Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney

Let's face it, life is uncomfortable. Whether it's interacting with other humans (or trying to), going after our goals and improving our lives, or understanding other people's perspectives, preferences and proclivities, being able to face the discomforts in life with courage, compassion, confidence and resilience will make life a lot more enjoyable! So join me as we DANCE IN THE DISCOMFORT ZONE! We'll explore new ideas, learn how to build our confidence, courage and resilience, and laugh a little too, because life is serious enough. We need a little cha cha, and a little ha ha every once in a while! Welcome to the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney!

Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney is a education podcast hosted by Anne Bonney, with 400 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.

Anne Bonney hosts Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney, a education show with 400 episodes published.

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  Episode #401

  What Will They Say? Breaking the Rules We Inherited

  Aug 17, 202630 minS18

  What if some of the rules running your life aren’t actually yours? **WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YouTube: https://youtu.be/ty1VIuHSMDY Award-winning filmmaker, keynote speaker, and author Denise Soler Cox (https://denisesolercox.com/) returns to Dance in the Discomfort Zone with her new book, What Will They Say? , an exploration of the cultural taboos, inherited expectations, and unspoken rules that shape how we live, lead, belong and sometimes hold ourselves back. ** BUY THE BOOK NOW: https://denisesolercox.com/book The book was born after touring with her documentary Being Ñ . After viewing the film, people repeatedly approached her and revealed secrets they’d never told anyone and dreams they were afraid to go after. Denise began noticing a pattern: underneath many of those stories was the same powerful fear... what will people say? While Denise writes through the lens of her Latino perspective, this conversation is wildly universal. Because every culture, family, workplace, and community has rules that encourages hiding things from others to "save face". The fun begins when we start asking whether we still want to follow them. We get into: The surprising “line” that inspired an entire book A cultural phrase that can quietly follow you into your career and life The deeply personal taboo Denise almost didn’t write about What an AP Physics lesson unexpectedly reveals about emotional healing Why breaking a generational cycle may be much simpler than we think More from Denise: https://denisesolercox.com/ https://www.instagram.com/denisesolercox/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisesolercox/ Denise's original appearance here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-182-denise-soler-cox-film-maker-and-expert-in/id1444223443?i=1000560093054 Denise Soler Cox is a cultural excavator — award-winning filmmaker, keynote speaker, and author who goes inside the cultures that shape how we lead, belong, and who we become. Her debut book ¿Qué Dirán? / What Will They Say? (Simon & Schuster, August 2026) uncovers the ten inherited rules keeping us shrinking and shows us how to stop. She’s spoken on 400+ stages, including two TEDx talks, and her podcast The Self-ish Latina has listeners in 32 countries. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

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  Episode #400

  Stop Trying to Solve Your Life (Start Discovering It) | Dr. Kelsey Miles

  Aug 10, 202650 minS18

  Have you ever worked your butt off to build the life you thought you wanted...only to get there and think, "...Wait. Is this it?" Dr. Kelsey Miles (https://www.drkelseymiles.com) knows that feeling firsthand. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/K83AKk4gm7k After earning a PhD in chemistry, she walked away from the career she'd spent years building to become a touring blues musician. Today, she's somehow both and she's discovered that science and creativity aren't opposites at all. In this fascinating conversation, we explore why so many of us treat life like a problem to solve instead of an experiment to run, how curiosity beats certainty, and why the scientific method might be one of the best tools for navigating change, uncertainty, and personal growth. If you've ever felt stuck, questioned your path, or wondered whether you're becoming the person you actually want to be, this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00 Dancing in the Discomfort Zone 03:10 From Chemistry to Music: A Journey of Self-Discovery 05:48 The Power of Music in Healing 08:57 Finding Common Ground Through Music 11:54 The Intersection of Science and Art 15:04 Embracing Change and New Opportunities 23:10 Redefining Success and Personal Discovery 30:09 Embracing Change and Continuous Growth 37:04 Navigating Discomfort and Life's Challenges 44:59 The Science of Experimentation in Life Want more from Dr Kelsey? https://www.drkelseymiles.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamkelseymiles https://www.youtube.com/@iamkelseymiles https://www.instagram.com/iamkelseymiles https://www.facebook.com/iamkelseymiles Dr. Kelsey Miles invites audiences to stop treating life like a problem to solve and start approaching it as something to discover. Through live science and live music, she shows people how to read the signal, cut through the noise, and make decisions that feel more aligned with who they are becoming. She is the 2026 Professor of the Year at Avila University in Kansas City. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

