Gut + Science

Renée Smith passionately advocates for moving beyond fear-based leadership and instead, embracing a more empowering and love-centered approach to leadership. Discover how love in the workplace can create an environment of safety, acceptance, and belonging, fostering respect, trust, and compassion, ultimately leading to improved performance outcomes, learning, innovation, and growth. Renee delves i...

Aaron Christy , Founder of Indy Roof Company built his company with the intention of creating a positive work culture. He wanted to create a workplace where people could feel excited and fulfilled rather than just counting down the hours until the day ended. Through hard work and dedication, Aaron's business has flourished. His commitment to building a strong culture has attracted talented individ...

Nikki Lewallen Gregory delves into the world of Collaborative Team Development (CTD) with special guest Projjal Ghatak , the CEO of Onloop . Together, they explore this innovative model that promotes clarity, enhances employee engagement, and delivers remarkable results within teams. They discuss the essence of high-performance teams and the pursuit of sustainably optimized performance. Join them...

Nell Derick Debevoise , Partner at PurposeFused believes that in order to inspire and challenge others to grow, we must first overcome our own fragility. Nell recognizes that when we are fragile, we break easily and are unable to navigate the challenges and struggles that exist in both our personal lives and in our communities. She joins Nikki Lewallen Gregory to unravel the importance of embracin...

"When you show up as a loving leader, you help people be the best they can be." Dr. Sylvain Trepanier , SVP and System Chief Nursing Officer at Providence , says if you want your team to trust you and feel supported enough to reach their potential, it takes a loving leadership approach. In this episode, Syl and our guest host, David Black , discuss the deliberate behaviors Syl practices so he can...

In this special segment of "To Work: With Love,"  Nikki Lewallen Gregory invites Renée Smith to explore the transformative power of love in leadership and the workplace. Amid the prevalent challenges people face in modern workplaces, including stress, burnout, and loneliness, she advocates for a paradigm shift toward love-based leadership, believing operationalizing love in the workplace can lead...

Roza Szafranek is a passionate entrepreneur who is committed to spending her time and effort building businesses with a strong people function. She's received various global recognitions for her incredible work, including the Forbes Top 100 List. In this episode, Roza joins Nikki Lewallen Gregory to dissect the intricacies of talent acquisition. Together, they break down the importance of aligning...

Renée Smith champions a more loving and human workplace. Love? Yes, love. She is the Founder and CEO of A Human Workplace . She conducts primary research, writes, and speaks on love and Making Work More Human. In this episode, she joins Nikki Lewallen Gregory to delve into the importance of relationships and care as the core of leadership. They discuss the art of holding space and managing uncomfo...

Josh Jones is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance recruitment processes. With expertise in AI-powered candidate sourcing and robust recruitment marketing, Josh has been at the forefront of implementing innovative tools that support diversity and inclusion initiatives within companies. He joins  Nikki Lewallen Gregory to share valuable insights on the future of work and the overwhelmi...

Abbey Johnston is a passionate and enthusiastic individual who is dedicated to helping people realize the power they hold in making a positive impact. She believes that everyone has the ability to make a significant impact at any given moment, and she aims to inspire others to recognize and value their own potential. Through her work, Abbey hopes to empower individuals to harness their positive ch...

Chad Peterman , President + CEO of Peterman Brothers, empowers his team to chase their potential by being a present leader, allowing them to focus on what they do best, offering help and support wherever needed. In this episode, Chad shares his transformative message: "Lead Yourself," outlining his growth journey, recounting the challenges he faced and the pivotal moments that shaped him into the...

In this episode, Nikki welcomes Amy Oviedo , founder of Recruiting Experiences , to discuss the importance of consistency in successful hiring. Amy shares her insights and experiences in the recruiting industry, emphasizing the lack of training for recruiters and the need for structured processes and standardized communication. Amy highlights the common pitfalls in hiring processes, pointing out t...

