66: Who Are You Now? The Leadership Identity Crisis No One Talks About | Megan Galloway

Change isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the engine behind growth, leadership, and resilience.

In this energizing episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with executive coach and EverLeader founder Megan Galloway for a candid, science-backed discussion on the realities of change. Drawing on practical neuroscience, personal breakthroughs, and her upcoming book Who Are You Now?, Megan makes the case for why the most successful leaders embrace change, not just in theory, but in everyday practice. The conversation uncovers the surprising drivers behind real behavior change, when “regulated discomfort” becomes a true catalyst for growth, and why many leadership programs miss the mark. Whether you’re an HR leader, L&D professional, or ready to rewrite your own story, this episode offers a roadmap to building more resilient, human-first teams and careers.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why some leaders change when others don’t, even in the same environment
• The neuroscience behind our resistance to change (and how to outsmart it)
• What “regulated discomfort” means, and how it powers the best leadership programs
• How personal crises and “shatter moments” can spark unexpected growth
• How to break free from the status quo using temporal discounting and the “cost of inaction”
• Why today’s leadership development programs need a total overhaul, and what to do instead

In This Episode:

00:00 – Welcome to the Learnit Lounge and introduction to Megan Galloway

02:25 – Why do leaders really change?

03:17 – The neuroscience of behavior change: our brains love predictability

05:06 – Burning Man & creating intentional, transformational spaces

06:30 – Psychological safety and “regulated discomfort” at work

08:15 – Megan’s defining moments: study abroad and health crisis

14:47 – The “default mode network” and rewriting your internal story

17:36 – When change becomes overwhelming: regulated stretch vs. panic

20:46 – Temporal discounting: why we resist long-term change

23:04 – How to get unstuck and take “safe actions”

27:21 – Why old-school leadership development programs are broken

28:58 – The case for action- and community-based leadership learning

30:28 – Megan’s biggest leadership lesson: The impact of belief

32:59 – Hot take: Why just-in-time and community-focused learning are the future

About Megan Galloway:

Megan Galloway is the founder of EverLeader, a boutique leadership development agency where she serves as an executive coach and facilitator. She’s helped over 100 organizations including Microsoft, Wiley, and BambooHR navigate change and build more thoughtful, human-centric teams. With a background in neuroscience, storytelling, and practical tools, Megan is passionate about helping leaders become intentional agents of transformation in their organizations and lives.

Resources & Mentions:

• EverLeader website: everleader.co
• Megan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megalloway/
• Changed podcast by Megan Galloway: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/changed/id1775758135
• Who Are You Now? by Megan Galloway (upcoming book)

Want to Learn More?:

Website: learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

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