Best Folded Wing Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 376: The End is Neigh, an Insider's End-of-Year Panel 34:22

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7d ago34:22

34:22

Well folks, it's the last pod of 2025. What do journalists make of this wild year? From Trump's inauguration to Wu's re-election, from grant funding cuts to transparency rules, its truly Beacon Hill versus everyone and everything. Steve and Jenn are joined by both Sam Dysdale of Statehouse News Service, and Katie Lannan of GBH News, for an end-of-y…

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Episode 375: Them's Crighton Words 33:57

18d ago33:57

33:57

In November, Senator Crighton made headlines for suggesting that 'congestion pricing' could help the MBTA's impending financial troubles. This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve sit down with Crighton, who co-chairs the Legislature’s transportation committee, to discuss the ways out of the "stable crisis" that is Mass. transportation (horse pun…

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Lead Without Leaving People Behind: The Leadership Skill No One Talks About 1:17:04

21d ago1:17:04

1:17:04

Send us a text What if the missing piece in your leadership isn’t a sharper plan, but a softer heart? We dig into the real work of guiding teams with a clear compass and true compassion—so your vision moves forward without leaving people behind. This conversation unpacks the “caterpillar to butterfly” journey for ministers and ministry teams, showi…

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Episode 374: High Stakes Testing: Well Done or Rare? 29:16

25d ago29:16

29:16

This week on The Horse Race, Rep. Ayanna Presley is officially not joining the horse race for Senate. Then, Jenn and Steve are joined by ⁠Sam Drysdale⁠, reporter with the State House News Service, to zoom in on Healey's newly announced guidelines for high school graduation - kids may face new tests, new requirements, but "lower stakes." And finally…

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The Courage to Stop A New Chapter in Leadership and Life 16:04

1M ago16:04

16:04

What if the bravest act of leadership is knowing when it's time to pause? In this deeply personal episode, Kris invites listeners into the raw, honest crossroads she's currently navigating—one marked by completion, uncertainty, and a longing for deeper, more human connection. After nearly 400 episodes, thousands of hours of recording, and decades s…

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Episode 373: Rant Control 36:27

1M ago36:27

36:27

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve discuss the upcoming ballot questions on rent control. Then they look at new polling which suggests that Trump's grip on congressional republicans may be loosening. And finally, the Michelin Man rolls into Boston's finest eateries. "They're Making a Huge Bet": Rent Control Referendum Splits Progressives C…

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Butterfly Leadership: The Art of Inspirational Leadership 1:12:35

1M ago1:12:35

1:12:35

Send us a text What if the missing piece in your leadership isn’t another system, but a spark? We dig into the second “wing” of butterfly leadership—how to inspire people from the inside so your team moves from motion to momentum and from pressure to passion. If you’ve ever said, “People aren’t consistent” or “It’s hard to find good help,” this con…

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Before You Hold Anyone Accountable, Start Here 20:17

1M ago20:17

20:17

We love the idea of accountability—until it gets uncomfortable. Until it requires us to tell the truth and stop making excuses for what we've been tolerating. In this powerful episode, Kris Plachy explores the deep connection between accountability, self-trust, and personal agency—and why even the most successful women can find themselves over-tole…

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Episode 372: The Center Folds 34:20

2M ago34:20

34:20

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn sit down face-to-face, #reunited. The centrist dems negotiated a deal to end the government shutdown. Steve discusses Trump's abysmal approval numbers. Jenn does not NOT talk about judicial forum shopping, and there is zero discussion about "Donkey's of Exceptional Cuteness" in this episode...…

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Why Play Belongs in Leadership 14:00

2M ago14:00

14:00

In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine®, Kris speaks straight to the hearts of high-achieving women who are carrying so much—the businesses they run, the households they manage, the people they care for, and the decisions they make every hour of the day. Kris argues that successful women don't just deserve joy. They require it. After year…

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Episode 371: The GOP Bites the Ballot 39:44

2M ago39:44

39:44

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve are joined by Rich Parr, VP of The MassINC Polling Group for an in depth discussion about the elections on Tuesday. Dems had a big night, winning seats across the country. What does this spell for Trump 2.0? What trends do the voting stats reveal?https://boltsmag.org/https://www.umass.edu/political-scienc…

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Caterpillar to Butterfly Leadership: Wisdom Before Wings 1:19:30

2M ago1:19:30

1:19:30

Send us a text In this episode, Pastor Dowell sits down with Pastor Cornelius for a candid and insightful conversation about leadership maturity—why some ministers soar in their gift yet stall in their growth. Together, they explore what it truly means to move from crawling to flying by developing the first essential wing of leadership: wisdom. Thi…

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The Real Cost of Avoiding Accountability 21:53

