Podcasts about Professional development

Most leaders try to fix their team by fixing the people in it. What if that's only 20% of the equation?Pollyanna Lenkic joins Spencer and Christian to make the case that up to 80% of team performance comes from how a team is designed and supported, not from individual coaching alone. As leaders navigate reorgs, AI rollouts, and endless development programs, Pollyanna argues most of them are missing the real lever: they were never trained to see or lead at the level of the system. Before your next big initiative, she offers one question worth asking first — are you strengthening the system your people work within, or just working on the people?TranscriptFree Team Diagnostic

Anika sat down with Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri to explore how they built a thriving, 100% virtual boutique agency by leaning into radical authenticity. The conversation revealed how their Gen X and Millennial dynamic fuels their strategy, why hiring for intangibles matters more than a resume, and how they cut through the digital noise with unscripted banter on their podcast, Ducks Unplugged.In This EpisodeThe origin story of Blue Duck Agency and how a "no-meeting Wednesday" led to a radical rebrandWhy Deanna hires for "intangibles" and how asking about high school grades reveals a candidate's true characterAshley's transition from buttoned-up banking to thriving in the "gray area" of agency lifeLaunching the Ducks Unplugged podcast as a business strategy and creative testing groundHow Gen X and Millennial perspectives complement each other in leadership and marketing strategyThe truth about hustle culture and how different generations brand their work ethicWhy generative AI (like Deanna's ChatGPT, "Janice") is a tool, not a replacement for human creativityBrainstorming on the fly: Pushing boundaries with brands like Netflix and TupperwareTimestamps00:00 Introduction: Building businesses around radical authenticity 01:42 The origins of Blue Duck Agency and diverse career paths 05:24 Hiring for the "gray area" and the importance of intangibles 10:10 Launching the Ducks Unplugged podcast to differentiate the agency 18:48 The Gen X and Millennial dynamic: Bridging the generational gap 23:24 The Blue Duck rebrand: Standing out in a sea of yellow ducks 26:51 The "hustle culture" rebrand and generational work ethics 36:31 Balancing radical honesty with professional boundaries and real-time feedback41:25 Generative AI in marketing: Why human creativity still wins 45:36 Pitching Netflix a "binge pass" and other pop-culture brand moments 50:48 Favorite quotes and life mantrasKey Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Authenticity is a Differentiator In a crowded agency landscape where everyone offers similar services, clients buy the people. Creating unscripted, imperfect content like Ducks Unplugged lets prospects experience the team's chemistry, humor, and problem-solving skills before they ever book a discovery call. Perfect polish is out; relatable authenticity is in.Insight 2: Hire for Intangibles Over Resumes Resumes get you in the door, but character keeps you in the room. By asking candidates to talk through their intentions and past choices—even going back to high school—you learn how they navigate challenges, communicate, and fit into a remote, tight-knit culture.Insight 3: Generational Differences Are a Strategic Asset The contrast between Gen X (Deanna) and Millennial (Ashley) perspectives creates richer marketing strategies. Instead of clashing, these diverse viewpoints—from how they view hustle culture to how they consume media—ensure that campaigns resonate across different age demographics.Insight 4: AI is a Tool, Not a Strategy While generative AI is great for efficiency and thought starters, it cannot replace human experience. Relying too heavily on AI leads to homogenized marketing where everyone sounds the same. The human element, drawn from real-world experience and cultural nuance, is what makes campaigns actually convert.Insight 5: Embrace the "Gray Area" Having team members who thrive in the gray—testing, trying, and innovating without a guaranteed outcome—is crucial for an agency's evolution. Not every podcast segment or marketing test will work (like a blind dating show for marketing channels), but giving your team the freedom to test is how you find the strategies that stick.Resources & Links MentionedBlue Duck AgencyDucks Unplugged PodcastDirect Mail Marketing (and why it's making a comeback)About Deanna Dolecki & Ashley RuggeriDeanna Dolecki is the President of Blue Duck Agency, a boutique female-founded marketing agency. As a Gen X woman stepping into a new life phase with college-age kids and a post-marriage reset, she brings a perspective shaped by over 25 years of building a career, leading teams, and building brands. Known for leading with straight talk and hiring for intangibles, she also brings a well-informed and passionate take on pop culture.Ashley Ruggeri is a senior executive and Marketing Strategist with over 15 years of experience. A Millennial and married mom to a 7-year-old, she is right in the thick of balancing career and family. After navigating highly regulated corporate worlds, she brings clarity and calm to the chaos of agency life. She is also a proud hockey mom and unapologetically into Formula 1. Together with Deanna, she hosts Ducks Unplugged, bringing real conversation to work, life, relationships, parenting, and pop culture.Connect with Deanna & AshleyBlue Duck Agency: blueduckagency.comPodcast: Ducks UnpluggedLinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ducksunpluggedpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What beliefs are quietly keeping you from greater wealth, freedom, and fulfillment?In this episode of Tech Diva Biz Talks, Audrey “Tech Diva” Wiggins talks with bestselling author and prosperity expert Randy Gage about the mindset shifts that shape success. Randy shares how limiting beliefs around money, failure, worthiness, and responsibility can keep even accomplished entrepreneurs stuck.They also explore leverage, resilience, personal transformation, and what business owners need to understand to stay relevant in the age of AI.This is a bold conversation about rewiring scarcity thinking, creating value, and building prosperity from the inside out.Featured quote:“You work for money, or money works for you.”Connect with Randy Gage:Web: randygage.comPodcast: Power Prosperity Podcast Book: Wealth Without ApologySend us a messageBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDesignrr for eBooks, BlogsCreate eBooks, Blogs, Lead Magnets and more! Riverside.fm Your Own Virtual StudioProfessional Virtual StudioAltogether Domains, Hosting and MoreBringing your business online - domain names, web design, branded email, security, hosting and more.Digital Business CardsLet's speed up your follow up. Get a digital business card.Small Business Legal ServicesYour Small Business Legal Plan can help with any business legal matter.Looking for Podcast Guests?Keep your podcast schedule full with quality guests, or find shows to guest on with PodMatch.Mens and Womens HatsSince 1972, American Hat Makers has been dedicated to the art of fine hat making.Digital Marketing PlatformContent Creator Machine - The integrated all-in-one online marketing platform.Professional Development and AI TrainingKeep current with continuing education from Altogether Learning Academy | Altogether Marketing LLC.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showWant to be a guest on Tech Diva Biz Talks? Send Audrey Wiggins a message on PodMatch, here: podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/audreywigginsTo work with Audrey schedule a breakthrough/discovery session.

