Catalyst Conversations

Catalyst Conversations is a podcast for leaders, creators, and visionaries who know they’re here for more—but refuse to burn themselves out getting there. Hosted by Desi Bolin, founder of The Catalyst Collective™, this show explores what it really takes to build a business, career, and life that works with you , not against you. Each episode features honest, grounded conversations with entrepreneurs, speakers, change-makers, and behind-the-scenes leaders who are redefining success through clarity, structure, and soul-aligned growth. This is not hustle culture. This is not performative leadership. This is not surface-level motivation. Inside Catalyst Conversations, you’ll hear real stories, practical insights, and perspective-shifting dialogues around: Soul-aligned leadership and decision-making Building sustainable businesses without burnout Clarity, structure, and systems that actually support your life Identity shifts required for the next level of growth Navigating visibility, expansion, and impact with integrity Leading from alignment—not pressure, chaos, or obligation Whether you’re scaling a business, stepping into greater visibility, or recalibrating how you lead, Catalyst Conversations invites you into deeper conversations that spark transformation—not just inspiration. Because growth shouldn’t cost you your nervous system. And success should feel as good as it looks.

Catalyst Conversations is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 16 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Catalyst Conversations, a business show with 16 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #18

  Rewriting the Story — From Accumulated Weight to Intentional Joy with Jen Rigley

  Aug 19, 202643 minS1

  There’s a kind of weight we can carry for so long that we stop noticing how heavy it has become. Grief. Responsibility. Expectations. Loss. The pressure to keep going. The identity of being the strong one. None of it arrives all at once, but over years and decades, it accumulates. In this deeply human episode of Catalyst Conversations, I’m joined by Jen Rigley, speaker, author, and guide for women in midlife who are ready to rediscover happiness and imagine what might still be possible. Jen’s perspective comes from lived experience. After navigating profound loss, breast cancer, and years of unprocessed grief, she reached a moment when everything she had carried came rushing forward. That experience became part of her own healing journey and eventually shaped the work she now shares with other women. Together, we explore what Jen calls the “accumulated weight” of midlife—the experiences, responsibilities, relationships, losses, and identities we collect along the way. We talk about why women can mistake exhaustion for laziness or lack of motivation, what happens when being “the strong one” becomes part of our identity, and why healing isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen. It’s about learning to relate to it differently. Jen also shares her simple three-minute Daily Joy Practice built around stillness, gratitude, and intention. Instead of beginning the day with another to-do list, she invites us to consider our to-be list: How do I want to show up today? Perhaps most importantly, this conversation doesn’t ask you to transform your life overnight. It asks you to consider a possibility. What if the experiences that shaped you don’t have to define everything that comes next? If you’ve been wondering who you are beyond the roles you’ve held, the responsibilities you’ve carried, or the chapters you’ve survived, I hope you’ll join us for this conversation—and consider what part of your story you may be ready to rewrite. Connect with Jen Rigley: JenRigley.com Flourishing Over Fifty Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Connect with Desi Bolin: TalkWithDesi.com

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  Episode #17

  Expanding Capacity: Releasing the Past to Lead with Ease, Not Effort with Rachelle Nelson

  Aug 16, 202641 minS1

  What if the next level of your business doesn’t require you to push harder—but to create the internal capacity to hold what you’re asking for? In this episode of Catalyst Conversations, Desi Bolin sits down with Rachelle Nelson for a deeply human conversation about nervous system awareness, emotional patterns, visibility, success, and what it means to grow without constantly overriding yourself. Rachelle’s work was shaped by lived experience. After years of overworking, a frightening accident involving her husband became part of a season that brought her face-to-face with profound exhaustion and burnout. That experience changed the questions she was asking. Instead of only focusing on what she needed to do differently, she began paying attention to what her body might be communicating. That distinction runs throughout this conversation. Rachelle and Desi explore what happens when conscious beliefs and deeper patterns don’t seem to agree. You may genuinely want greater visibility, more income, stronger boundaries, or a bigger role—but still find yourself pulling back, overthinking, pushing too hard, people-pleasing, or freezing when it’s time to move. Rachelle shares how she sees fight, flight, freeze, functional freeze, and fawn responses appearing in everyday business decisions, from avoiding potential clients to struggling with visibility or being afraid to raise your prices. The invitation isn’t to judge those responses. It’s to become curious about them. They also explore an important distinction between temporarily regulating yourself and doing the deeper work of retraining long-held patterns. For Rachelle, sustainable growth isn’t about forcing yourself through resistance. It’s about creating enough internal safety to expand. Perhaps one of the most meaningful ideas in this conversation is that growth has seasons. Sometimes you need to hold a new level long enough for it to become familiar before reaching for another one. As Rachelle puts it, sometimes you have to slow down to speed up. Because when your capacity changes, your leadership changes too. If you’ve been doing all the “right” things and still feel yourself resisting the growth you say you want, this conversation offers another place to look. Listen, get curious, and ask yourself: What is my body holding that may be ready to be released? Connect with Rachelle: https://www.instagram.com/rachelle.rena/ https://justtheessentialsmom.com/ Explore Catalyst Conversations: https://talkwithdesi.com

