The Behaviorist

In this episode of The Behaviorist, Sarah Colantonio sits down with Abby Rivera, Principal of Wickersham Elementary School, to explore what emotionally intelligent teams actually look like in practice. Drawing on decades of research and Abby's firsthand leadership experience, Sarah and Abby examine how self-awareness, trust, active listening, vulnerability, and proactive problem-solving shape high...

In this episode of The Behaviorist, guest host Salena Coachman sits down with Aimée Deraco, President and CEO of Brubaker, to explore what it truly means to build a culture of ownership. As the leader of a 100% employee-owned company, Aimée shares how trust, transparency, accountability, and genuine care for others create workplaces where people feel invested in both organizational success and one...

Join Sarah and Kedren to explore the phenomenon of leaders withdrawing due to a perceived and persistent  lack of agency and efficacy.  This withdrawal is hitting the world-changers hard.  Leaders who have been fueled by hope and the pursuit of ideals often motivate themselves and others through the conviction that together, they could be positive change agents.  When circumstances align to preven...

AI can write your emails, simulate empathy, and automate nearly anything — but can it build a community? Can it forgive? Can it truly lead? In this episode of The Behaviorist: Unplugged, Kedren Crosby sits down with Work Wisdom Director of Communications, Hunter Smith, for a wide-ranging conversation about what artificial intelligence simply cannot do — and why that matters more than ever for toda...

Lately, it seems as if the concept of “common ground” has vanished from the culture. More and more people are falling into the trap of “hating” the other side. But, what if we told you it doesn’t always have to be this way? In the latest episode of The Behaviorist: Unplugged, Kedren sits down with Todd Snovel for a lively discussion around how to hold compassion for those with whom you disagree. F...

Welcome to The Behaviorist: Unplugged! In this brand new spin-off of The Behaviorist podcast, the Work Wisdom team will sit down for an informal conversation about whatever topics have been on their minds lately. In our very first episode, Kedren and Sarah sat down for a chat about two articles (linked below) that they read in the July-August issue of Harvard Business Review. Is remote work a road...

In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Kedren Crosby is joined by Salena Coachman, VP of Talent Sustainability & Acquisition at Armstrong World Industries, for a thoughtful conversation on self-confidence as a practice—not a personality trait. Together, they explore what confidence really is, how it’s built over time, and why inner authority, decisiveness, and values alignment are essential...

In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Dylan Ehlert and guest Joey McMonagle, Chief Business Development Officer at Atomic Design, explore how loss aversion influences our decisions—often keeping us from taking the risks that lead to growth, innovation, and fulfillment. Together, they unpack why our brains are wired to avoid loss, how that bias shows up in leadership and organizational culture,...

Join Liz Orr and Sarah Colantonio as they dig into a lesser-known aspect of the Enneagram types: the Instincts. Since instincts originate from an unconscious place, having an understanding of our default and what they look like can help us navigate conflict and lead more effectively. To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at  www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagra...

In this episode of The Behaviorist, we're introducing The Reset, a simple yet powerful self-coaching method designed by Work Wisdom to help you reframe your perspective, recenter your mind, and reality-test your current challenges. Whether you're facing change, working through adversity, or both, this tool is here to support your growth. You'll hear the origin story of the Reset methodology, along...

In this episode of The Behaviorist, we're introducing The Reset, a simple yet powerful self-coaching method designed by Work Wisdom to help you reframe your perspective, recenter your mind, and reality-test your current challenges. Whether you're facing change, working through adversity, or both, this tool is here to support your growth. You'll hear the origin story of the Reset methodology, along...

In this episode of The Behaviorist, we're introducing The Reset, a simple yet powerful self-coaching method designed by Work Wisdom to help you reframe your perspective, recenter your mind, and reality-test your current challenges. Whether you're facing change, working through adversity, or both, this tool is here to support your growth. You'll hear the origin story of the Reset methodology, along...

When so much of our worklife is about conflict, how do we learn to value disagreements and harness the benefits of crackly tension?  Research is increasingly demonstrating that the most powerful teams are those that know how to disagree and even fight to improve and sharpen ideas, all the while preserving (or repairing!) the relationship.  Bring your pen when you listen to this episode, as you'll...

