The Maverick Paradox Podcast

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Terry Seal about biohacking, nicotine, and navigating male-dominated industries. Motivated by her experiences with perimenopause and endometriosis, Terry Seal began exploring alternative approaches to pain and stress through the biohacking community. This journey led her into emerging research on nervous system regulation and cognitive performance, inclu...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Cary Sparrow about how companies can win the war for talent using new sources of labour market intelligence. Cary Sparrow shares that he was previously a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, and he has carried the leadership and accountability lessons he learned in the military throughout his career. He now runs a company called Wagescape that collects an...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Erin Herman about navigating tough dynamics with clarity and empathy. Erin and Judith dive into the importance of clarity, courage, empathy, and growth mindset when navigating challenging workplace dynamics and relationships. Erin outlines her "CEG" framework for effective leadership.  Key Takeaways The CEG method (Clarity/Courage, Empathy, Growth mindse...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Kevin Gwynn White about the VC landscape for seed-stage startups and changes in fundraising tactics. Kevin provides an overview of his career, including his time as an accountant at Ernst & Young, his work in capital markets and M&A, and his involvement with a venture capital firm that led him to start his own company, Expo Group, which provides accounti...

In today's conversation Judith Germain speaks to Jenna Harrison about 24-hour work weeks and strategies for entrepreneurs to work smarter, not harder. Jenna discusses the mindset shift required to work less, and how overcoming the discomfort and guilt around relaxing is key. She also shares practical strategies like repurposing content and automating social media to reduce time spent. Key Takeaway...

In today's conversation Judith Germain speaks to Corey Poirier about storytelling, manifestation, and finding one's passion and purpose. Corey discusses his unconventional path to success, including barely graduating high school, not reading his first book until age 27, and not being considered "most likely to succeed." He now works as a professional speaker and operates a company called Blue Talk...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Chuck Wisner about the profound impact of conscious conversations, where people are aware of their communication patterns and engage in deeper listening, honest speaking, and consideration of the emotional impact of their words. This can transform interactions from the kitchen table to the boardroom. Key Takeaways Conscious conversations involve active l...

In today's Short Talk conversation  Judith Germain speaks to Jared Rosenthal about his entrepreneurial journey and the creation of Health Street. Jared Rosenthal discusses his background, starting with working in corporate and non-profit healthcare roles before deciding to start his own business, Health Street, in 2010. He initially tried a mobile drug testing business using an RV, but pivoted to...

In today's conversation Judith Germain speaks to Jeff Hancher about leadership, feedback, and his new book "Firm Feedback in a Fragile World". Jeff explains the difference between firm, assertive leadership and aggressive or passive leadership styles. He uses the analogy of a speed limit sign to illustrate how firm leaders set clear expectations, provide training, and hold people accountable in a...

In today's Short Talk episode  Judith Germain speaks to Claudia D. Thompson about the leadership challenges faced by accidental business owners. Claudia introduced herself as a consultant who helps entrepreneurs who accidentally became bosses figure out how to lead their team without turning into someone they're not. She started her own consultancy called The Business Fabrik, and is originally fro...

In today's Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Victoria Raikel about her success in creating magical creatures, writing books, and building a large social media following. Victoria introduces herself as an author who creates magical, mysterious creatures with vivid personalities. She started by making garden statues of fairies, gnomes, and mermaids, which led her to write a novel called "T...

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Jarrod Lopiccolo on nurturing talent and developing a culture of innovation. Jarrod explains Noble's approach to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of innovation. This includes creating a safe environment for employees to bring their whole selves to work, be curious, and try new things. He discusses the company's Innovation Council that provides a str...

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Andrew McNeill about responding vs. reacting in leadership. Andrew shares his background in major projects and programmes, both in the public and private sectors. He discusses his work over the past 8 years in leadership consulting, focusing on helping leaders develop self-awareness and the ability to respond rather than react. Key Takeaways Kindness and ps...

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Dane Deutsch about character-driven leadership and ethics. Dane shares how his experiences growing up in different cultures, including Venezuela and Türkiye, taught him the importance of building meaningful connections and leading with character. This episode was originally recorded on 28 November 24.  Key Takeaways Character is the foundation of effective...

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Elizabeth Bieniek discussing corporate innovation, collective leadership, and talent management. Elizabeth discusses her approach to collaborative leadership, where she gathers diverse input and feedback, but then makes decisive calls when needed to move a project forward. She highlights the importance of creating an environment where employees feel comfort...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Joris Merks-Benjaminsen about leadership consistency and ethical actions. They discuss the challenge of ensuring leadership consistency across an organisation, not just at the top. They note how organisational culture and values can drift over time if not actively maintained. Joris explains how leaders can inadvertently create inconsistencies through the...

In this Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Mónica Esgueva, about her life experiences and insights on mindfulness, wisdom, and finding meaning in life. They discuss Monica's diverse career path, including working as an economist for Prada in London, then moving to Paris to work for INSEAD, and her earlier experience as a semi-professional tennis player. Monica shared how she had to quit t...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Lori Turner-Wilson on B2B marketing strategies and her new book. They discuss their views on the current state of dance and marketing, noting a perceived lack of individuality and an overreliance on cookie-cutter approaches. They agree that companies need to be more divergent and maverick in their marketing strategies. Key Takeaways Lori advocates for da...

In today's conversation Judith Germain speaks to Neil Jurd OBE who contrasts overly complicated leadership frameworks and emphasises the importance of simplicity. Judith notes the value of leaders being able to create space for their teams to contribute. Key Takeaways Neil emphasises simplifying leadership into two key concepts: connection (building relationships) and direction (clear, compelling...

In today's conversation Judith Germain speaks to Dr Joel Davis Brown about LGBTQ+ leadership and his book "The Souls of Queer Folk". They discuss the challenges around intersectionality and how different identity groups are often viewed and treated in the UK versus the US. They explore how the LGBTQ+ community has navigated these issues and the importance of honouring diverse perspectives. Key Tak...

In today's episode  Judith Germain speaks to Jeffrey Sanow on critical thinking and leadership lessons from his CIA career. They discuss the importance of critical thinking, especially in high-stakes situations. They emphasise the need to make decisions with incomplete information, be open to failure, and empower teams to take risks and learn. Key Takeaways Critical thinking is crucial for leaders...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Carter Fox about the importance of branding and building a consistent identity/community for artists to succeed in the music industry today. Carter describes how he has cultivated a distinct personal brand as the "soulful traveling spaceman bass man", which was inspired by a friend's observation about his persona. He explains how developing a strong bran...

In today's conversation Judith Germain speaks to Gary Coulton about harnessing adaptive intelligence. Gary has recently realised that he is neurodivergent, with a "maverick mind" and he explains how this knowledge has helped him understand why he thinks in a certain way. Key Takeaways Adaptive intelligence integrates heart, head, and gut "minds" to make wiser decisions Core human values (e.g. love...

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Professor Adam Boddison, the CEO of the Association for Project Management (APM), and they discuss his role and the nature of the organisation as a membership-based professional body. Key Takeaways APM has grown from 115 to 160 staff and £10M to £18M turnover in 3 years by simplifying processes, removing barriers, and focusing on scalable initiatives The "1...

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Dr John Demartini about how to master perception and embrace paradox. Judith and Dr. Demartini explore the importance of aligning organisational values with individual employee values to drive engagement and productivity. He emphasises the need to identify people's true, demonstrated values rather than just their stated values or ideals. Key Takeaways Li...