In this reflective episode of Coffee & Change, host Bill Kirst takes a thoughtful look back at Season 9, exploring the transformative conversations that shaped the year. Through intimate dialogues with diverse guests, the season delves into themes of human connection, authenticity, and the courage to ask meaningful questions. Bill shares personal insights and highlights the power of listening as an act of stewardship, inviting listeners to consider where they are still waiting for permission...
Dec 28, 2025•11 min
In this engaging episode, Bill Kirst and Shannan Scarselletta delve into the art of improvisation and its profound impact on personal and professional growth. They explore how improv fosters creativity, adaptability, and authentic communication, drawing parallels between improv and leadership in uncertain times. Shannan shares her journey from a structured corporate environment to embracing the spontaneity of improv, highlighting its role in navigating life's unpredictability. The conversation i...
Dec 07, 2025•1 hr 11 min
We live in a world where everything is designed to be faster, easier, and more automated. We order groceries without speaking to a clerk. We message colleagues without ever looking them in the eye. And more and more, we move through our days without noticing the people who hold us up along the way. Today’s episode is about noticing. Levi Spires has given over fourteen thousand rides as an Uber driver. But what’s striking isn’t the miles he’s logged—it’s the humanity he’s witnessed. For a few min...
Sep 28, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Today’s guest knows what it means to lead when the stakes are high. Nate Amidon spent 15 years guiding people and programs across the U.S. Air Force, Microsoft, Boeing, and Alaska Airlines. He’s an Air Force C-17 evaluator pilot with more than 3,200 flight hours—including 800 in combat—and over 1,500 hours as an instructor teaching young pilots how to fly, make decisions under pressure, and lead crews on global missions. When he transitioned from active duty, Nate brought that same discipline in...
Sep 01, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In its Greek root, Mentos means “intent, purpose, spirit and passion.” It was with intent, purpose and passion that this special episode came to life. It is a rare occasion when one can get together with their mentor, and their mentor’s mentor for a conversation anchored in three generations of mentorship, leadership and friendship. This is one of those conversations. My special guest, the mentor of my mentor is Admiral Bob Inman. I flew to Austin to meet up with him in person and record this in...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Excited to connect on this reunion episode with Lisa Manning Cassidy who I met over 15 years ago at IBM where we worked together to forge corporate history with Social Business anchored in selfless service to our country. Lisa spent over 15 years at IBM and led transformational work for government agencies and for IBM's global workforce. She and I both answered the courageous calls for paying it forward and today I am excited to reconnect with her and hear about her latest walks across the bridg...
May 19, 2025•59 min
My guest on this special episode of Coffee & Change is Patrick "Sledge" Mullins, a former Air Force Fighter Pilot who flew F-15s for years and has certainly seen his fair share of change and challenge. On this powerful episode we discuss the flight path of his incredible life and the arc of change, community and connection that kept him going and growing. And while he got his call sign from being known as the Sledgehammer, the only thing he is breaking these days is the cycle of trauma. His ...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Welcome back to Coffee & Change. On this special two part episode, under the banner number 151, I am flipping the script. After inviting and engaging in 150 conversations, I have the unique opportunity of being hosted by my friend and former guest, David Watson. He digs deep, asks the big questions, and puts me on the spot as I reflect on recording 5.68 days—that’s 8,186 minutes—of content. To put that in perspective, if you started listening to every single episode of this podcast back-to-b...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 11 min
This is the Part 2 Discussion continuation from my powerful conversation with David Watson. This story, my story, continues to evolve, and I want to thank you each for walking alongside me on this journey. Your listening, the very act of listening, changes the story. I appreciate you all.
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Welcome back and thanks for listening. This week, we’re diving into a topic that’s reshaping the way we think about change: the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Change Management. You may recall an episode with my guest titled The Art and Science of Change back in May of 2023. I was excited to welcome him back to explore this highly debated topic with than someone who has dedicated his career to understanding and guiding change — Tim Creasey, Chief Innovation Officer at Prosci. The la...
