# How Leaders Regulate Their Emotions in High-Stakes Moments — with Psychiatrist Dr. Tracey Marks

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/negotiate-anything-5844366/how-leaders-regulate-their-emotions-in-high-stakes-moments-with-psychiatrist-dr-tracey-marks
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/negotiate-anything-5844366/how-leaders-regulate-their-emotions-in-high-stakes-moments-with-psychiatrist-dr-tracey-marks.md
Podcast: [Big Swings Only](https://stenobird.com/podcast/negotiate-anything-5844366)
Published: 2026-09-10T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/s.gum.fm/s-68b9f3f0d5d94d8302cbc0c0/traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP7884408394.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/s.gum.fm/s-68b9f3f0d5d94d8302cbc0c0/traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP7884408394.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/negotiate-anything-5844366/episodes/how-leaders-regulate-their-emotions-in-high-stakes-moments-with-psychiatrist-dr-tracey-marks
Duration seconds: 3340

## Resource

Great leaders don't avoid pressure — they know how to think clearly inside it. In this episode, Kwame Christian sits down with Dr. Tracey Marks, a board-certified psychiatrist and one of the most trusted mental health educators on YouTube (with over 2 million followers), to break down what's actually happening in a leader's brain during a high-stakes conversation — and how to stay in control of it. Dr. Marks explains why our brains treat criticism, tension, or a tough deadline the same way they'd treat a physical threat, shutting down the prefrontal cortex — the part responsible for rational thinking — right when leaders need it most. She and Kwame walk through concrete tools for reclaiming that control in the moment, including the "micro-pause," affect labeling ("name it to tame it"), and how mirror neurons and emotional contagion can either escalate or defuse a tense exchange. The conversation also covers the broader landscape leaders are navigating today: how to tell credible mental health information apart from social media sensationalism, what's really behind the ADHD self-diagnosis trend, and a candid, mixed-feelings take on AI chatbots as substitutes for real therapeutic support. Connect with Tracey ⁠Traceys Youtube Channel ⁠ ⁠Tracey's Website: markspsychiatry.com Connect with Kwame: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anythi…

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