Lets Have This Conversation

How do history, morality, and the influence of power shape the decisions we make—and what happens when our beliefs are challenged by circumstances beyond our control? Throughout history, humanity has wrestled with complex questions about morality, ethical responsibility, authority, and the consequences of human behavior. Research in moral psychology, including discussions published on the Effectiv...

Despite the uncertain nature of today’s economy and how it will perform Entrepreneurs are putting more resources towards their marketing budgets. Especially of the small business variety. Constant Contact’s survey found that 68% of respondents plan to increase their marketing budgets despite rising costs and uncertainty about the direction of the economy. Another 74% said they plan to invest more...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 9 people (11%) aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, and 74% of those affected are age 75 or older. The number of older adults living with Alzheimer’s is projected to grow to nearly 13.8 million by 2060. Behind those numbers are millions of families navigating the emotional, practical, and often overwhelming realities of...

Only about 26% of leaders actually practice the behaviors necessary to create a truly psychologically safe climate for their teams, according to McKinsey & Company. Meanwhile, 90% of C-suite executives believe their company actively promotes worker well-being, according to a Deloitte Workplace Well-being study reported by Fortune. That gap raises an important question: What does it really take to...

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 92% of Canadians identify as compassionate and 76% feel a moral urge to help others who are suffering—yet only 38% took physical action to alleviate hardship over a 12-month period. That gap between believing in compassion and acting with compassion raises a larger question: What does it truly mean to care for one another? Few people have explor...

Artificial intelligence is transforming how professionals search for jobs, build résumés, prepare for interviews, and advance their careers. According to Statista, 70% of U.S. professionals have used AI at least once during the job application process over the past two years. Meanwhile, Pew Research Center reports that 21% of American workers now use AI for at least some of their work, up from 16%...

The global video game industry is a billion-dollar business—and has been for many years. In 2025, revenue from the worldwide gaming market was estimated at nearly $522.5 billion, with the mobile gaming market generating an estimated $126 billion of that total. Despite record-breaking revenues, the industry’s growth rate is projected to slow in the near future, according to Statista. So, as the gam...

Healthy people build thriving organizations. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 82% of CEOs believe workplace wellness initiatives can deliver a measurable positive return on investment, while 56% cite employee productivity as a top reason for investing in employee health and wellness. Those numbers reinforce an important leadership conversation: employee well-being and...

Bankruptcy filings are rising across the United States. Total bankruptcy filings increased 11% during the 12-month period ending December 31, 2025, with increases in both business and non-business bankruptcies. According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, annual bankruptcy filings reached 574,314 in 2025, compared with 517,308 during the previous year. Business...

According to LinkedIn, 50% of recruiters report that poor interview performance—or a candidate’s inability to clearly articulate their experience under pressure—is a primary reason qualified candidates are rejected. That raises an important question: How do talented professionals make sure their value is understood when the pressure is on? This week on Let’s Have This Conversation, I’m joined by M...

The Strategic Priority Gap: A report highlighted by Benefits Canada found that while 49% of HR leaders rank general engagement and retention among their top priorities, only 28% view employee well-being itself as a central strategic priority. What if organizations stopped treating employee wellness as an initiative and started viewing it as a fundamental part of workplace culture? Robin O’Grady is...

78% of American workers said it was important to work for a company that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, according to the April 2021 CNBC/SurveyMonkey Workforce Happiness Survey. What does it take to turn those employee expectations into a workplace where people feel valued—and leadership delivers? On this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, Kevin McShan welcomes Natalie Holder, Esq....

What if the greatest competitive advantage in an increasingly automated world isn't another piece of technology—but our ability to genuinely connect with one another? Executive coaching has increasingly become a strategic leadership investment. Benchmark research has reported returns ranging from 529% to 788%—roughly 5.3 to 7.9 times the initial investment—while research into human-centered leader...

Sometimes the most important chapter of our lives begins after the one we thought would define us completely falls apart. My guest today knows what it means to experience that kind of collapse—and what it takes to rebuild afterward. Ezra Vancil is an American singer-songwriter, artist, and speaker based in Dallas, Texas. He has spent decades writing, recording, and performing across rock, pop, exp...

What if sustainable leadership transformation begins not with strategy, systems, or titles—but with connection? In this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, Melissa Swonger, known as the Architect of Connection-Centered Leadership™, explores the invisible architecture beneath effective leadership: the beliefs, relationships, behavioral patterns, and cultural dynamics that shape how people lead...

What separates a brand people remember from one that sounds like everyone else? In a world overflowing with AI-generated content, corporate jargon, sales pitches, and interchangeable marketing language, authentic storytelling has become a competitive advantage. On this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, I sit down with Jillian (Jill) Ivey, communications strategist, writer, ed...

Employees with high adaptability are 2.5 times more likely to demonstrate high job performance and contribute meaningfully to organizational success, according to ETS, a global education and talent solutions organization focused on enabling lifelong learners to become future-ready. As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the workplace, perhaps we're asking the wrong question. Instead of aski...

Workplace and leadership surveys show an overwhelming consensus among business leaders regarding the importance of team connection: ·         90% of employers state that fostering a sense of community and connection at work is crucial for business success. ·         71% of executives believe that strong emplo...

How do you rebuild a life after the justice system takes 16 years from you for a crime you did not commit? Wrongful convictions represent one of the most devastating failures of the criminal justice system. An estimated 1% to 6% of incarcerated Americans are innocent, translating to roughly 20,000 to over 100,000 wrongfully convicted individuals currently serving time in U.S. prisons. Accordi...

What does values-led leadership actually look like when an organization’s beliefs are tested by change, conflict, cultural complexity, and real-world decisions? In this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation with Kevin McShan, Kevin sits down with Shane Lukas, activist, speaker, harm reductionist, award-winning designer, and founder of A Great Idea, for a powerful convers...

86% of employees at Canada’s Best Workplaces say management keeps them informed about important issues and changes, according to Great Place to Work Canada. That statistic underscores a fundamental truth about organizational success: trust, transparency, and communication matter—especially when organizations and their people are navigating change. High-trust workplace cultures can also have a...

Money doesn't just influence your bank account—it shapes your relationships, your confidence, your purpose, and the life you believe is possible. Only 16% of Americans describe themselves as financially fulfilled, while as many as 85% to 90% report experiencing ongoing financial stress or worry. For millions, the challenge isn't simply earning more money—it's developing a healt...

What if the difference between success and failure isn’t simply talent, knowledge, or opportunity—but the emotions driving our decisions? Bob Raybould, creator of Success By Emotions (SBE) and author of Success by Emotions, has spent more than five decades studying how our emotional state influences performance, leadership, decision-making, relationships, and long-term success. His...

Marriage and family therapists play a vital role in mental health care, helping millions of individuals, couples, and families navigate conflict, strengthen relationships, and build healthier family systems. But what does it really take to create a family environment where every person feels heard, supported, and empowered to grow? In this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, we sit down with...

What happens when extraordinary expertise remains one of the best-kept secrets in an industry? In an increasingly crowded marketplace, actively leveraging and demonstrating high-level expertise can build immediate credibility with customers, strategic partners, and investors. But expertise alone isn't enough. The challenge is transforming knowledge, experience, and ideas into a brand people r...