The Improvement Nerds Podcast

🎙️ Understanding Over Memorization | Scott Payne on PMP & Real-World Project Management What does it really take to pass the PMP—and more importantly, actually lead projects effectively? In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, Mark sits down with Scott Payne, founder of All In PM Prep, to break down the gap between memorizing concepts and truly understanding how project management wo...

In this Part 2 conversation, we go deeper into how Disney applies Lean thinking across the park — often in ways guests never consciously notice. We unpack: How Disney designs queues to create flow and reduce the feeling of waiting Mistake proofing and layered safety systems beyond the obvious ride checks How vertical space, theming, and atmosphere shape the “experience before the experience” Cast...

S2 E16 - Tom West & Mark Ryan - Visual Management That Actually Works - Our Disney Experience 🎙️ Episode Description:  Visual Management - From Strategy Development to Ride Lines at Disney  In this episode of The Improvement Nerds Podcast, Tom and Mark go full nerd on one of their favorite Lean topics: visual management — and then take that lens all the way to Disneyland. We start by unpacking...

📖 Description In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan welcomes back Jim Benson, creator of Personal Kanban and co-author of The Collaboration Equation. If you caught their first conversation, you know it was a deep dive into how visualizing work and limiting WIP can transform not just productivity—but how we think and feel about our work. In this follow-up, Jim and Mark g...

Title: S2 E14 - Jim Benson - Make Work Visible, Make Work Better Subtitle: Kanban and Lean Coffee to replace chaos with clarity Description: Jim Benson—co-creator of Personal Kanban, Shingo Prize winner, and co-founder of Lean Coffee—joins Mark to unpack how visual management and WIP limits reduce overload and create humane, effective teamwork. We trace the origins of Kanban for knowledge work, wh...

Mark Graban - A Wide-Ranging Nerd Out with Mark Graban Welcome back to the Improvement Nerds Podcast! In this episode, we nerd out with Mark Graban—award-winning author, consultant, speaker, and senior advisor to KaiNexus. Mark has dedicated his career to showing the world that Lean isn’t confined to factory walls. He’s the author of Lean Hospitals, Healthcare Kaizen, Measures of Success, and most...

Title: S2 E12 - Rebecca Ellis - Putting the FUN in Fungibility, Beyond Cross-Training: The Nerdy Truth About Fungibility 🎧 Description: What if your org chart wasn't a cage, but a launchpad? In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan sits down with Dr. Rebecca Ellis—organizational design expert and Principal at AlignOrg Solutions—to unpack the concept of fungibility in moder...

In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan sits down with leadership coach and founder of Ground Rules Coaching, Laura Hayes, to unpack what real accountability looks like—and why it’s often misunderstood. From toxic blame culture to practical tools that drive responsibility, Laura helps us reframe accountability as a path to empowerment, not punishment. With certifications i...

🎧 Podcast Title: Wired for Excellence: The Neuroscience of Change with Chris Hayes 🎙️ Guest: Chris Hayes, Author of Wired for Excellence 🔍 Episode Description: Don’t miss this fascinating deep dive into the brain science behind organizational change. In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan sits down with Chris Hayes, leadership expert and author of the upcoming book Wire...

S2  E9 - Leadership, Bandwidth, and the Brutal Truth About Strategy Execution - featuring: Karen Martin 🎙️ Episode Description: In this episode of Improvement Nerds, we’re joined by renowned improvement expert Karen Martin to dive deep into what really makes strategy deployment work. Forget the pretty posters and endless dashboards—Karen shares hard-earned lessons about how real strategy gets depl...

📈In this episode of Improvement Nerds, Mark Ryan sits down with Justin Fischgrund—Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, engineer, professor, and patent-holding innovator—to explore where Lean thinking and artificial intelligence collide. They dig into how AI can complement, not replace, Lean Six Sigma; the importance of data strategy; and how improvement professionals can stay relevant in a tech-driv...

Chick-fil-A’s Secret to Efficiency: How They Master Process Improvement | Featuring David Reid 🚀 Ever wondered how Chick-fil-A moves so fast while delivering top-tier customer service? In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, we sit down with David Reid, Director of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Chick-fil-A, to uncover the process improvement, Lean strategies, and customer-first...

