Leadership isn’t glamorous, and Heather Zoromski doesn’t pretend it is.

In this honest, grounded conversation with Megan, Heather shares what it really looks like to lead when your name gets criticized, your heart gets tired, and the work still needs done. Everything from school board leadership to nonprofit service, she talks about showing up without needing credit, setting boundaries as a people-pleaser, and why humility and servanthood matter more than titles or recognition.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if the work is worth it, felt misunderstood while trying to do good, or needed a reminder that real leadership happens in the quiet, unseen moments. If you’re navigating leadership, service, or simply trying to stay faithful to your purpose when it gets hard, this one will meet you right where you are.

Thanks to our sponsors, Ma's Place, Ozark Veterinary Clinic, and Little Green Dumpster!

Leadership isn&rsquo;t glamorous, and Heather Zoromski doesn&rsquo;t pretend it is.
In this honest, grounded conversation with Megan, Heather shares what it really looks like to lead when your name gets criticized, your heart gets tired, and the work still needs done. Everything from school board leadership to nonprofit service, she talks about showing up without needing credit, setting boundaries as a people-pleaser, and why humility and servanthood matter more than titles or recognition.
This episode is for anyone who&rsquo;s ever wondered if the work is worth it, felt misunderstood while trying to do good, or needed a reminder that real leadership happens in the quiet, unseen moments. If you&rsquo;re navigating leadership, service, or simply trying to stay faithful to your purpose when it gets hard, this one will meet you right where you are.
Thanks to our sponsors,&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.dripemail2.com_c_eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.B80vo-2DlbCdnJAAoQoRl56ySDccG8Ax3rf3j35D-2DX3Jw&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=ux_7MDobVJweUTsDAx6WvxozYTVP8fIp2wOO-IdRP4Y&amp;m=DyzvJZms2cE9tKSwsVfroHE82akNKrfzZPQzKWuT-nQ5fB5no1ArvKUKS-rhmsP4&amp;s=CJNjeBmTo5P95vncGafkfFXdzh41k2ewO5hiNhmj550&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Ma's Place</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.dripemail2.com_c_eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.mobyoOl2M4CW1zynJBHVeR0kq0XMucIvIqb2HXCGQok&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=ux_7MDobVJweUTsDAx6WvxozYTVP8fIp2wOO-IdRP4Y&amp;m=DyzvJZms2cE9tKSwsVfroHE82akNKrfzZPQzKWuT-nQ5fB5no1ArvKUKS-rhmsP4&amp;s=W1qTaaq1jATuxMaFk5Z36a6NmEDE49W17SrvNjwMYnA&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">Ozark Veterinary Clinic</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.dripemail2.com_c_eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJhdWQiOiJkZXRvdXIiLCJpc3MiOiJtb25vbGl0aCIsInN1YiI6ImRldG91cl9saW5rIiwiaWF0IjoxNzY4OTk1ODYzLCJuYmYiOjE3Njg5OTU4NjMsImFjY291bnRfaWQiOiI0ODM5MzcyIiwiZGVsaXZlcnlfaWQiOiJ2OXQ3ZTZ1eWxqcXA1aHR5eTJmMyIsInRva2VuIjoidjl0N2U2dXlsanFwNWh0eXkyZjMiLCJzZW5kX2F0IjoxNzY4OTk2ODAwLCJlbWFpbF9pZCI6MTE0MjY1ODYsImVtYWlsYWJsZV90eXBlIjoiQnJvYWRjYXN0IiwiZW1haWxhYmxlX2lkIjo0NTgzNDQ2LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2xpdHRsZWdyZWVuZHVtcHN0ZXJjby5jb20-5FX19zPXYwZm9mbzB1MzQwczluNzM2djhiJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9ZHJpcCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1XaGVlbGhvdXNlK05PVytDTE9TRUQraW4rU3ByaW5nZmllbGQifQ.zh-5Fo2fHj-5FrwKiWEMn9TBk-2D-5FXL-2DW2Y1WJCgQOadZEdRs&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=ux_7MDobVJweUTsDAx6WvxozYTVP8fIp2wOO-IdRP4Y&amp;m=DyzvJZms2cE9tKSwsVfroHE82akNKrfzZPQzKWuT-nQ5fB5no1ArvKUKS-rhmsP4&amp;s=S4IqTpZazyGqR6vgzvx_qRKTxYLhi3Oy_A_NkQQf2mg&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5">Little Green Dumpster</a>!

The Real Deal Conversations with Megan Deal shares real stories and meaningful conversations to encourage, inspire, and equip you for life's challenges—whether it’s mental health, relationships, work, or leadership.

Through personal experiences and insightful discussions, Megan and her guests work to foster empathy, build connections, and remind you that you're not alone.

New episodes drop every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or at aroundtheozarks.com!

The Real Deal Conversations with Megan Deal shares real stories and meaningful conversations to encourage, inspire, and equip you for life's challenges&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s mental health, relationships, work, or leadership.
Through personal experiences and insightful discussions, Megan and her guests work to foster empathy, build connections, and remind you that you're not alone.
New episodes drop every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or at aroundtheozarks.com!

The Real Deal Conversations

The Real Deal Conversations with Megan Deal shares real stories and meaningful conversations to encourage, inspire, and equip you for life's challenges&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s mental health, relationships, work, or leadership.
Through personal experiences and insightful discussions, Megan and her guests work to foster empathy, build connections, and remind you that you're not alone.
New episodes drop every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or at aroundtheozarks.com!