Gut + Science

In this episode of In the Loop , we're discussing something every leader dreads but inevitably faces: crisis. Whether it's sudden or a slow burn, how you communicate can make all the difference. So, how do you lead through a crisis? That's where guest, Jennifer Dzwonar, comes in. Jennifer is a crisis communication expert with over 30 years under her belt at Borshoff. Listen for practical tips on l...

What happens when a mission trip transforms your perspective, your relationships, and even your approach to leadership? In this episode, Nikki takes us on a journey through her life-changing experience with Homes of Hope, an organization that's built over 8,000 homes in 30 countries. Joined by the founders, Sean Lambert and Andrea East, Nikki explores how service doesn't just uplift communities—it...

What's the secret sauce to building a culture that sticks? According to Amy Bayer, Global Director of DE&I, Employee Engagement & Culture, at Duck Creek Technologies, it's not some magic bullet—it's your people. In this episode, recorded live at CultureCon 2024, Amy sits down with Nikki to talk about how Duck Creek has created a people-first culture that thrives in a fully remote world. Spoiler al...

Leadership is more than a title—it's about influence. In this episode, Nikki speaks with Jess Goldberg, a leadership coach, Emmy Award winner, and lecturer at Columbia University, whose mission is to help leaders communicate with influence. Jess shares her journey from journalism to leadership training and introduces her groundbreaking concept: the eight archetypes of influence. Need a roadmap to...

Is traditional employment... dead? Bold claim, right? But that's exactly what our guest, Josh Drean, is here to unpack. Josh isn't just tossing around buzzwords—he's a talent management and people analytics expert who's been deep in the trenches of workforce innovation. He's also the co-founder of Work3 Institute, where he's actively rethinking how we work, why we work, and (most importantly) how...

With big companies calling employees back to the office, does this mean the end of flexible work? Not so fast. In this episode, Katherine Coble tackles a hot topic on every leader's mind: the future of remote and hybrid work. Katherine breaks down the reality that remote and hybrid work are here to stay—whether we like it or not. More importantly, she shares three simple, actionable strategies to...

In this conversation, Nikki interviews John Nieters, the co-founder of TestRxMD, about living from our highest and best selves. John shares his personal story of overcoming addiction, prison, and profound life lessons that shaped his journey toward becoming a healer. Together, they explore the 10 core pillars of living your highest and best self—covering spiritual alignment, consciousness, emotion...

Ever feel like you're stuck on autopilot as a leader? In this episode of To Work: With Love, host Renee Smith shares a deeply personal and insightful reflection on leadership through the lens of her recent trip to Mount Rainier. She highlights how, as leaders, we often get caught up in the daily grind without pausing to assess the bigger picture. Drawing parallels from her hike, Renee emphasizes t...

Are you ready to lead the next generation? In this intriguing episode, Nikki sits down with guest Alafia Stewart, a global expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to discuss leading newer generations of employees. Alafia passionately shares how Gen Z and Millennials are transforming the workplace by challenging traditional systems and norms. From the power of personal branding to the need...

Nikki Lewallen Gregory, Founder and Chief Meaningful Work Officer at PeopleForward Network, joins Lead the People podcast host Matt Poepsel to discuss intentionality in leadership and the importance of a strong culture code. She emphasizes the need for leaders to live with intention and be rooted in their why. Nikki also shares insights on building an intentional culture and the challenges that ca...

Human beings are wired to respond to stories, yet when it comes to our professional lives as leaders, we often neglect storytelling. In this conversation, Katherine Coble explores why storytelling is so effective and how leaders can use it to connect with their audience. She emphasizes the importance of intentionality and understanding what makes a good story. Learn about four key ideas for effect...

In this conversation, Nikki interviews Nami Baral, the founder and CEO of Niural, an AI for global workforce management. They discuss the concept of meaningful work and how it can be achieved through a sense of community, alignment with personal values, joy, and a sense of pride. Nami shares her journey as a founder and the motivation behind starting Neural. She also highlights the importance of e...

