I Need To F***ing Talk To You

In this episode, Russell sits down with  Eric Nitzberg , founder of  Sierra Leadership , executive coach, and trusted advisor to CEOs and senior leaders. Eric works with high-performing executives to help them focus on what truly matters—bringing clarity, confidence, and deeper self-awareness to leadership in complex and fast-moving environments. With more than two decades of experience coaching s...

In this episode, we talk with  Beth Trejo, CEO and Co-Founder of Chatterkick , a social media operations agency focused on building systems that actually work — while keeping people at the center of the process. Beth has been featured in  USA Today ,  Business Insider , and  Yahoo , and has delivered more than 100 keynotes on leadership, culture, and the realities of modern social media. Beth shar...

In this episode, Jenna Udenberg — author, disability advocate, accessibility educator, and 2020 Bush Fellow — hares a deeply honest difficult conversation — a moment when, despite more than a decade of experience as a social advocate and educator, she made an off-hand comment that landed wrong. We unpack what happened next: owning the misstep, repairing trust, and why accountability doesn’t disapp...

In this episode, Ken sits down with Stacey Bailey — leadership coach, strategist, former COO, and a fierce advocate for the  System & Soul  approach to leadership. Stacey works with leaders who are done choosing between structure  or humanity, performance  or  culture, clarity  or  care. Stacey shares one of the most difficult conversations of her career: a moment that unfolded mid-session with fo...

In this episode of  I Need To F_*_ing Talk To You , we sit down with Joanna Lovering, a leadership and presence consultant and the founder of  Copper + Rise . Joanna partners with organizations to engage, develop, and retain their pipeline of women leaders—helping them step fully into their authority, visibility, and impact. Through Copper + Rise, she has designed and facilitated programs for comp...

In this episode, we sit down with Oksana Lukash, a trailblazing People & Culture executive who has built high-performing organizations across multiple sectors. Known for combining sharp strategic vision with deep empathy, Oksana shares what it really takes to scale people operations in high-growth companies—without losing the human side of leadership. We explore how authentic leadership and data-d...

In this episode, we’re joined by Rashmir Balasubramaniam, a transformational leadership coach and thought partner to current and emerging leaders who are committed to creating a better world for all. With an MBA from Yale and more than 30 years of experience working across countries and sectors, Rashmir has lived at the intersection of purpose and performance. Her career spans investment banking,...

Cancer care isn’t neutral—and pretending it is swerves no one. And might cost lives. In this episode of  I Need to F-ing Talk To You , Dr. Eugene Manley cuts through the politeness to talk about what health equity really demands from leaders, systems, and science. A cancer scientist and longtime patient advocate, Dr. Manley works at the collision point of biomedical research, cancer care, AI ethic...

In this episode, Ken and Russell sit down with  Sandra Coker —author, CEO, and people-first powerhouse—to talk about what really drives performance at work: humans. Sandra is the author of  People Profit: How to Improve Your Bottom Line by Investing in Those Above It , host of the  People Profit Podcast , and Founder & CEO of  Human Power Solutions . With over two decades of experience, Sandra has...

In this episode, Ken sits down with Don Weber — a former international intelligence officer who spent 15 years operating under multiple identities across more than 90 countries, where a single misread conversation could cost him his life. Today, Don is one of Europe’s most respected executive communication coaches, advising royalty, EU diplomats, senior politicians, and Fortune 500 leaders on how...

In this episode, we sit down with mental health professional and former SWAT crisis negotiator Jessi Beyer, creator of the L.I.F.E. suicide prevention model that’s helping workplaces save lives without requiring anyone to be a psychologist. Jessi breaks down simple, trauma-aware strategies that managers, teammates, and everyday humans can use to confidently respond in moments of crisis, build safe...

In this episode, Russell sits down with Darren Padgett—Founder & CEO of DNA Business Consulting LLC and a leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations scale, grow, and win in a competitive world. Darren shares how his obsession with business began in an 18-year-old’s classroom seat and evolved into a career built on relentless learning, disciplined habits, and a passion for e...

This week, Ken and Russell sit down with Andrea Adams — HR consultant to small and medium businesses and host of  The HR Hub , Canada’s largest HR YouTube channel. With more than 150 interviews behind her, Andrea brings a rare combination of strategic insight, practical HR wisdom, and lived experience navigating some of the toughest conversations imaginable. Andrea shares a particularly challengin...