The quality of our team’s conversations drives the quality of our outcomes.  It’s that simple.  Listen in as Kedren and Sarah discuss team conversations and how to gauge their quality by noticing whether three distinct interactions are happening and how all of it contributes to the overall existence of psychological safety.  To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at  www.workwisdomllc....

While you might think that too much authenticity can backfire, trust in our leaders is low, and employee engagement is low. We are desperate for leaders who lead with authenticity. So what does that mean for Authentic Leaders? How do we balance being authentic and leading? Join Sarah and Abby Rivera as they discuss what it means to be an authentic leader and how that can lead to trust and high per...

Have you ever been on a Zoom call where a single raised eyebrow or subtle head shake said it all—no words needed? In this episode of The Behaviorist, host, Kedren Crosby, is joined by Work Wisdom President, Sarah Colantonio, and Director of Communications, Hunter Smith, for an insightful exploration of the world of nonverbal communication. From the foundational work of anthropologist Ray Birdwhist...

Are you feeling burned out and unmotivated with your work? In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Sarah Colantonio is joined by Maria Hoover, Director of Educational Services at Capital Area IU, and Todd Snovel, Chief Leadership & Engagement Officer at the County Commissioners Association of PA, for an insightful conversation about sparking intrinsic motivation in themselves and others. What...

In our latest episode of The Behaviorist, we explore the fascinating concept of "split personas"—how we create separate versions of ourselves for work and life. Drawing on the hit show Severance, Dr. Ryan Berardi, Dr. Alex Rohrer, and Emily Abbruzzese dive into the psychological cost of living with these dual identities. Are we sacrificing authenticity for safety? Can we truly integrate our person...

The Behaviorist Podcast has been a library of ideas, a resource for shared language, a training manual, a community meet up, and most of all, a labor of love by the team at Work Wisdom.  Join our producer AND host, Adam Rohrer, as he interviews the founders of The Behaviorist Podcast, Sarah Colantonio and Kedren Crosby, to learn about the surprises and thrills of creating 100 episodes of the only...

What does it mean to lead with calm amidst chaos? Why is equanimity so essential for leaders navigating complexity, conflict, and constant change? And how can leaders cultivate this inner steadiness without becoming detached or indifferent? In this week’s episode of The Behaviorist, Kedren Crosby sits down with Jenna Cramer, President & CEO of Green Building Alliance, and Joe McMonagle, Chief...

How do we accept evolution and become skillful at leveraging perpetually shifting realities? What is 'Walk Away Power,' and why does it make perfect sense to talk about Chappell Roan at the Grammy Awards on The Behaviorist? Join Jaime Arroyo, Dylan, and Kedren as they reflect, explore, and develop dynamic methods and mindsets for adapting as individuals and organizations. Hear Jaime discuss how a...

Join us as Mike McKenna talks with Clarke Madden from the PA Office of the State Inspector General about the way a strategy screen is just the right tool to strengthen your decision-making in your work, and even in your personal life! To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at  www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom). *Views expressed by guests are th...

Five years after Kedren interviewed Fearless Leaders Jess King and Sam Bressi in an article on WW Press, she meets up with them again to explore what additional wisdom they’ve gleaned through the past challenging years to help leaders now.   Join the three leaders in discussing the necessity of building values-aligned teams, quantifying your fears, habituating renewal, reframing uncertainty, dropp...

Work Wisdom's 2017 office was our first foray into Work Wisdom Design, where every detail of space: light, furniture, color, and fabric, was used to cultivate an aspired identity and culture. Join Kedren Crosby and Christy Slothower in a conversation about intentionally using design to create the best future for your teams and your company. In this episode, Kedren and Christy share their motivatio...

Join us for a powerful conversation as Ryan Berardi sits down with Dr. Taylor Alouisa and Dr. Alex Rohrer to explore the essential role of “trust density” in fostering impactful work. Discover practical insights on building and maintaining “trust hygiene” in the face of pivotal, complex challenges that not only affect trust today but shape the foundation for stronger relationships tomorrow. Don’t...