Leadership Deep Dive

In this episode of the Leadership Deep Dive, Margaret and David explore what it means to “Take Your Hand Off The Hot Stove.”  That’s a metaphor for the nuances of emotional regulation, and why simply “feeling your feels” isn’t always the same as getting burned by them. Have you ever found yourself in a meeting […]

Have you ever found yourself so deep in the weeds of a project—obsessing over formatting, email wording, or a specific calendar invite—that you forgot why you were doing the project in the first place? Or perhaps you’ve been on the other side: dreaming up grand, visionary ideas but failing to execute the basic steps needed […]

In this reflective episode, Margaret and David explore the concept of liminality: the space of “no longer and not yet.” It is a profound psychological state that affects us all, whether you are between jobs, recovering from a major life event, or shifting the very identity of your business. As leaders, we are often programmed […]

The phrase “radical acceptance” scares people. We get it—it sounds extreme. It sounds like you’re about to overthrow a government or dye your hair neon green. But when we use the term “radical acceptance,” we choose it intentionally. Margaret and David choose it because true acceptance is a radical act. It goes against our instincts to fight, […]

In this episode of the Leadership Deep Dive, Margaret and David ask a provocative question: “Is Your Life Messy Enough?” Life (and leadership) isn’t meant to be neat, tidy, and perfectly ordered—it’s meant to be lived. We celebrate the chaos, the curveballs, and the unexpected detours that shape who we are.  We dive into stories […]

The term authenticity in leadership gets talked about a lot. In this episode, David and Margaret break it down a bit more. Margaret shared an anecdote about someone who created a plaster mask of their face and painted both sides. Many of us have given some thought to how we think we show up–or the […]

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to retreat? In this thoughtful episode, David and Margaret explore the transformative power of stepping away. During the recording of the podcast, David was mid-way through his own retreat. He took  a few days for himself to travel to the mountains of Colorado (one of his […]

Margaret and David welcome guest Graeme Watt, a principal at Anthem Creative, to discuss the “Great Collision” of tech and traditionally late adopters in the nonprofit sector. Graeme’s career has straddled both nonprofit and for-profit work — and has kept a close eye on the adoption of technology — or lack thereof — that may […]

What is the impact of ignoring versus naming the elephant in the room? Margaret reported that she had hoped to feel energized and rested after the 3-day Labor Day weekend. But thanks to a run-in with a (metaphoric) elephant, that’s not what happened. In this episode, David and Margaret share how those elephants — in […]

Summer’s Over … David and Margaret explored the dynamics of heading back-to-school — including the anxiety. They noticed that the parents they have had contact with seem to sometimes experience more anxiety than their children at the prospect of school starting up again, even as the children’s transition back to school is often smooth. And […]

547 Requests for Juice: Annoying or Funny? Margaret and David discussed the importance of finding gifts and opportunities in difficult circumstances. The topic for this podcast came from a post Margaret wrote for LinkedIn. The story was about her then-toddler son’s persistent request for juice that felt quite trying at the time, but ultimately became […]

David and Margaret  do a take on a line from A Few Good Men, substituting “Love” for “Truth” … as in “You Can’t Handle the Love.” The hosts are always looking for ways to learn from their own personal and spiritual journeys — and apply it to being great leaders.  David is reading author David […]

David and Margaret dive into the ways that Leadership and Emotional Intelligence can help when relationships get hard. They announced a free masterclass on June 4th, 2025, to provide tools for improving emotional awareness and communication. Reading the Space Margaret shares that for the recording of the podcast, she is wearing an orange sticky note. […]

Margaret and David discuss David’s new book, “Using Your Mind for a Healthier and Happier Life.” David’s most recent book is a series of short essays inspired by Buddhist teachings. It blends principles of psychology, mindfulness, and leadership to provide actionable strategies that foster happiness, health, and resilience in life. Nuggets of Wisdom, Nuggets of […]

Choice in Personal Growth and Leadership Margaret and guest and fellow fundraising professional Jenny Mitchell address the power of choice and its impact on personal growth, leadership and decision-making. The conversation opened with the age-old nonprofit challenge about how navigating board relationships is challenging for most nonprofit leaders. They explored how choice can help these […]

Are You Above or Below “the Line”? Margaret and David discussed the concept of “the line.” They refer to this line as a reference to your outlook, mood, and perspective. They explained that being above the line means you are in flow, connected, and open. You are curious and able to listen. Choice and agency […]

David and Margaret and their special guest, Amy Daughters, tackle the dying art of using handwritten letters to foster relationships. Wait, like handwritten letters? With a pen? These days, kids can’t even read cursive. They don’t know where to put stamps on an envelope. It might be a dying art. But our hosts want our […]

Dealing with the Death of a Loved One In this episode, David and Margaret discussed the topic of dealing with the death of a loved one — an admittedly uncomfotable topic. Margaret had just learned about the death of a person she cared deeply about — and was feeling the loss. Margaret shared that her […]

With People, slow is fast and fast is slow David and Margaret discussed the significance of Stephen Covey’s saying, “With people, slow is fast and fast is slow.” Inspired by David’s slow recover from knee surgery — including his choice of entertainment during his convalescence — our hosts talk about what “slow” might mean. David […]

Embracing Disruptive Events: The Paradox of Planned Disruption Embracing disruptive events and emotions? How in the world is one supposed to do that? In the episode, as David prepares for an upcoming surgery, David and Margaret have a look at the seeming paradox of planned disruptive events. Examples might include a surgery or significant life […]

What’s in your 2024 rearview mirror and 2025 windshield? This episode takes a look backwards in 2024 (the rearview mirror) and what’s ahead (through the windshield) for 2025. Margaret and David aren’t fans of making resolutions. But they are all about being intentional about who you want to BE in the coming year. Tune in […]

In this episode, David and Margaret discuss the power of bringing your heart to work. “Empathy Techniques” vs. Genuine Empathy Our hosts heard the term “empathy techniques” recently while listening to a refresh of the Positive Intelligence programs — and felt compelled to double click on this concept. How is an empathy technique different from […]

David and Margaret share their strategies for dealing with uncertainty and making decisions. How DO leaders make decisions, particularly when the stakes are high? The conversation originated from David’s process when he and his wife had to decide whether or not to evacuate as Hurricane Milton approached. As a resident of the West Coast of […]

Taking on challenges: what goes into whether you say yes or no? David and Margaret discussed their experiences with taking on challenges. They talk about how to evaluate their feasibility and impact. Taking on Challenges: Jumping into Really Cold Water … and a Big Social Media Goal David shared his experiences with taking on a […]

What is a ‘zone of genius’? David, Margaret, and Michelle discussed the concept of a ‘zone of genius’ in the work context. They defined it as a state where one is highly skilled and derives great joy from their work, a place of great flow. It’s a place where others would recognize us as being […]