The CultureCon Podcast

A thousand Yelp reviews, a pair of red cowboy boots, and a childhood spent exploring library shelves. What do they all have in common? For Miriam Warren, they're pieces of a much bigger story about curiosity, belonging, and the power of human connection. Live from CultureCon 2026, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Miriam Warren, Chief Culture Officer at Yelp, to explore how her lifelong search for com...

Some of the best leaders aren't shaped by fitting in. They're shaped by remembering exactly what it felt like not to. Live from CultureCon 2026, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Glenn Bostock, founder and CEO of SnapCab and author of "A Human Business: The People First Model for Lasting Success". Glenn shares how struggling in school, finding confidence through craftsmanship, and learning to work wit...

Some people enter a room and change the energy simply by being fully themselves. For 2026 CultureCon Impact Award recipient Izzie St. John, that impact starts with helping people feel seen. Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Izzie, Philanthropy Coordinator at the American Cancer Society, to explore how purpose, curiosity, and human connection have shaped her path. Izzie shares how her grandmother taugh...

Leadership gets real when dignity becomes more than a value on the wall. It becomes something people can actually feel. Live from CultureCon 2026, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Dr. Isa Karabed, Founder and CEO of Karabed Leadership Group and recipient of the Culture Impact Award, for a deeply human conversation about recovery, homelessness, technology, and the moments that shape how we lead. Isa s...

Sometimes the most important leadership shift starts with changing the song in your own head. Live from CultureCon 2026, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, USA Today bestselling author of "Be Yourself at Work", and a pioneer of people-first leadership. Claude shares how a 93-day Outward Bound experience helped her find her voice, challenge the limiting bel...

CultureCon 2026 is officially in the books, and somehow the smoothest conference Nick and Zach have ever hosted also delivered some of the most unexpected moments. From keynote karaoke and Red Ball Tennis to unforgettable connections across 21 countries, this one was about much more than what happened on stage. 🎤 Nick and Zach recap the moments that made CultureCon feel uniquely human, including...

Recognition is not about the gift. It is about the moment someone realizes, "They truly see me." Nick and Zach sit down with Tray Ross of Corporate Traditions to explore how meaningful appreciation builds stronger relationships, deeper loyalty, and cultures people want to stay in. Tray shares why personalization matters, how freedom of choice makes recognition scalable, and why unexpected gestures...

AI is moving fast, but the real opportunity is not doing more work faster. It is making more room for the human work that matters most. Nick and Zach sit down with Emily Mabie, Senior AI Automation Engineer for HR and People at Zapier, to explore how leaders can use AI with more intention, less anxiety, and a stronger people-first lens. Emily shares why AI should not simply be bolted onto old proc...

Sometimes the most meaningful recognition starts as a mug, a T-shirt, or a pin, then becomes a symbol of belonging over time. Nick and Zach sit down with Nick Phillips, Senior Director of Sales at Brilliant, to explore why appreciation only sticks when it is rooted in real care. Nick shares how leaders can move beyond transactional recognition and create moments that prove people are truly seen. F...

The higher you go in leadership, the harder it can be to get honest perspective. And when you're leading through transition, growth, or culture change, going it alone can limit what you're able to see. In this episode, CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay are joined by John D'Addario III, CEO of D'Addario, for a conversation about leadership transition, culture clarity, and the valu...

Some workplace "rules" are written in handbooks. The most powerful ones often aren't written anywhere. Live from CultureCon, Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Bryetta Calloway for a powerful conversation about meritocracy, marginalization, and the invisible barriers that keep people on the fringes at work. Bryetta unpacks how leaders can confuse sameness with safety, why inclusion has to come before...

Alignment sounds simple until Monday happens. Nick and Zach sit down with Kate Zappitelli, Principal Consultant at Karrikins Group and Chair of the Alignment Institute, to unpack why agreement is not enough for people-first leaders. Kate shares how real alignment requires clarity, connection, commitment, and courage, especially when teams are stuck in side conversations, unclear expectations, or o...

