Coffee & Change

In Part 4 of this Limited Audio Series exploring Generative AI, we discuss the power of and importance of Altruism in the arena of policy setting for Generative AI. Every gesture counts. If we are going to find out humanity in these technologies, then every gesture counts.

Part 3 of a Limited Audio Series on Leading Change in the Era of AI. A reflection on all the testimony on the topic of Generative AI.

Limited Audio Series: Leading Change in the Era of AI - Part 2. Are we sleepwalking through technology? What role has AI played in increasing our technology somnambulism? How do we wake up to what is happening all around us? Thanks for the listen.

Limited Audio Series on Leading Change in the Era of AI. This is an audio accompaniment to a LinkedIn Newsletter with the same title authored by the host, Bill Kirst. Enjoy the brief listen and deep reflections from each in this series.

Before taking the summer off to restore, rejuvenate and research new guests, I wanted to share a brief interlude to thank all the loyal listeners around the world. We've reached a milestone with 50,000 full episode listens from people around the world. Remember to keep chasing your dreams, no matter what. Perseverance, resilience and passion matter more than ever. Look forward to returning with mo...

Tim Creasey is the Chief Innovation Officer at Prosci, the research-based organziation focused solely on change management. Tim is a change expert, researcher and author who focuses on achieving change success with and through people. His work forms the world’s largest body of knowledge in change management. Tim's role as Chief Innovation Officer at Prosci means bringing new perspective and unders...

Mark Rowe is southern born actor who grew up in Tennessee. He spent a decade in New York City as a stage actor, and, since 2012 has lived in LA, Atlanta and New York, working in film, television, commercials and theater. Today in conversation with Mark we will hear about his change journey that took him from “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” all the way to “Stranger Things Season 4” with a few sto...

Emily Falvey is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter. She is an alumna of Belmont University's Curb College, graduating in 2018 with a B.A. in Songwriting & a B.B.A. in Music Business. Falvey signed an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement with Shane McAnally's publishing company, SMACKSongs, in April 2018. The single she penned for Big Loud artist MacKenzie Porter, “Seeing Other People,” recen...

Remember back to the days of pandemic lockdown, when so many of us tapped into the well of mindfulness, meditation and mental wellness apps? Perhaps you dusted off the Headspace app in your phone or maybe you discovered an app called Insight Timer, discovering audio treasures and tracks including music to help us heal amidst our unyielding grief. In those early days, when it was hard to breathe, e...

Over a decade ago I had the opportunity to meet and mentor two incredible consultants, who were just starting out in their careers at IBM in Washington, DC. Together we created a family-like environment, and worked like we were in a startup, always having each other’s back and hyper focused on the mission our daily work supported. That mission was to protect the U.S. joint warfighter and the milit...

In 2020 over 18 million students applied to go to college. And 17.7 million of those students applied for financial aid. Applying for financial aid can be a daunting and emotional process for students and families. In my research for this episode, I learned that in 2020 the number of submitted applications of the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, fell by 50,000 applicants. Guidi...

Welcome back. And pardon the interruption. It is a time of reflection in the times we are in. And as such, my partner in composition, a man I am fortunate to call a friend, has scored a new seasonal anthem for the podcast. You may reflect back on his previous seasonal scores, or even his powerful story shared in Episode 72, Playing it Through with Jason Latham. And as with any co-creation, it ofte...

Sydney is journalist turned strategist with a unique blend of experience in diversity & inclusion, management consulting and people strategy. Her superpower is th ability to connect and influence - With a knack for leaning into hard and uncomfortable conversations with employees of all levels. She is anchored in doing work that is meaningful and directly impacts and uplifts historically excluded c...

My guest on Episode 117 is Beth Banks Cohn, PhD. As President of ADRA Change Architects, Beth helps individuals and organizations reach their full potential. She uses a highly developed organizational intuition to help them see what others might have missed. All efforts are focused on giving the business results they desire. With over 25 years of business experience in the Pharmaceutical and Healt...

My next guest could write an opus on what it feels like to lead and live in change. I first heard Drew Wilkinson’s story on a the Powered by the People podcast at Microsoft, and instantly found myself drawn in to learn more about his story, most intriguingly the path that led a modern day poet to go from the stage life as the lead singer of a hardcore punk band to one of the world’s preeminent tec...

I met my next guest sailing somewhere in the waters of the Eastern Caribbean in 2014. Canaan Cox began his career singing on Cruise Ships and is now one of Nashville’s fastest rising Independent artists. A true entertainer, Canaan is what some in the industry might consider a triple threat. Actor, singer, dancer…and now he has director and producer credits under his belt too. Having been a fan sin...

Brandi Olson believes that you shouldn’t have to choose between doing good, important work, and your own humanity. An expert in organizational design and agility, she teaches leaders how to solve problems and adapt fast with high-performing teams. Brandi is a best-selling author of Real Flow: Break the Burnout Cycle and Unlock High Performance in the New World of Work. Her work has been featured i...

Coach GARY WATERS spent 11 seasons (2006-2017) as Winningest Coach in Cleveland State University’s Program History. With over two decades of experience in coaching, Waters has seen many changes within the profession over the years, and has worked tirelessly to instill a core of values and integrity, both on and off the court. Together, we talk about the imperative and life changing role an Athleti...

My guest on Episode 112 needs almost no introduction. Scott Kelly is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut, and a retired U.S. Navy captain. A veteran of four space flights, who has commanded the International Space Station on three expeditions and was a member of the yearlong mission to the ISS. In October 2015, he set the record for the total accumulate...

Our final episode of 2022 is a unique episode for me. My guest, Thomas Mallon, is an author whose work is special in my life. His novel “Fellow Travelers” created a lasting bond and memory for me and my husband, and is a gleaming gemstone in the mosaic that is our relationship. We used to talk of how great it would be to someday invite Thomas Mallon to dinner and thank him for his work, stories an...

Imagine being able to go back and have a conversation with your 12 year old self. Imagine being able to share all the things you had learned along the way, to celebrate your unwavering resilience, to honor your fortitude and most importantly admire your compassion for change. While it may not seem achievable, this next conversation with Rory Woonsue did just that, for both the host and the guest....

On Episode 109, I welcome a long overdue conversation with Dele Downs Kooley. Dele and I met on a panel for the Women in Tech Regatta in Seattle. We both hit it off sharing our backgrounds in the military and as fate would have it, we would be working together a year or so later. Her story is one that will remind you the power and importance of the pivot. And most importantly, the pivot to joy. En...

Edward Cleaves is the author of Kind Soul, Closet Maniac: A Memoir – a tale of a kid trying to escape a horrible past and navigate an uncertain future. All the while never giving up, and eventually coming to terms with life. Ever vigilant and ever hopeful. This is a powerful story rooted plainly with purpose and perseverance in prose. Learn more about Ed at: https://www.edwardcleaves.com/

On Episode 107, we meet Bryan Komornik. Bryan is a Partner at West Monroe where he leads and focuses on Healthcare Management and Health Strategy Solutions. Bryan is also an Executive Board Member at Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, a non profit that provides integrated care that enables people in mental health recovery to build meaningful and independent lives. Bryan is a frequent author of article...

Welcome back and thanks for listening. As we approach the Thanksgiving Day Holiday here in the United States, I want to extend my gratitude and thanks to all the listeners that keep this show vibrant, relevant and growing. One of the many gifts I get to experience from this platform built on a passion for both storytelling and story listening are the connections, recommendations and suggestions th...