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Why do so many training programs produce great feedback but so little lasting behavior change? In this episode of The Human Side of Results, Dr. Pelè speaks with Melanie Martinelli, CEO of the Institute for Transfer Effectiveness and founder of Going Beyond Training, about what it really takes to make learning stick and turn development into measurable business results. Melanie shares her journey from finance and business leadership to becoming a passionate advocate for learning transfer. After investing in training and questioning whether it actually worked, she discovered a problem that continues to challenge organizations worldwide. Together, they explore why traditional training evaluation often misses what matters, how the 12 Levers of Transfer Effectiveness help create lasting change, why workplace peers and managers are essential, and how better measurement and emerging technology can help organizations improve performance. You'll discover: Why satisfaction surveys cannot tell you whether training worked.How managers and workplace peers influence behavior change.Why measurement should drive improvement, not simply report results.How leading indicators connect workplace behavior to business outcomes.Why technology is creating new opportunities to make learning transfer practical and scalable.If you're a consultant, coach, trainer, or L&D leader who wants your programs to create meaningful change beyond the classroom, this conversation is for you. Because the real value of training isn't what people learn. It's what they do differently afterward. ---- Connect with Melanie Martinelli here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-martinelli/

What happens after a great training program ends? For nearly two decades, Chris Taylor, Founder and CEO of Actionable, has been obsessed with that question. In this episode of The Human Side of Results, Chris joins Dr. Pelè for a candid conversation about the knowing-doing gap, why learning so often fails to become sustained behavior change, and why proving impact is quickly moving from a competitive differentiator to table stakes for consulting, coaching, and training firms. Drawing on data from more than 9,000 programs and millions of behavior-change data points, Chris challenges some common assumptions about manager involvement, self-reported behavior change, accountability, and what actually helps new behaviors stick. The conversation also explores the business case for making impact visible. When learning providers can see what happens after the program, they can improve what they deliver, have more strategic conversations with clients, demonstrate the value they create, and build stronger client relationships. The future of learning may not be about creating more content. It may be about finally turning on the lights and seeing what changed. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjrtaylor/

Why does so much great training fail to produce measurable results? In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè sits down with Greg Schinkel, CEO of Unique Training & Development, for a candid conversation between two leadership development practitioners who have spent decades wrestling with the same challenge: how do we turn learning into behavior change, and behavior change into business results? Greg shares his journey from manufacturing and leadership development into the ongoing pursuit of better ways to activate and measure learning. Dr. Pelè traces his own perspective back to an extraordinary childhood experience during the Nigerian Civil War, where he learned a lesson that would shape his philosophy decades later: survival did not depend on one person. It took a village. Together, they explore why traditional training measurement often stops short of results, the limitations of surveys and self-reported behavior, the roles managers and executives must play after training, and how AI is creating new possibilities for seeing behavior change as it happens. Their central conclusion is simple but consequential: the learner cannot carry the responsibility for training success alone. If organizations want development programs to create measurable results, participants must practice, leaders must activate, and organizations must leverage what they learn. Training may begin in the classroom. Results happen in the village.

As technology and AI reshape the way we work, how do leaders embrace innovation without losing the human touch? Joshua Evarts has spent more than three decades building businesses in technology. But some of his most important lessons about leadership came from an unexpected place: a cigar lounge he opened as a gathering space for conversation, community, and connection. In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè talks with Joshua, author of If Jesus Smoked Cigars, about why relationships remain at the heart of meaningful leadership, even as technology becomes more powerful. Joshua shares how his battle with cancer deepened his appreciation for human connection, why technology should ultimately lead us back to better conversations, and what his cigar lounge taught him about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. They also explore the growing role of AI, the importance of listening more than speaking, and why knowing that relationships matter isn't enough. Leaders have to turn that belief into everyday behavior. Joshua's challenge to leaders is both simple and profound: don't try to transform every relationship at once. Start with one. Because ultimately, great leadership isn't just about building a successful business. It's about building a culture strong enough to help people navigate the inevitable challenges of business and life without losing what makes us human. Connect with Joshua Evarts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaevarts/

Why do some employees embrace AI while others resist it, quietly avoid it, or deliberately use it poorly? According to behavioral scientist Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, AI adoption is not primarily a technology challenge. It is a human challenge rooted in three powerful emotions: fear of job loss, threats to professional identity, and shame surrounding the use of AI-generated work. In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè talks with Dr. Gleb about his new book, The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results. Together, they explore why traditional change-management approaches often fall short, how leaders unintentionally trigger resistance, and why simply purchasing AI tools and telling employees to use them rarely produces meaningful results. Dr. Gleb also explains how organizations can discover where AI will genuinely help employees, design tools around real workplace frustrations, and move from scattered individual experimentation to productive team-wide adoption. If leaders want AI to deliver results, they must first address the psychology of the people being asked to use it. Dr. Gleb Tipursky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gleb-tsipursky/

Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, but are organizations redesigning work before they truly understand it? In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè sits down with workforce transformation executive, author, and LinkedIn Top Voice Kason Morris to explore his groundbreaking concept of Execution Visibility. Together, they discuss why AI doesn't replace jobs, but the tasks within them, why human judgment may become the most valuable capability of the AI era, and why leaders must first understand how work creates value before they can successfully redesign it. Kason shares practical guidance for executives, HR leaders, and learning professionals on balancing automation with human development, preserving critical thinking, and building organizations where technology strengthens rather than weakens capability. If you're leading AI transformation, workforce strategy, leadership development, or organizational change, this conversation offers a thoughtful framework for designing the future of work without losing what makes people indispensable. Connect with Kason Morris below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kason-morris/ Kason's book on Amazon: "Lifework Revolution"

What transforms a workplace from a collection of employees into a culture of ownership? In this episode, Dr. Pelè sits down with StoneAge CEO and bestselling author Kerry Siggins to explore the leadership behaviors that create trust, accountability, and genuine ownership. Drawing from her own remarkable journey—from overcoming addiction to leading a global, employee-owned company—Kerry shares why culture isn't built through slogans or values on the wall, but through the conversations leaders choose to have every day. Together, they discuss the "Own It" mindset, why trust is the foundation of high-performing teams, how leaders can recognize accountability (and excuses), why difficult conversations are essential to healthy cultures, and how AI can become a powerful thought partner without replacing the human side of leadership. Whether you lead a global organization, a small team, or simply want to become a better leader, this conversation offers practical wisdom for building cultures where people—and results—can thrive. Connect with Kerry Siggins on LinkedIn: [ HERE ] Visit her website: https://kerrysiggins.com Get the Book "Talk With Trust" on Amazon [ HERE ]

What if healthcare could identify disease before symptoms appear? And what if artificial intelligence could help physicians think better, not simply move faster? In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership in Healthcare, Dr. Pelè sits down with Trevor Turner, MD, Co-Founder of Provida Health, to explore the future of predictive, personalized medicine. Drawing from his experience caring for professional athletes, Special Operations personnel, and everyday patients, Trevor explains how genomics, wearables, imaging, and AI-powered clinical intelligence are transforming healthcare from a reactive system into a proactive one. But this conversation goes far beyond technology. Trevor shares his own journey through injury and recovery, explains why movement is foundational to long-term health, and reveals why the most important moments in medicine still require human connection, trust, and compassion. Together, they explore:  Why healthcare remains largely reactive  The difference between information and clinical intelligence  How AI can support physician judgment without replacing it  Why more data does not automatically create better outcomes  The role of emotional intelligence in healthcare leadership  What leaders can do today to move their organizations toward predictive care If you're interested in the future of healthcare, leadership, artificial intelligence, and the human experience of medicine, this conversation is for you. Connect with Dr. Trevor Turner on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-turner-9778733/

What if burnout isn't simply a workload problem? In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Pelè sits down with physician, chef, regenerative organic farmer, and two-time New York Times bestselling author Dr. John La Puma to explore a surprising idea: many of the health challenges we blame on stress, aging, and burnout may actually be linked to the fact that modern humans spend approximately 93% of their lives indoors. Drawing from more than 2,000 scientific studies and the research behind his new book, Indoor Epidemic, Dr. La Puma explains how natural light, fresh air, distance, movement, and time in nature directly influence sleep, mood, memory, focus, cardiovascular health, and even leadership performance. They discuss: • Why "nature is not a luxury, it's a biological requirement" • The concept of "digital obesity" and pixel overload • How morning light impacts deep sleep and brain health • What healthcare organizations can learn from hospital design research • Why burnout may actually be a symptom of under-restoration • The surprising minimum effective dose of nature for better performance Whether you're a healthcare leader, executive, clinician, or simply someone who spends too much time in front of a screen, this conversation may change the way you think about productivity, wellness, and the environments we create for ourselves and others.

Healthcare professionals are some of the smartest people in the world. Yet burnout, frustration, and emotional exhaustion continue to drive talented clinicians away from the work they love. In this episode, Dr. Mickey Lebowitz, physician, emotional intelligence expert, and author of The EQ Prescription, explains why the real challenge in healthcare is not a lack of knowledge. It is learning how to manage ourselves when the pressure is highest. We explore Dr. Mickey's powerful concept of the Emotional Intelligence Zone, why leaders often struggle under stress, and practical techniques for staying grounded when the heat is on. If you've ever wondered why knowing better doesn't always lead to doing better, this conversation is for you. Connect with Dr. Mickey Lebowitz on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickey-lebowitz-2550b2156/

