Charisse (00:34)
Hi, everyone, and welcome to unmuted. I'm Charisse
Kellye (00:39)
and I'm Kellye, we're your co-host and we're so glad you're here.
Charisse (00:42)
This is the episode where we set the stage. What is unmuted? Why are we doing this? And what can you expect on this journey with us?
Kellye (00:51)
we created this podcast really out of a shared desire to get honest, to stop performing, to stop polishing, and just talk like two women who are navigating life, work, leadership, change, growth, you know, all the things and all the beauty and the mess that comes with it.
Charisse (01:09)
There's something that's really powerful about saying that out loud, you know, in many of our roles as professionals and as women, as leaders, we've had to mute ourselves and or at least a part of ourselves just to fit in, keeping the peace to survive in a system that really wasn't built for us in mind.
Kellye (01:31)
and there's a real cost to that. You know, over time, I think that it chips away at your joy, maybe your purpose, your creativity, and even your sense of self. So Unmuted really is about coming back to our real voices and our real stories and building a life from that place.
Charisse (01:49)
Yeah, and we want this to be a space where we can be open and honest, not just ourselves, but, you know, we want others to feel a part of this too, and feel seen. And we've had conversations where one of us said, Hey, I thought I was the only one here. And it turns out we weren't. That's the power of speaking up really.
Kellye (02:09)
Absolutely. You know, you say that and it just makes me really happy that you and I are sitting here and we're doing this, Charisse, together. We've shared these types of stories throughout the years as colleagues and I'm just so happy that we get to be going back and forth like this and sharing these conversations with people.
Charisse (02:29)
Yeah, I think that we're, you we're both lifelong learners. We both have a sense of drive, a sense of purpose. We both hit this point in our career too where we had to say something has to change. This right for us.
Kellye (02:46)
yeah. So let's do something that's a little introductory so that the audience can get to know us a little bit. You know, share about yourself, where you've come from and what's shaped you up to now.
Charisse (02:57)
Sure. Well, for me, Kellye, I've been in local government. It was about 20 years time. I worked in urban planning and most recently in city management. And I really enjoyed the work and working with community. I enjoyed facilitation and helping communities solve problems together and work together as a team to see
you know, where, where it would grow and what decisions were being made in order for something to come together in a community. So I did that, like I said, for about 20 years. And most recently I've been working on a health coaching certificate and studying there, working on this podcast with you and something beyond that perhaps.
But really I've taken a beat. I took a little bit of time for myself to rediscover what it was that I wanted to do in my career. And I thought helping others that have been there and the situations that we have in local government leadership or a nonprofit work, helping them survive through difficult times, helping them through the struggle of really identity and redefining
who you are in situations that can be difficult. luckily, I found you as a friend and colleague. And I feel like this podcast that we're working on is something that will drive hopefully a new success for us and also connect to the people that we care about in the industry that we've left. How about you? Can you tell me a little bit about like
why you're here and what your background is.
Kellye (04:37)
Yeah.
yeah, I love it. That's such an just an awesome thing to end on with wanting to help those that, you know, we were once in that seat and now we just want to bring it full circle. So I really, really love that. Same here for me. So my story really started. I thought that I was going to go to law school when I was in undergrad. I had decided that when I was probably like
the start of ninth grade, end of eighth grade. I was like, I'm gonna, you know, go straight into law school. I had dreams and hopes. And I had a professor in undergraduate work, my media and politics professor. And she approached me after she read one of my papers in her class. And she said, have you ever considered an MPA?
Charisse (05:08)
Mm-hmm.
Kellye (05:29)
And I'm assuming almost everybody in our audience knows what an MPA is, but in case you don't, that's a master's of public administration. I was like, I have no clue what that is. I mean, I was all of like 20 and no clue. So I was intrigued. I looked into it and decided that that was going to be my next course of action. So that's really where it started from. I didn't know it was going to lead into city government, but in order to graduate from
that program, needed a paid internship. And I was awarded that through the Texas City Managers Association in a city, a small city surrounded by the city of Dallas. So that's where I got my start. And I walked into a very small city and the city administrator that had hired me was actually fired by the council the day that I got there.
