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

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:

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