You know you're supposed to go on coffee chats. But what do you even say? In this episode, I answer exactly that. I provide a list of ten sample questions you can ask on a coffee chat to help you make the most out of your time. I also provide an easy way to start and end the conversation so that you're not battling nerves and you can be present, actively listen, and honor the other person's time. If not knowing what to say on a coffee what has prevented you from reaching out to people in the past, this episode is for you.  Referenced Episodes:  64. Part 2: Getting a Job when You Don't Know Where to Start 78. Three Types of Coffee Chats to Increase Your Income 126. How to Know if You're Underpaid Resources:  Get a Raise in Any Economy - Get instant access via thefirstgencoach.com/freetraining 6-Month 1:1 Coaching: https://calendly.com/thefirstgencoach/consult Apply for On-Air Coaching: https://forms.gle/JshV6Z6TfUw6BBnk6 Download your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FREE Resume Guide and Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CarlaTheFirstGenCoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anika sat down with Kristian Fields, President of Klover Contracting, to explore why the construction industry remains stuck in outdated practices while a few innovators are fundamentally reshaping how large-scale infrastructure gets built. They revealed a counterintuitive truth: the problem isn't labor shortage—it's workflow predictability. Kristian's 25-year perspective on construction management and his experience scaling Klover offered practical solutions against the persistent "construction can't change" narrative, alongside a sharp look at where prefabrication and AI actually create value.In This EpisodeThe origin story of Kristian's transition from VP Field Operations to President and what it actually requiredScaling velocity: watching Klover expand from regional contractor to national prefab leader with 100,000 sq ft manufacturing facilityThe prefabrication bet: why solving a 450,000-worker shortage required rethinking entire construction workflowsTeam culture that endures: why the "31 Fundamentals" campaign transformed hiring and retentionWhy documented processes and institutional memory matter more than raw headcountThe ongoing myth that prefab compromises quality—what real project data actually showsBuilding the BIM-to-Field execution bridge and why that gap existedLeadership lessons from historic preservation to data centers: why architectural intent matters in every buildPredictive automation versus chatbot AI: where manufacturing is actually headedTimestamps00:00 Introduction: 25 years in construction management10:00 The prefabrication origin story and why it started 15 years ago12:16 The construction industry's real problem: skilled labor shortage and workflow unpredictability22:01 Environmental impact: reducing 3,000+ gallons of diesel fuel through prefab consolidation29:24 Preparing for AI-assisted manufacturing: rethinking BIM coding for future machine integration36:33 Advice for newcomers: pursue work you enjoy, stay close to target roles, maintain humility39:00 The core mantra: "Be relentless about improvement" and "action over accuracy"Key Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Workflow Unpredictability Isn't a Labor Problem—It's a Strategy ProblemConstruction sites with 50+ workers juggling electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and structural crews operate like traffic on a congested highway. One trade delays another. The industry assumes the solution is hiring more workers. Klover's insight: the problem is predictability. By moving complex coordination off-site into BIM modeling and prefabrication, you eliminate the traffic jam entirely. The fix isn't more people—it's smarter workflows.Insight 2: Culture Scales Through Documented Examples, Not Top-Down MandatesThe "31 Fundamentals" campaign works because it's not a poster on the wall. Every week, Kristian shares one fundamental with real examples of employees living it. Other employees then submit their own interpretations. Recognition follows. That's how culture survives hypergrowth—through repetition, example, and celebration of behavior you want to see.Insight 3: AI Amplifies What You Already Have—It Doesn't Create Value in a VacuumKristian isn't chasing chatbots or automation theater. He's preparing for AI that augments human expertise. The vision: BIM models coded to eventually communicate with automated welders or assembly equipment. Workers don't disappear—they expand their capacity. If you don't have documented processes and repeatable workflows, no AI tool compensates. Your advantage is the expertise you've already built.Insight 4: The Future Isn't Conversational AI—It's Predictive IntelligenceForget chatbots answering questions. Imagine manufacturing AI that knows your project timeline, your site constraints, your crew's skill level, and your budget—and it automatically optimizes panel sequencing, delivery schedules, and installation sequences without asking a single question. That's predictive intelligence. That's where Klover is heading.Resources & Links MentionedKlover ContractingWebsite: www.kloverinc.comServices: Prefab construction, BIM coordination, data center solutions, healthcare, multifamily housing, higher educationKey ConceptsBIM (Building Information Modeling): 3D digital modeling that resolves design conflicts before manufacturingJust-in-Time Delivery: Manufacturing and delivering components precisely when needed to avoid wasteThe 31 Fundamentals: Weekly cultural communication framework covering safety, quality, teamwork, and accountabilityPrefabrication: Off-site manufacturing of building components for faster, safer, more predictable installationAbout Kristian FieldsKristian Fields is President of Klover Contracting, a prefabrication and commercial construction leader serving healthcare, multifamily housing, higher education, and data center markets across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. With 25 years in construction management, structural engineering, and senior leadership, he brings rare technical expertise combined with operational vision.His career progression—from estimating and procurement to VP Field Operations to COO to President—reflects deliberate commitment to understanding every aspect of the business. At Klover , he's championed the prefabrication strategy that has scaled the company to national prominence, including completing one of the largest prefabricated apartment buildings in the US and expanding into data center construction.His philosophy centers on relentless improvement, action over perfection, and treating people as the core asset. He maintains that humility and continuous learning are non-negotiable leadership practices.Connect with Kristian FieldsWebsite: www.kloverinc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristian-fields-a29b7613/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anika sits down with Julie Ellis to explore the inflection point every founder dreads—the moment you've built the business, achieved the goal, and suddenly realize you have no idea who you are without it. Discover why selling an eight-figure business can feel like grief disguised as success, how delegation is the real bottleneck between scaling and plateauing, and the counterintuitive truth that derails most women entrepreneurs: it's never about having a bigger vision. It's about believing you're worthy of one—and whether you have the systems and people around you to make it real.In This EpisodeFrom dance to finance to founder: How an unexpected career path led Julie to solve a problem every parent knew existedThe basement to eight figures: Building Mabel's Labels from a 300 sq ft basement in Hamilton, Ontario to an internationally recognized brand—with zero industry experienceGrassroots growth and celebrity endorsements: How a tiny magazine feature led to Daily Candy recognition and a life-changing mention from Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The ViewThe art of delegation and scaling: Why most founders plateau and what separates those who scale to eight figures from those stuck at product-market fitThe post-exit identity crisis: Navigating grief, imposter syndrome, and gratitude after selling to Avery Products—and why the 90-day rest period changed everythingBig Gorgeous Goals: Why "gorgeous" matters as much as "big"—and how to chase ambitious goals while actually enjoying the journeyThe confidence gap and funding inequity: Why only 2.9% of venture capital goes to women entrepreneurs, and what Julie is doing to change thatPocket Coach: The asynchronous coaching model that keeps entrepreneurial momentum alive between sessionsBuilding community for women founders: The Big Gorgeous Goals podcast and investing in women-led businessesLeading through uncertainty: Why the biggest breakthroughs happen in times of changeTimestamps00:00 Introduction: The woman who solved every parent's labeling problem02:01 An unexpected founder: Dance degree, 15 years in finance, and the moment everything changed04:00 The basement days: One year of research, zero industry experience, and a team of misfits06:28 From tiny magazine feature to Elizabeth Hasselbeck's endorsement on The View11:06 The biggest gap between founders who plateau and those who scale: Delegation and decision-making12:49 The acquisition: Selling Mabel's Labels after nearly 13 years—and why it was the right time17:29 The post-sale emotions: Grief, imposter syndrome, and the gratitude sandwich19:07 The 90-day rest and the identity crisis: Why "I'm not qualified" became the biggest lie22:22 The coaching pivot: Why certification gave her the "add" she was looking for23:18 Writing during the pandemic: How a daily writing group turned a book idea into Big Gorgeous Goals25:37 Why "gorgeous" matters: Dancing toward your goals instead of grinding toward them28:01 Creating white space: Why unstructured time is where the best ideas live31:33 The confidence gap and funding inequity: 2.9% of VC goes to women; only 2% of women-founded businesses reach $1M33:45 Pocket Coach: Asynchronous coaching for keeping momentum alive between sessions35:52 The Big Gorgeous Goals podcast: Storytelling for women entrepreneurs39:02 Her ideal coaching clients: Low seven-figure founders scaling to $5-10M40:01 What's next: New keynotes and workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty41:38 Her guiding quote: Rabindranath Tagore's "Reach high for stars lie hidden in you"Key Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Unmet Market Needs Beat Industry ExpertiseJulie and her co-founders had no background in supply chain, marketing, or distribution—just a teacher, a financial planner, a lawyer, and a printing expert. What they had was a real problem to solve and a growth mindset. Expertise can be learned; identifying genuine customer pain points cannot.Insight 2: Delegation and Decision-Making Are the Scaling BottleneckThe biggest gap between founders who plateau and those who scale to eight figures isn't product or market—it's the ability to delegate and make decisions. Most founders get caught in the "I should have just done it myself" trap, which prevents them from reaching the next level.Insight 3: Post-Exit Grief Is Real—And Worth ProcessingSelling your business is an achievement, but it's also a loss. Julie experienced imposter syndrome, grief, and identity confusion after the sale. Her 90-day rest period—where she did nothing—was transformative. The emotional work matters as much as the financial outcome.Insight 4: White Space Is Where Creativity LivesThe best ideas don't come at your desk—they come in the shower, on a walk, flying on a plane. Creating intentional unstructured time requires saying no to things and protecting space fiercely, even though it feels counterintuitive.Insight 5: Women Entrepreneurs Face Systemic Funding and Confidence GapsOnly 2.9% of venture capital goes to women, yet women-led businesses outperform on efficiency and team management. The solution isn't just funding—it's mentoring, networks, and other women believing in women.Insight 6: Asynchronous Coaching Keeps Momentum AliveTraditional coaching sessions every two weeks create gaps where momentum dies. Pocket Coach's voicemail-based model lets entrepreneurs push through decisions in real time, maintaining the energy they need to scale.About Julie EllisJulie Ellis is a leadership coach, author, investor, and podcast host specializing in helping women entrepreneurs scale from seven to eight figures and beyond. She co-founded Mabel's Labels in a 300 sq ft basement in Hamilton, Ontario in 2003, growing it into an internationally recognized eight-figure brand before selling to Avery Products in 2016.After a 90-day rest and a brief stint managing 135 people in corporate retail, Julie pursued coaching certification and discovered her true calling: helping other entrepreneurs navigate the inflection points she'd experienced. She is the author of Big Gorgeous Goals: Bold Women Achieve Great Things, which features interviews with 16 women entrepreneurs who've scaled beyond the comfort zone.Today, Julie invests in women-led businesses, hosts the Big Gorgeous Goals podcast, offers one-on-one and asynchronous coaching through Pocket Coach, and delivers keynotes and workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty.Resources & Links MentionedJulie Ellis's EcosystemBig Gorgeous Goals (Book) — Hybrid published with Page Two, distributed through MacmillanBig Gorgeous Goals Workbook — Self-published companion guideBig Gorgeous Goals Podcast — Stories from seven and eight-figure female foundersPocket Coach — Asynchronous voicemail-based coaching for entrepreneursConnect with Julie EllisOpen to: Keynotes, workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty, coaching, and investing in women-led businessesLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ellis/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejulieellisWebsite: www.julieellis.caSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you raise children who understand the value of money in a world where almost every payment is digital?In this episode of Leadership Tea, Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson welcome back financial experts Sam Salmon and Josh Barrett from the State Department Federal Credit Union to discuss practical strategies for raising financially confident kids.Together, they explore allowances, saving, budgeting, first jobs, spending habits, and how parents can build healthy financial mindsets through consistent conversations, not fear or shame.Whether you're raising young children or preparing teenagers for adulthood, this conversation offers practical ideas that leaders can apply both at home and at work.In this episode:• The biggest mistake parents make when teaching kids about money• Why communication matters more than the size of an allowance• Helping children understand needs versus wants• Teaching financial responsibility in a cashless world• Preparing teens for their first paycheck• Why it's never too late to build better money habitsPart 1 of a two-part series with the State Department Federal Credit Union.--------------------Our company, Grounded and Global Advisory, is pleased to offer a quarterly advisory retainer. For $275 per month (billed quarterly, with the option to renew each quarter), you'll receive:One 60-minute coaching session per monthPriority access to our calendarOne annual 90-minute strategic intensiveThis offer is for the person who knows what good advisory support feels like and doesn't want to lose it. Spots are limited. If you're interested, email us directly at hello@stirringsuccess.com, and we'll be in touch.Send us a comment!Support the showWe publish new episodes every other Wednesday.Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

This is latest in our series of Thinking Out Loud. In this episode Zach Grosell and I talk about your year in consulting and a plethora of other topics.Links:Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit TeachingMaximizing the Impact of Coaching Cycles This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. 

What lies ahead for the surety industry as it enters what could be one of the most transformative periods in its history? In this episode, hosts Kat Shamapande and Mark McCallum engage industry leaders, Stephen Haney, President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Global Surety at CHUBB, Nathan Zangerle, President of Global Surety at Liberty Mutual Surety, and Chris Tata, Vice President, Commercial Surety in Bond & Specialty at Travelers, to explore the evolving landscape of surety amidst the booming demand for data centers and large-scale projects. They discuss the impact of labor shortages, risk management, and financial guarantees while emphasizing the importance of thoughtful underwriting and collaboration to navigate this generational moment. Tune in to gain valuable insights into market trends, emerging risks, and collaborative strategies that will help define the surety industry's path through 2026 and beyond. With special guests: Stephen Haney, President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Global Surety, Chubb Nathan Zangerle, President of Global Surety, Liberty Mutual Surety Chris Tata, Vice President, Commercial Surety in Bond & Specialty at Travelers Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored By Applied Surety Underwriters

Clement Manyathela speaks to Prof Linda Meyer, MD at Rosebank International and Visiting Professor at Nelson Mandela University, about how professionals can assess whether they are growing, drifting or standing still in their careers, and what practical steps they can take over the next six months. The Clement Manyathela Show is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station, weekdays from 09:00 to 12:00 (SA Time). Clement Manyathela starts his show each weekday on 702 at 9 am taking your calls and voice notes on his Open Line. In the second hour of his show, he unpacks, explains, and makes sense of the news of the day. Clement has several features in his third hour from 11 am that provide you with information to help and guide you through your daily life. As your morning friend, he tackles the serious as well as the light-hearted, on your behalf. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Clement Manyathela Show. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 09:00 and 12:00 (SA Time) to The Clement Manyathela Show broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/XijPLtJ or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/p0gWuPE Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with retail leader, five-time Top Retail Expert, NRF Top Voice, and Retail Women in Tech founder Shannon Flanagan to discuss the launch of her new book, Choose, Don't Chase Your Career. After being laid off four times between 2016 and 2024, Shannon shares how those experiences forced her to rethink success, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about work. Together, they explore why career transitions are about far more than finding the next job—they're opportunities to redefine who we are and what truly matters.The conversation dives into fear, comparison, burnout, financial insecurity, and the courage to pause instead of rushing into the next opportunity. Shannon explains why the traditional definition of success is no longer enough, how to recognize the "scripts" that shape our decisions, and why choosing purpose over chasing titles can lead to a more meaningful career and life. Whether you're navigating a layoff, considering a career change, or simply questioning what success looks like, this episode offers practical wisdom and an honest reminder that sometimes the greatest transformation happens in the space between chapters.You can buy Shannon's book here!

Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with Ivoclar. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new IPS Emax Zirconia offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow. As full-arch dentistry continues to grow, so do the demands on today's dental laboratories. That's why Knight Dental recently launched SimplyARCH Studio, a dedicated production environment built exclusively for full-arch restorations. To support this specialized workflow, Knight invested in an XTCERA milling system and carefully evaluated multiple CAM software solutions before choosing hyperDENT. The decision came down to exceptional milling quality, minimal hand finishing, and impressive production efficiency. But what truly set hyperDENT apart was the implementation process. From the very beginning, the team provided more than software training—they shared the knowledge and experience needed to build an optimized workflow for complex full-arch cases. With proven expertise in advanced milling strategies and laboratory production, hyperDENT helped ensure SimplyARCH Studio was designed for long-term success from day one. The Voices From the Bench microphones head to the FDLA Symposium for three conversations that perfectly capture what makes this industry so special. Thanks to the wonderful people at GPS Digital RPD, Elvis and Barb got to sit down with longtime friend Morris Fucarino to celebrate an incredible milestone—50 years as a CDT. Morris shares how he found his way into dental technology, what earning certification has meant throughout his career, and why he believes every technician should strive to be the best they can be. From belt-driven handpieces and gold crowns to running a successful one-man laboratory with just three loyal doctors, Morris proves that passion, relationships, and knowledge never go out of style. His stories are a reminder that while technology continues to change, craftsmanship and pride in your work remain timeless. Next, the conversation shifts to Enja Dorjchuluun from Sakr Dental Arts, who talks about helping lead one of Florida's fastest-growing laboratories while serving on the FDLA Board of Directors. She discusses the challenges of managing a lab spread across multiple buildings, the excitement of moving into a brand-new facility, and why giving back through organized dentistry has become such an important part of her career. From developing future technicians to creating educational opportunities and strengthening state associations, Enja shares why investing in people is every bit as important as investing in technology. To wrap things up, Elvis and Barb meet Joseph Núñez Reyes from GPS Digital Dental Lab, whose journey from Puerto Rico to Orlando is fueled by determination, curiosity, and a love for digital dentistry. After leaving biomedical engineering behind, Joseph found his passion in the dental laboratory, worked his way from the model room to supervising a modern CAM department, and now showcases laboratory workflows through social media to inspire the next generation of technicians. With dreams of one day returning to Puerto Rico to build a state-of-the-art laboratory, Joseph reminds us that the future of dental technology is in very capable hands. Ever notice the busiest labs aren't always the ones working the longest hours? They're usually the ones with a workflow that keeps moving—even after everyone heads home. Real productivity isn't about asking your team to do more; it's about having the right tools doing more for your team. That's where Roland's DGSHAPE DWX milling solutions really shine. Built to keep production moving whether you're milling a single case or running overnight, they free your technicians to focus on finishing cases, serving customers, and growing the business instead of babysitting equipment. That's what real productivity looks like: more output, fewer interruptions, and less time spent chasing problems. Because every hour your mill is producing is another hour your lab is creating value. If you're ready to get more from every production day, discover what Roland's DGSHAPE DWX milling solutions can do for your lab at rolanddental.com.Special Guests: Enja Dorjchuluun, Joseph Núñez Reyes, and Morris Fucarino CDT.

