Episode
145: Stop Reacting, Start Responding
- Podcast
- Unstuck with Jay Abbasi
- Published
- Feb 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3209
- Processing state
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Summary
Great leaders don’t react emotionally; they respond logically. Meet Maya. A Chief Supply Chain Officer at a major beverage company, Maya once had a strong partnership with a senior VP. After one tense disagreement, every conversation now feels loaded. She snaps, avoids conflict, replays meetings in her head, and loses focus. What she wants most is to feel grounded and confident during difficult conversations. In this episode, Jay sits down with Darcy Luoma, leadership coach and creator of the Thoughtfully Fit® model. Darcy shares how leaders can train themselves to pause, think, and act instead of reacting under pressure, and why the skill of responding intentionally can transform careers, relationships, and life. Notable Quotes “Pause, think, act.” — Darcy Luoma “You have to train in the small moments so you can show up in the big ones.” — Darcy Luoma “Ninety-six percent of the time, how a conversation starts is how it ends.” — Darcy Luoma About Our Guest Darcy Luoma is a leadership coach, speaker, and creator of the Thoughtfully Fit® model, a practical framework that helps individuals pause, think, and act with intention. Drawing from her background in public service, business leadership, and personal adversity, Darcy helps leaders navigate difficult conversations, strengthen resilience, and communicate with courage, compassion, and curiosity. Resources & Links Darcy Luoma Website – https://darcyluoma.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcyluoma/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/darcyluoma/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/darcyluomacoaching/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/DarcyLuoma X – https://x.com/DarcyLuoma Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.…