Mar 06, 2025•59 min
The Polish word for friendship is "przyjaźń" (pronounced pshih-yah-zh-n). When I think of the Polish people, my time living there, and the memories made, this is the word that comes to mind, everytime. Friendship. From the first days of my arriving in Poland in 1990 to my recent return and reunion nearly 35 years later, the spirit of friendship has always guided me, as it does the people of Poland. On today’s episode we hear from one of those friends - Grzegorz Leseniewski. Grzegorz is an attorn...
Mar 05, 2025•55 min
On Episode 150 we welcome back our guest from Episode 1 and Episode 50. Shawna Saffle Rasmussen was probably my first listener in addition to being my first guest. How the world, our worlds, have changed since then, 8 years later. A friendship going on a decade, this was such a joy to sit down together in a great setting and stop time in its place. Together we reflect and seek refuge in a deep discussion about the next chapters in change in both of our lives.
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min
On this episode I welcome back Chris Lovett. Author, Writer, TEDx Speaker, Award-Winning Leader, Executive Coach & Simplicity Expert - as someone who lives and breathes a less is more lifestyle, Chris feels it's his responsibility to help employees improve their relationship with work by simplifying. His work has been read, seen and heard in 65 countries and he's spent years coaching CEOs, exec talent, senior leaders and teams through this stuff. Chris used to be a radio DJ, coached an x-fac...
Feb 09, 2025•1 hr 13 min
On today's episode I interview Kristie K. Jones, a seasoned sales leader, sales enablement coach and best-selling author of "Selling Your Way In." Kristie is known for her Kristie-isms and her no nonsense approach to sales, leadership and life. She is focused on empowering sellers to not just meet their goals, but crush them. During this episode we talk about life, challenges, dreams, hopes, aspirations and more. Enjoy the listen!
Feb 05, 2025•54 min
On Episode 147 I welcome Lindsay Yellin. She is a sought after, dynamic leadership coach spearheading Yellin's transformative approach. With over a decade of experience in advertising account management, Lindsay proved her determination & impact by climbing the ranks to VP before turning 30. But her lasting legacy lies in her role as a team builder and culture shifter, leaving an enduring impact on the teams & clients she served. Lindsay dedicates herself to transforming self-doubting ex...
Jan 30, 2025•59 min
Jonathan Bardzik is a storyteller, chef, and author. He believes that life can and should be filled with joy, abundance and agency. His story is one that mirrors a beautiful culinary journey. Be sure to visit www.jonathanbardzik.com! Author of three cookbooks, he's given over 900 live appearances over the past 9 years and appears regularly on local television networks. You can also find his at farm markets and creating experiences for private clients including businesses, organizations, and home...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Today’s featured guest is Rafael Zhansultanov. Rafael has over 10 years of experience working at the nexus of global economics, geopolitics, international development and financial markets in emerging and developing countries. Rafael has studied and worked in the U.S., U.K. and Eurasia and possesses a multicultural, multilingual outlook and first hand understanding of business and customs around the world. Rafael is a Chevening Scholar and a U.S. Edmund S. Muskie Scholar having been awarded thes...
Jan 08, 2025•48 min
Matt VanFossen is an award winning independent artist and currently holds a well earned spot on both my Apple Replay and Spotify Wrapped of 2024. And if it wasn’t for an Instagram story I almost missed, I wouldn’t have heard his music at all, much less have had this healing conversation with him on the importance of forgiveness, the power of heartbreak and the future of country music. You all are in for a treat in this conversation, with a man who IS the future of country music. After hearing hi...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr 19 min
On Episode 143, I welcome back Kevin Walling for his third appearance on the show. Because who doesn't love a good trilogy? You might call it Return of the Electoral Jedi. Kevin is a political strategist and political media consultant who has run for office and supported candidacies for numerous leaders elected to office. Having known Kevin now for over a decade, I consider his stoicism and political pragmatism to be a salve on the wound that keeps getting reopened in the experiment that is demo...
