SmikleSpeaks

This is not the year for resolutions or regrets. It's the year to celebrate all of who you are! It's the year to be proud of the wonderful human that you are. Let's focus forward with optimism and hope.

What a wonderful year this has been! One of the highlights has been the SmikleSpeaks Podcast being ranked #1 on Feed Spots list of Top 10 Organizational Development podcasts for 2025. Another highlight has been the focused attention we've devoted to Brain Matters. Each and every guest has enriched the podcast and I am grateful!

Let's go deeper into our exploration of brain diseases, research, and cures with Dr. Will Mantyh.

So much chatter about AI! And a lot of the chatter is fearful. Of course some fears are grounded and others are not. It’s a tool like any other tool. We can use it for good or for not so good. But the point is that we can use it, not the other way around. I recognize that lots of leaders and lots of employees not in leadership roles, are anxious about AI. There are concerns around job loss, ethica...

Resilience is touted as one of the most desirable qualities an individual can possess. It's commonly described as the ability to "bounce back" from adversity, adapt to challenges, and thrive despite hardship. In reality, the concept of resilience has been misused, mischaracterized, and oversimplified! Let's spend time exploring what resilience isn't so we can develop clarity on what it is.

This is the third episode of our conversation with Teresa Eyet. She has shared much about her experience with early onset Alzheimer's. Listen as we continue this journey of discovery and acceptance.

We learn more about a woman's acceptance with her diagnosis of Alzheimer's. This is Part 2 of a 3 part series.

In this three-part series we journey with Teresa Eyet, a vibrant woman in her 50's, as she shares her experiences and insights on Brain Matters. She was recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's.

By now I hope you’ve read The Champion’s Creed by Ben Utecht and read it! I also hope you’ve started applying the principles to enhance and enrich culture in your organization! The last time Ben and I talked we covered football, concussions, him singing with Sandi Patti, his lessons from Tony Dungy, and the firm foundation his Dad laid for success in life. Today we're focusing on his experiences t...

Part Two: Dangers of Comparison Dr. Jen Douglas is with us again today. She has a passion for mental health and wellness. She’s also witty, insightful, and a pleasure to talk with! Today we’re going to tackle the dangers of comparison. With all of this social media it looks like everyone has the perfect home, perfect vacation, perfect spouse, perfect life. How real can that possibly be? We're goin...

I heard a sermon that made me think a lot about fundamental leadership responsibilities. The minister, retired Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III, titled his message encourage, equip and empower. Aren’t those the things that leaders are supposed to do? Today I'm going to expand on each of them so that we, myself included, can be inattentional uplifters.

There are many quiet, highly effective leaders in organizations, in communities, in families. They don’t have titles or formal authority. They’re able to get things done through others, to have real influence. How does it happen that some people are able to make things happen without formal power and authority? How are they able to be subtle, effective leaders? These people have referent power. Th...

William G. Mantyh MD is a behavioral neurologist who provides early detection and accurate diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, Dr. Mantyh also specializes in other causes of progressive cognitive or behavioral loss. Dr. Mantyh is also a clinician-scientist who actively publishes in the area new biomarkers and the diagnosis of earl...

There’s a new book that’s already on the best sellers list. It’s about transforming organizational culture. The book is The Champion’s Creed: Transform Your Culture Through the Power of Belief. The author, Ben Utecht, is today's guest. He was an Indianapolis Colt. who was with the team when they won the Super Bowl. He had a deep desire to sing and enjoyed a short career as a singer. But neither of...

Event the best intentioned collaborations can suffer from breaches in trust. It is often not intentional. Yet, it still happens. In this episode we will focus on how to rebuild broken trust.

Matt Picard has first-hand knowledge of brain matters. After suffering two serious hits in lacrosse and football he started on a difficult journey towards recovery from prolonged post-concussive syndrome. He sought treatment from a wide range of medical professionals, including neurologists, neuroscientists, orthopedics, optometrists, neuro-ophthalmologists, dietitians, functional neurologists, an...

Dr. Jen Douglas helps us focus on self-doubt, specifically how not to let it take control. A frequent guest, she is the author of Freedom From Perfection. This workbook is a great tool that just about anyone can use. Jen holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from San Diego State University and was on the faculty at Stanford University. She currently has a private therapy practice, offers workshops, a...

Trust is foundational in all healthy relationships. That certainly includes relationships between leaders and followers. Let's delve into strategies leaders at all levels can use to build trust.

Dr. Carrie Hersh, nationally recognized expert on MS and neuroimmunology, has a passion for wellness. We continue our discussion of burnout, cause and cures.

Dr. Michael Horowitz is the Chancellor of The Community Solution Education System, a nonprofit consortium of six colleges and universities: The Chicago School, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School, The Colleges of Law, Saybrook University, Kansas Health Science University, and University of Western States – each offering an array of on-ground, hybrid, and/or online programs. Under Horowitz...

Dr. Michael Horowitz is the Chancellor of The Community Solution Education System, a nonprofit consortium of colleges and universities. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University and a Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University. He volunteers his expertise to the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) as Chair of accreditation visit teams. He has a passio...

Dr. Carrie Hersh takes us deeper into our exploration of burnout, it's causes, and prevention. She shares her very personal story of how she recovered from this trying experience. Dr. Hersh is a fierce advocate for wellness. She directs the Cleveland Clinic's MS Health and Wellness and Professional Engagement programs. She is Associate Program Director of the MS and Neuroimmunology Fellowship.

Thank you for the many inquiries about how this podcast began. And, how my career began. Today I'm sharing my story.

Dr. Michael Horowitz is a nationally recognized leader in education known for as a strategist and an innovator. Founding The Community Solution Education System in 2009, he forged a new path for the sector to thrive through collaboration rather than competition. A nonprofit, integrated system, The Community Solution unites its colleges and universities through an overarching purpose to advance stu...

Burnout is impacting people all over the globe. It is not respecter of person. It has the potential to be debilitating on many different levels. Carrie M. Hersh, DO, MSc, FAAN shares her very personal journey through burnout to wellness.. She is a specialist in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (CCLRCBH). She is also an Associate Professor...