Fringe by PeopleForward Network

What happens when every leader in your company defines "leadership" their own way? Spoiler alert: chaos. Live from the CultureCon 2025 studio in Madison, Wisconsin, Nikki Lewallen Gregory teams up with Coleman Williams, co-founder of Wrestling With Talent, to get real about the chaos that comes from undefined leadership. From inconsistent one-on-ones to unclear goal-setting, they explore how struc...

What if chasing profit is actually killing your team's potential? 🎯 Nikki and Jason unpack one of PeopleForward Network's most powerful culture codes: Purpose Over Profit. They explore what happens when teams stop measuring success in dollars and start designing work around meaning, strengths, and alignment. From sharing candid team experiences, like skipping 4:30 AM workouts for midday movement...

Ever been stuck in a "meh" moment, unsure if it's a yes or a no? 😬 Nikki and Jason dive into a fun, fired-up convo about making bold, aligned decisions, personally and professionally. From saying no without guilt to spotting red flags in client partnerships and making hiring choices that truly light up your team, they cover it all. Nikki also shares powerful takeaways from Mel Robbins' "Let Them"...

In this episode, Geoffrey Smith and Cory Jenks discuss the importance of human connection in healthcare, the need for innovation, and the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Cory shares his unique background as a pharmacist and improv comedian, emphasizing the significance of creating meaningful experiences for patients and caregivers alike. They explore the barriers to change within the...

What if the secret to better leadership isn't about doing more, but being more human? In this episode of Work Doesn't Work (Anymore), Dr. Ryan Darby sits down with leadership expert and founder of Brain Squared Leadership Solutions, Laurie Cozart. With over 10,000 individuals and 500 teams coached, Laurie brings deep insights on how leaders can thrive in today's complex and rapidly changing workpl...

What if your company values weren't just words on a wall, but a lived, breathing part of your culture that drives every hire, fire, and daily decision? Live from CultureCon 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin, Nikki sits down with Eliza Jackson of ButcherBox for a conversation that flips traditional HR playbooks on their head. With a colorful background that spans finance, kindergarten classrooms, and hype...

What if your AI tools were more like teammates than tech? AI isn't coming for your job, it's coming to take the busywork off your plate. Jason and Nikki crack open how the PeopleForward Network team is weaving AI into their daily workflows without ditching what makes them... them. From using ChatGPT for parenting convos to building sales proposals, onboarding guides, and culture content, they're s...

What if your biggest leadership blind spots were hiding in plain sight? To celebrate 50 episodes of The Unleashing **Leaders Podcast, we're bringing this powerful conversation to Fringe. Host Lee Scott sits down with long-time friend and leadership powerhouse Cyrus Aram, TED speaker, UC Davis professor, and CEO of Unleashing Leaders. Together, they peel back the layers on the hidden blind spots th...

What if the real reason workplace engagement hasn't budged in 30 years is because we've made leadership too complicated? In this kickoff to a powerful new content partnership, Nikki introduces Dr. Ryan Darby, organizational psychologist, leadership simplifier, and founder of WorkStrong. Ryan's not here for hype. He's here for habits. Drawing from his deep experience with 34Strong and years of lead...

What if your team could get more done in less time? ⏳ In this Community Conversation, Nikki and Jason flip the traditional "hours worked" mindset on its head, championing the power of results over clock-watching. They share why it's time to ditch the outdated 9–5 mentality, how to unlearn habits that hold us back, and why role clarity + goals + KPIs are the secret trio for driving real impact. 🚀...

Why are we still using resumes like it's 1995?! 📄 Live from CultureCon 2025, Nikki Lewallen Gregory is joined by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, for a rapid-fire convo on shaking up everything we thought we knew about HR. From blowing up the resume to embracing AI in ethical and human-first ways, Natasha dishes on how leaders can stop playing it safe and start rethinking talent. They explore the m...

What if the secret to staying focused, aligned, and genuinely excited about your goals wasn't a 20-page annual plan, but a simple monthly sprint? Nikki and Jason pull back the curtain on how PeopleForward Network uses OKRs and monthly sprint goals to spark team momentum. 📈 They demystify what OKRs really are, how sprint goals drive alignment and energy, and why failing fast can actually fuel succ...