Oct 26, 2024•43 min
Kesem is a national nonprofit whose mission is to support children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Kesem does year-round programming like care packages, birthday cards, and Friends and Family Days, but the flagship program is a week-long summer camp that is completely free for all families. Kesem serves children aged 6-18 and recruits families from the local area by each chapter. Kesem at JHU is the JHU chapter of the national organization, and this year, they held camp from August 12-...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr
Jothy Rosenberg has a powerful story of overcoming adversity as a cancer and disability survivor, tech founder, and thriver. After facing immense hardships, he has distilled his experiences into inspirational keynotes that educate and uplift audiences. Jothy speaks on topics like motivation, entrepreneurship, and startup growth strategies. His inspirational keynotes based on his TEDx talk and his books resound with audience and readers of all ages. His story will motivate you to keep going and n...
Oct 21, 2024•48 min
I am excited for you to meet my next guest, Kristin. We were introduced about a year ago by a former podcast guest and his wife. Kristin's story is one we know all to well, whereby we feel there is a call to do more, be more and answer that faint ping of purpose. Kristin is a disruptor, thought rebel and possibilitarian who struggled finding her path. She felt misguided and misunderstood despite the incredible opportunities in building a career, she continued to feel unfulfilled. Her journey inw...
Sep 20, 2024•52 min
I cannot wait for you to meet Derek Mitchell. His origin story will have you remembering your own childhood, and the teachers and parents in your life that changed your world. Derek is the CEO of Partners in School Innovation. Partners in School Innovation has been on a mission to transform teaching and learning in the most challenged U.S. public schools so that every student thrives. Their vision: A thriving system of public schools that have an unwavering focus on results and are vibrant place...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 4 min
What do Madonna and Microsoft have in common? Turns out more than you think. I posed this question to Copilot and learned a few things. And in this episode I meet the personification of many of the characteristics of success shared by a pop star and a software company. Get ready to meet Heather Cook, Joyful Warrior and Community Connector changing the world one courageous conversation at a time.
Sep 03, 2024•54 min
Pardon the interruption. But this is something we all need to hear. After a recent interview I noticed had great impact on those who listened it felt important to share this in the form of a solocast of sorts. What follows is a blend of poetry, philosophy and a cautionary tale to an ever-changing industry. You might say it’s an unrequited letter to humanity asking us all “How we can hold on to Our Humanity in the age of AI?”
Aug 03, 2024•27 min
Drake Jensen is a different kind of country. An early pioneer and a man whose music helped me at a pivotal time in my life. Drake sings with an open heart and that still gives some in this world some heartburn. And that suits him just fine. Drake and I first met back in 2011 when I reached out to him to thank him for his music and for being the courageous pioneer and trailblazer who was the first out, gay country artist with a Top 40 hit. That was on terrestrial radio, so that was an even bigger...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 25 min
Each year, around this time, I like to feature a story in an episode I refer to as the PRIDE Edition. It is in this annual episode I feature an inspirational story of one human’s endeavor to authenticity and journey to joy. As many of us know, that is often a lifelong journey and one that comes with inordinate amounts of heartbreak and hopefully, equal parts healing. My guest for this special episode is Brian Johnson. And my connection with Brian reminded me that life is a gift and living is a c...
Jun 01, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Yes, you're the understudy to the Tortured Poet…you just didn’t know it. I had nearly forgotten about the event of the season arriving in the overnight hours to our digital devices. And this morning, as I prepare for my first public poetry reading, I have to smile, because the universe always has a way of showing us “a way.” I have been thinking about this solo podcast episode for a while now. Knowing I have wanted to tell the story of a Tortured Poet and the path of putting ink to paper, and pa...
Apr 20, 2024•9 min
On this episode we meet multi award winning Sales Leader and All Around Luminary, Carson Heady. Carson is a bestselling author of five books in addition to being one of Microsoft's most influential Directors and #1 Social Sellers. He is a Global Sales Trainer, a podcast host and 🏆 award-winning mentor to many teams and talent. You will love this conversation between two former peers and self published authors...and fans of Queen's Greatest Hits.
Apr 03, 2024•50 min
Jim Fielding, a proud Ohio native and Indiana University Hoosier, started his career on the department store floor. Over the next 30 years, he would lead some of the world’s most beloved media and retail brands, including The Gap, Disney, Claire’s, Dreamworks, and 20th Century Fox. Jim is known for his ability to combine storytelling and product merchandising into unforgettable consumer experiences. As culture builder and talent spotter, he has recruited and trained global leaders in a variety o...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min