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  Episode #16

  From Friction to Flow: Rebuilding Integrity in Your Work with Tony Tenaglier

  Aug 7, 202646 minS1

  Success doesn't always feel the way we expect it to. Sometimes the people who appear to have everything together are the ones quietly asking themselves the hardest questions. They're dependable. They're productive. They're checking every box. Yet somewhere beneath the accomplishments, something feels disconnected. In this episode of Catalyst Conversations, Desi sits down with Tony Tenaglier, author, engineer, yoga instructor, marathon runner, and host of Work Sucks But I Like It, to explore what happens when we stop chasing external success and start rebuilding integrity from the inside out. Drawing from his background in quality engineering, Tony shares the deceptively simple philosophy that has shaped both his career and his life: say what you do, do what you say. What began as a manufacturing principle evolved into a powerful framework for creating alignment between our values, our work, and the way we actually live. Together, Desi and Tony unpack why burnout isn't always caused by working too much. Often, it's created by living out of alignment with what we genuinely value. They explore the difference between drifting through work, grinding toward arbitrary milestones, and intentionally building a meaningful craft. Throughout the conversation, they discuss identity beyond job titles, the role of gratitude in combating comparison, why journaling helps develop honest internal dialogue, and how accountability becomes a source of personal freedom rather than self-criticism. Tony also introduces his "Friction to Flow" framework, explaining how balancing challenge and skill creates meaningful work while emphasizing that true performance requires both focused effort and intentional recovery. Rather than offering quick fixes, this conversation invites listeners to slow down, become present, and ask more honest questions. It reminds us that meaningful work isn't created through hustle alone. It's built through small, consistent decisions that reflect who we truly are. If you've been successful on paper but disconnected in practice, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on redefining work—not as something to endure, but as something worth building with integrity, intention, and authenticity. Listen in, reflect honestly, and discover how closing the gap between what you value and how you live can move you from friction to flow. Connect with Tony: https://www.worksucksbutilikeit.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-tenaglier-bb037510/ Connect with Desi: https://talkwithdesi.com

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  Episode #15

  The Power of Authentic Connection as a Leadership Strategy with Mario Brondani

  Jul 30, 202629 minS1

  Leadership isn't built by collecting more business cards or attending more networking events. It's built through genuine relationships rooted in trust, curiosity, and a sincere desire to help others. In this episode of Catalyst Conversations, Desi Bolin sits down with global connector Mario Brondani to explore what it really means to lead through authentic connection. Rather than viewing relationships as transactions, Mario shares why the most meaningful opportunities come from serving others first and creating alignment before seeking outcomes. Drawing from years in sales and his experience building relationships around the world, Mario explains how his journey evolved from simply meeting people to intentionally creating ecosystems where the right connections can flourish. He shares why the strongest leaders aren't necessarily the smartest people in the room—they're the ones who know how to bring the right people together. Together, Desi and Mario unpack the common mistakes people make when networking, why desperation often blocks meaningful relationships, and how shifting from "What can I get?" to "How can I contribute?" changes everything. They also discuss the importance of clarity in relationships, building systems that help nurture connections over time, and maintaining authenticity as your influence grows. Throughout the conversation, one message becomes unmistakably clear: authentic connection isn't about expanding your reach. It's about deepening your alignment. When your relationships are built on trust, generosity, and genuine curiosity, opportunities emerge naturally and leadership becomes far more human. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, business owner, or someone simply looking to build stronger relationships, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on creating sustainable growth through intentional connection. If you've ever wondered how meaningful relationships can become your greatest leadership advantage, this conversation will challenge the way you think about networking—and inspire you to connect with greater purpose. Connect with Mario: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariobrondani/ Connect with Desi: https://talkwithdesi.com

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  Episode #14

  Financial Clarity as Leadership: Rewriting Your Relationship with Money with Joanna Tress

  Jul 22, 202639 minS1

  Money is rarely just about money. For many of us, it’s tied to fear, identity, past experiences, and the stories we’ve carried for years. In this thoughtful conversation, Desi Bolin sits down with financial educator Joanna Tress to explore what happens when we stop viewing financial wellness as a numbers problem and begin seeing it as a leadership practice. Drawing from her own journey through financial hardship, single motherhood, self-doubt, and rebuilding her life, Joanna shares how transforming her relationship with money first required transforming her relationship with herself. She explains why financial education isn’t about becoming wealthy overnight. It’s about creating enough clarity and structure to make decisions from confidence instead of fear. Together, Desi and Joanna discuss the emotional side of financial planning, the hidden costs of consumer culture, and why so many people avoid conversations about money even when they know change is needed. They unpack how financial stability creates more than security. It creates options, healthier relationships, and the freedom to build a future intentionally rather than reactively. You’ll also hear practical insights on building sustainable financial habits, creating multiple income streams, preparing for retirement without panic, and why it’s never too late to begin making different financial decisions. Throughout the conversation, one message rises above everything else: financial leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about choosing awareness over avoidance, consistency over urgency, and alignment over fear. Whether you’re rebuilding after setbacks, preparing for retirement, growing a business, or simply looking for greater peace around your finances, this episode offers encouragement and practical wisdom to help you take the next step with confidence. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by money or believed you were too far behind to change your financial future, this conversation will remind you that clarity begins with one decision—and that decision can start today. Connect with Joanna Tress: Website and resources: https://linktr.ee/joannatress Instagram: https://instagram.com/joannatress?igshid=ZmZhODViOGI= YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRm-MyIuLBcLRajVur31r1A TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joannatress247 Continue the conversation with Desi: Book a conversation: https://talkwithdesi.com

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