What if your biggest money block was invisible… and inherited? Welcome to a groundbreaking kickoff of a new Addicted to Betterment series with Nikki and David, and the incomparable financial coach, Roya Mattis. Together, they dive deep into the subconscious programming most of us never question: the invisible money stories we inherited long before we even earned our first dollar. 🧠 From cheese-an...

Ever wonder what your action figure accessories would be? Or whether you'd rather be launched to Mars or dive into the depths of the ocean? 🌊 🚀 In this offbeat bonus episode of Leading for Wellness, Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer ditch the serious talk and take each other on a wild ride through quirky, laugh-out-loud hypotheticals, all sparked by a friendly showdown between Google a...

Employees crave feedback, and 96% say they want it! But let's be honest… giving and receiving feedback can be awkward. 😬 In this episode of "In the Loop", Katherine Coble is tackling the art of feedback: how to do it well, when to give it, and why it matters. Inspired by Radical Candor by Kim Scott, Katherine explores how to balance caring personally while challenging directly (without being too...

Ever felt like your culture change efforts are just… throwing spaghetti at the wall 🍝? In this episode, Nikki sits down with BJ McKay from ADVISA to swap real, in-the-trenches stories of transformation. Together they break down the ATLAS framework, reveal why discomfort is the secret ingredient to lasting change, and share how to keep leaders energized instead of burned out. From ditching the bus...

Ready to break free from program fatigue and culture initiatives that fizzle out fast? Nikki sits down with Heather Haas, CEO of Advisa, as she shares why so many culture efforts flop and how HR professionals can finally make the shift from being stuck in a silo to leading true transformation. They dive into the game-changing A.T.L.A.S. framework. Think executive activation, trust, leadership deve...

What if the hardest part of leading well... was everything around you trying to stop you? Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer pull back the curtain on what it really takes to lead with empathy and integrity when the system around you isn't built to support it. From personal stories of burnout and toxic workplaces to actionable strategies for building micro-cultures and protecting your team...

What if the key to business success wasn't just hitting KPIs, but creating a legacy where people feel seen, heard, and inspired to grow? This episode of "Boundary Breakers" is a masterclass in leading with purpose from Mark Mears, former exec at McDonald's, PepsiCo, and The Cheesecake Factory, and now the visionary behind LEAF Growth Ventures. 🌱 From boardroom victories to an unexpected turning p...

Nick and Zach kick off their podcast series with the wild and wonderful origin story of CultureCon®️: from blizzard-filled roundtables and zero event planning experience, to surprise Vegas marquees and full-on imposter syndrome. Along the way, they share the heart behind why CultureCon exists: to make work suck less and to build authentic connections that go far beyond job titles. You'll laugh, yo...

What if your next "perfect" hire is just a well-programmed bot? AI fraud is here, and it's quietly hijacking your hiring pipeline. 🤖 Gerald Gordon sits down with Steve Browne, Chief People Officer at LaRosa's Inc., to tackle a hiring crisis no one's prepared for: AI-generated candidates and digital twins fooling their way into your organization. From ghost applicants to automated resume farms, Ge...

What if the biggest workplace challenge isn't strategy, skills, or systems, but simply understanding each other? 👀 Amy sits down with Lindsay Boccardo, speaker, coach, and generational expert who makes the complex topic of age gaps feel surprisingly fun. Together they explore why we label each other, how parenting trends shape the leaders we become, and why "kids these days…" has been said for ce...

What if the secret to a thriving workplace culture came down to just five simple leadership behaviors? Geoffrey sits down with the brilliant Paula Allen, global mental health researcher and champion for workplace wellbeing. Together, they geek out over the five leadership behaviors that shape thriving, resilient teams. From psychological safety to the magic of gratitude, this episode is packed wit...

Think all great salespeople are born talkers with years of experience? Think again. Matt Poepsel chats with Jim Speredelozzi, who flips the traditional sales script on its head. Jim shares how he went from 90-day quitters to building a thriving 150-person sales team, all by focusing on mindset, process, and hiring based on who people are, not just what they've done. You'll hear how he uses science...

Think one wellness strategy works for everyone? Think again. Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer unpack why "one size doesn't fit all" when it comes to supporting your people. From co-creating personalized plans to avoiding quick-fix blanket solutions, they share how leaders can better meet employees where they are, without judgment or assumptions. Through real stories and research-backed...