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  Episode #399

  Can a Fake Self-Help Book Actually Change Your Life? | Scott Bloom

  Aug 3, 202635 minS18

  Scott Bloom ( scottbloomconnects.com ) did something completely ridiculous... He wrote a parody of every productivity, morning routine, and self-help book you've ever rolled your eyes at...and somehow ended up creating a book that might actually change your life. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/NEiprfC1axA In this episode, comedian, keynote speaker, author and generally hilarious human Scott Bloom shares the unbelievable story behind Atomic Morning Miracle, including how he convinced Scott Bakula (yes... THE Scott Bakula from Quantum Leap and Star Trek ) to become part of the project after writing the entire book before ever hearing "yes." Along the way, we dive into synchronicity, creativity, spirituality, humor, quantum thinking, and why laughter might be one of the best ways to lower our defenses enough to actually grow. Whether you're obsessed with personal development or allergic to self-help books, this conversation will make you laugh, make you think, and probably make you question a few assumptions you've been carrying around. In this episode we explore: • Why Scott wrote a parody of today's productivity culture • The wild and amazing true story of landing Scott Bakula for the book • How synchronicity can open doors you never planned for • Why humor helps us learn difficult lessons • The difference between happiness and joy • Letting go of outcomes without giving up ambition • Why being present creates more opportunities than forcing success If you've ever wondered whether the universe has a sense of humor...this episode just might convince you it does, and that it's 100% on our side. 00:00 Introduction to Scott Bloom and His Work 03:11 The Concept Behind Atomic Morning Miracles 05:54 The Journey to Collaborate with Scott Bakula 09:11 The Role of Humor in Self-Help 12:03 Exploring Synchronicity and Life Lessons 19:00 The Launch and Synchronicity of Events 23:43 Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth 27:04 Reframing Life's Challenges 29:59 Exploring Alien Theories and Interdimensional Beings 33:55 Finding Joy in the Present Moment Want more from Scott? scottbloomconnects.com Veteran comedian, television personality and highly-respected professional emcee and keynote speaker, Scott has built a reputation as the go-to choice for business humor having hosted hundreds of events over two decades for companies such as FedEx, Ford, IBM, MetLife, PepsiCo, Pfizer and Verizon . He’s been featured on Comedy Central, has hosted his own weekly VH1 series as well as national simulcasts for the Grammy Awards from the Palace Theatre. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

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  Episode #398

  Finding Your Voice in a World Full of Noise | July Wrap-Up

  Jul 31, 202613 minS18

  July was Voice Month on Dancing in the Discomfort Zone , and what started as four completely different conversations turned out to have one beautiful common thread: Your voice is how people experience you, and especially today...that matters! As Anne (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com) celebrates another trip around the sun (Happy Birthday Anne!), she reflects on the lessons shared by John Di Domenico, Joshua Seth, Hilary Blair, and Beth Z and explores why our voices matter now more than ever. In a world filled with AI, deepfakes, curated social media personas, and constant noise, authenticity has become one of our greatest superpowers. In This Episode, We Talk About: Why your voice is far more than just the sound coming out of your mouth How authenticity and human connection are becoming more valuable in the age of AI The ways your voice builds trust, relationships, and influence Why intentional communication matters more than being louder How to think about the "flowers" you're leaving in your footsteps Questions to Consider How do people experience you? Are you using your voice intentionally? What stories are you telling? What truths are you willing to speak? What kind of ripples are you creating? As Anne enters her 52nd year, she offers a powerful reminder: Maybe the goal isn't to be louder or more impressive. Maybe it's simply to use the voice we've been given to leave people feeling seen, heard, and a little bit better for having crossed our path. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

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  Episode #396

  Your Voice Is Betraying You (And You Don't Even Know It) | Hilary Blair

  Jul 20, 202648 minS18

  What if the biggest thing affecting your relationships, leadership, and communication isn't what you're saying...but how you're breathing ? In this episode, Anne sits down with speaker, facilitator, and communication expert Hilary Blair (hilaryblairspeaks.com), creator of the Fruitful Friction® framework , to explore the surprising connection between breath, voice, trust, and human connection. Drawing from decades in theater and corporate leadership development, Hilary reveals why your voice is a giant "poker tell" and how small shifts in breath and awareness can dramatically change the way people experience you. If you've ever struggled with difficult conversations, workplace conflict, executive presence, or feeling truly heard, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. In This Episode, We Talk About: Why your voice communicates trust before you even speak the words How breath affects confidence, connection, and emotional regulation The difference between being vulnerable and being available Why "take a deep breath" may be terrible advice...and what to do instead How tone, vowels, consonants, and vocal habits influence relationships Want more from Hilary? HilaryBlairSpeaks.com ArticulateRC.com Hilary Blair is a dynamic speaker, facilitator and CEO of ARTiculate: Real&Clear. She’s the creator of Fruitful Friction®, a framework redefining tension as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and trust. Blending her background as a professional actor with deep expertise in communication and executive presence, Hilary helps leaders stay in conversation when it matters most. Her work equips teams to engage authentically, communicate clearly, and use friction to gain traction for growth. Anne Bonney is a keynote speaker and emcee who helps organizations lead through change by building resilience, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication.

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