So I was thrown right in. I still did my internship and navigated all of that. I got to do a whole lot. That's what was really cool about it because they really needed somebody to come in. So I was doing all sorts of things with budget and benefits and taking water bill payments. You just name it. I literally got to do everything. And so was like, my gosh, I love this. This is what I got to do. So I continued to work in cities in Texas for about
another six and a half, seven years, and then moved to the state of Washington for my husband's work. And that's where I got to meet Charisse and so many other wonderful women in local government. And I worked in three different cities there. I was there for about nine years. So yeah, so that's my background as far as local government leadership. I've been in the city manager's office my entire career.
I've done interim roles in all different departments from community development to the library and municipal court. So really I just, kind of love it. I've worked with every single department. I've done labor negotiations. You know, there's some cities have municipal golf courses, some have, you know, a municipal harbor even. So I've just had a really fun time in local government. That said,
I needed to make a change, just like Charisse I needed to make a change and for my husband's work, we were going to be moving and I knew I wasn't going to have
cities that I was able to do professional management in. And so I did do a pivot to help and support local government, city executives through coaching. And so that's where I am at today. I've been doing that for just over three years coming up on four years now of coaching and leadership, career, and all sorts of things. So that's my really long background and story, but that's
How we get here today, I asked Charisse to co-host this podcast with me, just knowing that she and I have some really fabulous conversations over the years. And I was thinking, man, if we could capture this and share this with an audience, I think it would really be helpful because she helped me realize that I wasn't going through all these things in a vacuum and that I wasn't isolated.
Charisse (08:36)
Yeah, yeah, that's really powerful, Kellye. I think that, you know, we both connected over local government and to be honest, you were one person that helped coach me through some difficult times in my career and I really appreciate that. But it was a bond that connected us in a way that I think has been important to our growth and the direction that we want to go. so
What is Unmuted actually going to sound like, right? It's kind of a mix of our storytelling. Yeah, what are we gonna, what will it be like? What will we do? So storytelling, I think we'll have some conversations. I think we'll do a lot of reflection. As you know me, I'm kind of a reflective slow talker. So you'll have to pause with me sometimes as we go along.
Kellye (09:03)
Yeah, how is it going to sound?
What are we gonna do?
Just want me to slow
down. Sometimes I go fast. I'm just excited. I want to get everything out there. So, you know, I know we'll talk about all kinds of things, all sorts of life events. So I don't want to shy away from those topics that maybe others don't talk about, or maybe there's just never been a podcast that can do that. We talk a lot. There's a lot of really great podcasts out there that talk about the communities and the work that we're doing in the communities. But I want to talk about things, you know, that are more personal.
things like career changes. I wanna address things like aging while also being a professional. What about your health, right? I know that's something that's really important to you and what you're working on. I'm so excited to unveil that whenever you're ready. We'll talk relationships. You can't have city management. You can't have a personal life without relationships. We'll talk about purpose and leadership and failure and burnout and reinvention, because I kind of feel like...
Charisse (09:55)
Thank
Yeah.
Kellye (10:15)
you and I have been on this reinvention journey together. And I'm so excited to talk about the joy and the adventure and the curiosity and the trying new things. Like that's what I think this podcast is all about.
Charisse (10:27)
so true. And, know, we're both big believers in really doing the hard things. Kind of tried to say yes to things that scare us a little bit like being vulnerable in this podcast. Yes, yes. Learning, unlearning. We're not here to give a perfect playbook and but we're here to share what we've learned and we're still figuring everything out as well.
Kellye (10:32)
Yep.
Like a podcast.
Mm-hmm.
Charisse (10:49)
You know what questions were holding onto and I really think that as we explore, we explore the whole person and that you mentioned it just now. Like that's what's different We are coming from the same background as you and we also identify with what's going on inside you. And so I think that that's what we're we're here to talk about. Like the unmuted part.
that we never say is why we're here.
Kellye (11:15)
You know, yeah. And for the brave few, I think we'll sometimes also be bringing on guests who've maybe walked these same roads, maybe in different ways. So these are gonna be leaders and creatives and thinkers and people who have just beautiful, amazing, brave stories. primarily, I think it'll be me and you, Charisse, kind of going back and forth. But on occasion, we're gonna have...
Charisse (11:35)
You
Kellye (11:39)
a really high caliber guest that we just can't not have on the show. I want to leave that door open as we make this podcast.
