AI has no nervous system: That is your advantage
๐๐ฃ๐ฆ Welcome to the ROAR! For MOAR! Podcast, where we show you how you can play to win without burning out.
If you have a sense that there must be more to work and life than what you're currently experiencing, you've come to exactly the right place. You're caught in what I call the MOAR paradox, constantly striving for more, but never feeling enough. You're successful on paper, but you feel empty inside. You know something needs to shift, but you're not sure where to start.
Start with you.
What if the most important leadership skill is not a skill per se, but capacity? The capacity to be fully present, to create space, and in that space, choosing your response.
In this conversation, I welcome Joanne Perold, founder and head coach at Fathom, for a deep dive into the inner work that transforms how leaders show up. Drawing on Virginia Satir's growth model and over two decades of leadership development experience, Joanne brings a warm, grounded perspective on self-awareness, emotional capacity, and why building better leaders starts from the inside out.
My personal highlight from the conversation was Joโs comment that โAI doesnโt have a nervous systemโ. AI can't be present. Real presence such as truly listening, feeling emotional viscerally, and building deep, trusted relationships. This is the human advantage.
โก๏ธ Hop over to YouTube to watch our conversation here: https://youtu.be/D46qgyH9gkk
In this podcast:
๐ฃ Joanne shares how a career that began in HR and payroll systems led her to agile coaching and ultimately to the realisation that systems only work when the people inside them do.
๐ข We explore the moment we are triggered and a much younger version of ourselves, typically a five-year-old, takes the wheel. We go on autopilot and react emotionally. That five-year-old is just one of the different parts we each carry, and building self-awareness of those parts, understanding what each one needs, is what helps us catch them before they take over.
๐ด I introduce Dr Edith Eger's distinction between victimisation and victimhood: 'suffering from victimisation is universal, but victimhood is optional.' My bully victimised me, but for a long time I chose victimhood: I built the cage and became my own jailor.
๐ก I introduce Dr Craig Malkin's narcissism spectrum scale. He defines narcissism as a normal, pervasive human tendency: the drive to feel special. It sits on a continuum of possible expressions: from extreme echoism (1) to extreme narcissism (10), with healthy narcissism (self-worth) in the middle (5).
๐ต We ask why people still leave their hearts at the door, and what happens when they do.
๐ We talk brain-heart coherence and Virginia Satir's idea of congruence: the alignment between what you feel and how you show up, and why corporate culture keeps leaders stuck in their heads instead of their hearts.
I absolutely loved this conversation, Jo. It was an honour to welcome you as my guest! Keep shining bright. You are extraordinary ๐๐ชโจ
โก๏ธ Hop over to YouTube to watch our conversation here: https://youtu.be/D46qgyH9gkk
Loved this episode? Subscribe to the ROAR for MOAR! podcast and share it with someone who needs to hear it today. ๐ฆ
Until next time, live your purpose, stand in your power and have the courage to speak your truth. ROAR for MOAR.
No more playing small. Own your magic. Your message matters. ๐๐ฃ
With much love and deep gratitude,
Marilise
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๐ธAbout Joanne Perold
Joanne is the director, head coach and trainer at Fathom, which she founded in 2021. With over two decades of experience across HR technology, agile coaching, and leadership development, her work is grounded in Virginia Satir's growth model which is a framework originally developed to help families heal, now applied powerfully in organisational contexts. Joanne helps leaders and teams build resilience, self-awareness, and the adaptive capacity to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
Connect with Joanne on LinkedIn (Joanne Perold) or visit fathom.co.za
๐ธ About ROAR! and MOAR!
In ROAR! How to Tame the Bully Inside and Out (December 2019), I tackle the silent damage bullying causes, in the workplace, online, and in everyday life. The book helps readers recognise toxic behaviour, understand the dynamics between bully, victim and culture, and respond with confidence and clarity rather than fear or avoidance. I wrote it after discovering, the hard way, just how common and costly workplace bullying really is.
Get your copy of ROAR! Here: Amazon.com: ROAR!: How to tame the bully inside and out: 9781781334270
In MOAR! How to Play to Win Without Burning Out (February 2026), I turn to burnout, exhaustion and the quiet emptiness so many high achievers feel despite their success. Rather than treating symptoms, MOAR! introduces practical frameworks, including the Wellbeing Trio, the four-step ROAR process and the ROAR for MOAR Hero's Journey, to help readers lead with authenticity, build thriving cultures and reclaim their energy and voice.
Get your copy of MOAR! here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1049244788
For South African readers, ROAR! and MOAR! are available in bookstores nationwide, most notably Exclusive Books.
If you would like a signed copy sent directly from me, email marilise@marilise-de-villiers.com (R350 per book, plus R50 postage).
