Unruly: The Podcast

Lauren reflects on the first 15 interviews of Unruly: the Podcast and looks ahead to season 2. 

Former WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge believes leadership isn’t about brilliance or ego — it’s about humility, simplicity, and heart. In this episode, we talk about how “any dumb-ass can do it” if they’re willing to listen, learn, and lead with authenticity. From creating cultures of safety and “learning moments” to balancing backbone with kindness, Garry shows us that leadership really is simple… but hard...

For 22 years, Kerry Kriseman walked the tightrope of public life as a political spouse — visible, but expected to stay silent. In her memoir Accidental First Lady , she reclaims her voice and shares what it really takes to stand beside power without losing yourself in its shadow. We talk about navigating unwritten rules, resilience, and how to step out from behind someone else’s story to write you...

From high school dropout to Forbes-dubbed “Queen of Paint,” Paula Blankenship built a multimillion-dollar company one small step at a time. Her new book Just Open the Jar is a blueprint for transformation that doesn’t require perfect timing or a total life overhaul — just the courage to start. In this episode, Paula shares how creativity, grit, and trusting your instincts can spark lasting change.

Actress, producer, and military spouse Miranda Roldan joins me to talk about embracing the full spectrum of who we are—creative, professional, and unconventional. We dig into her short film Unqualified, redefining what it means to be “qualified,” and why authenticity is the most Unruly move of all.

A retired military leader, Jeremiah Monk, chose well at transition—but kept options open. When a layoff hit, he was ready. We dive into how to build smart optionality, keep lines in the water, and stay ready for what’s next—without burning out or losing your way.

Mike Grochol certainly upended expectations and the way things traditionally get done in government contracting.  The traditional GovCon path is to start small and work up, but Mike went big from the outset… and in so doing, he beat all of the big-named firms to win a $500m innovation contract for US Special Operations Command.  Mike and Lauren talk about how Mike’s naturally Unruly nature led to...

Representative Driskell is the minority leader of the Florida State House. As a true policy wonk, she focuses on good policy over political grandstanding. Join Lauren and Rep. Driskell for a conversation about how we can repair the political climate to work better for everyone across the aisle.

General Stanley McChrystal has lived a life of great service and great character.  Join Lauren and Stan as they talk about his new book, On Character, and the much-needed discussion about how we drive character in the public and private sphere.    

Can learning Improv comedy tools help you as a leader? Join Lauren and her favorite former Mouskateer, Kari Goetz , later this week for the latest Unruly: The Podcast episode as they talk about "Yes/And" exercises as a tool in the MBA toolkit, as well as why Kari uses stealth toys placed strategically around her office to test cultural fit during interviews, and so much more. 

Former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel and Lauren discuss the difference between good policy and good politics. From his early days at OMB to his time at the IRS, Danny has been a policy wonk before anything else, and he speaks candidly OR openly about his approach to good government and what his biggest concerns are about the current approach at the IRS and beyond. 

Does optimism and positivity work, or are you just being a Pollyanna?  Join Lauren and Amy Martinez-Monfort, the CEO of Tampa Laundry Company, as they talk about how Amy’s positive attitude has fueled her growth throughout her career. 

Is traditional work no longer working for you? (Does it actually work for anyone anymore?!). Danielle Roberts, the Anti-Career Coach, joins Lauren to talk about how to reimagine work in a way that works better for everyone. Her Unruly approach to finding meaning and purpose will be of interest to employees challenged in their current roles, but also managers, owners, and others who want to create...

Join Lauren and Dr. Stuart Shapiro, Dean of the Bloustein School of Public Policy at Rutgers, as they talk about how to conceive of what is normal and what is legal within Executive Branch actions. Dr. Shapiro is one of the foremost experts on government regulations and rules, and is the author of the book Not Normal (among others).

Join Lauren and Karen Lee, a public servant who has reinvented herself at least a half dozen times, but always with an eye towards service over self. We talk about just starting , regardless of if you have the perfect solution or not. Join us as we talk about how to get Unruly when you're not always sure of your next steps.

Join Lauren and her guest, Randy Hansen, the Division Director for the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative.  Randy talks about what the Rule of Law is and why it matters.

What does it mean to be Unruly?  In this episode, Lauren explains the concepts behind Unruly—knowing the rules, challenging the rules, and eventually changing the rules that don’t work so you can always do the right thing and always follow the rules without always following the pack.