The AND Podcast

In this kickoff to our Entrepreneur AND Employee series, Justin shares how building businesses made him a better leader, why every professional should create something of their own, and the leadership lessons he's carried from YETI to founding two companies. It's a conversation about courage, curiosity, and building a career with more choice, not less.

What happens when leaders stop treating customer experience and employee experience as separate conversations? In the final episode of our Customer Experience AND Employee Experience series, April is joined by two former teammates turned lifelong friends, Lisa and Luke, along with AND Podcast co-host Ivy Ford, to revisit the transformation that helped shape their careers at YETI. Together, they pu...

In this episode, executive leader Trent Carrier shares why trust is the foundation of both strong teams and strong businesses. We explore how care and accountability work together, why the best leaders coach to outcomes instead of micromanaging, and how investing in people creates a ripple effect that extends to customers, culture, and long-term success.

This week, April sits down with Adoreboard founder and CEO Chris Johnston to explore the connection between trust, emotion, customer experience, and business performance. From building a startup through multiple pivots to helping global brands turn feedback into action, Chris shares why the smallest insights often create the biggest impact and how listening well can transform both people and organ...

In this solo episode, April shares her journey from weddings to YETI, woom and now AND. She share the lesson that changed everything: customer experience and employee experience are inseparable. She breaks down the moments that shaped her career, the connection between thriving teams and loyal customers, and the tangible steps leaders can take to build organizations where both people and performan...

In this episode, April sits down with hospitality entrepreneur Lauren Kershner to explore the powerful connection between customer experience and employee experience. From building multiple thriving businesses in Sonoma wine country to creating a culture centered on generosity, community, and daily family meals, Lauren shares how investing in people creates a ripple effect that touches customers,...

In this episode, writer, author, and storyteller Shelley Seale shares her journey from a traditional upbringing to a life intentionally built around creativity, travel, purpose, and impact. Together, we explore reinvention, finding the courage to listen to your inner voice, and the power of embracing the parts of yourself that make you different. A conversation about honoring your roots, spreading...

In this episode, Trish Olives shares her journey from aspiring comedy writer to creative leader, unpacking the reality behind great ideas: creativity thrives when paired with structure. We explore mentorship, creative problem-solving, building environments where people can do their best work, and why everyone is more creative than they think. A conversation about designing a life, career, and crea...

For this episode of The AND Podcast, we are exploring Roots AND Wings with the incredible Ateya Rana. A woman whose story is a powerful reminder that we can honor where we come from while still building a life that stretches far beyond what was expected of us. Born in Pakistan and arriving in the U.S. at 19 with big dreams, Ateya shares her journey of resilience, reinvention, leadership, motherhoo...

In this heartfelt episode of The AND Podcast, Ginger Leigh joins April and Ivy for a powerful conversation about creativity AND structure, roots AND wings, and what it means to fully embrace a life that doesn’t fit into one box. Musician, designer, world traveler, builder, writer, and storyteller- Ginger shares the beauty and complexity of living as a true multi-creative. Together, they explore co...

In this episode of Creative AND Structured, we sit down with musician and community builder Wendy Colonna to explore the intersection of creativity and discipline. From her early days building a DIY music community to creating a career that blends artistry and business, Wendy shares how structure doesn’t limit creativity, it unlocks it. This conversation dives into the power of the “messy middle,”...

Getting fired. Letting people go. Staying behind after it happens. This episode holds all of it. Joined by Brie Kluytenaar, an employment lawyer of over 15 years, we walk through what to do, what to avoid, and what it really looks like to handle layoffs in a way that is both clear AND human.

Jenn Mahlik shares her experience of being let go in a way that lacked empathy, thoughtfulness, and intention and the lasting impact that kind of moment can have. Because being let go is already hard. But when it’s handled without humanity, it can feel deeply personal… even like a betrayal. In this conversation, we explore what happens after that. The choice between being hardened or being changed...

In this episode of Fired AND Free, Meghann shares her journey of finding a company that is deeply aligned with her values. One that redefined what it meant to support working parents, build community, and lead with humanity. When the company faced a necessary restructuring, her experience stood in stark contrast to many layoff stories. It was handled with care, transparency, and respect. Instead o...

After being pushed into a leadership path that didn’t align, and ultimately getting fired, Rebecca found herself with something unexpected: the space to pause and get honest. Instead of rushing into the next role, she took the time to reflect on what truly worked for her and what didn’t. In this episode, she shares how that moment of disruption became a turning point, leading her to intentionally...

When Daniel Huerta was fired, it opened a door. But the real turning point in his story came earlier, when he lost his best friend far too soon. In this episode, Daniel shares how grief reshaped his perspective, how a side project slowly became Modern People Leader, and what it looks like to build a life and career that feels more aligned, meaningful, and fully your own. This is a conversation abo...

In the first episode of our Fired AND Free series, April and Ivy go first, sharing their own deeply personal stories of being fired, and what came after. They unpack the fear, shame, and loss that often come with being fired… and the unexpected freedom, clarity, and redirection on the other side. From navigating identity and confidence hits to rebuilding, reimagining, and ultimately stepping into...

In this Wellness AND Performance resource round-up, April reflects on the biggest lessons from the series where ambition meets alignment, and performance becomes sustainable. From redefining success and shifting environments, to building habits, community, and leadership practices that actually support well-being, this episode brings the patterns together. Because when wellness is integrated, not...

In this final episode of the Wellness AND Performance series, April sits down with Vaishali Jadhav, Founder of Mandalight Learning, to explore how great leadership drives both performance and well-being. From Gallup to Whole Foods Market, Vaishali shares how small shifts, like creating space, managing energy, and empowering teams, can unlock better thinking, stronger cultures, and more sustainable...

In this episode of the Wellness AND Performance series, April and Ivy sit down with Alex, Co-Founder of 4Ocean, to explore the connection between discipline, mindset, and sustainable performance. From pushing physical limits to redefining mental resilience, Alex shares how consistency, self-awareness, and intentional habits are the foundation for both personal growth and long-term success.

In this episode, we go inside Bonde with founders Meg Gold and Parnian Emami. A space built on intention, connection, and aligned ambition. Discover how wellness AND performance can coexist, and what becomes possible when community is the catalyst for change.

In this episode, Melissa Busby shares her journey through wellness, shadow work, and authentic living-unpacking how true transformation happens when we stop avoiding the hard parts and start leaning into them. From reprogramming limiting beliefs to understanding the power of mindset, Melissa explores how our inner world shapes everything.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Brie Kluytenaar, we move from her story into the practice of wellness itself. Brie shares practical ways to design your day, build small daily habits that support well-being, and rethink how workplaces can support the humans inside them. Because sustainable success isn’t built on burnout, it’s built through intention, community, and practicing wellness daily, not...

In this two-part kickoff to our Wellness and Performance series, April and Ivy sit down with attorney and Practicing Wellness founder Brie Kluytenaar. After six years in BigLaw and 15 years helping companies design better work as an employment attorney, Brie reached a turning point that led her to reimagine how workplace culture shapes not only results, but health, identity, and sustainability.

In this round-up episode of Scared AND Brave series, April reflects on the women who defined this season - Caroline Boudreaux, Robin Lerner, Whitney Rowell,, Molly Morse, Amy Kiska and Jodi Scott - and distills the patterns woven through their stories. Running toward the fire. Taking one small step. Building in seasons. Betting on yourself. Creating before proof exists. This isn’t a recap. It’s a...