In this episode, Nikki is joined by Marsha Clark , best-selling author and podcaster, passionate about supporting women's personal and professional development. They dive into a seven-step feedback framework and discuss the importance of being clear about expectations, checking in with employees, and offering help. The episode also includes three actionable pieces of advice for effective feedback....

In this episode of Gut+ Science, Nikki talks with Jennifer Loper about the importance of building relationships and asking questions in the recruitment process rather than solely relying on qualifications. Jennifer shares the story of how a job opportunity changed her family's future and challenges leaders to think differently about hiring. She encourages listeners to explore unconventional career...

In this episode, Nikki is joined by Kristi Skutvik, Co-Founder & Chief Vibe Officer at workvibes to chat about creating positive work vibes and simplifying work for a more fulfilling experience. Kristi defines workplace culture as a collective energy and emphasizes the importance of connecting with others through simplified communication tactics like video messaging and real-time feedback. Listen...

On this episode, Traci Scherck, Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting joins Nikki to discuss the importance of fulfilling work and the ripple effect it has on individuals and communities. Together, they break down the concept of "holding space" as a coaching skill and how it empowers individuals to problem-solve on their own. Tracy also shares four powerful levers for creating fulfill...

Mark McFatridge , the founder of Quade , joins Nikki to discuss the power of peer groups in leadership. Mark shares his personal experience of feeling overworked and lacking work-life balance. He found support, accountability, and challenge through peer groups and the impact of being surrounded by people experiencing similar opportunities and challenges. He founded Quade to help CEOs and business...

Rachel Pritz , Executive Coach + Facilitator, Rachel Pritz Coaching & Consulting helps people reach their full potential through self-awareness and soul-care. In this episode, Rachel Pritz dives deep into the Enneagram, a tool that can be a helpful to understand ourselves and others. Rachel shares how she leverages it to help her better understand herself and uses it as a developmental tool in cli...

Lee Scott , Founder and Chief Change Agent of Unleashing Leaders , provides insights on leadership and personal growth in this episode. The discussion centers around identifying and nurturing people's potential and greatness through genuine curiosity, recognizing strengths, and positioning your team as the heroes of the narrative. The episode emphasizes the importance of exhibiting grace, curiosit...

Listening is one of the most powerful skills we can focus on as a leader, and it's a conscious daily effort. Organizations with leaders who do a great job of listening have more team members engaged in the mission, which results in a highly engaged culture.  Will Reed , founder of Sideways6 shares the importance of instilling daily habits to nudge ourselves to be present has significant impact, cr...

Burnout is a condition that arises from prolonged and excessive stress, leading to emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. It is characterized by feelings of being overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to cope with constant demands. While the awareness of burnout has increased in recent times, prevention efforts are still ongoing, and there is still a long way to go. In this episode, An...

Mike Cundall, Jr. , CEO of Mirth Management , is passionate about the power of humor to build better relationships and create more enjoyable work environments. In this episode, Mike shares his story of how his love for comedy has affected his life and career, and why he now encourages leaders to use humor to connect with their people. He discusses how humor often leads to resilience and brings peo...

Andrea Butcher , author, podcast host, and CEO of the leadership development company HRD , is on a never-ending journey of self-discovery and empowerment that allows her to develop her leadership skills and challenge the traditional notion of "training." Along the way, she's learned how to use the power of time, focus, accountability, and psychological safety to create an environment of growth and...

Steve Shauck , Chief Revenue Officer at Data Clymer , knows the importance of trust, transparency, and empathy when leading people. It all boils down to understanding his team on a more personal level. After taking the time to truly get to know his people, he's able to lift them up and make a lasting, positive impact on their lives. In this episode, Steve discusses the power of focusing on a perso...

When people feel unhappy or unfulfilled at work, they may choose to leave their jobs, but sometimes they may resort to quiet quitting, which means disengaging from their work and becoming less productive without actually resigning. In Part I, Brian McComak shares his perspectives and suggestions related to Quiet Quitting AKA  Job Dissatisfaction . In this episode, after much reflection, Brian dive...