Send us a text In this first in an occasional series on what we owe each other after collective traumas, bioethicist Alham Saadat shares unique insights from her experiences as a refugee and her work in bioethics at the Broad Institute. Alham offers insights into the obligations we have toward one another both during crisis and in everyday life. "What we owe to each other is at the core of my belief system," she reflects, challenging listeners to expand their understanding of human responsibilit...
Jul 09, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Send us a text Ever noticed how the most successful leaders somehow manage to build thriving businesses while maintaining genuine human connections? Rob Gallaher discovered this secret the hard way. After years of working excessive hours, micromanaging his team, and watching his personal life deteriorate, he knew something had to change. Rob joins us to share how compassion transformed his approach to leadership. As a CEO leading multiple companies and author of Profit Sharing: The Power of Shar...
Jul 02, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Send us a text What happens when we acknowledge our full humanity in the workplace? Fran Benjamin, Managing Partner at GoodWorks Consulting, delivers a masterclass in organizational transformation that challenges longstanding assumptions about leadership. Fran offers a definition of compassion: "that moment in which one can no longer distinguish themselves from the other," and explores how this concept applies to modern organizational structures. Rather than viewing companies as collections of i...
Jun 25, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Send us a text When you think of manufacturing environments, compassionate leadership and unconditional love probably aren't the first concepts that come to mind. Yet at Cambridge Air Solutions, these principles form the backbone of a thriving culture that's delivering remarkable business results. Meg Brown, Chief Operating Officer, reveals the surprisingly simple practices that have transformed their workplace. The most powerful is a ritual called personal-professional check-in, where team memb...
Jun 18, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Send us a text "We have more information than ever and less knowledge. We talk at each other more than ever and we're less connected." James Warren, founder and CEO of Share More Stories, takes us on a journey through the transformative power of stories as the lifeblood of the human experience. He reveals how storytelling creates three essential benefits for organizations: enhanced self-awareness for leaders, strengthened empathy through neurological connection, and accelerated collective learni...
Jun 11, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Send us a text Have you ever wondered why good people sometimes make terrible decisions? Kevin McCarthy lived this question when he unwittingly became involved in what turned out to be Washington state's largest fraud case—an experience that landed him in federal prison for 33 months despite having no knowledge of the crime. Rather than becoming bitter, Kevin transformed this devastating setback into profound insight about human blind spots and leadership. In this thought-provoking conversation,...
Jun 04, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Send us a text What happens when disaster strikes a community and the ripple effects touch everyone differently? This episode originally aired on The Security Circle podcast, where I joined host Yoyo Hamblen to talk about trauma, recovery, and resilience. I'm sharing it here because the conversation gets to the heart of what we're exploring on Notes on Resilience: the real work of rebuilding trust, leading with empathy, and supporting people through change. In this revealing conversation with Bo...
May 28, 2025•59 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Send us a text Have you ever wondered why inspiring speeches from leaders don't always translate to motivated teams? In this conversation with Rob Lion, we discuss how leaders often forget that employees don't necessarily love the organization the same way they do. While executives might focus on purpose and vision, many employees are primarily concerned with meeting foundational needs like providing for their families or maintaining stability. This disconnect explains why what works at the lead...
May 21, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Send us a text What makes the difference between leaders who inspire innovation and those whose teams merely go through the motions? The answer might surprise you. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller, author, speaker, and leadership coach, reveals that empathy—far from being soft or unnecessary—actually requires tremendous courage and drives measurable business results. In this fascinating conversation, she unveils that there are actually 43 different types of empathy across eight categories, challengin...
May 14, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Send us a text Have you ever considered that your leadership style might be trapped in patterns established when you were five years old? That's just one of the eye-opening perspectives shared by Gary Cohen, managing partner and co-founder of CO2 Partners, in this thought-provoking exploration of compassionate leadership. Gary introduces us to the powerful metaphor of walking the ridgeline – the delicate balance leaders must maintain between excessive ego on one side and debilitating humility on...
