Culture and Leadership Connections Podcast

When I started the Culture and Leadership Connections Podcast, I felt called to bring diverse voices from different industries and professionals around the world to the world so we could all benefit from their experiences and wisdom. Today as I take the microphone for the last time, I thought listeners might want to know a few of our stats and milestones.  Over the past 7 years, we have published...

Bio: Marisol Solarte-Erlacher is a trauma expert, resilience consultant, and licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations foster thriving cultures. She hosts the award-nominated Resilience and Resistance podcast, featuring resilient leaders from marginalized communities. Named one of Colorado's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, Marisol specializes in c...

Bio: Dan Barker is an award-winning leadership expert and Senior HR Business Partner with 20 years of experience, specializing in MBTI, Gallup Strengths, and Change Management. He founded IDA Leadership Lab to drive organizational growth through workshops and chairs the Bonneville Youth Development Coalition, focusing on youth and community development. A member of the Bad River Band of the Ojibwe...

Bio: Andrea Bailey Brown, born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, transitioned from teaching to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur. She is a multi-unit Jiffy Lube franchise owner, generating over $30 million in revenue, and the founder and CEO of Bailey Brown Franchise Agency and Bailey Brown Business Consulting. With an MBA from Royal Roads University, where she received the Entrepreneur in Res...

Redefining success and overcoming burnout. Bio: Dr. Eric Recker is a dentist, husband, father, keynote speaker, Elite Success Coach, author, pilot, mountain climber, and former triathlete. He is committed to helping people become their best selves and learning to #WINtheNOW. Links Website: https://ericrecker.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-recker-583849278/ Facebook: https://www.fa...

Bio: Michelle Robinson is Sahtu Dene with a weekly podcast, Native Calgarian, founded in 2018, and a monthly public Indigenous book club established in 2016. She is a mother, public speaker, and advocate for Indigenous Peoples and Truth and Reconciliation, working with governments and community groups. Links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nativecalgarian TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@native_...

Bio: Rick Yvanovich is an accountant, techie, author, speaker, and CEO, CFO, and coach. A highly accomplished business coach, he helps companies and individuals achieve outstanding success through actionable strategies. As a serial entrepreneur, Rick has built a multimillion-dollar company serving clients in 80 countries, including Fortune 500 firms. In Vietnam, Rick is a prominent figure and long...

Bio: Marni Battista is an entrepreneur, author, transformational life design specialist, podcast host, and radical truth seeker. Her honest, relatable, and down-to-earth podcast and writing offer pearls of wisdom that inspire laughter, insights, and life-changing stories of triumph and love. Marni’s mission is to help women harness the courage to stop letting life live them and start living a life...

What comes to mind when someone talks about bringing your mind to work? Many of us might argue that you can't come to work without bringing your mind. But what does it truly mean to bring your mind to work ? In this episode, we explore the concept of bringing your mind to work, derived from my book, The Spirit of Work. This idea emphasizes the integration of rational thinking in the workplace...

Episode Highlights: Procrastination is a message from your nervous system that you need to pay attention to. It’s telling you something about the task you don’t particularly want to do right now. If you listen to it, you can discover how to make procrastination your partner instead of your enemy. In this episode, we’ll dive deep into decoding procrastination—from the different procrastination styl...

Your mindset is your greatest asset. Bio: Nick Mornard is a Director at a Fortune 500 company and travel agency owner, moved from Belgium to Florida in 2013, achieving US citizenship in 2021. He published his first book, a biography on mindset and leadership, in October 2024. He co-hosts the "Two for the Win" podcast, blending leadership, mindset, travel, and sports with his passions to...

The connection between your mind and body is powerful and complex, with nearly 80% of all signals traveling from the body to the brain. This means your bodily sensations and signals significantly influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By tuning into these signals, you can unlock human potential in a way that purely conscious thought alone cannot achieve. Understanding the messages your...

