The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett

In this episode, Clint sits down with Dr. Colin M. Fisher – professor, speaker, and author of “The Collective Edge” – to explore why our biggest accomplishments are almost never the work of a single person. Colin challenges the myth of the lone genius and explains how cooperation, group dynamics, and collective intelligence have shaped everything from innovation and leadership to business success...

In Part Two of Clint's conversation with Alisa Cohn, top-ranked executive coach and author of “From Start-Up to Grown-Up,” the discussion turns from personal leadership to organizational leadership. Alisa shares practical advice for leaders who want to better understand their impact, give more effective feedback, build stronger cultures, and create the structure necessary for growth. She explains...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Alisa Cohn, one of the world's leading executive coaches and author of “From Start-Up to Grown-Up.” Having coached founders and executives at companies including Venmo, Etsy, DraftKings, Microsoft, Google, and IBM, Alisa has spent her career helping leaders navigate the challenges that come with growth. In Part One of their conversation, Clint and Alisa discus...

In this special mid-year episode of The Conversation, Clint looks back at some of the most memorable insights, practical lessons, and thought-provoking moments from the first half of 2026. Featuring highlights from conversations with communication experts, leadership coaches, bestselling authors, researchers, executives, and military leaders, this episode explores what it takes to build stronger t...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Joel Zeff – national speaker, work culture expert, improviser, and author of “Make the Right Choice” – Joel shares why positive support, adaptability, and presence are essential for strong teams and healthy workplace culture. Joel explains how improv comedy became the foundation for his approach to leadership and communication, why “creative zombies” can qu...

In this episode, Clint talks with Joel Zeff – national speaker, work culture expert, improviser, and author of “Make the Right Choice” – about how energy, celebration, and positive support shape team culture and performance. Joel talks about how a chance introduction to improv comedy led to a career speaking to organizations about leadership, teamwork, and communication. Along the way, he explains...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Wes Adams – Founder & CEO of SV Consulting Group, researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, and co-author of “Meaningful Work” – Wes breaks down what actually creates high-performing teams and why trust, psychological safety, and communication matter more than most leaders realize. Wes explains how great teams encourage...

In this episode, Clint talks with Wes Adams – Founder & CEO of SV Consulting Group, researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, and co-author of “Meaningful Work” – about what actually drives engagement, performance, and fulfillment at work. Wes explains why meaningful work is more than compensation, perks, or job titles, and why leaders who focus on community, c...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with M.J. Clark – Vice President at Integrated Leadership Systems and author of “Leading Through Listening – M.J. dives into the internal side of leadership, explaining how mindset, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence shape the way leaders communicate, handle conflict, and build trust. She introduces the ABC model (Activating Event, Belief System, Consequ...

In this episode, Clint talks with M.J. Clark – Vice President at Integrated Leadership Systems and author of “Leading Through Listening” – about why listening is one of the most overlooked yet powerful leadership skills, and how it directly impacts trust, communication, and team performance. Drawing from her experience as a leadership consultant and executive coach, M.J. shares how many leaders un...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Paula Davis – Founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute and author of “Beating Burnout at Work” and “Lead Well” – Paula breaks down the practical leadership behaviors that build stronger teams, increase engagement, and reduce burnout over time. She introduces concepts like “sticky recognition” and “thank you plus,” explaining how small, inten...

In this episode, Clint talks with Paula Davis – Founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute and author of “Beating Burnout at Work” and “Lead Well” – about what burnout really is, why most organizations misunderstand it, and what leaders need to do differently to build resilient, high-performing teams. Drawing from her own experience burning out as a lawyer and her work with leaders a...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Mark Fava – former U.S. Navy Officer, accomplished aviation attorney, and author of “Lessons from the Admiral” – Mark shares practical leadership lessons on communication, trust, and execution that apply across any organization. He explains why exceptional leaders repeat their message with clarity and consistency, how listening builds credibility faster tha...

In this episode, Clint talks with Mark Fava, former U.S. Navy Officer, accomplished aviation attorney, and author of “Lessons from the Admiral” about what real leadership looks like under pressure and the habits that separate good leaders from great ones. Drawing from his time as an admiral’s aide, Mark shares firsthand experiences from high-stakes environments where execution, trust, and attentio...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Dr. Vanessa Druskat, Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire and author of “The Emotionally Intelligent Team,” Dr. Druskat explains how leaders can actively build high-performing teams by shaping culture, not controlling people. She shares practical ways to create team norms with input from the team itself, why top-down approaches often fail,...

In this episode, Clint has a conversation with Dr. Vanessa Druskat, Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire and author of “The Emotionally Intelligent Team” about why team performance isn’t driven by individual talent, but by the culture teams create together. Dr. Druskat challenges the common belief that stacking a team with top performers guarantees success. Instead, she explains...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with David Aaker – the “Father of Modern Branding,” Vice Chairman at Prophet, and bestselling author of 18 books – David explains how organizations can uncover powerful stories inside their companies and use them to shape culture, build trust, and strengthen their brands. David shares practical ways leaders can find and develop signature stories, including creat...

In this episode, Clint has a conversation with David Aaker – the “Father of Modern Branding,” Vice Chairman at Prophet, and bestselling author of 18 books – about why stories are one of the most powerful tools leaders and organizations have to communicate their message and build lasting brands. David shares the origin of the modern concept of brand equity, how the marketing world shifted away from...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Joel Schwartzberg – communication coach, public speaking expert, and author of “Get to the Point!” – Joel shares practical strategies for leading more effective meetings, delivering messages that drive action, and ensuring your ideas are truly understood. He explains why agendas alone aren’t enough, how to avoid common communication traps, and why leaders m...

In this episode, Clint has a conversation with Joel Schwartzberg, communication coach, public speaking expert, and author of “Get to the Point!” During the discussion, Joel shares why most leaders struggle to communicate clearly, how the inability to define a true point undermines impact, and what it takes to craft messages that inspire understanding and action. Drawing on his experience as a nati...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Brian Biro – known as “America’s Breakthrough Speaker” and author of “The ROI of Kindness” – the pair explore how intentional kindness, presence, and gratitude can transform leadership, teamwork, and everyday relationships. Brian talks about what it means to become a “Chief Kindness Officer,” explaining why being fully present is the foundation of trust, wh...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Brian Biro, known as “America’s Breakthrough Speaker,” a former corporate vice president, elite swim coach, and author of 16 books including “The ROI of Kindness.” Brian shares how kindness, respect, and human connection are not soft skills, but powerful drivers of leadership, culture, and performance. Drawing on lessons from legendary coach John Wooden, Brian...

In this episode, Clint continues his conversation with David Allen and Ed Lamont, co-authors of the book “Team: Getting Things Done With Others.” During the second part of their discussion, David and Ed unpack what breaks teams down (often in the simplest ways), and what it actually takes to build a culture of clarity, trust, and consistent execution, especially in today’s global, hybrid, 24/7 wor...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Whitney Johnson – CEO of Disruption Advisors and bestselling author of “Smart Growth” – they explore how to make personal and professional reinvention real. From unlocking the power of imagery to stretching beyond comfort zones, Whitney shares science-backed tools to help you shift your mindset and lead change from within. She also dives into her concept of...

In this episode, Clint speaks with Whitney Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of Disruption Advisors, bestselling author of “Smart Growth,” and one of the world’s most influential management thinkers. Whitney shares how growth follows an emotional journey she calls the “S Curve of Learning” and how leaders can better navigate that journey in themselves and others. She also unpacks how disruption starts f...