2M ago21:53

21:53

Kris is back with another round of the pet sitting saga—but this time, it's about more than just unreliable pet sitters. It's a story about accountability, boundaries, and leadership. Through a string of mishaps (and three fired sitters), Kris explores how these small, personal frustrations mirror the much larger issue of how we manage people in ou…

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Episode 370: BOO!-nicipal Elections 34:36

2M ago34:36

34:36

This week on The (headless) Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk about a new SSRS exit poll that will be featured in upcoming elections. Then, in this weeks "mayoral roundup," several key races feature uncharacteristically shaky incumbents. And finally, the Halloween candy polling data you've all been craving.…

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The Power of Discomfort in Developing Real Leaders 31:14

2M ago31:14

31:14

This week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy and her Director of Operations, Michelle Arant, sit down for an unscripted conversation that captures leadership in its most human form. What started as a casual team discussion turned into a powerful reflection on how we handle discomfort, accountability, and growth — both in business and in life. T…

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Episode 369: Poll-dozing the East Wing 27:59

2M ago27:59

27:59

This week on The Horse Race, before Steve zooms into the distance on a Kenyan motorbike with the crown jewels of France, he chats with Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group, about approval ratings for governor Maura Healey, polling on the “No Kings” protests, and opinions on the new ballroom construction.…

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Brainkeeping: The Leadership Practice You Didn't Know You Needed 18:13

2M ago18:13

18:13

What if your mind needed the same care as your home? In this episode, Kris introduces the concept of brainkeeping—a leadership practice as vital as housekeeping. Just as we tidy our physical spaces, our mental and emotional spaces require regular clearing, reflection, and renewal. Kris shares how her lifelong curiosity and deep conversations with f…

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Episode 368: Seth rides a pale horse 29:53

2M ago29:53

29:53

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn is joined by Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group. Shortly before taping, Rep. Seth Moulton joined the race for Senate against Ed Markey. Then Jenn and Rich talk about the issues with political violence polling and how those issues can skew the data in favor of violence. And finally, Trump's thoughts on the W…

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Stop Wing-ing It: Make Your Business an Asset (Not a Job) 21:56

2M ago21:56

21:56

As we head into the final quarter of the year, Kris invites you to shift your focus—from running the business to owning the business. She challenges high-achieving female founders to stop operating on autopilot and start thinking like the visionary asset holders they are. Too many women spend years building companies without ever asking the most im…

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Episode 367: Permanent Markey 44:42

3M ago44:42

44:42

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn look at polling on Ed Markey's 2026 reelection prospects. Then Jenn is joined by Rich Parr, VP of The MassINC Polling Group, to discuss recent polling on Massachusetts' competitiveness and Boston housing. And finally, vital polling from none other than the Hi-Chew candy company on which state is most exci…

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Tactical Advice Won't Save You, But Self-Trust Will 15:50

3M ago15:50

15:50

What does it feel like to finally stop overworking, over-explaining, and over-proving—and instead lead from a place of grounded confidence? In this episode, Kris shows us what life and leadership look like when self-trust and self-worth are fully integrated. She shares the story of a client who went from being minimized by her partners to running a…

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Episode 366: A Shutdown Showdown (ft. Chris Lisinski) 32:22

3M ago32:22

32:22

Today on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk AI's new role in local political reporting. Then Chris Lisinski, reporter for Commonwealth Beacon, joins the program to discuss his latest reporting on the effects of budgetary uncertainty on healthcare for residents of Mass. And finally, dial-up internet is now, officially, a thing of the past.…

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Success Won't Fix Your Worthiness Problem 16:44

3M ago16:44

16:44

What if your worth wasn't tied to your revenue, your output, or anyone else's approval? In this episode, Kris takes us deeper into the heart of worthiness and why so many high-achieving women still wrestle with believing in themselves—even after building successful companies, raising families, and achieving goals most people only dream of. Kris bre…

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Stop Compartmentalizing Your Confidence 18:49

3M ago18:49

18:49

Why can you trust yourself to build a multimillion-dollar company—but not to have one hard conversation? In this episode, Kris pulls back the curtain on the anatomy of self-trust. From visionary ideas to money, health, relationships, and leadership, she reveals why so many women compartmentalize their confidence—rock solid in some domains, shaky in…

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Episode 365: YIMBYtown and Health Care Frowns 33:33

3M ago33:33

33:33

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn is dispatched to New Haven to attend the "Yes, In My Back Yard" or "YIMBYtown" conference where Massachusetts pro-housing folks angst over the MBTA Communities law. Then Steve and Jenn dig into a sweeping new MPG poll on Bay State health care -- is this as good as people expect it to get? And finally, who is not NO…

