The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett

In this episode, Clint sits down with Scott Tannenbaum, President of the Group for Organizational Effectiveness and co-author of the popular book “Teams That Work,” to discuss the science behind effective teamwork, why talented individuals don't always make great teams, and what leaders can do to improve collaboration and performance. Drawing on decades of research, Scott challenges common assumpt...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Zach Mercurio – researcher, leadership development facilitator, and author of “The Power of Mattering” and “The Invisible Leader” – they explore why human connection is becoming more valuable in the age of artificial intelligence, how leaders can strengthen relationships and build trust, and why making people feel seen, valued, and needed is essential to mo...

In this episode, Clint talks with Zach Mercurio – researcher, leadership development facilitator, and author of “The Power of Mattering” and “The Invisible Leader” – about why feeling valued and knowing that our contributions make a difference are fundamental human needs, and how leaders can create environments where people feel seen, appreciated, and motivated to do their best work. This is the f...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Shawn Vanderhoven, Partner at The Wiseman Group and bestselling author of “Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World,” Shawn explains how leaders can create the right balance of clarity and challenge to help their teams do their best work. From embracing “productive uncertainty” and defining measurable success to establishing team norms and recogniz...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Shawn Vanderhoven, Partner at The Wiseman Group and bestselling author of “Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World” to discuss why doing more doesn’t always lead to better results and how leaders can create the space their teams need to focus on the work that matters most. Drawing on research with leaders and teams across more than 150 major companie...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Dr. Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author of “Artificial Intimacy,” they discuss what happens when we begin outsourcing not just our work, but our thinking, relationships, and most meaningful human experiences to artificial intelligence. Sherry discusses the difference between empathy and compassion, why students who rely on AI to summarize books may be m...

In this episode, Clint welcomes back Dr. Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author of the new book “Artificial Intimacy,” as the first returning guest on The Conversation. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is changing not just what we do, but how we understand ourselves and relate to one another. Drawing on decades of research into the relationship between people and technology, She...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Julian Treasure – award-winning author of “How to be Heard” and internationally recognized expert on listening, speaking, and the impact of sound – Julian explains why listening is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and mastered. He explores the modern listening crisis, why verbal communication is declining, how leaders can become better listeners, and...

In this episode, Clint talks with Julian Treasure – award-winning author of “How to be Heard” and internationally recognized expert on listening, speaking, and the impact of sound – about why listening has become one of the most overlooked skills in leadership, business, and everyday life. Julian explains the difference between hearing and listening, how sound shapes our behavior and decision-maki...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Julie Newman, aerospace engineer and author of “Pull Don’t Push,” Julie explains why asking better questions can open entirely new career possibilities. She shares how parents, educators, and leaders can help young people discover engineering by connecting them to meaningful problems, not just job titles. Along the way, she challenges common misconceptions...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Julie Newman, accomplished aerospace engineer and bestselling author of “Pull Don’t Push,” to discuss why decades of well-intentioned efforts to encourage more girls into STEM haven't produced the results many hoped for. Julie argues that the problem isn't a lack of encouragement, it's the way we're communicating about engineering. Together, they explore how e...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Chris Voss, former lead FBI hostage negotiator and bestselling author of “Never Split the Difference,” Chris explains why the best negotiators don't chase "yes,” they create safety, build trust, and uncover the hidden information that changes everything. From tactical empathy and accusation audits to the surprising power of hearing "no," Chris shares practi...

In this episode, Clint talks with Chris Voss, former lead FBI hostage negotiator and bestselling author of “Never Split the Difference,” about why the best negotiators don't win by talking louder, they win by listening better. Drawing from decades of high-stakes hostage negotiations, Chris explains how emotions drive decisions, why most people misunderstand negotiation, and how tactical empathy ca...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Scott Mautz, former Procter & Gamble senior executive and bestselling author of “Leading from the Middle,” Scott shares practical strategies for building trust, creating accountability, leading through uncertainty, and influencing others without formal authority. From managing remote teams to helping people embrace smart risks, he explains how leaders c...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Scott Mautz, former Procter & Gamble senior executive and bestselling author of “Leading from the Middle,” to talk about why middle managers are some of the most influential (and most overlooked!) leaders in any organization. Scott shares the research behind why leading from the middle is uniquely challenging, why it often feels "messy," and how managers c...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Ryan Hawk, host of “The Learning Leader Show” and author of “The Price of Becoming,” Ryan talks about the daily habits, disciplines, and mindset shifts that separate good leaders from great ones. F rom protecting time for deep work and building intentional cultures to mentoring others, giving feedback, and staying fully present with the people who matter mo...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show and author of “The Price of Becoming” and “Welcome to Management,” to discuss one of the biggest challenges in leadership: making the transition from top performer to effective leader. Ryan shares practical lessons on self-awareness, curiosity, mentorship, feedback, and intentional leadership, drawing from hundreds o...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Colin Fisher, author of “The Collective Edge,” the discussion turns from why groups matter to how leaders can help them succeed. Colin explains why the smartest teams aren't necessarily the most successful, how healthy competition can both motivate and derail performance, why psychological safety and social sensitivity matter, and what leaders can do to bui...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Dr. Colin M. Fisher – professor, speaker, and author of “The Collective Edge” – to explore why our biggest accomplishments are almost never the work of a single person. Colin challenges the myth of the lone genius and explains how cooperation, group dynamics, and collective intelligence have shaped everything from innovation and leadership to business success...

In Part Two of Clint's conversation with Alisa Cohn, top-ranked executive coach and author of “From Start-Up to Grown-Up,” the discussion turns from personal leadership to organizational leadership. Alisa shares practical advice for leaders who want to better understand their impact, give more effective feedback, build stronger cultures, and create the structure necessary for growth. She explains...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Alisa Cohn, one of the world's leading executive coaches and author of “From Start-Up to Grown-Up.” Having coached founders and executives at companies including Venmo, Etsy, DraftKings, Microsoft, Google, and IBM, Alisa has spent her career helping leaders navigate the challenges that come with growth. In Part One of their conversation, Clint and Alisa discus...

In this special mid-year episode of The Conversation, Clint looks back at some of the most memorable insights, practical lessons, and thought-provoking moments from the first half of 2026. Featuring highlights from conversations with communication experts, leadership coaches, bestselling authors, researchers, executives, and military leaders, this episode explores what it takes to build stronger t...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Joel Zeff – national speaker, work culture expert, improviser, and author of “Make the Right Choice” – Joel shares why positive support, adaptability, and presence are essential for strong teams and healthy workplace culture. Joel explains how improv comedy became the foundation for his approach to leadership and communication, why “creative zombies” can qu...

In this episode, Clint talks with Joel Zeff – national speaker, work culture expert, improviser, and author of “Make the Right Choice” – about how energy, celebration, and positive support shape team culture and performance. Joel talks about how a chance introduction to improv comedy led to a career speaking to organizations about leadership, teamwork, and communication. Along the way, he explains...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Wes Adams – Founder & CEO of SV Consulting Group, researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, and co-author of “Meaningful Work” – Wes breaks down what actually creates high-performing teams and why trust, psychological safety, and communication matter more than most leaders realize. Wes explains how great teams encourage...