Anika sits down with Dr. Mickey Fitch Collins to expose the leadership development trap most companies fall into, uncover the psychological safety crisis silently burning out middle managers, and reveal the counterintuitive secret to sustainable organizations: it's never about the strategy. It's about the people executing it—and whether they feel confident enough to show up as their whole selves.In This EpisodeBass fishing to breakout rooms: How 30 years of professional fishing taught her more about leadership than any MBA—and why early public speaking shaped her entire careerThe leadership development gap: Why companies wait until burnout is critical to invest in leaders, and the cost of reactive vs. proactive developmentMiddle manager isolation: The push-pull stress of serving two masters, losing peer relationships, and why leaders are abandoned once they "make it"Psychological safety as the foundation: Why you can't build better leaders without first creating spaces where people can be honest, vulnerable, and wholeThe burnout epidemic: How the WHO classifies burnout as a health concern, and why control-based work models are burning people outRemote work and trust: Why flexible work aligned with individual needs enhances motivation, and why monitoring software is the opposite of trustLearn It Lounge podcast: Building community among L&D professionals by sharing authentic problem-solving storiesThe giving phase: What's next for Mickey—coaching, speaking, and helping others grow while designing a life centered around familyTimestamps00:00 Introduction: From pro bass fisherman to leadership facilitator06:23 Why she left higher education after 20 years and a PhD08:00 The pandemic pivot: From C-suite to corporate learning and development16:00 The most common breakdown when companies scale: Delayed leadership investment20:20 Why outsiders and consultants bring objective credibility24:30 The push-pull of middle management and burnout30:31 Psychological safety as the antidote to burnout34:32 Work models and control vs. trust: Why flexible work beats surveillance38:26 How Learn It Lounge started and what's next for MickeyKey Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Leadership Is a Learnable Skill, Not Innate ExpertiseBeing a great founder, engineer, or visionary doesn't automatically make you a great people manager. Leadership—coaching, vision-casting, conflict resolution, delegation—is a skill set that must be built. The organizations that win are the ones that invest in emerging leaders before they're in crisis mode, not after.Insight 2: Proactive Development Beats Reactive InterventionCompanies that delay leadership investment until burnout, turnover, or conflict forces their hand end up spending 3-4x more on reactive solutions. The smartest organizations identify rising stars early and develop skill sets before people are drowning.Insight 3: Psychological Safety Is the Foundation of EverythingYou cannot build better leaders, improve communication, or increase engagement without psychological safety. When people can admit mistakes and be vulnerable without fear, they stop wearing masks and performing—and that's when real growth happens.Insight 4: Control-Based Work Models Are the Opposite of TrustStrict hours, in-office mandates, and monitoring software send one message: "I don't trust you." When organizations care for the whole human—flexible work, autonomy, trust—they get higher motivation, lower turnover, and higher profitability. The research is clear.Insight 5: Storytelling Creates Meaning Beyond DataWe make decisions with data, but we make meaning with stories. In the age of AI and critical thinking, storytelling and authentic presence are just as important as problem-solving skills.Resources & Links MentionedLearn Ithttps://www.learnit.com/Learn It Lounge Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-learnit-lounge/id1817436348Conversations with L&D professionals sharing authentic problem-solving stories and best practicesAbout Dr. Mickey Fitch CollinsDr. Mickey Fitch Collins is a leadership facilitator and learning strategist at Learn It, specializing in leadership self-efficacy and building confident leaders. With a PhD in Leadership and Higher Education, a master's degree in Counseling and Student Personnel, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Mickey spent 20 years in higher education leadership before transitioning to corporate learning and development during the pandemic.Her unique origin story includes 30 years of professional bass fishing experience—competing at the national level with 30+ sponsors, speaking at expos and on radio and TV. This early experience shaped her public speaking confidence, marketing acumen, and deep understanding of leadership in male-dominated environments.Connect with Dr. Mickey Fitch CollinsLearn It Website: https://www.learnit.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyfitchcollins/Open to: Coaching, speaking engagements, and mentoring emerging leadersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love Your Career Podcast? Let us know!Most people don't expect a career crisis. Redundancy, restructuring, a change in leadership or the sudden realisation that your contribution is being overlooked can happen with very little warning. And when it does, important career decisions often need to be made at the worst possible time.In episode 283 of Your Career Podcast, I explain why proactive career planning matters and how giving regular attention to your career can help you avoid making rushed decisions under pressure.I share a personal story from my years in Singapore, when I arrived at the airport with my two-year-old daughter and discovered that my Australian passport had expired. What followed was a stressful race against time and a difficult arrival in Australia using my British passport without the correct visa.It was a powerful lesson in what happens when something important, but not urgent, is left unattended for too long.The Urgent Important MatrixI introduce the Urgent Important Matrix, a practical framework made famous by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and associated with former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.The matrix helps you separate tasks into four areas:urgent and importantimportant but not urgenturgent but not importantneither urgent nor importantCareer planning usually sits in the important but not urgent category.That is precisely why it is so easy to postpone.Your career does not send you a reminder when your industry is changing, your role is becoming vulnerable or your professional network is growing cold. By the time career planning feels urgent, you may already be facing redundancy, burnout or an unexpected career transition.What proactive career planning includesI discuss the career work that is best completed before you urgently need it:understanding and articulating your professional valuegaining clarity about the direction you want your career to takekeeping your resume, LinkedIn profile and other career assets currentmaintaining relationships and nurturing your professional networkreflecting on your achievements, skills and changing prioritiespreparing for career change before circumstances force the decisionProfessionals who manage redundancy or career change well are not necessarily luckier than everyone else. Often, they have already invested time in understanding who they are, what they offer and what they want next.This preparation gives them greater confidence, perspective and choice.A restructure may still be unsettling, but it is less likely to feel like a personal verdict when you already understand the value you bring.Take control before your career becomes urgentYou do not need to wait for a crisis to pay attention to your career.By setting aside time for the important but non-urgent work now, you can make better decisions later, strengthen your professional confidence and respond more effectively when change arrives.What have you done to proactively manage your career before redundancy looms?- - - - - - - -Welcome to Your Career Podcast with Jane Jackson where I help mid career professionals overcome self doubt and gain career clarity and the confidence to create the life and career they desire. Book a Zoom chat with me at janejacksoncoach.com - I'd love to meet you and discover what's happening in your career! Support the show- - - - - -To discover how to make a successful career change and land the job you'll LOVE, take the CAREER SUCCESS QUIZ and within 2 minutes you'll have your results, analysis and recommendations for career success.  https://careersuccess.scoreapp.com/   

In this return episode, Anika and Dick Wybrow break down the exact mindset shift required to transition between industries, why independent publishing outperforms traditional deals for genre fiction, and the counterintuitive truth about building a sustainable creative business: it's not about chasing trends—it's about finding your authentic voice and the people who love it.In This EpisodeCareer pivot from broadcast to books: How 20 years in comedy and TV prepared him for writing—and why it required complete humilityThe case for indie publishing: Why control, speed, and 70% royalties beat traditional publishing's marketing machineFinding your niche in a crowded market: Why humor is his unfair advantage against AI and how to defend your work in 2026Building a dedicated readership from zero: The power of responding to every email and comment—and why word-of-mouth beats paid adsThe narcolepsy reframe: How he transformed a "disability" into a creativity superpowerAudience growth without the hype: Why you don't announce your book—you quietly build your team of readersThe Substack experiment: Serializing a prequel, building SEO, and getting two revenue bites from one storyBalancing workaholic tendencies with life: Calendar blocking, time limits on creative tasks, and why delegation mattersFive actionable tips for aspiring authors: The exact framework for finishing your first book (no perfectionism allowed)The faith factor: How becoming a Christian shifted his storytelling toward hope and championing marginalized charactersTimestamps07:11 Learning humor writing: Mentors, analysis, and understanding structure11:35 Why independent publishing was the only option for his stories19:22 Why humor is the ultimate AI defense23:11 Finding your first dedicated readers: Authenticity and personal response31:06 Substack as serialization, SEO, and future revenue34:17 Calendar blocking and reframing narcolepsy as a creativity superpower40:09 Five tips for aspiring authors: The exact framework for finishing your book46:15 How faith shifted his storytelling toward hope and purposeKey Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Skill Transfer Requires Humility, Not ConfidenceDick had 20 years of broadcast success. Writing books is a different craft entirely. Rather than assuming he knew how to write, he became a student—finding mentors, analyzing structure in published works, and accepting he had "permission to be stupid" about the new medium. Confidence kills learning.Insight 2: Independent Publishing Wins for Niche VoicesTraditional publishers reject stories that are "strange" or don't fit market categories. Independent publishing gives you three critical advantages: (1) Complete creative control, (2) 3-4x faster release schedules, (3) 70% royalties instead of $1 per $14.99 book. For passionate authors with unique voices, this isn't a trade-off—it's freedom.Insight 3: Humor Is Your Unfair Advantage Against AIAI can generate content at scale. AI cannot be funny. Humor is what Dick calls "cultural voodoo"—nobody can define it precisely enough to code it. By writing humor-forward genre fiction, he's built immunity to AI competition that pure genre writers don't have. Authenticity and voice beat volume every time.Insight 4: Your Readers Are Built One Person at a TimeDick didn't build a following through viral moments. He built it by responding personally to every email and comment. Readers who feel seen become advocates. One person from 2019 (Neil) has been a loyal reader for seven years. That's lifetime value that no algorithm can buy.Insight 5: Five Steps to Actually Finish Your BookWrite the book you want to read (don't chase trends)Don't announce it (avoid the dopamine hit that kills momentum)Find 2-3 trusted readers (not family)Set a daily writing goal (even one sentence counts)Finish before you fix (first drafts are garbage—that's the point)The real permission slip: Give yourself permission to write badly. Every author writes garbage first drafts. Revision is where the work happens.Insight 6: Your Limitations Are Often Your Unfair AdvantagesDick has narcolepsy—he's half-asleep most of the time. Rather than fighting it, he reframed it as his creativity engine. Being in a dream-state means his mind wanders into places other people don't naturally go. That's where his best story ideas come from. The lesson: reframe, don't resist.Resources & Links MentionedDDUB Publishing (Dick's independent publishing company)Hell Inc. and Wolfwear series (bestselling collections)The The Facilite Con (sci-fi heist comedy, August 2026 release)Substack (serialization platform for prequel content)Facebook Ads Library (research tool for ad copy analysis)Joe Abercrombie's "The Devils" (humor writing structure reference)About Dick WybrowDick Wybrow spent 20 years as a standup comedian, radio host, and TV producer (including work on CNN's early comedy newscast with Pete Dominic). He pivoted to full-time authorship and founded DDUB Publishing, building a multi-book catalog of supernatural thrillers blended with humor. He's financially supported his wife's retirement through author earnings, relocated to New Zealand, and is now exploring teaching online from Thailand while maintaining a prolific writing schedule. He's a self-taught expert in ad copywriting, graphic design, and marketing—and is committed to mentoring aspiring authors.Connect with DickWebsite: https://www.dickwybrow.com/Social:facebook.com/dickwybrowtiktok.com/@dickwybrow_ Open to mentorship: Authors working on projects can reach out for guidanceSubstack newsletter: dickwybrow.substack.comWeekly humorous newsletter + prequel serializationRelated EpisodeRejection to Recognition: The Tenacity Behind Dick Wybrow's Best-Selling SuccessSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anika teamed up with Benjamin Behrooz to decode why massive exposure so often fails to drive revenue. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive truth: the problem isn't content creation—it's integration. Benjamin's 17-year perspective on branding and his experience scaling Branding Los Angeles across five states offered practical pushback against the persistent "AI will replace everything" narrative, alongside a sharp look at where AI actually creates value.In This EpisodeThe origin story of Branding Los Angeles: from a 400 sq ft apartment to a national powerhouseScaling velocity: expanding from California to Texas, New York, Hawaii, and Florida with intentional footprint strategyThe staffing challenge: why grading your team A+, A, B, C determines whether you scale or collapseWhy 75% of potential clients get turned down—and why that's the competitive advantageThe integrated approach: how branding, PR, SEO, and storytelling work together (not in silos)Market psychology and decision timelines: understanding when your customer is actually ready to buyWhy human-written content still outperforms AI-generated content in Google's eyesBuilding authority through PR and media mentions, not just organic reachTimestamps00:00 Introduction: Standing out in a saturated market00:59 The 400 sq ft beginning: how showing up changes everything06:23 The integrated branding and market strategy approach09:02 Understanding market psychology and customer decision timelines10:12 Where conversations are actually happening: Reddit, Facebook groups, and beyond18:41 The AI content truth: Google is separating human-written from machine-written31:18 PR is more important than SEO (the hook)34:00 Staffing as the #1 scaling bottleneck: the A+/A/B/C grading system36:45 Selective client intake: saying no to 75% of opportunities44:30 Blue collar workers as the future champions of the economy48:57 The personal motto that drives everythingKey Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Visibility Without Revenue Is a Strategy Failure, Not a Content FailureFortune 500 companies frequently have massive social followings and brand awareness. Yet their phones aren't ringing. The problem isn't more content—it's integrating branding, PR, SEO, and storytelling into a cohesive system. Generic approaches die. Strategic integration wins. Insight 2: Human-Written Content Still Outperforms AI Content in SearchGoogle is actively separating human-written from machine-written content. Websites with 200 pages of AI-generated content rank, then instantly vanish. The companies winning in 2026 kept their content writers and use AI checkers to verify authenticity. Insight 3: Your Customers Aren't Where You Think They AreThe conversations your customers are having—the questions at 2 AM, the pain points they're sharing—aren't on your LinkedIn. They're on Reddit, in Facebook groups, where real people congregate. Win by showing up where the conversation already exists. Insight 4: Staffing Quality Determines Scale or CollapseGrade your team A+, A, B, C. C's go. B's get trained. A's get pushed to A+. One question: "If this position was open, would you rehire this person?" If no, you're already failing. Quality beats speed every time.Insight 5: Saying No to 75% of Business Is the Competitive AdvantageBenjamin turns down three out of every four potential clients. Not because he can't do the work—because he knows which clients will succeed. Sustainable growth comes from working with clients you can actually scale, not chasing every opportunity. Insight 6: PR Builds Authority That AI Can't FakeWhen a trusted third party validates who you are, that signal is worth more than a thousand blog posts. AI uses 15-20 platforms to cross-reference claims. If you're mentioned by credible sources, you win the trust game. Insight 7: Blue Collar Work Is the Future Safe HavenWhile corporate roles face disruption and downsizing, skilled trades are in desperate demand. Companies are cutting office staff by 40% while desperately hiring tradespeople. Positioning yourself in skilled trades offers more security than most white-collar paths. Resources & Links MentionedBranding Los Angeles (flagship company)National hubs: California, Texas, New York, Hawaii, FloridaClients include: Cousins Maine Lobster, Chipotle, and Fortune 500 brandsAbout Benjamin BehroozAfter 17 years in branding and digital strategy, Benjamin Behrooz built Branding Los Angeles from a 400 sq ft apartment into a national powerhouse serving Fortune 500 companies. He's scaled teams across five states and made the deliberate choice to keep human expertise at the core of his strategy while competitors chased AI automation. He leads a 95-person team that turns visibility into revenue.Connect with BenjaminLinkedInBranding Los AngelesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jane Wagner spent more than 30 years as a teacher and driving force of an award-winning K-8 Visual and Performing Arts magnet school. In this episode we discuss the challenges of maintaining a quality thematic school.Gene's Books:Teach FastMaximizing the Impact of Coaching CyclesDigital CaptivesX: (1) Gene Tavernetti (@gtavernetti) / XLinkedIn:(7) Gene Tavernetti | LinkedInwww.tesscg.comSubstack: Gene Tavernetti | Substack This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. 

