The Emblazers Podcast Ep. 6: Sales, Mental Health, and the Power of Practice with Dr. Stefanie Boyer

Sales isn’t exactly a leisurely stroll down Easy Street—if you know, you know. It’s more like running an obstacle course where rejection is the default setting and your sanity is the prize.

So how do you keep it together when the going gets tough? Enter Dr. Stefanie Boyer—sales trailblazer, improv evangelist, and the secret weapon your sales team didn’t know it needed.

Star of the Show

On this week’s episode, Tim and I sat down with Stefanie to tackle a topic that’s finally getting its moment in the spotlight: mental health in sales.

A professor at Bryant University, TEDx speaker, and one of Poets & Quants’ Top 50 Professors in the galaxy (okay, just the U.S., but still), Stefanie brings some serious cred to the table. She’s here to drop wisdom on building resilience, the magic of AI in coaching, and why your sellers probably need a little more “yes, and” in their lives.

Key Takeaways (Engaging, Not Dry):

1. Sales and Mental Health: A Love/Hate Relationship: Sales is tough—no shocker there. Stefanie spotlighted some mental health traps we rarely discuss: remote-work loneliness, burnout from bad managers, and rejection overload. And let’s be real, not every top-selling manager knows how to coach. Her fix? Purposeful practices like role-playing (yes, the awkward kind) to boost confidence, shrink self-doubt, and keep sellers from “practicing” on actual customers.
2. AI to the Rescue (Sort of): Stefanie’s all about AI as your tireless, feelings-proof coaching buddy—ready to dish out tips without eye rolls or awkward silences. It’s like having a coach that never needs coffee breaks. Bonus: Women crush it with AI coaching since robots don’t do cultural baggage. Finally, sellers can focus on skills without worrying about side-eye or subconscious bias.
3. Improv Isn’t Just for Comedy Clubs: Turns out, a little “yes, and” can go a long way in sales. Improv builds the nimbleness, confidence, and empathy sellers need to think on their feet—and it’s a lifesaver when navigating the unpredictable world of buyer objections. Stefanie even published a study showing how improv boosts confidence and empathy across genders. (Translation: It’s not just about cracking jokes—though a well-timed laugh certainly doesn’t hurt.)

And, For My Final Act

So, what have we learned today? Practice makes perfect, AI is more pal than foe, and improv might just be the secret sauce your sales team needs.

Watch the Episode

Y’all Know What to Do

Here’s where you can listen to the episode too:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• iTunes

If you’re as pumped to hear more from Stefanie as we are, make sure you snag your spot for Emblaze Revenue Summit 2025, coming up in Denver, April 15-17.

And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and listen to the next episode of The Emblazers! ‘Til then, keep those role-play sessions rolling and remember: confidence beats chaos every time.