The Just-in-Time Cafe Podcast

It's Episode 97 and the  highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Cheryl Jekiel, the Founder of Lean Leadership Center, get the scoop on her latest book, Let Go To Lead. Cheryl has a deep background in helping managers go from overpowering to empowering.  For Hot Apps, we’re going to delve into an app that’s been referred to as your "adjunct brain.” It’s a way to hold onto all that stuf...

It's Episode 96 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Dannette Nelson, the Owner of Stone Soup Diversity. Dannette brings her startup experience and a little Lean Six Sigma sauce to the diversity conversation which has given her tactical insights on ensuring growth. For Hot Apps, we’ll end the year with a little Artificial Intelligence duel between two rivals that offer online...

It's episode 95 and the highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Rich Sheridan, the CEO and Chief Storyteller at Menlo Innovations. Rich’s ingeniously Lean-incognito workplace sparks joy in all who enter. Menlo recovered from Covid with their best year to date, and Rich explains why. For Hot Apps, the AI exploration continues. This time it's some free help with project presentations. An...

It's Episode 94 and the highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Krista Schulte, the Assistant Director of Operational Excellence for the University of Michigan. Krista gave us a glimpse into how Lean gains traction in higher education. For Hot Apps, we’ll delve into Artificial Intelligence again–and the results are real–and really useful. We’ll tell you how to use it for problem-solvin...

It's episode 93 and the highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with the internet doyenne, Deondra Wardelle. We explore the intersection she’s created between Vision, Strategy, and Continuous Improvement—and maybe tiaras For Hot Apps, Deondra is sitting in as our guest reviewer to showcase an app that helps you with the elusive goal of staying on top of everything and get stuff done with ot...

It's Episode 92 and the highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with powerhouse author Mark Graban. They dig into his latest book that just hit the bookshelves—The Mistakes that Make Us. They delve into how he turned an innovative podcast into a bestselling workplace culture guide. For Hot Apps we highlight a way to use your phone and friends to build your habits of excellence. And for Q&am...

It's Episode 91 and the highlight is Tracy’s interview with Rachel and Christian Ahlmann. They own a winery that answers the question, what if you combined Six Sigma with fermentation? The most efficient venue for growing, bottling, and tasting in Northern California! For Hot Apps we’re highlighting the e-gathering spot for the gig economy—named after the idea that $5 is an excellent place to star...

It's Episode 90 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with a kindred Lean spirit and author, Katie Labedz! She’s written a couple of very accessible books and they uncover her secrets to helping ordinary people apply Lean to places you wouldn't expect. And for Q&A we tackle the paradoxical reality of leaders who don’t see themselves…as leaders. Why does that happen and how do you ad...

It's Episode 89 and the highlight is Elisabeth and Tracy! They were so excited that they completely hijacked the podcast, so this month’s episode is dedicated to the cafe founders. Elisabeth discovers what led to Tracy's internet-busting lean parody music video , and Tracy grills Elisabeth about her brand new Lean leadership book ! Listen in for the behind-the-scenes stories and get the scoop on u...

It's Episode 88 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Miguel Rodriguez. Miguel is the Educational Technology Analyst in charge of Communication for this year’s Process Palooza—UC San Diego’s signature live, Lean Six Sigma Competition. He’s also been a contestant so we’ll hear his take on this crazy improvement festival. For Hot Apps we’re highlighting red-hot Artificial Intelli...

It's episode 87, and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Dr. Eric Cunningham, the dynamic Superintendent for Halifax County, North Carolina. He’s got some inspiring insights on how to build problem solvers in education. He knows what it means to meet people where they are. For Hot Apps we’re highlighting one that’s right under your nose—and you might not be using it to your advan...

It's Episode 86 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with power consultant Karen Martin. A prolific author and longtime Lean Six Sigma juggernaut—Karen opens up about principles and educational science that form the backbone of her TKMG Academy. For Hot Apps we suss out a diagnostic toolset that uses data to helps you build stronger teams. And for Q&A we address the issue of one-an...

It's Episode 85 and the highlight is our interview with the effervescent Billy Ray Taylor where we discuss his new book The Winning Link. Billy is charismatic, plain-spoken, his retirement got short-circuited by his amazing ability to help build high-performing cultures. For Hot Apps we’re highlighting a Daily Standup Meeting bot that synchronizes remote teams. And for Q&A we tapped into a leaders...