What if failure isn't the opposite of winning — but the gift that makes it possible? In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Your Health CEO Matt Staub opens up about the present he gave himself at 40: permission to fail. Then he shows what that looks like when life tests it — walking Jamie through a 2025 that brought prostate cancer, his daughter's surgery, the loss of his father, and professional hardship, and the quiet strength it takes to look back and say, "That was a good try. I'm still here. I'm hard to beat." In this episode, you'll hear: How Matt reframes a loss into a "fall forward" — and the simple habit he uses to do it The agonizing leadership question of when to let someone you care about fail Why accountability, done right, is one of the best gifts you can give a friend The danger of only celebrating big wins — and how complacency quietly creeps in Why the only voice that truly matters is the one inside your own head If you missed Part 1, start there for the full arc. Then settle in here for the deeper, more personal half — and walk away with a new relationship to the losses in your own life.

"You want to own the message and your narrative."Strong communication is about more than delivering a message—it's about building trust over time. As Zoom's Chief Marketing Officer, Kim Storin has helped shape communication at one of the world's most recognizable brands, balancing empathy, transparency, and consistency in an era of rapid technological change. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Storin joins Matt Abrahams to discuss how leaders can communicate with authenticity, navigate crises with clarity, and build cultures rooted in transparency. They explore the art and science of shaping perception, maintaining connection in hybrid workplaces, and creating messages that solve problems—not just capture attention.Key Takeaways:Lead with authenticity and transparency. Clear, honest communication builds trust—especially during periods of change or crisis.Own your narrative. Consistent messaging and a clear story shape how others understand your brand, team, or ideas.Activity:Before your next team update or difficult conversation, ask yourself: "What information can I share that will build trust?" Include one additional point of context or reasoning that helps your audience better understand the decision.Printable Expanded Takeaways & ActivitiesEpisode Reference Links:Kim StorinEp.82 It's Not About You: Why Effective Communicators Put Others FirstConnect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:37) - Leading Through a Global Crisis (03:36) - Changing Brand Perception (06:50) - Building Culture at Scale (09:00) - Virtual Communication Gains & Losses (11:24) - Creating Meaningful Moments (12:34) - Communicating Through Difficulty (16:03) - The Final Three Questions (21:33) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.Most Work Platforms Help People Communicate.  Some help you organize, but Zoom turns conversations into outcomes. Try Zoom Mate today

Part Two: Stephan Bajaio on Digital VisibilityAnika continues her conversation with Stephan Bajaio, diving deeper into what it really means to lead people in a way that outlasts you. Moving beyond business strategy, this episode explores the human side of leadership—passion, failure, servant leadership, mindfulness, and the balance between "vibe" and "logic" that defines sustainable team culture.In this conversation, Stephan shares his framework for leadership rooted in four core beliefs, his daily Tefillin practice and gratitude ritual, why Performance Improvement Plans are misused as firing mechanisms, and how parenting a daughter influences his approach to building confident, empowered teams.In This EpisodeThe four pillars of leadership: passion, failure, servant leadership, and empowermentWhy passion can't be taught—only discoveredCreating environments where vulnerability and failure are welcomed, not punishedFlipping the org chart: servant leadership as a behavior, not a positionHow to empower people in small doses and build their confidence through affirmationThe myth of PIPs as firing tools—and how they actually transform performanceWhy not every high performer should become a managerThe "human being" vs. "human doing" trap and how to escape itDaily mindfulness practices: Tefillin, gratitude, and intentionalityVibe + Logic: the duality that defines sustainable businessWhy your company culture is defined by how people leave, not how they arriveKey Timestamps02:28 – The four pillars of leadership begin04:01 – Failure is not only welcome, it's expected08:58 – Leadership is a behavior, not a position13:09 – Empower your people first—in small doses with follow-up affirmation18:51 – PIPs aren't meant to fire someone—that's corporate nonsense31:00 – The "human being" vs. "human doing" trap and daily mindfulness practice43:06 – Building confident, independent women and team members44:40 – Vibe + Logic: the duality that defines sustainable business50:00 – Stephan to participate in upcoming AI and workforce skills podcastsKey Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Passion Is Discovered, Not TaughtThe most valuable asset in leadership can't be developed through training programs. It has to exist within people. Stephan's approach to hiring is built on understanding what motivates people—what gets them up in the morning—because that's the fuel that carries them through failure and challenges.Insight 2: Leadership Is a Behavior, Not a PositionThe title doesn't make you a leader. Your actions do. Servant leadership means flipping the traditional org chart so your job becomes supporting those around you, not commanding from above. This shift in mindset changes everything about how teams respond to you.Insight 3: Empower in Small Doses, Then AffirmDon't just hand someone a big responsibility and walk away. Give them leadership opportunities in manageable pieces, then follow up with genuine affirmation. The power of a thank you is shocking—people often overlook how much courage it took someone to step outside their comfort zone.Insight 4: PIPs Should Improve, Not FirePerformance Improvement Plans are routinely misused as mechanisms to force people out. When done right, PIPs actually transform performance. Stephan has seen people on PIPs become star players because they understood the company wasn't trying to get rid of them—it was trying to help them succeed.Insight 5: Your Culture Is Defined by How People LeaveThe way employees exit your company says more about your culture than how you bring them in. If you're not celebrating the alumni who've gone on to bigger things, you're missing the point. People aren't assets to trap—they're people to empower.Insight 6: Being Requires Daily PracticeIt's too easy to go through life doing without ever being present. Stephan's two-year Tefillin practice—binding, prayer, gratitude—forces him to stop and recognize what he's grateful for. These rituals look different for everyone, but what matters is the intentionality.Insight 7: Vibe + Logic Is the Balance That WorksLeadership requires both creativity ("vibe") and technical rigor ("logic"). You need both—a Picasso without a frame is worthless, and a frame without art is empty. The key is recognizing where you're weak and building complementary teams that offset your blindspots.Resources & Links MentionedVibeLogic.com – Stephan's digital strategy firmConductor – The enterprise SEO platform he co-foundedPractical Pedagogy: The Art of Teaching for the Future of Work – New PodcastAbout Stephan BajaioStephan Bajaio is a leadership strategist and founder of VibeLogic, a digital strategy firm focused on making businesses visible to the customers who need them most. With 25 years in digital marketing, he co-founded Conductor (scaled to 65 people serving Fortune 500 brands), navigated a WeWork acquisition that took the company to $500M+ valuation, and stepped away when the timing was right. He's also a father to a five-year-old and a practitioner of daily mindfulness through Jewish rituals and gratitude practice.Connect with StephanLinkedInVibeLogic.comYouTube: VibeLogicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most companies recruit interns to take work off someone's plate. Your Health does the opposite — and it's why several of its current executives, including a Chief Information Officer, first walked in the door as interns. In this episode, Jamie sits down with Heather Bower, Director of Experiential Learning, who has taken the reins of Your Health's internship, mentorship, preceptorship, and apprenticeship programs. Heather shares how a long-standing program is being rebuilt with structure, data, and intention — organized into semester cohorts, anchored by a four-day all-company orientation, and designed so every intern owns a project with genuine stakes. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why "get interns because they're cheap" is exactly the wrong spirit — and what replaces it How one MBA intern's shadowing experience redirected him toward nursing school The "spreadsheet whisperer" intern who taught regional leadership to pull data faster What surprises interns most once they're inside healthcare: the human complexity How Your Health uses feedback loops to move interns toward roles where they'll actually shine If you're early in your career and unsure where you fit, this episode is a map to possibilities you may not know exist. Press play and rethink what an internship can really be. www.YourHealth.Org

Stevie Knight, Knight Leadership and Professional Development, on Relationship-Centered Leadership and the Invisible Skill (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 970) On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Stevie Knight, CEO of Knight Leadership and Professional Development. Stevie spent 29 years with the Florida Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau […]

