Productive Joy

What happens when success on paper doesn’t translate to fulfillment in real life? In this powerful episode of Productive Joy , David Schnurman shares how he went from feeling stuck in a midlife rut to completely transforming his family’s life through intention, courage, and bold decision-making As a CEO, author, and father of three, David found himself overwhelmed by the daily grind—despite profes...

On today’s Productive Joy, the recap, Christie highlights an episode with Kyle McDowell, a Fortune 10 CEO and author of Begin With We, which outlines 10 leadership principles focused on shifting from “me” to “we.” After retiring and then being asked to lead another company days later, Kyle chose a completely different leadership style centered on empowering others, admitting leaders don’t need all...

What if the key to better leadership, stronger teams, and more fulfilling work isn’t about you … but about we ? In this powerful episode of Productive Joy , Dr. Christie sits down with leadership expert, speaker, and bestselling author Kyle McDowell to explore a transformative approach to leadership that challenges traditional, results-only mindsets. After nearly 30 years climbing the corporate la...

What if the thing that makes you stand out… is exactly what the world needs more of? In this empowering recap episode of Productive Joy , Dr. Christie reflects on her conversation with leadership expert Dr. Tamara Harris Gilliam and dives deeper into one unforgettable message:   Be the glitter. This episode is all about embracing your authentic self, celebrating the small wins, and showing up in a...

What does it mean to truly shine in your purpose—without apology ? In this powerful and inspiring episode of Productive Joy , Dr. Christie sits down with leadership coach, educator, and dynamic thought leader Dr. Tamara Harris Gilliam for a conversation that will challenge you to step fully into your brilliance. From cultivating psychological safety in leadership to empowering women to lead with c...

Today Dr. Christie recaps her conversation with Dr. Ben Granger, author of A Leader Worth Following, highlighting the book’s three parts: foundations of modern leadership, mastering yourself (mind and body), and scaling leadership so others can use what you know. She notes Granger’s role as a chief workplace psychologist and emphasizes that organizational health depends on human health, including...

What does it really take to become a leader people want to follow—not just someone they have to follow? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Productive Joy , host Dr. Christie sits down with workplace psychologist, speaker, and author Dr. Ben Granger to explore the deeper truth about leadership, communication, and human connection. Celebrating the launch of his brand-new book, A Leade...

What does it really mean to live in your purpose—and how do you create more productive joy in your everyday life? In this recap episode of Productive Joy , we revisit powerful insights from author, leader, and podcaster Reed Nyffeler, centered on one transformative idea: your unique purpose matters more than you think . So often, we get stuck in the cycle of doing what we have to do instead of lea...

Today, Dr. Christie  interviews author and podcaster Reed Nyffeler on Productive Joy about becoming purposeful, accountable, and effective as a leader. Reid shares how junior high shaped his identity, why he gravitated to wrestling for personal responsibility, and how investing in others led to leadership and a 19-year business in franchising.  He explains writing as creating an organized, repeata...

Today Dr. Christie recaps her most recent conversations about leaning into numbers, featuring Andy Weins and Lynn Corazzii on stopping avoidance of data. They argue that people fear numbers because they feel finite and scary, but data can tell a clear story about next steps, desired results, and even turning data into profit by focusing on facts, not feelings.  A key takeaway is using empowering s...

Many entrepreneurs love creativity, freedom, and building something meaningful—but when it comes to numbers, financial statements, and accounting, they often freeze or avoid them altogether. In this episode of Productive Joy , Dr. Christie sits down with entrepreneurs and co-authors Andy Weins and Lynn Corazzi to break down a powerful message: Your business numbers are not the enemy—they are the s...

Leadership and management are often treated like opposites. But are they really? In this episode recap of Productive Joy , Dr. Christie reflects on her powerful recent leadership conversation with Dalmo Cirne, author of The Four Streams of Leadership. The takeaway? Leadership and management are not competing ideas — they are complementary skills. Great leaders guide people toward meaningful direct...

