellence as executors, fixers, and problem-solvers. From “office housework” to low-visibility, high-effort tasks, the episode explores why saying yes too often can keep leaders stuck in support roles rather than strategic ones.</p><p>Takeaway...