Most schools pour resources into developing brilliant teachers and then promote those same people into management roles with almost no preparation for what comes next. This episode centres on a genuinely exciting initiative: Management Mastery, an in-house leadership development programme created by Poppy Nobes, Head of Professional Development at Aldridge Education. Poppy built the programme after recognising a gap that formal qualifications like NPQs simply can't fill; the operational, contextual, and deeply practical side of managing people in your specific organisation. From handling difficult conversations to structuring communication channels, Management Mastery is designed to make the implicit explicit.You'll hear how Poppy and her team started by working backwards from the problems they were actually seeing in their workforce, grievances, repeated sick leave, unsupported staff, and designed a programme around the skills leaders needed to prevent them. Shane and Poppy discuss why practice-based professional development is just as vital for managers as it is for classroom teachers, the power of a shared language (including the "balcony and dance floor" concept that keeps coming up in their cohort), and why being geographically spread across ten schools from Brighton to Durham makes community-building all the more essential. If you've ever wondered whether your organisation has quietly assumed that leadership development is covered, this conversation will make you think again.Resources & Links Mentioned:Aldridge EducationPoppy Nobes on LinkedInTeach First Golden Thread CoursesEpisode Partners:International Curriculum AssociationSisiJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Agriculture is built on more than land, livestock, and capital. It's built on people, capability, and the strength of the communities that support them.In this episode, Danny Shepherd shares the thinking behind RaboElevate, Rabobank's capability-building platform designed to support farmers and agribusiness leaders through every stage of their career.Drawing on a background in education and leadership development, Danny explains why building knowledge, networks, and self-awareness is just as important as access to finance. From emerging farm managers through to business owners and strategic leaders, RaboElevate aims to help people navigate the "sticky points" that come with growing a business, leading people, and making better decisions.Danny also shares his personal story of discovering his farming roots later in life after meeting his father for the first time in his late thirties, and how that experience unexpectedly brought together his passions for education and agriculture.From leadership development and financial literacy to international study tours, strategic thinking, and the role of AI in agriculture, this conversation explores what it takes to build resilient businesses and thriving rural communities for the long term.This conversation highlights why investing in people and capability may be one of the most important investments agriculture can make.Key insights from the conversation:The story behind RaboElevate and why Rabobank invests in capability, knowledge, and networksHow farmers move through different seasons of leadership across their careersThe importance of self-awareness, curiosity, and critical thinking in businessNavigating the "sticky points" of farm ownership, growth, succession, and leadershipHow practical education programs help bridge the gap between operational and strategic thinkingThe value of peer networks, study tours, and learning from farmers around the worldWhy AI should enhance decision-making, not replace critical thinkingHow stronger leaders contribute to stronger businesses, communities, and future generations of agricultureChapters:00:00 Introduction02:56 Danny Shepherd's Journey to Agriculture07:29 Understanding RaboElevate12:22 Career Development in Agriculture17:26 Sticky Points in Agricultural Careers21:39 Comparing Agricultural and General Business Challenges28:44 RaboElevate Programs and Offerings29:03 Community Involvement and Accessibility of Programs31:32 The Next Generation and AI in Agriculture36:01 Conclusion and Reflections

Send us Fan MailWhat are we really teaching when we teach Pilates?Is it stronger abs? Better posture? Improved mobility?Or is it something much bigger?In this episode of The Pilates Exchange, Hannah explores how Pilates can become a practice ground for resilience, confidence, and self-awareness. Inspired by the Mind Over Muscle workshop, we dive into the science behind challenge and discuss how movement can help clients build skills that extend far beyond the studio.We explore why appropriately dosed challenge helps us grow, how confidence develops through experience, why our brains change through repetition, and how thoughtful coaching creates lasting change.Whether you're a Pilates teacher, movement professional, or lifelong learner, this episode will challenge you to think differently about what happens every time someone steps onto a mat or reformer.In this episode:✔ Why challenge is essential for growth✔ The science of Hormesis and Stress Inoculation✔ How Self-Efficacy builds lasting confidence✔ Neuroplasticity and habit formation✔ Why autonomy and choice improve motivation✔ The importance of awareness in learning and change✔ Practical coaching ideas you can use in your next class

Burnout and Authenticity: Elizabeth Rosenberg's Intuitive PR StrategyAnika sat down with Elizabeth to explore why the most credible leaders aren't the most polished ones—they're the most present ones. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive truth: as AI automates expertise, human traits like intuition, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence become your competitive advantage. Elizabeth's dual background in PR and spiritual practice offered sharp pushback against the "authenticity is risky" narrative, alongside a practical framework for when vulnerability serves your brand (and when it doesn't).In This EpisodeThe origin story of Good Advice Company and why Elizabeth didn't need to find a market gap—she built on what she was already good atComing out of the spiritual closet in 2022 on LinkedIn and why the reaction shocked herThe Soul and Story process: combining Akashic readings, behavioral analytics, and deep story mining for authentic personal brandingWhy 90 male participants showed up to a tarot workshop at Fast Company's Innovation Festival (and what that man learned about his wife)Intuitive intelligence as the antidote to AI-generated mediocrityThe burnout story that terrified her more than admitting she's a spiritual mediumFrom hospital migraine to recognizing burnout looks different for everyone—there's no silver bullet recoveryWhy presence matters more than future-striving in leadershipThe fragmented media landscape and why "unhinged authenticity" (not chaos) is the futureReading the room: the difference between vulnerability and oversharing on LinkedInWhy smaller communities and in-person connection will win over influencer marketingThe Chief Spiritual Officer platform launching in early SeptemberTimestamps00:00 Introduction: Founder of Good Advice Company and Chief Spiritual Officer01:05 Building a company around what you're already good at, not market gaps03:36 Intuitive intelligence as a strategic advantage in the age of AI04:50 Coming out as spiritual on LinkedIn in 2022—and the surprising lack of backlash06:31 The Soul and Story proprietary process: Akashic readings + behavioral data + story mining09:41 The Fast Company Innovation Festival workshop: 90 people, tarot cards, and a man proving his wife right12:10 Male participation in spiritual practices is rising—what that signals14:44 Why AI can't replicate authentic personal branding19:42 The burnout story: hospital, lost motor skills, and the shame that followed22:06 Burnout looks different for everyone—recovery is never one-size-fits-all26:03 Recognizing the signs early and having a supportive boss who lets you name it28:13 Presence as a practice: why "just get through this" mentality kills leadership31:48 The fragmented media landscape and why traditional PR is evolving33:04 "The future is going to be the unhinged people"—original thought vs. algorithmic noise35:51 Why even national media placements don't guarantee new audience reach anymore38:14 Authenticity as strategy: vulnerability builds credibility, not weakness42:16 The oversharing risk: reading the room and trusting your intuition before posting44:06 Why smaller communities matter more than follower counts46:25 Leadership trends: CEOs staying silent, new industries emerging, the management skills crisis48:49 Chief Spiritual Officer platform: launching early September with significant iteration49:30 Favorite quote from Maya Angelou: "You're the funniest person you've ever met"Key Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Authenticity Isn't Soft—It's StrategicLeaders assume vulnerability signals weakness. The opposite is true. Failure stories, burnout recovery, and admitting what you don't know create the emotional connection that AI-generated content can never replicate. The most credible executives aren't the most polished—they're the most real.Insight 2: Intuitive Intelligence Is a Learnable Skill, Not a GiftPeople assume intuition is innate. Elizabeth reframes it as a skill you develop through practice—whether that's tarot, pendulums, journaling, or walking with loud music. The tool doesn't matter. What matters is creating space to listen to your own knowing instead of defaulting to what AI suggests or what everyone else is doing.Insight 3: Burnout Recovery Is Personalized—There's No ProtocolEveryone's burnout looks different. Elizabeth's was a hospital visit with lost motor skills. Someone else's is quiet resignation. The dangerous myth is that there's a universal fix. Real recovery requires honest diagnosis of your specific burnout, not following someone else's recovery playbook.Insight 4: The Algorithm Doesn't Expand Your Reach AnymoreEven a New York Times feature or national morning show appearance only reaches people already in your orbit. The algorithm filters for familiarity. This means visibility comes from original thought, in-person presence, and smaller communities where trust is built through repeated, authentic interaction—not from chasing big media placements.Insight 5: Read the Room Before You PostVulnerability is powerful, but context matters. Entrepreneurs can afford more candor than executives at Fortune 500 companies. The guardrail: if you're already questioning whether to post something, don't. That hesitation is intuition telling you it's an inside voice, not an outside voice. Text your PR friend instead.Insight 6: Presence Is a Competitive AdvantageLeaders are conditioned to always be striving toward the next goal. Presence—actually being where you are, with the people in front of you—is rare enough to stand out. It's also what prevents burnout. The paradox: being more present makes you more effective, not less.Insight 7: Male Participation in Spiritual Practices Is RisingThe workshop had 50/50 gender split. Elizabeth's client base shifted from 90% women to 60/40 in two years. This signals a cultural shift: men are giving themselves permission to explore intuition, energy work, and spiritual practice without the "woo" stigma. That's a leadership trend worth watching.Insight 8: AI Amplifies What You Already Know About YourselfAI can't tell you who you are. It can only reflect back patterns it's seen before. Real personal branding comes from deep self-knowledge—your origin story, your failures, what actually drives you. That's what Elizabeth mines through the Soul and Story process. AI is a tool for executing that clarity, not discovering it.Resources & Links MentionedGood Advice Company: thegoodadvicecompany.comChief Spiritual Officer Platform (launching early September 2026)Soul and Story Process (proprietary personal branding framework)Brick Phone (technology management tool Elizabeth recommends)About Elizabeth RosenbergElizabeth Rosenberg is the founder of Good Advice Company and Chief Spiritual Officer, a platform destigmatizing spirituality in corporate leadership. With 20+ years in PR and personal branding, she's worked with C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Glamour. She combines intuitive practices (Akashic readings, tarot, energy work) with behavioral analytics and storytelling strategy to help leaders build authentic brands that AI can't replicate. She's also a vocal advocate for presence, vulnerability, and recognizing burnout before it hospitalizes you.Connect with ElizabethLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethrosenbergWebsite: thegoodadvicecompany.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What separates great leaders from everyone else? In this episode of Everything Is Personal, Len May sits down with Terry Mendez, CEO of Safe Harbor Financial, to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, business transformation, financial innovation, team building, AI, technology, and the future of business. Terry shares lessons from his career at Deloitte, Arthur Andersen, Fortune 500 companies, and high-growth businesses. The conversation explores leadership, communication, innovation, customer experience, financial services, entrepreneurship, business strategy, and how successful leaders build organisations that continue to grow. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, business owner, or someone interested in leadership and innovation, this episode offers practical insights that can help you think differently about business and success. EndoDNA: Where Genetic Science Meets Actionable Patient Care EndoDNA bridges the gap between complex genomics and patient wellness. Our patented DNA analysis platforms and AI technology provide genetic insights that support and enhance your clinical expertise. Click here to check out to take control over your Personal Health & Wellness   Connect with EndoDNA on SOCIAL: IG | X | YOUTUBE | FB Connect with host, Len May, on IG     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"If these masters are still continually trying to improve their own craft, I don't have any excuses."The world's best don't reach the top and stop learning—they keep refining their craft. David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass, has spent years sitting across from elite performers, athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs—and he's discovered that excellence is less about talent than a relentless commitment to growth. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, he joins Matt Abrahams to share lessons from building a company around learning, persuasion, and communication. From earning the trust of high-profile talent to leading creative and technical teams, Rogier reveals why curiosity, adaptability, and authentic relationship-building are essential communication skills.Takeaways:Lead with curiosity. Build trust by asking thoughtful questions and focusing on the other person's needs, not your own. Never stop improving. The world's top performers continuously seek feedback, refine their skills, and embrace lifelong learning.Activity:Study an expert. Watch a communicator you admire—a speaker, leader, or interviewer—and identify three techniques they use to engage their audience. Try incorporating one of those techniques into your next presentation or meeting.Printable Extended Takeaways & ActivitiesEpisode Reference Links:David RogierMatt's MasterClassConnect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (00:39) - The Power of Learning (01:28) - Building Trust (04:21) - Creating Great Content (07:23) - Leading Different Teams (09:45) - Learning from Masters (10:54) - Communicating with a Stutter (14:00) - The Final Three Questions (17:39) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.To see what Scribe could look like for your organization, head to scribe.how/thinkfast and mention Think Fast for your first month of Scribe Capture free. 