May 07, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Send us a text What if the secret to effective leadership wasn't having all the answers, but rather creating space for genuine human connection? In this enlightening conversation with Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, co-founders of the Abbracci Group, we explore the transformative power of compassion in the workplace. The dialogue begins with a fundamental truth: people want to feel cared for, regardless of whether they're at home or at work. Despite this simple reality, many managers struggle t...
Apr 30, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Send us a text What happens when a leader admits they've made a mistake? This vulnerability forms the bedrock of trust in modern organizations. And trust is in critically short supply. The psychological contract between employers and employees has fundamentally fractured, leaving many professionals feeling disposable rather than valued. In this conversation with executive coach Cynthia Pong, we explore how compassionate leadership creates the psychological safety necessary for high-performing te...
Apr 23, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Send us a text How does play transform workforce dynamics? Monika Guzek, founder of JoyFlow, challenges conventional workplace wisdom with a refreshing take on organizational resilience. From jumping off a 12-meter waterfall despite her fear of heights to teaching CEOs the power of play, Monica embodies the change-embracing spirit she cultivates in others. We discuss how play helps executives approach complex problems through creativity rather than pure analysis, and the three essential ingredie...
Apr 16, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Send us a text What happens when your company faces a crisis? For Richard Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, the answer wasn't found in emergency protocols or contingency plans. It was deeply embedded in the culture of joy his organization had built over decades. When COVID-19 struck and Menlo lost 60% of its revenue, their collaborative in-person work model seemed impossible to maintain. Yet something remarkable happened. While Sheridan momentarily felt like Houdini shackled and thrown to the ...
Apr 09, 2025•37 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Send us a text Today's workplace demands whole-person management: Employees no longer check their emotions and personal challenges at the door. Guest Malvika Jethmalani, three-time CHRO and co-founder of Atvis Group, talks about the three-step employee listening strategy that forms the foundation of compassionate leadership: listening to understand pain points, analyzing feedback implications, and taking meaningful action. She shares why many organizations create survey fatigue and erode trust b...
Apr 02, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Send us a text Burnout is an occupational phenomenon officially recognized by the World Health Organization. So, what happens when workplace cultures keep us from addressing it directly? Can leaders really create space for authentic conversations about wellbeing? Wellness expert Jasmin Dennis shares a powerful framework for identifying and preventing emotional burnout through compassionate leadership, showing how leaders can address different manifestations of burnout—lack of energy, decreased p...
Mar 26, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Send us a text What does it take to authentically lead with compassion? For Lori Pappas—entrepreneur, humanitarian, and author of "The Magic of Yes"—the answer lies at the intersection of self-awareness, organizational alignment, and redefined success metrics. She shares her journey from successful entrepreneur to humanitarian, revealing how addressing personal trauma enhanced her ability to lead with authentic compassion. We discussed a framework for compassionate leadership built on three pill...
Mar 19, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Send us a text "If you take care of your people and projects, the clients usually come right along." Executive coach Rob Ott takes us deep into the world of compassionate leadership, drawing from decades of experience building high-performing teams. He reveals how truly people-first organizations achieve remarkable business outcomes while nurturing fulfilling workplace cultures. Rob co-founded a company that became what former employees describe as one of the best places they've ever worked. Thr...
Mar 12, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Send us a text Embrace the transformative power of compassionate leadership in our latest episode with Scott Healy, CEO of Psych Hub. He shares profound insights into why leaders should prioritize empathy, understanding, and trust within their teams. From recognizing the personal struggles of employees to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates diverse perspectives, Scott provides practical strategies for building a supportive environment. Discover how a "no assholes rule" can reshape work...
Mar 05, 2025•38 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Send us a text Are you curious about how emotional drivers shape workplace culture and foster connection? Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we engage with Dov Baron to explore the concept of emotional source code and its significant impact on organizational dynamics. We delve into the importance of compassion and understanding and how we approach each other with curiosity rather than preconceived notions, we pave the way for richer interactions and a more harmonious work environment. ...
