As we close out 2025, we’re taking a warm, festive look back at the conversations, insights, and unforgettable moments that shaped this year on DISCovering You: Where Personality Meets Possibility. From deep dives into charisma and creativity to surprising reflections on emojis and empathy, this episode rounds up the clips that made us pause, laugh, reflect and grow.

Did we include your favourite episode or moment from 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear what resonated most with you this year.

Timestamps

00:00 — Opening + DISC as Holiday Drinks

01:00 — How are you feeling? Check in

02:00 — Heather’s favourite moments and lessons from 2025

02:30 — Clip 1: How nonverbal cues shape first impressions

04:45 — Managing “resting bored face” in real-life and Zoom meetings

07:00 — Clip 2: Empathy, discipline, and how others interpret our intent

09:15 — Heather reflects on responsibility vs. emotional perception

10:00 — Clip 3: Dr. Zorana Pringle on psychological safety and creativity

12:30 — How differing perspectives help Heather & Victoria grow

14:45 — Clip 4: The great emoji debate (and what it reveals)

17:45 — Clip 5: Emotional intelligence + Sandy Pentland’s MIT research

22:30 — Final reflections + holiday wishes for 2026

Resources Mentioned

• Vanessa Van Edwards – Research on charisma, warmth, competence, and nonverbal cues
• Dr. Zorana Pringle – Conversation on creativity and psychological safety
• Sandy Pentland, MIT – Research on team communication patterns and high performance
• Dr. Vanessa Druskat – Discussion on emotional intelligence and paralanguage

Thank you for an inspiring year of discovery, connection, and meaningful conversations. Wishing you a warm, restful holiday season—and we can’t wait to bring you more insights, guests, and laughter in 2026.

If you're interested in learning more about team building, coaching, strategic hiring and onboarding, let's connect!

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In this episode, Victoria explores attachment theory and DISC. From childhood caregiver bonds to professional relationships, Victoria unpacks how our early emotional experiences influence how we lead, connect, and collaborate.

Listen in to learn the four main attachment styles - Anxious/Preoccupied, Avoidant/Dismissive, Fearful/Disorganized, and Secure - as well as the workplace applications, emotional regulation strategies, and “superpowers” for each.

Victoria and Heather also share their own quiz results, laugh about their high-C tendencies, and reveal how self-awareness and emotional intelligence can help shift attachment patterns toward security.

Victoria often says DISC is a great tool to have in your toolkit. So, what would DISC look like as tools you might find in a toolbox?

High D - Hammer; maximum output, one hit could get the job done

High I - Flashlight; bright, illuminating the way

High S - Wrench; slowly, steadily does what’s needed

High C - Level; ensures accuracy and precision

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Are you laughing?

01:00 Today’s Mood Meter

02:00 – DISC as tools in a toolbox

03:00 – What is Attachment Theory? 04:00 – How early experiences shape adult relationships

06:00 – The Four Attachment Styles explained and how to take the quiz at attachmentproject.com

08:00 – Style 1: Anxious/Preoccupied

13:00 – Style 2: Avoidant/Dismissive

17:00 – Style 3: Fearful Avoidant/Disorganized

19:00 – Style 4: Secure

21:00 – Leadership through attachment

22:00 – Can your attachment style change?

23:00 – “It’s a sketch, not a portrait.” Using DISC and attachment insights to grow self-awareness

24:00 – Closing thoughts and where to learn more about attachment styles

Notable Quotes

“I think it’s important to clarify that attachment is a spectrum, and so you may not fit one completely.”

“Our greatest challenges often reveal great strengths. Our attachment styles can also be our superpowers.”

“It’s a sketch, not a portrait… we have all four DISC factors in us somewhere.”

Resources Mentioned

• Take the free attachment style quiz and explore detailed resources: https://www.attachmentproject.com/attachment-style-quiz/
• Mark Brackett’s How We Feel app and the Mood Meter framework: https://marcbrackett.com/how-we-feel-app-3/

Key Takeaways:

Attachment theory shapes how we connect, communicate, and lead based on early caregiver bonds.

It’s a spectrum — your style may shift across personal and professional relationships.

Each style has both triggers and strengths:

● Anxious: Seeks reassurance; strong collaborator.

● Avoidant: Values independence; focused achiever.

● Fearful: Cautious but highly responsive.

● Secure: Balanced, trusting, and empathetic.

Self-awareness and emotional regulation help shift from reaction to response.

Attachment styles can evolve through secure relationships, therapy, or emotional intelligence work.

If you're interested in learning more about team building, coaching, strategic hiring, and onboarding, let's connect!

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In this insightful continuation, host Victoria and guest Dr. Vanessa Druskat dive deeper into the dynamics of emotionally intelligent teams. They explore how constructive debate — what Vanessa calls “creative abrasion” — drives innovation, why belonging is essential for psychological safety, and how leaders can create norms that encourage open disagreement and authentic communication.

From the use of playful tools to stories of global teams transforming their culture, Vanessa shares research-backed strategies for balancing candor and connection. The episode closes with reflections on introversion, leadership, and the power of research to build teams where everyone feels included and valued.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & Mood Check

Victoria and Heather discuss “colors of the day” and explore the word challenge as a positive motivator.

02:00 – DISC as Seasonings

A creative analogy connects DISC personality types with spices — from cayenne to turmeric — and a lighthearted discussion on pumpkin spice and cilantro follows.

05:30 – Introducing Dr. Vanessa Druskat (Part 2)

Victoria recaps feedback from Part 1 and reintroduces Dr. Druskat, setting up a conversation about constructive conflict and team culture.

06:00 – The Value of Debate in Teams

Vanessa explains how debate forces clarity, enhances thinking, and fuels innovation — what she calls creative abrasion.

08:00 – Belonging and Psychological Safety

Discussion about how fear of not belonging can silence voices, and why leaders must build inclusion for honest dialogue.

09:00 – “Whine Cards” and Norm-Support Tools

Vanessa introduces team tools to help members express disagreement safely.

11:00 – Creating Team Norms

The power of agreed-upon frameworks and shared signals (“little shaker / big shaker”) to prevent tension and ensure everyone feels heard.

12:00 – The “Hat Issue” Story

A hospital leader’s creative method for surfacing unspoken issues — using a light-up construction hat to symbolize open disagreement.

13:00 – Applying EI Models to Teams of All Sizes

Vanessa discusses how her model works with teams from 6 to 23 members, emphasizing leadership buy-in and subteam alignment.

15:00 – Handling Skepticism and Resistance

How to get reluctant teams onboard — from engaging the leader early to showing data and starting with meaningful “why now?” discussions.

16:30 – The Object Exercise

A team-building activity where members bring an object representing their ideal team; examples include a Swiss Army knife and personal trophies.

18:00 – Introversion and Observation

Vanessa shares how being an introvert sharpened her observation skills and influenced her research, challenging assumptions about introverted leaders.

19:30 – Researcher vs. Practitioner

Vanessa reflects on her dual identity as a researcher and implementer, and her mission to help teams achieve inclusion and excellence.

22:00 – Personal Experience with Teams

She recounts her most memorable experience with a Johnson & Johnson research team — a high-functioning, collaborative group that modeled her findings in action.

23:30 – Lessons from Great Teams

Vanessa ties her observations back to her book, emphasizing the importance of shared purpose, norms, and inclusion in remote and in-person settings.

24:00 – Closing Reflections

Victoria expresses gratitude and highlights the book as a comprehensive blueprint for leaders seeking to build...