In this episode of Stop Sabotaging Your Success, Cindy Esliger dives into why building professional relationships can feel uncomfortable, especially for women working in engineering, STEM, and other male-dominated environments. While technical competence matters, Cindy explains that career growth is also shaped by the informal networks we build through interaction. She discusses keeping everyone at arm's length to protect professional credibility and becoming the person everyone relies on emotionally, showing how both extremes can limit career opportunities, making a case for true connection. Cindy shares six common pitfalls that quietly undermine our success: 1. confusing boundaries with walls, 2. becoming everyone's person without receiving support in return, 3. dismissing connection as frivolous or unproductive, 4. showing up as all business and wondering why people think we're cold, 5. Letting fear of seeming weak prevent us from being human, and 6. assuming others will not reciprocate our first offer of connection. She also reframes three limiting beliefs that keep many professionals isolated. Strength is not handling everything alone. Workplaces are not always unsafe for authentic connection. Enduring is not the same as thriving. Cindy then shares practical strategies for building stronger relationships. Cindy emphasizes that engaging with colleagues is not a distraction from the work. It's part of the work. Strong professional relationships improve team dynamics, encourage innovation, create opportunities, and provide the reciprocal support needed to prevent burnout. She challenges listeners to begin with one simple action by asking a colleague a genuine question before their next meeting and listening with curiosity. Building meaningful professional relationships is a skill that grows with practice, and taking the first step can transform both career success and everyday work life. Resources discussed in this episode: Guide to Building Professional Connections Astronomic Audio Confidence Collective — Contact Cindy Esliger  Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEO in the AI Era: Stephan Bajaio on Digital VisibilityStephan Bajaio spent 25 years watching Fortune 500 companies sit on goldmines they never excavated. As co-founder of Conductor and survivor of the WeWork acquisition, he learned something most entrepreneurs never do: your greatest competitive advantage isn't your product—it's the expertise of the people who built it. Yet most companies hide their leadership behind generic bios and outdated headshots. This episode isn't about chasing the latest AI trend or obsessing over search rankings. It's about the uncomfortable reality that you're probably invisible to the exact customers who desperately need you. If you've built something real but nobody knows who you are, Stephan's playbook changes the game.In This EpisodeThe origin story nobody tells: how Stephan earned his "Chief Evangelist" title at ConductorScaling at warp speed: what it's like to watch a company grow from 3,000 to 13,000 employees in 2.5 yearsThe WeWork chapter: why surviving an acquisition by an imploding company taught him more than success ever couldTeam culture that outlasts you: why recruiting from your clients is the highest complimentThe incremental growth philosophy: one step outside your comfort zone, then back inWhy documenting your wins matters more than you think (and why AI makes it critical)The SEO death narrative is wrong—here's why the data tells a different storyBuilding tools for the gap: how he created an SEO-to-Executive translator because the translation didn't existPredictive AI vs. chatbots: where the real future of technology actually livesTimestamps00:00 The introduction: 25 years in digital marketing made him wise, not cynical01:32 Earning your co-founder title: why it had to mean something04:14 The first big bet: building SEO onboarding when clients didn't know they needed it10:52 The WeWork story: how a chance elevator meeting led to a $500M+ valuation15:23 Adam Newman's vision and why scale without cohesion breaks companies18:46 The real measure of success: how many of your clients want to work for you?20:00 The comfort zone circle: growth happens one step at a time23:39 Documenting your achievements: the institutional memory problem nobody talks about24:50 Podcasting during COVID: how he saw around the corner when others didn't31:47 The leadership page crisis: why your "About Us" is costing you millions35:51 SEO in 2026: every prediction of its death was wrong38:14 The future isn't chatbots—it's predictive intelligence with rich data42:16 The SEO-Exec translator: making the technical accessible to decision-makers44:06 Interactive content as the second coming of the internetKey Insights & TakeawaysInsight #1: Your Invisibility Problem Isn't About Content—It's About Strategy Stephan walks into company "About Us" pages for clients with CIOs on their boards, industry veterans with 20+ years of expertise, and finds: generic bios, no video, no authored content, no proof of expertise. These aren't small companies. These are enterprises leaving their greatest asset completely undiscovered. The fix isn't more content—it's treating your people like the product they actually are.Insight #2: Every "Death of SEO" Prediction Has Been Wrong Voice search was supposed to kill it. Mobile was supposed to kill it. Panda, Penguin, every algorithm update—all supposed to be the end. ChatGPT was supposed to be the final nail. Meanwhile, search remains the only place people tell you the truth about what they need. The companies winning aren't chasing trends. They're building the data, content, and wisdom that makes them discoverable wherever people search.Insight #3: Imposter Syndrome Isn't a Weakness—It's Your Guardrail After 25 years, after building a $500M+ company, after speaking on stages worldwide, Stephan still gets butterflies. He still feels like he hasn't earned his seat in the room. And he's right to feel that way—because the moment you stop questioning yourself is the moment you stop learning. Confidence without humility is arrogance masquerading as expertise.Insight #4: Scale Without Tribal Knowledge Is Chaos WeWork grew from 3,000 to 13,000 employees in 2.5 years. Every meeting had a new executive from Amazon, PayPal, or eBay. Nobody had been there long enough to know how anything actually worked. Good intentions don't survive that kind of speed. Your competitive advantage in hypergrowth isn't hiring faster—it's documenting what you know before you forget it.Insight #5: AI Doesn't Create Value—It Amplifies What You Already Have The companies winning in AI aren't building better chatbots. They're the ones controlling the data moat. Apple got this right: the agent is just a vehicle. The data is the prize. If you don't have rich, documented expertise sitting on your website, no AI tool will save you. Your competitive advantage isn't a new technology—it's the wisdom you've already built that nobody else has captured.Insight #6: The Future of AI Is Invisible, Not Conversational Forget chatbots. Imagine your AI knowing you're running late to dinner, that it's raining, that you like EDM while driving, that your dinner companion loves sushi, and it seamlessly reroutes you, books an alternative restaurant, handles the parking, and adjusts your music—all without asking you a single question. That's predictive intelligence. That's where we're actually headed. Most companies are still trying to build the chatbot version.Resources & Links MentionedVibeLogic.comSEO-Exec Translator (interactive tool for translating technical SEO to executive language)Search From Home Podcast (Stephan's daily COVID-era podcast)Conductor (the enterprise SEO platform he co-founded)About Stephan BajaioAfter 25 years in digital marketing, Stephan Bajaio has forgotten more about marketing strategy than most people will ever learn. He co-founded Conductor, grew it to a 65-person global team serving Fortune 500 brands, navigated a WeWork acquisition that took the company to $500M+ valuation, and walked away when it was time. He's been Chief Evangelist, CMO, and now CEO of VibeLogic—a digital strategy firm built on the uncomfortable truth that most businesses are invisible to the customers who need them most. He's also a father to a five-year-old who has zero respect for his calendar, and he's still figuring out how to be a human being instead of a human doing.Connect with StephanLinkedInVibeLogic.comYouTube: VibeLogicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the career you've spent decades building suddenly ends?In this special re-release of one of Leadership Tea's most impactful conversations, executive leader Cathy Duffy shares how being unexpectedly pushed into early retirement became the beginning of an entirely new chapter.Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson explore identity, leadership, resilience, and what it truly means to take your power back after a forced career pivot.If you're navigating layoffs, organizational change, or questioning what's next in your own career, this episode offers practical leadership lessons that feel especially relevant today.--------------------Our company, Grounded and Global Advisory, is pleased to offer a quarterly advisory retainer. For $275 per month (billed quarterly, with the option to renew each quarter), you'll receive:One 60-minute coaching session per monthPriority access to our calendarOne annual 90-minute strategic intensiveThis offer is for the person who knows what good advisory support feels like and doesn't want to lose it. Spots are limited. If you're interested, email us directly at hello@stirringsuccess.com, and we'll be in touch.Send us a comment!Support the showWe publish new episodes every other Wednesday.Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

What if training your employees and leaders together was the fastest path to better performance and results? In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast, Nicole Greer sits down with manufacturing leader and executive coach Luca Romano to discuss how training with Nicole and using the TILT assessment and SHINE Methodology gave him a structure for developing his team without making it personal or emotional.This conversation dives into key topics such as work culture, leadership, business strategy, team communication, and effective management practices, including how SHINE and TILT worked alongside EOS and Traction to help Luca's team increase on-time delivery from 51 percent to 91 percent in under two years.In this episode, you'll learn:How to train employees and leaders to improve performance and resultsHow the TILT assessment gives teams a shared language for behavior changeHow the SHINE methodology builds self-assessment into everyday leadershipWhat most leaders get wrong about training time and team developmentThis episode is for leaders, managers, business owners, and professionals who want to improve communication, strengthen organizational culture, and grow in their careers.Learn more about Vibrant Culture & how Nicole Greer can help your team succeed (like she did with Luca)

In this episode, I talk about what takes more time than we think when it comes to implementation, and what takes longer than we think.Links:Gene's Books:Teach FastMaximizing the Impact of Coaching CyclesDigital CaptivesX: (1) Gene Tavernetti (@gtavernetti) / XLinkedIn:(7) Gene Tavernetti | LinkedInwww.tesscg.comSubstack: Gene Tavernetti | Substack This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. 

In this insightful interview, Emma May and Alun Bedding explore the nuances of coaching and mentoring, sharing personal stories, frameworks, and practical tips to enhance professional growth. Discover how these powerful tools can transform statisticians' careers and foster leadership development.

Whoever scores the most goals wins. Simple — until you leave the field and try to keep score in your actual life, where there's no referee and no final whistle. So how do you know if you're winning? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Your Health CEO Matt Staub sits down with Jamie Preston to redefine what a win actually is. Matt opens with the daily ritual that grounds him — making it to the gym — and the moment he realized the win wasn't the scale or the heavier lift, but the discipline of showing up at all. In this episode, you'll hear: Why the heaviest weight at the gym is the front door — and what that teaches about every goal The hidden cost of only celebrating the big wins (hint: it's called burnout) What a humbling match-play golf loss taught Jamie about changing the goal instead of the game Why Matt believes pressure is a privilege — and how he leans into it Who actually decides what counts as a win, and what to do when there's no scoreboard This is the half where winning gets redefined from the outside in. Press play, then come back next week for Part 2 — where it gets personal.