It's Episode 84 and the highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Lean practitioner Arnout Orelio who's latest book, Lean Thinking for Emerging Healthcare Leaders, is coming out this fall. Great insights on what makes improvements "stick" in healthcare. For Hot Apps we spotlight a super-basic digital whiteboard that adds simple sparks to collaboration. And for Q&A we asked our community abou...

It's Episode 83 and the highlight is Tracy's interview with AME President Kimberlee Humphrey. We’ll get an inside look at the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, what's in store for the Dallas conference, and how Kimberlee is changing the status quo. For Hot Apps we’ll review a remote technique for supporting teams in their quest for reflection and growth. And for Q&A we asked our community...

It's Episode 82 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with the host of the Lean Leadership for Ops Managers Podcast, Jamie Parker. She calls herself a "Recovering Command & Control" manager and we'll find out how she uses that experience to help other leaders. Next up we’ve invited a power user to tell us about an app that helps you gather onsite data in an instant. And for Q&A we a...

It's episode 81 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Visionary Leader Deondra Wardelle. They uncover how this Toyota Kata practitioner has put her considerable problem-solving skills to work supporting the #RootCauseRacism movement. Next up we’ll review an app that lets you collect, share, evaluate, experiment, incubate, & develop the best ideas in your organization. And for Q...

It's episode 80 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Business Consultant Thomas Bertals. As the host of the "Work Matters" Podcast, he's developed a way to address the "Big Quit" with a novel problem-solving approach. For "Hot Apps" we review a bare-bones, no frills "post-it" app that lets you brainstorm across oceans. And for Q&A we asked our community how they helped people...

It's Episode 79 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Executive Leadership Coach Rebecca Snelling. As a board member of the Lean Construction Institute, she's seen what makes the Lean path work in the building industry. Next up it’s an app that provides an antidote to corporate silos. And on the same crucial topic, we asked our problem-solving community, “What have you seen tha...

It's Episode 78 and today’s highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with author Brion Hurley—host of the Lean Six Sigma for Good podcast. Brion is a Master Black Belt by day, but in his spare time he has dedicated himself to a book series documenting stories of Lean Six Sigma success in the nonprofit world—and that's good news for everybody! Next up we review an app that helps you dot your “i...

It's Episode 77 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Pilar Zimmerman, Operational Excellence Senior Manager at Illumina. Pilar helps drive strategy deployment and Continuous Improvement at Illumina’s San Diego site. Next up it’s an app that enhances any media with intuitive visuals that champion diversity. And for Q&A, we asked our problem-solving community if there were any d...

It's Episode 76 and the highlight is Tracy and Elisabeth's interview with Gemma Jones, one of the founders of the Kata Girl Geeks. Gemma has developed a way to mobilize continuous improvement practitioners to help underserved and at-risk members of society, and she shares it for the first time ever at the cafe. Next up it’s an app that helps you do more...by doing nothing. And for Q&A, we asked ou...

It's Episode 75, and Tracy and Elisabeth got to talk money with Nick Katko and Mike DeLuca, co-authors of the new book, “Practicing Lean Accounting”. Mike and Nick are a seasoned duo, and they offered insights into the biggest source of waste in accounting processes—no, it’s not money. Next up it’s an app that sets you up to be a rockstar team builder. And for Q&A, our problem-solving community we...

It's Episode 74 and Tracy and Elisabeth got to interview Dr. Sabiha Mumtaz from the University of Wollongong in Dubai. She’s got an innovative strategy for lifting women into leadership positions in the United Arab Emirates. Next up it’s a cool tool that lets you load videos, animation and an unlimited supply of presentation goodies into your PowerPoints. And for Q&A, they asked our problem-solvin...

It's episode 73 and today’s highlight is our interview with Karyn Ross, author of her latest book, The Kind Leader. During the writing of her book, Karyn asked people to define “kindness”—she did not expect what she heard, so Tracy and Elisabeth get to the bottom of that. Next up it’s an app that provides you with professional presentation graphics to edit, refine and build on. And for Q&A, we ask...