Feb 26, 2025•37 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Send us a text What happens when a 30-year journey uncovers a hidden self-sabotaging trait that affects every facet of our lives? Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Phil Agrios, a seasoned expert who not only discovered this elusive trait but also developed a method to tackle it head-on. Phil shares his personal transformation and the unexpected path that led him to help thousands overcome barriers to professional success and personal well-being. We explore the impact of fear and self-...
Feb 19, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Send us a text What if you could transform your leadership style by embracing joy and compassion? Join us as we sit down with Amanda Gore, who shares her inspiring personal journey to discover joy. At 68, driven by an unexpected calling, Amanda left her comfort zone behind to pursue a larger role in life. Modern leadership demands a delicate balance between strategic prowess and the nurturing of so-called soft skills. We discussed the pros and cons of remote work and the essential role of in-per...
Feb 12, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Send us a text Workplace bullying is a pervasive challenge that impacts employee health and morale. Join us for a conversation with Deitra Payne, who is on a mission to eradicate workplace bullying. We discuss the necessity for compassionate leadership, the definition and implications of bullying, and offer practical advice for addressing these issues within organizations. Bullying and compassion are incompatible, and Deitra urges organizations to adopt zero-tolerance policies that safeguard emp...
Feb 05, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Send us a text Can the power of empathy and compassion truly transform your workplace? Join us in this episode with Katharine Manning, who shares her expertise in cultivating trauma-informed environments. We discuss: Definitions and differences between empathy and compassion The importance of understanding the “why” behind culture changes The impact of fear-based cultures on employee well-being The gap between the intentions of executive leadership and the reality experienced by employees. Build...
Jan 29, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Send us a text Can compassionate leadership genuinely transform workplace culture, particularly in the high-pressure environment of tech? Join us as we explore this question with Birgit Pohl, a seasoned leadership coach and engineering leader. Birgit shares her personal journey through unexpected career transitions, illuminating how embracing change can lead to more fulfilling leadership roles. She shares her experiences with workplace bullying, giving us insight into the emotional and psycholog...
Jan 22, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Send us a text Explore the transformative potential of mindfulness and compassion in the workplace. With our guest, Alex Snider, we unravel the complexities of integrating mindfulness into professional settings and discuss common misconceptions, such as the notion that meditation requires a blank mind or that there is a right way to do it. Our conversation also explores the impact of personal mindfulness practices, particularly in leadership roles. We challenge the idea of mindfulness as just a ...
Jan 15, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Send us a text Compassionate leadership is essential for fostering an engaging and trustworthy workplace culture. Leanne McEvoy, co-founder and CEO of L2 Culture Solutions, shares her insights on the importance of lived experiences, vulnerability, and trust in creating compassionate environments. In this episode of Notes on Resilience, we unpack the often performative nature of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and explore how leaders can cultivate workplaces where personal stor...
Jan 08, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Send us a text What is the difference between empathy and compassion? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Janice Brathwaite, the CEO and founder of Workplace Transformations, as she shares her journey from a disengaged consultant to a passionate executive coach championing compassionate leadership. We discuss why compassion involves taking proactive steps to improve situations rather than merely sharing in someone’s feelings, the role emotional intelligence plays in leadership (which i...
Jan 01, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Send us a text To close out 2024, I reviewed answers to the question I asked all my guests this year: If you could have dinner with any historical figure who would it be and why? This episode highlights the profound impact of these figures from the past and some of the not-so-distant past. This episode touches on themes of resilience, family connections, literary influences, and the legacies of activists who shaped society through their courage and actions. • Guests reflect on the importance of ...
Dec 25, 2024•30 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Send us a text Have you ever wondered how resilience can transform not just individuals but entire communities and organizations? It has been an enlightening journey as the host of Notes on Resilience. In this special episode, we look back at the lessons learned from my fabulous guests over the last two years. Through candid conversations with experts, we have explored many angles of resilience and compassion. The stories we've shared on the podcast reveal that resilience is intrinsically linked...
Dec 18, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 51