In this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin is joined by Bret Stevens, director of medical education and associate designated institutional official (DIO) at McLaren Oakland, and Reanna Benedict, director of GME operations and assistant DIO at Lexington Health. Drawing on their leadership experience and service on the ACGME's Coordinator Advisory Group, they explore how community-building and professional development can strengthen job satisfaction, resilience, and long-term success for program coordinators and other GME professionals. Bret and Reanna discuss the importance of building connections at the institutional, regional, and national levels, particularly for those working in smaller programs or organizations with limited local support. They share practical strategies for engaging with professional organizations, seeking mentorship, developing peer networks, and creating opportunities for collaboration and learning. The conversation also highlights the value of giving back to the GME community through mentoring others, sharing resources, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The discussion further examines the evolving skills needed in the coordinator role, including navigating new technologies, leveraging residency management systems, leading difficult conversations, and supporting learners through challenging situations. Throughout the episode, the speakers emphasize the importance of asking for help, embracing lifelong learning, and extending compassion to oneself while navigating the complexities of GME. Listeners will gain practical insights into how community, mentorship, and ongoing professional growth can enhance both the coordinator experience and the broader clinical learning environment. Podcast Chapters (00:00) – Intro & Guest Introduction (00:45) – Community and Professional Development in GME (04:00) – Finding Support Through Professional Networks (05:28) – The Value of Conferences and Peer Learning (07:25) – Mentorship, Leadership, and Giving Back (09:02) – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (10:50) – Growth Mindset and Continuous Improvement (13:27) – Embracing Change and Lifelong Learning (14:50) – Technology, AI, and Working Smarter (17:15) – Creating Coordinator Communities (20:16) – Developing Communication and Leadership Skills (25:00) – Self-Compassion and Final Reflections (25:38) – Closing & Resources

If you've ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations.We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units Yvette's Summer Task List.Summer is often seen as a time to step away from school, recharge, and reset. But it can also be an opportunity to strengthen your mathematical thinking, explore new ideas, and build habits that support your growth as an educator—without turning your break into more work.The key isn't filling your summer with professional development or adding more to your to-do list. It's about being intentional. Whether it's spending a few minutes each week exploring a visual pattern, solving a rich math problem with your family, or exposing yourself to new ideas through reading and diverse experiences, small habits can have a lasting impact. The goal isn't productivity for the sake of productivity—it's creating opportunities to stay curious, build mathematical proficiency, and return to the school year feeling energized and inspired. In this episode, you'll explore:Why doing math regularly strengthens mathematical proficiencyHow visual patterns and rich tasks can spark meaningful math conversationsWays to build simple, sustainable summer habits around mathematicsWhy increasing your inputs can broaden your thinking as an educatorThe value of reading beyond math education and learning from other fieldsHow to balance growth, curiosity, and rejuvenation during the summer monthsIf you're looking for ways to make the most of your summer without sacrificing rest and recovery, this episode offers practical ideas for staying connected to mathematics, learning, and personal growth in a joyful and sustainable way.Show Notes PageLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District.Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you'll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program.Take the assessmentAre you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don't want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with Ivoclar. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new IPS Emax Zirconia offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow. At exocad Insights in beautiful Mallorca, we finally caught up with Felix from Imagine USA—and the timing couldn't have been better. As an exocad dealer on the front lines of digital dentistry, Felix shared his excitement about the strong turnout, the familiar faces, and most importantly, the innovation coming from exocad. What stood out most? The new exocad Hub and its cloud-based capabilities, along with powerful AI-driven tools inside DentalDB designed for efficient batch processing. For Felix and the Imagine team, it's not just about seeing what's new—it's about putting it to the test. By running new features through their own production facility first, they ensure real-world performance before bringing solutions to their customers. While at Exocad Insights in Mallorca, Elvis and Barb sit down with Beth Collington, President of Exocad America, to talk about the growth of digital dentistry and how Exocad continues to evolve to meet the needs of technicians, laboratories, and clinicians. Beth shares her thoughts on education, accessibility, and the importance of creating tools that help bring more people into digital workflows while maintaining the flexibility that has made Exocad a favorite throughout the industry. Then Josh Jakson and Robert Norton join the podcast to discuss their roles as Exocad educators, trainers, and laboratory professionals. The conversation covers some of the biggest announcements from Exocad Insights, including AI Crown, Crown Finalization, and ExoHub, and what these developments could mean for the future of laboratory workflows. They also share how real-world production experience influences the way they teach, why Exocad's flexibility remains one of its greatest strengths, and how the software is being used for everything from high-volume crown production to custom grills, jewelry, and even automotive parts. It's a fun conversation filled with practical insight, industry perspective, and a glimpse into where digital dentistry is headed next. Special Guests: Beth Collington, Joshua Jakson, and Robert Norton.

Message Clarity Matters: Bruce Ashford on the Communication Bottleneck Killing Growth Bruce Ashford spent nearly two decades in academia as a professor and provost, but a personal crisis during COVID forced him to rebuild from scratch. What he discovered in his own recovery became the blueprint for helping mission-driven nonprofits and founder-led businesses solve their biggest growth problem: they can't articulate their value. The irony? Organizations doing genuinely important work often fail not because of what they do, but because of how they communicate it. Bruce works with CEOs to unlock two critical clarity challenges—message clarity and structural clarity—that separate thriving organizations from stuck ones. In This Episode Bruce's journey: from academic leader to recovery to messaging strategist How personal crisis revealed the power of rigorous self-inventory The six organizational components that must align for sustainable growth Why marketing firms miss the most important skill: the words Storytelling frameworks where the customer or donor is the hero How nonprofits underestimate their value through unclear messaging The founder bottleneck: why CEOs become the ceiling on growth Structural clarity: the airplane analogy that transforms organizations Vision and mission statements that actually inspire (25 words or less) AI optimization alongside human connection: winning over machines and people Building a brand presence so clear that growth becomes inevitable Timestamps 00:00  Understanding the Clarity Problem 05:58  The Journey to Message Clarity 11:51  Personal Transformation and Professional Growth 17:45  The Power of Story in Messaging 23:26  Real-World Applications and Success Stories 25:27  Targeting the Right Audience for Nonprofits 27:05  Communicating Value Effectively 30:04  Growth Strategies for Organizations 34:53  Leadership and Organizational Bottlenecks 37:26  The Importance of Vision and Mission Statements 42:29  AI's Role in Marketing and Clarity 47:29  Finding the Truth in Your Message Key Insights & Takeaways Insight #1: Message Clarity Is Half the Battle Most nonprofits and founder-led businesses haven't found the right words to communicate their value to customers or donors. This isn't a confidence problem—it's a structural one. Marketing firms lack messaging expertise, and leaders can't see their own label from inside the bottle. Getting clarity on your message transforms everything. Insight #2: Six Components Must Align for Growth Organizations don't grow by doing the same things harder. They grow when leadership, marketing, sales, product optimization, management/productivity, and cash flow all work in harmony. Like an airplane, if one component fails, the whole system fails. Insight #3: The Founder Is Often the Bottleneck CEOs carry too much on their shoulders and never delegate or systematize. James Clear's principle applies: "You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." Without processes and delegation, organizations cannot scale. Insight #4: Story, Not Features, Drives Action People don't buy features—they buy transformation. The most effective messaging makes the customer or donor the hero of the story, not your organization. When audiences see their own life reflected in your words, they act. Insight #5: Authenticity Compounds Over Time Whether it's personal recovery or organizational branding, finding and communicating your truth creates a moat that tactics can't replicate. Consistent clarity and authentic storytelling naturally attract the right attention and support. Resources & Links  Bruce Ashford's Website — https://www.theashfordagency.com/ Million Dollar Message Intensive — Bruce's flagship messaging program StoryBrand by Donald Miller — The framework that shaped Bruce's approach Small Business Flight Plan — The certification model Bruce uses Nonprofit Flight Plan — Bruce's adaptation for mission-driven organizations AI Trust Signals by Marcus Sheridan — Evaluate and optimize AI ranking factors Atomic Habits by James Clear — "You fall to the level of your systems" About Bruce Ashford Bruce Ashford is a messaging strategist and organizational consultant who works exclusively with CEOs of nonprofits and founder-led businesses. With nearly two decades in academia and nonprofit leadership, he watched capable leaders with important missions fail to communicate their value. After a personal crisis and recovery, he discovered that the same rigorous self-inventory that saved his life could transform organizations. He's a certified coach in StoryBrand, Marketing Made Simple, and Small Business Flight Plan, and he specializes in helping mission-driven leaders achieve message clarity and structural clarity—the two foundations of sustainable growth. Connect with Bruce: Website: www.theashfordagency.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brucerileyashford   For the accessible version of the podcast, go to our Ziotag gallery.We're happy you're here! Like the pod? Support the podcast and receive discounts from our sponsors: https://yourbrandamplified.codeadx.me/ Leave a rating and review on your favorite platform Follow @yourbrandamplified on the socials Talk to my digital avatar  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Digital Learning Today. In this episode, Jeff Bradbury digs into the strategic systems shaping the future of education—Instructional Coaching, Artificial Intelligence, Professional Learning, and the latest trends in educational technology. Joining the conversation is Blake Freeman from RiseVision, who shares how digital signage can strengthen school communication, improve safety, and boost engagement through quick deployment, cost-effective options, and creative uses of digital displays across a district. Become a High-Impact Leader: This episode is just the beginning. To get the complete blueprint for designing and implementing high-impact systems in your district, get your copy of my book, "Impact Standards." Strategic Vision for Digital Learning:Learn how to create a district-wide vision that aligns digital learning with your educational goals, transforming how standards-based instruction is designed and supported.Curriculum Design and Implementation:Discover practical strategies for integrating digital learning into existing curricula, creating vertical alignment of skills, and mapping digital learning across grade levels.Effective Instructional Coaching:Master the art of coaching people rather than technology, building relationships that drive success, and measuring impact through student engagement rather than just technology usage. Purchase your copy of “Impact Standards” on Amazon today! Key Takeaways: Innovative uses of digital signage for student recognition and community engagementRiseVision offers a simple, cloud-based platform for digital signage in schools.Deployment can be completed in a day using mass rollout tools.The platform is hardware agnostic, supporting various devices and systems.Emergency alerts can be displayed visually on all screens instantly.Templates and integrations make content updates quick and easy. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to RiseVision and Its Purpose03:33 Deployment and Integration of RiseVision in Schools05:38 Rise Vision Pricing06:36 Utilization of Digital Signage for Emergency Alerts09:28 Enhancing Student Recognition and Community Engagement12:37 Support for Different Educational Roles15:27 Professional Development and Onboarding with RiseVision18:22 Professional Development Options Resources Mentioned in This Episode: https://www.risevision.com/rise-vision-vs-interactive-displayshttps://www.risevision.com/software/emergency-alertshttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/rise-vision_have-you-considered-how-you-can-make-the-activity-7311349570637111297-Quyu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAn2JskBIs_bCVxd4_2dY4_Gjnml7fwI6qA About Rise Vision Rise Vision helps you communicate, teach, and improve safety affordably with easy cloud-based digital signage, screen sharing, and emergency alerts—all backed by world-class support and flexible hardware options. Most schools struggle to communicate effectively and keep their students engaged. Rise Vision provides an easy-to-use platform with digital signage, screen sharing, and emergency alerts to improve communication, teaching, and create a positive school culture. Most schools face challenges with communication, teaching, and safety, which impact their ability to create an engaging and positive learning environment. Poor Communication:Schools struggle to ensure students, staff, and parents stay informed about announcements, events, and opportunities. Traditional methods like printed posters or emails often go unnoticed, and inconsistent messaging across the district creates confusion.Underutilized Technology:Expensive interactive flat panels and other classroom tools are often used as basic displays, failing to deliver their promised value. Teachers lack intuitive, affordable tools to collaborate and engage students effectively.Safety Concerns:Many schools lack streamlined, reliable systems to send critical emergency alerts across buildings. Without fast, clear communication during incidents, schools risk confusion and delays in response.Limited Resources:Tight budgets and stretched IT teams make it difficult to adopt and maintain technology. Schools are forced to manage multiple disconnected tools for signage, collaboration, and alerts, increasing complexity and costs.Disengaged School Culture:Schools often miss opportunities to celebrate achievements, foster engagement, and build a sense of community among students and staff, leading to lower involvement in extracurricular activities and events. Links of Interest https://www.risevision.com/LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/rise-vision/YouTube -http://www.youtube.com/c/RiseVisionFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/risevision/ Let's Work Together Contact Me Today:https://www.teachercast.net/contact Follow on Social Media LinkedIn:https://www.teachercast.net/linkedinTwitter/X:https://www.teachercast.net/twitterBlueSky:https://bsky.app/profile/jeffreybradbury.bsky.socialYouTube:http://teachercast.net/youtube Subscribe to This Podcast Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0n6S0WcyzQ1rpKWJ8iZPLJ?si=a1227a7c5e0b48e4 Check Out Additional TeacherCast Programming Digital Learning Today:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310Ask the Tech Coach:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-the-tech-coach/id1067586243The Jeff Bradbury Showhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jeff-bradbury-show/id519685828 Book Jeff for your Next Event Jeff Bradbury (ISTE “20 to Watch” Award Winner and ISTE Certified Educator) is available for keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, and live event broadcasting. With expertise in educational technology and professional development, Jeff brings engaging content and practical strategies to conferences and professional learning events. Visit Jeff's Website:https://jeffreybradbury.comContact Jeff Directly:https://jeffreybradbury.com/contact/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [gravityform id="2" title="true"]