When patients leave the hospital, the healthcare journey is far from over. In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership in Healthcare, Dr. Pelè sits down with caregiver advocate and educator Lynnel Townsend to explore one of healthcare's most overlooked challenges: the invisible work of family caregiving. Drawing from years of professional caregiving experience and deeply personal stories, Lynnel explains how family caregivers often become an unseen extension of the healthcare system, providing around-the-clock care with little training, support, or preparation. She shares her concept of Caregiver Robotic Syndrome and highlights the emotional, physical, and psychological toll that caregiving can take when families are left to navigate complex healthcare needs on their own.  Together, they discuss: • Why family caregivers are often the hidden patient in the healthcare continuum  • The warning signs of caregiver burnout  • What happens after a patient is discharged home  • Why education and preparation are critical for caregiver success  • The communication gap between healthcare systems and family caregivers  • How families can share responsibility more effectively  • The role of personalized care plans and support systems in preventing burnout  • Why supporting caregivers ultimately improves patient outcomes and reduces readmissions  This conversation is a powerful reminder that healthcare does not end at discharge. Behind every patient receiving care at home is often a caregiver carrying an invisible burden that deserves recognition, support, and compassion. Lynnel Townsend is on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnel-townsend-73b07828b/

After 40 years as a pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Alan Cohen has seen some of medicine’s most extraordinary miracles and most heartbreaking moments. In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership in Healthcare, Dr. Pelè sits down with Dr. Cohen, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and author of Comfort Always: Healing in the Age of Technology, to explore a question healthcare must continue asking: As medicine advances, what must we never lose sight of about the human side of healing? Dr. Cohen shares gripping stories from a lifetime of caring for children and families facing the crisis of their lives, and reflects on the emotional realities of medicine that technology can never replace. In this conversation: • Why healing and treatment are not the same thing  • What patients remember long after the technology is forgotten  • How compassion shapes trust under pressure  • The emotional weight physicians carry in high-stakes medicine  • Why AI must never replace the patient-doctor relationship  • The simple human behaviors that patients remember forever One of the most memorable lines from this episode: “Technology treats the disease. Humanity heals the patient.” A powerful conversation about medicine, leadership, compassion, and the forgotten art of healing. Connect with Dr. Alan Cohen on LinkedIn: [ HERE ] Get his book, Comfort Always, on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fDhUpJ

Healthcare leadership often struggles when executives and clinicians operate in silos, each seeing the world through different pressures, priorities, and assumptions. In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership in Healthcare, Dr. Pelè sits down with Jill Bowen and Dr. Elisabeth Fontaine, co-founders of Let’s Lead LLC, to explore what it really takes to build trust, emotional intelligence, and alignment across healthcare teams. Drawing from their lived experience as a hospital CEO and physician leader, Jill and Elisabeth unpack why fear, hierarchy, silence, and “staying in your lane” often weaken collaboration, and how team coaching can create the psychological safety, vulnerability, and shared purpose needed for better outcomes. They also discuss emotional intelligence under pressure, why “soft skills” are often the missing infrastructure beneath performance, and how healthcare teams can move beyond chaos to become more human-centered, connected, and effective. In this episode: • why executive-clinician tension often starts long before conflict appears  • the hidden role of fear in healthcare team dynamics  • why vulnerability may be the key to stronger leadership teams  • emotional intelligence as a practical leadership tool, not just theory  • how team coaching helps organizations break silos and improve collaboration  • what patient-centered leadership looks like in a chaotic healthcare system  • real examples of trust, teamwork, and performance improvement in practice Connect with Let's Lead LLC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/letsleadllc/

What if healthcare systems have been optimizing the wrong thing? In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership in Healthcare, Dr. Pelè sits down with internationally recognized transplant surgeon, healthcare executive, and author Douglas Slakey to explore why great healthcare outcomes require more than clinical excellence and standardized systems. Drawing from more than 30 years in transplant surgery and healthcare leadership, Dr. Slakey explains why overly rigid processes often fail real people, and why healthcare leaders must begin designing systems that adapt to the realities of individual patients rather than forcing patients to adapt to the system. Together, they discuss: • why healthcare breaks down under pressure despite intelligent leadership  • the hidden limitations of standardization and process rigidity  • how social, economic, spiritual, and environmental realities shape patient outcomes  • why healthcare systems struggle with fragmentation and incentives misalignment  • the role of leadership flexibility in high-reliability organizations  • how AI and technology could enable truly personalized healthcare experiences  • the future of patient-centered healthcare through Dr. Slakey’s new venture, LifePath  • why the ultimate measure of success is not operational efficiency, but whether people can truly live better lives The episode closes with a powerful story from a transplant patient whose life was transformed 25 years after surgery, reminding us that the human side of healthcare leadership is ultimately about helping people live fully beyond the walls of the hospital. Connect with Dr. Douglas Slakey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-slakey-md/

We talk with Renee Thompson about why bullying and incivility in healthcare are not just culture issues, but patient safety risks. She shares how leaders unintentionally reinforce disruptive behavior, what actually happens in the moment when conflict is avoided, and how organizations can operationalize respect at scale. • why incivility has always impacted patient outcomes, even when ignored  • the hidden patterns leaders miss, including silence as a strategy  • short-term comfort vs. long-term cultural damage  • why high performers are often protected despite toxic behavior  • a simple in-the-moment technique to stop disruptive behavior immediately  • the role of awareness, scripting, and confidence in leadership action  • the three pillars of the Healthy Workforce Culture Framework™  • scaling culture change through systems, not just intention  • self-awareness as the starting point for any culture transformation Make sure you follow Renee Thompson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtconnections/