Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast
A quiet diplomat. A mystery man. A unicorn in leadership.
Dag Hammarskjöld was the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, a Nobel Prize winner, a philosopher, and a poet. But history has only told a fraction of the real story. Was he the cold, detached bureaucrat the media portrayed him to be? Or was he something far more complex—someone with passion, humor, and a fire beneath the frost?
Welcome to Decoding the Unicorn, the podcast where we go beyond the headlines and into the mind of one of history’s most misunderstood figures. Each week, we’ll dive into Dag's leadership, his spirituality, his battles on the world stage, and the myths that need to be shattered. We'll also examine modern issues like navigating the corporate world, the loud, vitriolic climate of the political landscape, why we need introverts and HSPs participating in management and government, and much more.
If you’re a deep thinker, a lover of history, or just someone searching for a different kind of leadership, this podcast is for you!
Theme music by Ramlal Rohitash from Pixabay.
Episodes
41 episodes
Episode 39: Unemployed, Jobless, and Searching?
Does any of this "advice" sound familiar to you?Just start a business.Just freelance. Pursue self-employment.Monetize a hobby and make it full-time.If someone is unemployed, searching, an...
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Episode 39
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28:52
Episode 38: How to Feel Real Gratitude (Without Falling Into Toxic Gratitude)
Gratitude is everywhere this time of year... on journals, Instagram posts, Pinterest boards, and inspirational mugs. Everyone talks about how important it is to "practice gratitude," but what happens if that becomes toxic gratitude?Real ...
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Episode 38
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15:11
Episode 37: Are You in the Wrong Room?
Ever walk into a job and instantly know: “Oh… I don’t belong here.”That pressure shift. That spiritual eye-roll. That full-body Nope.In this episode, we talk about the unmistakable — and often i...
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Episode 37
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17:29
Episode 36: If You’re Not a Doormat, You’ll Make Enemies
Even if you tried to live a bland, vanilla, unremarkable life, someone would still be offended. 🤷🏻♀️So what happens when you stop apologizing for having boundaries? When you finally say “no” — and mean it?In this episode, I’ll un...
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Episode 36
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13:47
Episode 35: How to Fix the Mess You Didn’t Make
Ever find yourself cleaning up chaos you didn’t create? Perhaps you're considering a job or a promotion that will require you to clean up someone else's mess in a department or a company. Or maybe you own your own company and you hired someone ...
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Episode 35
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19:17
Episode 34: The Business Advice Pyramid
Let's pull back the curtain on the “expert economy” — that shiny world where everyone is suddenly a coach, consultant, or “thought leader.” From promises of million-dollar blueprints to endless coaching-of-coaches, I'd like to ask: Who’s act...
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Episode 34
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16:05
Episode 33: You Don’t Have to Correct Every Record
Subtitle: Choosing Your Battles in the Marketplace of IdeasWe live in a world where every rumor, every hot take, and every twisted narrative can feel like a personal call to arms. But do we really need to chase down everything and everyo...
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Episode 33
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14:56
Episode 32: The Price of Nonconformity: Navigating Life After the Job Matrix
Ever wonder what happens after you walk away from the job matrix? When the title, the paycheck, and the tidy calendar disappear—and you’re left staring at the open sky thinking, “Now what?”In this episode, I'll dive into the pri...
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Episode 32
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31:50
Episode 31: Weaponized Gossip and the Danger of Indifference
Is gossip really harmless? Or is it one of the most destructive forces in how we remember—and forget—people? In this episode, I explore how gossip, even about historical figures like John F. Kennedy or Dag Hammarskjöld, is not just...
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Episode 31
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26:16
Episode 30: Vocation vs Work - Are You Following Your Calling?
Are you stuck in a job that drains you, wondering if there’s something more? ➡️ Why work isn’t the same as a calling.➡️ If you're "job hugging," can you take some time to consider what you feel meant to do?➡️ As Wayne Dy...