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Breaking the Generational Code of Self-Doubt 12:42

3M ago12:42

12:42

Why do so many accomplished women still doubt themselves—even after building extraordinary lives and businesses? Kris continues her Self-Trust & Self-Worth mini-series with a powerful exploration of the programming women inherit from generations before us. She invites us to reflect on the systemic, cultural, and ancestral patterns that quietly shap…

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Episode 364: #BOSMayor Mind the Enormous Gap 25:35

4M ago25:35

25:35

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn discuss the results of the Boston Mayoral preliminary election -- by all accounts a blowout for Michelle Wu setting up a tough road to November for Josh Kraft. Plus, all politics is national, and we have some national approval polls to pick through. And last but not least, we can FINALLY stop paying taxes…

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What Happens When You Finally Believe in Yourself 21:00

4M ago21:00

21:00

Kris launches a brand-new mini-series with a masterclass on Self-Trust and Self-Worth for Female Founders. And she encourages us to ask: Why do we trust ourselves to build entire businesses—but not to have one hard conversation? After wrapping the seven transitions of Beyond the CEO, this next season dives deeper—into the paradox that so many succe…

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Episode 363: Mass. Dems Resist Federal Pressure on Boston 32:40

4M ago32:40

32:40

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk with Politico's Kelly Garrity about the Trump administration's recent threats to ramp up ICE presence in Boston. Trump has also threatened to send National Guard agents to support ICE enforcement, echoing similar moves in LA and DC. On a lighter note, we are down to three choices for a new Massachuse…

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The Most Overlooked Step Between Leading and Leaving 24:23

4M ago24:23

24:23

What's your plan for the business you've worked so hard to build? After walking through all seven transitions in the Beyond the CEO series, Kris is turning her focus to what comes next: the tactical and strategic steps every founder must take to ensure the business can run—and even thrive—without her constant presence. This isn't just about getting…

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Episode 362: Are Mass. Dems Really Jumping Ship? 30:27

4M ago30:27

30:27

This week on The Horse Race Jenn and Steve talk discuss how automatic voter registration is making Democrats’ woes look worse than they are. And, of course, all the new Mass. flag submissions. "The Democratic Party Faces a Voter Registration Crisis" by Shane Goldmacher With Jonah Smith www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/us/politics/democratic-party-voter-r…

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The Transition That Changes Everything 23:13

4M ago23:13

23:13

Are you willing to release control and trust others with what you've built In this episode, Kris closes out the Beyond the CEO series by walking through the final transitions that take you from structure and strategy into wisdom and possibility. It's not just about building processes—it's about letting go of false truths, reclaiming clarity, playin…

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Episode 361: Getting Around the Springfield Region 26:00

4M ago26:00

26:00

This week on The Horse Race, Steve sits down with Rich Parr VP of the MassINC Polling Group to talk about a new poll they conducted for MassDOT. This highly detailed report, entitled "People and Transportation Project Report," shows how transportation can burden low income residents of Massachusetts.https://www.mass.gov/the-people-and-transportatio…

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Your Next Chapter Won't Come From Your Old Blueprint 18:39

4M ago18:39

18:39

Have you been intentional about what stays in your life—and what goes? If you've been following this special Beyond the CEO mini-series on the seven transitions every founder must face, you know last week was all about play, curiosity, and exploration. Now, in Transition Six—Intentional Design—we take everything you've discovered in that playful, c…

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Episode 360: Could 40+ Questions on Your Ballot Help Legislative Productivity? (ft. Mike Deehan) 26:05

5M ago26:05

26:05

Last week was the deadline to file ballot questions for November 2026 and over 40 ballot questions made it through. These are questions that ultimately could become law covering a wide range of topics from MBTA zoning to rent control, from marijuana "re-illegalization" to voter ID requirements. This week on The Horse Race, Steve is joined by Mike D…

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You Don't Have to Stay in Your Comfort Cage 25:22

5M ago25:22

25:22

Play. Stillness. Curiosity. When did you stop giving yourself that permission? You're going through the motions in a life you once dreamed of—and wondering when that dream stopped being yours. In this episode—the next in Kris's series on the seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate—she invites you to consider the one most of…

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Episode 359: Debating Democrat Doomerism 35:37

5M ago35:37

35:37

This week on The Horse Race Jenn asks Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group, a very simple question: 'are the dems doomed?' With a surprising glint of optimism, Parr breaks down the latest polling on this question to give us a sense of how the democratic party is likely to fair in the upcoming elections.…

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The Striver's Dilemma: Who Are You Without the Push? 28:08