Belonging isn't a soft skill, it's a performance strategy. 💡 Live from CultureCon West, Nikki sits down with Latesha Byrd to explore why people can't reach their highest potential when they're masking, code switching, or questioning whether they're truly valued at work. Latesha breaks down how belonging connects directly to innovation, engagement, wellbeing, and business results, especially in a...

Culture only eats strategy for breakfast when the culture isn't aligned with the strategic aims of the business.  In this episode, ADVISA CEO Heather Haas and leadership consultant BJ McKay discuss with special guest Joey Williams, Engagement & Development Specialist at Healthpeak Properties (NYSE: DOC), how organizations can achieve competitive advantage when their leaders are able to consistentl...

Helping others is noble work, but who helps the people everyone turns to when things get hard? Live from CultureCon West in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with Sam Simmons to unpack what it really means to "help the helpers." Inspired by the wisdom of Mr. Rogers, Sam brings a fresh and deeply human lens to HR leadership, reminding people-first leaders that their behavior gives others permission to sta...

The AI conversation just got real, and Nick and Zach are taking us inside the inaugural CultureCon AI Summit to unpack what actually happened in the room. From hope and hesitation to leadership buy-in, ethical responsibility, and the very human need for connection, this episode explores why AI is not just a tech topic, it is a culture topic. 🤖 Nick and Zach reflect on what surprised them most, in...

What pulls people in more than polished leadership? Presence that feels real. Live from CultureCon West in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with Scott Floyd for a conversation that gets beneath the surface of leadership and into what actually makes people feel seen, heard, and moved. Scott shares how his own journey helped him stop performing leadership and start embracing authenticity, generous listeni...

AI is changing how work gets done, but it's also raising the bar for leadership. In this special live episode, hosted by Jason Cochran of People Forward Network, Heather Haas and BJ McKay explore what it means to lead when AI is reshaping the workplace. While much of the work people are paid to do can now be automated, leadership is not one of those things. Together, they unpack what they're seein...

A water bottle might look like swag, but it could actually be shaping your company culture. Live from CultureCon in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with branded merchandise expert Crissy Manwaring, who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations turn everyday items into powerful cultural symbols. From new hire kits that create belonging before day one to simple artifacts that inspire behavior ch...

In a world starving for real connection, what if the answer is as simple and as radical as pulling up more chairs? 🍽️ Nick and Zach sit down with Tim Jones, Founder and Executive Director of Longer Tables, to explore how shared meals can break down barriers, spark belonging, and remind us what it means to truly see one another. Tim shares the heart behind Longer Tables and why the table has become...

What happens when storytelling stops being scripted and starts being deeply human 🎥 Nick and Zach sit down with Curtis Gilbert, Co-Founder and Executive Producer of p3 mediaworks and a creative force behind some of the most authentic culture storytelling happening today. From launching a video agency with one camera and zero investors to shaping how organizations emotionally connect with talent a...

BJ McKay hosts a roundtable of ADVISA Leadership Consultants, who discuss the biggest problems they're hearing in the workplace today, and actions companies can take to help solve them.   Additional Resources: Connect with Mandy on LinkedIn Connect with Kye on LinkedIn Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn Get Your Culture Check! Connect with Heather on LinkedIn Connect w...

What if culture wasn't something you fixed after it broke, but something you strengthened before it ever cracked? Live from CultureCon West in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with DraftKings Chief People Officer Linda Bukata Aiello for an honest, energizing conversation about culture transformation done right. From eliminating performance ratings to rolling out radical candor, Linda shares how DraftKin...

Culture is happening whether you design it or not. The real question is, is it accelerating your strategy or quietly sabotaging it? Live from CultureCon 2024, Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Jeff Lindemann of WD-40 Company to unpack what it truly means to create the culture you want. Jeff shares why culture is not an HR initiative but a CEO responsibility, how belonging became the foundation of the...

From NFL locker rooms to global change room, Rachel Breitbach has mastered the art of leading through chaos with heart. Rachel joins Nick and Zach to unpack what fearless leadership really looks like, not as bravado, but as a willingness to step into the unknown and bring others with you. From her early career in sports broadcasting to guiding massive organizational transformations, Rachel shares...