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Episode 30
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14:11
Episode 29: Dag Hammarskjöld’s Final Mission, Part II – Dag’s Death
Shortly after midnight on September 18, 1961, Dag Hammarskjöld’s plane went down near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia (today Zambia), cutting short both his life and his final mission to broker peace in the Congo. What was meant to be a daring act o...
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Episode 29
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35:05
Episode 28: Dag Hammarskjöld’s Final Mission, Part I - Into the Fire of the Congo Crisis
September 1961. UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld boards a plane into one of the most dangerous conflicts on earth: the Congo Crisis.Independence had unleashed chaos—rebellion, assassination, mercenaries, foreign powers all clawing f...
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Episode 28
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42:19
Episode 27: The "How" Is Killing You
Do you have a dream or goal that feels too big because you can’t figure out how it will ever happen? You’re not alone. Many of us get stuck waiting for a step-by-step manual before we even start. The thing is: most great things in life...
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Episode 27
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24:15
Episode 26: Do You Fear Success?
Most people talk about fear of failure, but what about fear of success? For many, the idea of actually achieving their goals feels just as intimidating as falling short. In this episode, I'll explore five common signs that you may be hol...
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Episode 26
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20:07
Episode 25: Coffee, Donuts, and Dag
Ever worked at a company that "valued feedback" and touted an "open door policy" only to discover it was all bunk? Too many managers allow their own ego to rule the show and offices are set up like Survivor dog-eat-dog competitions. But...
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Episode 25
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12:56
Episode 24: Staying True To Yourself
Peer pressure. Criticism. Trendiness. If you know you're doing the right thing and staying true to your code of ethics, can you hold the line even under scrutiny? Dag Hammarskjöld certainly did, and we should, too. Sara'...
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Episode 24
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9:06
Episode 23: When You Need to Change & Grow
(But it feels scary)In this episode, let's talk about willingness—not just the kind that nods politely from the sidelines, but the kind that stands up, takes a deep breath, and walks straight into the unknown.Dag Hammarskjöld wasn...
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Episode 23
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18:03
Episode 22: Happy Birthday, Dag! Featuring an Exclusive Reading from Simply Dag 📖
In this special episode of Decoding the Unicorn, let's celebrate the 120th birthday of Dag Hammarskjöld, whose remarkable life and legacy continue to inspire us today. Join me as I honor Dag's birthday by sharing an exclusive passage from my ne...
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Episode 22
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15:03
Episode 21: Take Responsibility - the Right Way!
There's nothing worse than a manager or an official who's incapable of saying, "I'm sorry. I screwed up." Dag Hammarskjöld offers us an excellent example. When it was time for a victory lap, he credited his entire team. If something hit the fan...
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Episode 21
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8:29
Episode 20: Appreciation & Belonging (At Work and In Life!)
What happens when people feel seen and understood?In this episode of Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast, I'll discuss something deceptively simple: belonging. Whether you’re managing a corporate team, collaborating on a creative project,...
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Episode 20
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16:50
Episode 19: The Importance of Quiet and Stillness
In a world obsessed with hustle, noise, and nonstop stimulation, what happens when we choose silence?In this episode, I'll explore the transformative power of quiet and stillness, particularly in politics, diplomacy, and the corporate w...
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Episode 19
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13:19
Episode 18: The Dangerous Position
What kind of leader runs toward the fire?In this episode, I'll explore the often-overlooked truth of Dag Hammarskjöld’s role as Secretary-General of the United Nations: it was not just diplomatic, but dangerous. When others fled war zon...
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Episode 18
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13:33
Episode 17: We Are Tired of Perma-Wars
People are tired of the seemingly permanent state of warfare. Where is diplomacy? Where is that person like Dag Hammarskjöld who will advocate for finding common ground rather than rushing to hit the war button?? #DagHammarskjöld #...
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Episode 17
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6:18
Episode 16: On Failing, Pivoting, and Letting Go
In this episode of Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast, I'll discuss what a lot of creators are too afraid to say out loud: what happens when you put your heart into a project and it goes absolutely nowhere.This episode is about giving yo...
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Episode 16
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20:39