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when inspiration becomes imitation?This episode was inspired by a conversation with a member of the Pilates community whose teacher training materials—including her written manuals, photographs, and original work—were copied and resold by someone who had enrolled in, but never completed, her program.While that story sparked this discussion, this episode is about something much bigger.As educators, coaches, and movement professionals, where do we draw the line between learning from others and creating something of our own?We discuss:why intellectual property matters in movement educationthe difference between inspiration, collaboration, and copyinggiving credit to the teachers and methods that shaped uscreating original manuals, teacher trainings, and educational resourceswhy every method is built on the shoulders of those who came before usand how integrity ultimately becomes part of your professional reputationEvery teacher is influenced by someone.The question is not whether you borrow ideas.The question is whether you acknowledge them, build upon them thoughtfully, and create something that genuinely reflects your own experience and perspective.Because your reputation is built not only on what you teach—but on how you choose to teach it.Season Sponsor:OfferingTree is an all-in-one business management platform built for boutique pilates and fitness studios. Website, booking, payments, email marketing, and on-demand content — all in one place. Built for studio owners who want to spend less time on admin and more time doing what they love. Book a demo or start your free trial → offeringtree.com/pilatesexchange Connect with Hannah & Christian Teutscher: hannah@pilates-studio-nuernberg.comPerformance Fit Pilates: https://www.pilates-studio-nuernberg.comPerformance Fit Pilates on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performance_fit_pilatesPerformance Fit Pilates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvzuZtali0B3uWzVcwOH1QHannah Teutscher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-teutscher/

Ghazenfer Mansoor's early experience with a recruitment software startup became the catalyst for a complete philosophical shift. When he realized his product lacked product-market fit and failed to address specific user needs, he had to go back to the whiteboard entirely, redesigning the entire value proposition. This painful lesson became the foundation for his mission to help founders build products the right way from the start rather than experimenting on limited budgets. Ghazenfer's perspective on artificial intelligence and product development distinguishes itself through grounded, realistic understanding rather than hype. While many founders treat AI as magic that will automatically solve problems with the right prompts, he recognizes that AI amplifies existing processes—it doesn't replace strategy. The most significant mistake he observes is founders assuming that generic AI prompts without their own data and workflows will generate competitive advantages. In reality, AI is only as good as the data and context provided. If business processes are broken, data is messy, or workflows are undefined, AI won't fix those problems—it will expose them. To learn more about building products strategically, leveraging AI for competitive advantage, and understanding the principles of sustainable growth, explore Ghazenfer Mansoor's book Beyond the Download which provides comprehensive strategies for app success and user engagement. For deeper insights into software development, healthcare technology, and AI integration, visit Technology Rivers at https://technologyrivers.com/, where his team helps founders build products the right way from the start. You can also connect with Ghazenfer directly at https://ghazenfer.com/ to learn more about his approach to product strategy, compliance, and scaling businesses through technology. For the accessible version of the podcast, go to our Ziotag gallery.We're happy you're here! Like the pod? Support the podcast and receive discounts from our sponsors: https://yourbrandamplified.codeadx.me/ Leave a rating and review on your favorite platform Follow @yourbrandamplified on the socials Talk to my digital avatar  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the reason your team is underperforming has nothing to do with skills, strategy, or structure? What if it comes down to energy? Kristin Mackey is the creator of Frequency Matters, a research-backed framework that connects the science of resonance to how people communicate, collaborate, and show up as leaders. On this episode, she introduces a new lens on employee engagement: Manage Your Particles.Spencer and Christian sit down with Kristin to explore what conscious leadership actually looks like in practice, how your internal frequency broadcasts to your team whether you intend it to or not, and why alignment is not just a strategy conversation. It is a frequency conversation. If you lead people, this episode will change how you walk into a room.Transcript

Celebrating 300 episodes with listener questions from around the world. In this special 300th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams celebrates a major milestone with a live Ask Matt Anything session featuring questions from listeners around the world—and a few from the team behind the show. He introduces a new communication framework, PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point), before tackling topics ranging from word recall and public speaking nerves to storytelling, AI's impact on communication, giving difficult feedback, and using gestures more effectively. Along the way, he shares practical strategies, favorite communication techniques, and lessons learned from 300 episodes dedicated to helping people communicate with confidence, clarity, and connection.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Ep.250 How to Navigate Conflict: Tools For Productive Communication Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:13) - PREP Framework (04:13) - Improving Word Recall (07:10) - Public Speaking Nerves (11:35) - Concise vs. Detailed Communication (13:39) - AI & Communication Skills (16:12) - Storytelling Fundamentals (18:51) - Lingo vs. Jargon (20:22) - Difficult Feedback Conversations (22:36) - The Power of Paraphrasing (25:07) - Effective Gestures (29:28) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost. Upwork is a one-stop platform to find, hire, and pay expert freelancers. Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. 

Text me!In today's solo shorty, I talk about one thing that has worked for me when it comes to having success. The concept seems like a no brainer, but not many people actually implement it.Support the showLINKS TO FREEBIES BELOW: WEEKLY NEWSLETTER where I share all the tips and tricks on how to grow organically online HERE If you are interested in sponsoring the show, send me a DMABOUT THE HOST: Former Executive Recruiter turned Digital Marketing Expert & Entrepreneur.  I'm here to show you that you can do it too! I help women to start, grow and scale their personal brand and business online through social media. In 2021 I launched ChilledVino, my patented wine product and in 2023 I launched The Feminine Founder Podcast and in 2025 I launched my Digital Marketing Agency called Feminine Founder Marketing. I live in South Carolina with my husband Gary and 2 Weimrarners, Zena & Zara. This podcast is a supportive and inclusive community where I interview and bring women together that are fellow entrepreneurs and workplace experts. We believe in sharing our stories, unpacking exactly how we did it and talking through the mindset shifts needed to achieve great things.Let's connect further!!LinkedIn HERE IG @cpennington55 FB HEREChilledVino HERE

How to communicate with impact when the stakes are high.Communication isn't about getting information out. It's about making sure it gets through. In an era of fragmented attention and endless platforms, the challenge isn't finding ways to speak—it's finding ways to connect.According to Farnaz Khadem, Vice President of University Communications at Stanford, great communicators start with three questions: What's the goal? Who's the audience? And what does the data tell us? Whether guiding a university through a crisis, helping experts share their ideas with broader audiences, or deciding where a story should be told, she believes effective communication centers around understanding people. "People want to know what's actually happening," she says. "And if what is happening is you don't know what is happening, you have to tell people you don't know."In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Khadem joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss the importance of preparation, transparency, and active listening when communicating during uncertainty. From navigating the opportunities and risks of AI to crafting stories that create genuine connection, she shares practical lessons for building trust, adapting to changing audiences, and communicating effectively when the stakes are highest.Episode Reference Links:Farnaz KhademEp.22 Under Pressure: How to Communicate Clearly and Timely During a Crisis Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:38) - Communication Fundamentals (03:58) - Choosing the Right Channel (05:38) - Building Communication Networks (06:50) - Coaching Better Communicators (08:44) - Crisis Preparation (10:47) - Crisis Response (12:40) - The Power of Storytelling (14:28) - AI in Communications (17:29) - The Final Three Questions (24:23) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.To see what Scribe could look like for your organization, head to scribe.how/thinkfast and mention Think Fast for your first month of Scribe Capture free. 

What often sets the best PD experiences apart are a few intentional choices in how that learning is designed. In this episode, I talk with Jenn White and Josh Kurzweil of Berkeley LTC about three simple but powerful practices they use when designing professional learning for adults: Pre-During-Post, Curated Q&A, and Poster Sessions. All of these strategies create more opportunities for participants to discuss, reflect on, and apply what they're learning, and they can make your next PD a lot better.  ___________________________ Thanks to Alpaca and Notability for sponsoring the episode. To read a written version of this podcast, visit cultofpedagogy.com/3-fresh-pd-structures. To learn more about my upcoming course, Mastering the Lesson Plan, visit cultofpedagogy.com/teaching101.

The nonverbal habits that make you look confident, composed, and authentic before you even speak.How you carry yourself can shape how others perceive your confidence, credibility, and authenticity—often before you say a word. In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams shares practical, research-backed techniques for strengthening your presence through body language, posture, gestures, and eye contact. Learn how to stand and sit with confidence, move with purpose, use your hands effectively, and avoid common nonverbal habits that can distract from your message. Whether you're presenting to an audience, leading a meeting, or navigating everyday conversations, these simple strategies can help you communicate with greater composure and impact. Episode Reference Links:Ep.12 It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It: How To Communica…Ep.137 When Words Aren't Enough: How to Excel at Nonverbal Communication  Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:59) - Be Big, Balanced, and Still (02:53) - The Right Speaking Stance (03:38) - Moving with Purpose (04:29) - Presence While Seated (05:15) - What to Do with Your Hands (06:00) - Gesturing Beyond Your Shoulders (08:29) - Effective Eye Contact (09:14) - Thinking While Speaking (09:59) - Bringing It All Together (10:46) - Practice Through Recording (11:32) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

Most women think confidence comes from achievement. What if true confidence comes from knowing yourself?   In this empowering episode of The Balanced, Beautiful & Abundant Show, Rebecca Whitman sits down with executive coach Beverly Jurenko to explore how self-awareness can become your greatest leadership advantage.   With an extraordinary career spanning private equity, investment banking, global leadership, and executive coaching, Beverly shares how the Enneagram can help you uncover blind spots, strengthen relationships, increase influence, and lead with greater confidence and ease.   Whether you're a CEO, entrepreneur, professional, or simply someone seeking more clarity and alignment, this conversation will help you stop spinning and start leading from your center.   In this episode, you'll discover:   ✨ What the Enneagram is and why it's different from other personality assessments   ✨ How understanding your type can accelerate personal and professional growth   ✨ The surprising connection between figure skating and finding your center   ✨ Why high achievers often lose themselves in success   ✨ How self-awareness strengthens executive presence and influence   ✨ Common blind spots that hold leaders back   ✨ Practical tools to stay grounded during stressful seasons   ✨ How women can lead with more confidence without sacrificing authenticity   ✨ The role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership   ✨ Daily habits that create greater clarity, connection, and impact   Beverly also shares insights on navigating major life transitions, leading through uncertainty, and why the most effective leaders aren't necessarily the loudest—they're the most centered.   If you've ever felt overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or unsure of your next step, this episode offers a powerful roadmap back to your authentic leadership.   Connect with Beverly Jurenko:   Special Listener Offer: Enneagram Basic Assessment + One-Hour Debrief for $100   Book Here: https://beverlycoaching.as.me/enneagram-basic   Connect with Rebecca Whitman:   Website: rebeccaelizabethwhitman.com   Instagram: @rebeccaewhitman   Listen to more episodes of The Balanced, Beautiful & Abundant Show and discover how to create success, love, health, and happiness without burnout.   If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who is ready to lead from a place of confidence, clarity, and abundance.   #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #Enneagram #SelfAwareness #WomenInLeadership #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #AuthenticLeadership #ConfidenceBuilding #BalancedBeautifulAbundant ✨ CONNECT WITH REBECCA ✨

If you've ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations.We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units Description:Many school systems measure success in math education by one thing: math test scores. But what if waiting for scores to improve is actually slowing down meaningful change?Math test scores are often treated as proof that math professional development, initiatives, or instructional changes are working. But the reality is, they're lagging indicators—they tell us what already happened, not what's happening right now. When math leaders focus only on math test scores and outcomes, they risk missing the daily classroom experiences that actually produce those outcomes. Sustainable improvement doesn't come from chasing math test scores. It comes from redesigning the systems, structures, and instructional experiences that shape student learning every day.In this episode, you'll explore:Why math test scores are lagging indicators in math improvementThe difference between activity and actual impactWhat math leaders should measure instead of waiting for outcomesHow classroom experiences shape long-term achievementWhy systems—not individuals—drive resultsWhat it means to “change the change” in math educationIf you're feeling pressure to prove improvement through math test scores alone, this episode will help you rethink what meaningful progress actually looks like—and how to build systems that create lasting change.Show Notes PageLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!Empower Your Students (and Teachers) Using A Professional Learning PlanThat Sparks Engagement, Fuels Deep Learning, and Ignites Action! Book a time to chat with our team to see how we can help you achieve your math goals! https://makemathmoments.com/plan/Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don't want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.