5M ago28:08

28:08

In this fourth installment of the Seven Transitions Every Successful Woman Must Navigate series, Kris explores the fog that can settle in after years of striving, building, leading, and achieving. When the urgency fades, when the goals have been met, when your days are no longer dictated by survival or ambition... who are you now? This is the striv…

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Episode 358: A Potential Big Beautiful Budgetary Disaster 31:40

5M ago31:40

31:40

This week on The Horse Race, Steve sits down with Rich Parr, VP of The MassINC Polling Group to discuss new polling on the mayoral election. Then Steve is joined by Katie Lannan of GBH News to tell the story of how uncertain federal dollars could spell disaster for the recently passed state budget. And most importantly of all, the heated election f…

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If You're Still Holding On, What Are You Really Afraid Of? 20:08

5M ago20:08

20:08

You're not trapped by your business, your team, or even your schedule. You're trapped by the stories you've been telling yourself about what has to happen next. In this third installment of the special mini-series on the seven transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it's time for something new, Kris unpacks the beliefs that …

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From Operator to Advisor: What Your Business Really Needs From You Now 15:10

5M ago15:10

15:10

Are you the biggest bottleneck in your business—and don't even realize it? You didn't build your company to babysit it. But if you're still the one making every call, solving every fire, and holding the reins so tightly no one else can lead...this episode is your wake-up call. In this second installment of the special mini-series on the seven essen…

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Episode 357: A Nicotine Free Generation 18:47

5M ago18:47

18:47

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn are joined by CommonWealth Beacon reporter Bhaamati Borkhetaria to talk about the fight to regulate nicotine use in the Commonwealth. In recent years, various Massachusetts municipalities have implemented so-called "generational nicotine bans." On Monday, Borkhetaria attended a hearing where law makers di…

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When You're Ready to Move On, But You're Still Afraid to Let Go 24:57

5M ago24:57

24:57

You say you want freedom. But are you really ready for it? This week, Kris kicks off the first of seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it's time for something new. It starts with a brutally honest question: Is your business ready to run without you? And are you ready to let it? In this episode, Kris unpack…

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Episode 356: The Ghost of Budgets Passed 26:33

6M ago26:33

26:33

After years of delayed budgets, the Massachusetts state budget came ever so close to passing on time this year. This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn are joined by Chris Lisinski of Statehouse News Service to look at how we got here, and why this year was different.By Steve Koczela; Jennifer Smith

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What About The Restless Leader: A Call to Explore What's Next 12:24

6M ago12:24

12:24

This season marks a turning point—not just for the podcast, but for the visionary women who listen. If you've ever wondered what comes after success, you're in the right place. In this kickoff to a brand-new series, Kris introduces a deeply personal—and much-needed—conversation: what it means to go beyond the CEO. Because sometimes, the biggest tra…

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When Leadership Isn't Enough Anymore—And You Know It's Time to Evolve 27:16

6M ago27:16

27:16

You built the business. You built the team. You built the life. But now… what? This is the moment no one warns you about. When the business you poured everything into is running—maybe even thriving—but you feel restless. Detached. Like maybe you've outgrown what once felt like everything. In this episode, Kris Plachy opens the door to a new convers…

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Episode 355: Trump Attacks Iran. What do Polls Show? What do Massachusetts Politicians Think? 24:15

6M ago24:15

24:15

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve discuss the flurry of news from the Middle East this weekend. Then they discuss various polls which reveal how Americans are feeling about Trump's unannounced bombing of Iran. And finally, on a lighter note, some very dedicated young citizens are pushing our state to protect a certain Salamander.…

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Live Coaching Conversation: When the Mask Comes Off—and You Finally Say What You Want 41:05

6M ago41:05

41:05

This one's raw. Tender. And so incredibly real. My client came into this conversation thinking she needed clarity. She was looking for the right answers—about her role, her goals, her business. But what came out was something much more vulnerable: the pressure to perform, the fear of letting people down, and the quiet ache of not being fully seen. …

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Episode 354: An Ol' Fashioned Governor Giddy-up 25:35

6M ago25:35

25:35

This week on The Horse Race, Steve Koczela and Jenn Smith are joined by CommonWealth reporter Gin Dumcius. The race for Governor is beginning and candidates such as Maura Healey and Mike Keneally and are on the trail. Then Gin breaks down Monday's meeting between politicians from Canada and Northeastern States. And finally... Dunkin' Donuts Lip Glo…

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Live Coaching Conversation: You Can't Pivot Until You Admit You're Done 37:20

6M ago37:20

37:20

This one hit deep. I'm talking to a founder who's done everything "right." Built the business. Achieved success. Carried the weight. But now… she's just tired. Tired of running, of holding it all together, of pretending she still wants what she once did. She thought we'd be talking about planning and priorities. Instead, we had one of the most hone…