Uncover the Human

In this hosts-only episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina and Alex dive into one of the most overlooked—and costly—gaps in organizational life: activation , the critical phase between having a great idea and actually implementing it. Drawing on real stories, humor, and plenty of personal experience, they explore why teams so often leap straight from strategy to execution, leaving people confused,...

Meetings feel heavy when people stop listening, and they stop listening when the room isn’t designed for them. We sit down with Oscar Trimboli to unpack how listening truly works at work—and why it starts before a single word is spoken. From a career-defining moment in a smoky boardroom to a decade-plus of research, Oscar shares what the best listeners do differently and how leaders can turn monol...

Two Authors Walk Into A Deadline And Try Not To Cry A bestseller tag is nice, but the real story is everything it took to get there—and what we learned about authentic leadership by trying to write it down. We pulled back the curtain on our launch week for The Authenticity Upgrade: Rebooting Leadership for Real Humans and discovered that writing is less about perfect sentences and more about radic...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore close out their book series with guest Aaron Wilson to explore what it really means to lead with authenticity in an era shaped by group dynamics and artificial intelligence. They dive into the pitfalls leaders face when managing teams—like assuming everyone should behave the same or overlooking quieter voices—and offer prac...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore dive into the power of deep listening —the often-overlooked skill that transforms conversations, relationships, and leadership. Joined by Aaron Wilson, they explore why listening feels so difficult at work, how it’s commonly undervalued, and why it’s actually the key to trust, collaboration, and empowerment. Through humor,...

What does it mean to truly lead yourself before you lead others? In this episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina and Alex explore the foundation of authentic leadership—beginning with self-awareness, values, and the courage to live in alignment with both. Joined by guest interviewer Aaron Wilson, they dive into what authenticity really means (and what it doesn’t), how to recognize the “shoulds” th...

 Cristina and Alex kick off a mini-series around their book, The Authenticity Upgrade: Rebooting Leadership for Real Humans , arguing that culture and authenticity—not org charts and processes—determine whether change sticks. They move past theory into day-to-day practices: how leaders (and humans) can reduce friction, align to values, and create environments where people can show up fully. Along...

In this lively and deeply reflective episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina and Alex dive into the “respectrum” — the full range of how respect and disrespect show up in our lives, workplaces, and society. They explore how easily we justify our own lapses in respect while condemning others, and how that double standard quietly erodes the social ecosystem we all share. With humor, honesty, and a f...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina and Alex dive into the messy, often overwhelming experience of navigating change. From workplace restructuring to global uncertainty, and even the rise of AI, they explore what it means to not just “thrive” in change but simply survive it. Along the way, they challenge the overused and weaponized idea of resilience, reframing it as something more hum...

In this episode, licensed therapist and organizational consultant Amanda Gilchrist joins us to explore what real support looks like in a hyper-stimulated world. Amanda flips the script on “helping” by reminding us that it’s not a leader’s—or a therapist’s—job to hand out answers. It’s to guide, facilitate, and create space so people can hear their own wisdom. We dig into self-investment, the diffe...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , Alex and Cristina sit down with leadership coach Laura Shepherd for a rich conversation about following your internal compass. Laura shares her journey from corporate success to scuba instructor to coach, describing what it feels like when the compass spins, how she learned to recognize misalignment, and what it’s like to step into the “exciting discomfort” o...

In this conversation, author and acupuncturist Connie Warden joins Cristina and Alex to talk about her book Speeding to Compassion —a project born from her surprising realization that her mindfulness practice didn’t extend to the driver’s seat. Connie shares candid stories of road rage, self-reflection, and the universal struggle of anger, showing how the car became her training ground for compass...

In this conversation with speech and communication coach Bailey Massey, Alex and Cristina explore why communication remains the universal solution—and universal problem—at work and at home. They dig into the often-ignored half of communication (listening), the outsized role of tone and body language, and how Zoom-era distractions make nonverbal signals even more critical to read—and manage. The tr...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina and Alex sit down with Kristin Malek, founder of the Behavior Change Design Institute, to explore how real change happens—whether in individuals, organizations, or society. Kristin draws from her diverse background in neuroscience, psychology, and event design to explain why simply declaring new values or pushing positive affirmations rarely works. I...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina and Alex take a candid look at the challenges and misconceptions around employee engagement, especially the reliance on large-scale surveys. They question the accuracy and usefulness of engagement metrics when trust and psychological safety are low, noting that survey responses are shaped by fleeting emotions, personal context, and fear of speaking o...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore are joined by Andy DeShong for a deep, philosophical conversation on the intersection of AI, leadership, and humanity. Together, they explore the profound shifts artificial intelligence is bringing to the workplace and education, from redefining job roles to reshaping how people relate to change and uncertainty. Andy, a sea...

On today's episode of Uncover the Human we have Jude Schweppe joining us. Jude has an eye opening way of approaching her work life. Her background is in performing arts. Jude loves being creative, and transitioned into advertising.  She finally blended coaching with a creative direction.   Jude is a firm believer in having fun in the workplace, people learn better when they're having fun...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of Uncover the Human , hosts Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore welcome guest Tina Morris to explore the often-overlooked emotional and psychological layers of transitions. From corporate transformations to cross-country moves, Tina shares personal stories and leadership lessons that highlight the importance of empathy, trust, and the courage to sit with a...

Why do we ghost and get ghosted? From the corporate world to intimate relationships, Cristina and Alex discuss what it means to ghost someone from two perspectives: the person who doesn't like to respond and the person who feels disrespected without a response. Is there psychology around ghosting? Why do we take it so personally? We are all conscious that time is a precious resource and would...

 In this repeat of the kickoff episode of Season Two of Uncover the Human , Cristina and Alex reflect on their podcasting journey—from humble closet recordings to a full-blown professional setup—and dive into one of their favorite topics: self-assessments. The episode explores the value of assessments in fostering personal insight, team effectiveness, and workplace well-being. They share laughs an...

In this powerful episode of Uncover the Human , hosts Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore welcome Amanda Gulino, founder of A Better Monday, for an authentic conversation on burnout, values alignment, and what it means to build a career—and life—on purpose. Amanda shares her personal journey from recruiting to leadership and culture consulting, emphasizing how her business emerged from deep curios...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , hosts Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore sit down with Meridith Grundei, a dynamic presentation coach and improv facilitator, to explore how authenticity, story, and vulnerability transform public speaking. Drawing from her background in acting and teaching improv, Meridith shares how she helps clients become more comfortable and impactful presenters—not by...

What does it mean to live a purposeful life? Life Purpose Coach Rick Harrigan knows firsthand the painful disconnect between external success and internal emptiness. After 20+ years in corporate entertainment with all the trappings of the American dream—good money, nice house, white picket fence—Rick found himself profoundly unfulfilled. "I was getting validation from everyone except myself,&...

What happens when we place humans at the center of every workplace decision? Anne-Catherine Nielsen, founder of Equo Magna, brings her rich experience from the hospitality industry to tackle this question in a conversation that couldn't be more timely. In a post-pandemic world where employees are reevaluating their relationship with work, Nielsen offers invaluable insights into what truly mat...

In this episode of Uncover the Human , hosts Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore welcome back returning guest Eimear Zone to explore one of the most universally challenging yet empowering topics in personal and professional life: setting boundaries. Building on her course The Elegant No , Eimear dives into how boundaries are not acts of rejection but reflections of values, connection, and self-res...