Leading Like a Herd, Not a Hierarchy with Abriana Johnson

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In Episode 189 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, Kim Romain and Louise Neil sit down with Abriana Johnson, host of the Black in the Saddle podcast and founder of Black Unicorn Creative, to go beyond mindset and explore alignment as something you feel deeply in your body.

Abriana shares her genius about what horses teach us about leadership, safety, and trust. They dive in about why balance is a myth, why over-focusing can actually create harm, and how leaders lose credibility when their words and bodies aren’t aligned.

This conversation weaves together biomimicry, nervous system regulation, brand culture, and collective awareness, offering a grounded reminder that leadership isn’t about control. It’s about attention, congruence, and moving together.

At its core, this episode invites you to slow down, widen your awareness, and remember that alignment happens at the level of self, community, and environment.

Key Takeaways

• Balance is a myth.
• Safety is the foundation of trust, leadership, and collaboration.
• Over-focusing can be as harmful as distraction.
• Nature prioritizes efficiency and sustainability over control.
• Being different only works when people feel safe enough to show up.

Key Moments

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

03:43 Abriana’s Path from Animal Science to Biomimicry

06:21 Horses as a Model for Collective Awareness

07:20 Why Balance Is a Myth and Alignment Matters

11:45 Over-Focus, Control, and Missed Signals

15:16 Nature, Efficiency, and Sustainability

23:25 Safety, Trust, and Alignment

31:44 Alignment at the Individual and Collective Level

33:18 Golden Nuggets and Integration 

Connect with Abriana

Website: http://www.blackunicorncreative.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrianajohnson/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/in/theabrianaj/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abrianaj

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