The Art—and Science—of Intuitive Leadership
My reflections on Jenna Kutcher’s interview with Dr. Tara Swart—and what Intuitive Leadership really requires.
It’s been a long time since I binged Jenna Kutcher’s work, but how could I not with an episode title like When Science Meets Spirituality: How to Trust Your Gut and Grow Into Who You’re Meant To Be?
I’m sharing my thoughts on the episode: what I agree with, what I disagree with, and my a-ha moments.
General Thoughts
Dr. Tara Swart—and Jenna, for that matter—are walking examples of Everme clients. They began as more “traditional” or “masculine” leaders in their fields, but over time, they moved from being in the spiritual closet to confidently stepping out of it. I intentionally avoid calling it the “woo-woo” closet because that phrase feels dismissive of both the work I do and my belief system. Both women have leaned into the unseen and intuitive, despite working in professions where it isn’t necessarily expected or rewarded.
Dr. Swart is a more extreme example: she spent her career proving the science of intuition, and is now swinging into the art of intuition. It’s a beautiful reminder that we can hold both, and more.
What I Agree With
Science has its place—proving what many of us already sense to be true. (After all, don’t most experiments begin with a hunch?) But intuition is meant to be lived, integrated, and trusted in our daily lives. Science will never fully capture the whole of it. I loved it when Dr. Swart said, “Why not see if you can expand your consciousness in that way?” That way, through intuition.
Why not tip the scales toward intuition and see what happens? Here’s the framework I teach:
Intuition + Action = Magic™
This is the essence of Intuitive Leadership—lean into your inner knowing first, then layer on action, strategy, and structure. At its core, it’s about leading authentically, guided by what you know deep down to be true.
What I Disagree With
I wanted them to go deeper into intuition itself. They circled back to the body and nervous system regulation often. While the body is one way intuition speaks, I see it as just a solar system within a much larger universe of intuition.
I’d like to understand better Dr. Swart’s research (actually, as I write this I’m at the library picking up a copy of her book called “The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain”) because I worry it emphasizes intuition as a tool that either acts as an emergency service (danger response) or as something that is only available when you’re in a regulated nervous system. Don’t get me wrong: having a regulated nervous system will support your intuitive connection, but it’s not a requirement for accessing or trusting your intuition.
I also worry that some current teachings make intuition overly dependent on nervous system regulation. Yes, a calm body supports intuitive clarity, but it’s not the only pathway—and certainly not a requirement. Sometimes, intuition comes through in moments of chaos, grief, or stress.
My concern: “regulated nervous system” is becoming a new security blanket. People can use dysregulation as a reason to ignore the hard but necessary truths their intuition is giving them. And on the flip side, striving for perfect regulation can become another unattainable “destination” that distracts from the beauty of practicing intuition in real time.
My A-Ha Moments
Their discussion of neuroaesthetics really resonated with me. I studied this in graduate school—it’s the science of how art impacts the brain. Dr. Swart shared research that proves art has a positive effect on us, regardless of whether it's considered “good” or not. This reminded me of my own research, which showed that people’s reception of creative work is unpredictable and inconclusive.
Ever wonder why the reel you spent hours on flops, but the quick one blows up? Or why your favorite writing gets little attention, while something you barely edited goes viral? I studied this and found that there’s no correlation between how you create it and how it’s received. Both the act of creating and the act of witnessing are unique experiences.
I also felt really proud of being the mother of Intuitive Leadership™ It’s good news for everyone if someone as mainstream as Jenna Kutcher is bringing in intuition as an integral part of building and growing your business. I’m grateful that I didn’t want for the guru to tell me what I’ve long known to be true.
Bottom Line
This episode is worth listening to—with a couple of caveats:
Before listening, ask yourself: How does my intuition speak to me?
Before listening, ask yourself: Does this information confirm what I already know?
Before listening, remind yourself: “I am not Jenna Kutcher. I am not Dr. Swart. I am (insert your name here).” There is privilege at play so make sure you are connected to your local position within the broader universal spectrum.
Then, start practicing the magic equation. Trust your intuition in the small, inconsequential moments so that when it comes time for the big ones—setting strategy, pivoting a business, making a difficult choice—you’re already fluent in listening to yourself.
FAQ:
If you’ve ever asked yourself these things:
How do I know when it’s really my intuition speaking—and not just fear, stress, or my nervous system response?
What does Intuitive Leadership actually look like in practice inside a business or leadership role?
If intuition can’t be measured or proven like science, how do I build the confidence to trust it in my biggest decisions?
Consider checking out my Intuitive Leadership 101 class. It’s about ~30 minutes with an excellent guided meditation at the end. Enjoy <3
Love,
Kelsey