What if leadership isn’t about innate talent—but about preparation? In this episode of Productive Joy , Dr Christie sits down with author, systems thinker, engineer, twin dad, app builder, guitarist (but definitely not a singer!), and leadership expert Dalmo Cirne to explore what it really takes to become an effective leader. Dalmo shares why most new leaders struggle—not because they’re incompete...

Today Dr, Christie recaps her conversation with returning guest Dan Doerksen (author of You Can Manage). They explore a people-first approach to management that intentionally translates into measurable team and organizational results. Dan’s five-step management framework moves from self-awareness to strengthening the organization, emphasizing that caring for people must be paired with clear focus...

Today Dr. Christie welcomes return guest Dan Dan Doerksen—leader, coach, systems thinker, dad of twins, and Certified Organizational Design Professional—to discuss his new book, “You Can Manage: A Practical Guide to Becoming the Manager Everyone Wants.” They revisit research showing managers are the key factor in employee experience, noting most new managers receive no training. Dan shares a human...

This Productive Joy recap highlights leadership lessons from Amy Chambers, who wrote The Six Habits of Powerful People and The Seven Virtues of Exceptional Leaders and Habits. The host notes that strong habits enable leaders to practice virtues—an acronym including vision, involve, routines, talk, understanding, encourage, and showcase—and that leadership improves through intentional growth. The e...

Today on Productive Joy Dr. Christie interviews leadership expert, coach, author, and speaker Amy Chambers, a recovering people pleaser who has taken 51 cruises and completed 260 half marathons and 12 full marathons after once being unable to run a mile. Amy shares the formative moment that sparked her focus on human-first leadership: at 18, she comforted a coworker, Debbie, who was left devastate...

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie recaps her discussion with Kyle Austin Young, author of 'Success is a Numbers Game'. Kyle emphasizes that every goal entails both a probability of success and failure. He advocates embracing and mitigating risks to achieve success. Dr. Christie elaborates on actionable steps to identify and overcome barriers, using examples like weight loss g...

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie welcomes Kyle Austin Young, an acclaimed author, strategy consultant, and the creator of the Ace Success Habit. Kyle shares his insights on how understanding and improving your odds of success can significantly impact your goals.  He and Dr. Christie dig into his concept of the 'success diagram,' which helps identify potential obstacles and s...

In this recap of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie talks about the new schedule for the show, with one amazing, more in depth guest episode on Tuesdays and a recap and deeper dive on Fridays. Today she recaps her discussion with Dr. Ben Johnson and Bobby Dodd about their book, Intentional Influence.  The book focuses on building connections within teams to enhance leadership and organizational culture....

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie welcomes Bobby Dodd and Dr. Ben Johnson, two educational leaders, who discuss their book 'Intentional Influence: Harnessing Cultural Mapping to Build Commitment.' Together, they explore the importance of relational networks within organizations and how cultural mapping can make invisible connections visible.  They share practical strategies f...

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie reflects on her interview with Dr. Thymai Dong-Sheehan, discussing the importance of thoughtful interactions. Emphasizing that each interaction can be a masterpiece, we delve into what it means to make conversations safe, logical, fun, and memorable. She shares practical tips on creating a conducive environment for open dialogue, setting clear expect...

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie welcomes Dr. Thymai Dong-Sheehan, an educator and author, to discuss her inspiring life experiences and her memoir, 'The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life.' Dr. Thymai shares her identity as both an immigrant and a refugee, recounts her family's escape from Vietnam, and reflects on how these experiences shaped her values of vulnerabilit...

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie recaps insights from two incredible guests: Dr. Jen Fry, a psychologist, and Dr. Jill Waggoner, a general practitioner. Dr. Jen emphasizes the power of saying 'no' and establishing boundaries, while Dr. Jill shares her inspiring story of losing over 100 pounds and prioritizing self-care. Both doctors underline the importance of taking care of oneself...

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr .Christie welcomes Dr. Jill Wagoner, a multi-talented medical expert and author. Dr. Jill shares her remarkable story of losing 100 pounds and how it led to her overall transformation—physically, spiritually, and emotionally. They discuss Dr. Jill’s unique concierge medical practice and her commitment to women's wellness. She emphasizes the importance of l...