In this episode of Improvement Nerds, we’re joined by Katie Anderson, lean leadership expert and author of Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. Fresh from her latest study trip to Japan, Katie shares powerful insights on people-centered leadership, continuous improvement, and how strategy deployment connects leaders and frontline teams. Discover the secrets behind Toyota-inspired practices, the imp...

The People Factor: Leveraging Job Relations for Sustainable Change   In this episode of the Improvement Nerd Podcast, we dive into Job Relations (JR)—a cornerstone of Training Within Industry (TWI). April Thomas Schmidt, a TWI expert, shares how JR helps leaders build trust, strengthen relationships, and drive sustainable change within organizations.   Learn how Job Relations transforms workplace...

S2 E4 - Training Within Industry: From World War II to Modern Excellence The Timeless Power of TWI: Building High-Performing Teams Through Training Within Industry In the world of process improvement, few methodologies have stood the test of time like Training Within Industry (TWI). Born out of necessity during World War II, TWI helped the U.S. ramp up production, train a new workforce, and ultima...

Key Topics Discussed: The Art of Political Savvy Office politics is often viewed in a negative light, but as Betsy explains, it’s all about balance and perspective. Politics doesn’t have to be toxic—it can actually foster collaboration and drive initiatives forward. She shares how understanding the balance of power and aligning different departments can fuel positive change. Betsy offers a deep di...

🔍 S2 E2 - From Pooh Bear to Process Mapping: Authenticity in Branding and Improvement | Betsy Jordyn Interview 🎙️ In this insightful episode, branding expert and organizational development (OD) strategist Betsy Jordyn joins us to explore the powerful connection between branding and continuous improvement. Betsy shares her passion for helping individuals and teams express their authentic selves, o...

Get ready for an exciting comeback as Tom West, the mastermind behind the Improvement Nerds podcast, returns from a well-deserved hiatus to introduce a brand-new co-host, Mark Ryan! In this episode, Tom reflects on the heart and soul of the podcast—bringing together passionate guests to geek out over the tools, techniques, and experiences that drive real improvement. But that's not all! Tom’s buzz...

If you listened to Episode 40, in which Mary Andrawis and I explore the topic, and nerd out a bit about Leadership Speech Acts, you probably sensed that we had a lot more that we wanted to talk about. And you'd be right.   In this bonus episode Mary and I revisit Leadership Speech Acts and dive a bit deeper sprinkling in a few complimentary topics such as "Yes, and...", "Loose/Tight", "Power of Ch...

In Episode 40, Mary Andrawis and I explore the topic, and nerd out a bit about Leadership Speech Acts. As Mary puts it, "our words can help shape the future if we use them intentionally." In this Episode we explore the four common speech acts of... declarations attestations and assessments requests and offers acknowledgments This is an episode you will want to listen to again in again. Mary A. And...

In Episode 39, I have the great privilege of nerding out with the bestselling author, Jodi Brandstetter as we discuss how the improvement method, Design Thinking can be applied to HR -  helping to identify, recruit, onboard, and retain top talent. Jodi Brandstetter, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is passionate about being an entrepreneur that focuses on providing talent acquisition strategies to businesses, caree...

In Episode 38, AJ Hobbs and I discuss the multiple ways an belt can add value to an organization. During our conversation we discuss the advantages of becoming a generalist when it comes to improvement. We can appreciate that there are two sides to this coin, generalizing vs. specializing. We do tip our hats to the specialists, but we don't necessarily nerd out about that. Instead we dive deep on...

In Episode 37, I nerd out with Craig Willis of Skore ( www.getskore.com ) about the importance of process mapping. Per Craig, organization's need to make mapping processes as simple as having a conversation. In fact, that is Craig's personal mission, to help organizations map at the speed of conversation.   Craig's goal is to make process mapping and analysis easy and accessible so that anyone can...

In Episode 36, guest Minid Epstein gives the Improvement Nerds audience permission to be their authentic selves. To embrace their imperfections and to go forward even when you don't have it all figured out. By practicing Wabi Sabi, you learn to see the beauty in imperfection, no longer allowing perfection to get in your way of becoming who you were meant to be. Through her work as a successful bus...

Have you found yourself at a career crossroads and not known what to do? In Episode 35, Marla Holdread shares that the best thing to do when at a career crossroad, is to think like a designer. Her advice is to stay curious, to be willing to experiment, to reframe the problem, and to collaborate. Marla Holdread is an executive coach, career strategist, and founder of Shift Leadership. Her passion i...