Trailer for Lonely at the Top

What happens when you’re married to a powerful, high-stakes leader—and your own emotional labor is quietly consuming you?

In this episode, Temi Ayodeji, stress-reduction artist, author, and wellness coach, joins Rachel to share the truth about being the partner behind the leader. From homeschooling a son with special needs while being offered a director role… to quietly donating a kidney to save her husband’s life… to discovering a scientifically grounded form of healing through fractal-infused art—Temi’s journey is one of grit, grace, and a relentless commitment to peace.

Together, they explore the emotional weight of supporting high-level leadership while carrying invisible burdens, and the power of creating calm—without needing to retreat from life.

🔑 Highlights:

• [03:45] The moment Temi turned down a leadership promotion to care for her son
• [11:10] Donating a kidney to her husband—and the emotional toll of keeping it private
• [21:30] The double silence: what happens when both partners operate in isolation
• [31:50] “Peace of mind is not a luxury. It’s a leadership requirement.”
• [39:00] How fractal-based artwork rewired her family’s nervous system
• [48:25] The private ledger: peace lost, faith gained, sleep reclaimed
• [56:10] The truth most leaders won’t say out loud—but deeply need to
• [01:01:40] Art as a healing tool for high-stress homes and leadership environments

🧭 Connect with Temi:

• Learn more about Temi’s healing artwork: TemiFineArts.com
• Join her newsletter and stories on Substack: temiayodeji.substack.com

In this episode of Lonely At the Top, host Rachel Alexandria sits down with Susana Perczek, a corporate stylist and former advertising executive, whose mission is to armor women leaders with both strength and style. Susana shares how she rose through the ranks in a demanding industry, only to face the emotional and relational costs of leadership, especially after starting a family.

Through heartfelt stories and rich metaphors (including Dungeons & Dragons references!), this conversation unpacks how clothing can be more than just fabric—it can be a shield, a strategy, a ritual, and a revelation of identity. Together, Rachel and Susana explore what it means to bring your full, feminine self to powerful spaces, and how style can be a gateway to alignment with purpose, confidence, and joy.

This episode is a must-listen for any woman in leadership who’s tired of blending in and ready to stand out—unapologetically.

✨ Interview Highlights

• Susana shares how the birth of her daughter forced a reckoning—she chose to walk away from a powerful executive role to prioritize presence over productivity.
• She opens up about the emotional and relational cost of leadership, especially in a high-demand advertising culture where “5 PM was basically lunch.”
• We talk about feminine presence in masculine-dominated rooms—and how clothing can be used to express, protect, and empower.
• Susana describes how accessories can become modern-day amulets, helping women feel grounded and radiant during high-stakes moments.
• She reflects on dreaming bigger as an asset she didn’t fully realize she had—and how now she’s building a business, envisioning a book, and even eyeing a TED Talk.

🔗 Connect with Susana

• Website: https://www.susanaperczekstyling.com/
• Style as Strategy on Substack - https://susanaperczek.substack.com/