Culture: The Real CEO

What if your default response was “yes”? In this Culture Cut, Dr. Eliezer Jones and Jon Ackerman explore how a culture of yes drives innovation, builds trust, and creates psychological safety on teams. It’s not about saying yes to everything. It’s about leading with openness, curiosity, and a genuine desire to help. From improv’s “yes and” mindset to real workplace examples, they break down how sh...

In this episode I sit down with Raquel Arakanchi, an OU Executive Fellow, who I have the pleasure of working with daily. Together we explore culture from the inside and dive into navigating onboarding, high expectations, and the energy of a mission-driven organization in real time. We talk about burnout, boundaries, and the tension between passion and sustainability, especially in roles that are a...

In this CultureCut, Jon and I tackle one of the most difficult, and most important, topics in organizational life: toxic culture. What makes a culture toxic? How does it slowly take root inside teams that once felt healthy and mission-driven? And most importantly, how do you address it without burning everything down? We explore the subtle warning signs leaders often miss: fear-based communication...

What does it really mean to live with a happy attitude, especially in demanding, mission-driven work? In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Derek Gormin, Managing Director of Public School Educational Excellence at NCSY, for an honest conversation about happiness as a daily practice. We explore mindset, leadership, emotional honesty, and how a positive attitude shapes culture, resilience, and imp...

In this CultureCut, Jon and I explore the powerful ideas behind Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara and what they teach us about building exceptional organizational culture through servant leadership. Using stories and principles from the book, we discuss how going beyond what’s “reasonable” transforms not just customer experience, but internal culture as well. We unpack how leaders who see t...

In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down for a full interview with Jon Ackerman — my co-host for the CultureCuts segment of the podcast and the Talent Development Manager for NCSY. Together, we take a deep dive into the culture of a thriving, mission-driven non-profit organization. We explore what truly works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to building positive organizational culture,...

In this third Culture Cut episode—a short-form conversation with my friend and colleague, Jon Ackerman—we dive into the importance of saying "No" as a leader and hearing "No" as an employee. Above all we discuss the way to say and hear it. Each Culture Cut explores a single, focused topic about culture and will be released between full-length interview episodes. Enjoy this quick, thought-provoking...

In this episode, I sit down with Menachem Silverstein — an Orthodox Jewish writer, comedian, and ordained Rabbi whose unique blend of wit, depth, and lived Jewish experience has made him a rising voice in the comedy world. Together, we explore the behind-the-scenes culture of stand-up comedy clubs, where vulnerability, honesty, and sharp observation collide under the spotlight. Menachem shares his...

In this second Culture Cut episode—a short-form conversation with my friend and colleague, Jon Ackerman—we dive into what we believe are the main ingredients of a healthy culture, which we decided is like a good chicken soup. Each Culture Cut explores a single, focused topic about culture and will be released between full-length interview episodes. Enjoy this quick, thought-provoking exchange!

In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Phil Zbaraz, affectionately known to the students of Ida Crown Jewish Academy as “Doc Phil.” For over two decades, Phil served as the Director of Student Social Services at the Academy in Skokie, IL. Together, we explored the culture of a school and the key ingredients that make it a healthy one — ingredients that can strengthen any organiz...

In this first Culture Cut—a short-form conversation with my friend and colleague, Jon Ackerman—we dive into what we believe culture is and is not. Each Culture Cut explores a single, focused topic about culture and will be released between full-length interview episodes. Enjoy this quick, thought-provoking exchange!

In our first episode, I sit down with Rabbi Micah Greenland, International Director of NCSY, to uncover the surprising ingredient behind healthy culture, the beauty of being mission-driven, and what it takes to lead the culture of one of the world’s largest youth organizations. Inspiring. Honest. Eye-opening. Enjoy!

Culture isn't a perk, it's the power behind every thriving organization. In Culture: The Real CEO, we uncover the truth that culture doesn’t follow strategy… it leads it. Each week, join Dr. Eliezer Jones, for bold, high impact episodes that explore how culture shapes performance, builds trust, and defines what kind of workplace people come back to....or run from. Whether you're a leader, builder,...