In this episode, Renee explores the concept of creating spaciousness in our lives and filling it with awe. She discusses the benefits of awe and how it can enhance our well-being and relationships at work. Renee shares the eight wonders of life that can inspire awe, such as moral beauty, nature, music, and epiphanies. She also emphasizes the importance of intentionally seeking out awe and incorpor...

Nikki interviews Corina Lam, a global leader at Mercer, about the importance of advocating for oneself and how to lead others in doing the same. Corina shares her passion for problem-solving and building deep relationships in HR tech. She emphasizes the significance of setting expectations and spending time and energy in the right places. Corina also discusses the challenges she has faced as a you...

Leadership is a lesson in listening to the people in you lead. Let's talk about how to unlock the voices within your organization to get meaningful feedback. Nikki's guests are the dynamic co-owners of DORIS Research , Sam Julka and Meghan Tooman, who share their wisdom on leading with listening, the power of vulnerability, and leveraging meaningful data for transformational change. Learn how DORI...

Be an original.  Rob Eyler is a visionary entrepreneur renowned for his innovative contributions to the photography industry. He is CEO of Capturely—a company revolutionizing the way businesses approach employee photography.  Rob discusses the significance of first impressions, the importance of a consistent and impactful personal brand, and how updating your headshot every 2-3 years can make a wo...

How can leaders use data to build culture in their organizations? Our guest, Craig Forman , is on a mission to improve how people work by using data to lead people and culture forward. Get a unique perspective on using data to build trust within organizations and involve employees in shaping their culture. Craig reveals the importance of empathy and storytelling in helping leaders embrace data and...

How can leaders effectively identify and leverage the common ground in a generationally diverse workforce? Katherine Coble reveals the nuances of varying communication styles between Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Learn the the importance of trust, purpose, and autonomy while highlighting the critical role of curiosity in understanding and respecting generational differ...

Explore the transformative power of love in leadership with insights from host, Renée Smith, a renowned social scientist and the host of the "To Work: With Love" series. Learn key strategies for fostering an environment centered around love, including the importance of spaciousness, simplicity, and hope. Renée discusses how these elements are crucial for thriving teams and individuals, highlightin...

Host  Nikki Lewallen Gregory sits down with Dr. Taryn Marie to dive deep into the intricacies of resilience, empathy, and radical self-acceptance. Dr. Taryn Marie, a renowned expert in resilience and global leadership, shares her transformative journey from overcoming PTSD and undiagnosed learning disabilities to becoming a successful executive and impactful leader. The conversation covers a wealt...

Tiffany Sauder, CEO of Element Three and host of the Scared Confident podcast, joins host Nikki Lewallen Gregory to share her journey from fear to freedom, and how she balances her role as a leader with a family life. Tiffany discusses her evolution from processing emotions through her podcast to embracing a life of "And," where she integrates family, career, and personal growth. She offers practi...

In this episode of Gut+Science, Andrea Brummett, CEO of  reddeHR and Pabulum Group , joins host Nikki Lewallen Gregory to delve into the intricacies of creating psychologically safe workplaces and prioritizing human-first leadership. Discover the significance of emotional intelligence, mutual symbiosis, and redefining traditional HR concepts to foster a culture of authenticity and vulnerability. T...

Good leaders shape the environment for change.  Katherine Coble shares her expertise on unlocking the secrets to communicating change effectively, emphasizing that true transformation is about the journey, not just the destination. Drawing from her personal running experience and professional anecdotes, Katherine illustrates the power of "being goals" over "doing goals," and how leaders can cultiv...

From engineering to founding  Hacking HR , Enrique Rubio brings a fresh perspective to human resources. In this episode, hosted by Nikki Lewallen Gregory , Enrique delves into people-first workplace cultures, the importance of leadership reflection, and understanding human experiences beyond employee engagement. Enrique shares his admiration for a book on the engineering behind the first moon land...

Renée Smith believes leaders can create meaningful and transformative work experiences when they embrace love. In this episode of the "To Work with Love" series on Gut + Science, she takes us on a journey to explore the concept of wholeness, defining it as being complete and authentic. She introduces the INSPIRE model (Identities, Intuition, Spirit, Physical body, Intellect, Relationships, and Emo...