What happens when the person who is supposed to hold it all together is quietly falling apart?

In this episode, Greg and Whitney talk with John Neufeld, Executive Director at House of Friendship, about what it means to lead through heartbreak, show up for others in hard times, and stay grounded in purpose when life feels anything but stable.

John shares how his early experience as an immigrant — feeling like an outsider, like he didn’t belong — shaped everything that came next. It's what led him to a life of service and to building spaces where others feel seen, valued, and supported.

He opens up about the emotional toll of leadership during times of crisis, the weight we all carry, and the buffers that make resilience possible. Along the way, he shares the metaphors and mindsets that helped him find strength — like the idea of the backpack we all carry and how to keep moving forward even when it feels impossibly heavy.

In this conversation, John shares:

• How the “backpack” metaphor helped him carry loss without letting it weigh him down
• Why some people bounce back from adversity and others don’t — and the role that buffers play
• What it really means to belong and why it’s central to the work he does
• The 3 S’s that guide his leadership: Story, Strengths, and Spirit
• Why feeding your soul is not a luxury but a leadership essential

This one’s for anyone who’s been carrying something heavy, who’s felt alone in their grief, or who just needs to hear that they’re not the only one figuring it out as they go.

Every other Thursday, we talk to people who got UNBLOCKED. You'll hear stories about finding clarity, career paths, career pivots and living with intention. Our guests tell us how they realized something had to change, made bold moves, and built lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional. We’ll share some of our own stories too, because we’re right here, figuring it out like everyone else.

Links and Resources

House of Friendship

HoF - Donate Today

John’s LinkedIn

Farnam Street Blog

Seth Godin’s Blog

Chip & Dan Heath

In this deeply personal and powerful episode, we sit down with our long-time friend and leadership coach, Natalie Dumond. Natalie is a certified Dare to Lead facilitator, speaker, and the creator of The Worthy Project, a transformational coaching program for women.

Natalie shares how she walked away from a successful HR career to follow a calling she couldn’t ignore. A calling filled with courage, vulnerability, and a whole lot of uncertainty. We talk about what it really takes to leave the "safe" path, how to overcome the voice in your head that keeps you stuck, and why naming your shame is the first step in reclaiming your worth.

In this conversation, Natalie shares:

• What was behind her leap from corporate to coaching (and how a glowing door helped her decide)
• How she got quoted in Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and what it taught her
• What the “itty bitty shitty committee” is and how to stop it from running your life
• The role of self-talk, action, and intuition in getting unblocked
• A reminder that your personal story has the power to heal others BUT only if you show up and share it

This one’s for anyone who’s staring down a big decision, battling inner doubt, or ready to take the leap toward something that actually lights them up.

Every other Thursday, we talk to people who got UNBLOCKED. You'll hear stories about finding clarity, career paths, career pivots and living with intention. Our guests tell us how they realized something had to change, made bold moves, and built lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional. We’ll share some of our own stories, too, because we’re right here, figuring it out like everyone else.

Connect with Natalie

Natalie Dumond's Website

The Worthy Project

Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Natalie Dumond on LinkedIn

We’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us:

Subscribe to Vienna Five Newsletter

Waypoint Retreat

Vienna Waits on Instagram

Greg’s LinkedIn

Whitney’s LinkedIn

Every other Thursday, we talk to people who got UNBLOCKED. You'll hear stories about finding clarity, career paths, career pivots and living with intention. Our guests tell us how they realized something had to change, made bold moves, and built lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional. We’ll share some of our own stories, too, because we’re right here, figuring it out like everyone else.

In our very first guest episode of the UNBLOCK Yourself Podcast, we sit down with Bob Mathers. He is a keynote speaker, customer success coach, podcast host, and (self-proclaimed) part-time rock god.

Bob knows firsthand what it feels like to be blocked. He spent years living on autopilot, chasing success, and still feeling disconnected from what actually mattered.

It took a series of wake-up calls, from personal loss to getting sober to a terrifying health scare with his son, to shake him into living intentionally.

In this conversation, Bob shares:

• How "success" can sometimes hide deep disconnection
• The truth about sobriety, the good, the hard, and the surprising
• Why creativity and curiosity are critical tools for living with purpose
• How a personal crisis can become a catalyst for transformation
• One piece of advice we have not been able to stop thinking about

This is a real and raw conversation about what it takes to stop letting life happen to you and start living with intention, creativity, and heart.

If this conversation resonates, we'd love it if you'd subscribe, share with a friend, or leave a review to help more people get UNBLOCKED and start living and working with intention.

Links & Resources

The Growth Mixtape Podcast

Bob Mathers on LinkedIn

Morning Pages

Rick Rubin: The Creative Act

David Goggins: The Cookie Jar

We’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us:

Subscribe to Vienna Five Newsletter

Waypoint Retreat

Vienna Waits on Instagram

Greg’s LinkedIn

Whitney’s LinkedIn