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In this episode of the Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim explores observation as a defining skill shared by experts across disciplines, from leadership and parenting to aviation, medicine, and emergency response. Drawing on neuroscience and the OODA Loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act), Jenny shows how observation creates the critical pause between stimulus and response—and why our bias toward speed and certainty often causes us to miss what matters most.

You’ll learn the difference between true observation and judgment, how autopilot and stress distort perception, and what happens when observation is rushed, as seen in the Boeing 737 MAX crisis. Jenny also shares practical, evidence-informed ways to strengthen your observation muscle, including the 10% Slower Rule and separating data from story. Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, or navigating everyday decisions, this episode reveals how observing first leads to clearer orientation, better choices, and more aligned action.

Additional Resources:

National Research Council (2000). How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (Chapter 5). Read online

Stanford Medicine (2014). Expert pilots process multiple visual cues more efficiently. Read online

Hoffman, K. A., Aitken, L. M., & Duffield, C. (2009). Novice vs. expert nurses: How cue collection drives decision-making. PubMed

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As we head into a new year, many of us feel pressure to set goals and make resolutions—only to feel overwhelmed, resistant, or unsure where to start. In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, host Jenny Swim introduces a powerful but often overlooked precursor to goal setting: visioning.

Using relatable examples from everyday life—like building a home or creating with Legos—Jenny explains why having a clear vision or “blueprint” matters before committing to resolutions or measurable goals. She breaks down the difference between visioning, resolutions, and goals, explains when each tool is most helpful, and shares a neuroscience-informed framework you can use to design the future you actually want.

You’ll learn:

• Why goals and resolutions often fail without a clear vision
• When visioning is the right tool (especially during transitions or uncertainty)
• The neuroscience behind visualization and neural rehearsal
• A simple 3-step visioning model you can use right away
• How to move from vision → resolution → goals without burnout or pressure

Whether you’re navigating a new year, a career shift, a health reset, or a personal transition, this episode offers a calmer, more intelligent way forward.

Additional Resources:

https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/study-shows-1-in-5-successful-entrepreneurs-use-vision-boards-backed-by-neuroscience.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/03/29/a-psychologist-explains-the-power-of-vision-boarding-for-success

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What if simplifying your life isn’t about doing less—but about living more intentionally?

In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, host Jenny Swim is joined by Alish Anderson, a wife, mother of four, former teacher, and longtime practitioner of intentional living, to explore simplicity as a strategy—not a shortcut.

Together, they unpack how cutting the non-essential creates clarity, peace, and alignment in both leadership and family life. In a culture that equates busyness with worth, this conversation challenges the belief that doing more makes us more.

This episode is for parents, leaders, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by complexity, noise, and constant pressure to keep up.

Connect with Junto Coaching: https://www.juntocoaching.com/

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In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim explores the gift of pain—and why it remains one of our greatest teachers, even though we instinctively try to avoid it. Whether emotional, social, spiritual, or physical, pain often triggers familiar reactions: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.

Together, we’ll:

• Rethink our relationship with pain
• Recognize our automatic patterns
• Explore practical tools for relating with and moving through discomfort with greater intelligence and intention

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who might benefit from a gentler, more empowering way to understand and navigate their own experience with pain.

Additional Resources:

Salk Institute for Biological Studies. (2023, June 21). From injury to agony: Scientists discover brain pathway that turns pain into suffering. https://www.salk.edu/news-release/from-injury-to-agony-scientists-discover-brain-pathway-that-turns-pain-into-suffering/

Truman, K. K. (1989). Feelings buried alive never die. Bantam. https://a.co/d/i4GKjsL

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High performers are trained to push, optimize, stay sharp, and deliver. But what if your body is quietly deciding your timeline—and you’re fighting it without realizing it?

In this episode of The Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim and Dr. Cynthia Sumner break down why your body is often ahead of your mind, signaling emotional gaps, stress limits, and belief patterns long before you consciously notice them.

This episode explores:

• How physical symptoms can act as your body’s warning system
• The emotional “gap work” needed to move from where you are to where you want to be
• The key questions to ask when you aren't getting what you want
• How to partner with time instead of controlling or fighting it
• Real client stories demonstrating the power of pacing for long-term results

If you’re a leader, parent, or professional who often pushes past your body’s signals, this episode shows how trusting timing—and listening to your body—can help you achieve your goals more sustainably, intuitively, and effectively.

Connect with Dr. Cynthia Sumner at: www.cynthiasumner.net or on Instagram @thehealingfood

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One year ago, Come Home to You invited you to reconnect with yourself and your inner wisdom. Today, the journey evolves. In this milestone episode, Jenny Swim introduces The Real Intelligence Podcast and explores what real intelligence truly is—how we understand and move through the world.

We break down the three key elements of real intelligence: how we perceive ourselves, how we perceive the world, and the multi-dimensional intelligence channels that help us engage effectively between the two.

Whether you’re a returning listener or new here, this episode lays the foundation for why accessing your own real intelligence can expand—or limit—the possibilities in your life and leadership.

*Special thanks for design and rebrand help to Lexi at https://www.legacybranding.design/ and Christine at https://mindfulnessforlife.ca/

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Breakthroughs aren’t smooth — they’re messy, uncertain, and often feel like failure. But what if those moments of chaos are signs your system is reorganizing for something greater?

In this episode of Come Home to You, Jenny Swim unpacks the real science of breakthroughs — what neuroscience, nature, and even the CIA’s Aldrich Ames investigation reveal about transformation.

You’ll learn:

• The four predictable stages every breakthrough follows
• Why frustration and confusion are signs of progress, not failure
• How to reframe tension as intelligence reorganizing
• How leaders can stay clear and grounded in times of disruption

If you’re a leader, parent, or creator navigating change, this episode helps you recognize the signals of growth — and walk through your next breakthrough with wisdom and steadiness.

Additional Resources:

Special thanks to Arielle Groves for her "Disneyland" metaphor.

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Have you ever felt something was off but couldn’t name it? Maybe it’s tension at work, restlessness in a relationship, or an emotion you can’t quite identify. That’s the fog of awareness without the clarity that leads to action—and it can quietly drain your energy.

In this episode, we explore how the simple act of naming what’s really happening can spark powerful aha moments—turning vague awareness into focused action. You’ll discover:

• Why identifying what’s present releases energy, clarifies information, and connects you with the power of truth-telling
• How to use tools like Name It to Tame It and The Five Whys to uncover root causes
• How to practice identification without attaching it to your identity

Featuring the story of how Airbnb doubled bookings after identifying one overlooked problem, this episode shows how the practice of identification moves you out of fog and into focus—clearing the way for the results you want.

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