The Well-led Podcast

In this episode, leaders will learn why vulnerability is not a weakness but a critical leadership skill. The conversation explores how openness, honesty, and the willingness to share both successes and failures directly influence trust, psychological safety, and team performance. Listeners will gain practical insight into how vulnerable leadership improves communication, strengthens relationships,...

This episode explains why vulnerability is a foundational leadership skill and how leading well begins with self-leadership, self-awareness, and the courage to be human. You’ll learn what vulnerability actually means in a leadership context, why it strengthens trust rather than weakening authority, and how leaders can practice vulnerability in practical, appropriate ways that support their teams a...

Looking ahead: The comfy chairs becomes The Well-Led Podcast In this final episode of the year, Kate returns with a clear, simple update about the show’s evolution. On January 6th, the comfy chairs will officially relaunch as The Well-Led Podcast, beginning a year-long journey focused on the four essential domains of leadership: Demonstrating Care, Providing Support, Leading with Grace, and Stayin...

Culture Keepers: A conversation about managing versus leading. In this conversation, Kate sits down with Layci Nelson, founder of the Transcend Leadership Collective, to explore a deceptively simple question with big implications: What’s the real difference between managing and leading? Together, they unpack why effective leadership isn’t about choosing one or the other—it’s about integrating both...

Revisit & enjoy: Early, direct, and well-structured conversations As we near the end of the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most practical and personal conversations we’ve shared on the comfy chairs. In this rerun, Kate sits down with her dad, Charlie—a leader with decades of experience in higher education, the military, and church governance—to talk about why early, direct, and kind confrontat...

Revisit & enjoy: Making sense of leadership, management, and the feedback we’d rather avoid As we wind down the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most downloaded comfyHQ episodes—a listener favorite about three things leaders wrestle with all the time: feedback, the leadership/management divide, and the workplace words we toss around without checking for shared meaning. In this rerun, we explore:...

In this special update, Kate shares an important announcement about the future of the podcast. Beginning in January 2026, the comfy chairs will officially become The Well-Led Podcast—a show dedicated to helping leaders stay grounded, self-aware, and effective in the moments where professionalism meets imperfection. Kate walks through what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and why now is the rig...

Pull Them Close: A Conversation about Grief As we move into the holiday season—a time that can amplify both joy and tenderness—we’re revisiting one of our most meaningful conversations on the comfy chairs. In this encore episode, host Kate Johnson welcomes Justin Clifford, CEO of Bereave, for a heartfelt exploration of how workplaces can better support employees navigating grief and loss. Together...

Inviting Input: A conversation about co-creating the workplace. In this conversation, Kate sits down with Patrick Farran, PhD—co-founder and CEO of Ad Lucem Group—to explore the leadership practices that help teams move from compliance to genuine engagement. Patrick introduces appreciative inquiry as a strengths-based discipline built on better questions: ones that draw out what’s already working...

We're making another visit to the comfy chairs archive with this episode, where Kate is joined by a very special guest, her husband, Nate. Kate and Nate explore the practical considerations of high-reliability organizations and what we can all learn from a balanced approach to excellence and understanding. Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious ab...

You own it: A conversation about career growth. In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Jamie Chambron, Chief Coach at the Career Agility System, to talk about what it really means to own your career. From portfolio careers to personal branding, Kate and Jamie unpack how professionals can approach their work with intention and curiosity—especially in a changing, unpredicta...

Join us for a trip in the Way-back Machine! We're headed to where and when it all started for the comfy chairs. Enjoy this “Tuesday Time Capsule” replay of Episode One: Please don’t take away my superhero cape! Kate's colleague and friend, Angela Wale, joined her for the inaugural recording to talk about some timeless leadership topics. Whether you want to learn more about responsibility, delegati...

Tiny conversations: A conversation about workplace gossip. Workplace gossip has a reputation problem — but what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong? In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Rebecca Taylor, co-founder of SkillCycle and host of HR Confessions, to explore the nuance behind “tiny conversations.” They define gossip, unpack its role in shaping culture, and disc...

