Ep. 99, Urgency Addiction Is Not a Superpower, Joyosity™ Summer Sip
You can’t lead if you’re burned out and brittle. In this episode, Jenn and Shelby revisit their powerful conversation with leadership expert Jo Saxton. As the world shifts and the demands on leaders intensify, Jo drops a truth bomb we all need: stop playing checkers in a chess world. And in a leadership crisis like this one, playing the long game means starting with yourself. They unpack why leaders who sacrifice themselves for the cause end up helping no one, and how asking “What is mine to do?” becomes a compass when the world feels too heavy. Jo challenges leaders to show up centered, not strung out — to lead with calm resilience rather than urgency addiction. This is your invitation to recalibrate and reclaim your own leadership energy.
Key Takeaway
Joyful leadership starts with knowing what’s yours to carry — and what isn’t.
Guest: Jo Saxton
Jo Saxton is a leadership expert, speaker, author, and podcast host known for helping women and organizations lead with strength and clarity. She’s spoken on stages around the world and teaches at the university level, blending practical wisdom with empowering encouragement. Subscribe to her Lead Stories Podcast or grab her book to keep the fire lit.
Host: Jenn Whitmer
Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces. Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose. Her upcoming book, Joyosity, hits shelves on October 21, 2025, offering leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results.
Co-Host: Shelby Merryweather
Shelby produces many live streaming shows and podcasts, including Joyosity™ ™. She is also founder and CEO of Sunshine Lane, where she helps creative entrepreneurs lead with clarity and calm. Connect with Shelby at shelbymerryweather.com.
Pour Yourself a Full Glass:
March 2025 Episodes
- Episode 79: The Leadership Crisis No One Is Talking About ****
- Episode 80: Holding It Together: Leading Through Uncertainty with Jo Saxton
- Episode 81: The Leadership Crisis Is Real. Joy Is the Answer with Jo Saxton
- Episode 82: ICYMI: Joy at Work and Storytelling with Jenn and Shelby
Grab Jo’s latest book, Ready to Rise.
Joyosity Book Coming this Fall:
Join the Joyosity™ Works Very Important Party and get:
- Early sneak peeks of the book with real tools to help you in your life, your work, and in your leadership.
- An exclusive chance to shape this message, including cover art, and help other leaders create positive culture with complex people.
- Behind-the-scenes updates and bonuses.
Get in here: Joyosity: How to Cultivate Intense Happiness in Work & Life jennwhitmer.com/books
Resources & Links:
Free 99 Steps: Why Do I Keep Doing This? Enneagram Motivations. You’re not broken. You’re just being run by a well-meaning but slightly unhinged internal script. Meet the five motivations behind your leadership quirks and learn how to flip the script with this quick guide. Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan: Joyosity™ Jumpstart Get crystal clear on what you want, what’s in the way, and what’s actually working. In this powerful strategy session, we’ll use the Joyosity™ Compass to name your roadblocks and map a leadership plan you can actually follow. No fluff, just traction. Schedule your session here. Starting the Journey: Enneagram Navigator Tired of trying to figure out your Enneagram type from freebie quizzes that leave you more confused than a group text with no context? In this 1:1 session, I’ll help you decode your motivations and blind spots so you can finally lead (and live) with clarity, not guesswork. Book your Navigator session here. Ready to Dive In: Joyosity™ Intensive What if you could clear the fog, realign with your values, and build a practical plan for joyful leadership — in just one transformative day? This personalized experience combines deep self-awareness, strategic clarity, and honest-to-goodness joy to help you lead with purpose and still like your life. Start the process here. A Party for More: Book Jenn to Speak When your whole team needs the spark — not just the spark notes — I bring the energy, expertise, and real talk that shifts culture. With contagious joy, practical tools, and plenty of laughter, I help leaders connect, communicate, and make
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