Guest: Renée Robson
Website: traumainformedleadershipandlearning.com
Instagram: @reneerobson

In this powerful episode of Amplify Your Signal, Nicole sits down with her longtime friend Renée Robson to explore the hidden toll of chronic stress and trauma in the workplace—and how leaders can respond with care, authenticity, and intention.

Renée shares her courageous journey from a career in HR and organizational leadership to becoming a trauma-informed educator and consultant. Together, they unpack the physical and emotional impact of sustained stress, why breath is your nervous system’s best ally, and how organizations can either heal—or harm—the people within them.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, overwhelmed, or unsure whether your workplace values your wellbeing, this conversation is for you.

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 01:20 – Renee's Journey from HR to Trauma-Informed Leadership
• 04:00 – Understanding Stress Responses and Trauma
• 05:37 – Chronic Stress Impacts 50% of the Working Population
• 07:44 – The Principles of Trauma-Informed Leadership
• 12:32 – Responding vs. Reacting in Stressful Situations
• 15:05 – The Hidden Costs of Stress in the Workplace
• 17:46 – Normalizing Mental Health Support in Organizations
• 24:44 – Message to Those Feeling Stuck, Overwhelmed, Unseen
• 26:52 – Final Thoughts on Mental Health and Self-Care
• 28:21 – Green Flags for Healthy & Supportive Leadership
• 30:05 – Where Does the Organization Spend Its Money?
• 30:23 – Connecting with Renee
• 31:44 – Words of Encouragement

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Instagram

If this episode resonated with you, please consider subscribing, rating, or sharing with a friend who might need it. Your signal matters—and we’re here to help you amplify it.

Join us next time as we amplify voices, elevate stories, and support each other… one episode at a time.

June 1st is National Cancer Survivors Day, and in this heartfelt episode of Amplify Your Signal, host Nicole Roberts—a breast cancer survivor herself—shares what it really means to support someone through and after cancer.

This episode explores:

• 🎗️ What the journey of survivorship looks and feels like
• 💼 How to be an ally to cancer survivors in the workplace
• 🔄 What to consider when survivors are in career transition
• 🗣️ What survivors truly want you to know
• 🤝 How you can start being a better ally today

Whether you’re a leader, coworker, recruiter, or friend, this episode will help you show up with empathy, dignity, and respect.

💡 Call to Action:
If you know a survivor, reach out.
If you lead a team, examine how your culture supports health and healing.
And if you are a survivor, please know: You are more than your diagnosis.

Join us as we amplify voices, elevate stories, and support one another… one episode at a time.

Hosted by Nicole Roberts, Founder of People Solutions Group

#AmplifyYourSignal #CancerSurvivorsDay #Allyship #Resilience #CareerTransition #WorkplaceSupport #PeopleSolutionsGroup #HRCommunity

Key Takeaways:

• Larry’s Journey: From aspiring rockstar to recruiter, Larry shares his unique career path and how he transitioned into recruiting.
• Job Search Strategy: Larry discusses the three key things he looks for in a job opportunity and how it guides his decision-making.
• Behavioral Interview Training: Larry explains why it's crucial for both candidates and hiring managers to master the STAR interview method.
• Hiring System Challenges: Common issues in hiring systems and Larry’s approach to fixing them.
• Networking: The power of networking in the job search and how Larry’s community helps him find opportunities.

Show Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Amplify Your Signal
• 01:44 - Larry Anderson's Journey from Rockstar to Recruiter
• 05:49 - Key Factors in Job Opportunities
• 07:51 - The Importance of Behavioral Interview Training
• 14:41 - Common Issues in Hiring Systems
• 17:35 - Navigating the 'Tell Me About Yourself' Question
• 20:53 - Using GenAI to Prepare
• 23:26 - Soft Skills Should Be Inferred
• 24:23 - Impactful Mentors in Larry's Career
• 26:28 - Resources for Continuous Learning
• 27:40 - Meeting Milo
• 28:40 - How We Can Help Larry
• 30:16 - Networking and Paying It Forward

Resources and People Mentioned:

• Alex Daniels
• Emily Forbes
• Trent Cotton
• Brian Fink
• Shannon Pritchett
• Dan Harten
• David Marr
• Aaron Lintz
• Atlanta Recruiter Community Meetup

Connect with Larry:

• Larry Anderson - LinkedIn

Episode 3 -- Navigating Career Transitions with Stephanie Hancock: HR Leadership and People-First Practices

In this episode, Nicole Roberts is joined by the incredible Stephanie Hancock, an experienced HR leader and coach. They discuss career transitions, the importance of people-first leadership, and how HR professionals can foster innovation and create a psychologically safe work environment. Stephanie reflects on her career journey, shares lessons from layoffs, and offers advice on building strong teams and effective succession planning.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Stephanie’s HR Career Journey: From nonprofit to e-commerce and beyond.
• Career Transitions: Lessons learned from layoffs and leadership challenges.
• Building a People-First Leadership Style: Emotional intelligence and active listening in leadership.
• Succession Planning: Why it’s crucial for HR professionals to develop strong talent pipelines.
• Advice for HR Leaders: Tips for leveling up in your HR career.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Hidden Brain by Shankar Vedantam
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Podcast Recommendation:

• The Unusual Suspects with Malcolm Gladwell and Kenya Barris

Connect with Stephanie Hancock:

• Stephanie Hancock on LinkedIn

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Amplify Your Signal on your favorite podcast platform! Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue to bring you valuable conversations on leadership, career transitions, and personal growth.

Thank you for tuning in!

Episode 2: Navigating Career Transitions with Mark Fagan

Welcome to another episode of Amplify Your Signal, the podcast where we go beyond the resume to elevate the stories and experiences of professionals navigating the job market. In this episode, host Nicole Roberts is joined by Mark Fagan, an experienced engineer and leader in product development and innovation.

Mark shares his journey from chemical engineering to embracing AI and emotional intelligence in technical roles. He also discusses the importance of company culture, how AI is reshaping industries like medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and how emotional intelligence can make a significant difference in leadership and team dynamics.

Key Takeaways:

• Embracing continuous learning, including diving into AI certifications.

• The importance of company culture and innovation in shaping a fulfilling career.

• How emotional intelligence and strong team dynamics play crucial roles in success.

• The power of recognition, feedback, and building trust within teams.

• Mark's perspective on managing high-pressure situations in product development, especially in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Resources:

• Nailed It by Matthew Marvin: Buy on Amazon

• Prey Series by John Sandford: Buy on Amazon

Connect with Mark:

• Mark's LinkedIn: Mark Fagan LinkedIn

Remember to subscribe, rate, and review to amplify the voices of job seekers and professionals in transition!

Join us next time as we continue to amplify voices, elevate stories, and support each other…one episode at a time.

The Power of 'Why' in Decision Making | Amplify Your Signal

In this clip from Amplify Your Signal, Jamie Amis discusses the importance of the "why" behind every decision in HR and leadership. Understanding the reasoning behind decisions not only builds trust but also helps align teams and create lasting impact.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The power of clear communication when making decisions

• Why explaining the "why" can turn skeptics into supporters

• How transparency fosters a more engaged and unified team

Tune in to learn how you can implement this powerful approach in your own leadership and decision-making processes.

#DecisionMaking #HRLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TransparentLeadership #TrustInLeadership #PeopleStrategy #HRCommunity #CommunicationInHR #LeadershipTips #EmployeeEngagement #PeopleFirstCulture #AmplifyYourSignal