Welcome to our annual New Year’s special of I Need To F_*_ing Talk To You ! Ken Cameron and Russell Stratton are back to tackle the time of year when leaders lose their minds: January, the month of 47 new goals before anyone’s recovered from holiday carb fog. In this episode, we break down why most corporate goal-setting sessions flop, from KPI inflation and “stretch goals” that break your team, t...

In this irreverent, painfully relatable, and wildly useful holiday special, Ken and Russell dive into the chaos, charm, and catastrophic potential of workplace holiday parties. From prevention to cleanup (emotional, reputational, and sometimes literal), this episode is your go-to guide for surviving the Silly Season without torching your culture—or your career. Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed th...

On this episode of I Need To F **ing Talk To You*, Ken and Russell sit down with Kate Lowry—founding CEO coach and advisor at Scaleheart Co., and author of Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders and talk about her  tactical guide for anyone who’s ever worked under a fear-based, top-down, or downright toxic leader. It’s not just theory—it’s a roadmap for protecting what matters most wi...

In this episode, Ken and Russell sit down with Amy Lenius , a coach, speaker, and Director of Group Coaching at Next Level University. Amy’s path into coaching began with her own story of resilience—rebuilding her health and identity after years of chronic illness. That journey taught her that true growth isn’t always comfortable , but it’s always worth it. Today, Amy helps people define success o...

This week, Ken and Russell sit down with Pradeepa Narayanaswamy — Leadership Coach, TEDx Speaker, Author, and self-described diamond miner for leaders . Pradeepa’s journey is anything but ordinary. From being one of only 12 women selected out of 55,000 applicants to join tech giant Infosys in India, to becoming known as a “team whisperer” who could shift energy and unlock hidden potential, she’s b...

In a world full of corporate buzzwords, AI-generated fluff, and leadership jargon that could put a caffeinated squirrel to sleep, real storytelling cuts through like a hot knife through the B.S. Our guest this week,  Dr. Rod Berger , has made a career of doing exactly that. As the author of  The Narrative Edge , Rod is a  strategic storyteller, keynote speaker, and media contributor  whose  4,000+...

In this episode, I sit down with Faith Clarke, bestselling author of Parenting Like a Ninja , team effectiveness specialist, and culture designer. Faith works with small business teams to redefine work ecosystems for post-pandemic humans who want to do work better. On Instagram, she describes herself as an Organizational Health and Inclusive Teams Specialist. Autism Activist. Author. MamaBear. Rid...

If you’ve ever tried to lead a team where the executives aren’t on the same page and resistance to change is the norm—then this this week,  Dusty Gulleson , has been there—and knows exactly how to turn the chaos into clarity. As CEO and Owner of  eResources , Dusty specializes in aligning leaders, simplifying technology, and driving meaningful transformation in organizations that need it most. Whe...

In this episode of I Need To F **ing Talk To You*, we sit down with Richard Levy, founder and CEO of Sophera Marketing , joining us all the way from the UK. Richard brings a wealth of experience in building and enhancing brands through every marketing channel, having led high-performing teams across the UK, EMEA, and North America for major organizations including GE, Santander, First National, an...

In this episode, Russell sits down with Charlie Sheppard —Professor of Leadership, Organizational Development Consultant, transformational coach to CEOs, and author of Save Your Drama For Your Mama . Charlie shares how his unique blend of behavioral science, leadership expertise, and systems design helps individuals and organizations unlock peak performance. From navigating high-stakes union-manag...

In this episode, Ken and Russell sit down with Nathaniel A. Turner—a captivating Renaissance man who turned childhood adversity into a blueprint for extraordinary academic achievement. Nathaniel shares his signature Backward Design life template, the very strategy that helped his son secure over $10 million in scholarships and admission to elite universities. He walks us through how families can u...

In this episode, Ken and Russell sit down with lean strategy expert Mark Reich to explore how Hoshin Kanri drives organizational alignment, leadership growth, and innovation. Drawing on 23 years at Toyota—including product planning in Japan during the Lexus launch and leading North American Hoshin Kanri—Mark shares practical lessons for translating strategy into daily practice and sustaining a cul...