787: Better Leadership Through Humor, with Chris Duffy
In this episode, host Dave Stachowiak talks with award‑winning comedian and author Chris Duffy about how everyday humor can be a powerful leadership tool. Duffy explains that humor isn’t about delivering punchlines but about paying attention, being generous, and embracing the absurd, which helps leaders build connection, vulnerability, and presence without feeling like extra work. He shares stories—from a coffee‑stained interview to a fifth‑grade student’s pizza reviews—to illustrate how laughing at ourselves and everyday mishaps creates trust and a more human workplace culture.
786: The Problem with Reorgs and How to Do Better, with Phil Le-Brun
In this episode, Dave Stachowiak and guest Phil Le‑Brun explore why traditional reorganizations often fail and how leaders can adopt an "octopus" model of organization that balances structural stability with adaptive flexibility. Le‑Brun contrasts the outdated, mechanistic Tin‑Man view of...
785: Make Your Task List Work for You, with Liane Davey
In this episode, organizational psychologist Liane Davey explains how traditional to‑do lists can increase our "thought load"—the invisible tax of cognitive demands, emotional burdens, and limited energy—by forcing us to juggle endless tasks. She proposes a three‑list system that separates...
783: How to Take Back Your Evenings, with Guy Winch
In this episode, psychologist and author Guy Winch discusses how work can hijack our evenings through autopilot behavior and rumination, explaining why stress often resurfaces after hours. He outlines practical strategies to break the cycle, such as recognizing and labeling...
776: Forge Connections That Help You Thrive, with Neri Karra Sillaman
In this episode, host Dave Stachowiak talks with refugee‑turned‑entrepreneur, academic, and author Neri Karra Sillaman about how intentional, authentic connections drive personal and business longevity. Drawing on a 1930s bird‑behavior story and her research on immigrant entrepreneurs, Neri outlines three...
From Command and Control to Serve and Support, with Marisol Bello
In this episode, Dave interviews Marisol Bello, Executive Director of the Housing Narrative Lab, about her transition from a command‑and‑control style to a serve‑and‑support leadership approach. Marisol shares how the Coaching for Leaders Academy helped her develop practical habits—like pausing...
772: How to Measure Your Meeting’s Success, with Rebecca Hinds
In this episode, host Dave Stachowiak talks with Rebecca Hinds, an expert on organizational behavior and author of *Your Best Meeting Ever*, about how to measure meeting effectiveness. They explore why meetings are often sabotaged, the pitfalls of relying solely...
771: Fixing Fairness in the Workplace, with Lily Zheng
In this episode, host Dave Stachowiak talks with Lily Zheng, a strategist and author on systemic fairness, about why most Americans actually support diversity (82% in surveys) despite a perception that opinions are split. Zheng explains why typical DEI initiatives—single...
769: How to Connect Better with Remote Colleagues, with Charles Duhigg
In this episode, Pulitzer‑winning journalist Charles Duhigg explores how to communicate effectively in a remote‑first world. He explains that all conversations fall into three categories—practical decisions, emotions, and identity—and that digital interactions often default to the practical, missing the emotional...