Bio: Michal Spiegelman is a certified professional life coach, Reiki master, spiritual mentor, medical intuitive, and social worker. She is the visionary behind Beacons of Change , a platform guiding women and healing professionals toward empowered, soul-centered lives. As creator of the Soulful Healer Method, Michal helps people through a blend of traditional and holistic tools, igniting growth a...

In today's episode, we're diving into the interdependence of purpose, belonging, and uniqueness as discussed in Chapter 3 of The Spirit of Work . We'll explore how a sense of purpose fuels motivation and satisfaction in the workplace, the paradoxical relationship between belonging and individuality, and the essential roles of self-awareness and service in cultivating a strong, suppo...

The Role of Accountability in Leadership Bio: Michael Timms is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, and best-selling author who helps leaders inspire greatness in their teams. He wrote How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability, praised by leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith, and his first book, Succession Planning That Works, was highly regarded for its insights on developing talent in...

Bio: Rhonda Moret is the Founder and CEO of Elevated Diversity, recognized for her leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and health equity. She has spent over a decade helping organizations develop equitable practices to benefit both workplaces and communities. A first-generation college graduate, Rhonda started her career at a multicultural ad agency, later becoming a communication...

In this episode, we explore capacity building, what it means, the mindset needed, and how to effectively build team capacity. Capacity building empowers individuals and groups with the skills to tackle complex tasks and work toward a shared vision. However, it’s essential not to fall into the trap of thinking only the leader or a facilitator can drive this growth. While facilitators can help, true...

Understandings for Improved Intercultural Communication at Work Episode Highlights: Effective intercultural communication is crucial for fostering a harmonious and productive workplace. Culture is a component of personality, and it can significantly affect workplace understanding and relationships. Each culture has its own rules and expectations, and both existing staff and newcomers need to learn...

Harnessing your potential and overcoming challenges Amit's Bio: Amit Chintan Ramlall helps leaders transform challenges into opportunities. His journey through autism led him to become an expert in the human mind and achievement. He aims to make a mark on the universe, not despite his challenges, but because of them. As a polymath who has read over 14,000 non-fiction books, Amit combines his...

The Justice Quotient In this episode (inspired by page 49 of my book, The Spirit of Work) , I share the three essential components that must be in place to find a just solution. The solution must consider everyone’s needs. Here are the three Justice Quotients: Diversity of perspectives must be included : If only one person has a voice, diverse viewpoints are missing. In situations where people are...

Bio: Amber Ontiveros is the CEO and owner of a change management firm. She is a longtime civil rights advocate, having served in advisory roles at the US Department of Transportation during both the Bush and Obama Administrations. She now runs Ontiveros and Associates, which specializes in change management, policy development, and executive coaching. Amber is the author of Heal the Four Wounds: A...

Using the Virtues Sequence for Solving Workplace Problems Are you facing a problem that seems unsolvable? The answer might lie in the "virtues sequence," a concept my colleague and I uncovered while researching sacred writings across world religions. We discovered a common pattern that could help resolve workplace challenges, consistently following the same path of: love, truth, justice,...

Bio: Dr. Alan Akira is a board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Mugen Psychiatry in Chicago. He aims to improve psychiatric care access, leveraging his expertise in clinical decision-making, education, and healthcare management. He’s also an Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center and has received multiple awards for his clinical excellence and teaching. Links: LinkedIn Bio: htt...

The subtle art of embracing cultural influences. Bio: Agnes Yaa Serwaa Somuah is the Program Manager of the Sinkunia Community Development Organization in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The organization designs programs for new immigrant children and youth from African countries and of African heritage backgrounds. Originally from Ghana where she was a teacher, Agnes holds both Bachelor's and Mas...

What is the Difference Between Training and Coaching? Is there a difference between training and coaching? Quotes:  “If you don't know what you want to see, then you don't know how to see if it has worked or not.” Episode Highlights: Organizations can confuse training with coaching or misunderstand their purposes. When an organization approaches me for training or coaching, there's...