The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett

In this episode, we’re closing out the year with a look back at the insights, stories, and moments that stayed with us long after the mic turned off. Clint revisits standout clips from the guests who brought fresh perspective, practical wisdom, and honest reflection to the table in 2025. From leadership and innovation to trust, communication, and purpose, this episode is a highlight reel of the ye...

In Part Two of Clint's Conversation with Simon Mainwaring – Founder & CEO of We First, bestselling author, and global authority on purpose-driven branding – the discussion shifts from strategy to soul: how storytelling, culture, and connection can elevate your organization from the inside out. Simon shares hard-earned lessons from his work with Fortune 100 giants, startups, and global NGOs ali...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Simon Mainwaring – internationally recognized brand futurist, bestselling author, and Founder & CEO of We First – to explore how businesses can thrive by putting shared purpose at the center of everything they do. Simon shares his journey from global ad executive to purpose-driven entrepreneur, sparked by a deeply personal wake-up call and a growing belief...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Chris Fenning – communication coach, corporate trainer, and award-winning author of “The First Minute” – they shift from personal communication habits to team and organizational dynamics. Chris shares common red flags that signal a team’s communication is broken (think: camera-off meetings, “FYI” email chains, and vague subject lines) and offers practical s...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Chris Fenning – communication coach, corporate trainer, and award-winning author of “The First Minute” – to talk about one of the most common (and costly) problems in the workplace: unstructured communication. Drawing from his background as an engineer and his 20+ years of experience across six industries, Chris explains why even smart professionals struggle t...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Shane Snow – award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author of “Dream Teams: Working Together Without Falling Apart” – the focus turns from what makes a great team to what makes a team truly high-performing. Shane explores the concept of “cognitive friction” and how constructive conflict, when handled with humility, is a catalyst for innova...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Shane Snow, award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author of “Dream Teams: Working Together Without Falling Apart.” Shane shares his origin story growing up in Idaho with an engineer dad and a teacher mom, and how that foundation of curiosity and problem-solving led him from journalism into the study of breakthrough collaboration. The two exp...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Juliet Funt, author of “A Minute to Think” and Founder & CEO at JFG (Juliet Funt Group), they talk about the cultural forces that are overwhelming today’s workplaces. Juliet shares her research on the “thieves of time” and how high performers can reclaim their clarity and creativity by using simple tools like wedges, white space, and hallway time. The t...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Juliet Funt, author of “A Minute to Think” and Founder & CEO at JFG (Juliet Funt Group). Juliet shares the origin story of her leadership philosophy, how she went from improv comedy to boardroom strategy, and what she’s learned from helping companies like Spotify, Costco, and ESPN fight burnout and reclaim creativity. The two discuss the power of strategic...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, they discuss how empathetic leadership can drive culture, performance, and the bottom line. Claude shares how to create trust in flat organizations, why feedback is about connection (not correction), and what it really means to lead with heart. Plus, the pair explore how to scale emotional intelligence in a rap...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, to explore what it means to bring humanity, empathy, and emotional optimism into leadership. Claude shares her remarkable journey from struggling with dyslexia and finding herself through Outward Bound, to working in advertising around the world and becoming a purpose-driven leader. Along the way, she unpacks the...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Amy Sandler, Principal Coach and Podcast Host at Radical Candor, the discussion moves from theory to practice. Amy shares real-world strategies for delivering feedback that’s clear and kind, how to avoid “feedback sandwiches,” and why emotional intelligence is essential for effective communication. The two also unpack the impact of cultural nuance, how to g...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Amy Sandler, Principal Coach and Podcast Host at Radical Candor, to unpack what it really means to communicate with clarity and care in the workplace. Together, they explore how leaders can challenge directly while still showing genuine compassion, why "ruinous empathy" can cause more harm than good, and how building trust starts with being human. Amy also sha...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Rich Diviney – retired Navy SEAL commander, inspirational speaker, and best-selling author of “The Attributes” – they explore how fear and focus shape performance under pressure. Rich also shares how leaders can build trust, embrace humility, and stay mentally agile in high-stakes environments. They also dig into the myth of multitasking, the science of tas...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Rich Diviney, retired Navy SEAL commander, inspirational speaker, and best-selling author of “The Attributes.” During their chat, Rich explains why skills don’t tell the whole story when it comes to performance and why we need to stop overvaluing resumes and start understanding attributes. Plus, the pair discuss the traits that make teams thrive under pressure...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Rob Biesenbach, communication expert, Second City actor, and best-selling author of “Unleash the Power of Storytelling,” Rob expands on the craft – covering how to increase a story’s impact, and why you should build a ready-to-go story bank. Plus, the two discuss why B2B and B2C storytelling aren’t so different, how to lead by example to inspire authentic s...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Rob Biesenbach, communication expert, Second City actor, and best-selling author of “Unleash the Power of Storytelling.” Rob shares his journey from corporate communications to the improv stage, and how the lessons he learned in performance can transform the way leaders connect, inspire, and persuade. Plus, the pair discuss why our brains are wired for narrati...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Patti Johnson – leadership expert, change advisor, and author of “Make Waves” – the discussion moves from starting change to sustaining it. Patti shares practical tools for balancing honesty with optimism, building trust during uncertainty, and navigating the bumps that come with any transformation. She also talks about why good leaders don’t suppress resis...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Patti Johnson, founder and former CEO of PeopleResults and author of the bestselling book “Make Waves.” She and Clint dive into the power of taking small steps toward big goals, the difference between healthy self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and how to spot what’s in your “backpack” – those beliefs and habits that shape your leadership style. Patti also intro...

In the second part of Clint’s conversation with researcher, writer, and educator Indi Young, the focus shifts to empathy and how to better understand the full human experience behind every team member, customer, or stakeholder. Indi also shares why group discussions can’t replace one-on-one listening sessions, how cultural norms shape our willingness to share, and why AI can’t replicate the nuance...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Indi Young – researcher, writer, and educator known for her work on deep listening and human cognition – to discuss how leaders and teams can better understand the people they serve. Indi explains the difference between listening for answers and listening for understanding, the power of one-on-one sessions over surveys, and how truly hearing someone can lead t...

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Joey Havens, leadership expert and author of "Leading with Significance," the discussion turns from culture-building to culture-sustaining. The two discuss the real cost of turnover, the danger of fuzzy agreements, and why middle management can make or break your cultural transformation. Joey also shares powerful, personal stories about the legacy of small...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Joey Havens, former CPA firm executive, leadership expert, and author of "Leading with Significance," to discuss what it takes to build a truly magnetic, people-first culture. Joey shares the origin story behind his leadership journey and the three "secrets" that power high-trust, high-energy workplaces. The two also talk about the failures of traditional “goo...

In this episode, Clint continues his conversation with Thomas Erikson, behavioral expert and best-selling author of “Surrounded by Idiots.” Drawing from millions of personality assessments and decades of coaching, Thomas reveals why cultural stereotypes are often misleading, what color combinations thrive (or crash) on teams, and why being “self-made” is a myth. He also shares his best advice for...

In this episode, Clint sits down with Thomas Erikson, behavioral expert and international bestselling author of “Surrounded by Idiots,” to explore what really drives human behavior and how better understanding it can make us stronger leaders, communicators, and teammates. Thomas shares his unconventional path to publishing success, the origins of his four-color personality model, and why so many o...