Suggest a Guest

Walked the fire? Know a leader with a WTF story?

We’re looking for entrepreneurs and executives to get real about their Walk the Fire (WTF) moments and discuss how they walked the fire, what burned away, and what changed them as leaders.

Why Be a Guest?

Reach an audience of growth-minded founders and executives.
Position your thought leadership.
Inspire impact, not just impressions.
Small time commitment of 30 minutes.

Past guests include New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, entrepreneurs, and elite executives, such as:

Mark Victor Hansen – Co-Creator, Chicken Soup for the Soul
George Bryant – NYT-Bestselling Author, Growth Strategist
Karith Foster – Culture Consultant & Author
Stan Peake – Executive Coach & Author
Ryan James Miller – Executive Coach
David McGlennen – Leadership & Culture Strategist
Julie Ann Cairns – NYT-Bestselling Author

“Christie doesn’t just ask questions—she actually listens. I found myself saying things I haven't said on a podcast before. She's one of the most thoughtful interviewers I’ve ever spoken with.”

— ELENA BENSONOFF, FOUNDER OF WHOLISTIC, INC

“Talking with Christie was such a phenomenal experience. She is not only a fabulous listener, but she has the gift of quickly processing what you say and providing a guiding vision of how that knowledge could be used to make an impact. Amazing!"

— TAMMY BARLETTE, SPEAKER AND RETIRED FIGHTER PILOT, FOUNDER OF ATHENA'S VOICE

We don’t want the wins. We want the WTFs.

WTF Moments → The Sparks

A WTF Moment is the spark that triggers the fire, where a leader can’t keep doing things "the old way."

Business Crisis: revenue collapse, investor pullout, or a failed launch.
Personal Reckoning: burnout, health scare, betrayal, divorce, or loss.
Leadership Breakdown: the team stops following, trust erodes, culture implodes.
Identity Misalignment: success doesn’t feel like success, or the role you built no longer fits.
Market Shift: disruption from AI, new competitors, or industry upheaval.

Story Arcs → Walking the Fire

From those sparks, we hear how leaders walked the fire with their powerful stories:

The Ego Trap
A time you led from ambition, image, or proving... until it all collapsed. What stripped you down? What rebuilt you?
Example title: "How Losing the Title Helped Me Find My Power."
The Identity Shift
The turning point where you outgrew a role, industry, or mindset. What broke? What breakthrough followed?
Example title: "I Had to Let Go of Who I Was to Become a Real CEO."
The Mask
The moment you ditched performance pressure or outdated models and chose to lead human-first.
Example title: "How I Stopped Leading Like a Machine."
The Hard Decision
Walking away from funding, partnerships, identity, or a business model to stay in integrity.
Example title: "Why I Said No to $10M (and Built Something Better)."
The Betrayal
When trust was broken by a partner, investor, or team, and it forced you to rebuild how you lead and who you trust.
Example title: “The Moment I Realized Loyalty Wasn’t Enough.”
The Silent Burnout
When success looked good on the outside but was quietly eroding your health, relationships, or sanity.
Example title: “How I Burned Out Before I Burned Down the Business.”
The False Summit
Reaching a major milestone like funding, exit, title... only to realize it wasn’t what you thought it would be.
Example title: “I Hit the Goal and Still Felt Empty.”
The Reversal
When you had to backtrack on a big decision (a product launch, a hire, a strategy) and face the fallout, but it opened a new path.
Example title: “Why Scrapping Our Big Launch Saved the Company.”
The Public Fire
A highly visible stumble, criticism, or failure, when the fire wasn’t private. It was on display, and you had to own it.
Example title: “What I Learned When My Mistake Made the Headlines.”
The Unlikely Ally
When the person, mentor, or competitor you least expected helped you walk the fire, and it reshaped your view of collaboration.
Example title: “Why My Rival Became My Best Teacher.”
The Invisible Battle
The struggle no one saw (mental health, self-doubt, imposter syndrome) until you chose to face it.
Example title: “The Fight No One Knew I Was In.”

IMPORTANT: While we may highlight a guest’s book or business, the focus is on real stories, mindset shifts, and intuitive insights and not promotions.

Logistics

We keep things efficient and high-impact. Here’s what you need to know at a glance:

15–25 min Zoom interview (video required)
5-min warm-up + 5-min debrief
Built-in mic & webcam are okay (as long as they’re clear)
Strong internet required (wired preferred)
Quiet room + clean background + good lighting
Not live. Clips may be repurposed for promo
Release form is included in the guest questionnaire

Step 1: Request Guest Application

the Podcast Stats

6

YEARS RUNNING

12

COUNTRIES

45K+

LISTENERS

5

STAR RATING

65+

EPISODES

50/50

CORPORATE/ENTREPRENEUR CEO AUDIENCE

Meet the Podcast Host

Christie Turley is a CEO advisor, executive coach, and former C-suite executive who has started, scaled, and sold nine companies, achieving five exits and driving more than $3B in revenue. With experience across 75+ industries and clients ranging from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 brands worldwide, Christie has seen firsthand that the real catalyst for change isn’t marketing, sales, or systems... it’s leadership. How leaders hold their power, embody their personal brand, and walk through their own fires determines how far their organizations can go.

Christie helps entrepreneurs and executives turn their WTF moments into reinvention and align their energy, intelligence, and influence with the impact they’re here to create. She is the author of The Intuition-Led Business and Quiet Quitting the BS, and an engaging speaker who has shared the stage with numerous New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.