Enjoy this rerun of "What, why, how: A comfyHQ Q&A" In this bite-sized episode of the comfy chairs, we’re diving into two essential leadership questions: How can you delegate effectively without micromanaging? What’s the best approach to giving constructive feedback? Join me as we break down common misconceptions about micromanagement, explore how clarity is the key to delegation, and discover the...

Seek understanding: A conversation about questions and learning. Questions can unlock more than answers ever will. In this conversation, Amber Johnson, PhD, joins Kate to explore the power of great questions in leadership and learning. They talk about curiosity, empathy, and why a playful mindset matters just as much as a strategic one. Connect with Amber on LinkedIn Learn more about her business...

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is often described as the “soft side” of leadership — but in practice, it’s the lever that turns leadership effort into real influence. In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson unpacks the four dimensions of EQ: self-awareness, self-management, awareness of others, and relationship management. Along the way, she shares why empathy is the through line connecting...

Part of being human: A conversation about vulnerability and bias. Bias isn’t always intentional—it’s often unconscious, shaped by survival instincts and reinforced by daily habits. In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with leadership coach and licensed clinical social worker Sarah Harris to explore how bias influences workplace culture, decision-making, and team dynamics. Fr...

In this comfyHQ installment of the comfy chairs podcast, Kate explores two core leadership questions: How can I manage my insecurities while projecting confidence? We walk through practical steps for naming, containing, and balancing your insecurities with a clear-eyed view of your strengths. This isn’t about false bravado — it’s about cultivating honest self-awareness and healthy confidence. What...

In this episode of the comfy chairs, I sit down with Thom Dennis to talk about leadership mindsets and what it means to “rewild” corporate culture. Thom shares stories from his eclectic journey and how each stage has shaped his perspective on leadership. Together, we explore why mindset matters as much as action, the balance of masculine and feminine energies in leadership, and how trust, presence...

In this comfyHQ episode of the comfy chairs,we tackle two common leadership struggles: how to set boundaries without seeming unavailable, and what to do when you catch yourself avoiding a tough conversation. With practical examples and reflective insights, Kate shows how both challenges come down to the same leadership essentials—clarity, care, and courage. 👉🏻 Have a question for comfyHQ? Share...

We’re taking our first-ever Summer hiatus here at the comfy chairs! We’ll be back with all-new episodes on September 2nd. Until then, we've curated a few of our shorter, comfyHQ episodes for you to revisit and enjoy. So, this week, here's "make sense of things," where we provide answers to help you harness the power of stories as leadership tools and provide practical strategies for navigating amb...

We’re taking our first-ever Summer hiatus here at the comfy chairs! We’ll be back with all-new episodes on September 2nd. Until then, we've curated a few of our shorter, comfyHQ episodes for you to revisit and enjoy. So, this week, here's "hold this mindset," where we answer questions about balancing empathy and authority, and modeling accountability without harshness. 👉🏻 Have a question for com...

Your most impactful self: A conversation about identifying blind spots. In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Benah Parker, PhD, a social psychologist and executive coach, to explore the power of intentional identity in leadership. Together, they delve into the importance of self-awareness and how blind spots can derail leadership effectiveness. Bena shares her five-step...

In this comfyHQ episode of the comfy chairs, Kate tackles three everyday leadership questions with her signature blend of clarity, candor, and care. → How do I help my team members grow when there’s no clear promotion path? → How can I get better at listening instead of jumping in with solutions? → What’s one simple way to encourage more ownership from my team? These questions reveal deeper truths...

What happens when you stop hiring for experience and start hiring for strengths? In this episode of the comfy chairs, I talk with Dr. Mike Neal, optometrist and founder of Build My Team, about the moment he realized traditional hiring wasn’t working—and what he built instead. Drawing inspiration from Disney and the Ritz-Carlton, Mike created a system that helps small businesses (especially medical...