Charisse (11:48)
Yeah, I think that will be a nice add to what we have to offer. And we'll also talk about things that don't get airtime normally, like grief and leadership and the identity that you lose after leaving a job. Or what it means to have a life that aligns with your values again, because I know we all struggle sometimes with the values of a community versus the values of the person that you are.
person that you are becoming.
Kellye (12:18)
Yeah. Yeah. And those are really things that don't get a lot of airtime. I don't think I've ever listened to a podcast on grief and leadership, Or losing your identity after leaving a job, What does it mean whenever you give up the title? Because you and I both know, the title we work so hard for, that we strive for, that we gave our, you know, more than eight hours a day to.
Charisse (12:27)
I don't think I have either.
Kellye (12:40)
but also how important it is to have that life align with those values. I love it. You know, I also want to just mention too, like I think at the heart of this podcast and the heart of being unmuted is that we want others in public service to feel seen. We want those in public service doing, you know, whether it's city management or it's nonprofit work, it's all super important. But we want you to feel a little less alone.
So I'm hoping that through this whole journey that we're able to offer a platform where your own questions and struggles and hopes are actually reflected back to you.
Charisse (13:21)
Yeah, yeah. And we want it to be a part of something bigger. Like, that's what our desire is. And I think a growing network of people is important, especially women who are learning to live out loud again. Yeah, yeah, reconnecting to our joy too. That's so important. choosing curiosity over fear. There's so much.
Kellye (13:38)
Yeah, let's do it together.
Mm-hmm.
Charisse (13:48)
of our life we live and that fearful kind of, we don't want to get out of our little box because of that fear.
Kellye (13:57)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, whether you're whether someone's in a place of transition, maybe you're trying something new. Maybe you're processing some burnout, or looking just for an authentic conversation. I would have to say you're in the right place. Like, stop right here. Keep listening.
Charisse (14:17)
Right. This
isn't just a podcast, it's a community and we hope it becomes a place of connection, conversation, and I think courage really, that's what we're looking for.
Kellye (14:20)
Yes.
I love it. So, you know, throughout all this, I just want to preface all of this with you're going to hear us say a few things, probably over and over and over again, often, because that's how we learn, right. So you're going to hear us say things like it's okay to change your mind. ⁓ Or maybe your voice matters, even when it shakes. That is one of my personal favorites, because it's true, sometimes my voice shakes.
when I'm presenting publicly. And it's not even indicative that I am afraid. Sometimes it just kind of happens. But even if it is a little shaky, your voice matters. And we might say something like, try thing, even if you're terrible at it at first. We're trying the thing.
Charisse (15:09)
Right.
Speaking of what you might be terrible at first, I mean, you really hear us talking about things like, you know, lap swimming and hiking in the forest, experimenting in leadership, playing again, practicing presence. I mean, we'll talk about fun and fear and figuring it all out. That's our goal.
Kellye (15:13)
Yeah. Yeah.
Hmm.
so I'm gonna say I don't think every single episode is gonna be the same. Like some are gonna be really fun and maybe some are gonna get a little serious because I tend to be a serious person, but I also like to have fun. So I think you're gonna get a little bit of both from me and Charisse. I think the most important part is that we're going to be real. We are not just going to be performing positivity, right? Like.
It's not all gonna be silver linings. These are some conversations where we're just gonna have to be honest, where we wanna have some curiosity in our conversations and where it's really just important. We're trying to grow. Because like we said, we want you to come on this journey with us. This isn't that we have it all figured out and we're just presenting to you. We are actively figuring it out.
maybe a few steps forward on that burnout thing. But the truth is, that life is a growth journey. And that's what we want to invite you on here.
Charisse (16:31)
Thank you for joining us today, for listening, for starting this with us. We're really excited to do so and we're glad that you're here.
Kellye (16:39)
and we're gonna be dropping new episodes weekly. Like I said, some are gonna go deep, some are gonna be light and fun, but no matter what, I mean, there's just no way around it for Charisse and I, they're all gonna come at you with heart.
Charisse (16:53)
So subscribe and share. Leave us a review if it speaks to you. And connect with us. We'd love to know what you're unmuting about in your own life.
Kellye (17:06)
we want you to come on this journey with us together. So this is just the beginning. Let's move forward together, awake and unmuted.
