What Leaders Get Wrong About Creativity — And How to Fix It | Corean Canty

Season 1, Episode 048 of the Badass Leaders Podcast

This episode dives into the real, often unspoken emotional terrain of caregiving, leadership burnout, and the power of play to reclaim joy at work. Angela sits down with Corean Canty, a former media and advertising COO turned executive coach, TEDx speaker coach, and co-founder of Shift to Play. Together, they unpack how anticipatory grief affects caregivers, why so many leaders lose their sense of self, and how play can rebuild creativity, resilience, and connection at work.

You’ll hear Corean’s personal journey through corporate burnout, caring for her mother with dementia, rediscovering her voice, and helping leaders stop performing the “should self” and step back into authenticity. The conversation also tackles questions many people quietly Google but rarely discuss openly:

The discussion also tackles questions such as:

• What is anticipatory grief and how do you cope with it as a caregiver?

• How do you know you’re burning out before your body forces you to stop?

• What does play actually do to your brain and why does it matter at work?

• How can you become a better storyteller even if you don’t think you’re creative?

• What’s the difference between managing and leading in today’s workplace?

• How do you resolve conflict when everyone’s stuck in their assumptions?

• How do you find your true voice if you’ve spent years being who you “should” be?

This episode is part inspiration, part strategy, part wake-up call. Expect honesty, vulnerability, and real-world tools you can use immediately.

Learn More About Corean:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreancanty/?hl=en 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreancanty/
• Website: https://coreancanty.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreanCanty
• Podcast: https://coreancanty.com/podcast/

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Shift to Play (Corean’s company): https://shifttoplay.com/ 
• Speak More Human (Corean’s storytelling/voice coaching work): https://speakmorehuman.com/ 
• Corean’s TEDx Talks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEiRT2Rr6ME 
• Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/ 

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Executive Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/

The discussion also tackles questions…

Key Takeaways:

• Anticipatory grief is real and often hits caregivers long before a loved one passes.
• Burnout doesn’t start in the workplace — it shows up in the body first. If you’re overriding your own needs, your body will eventually force the pause.
• Play is not childish — it’s neuroscience. It improves creativity, problem-solving, communication, and bonding within teams.
• Authenticity beats performance. Most people operate from their “should voice,” not their real one.
• Storytelling is a leadership tool, not a trend. Humans understand meaning through stories more than data.
• Conflict stays stuck when everyone is clinging to assumptions. Curiosity is the exit ramp.
• Leaders aren’t defined by title. Leadership happens anywhere someone is willing to speak vision, ask bold questions, and take the first step.
• You can’t lead well if you’re not living well. Life design and leadership design are inseparable.

Themes:

• Caregiving and anticipatory grief
• Leadership burnout and well-being
• Play as a professional development tool
• Creativity and innovation in the age of AI
• Storytelling as a communication strategy
• Authenticity, identity, and voice
• Conflict resolution and curiosity
• Personal reinvention and life design