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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 Effective Altruism Forum, explores how moral understanding evolves and how societies gradually expand their consideration of the rights and well-being of others. Historical examples of institutional wrongdoing, systemic obedience, and abuses of authority also reveal how social environments, cultural expectations, and power structures can influence individual decision-making. But can understanding the ethical failures of the past help us build a more compassionate, responsible, and inclusive future? This week on Let's Have This Conversation, host Kevin McShan welcomes Trent Whippler, educator, historian, storyteller, and author of the debut novel Resolver, for a thought-provoking conversation about the intersection of history, human psychology, morality, and the transformative power of storytelling. With degrees in Education and Arts and a Master's in Military History, Trent has dedicated much of his professional life to helping students understand the complexities of historical events, human behavior, and the moral dilemmas that have shaped civilizations. His fascination with history extends beyond dates, battles, and political movements. Trent is particularly interested in understanding why people make the decisions they do, how individuals respond to authority, and what happens when personal convictions collide with powerful institutions and competing beliefs. For Trent, creative writing became a natural extension of his passion for education and historical exploration. His debut novel, Resolver, represents the realization of a lifelong ambition to combine his historical knowledge, understanding of human psychology, and creative imagination into a compelling work of fiction. Through a narrative exploring the boundaries of belief, the consequences of power, and the complexities of human nature, Resolver invites readers to question their assumptions about morality, responsibility, and the forces that influence society. During our conversation, we explore how historical fiction and imaginative storytelling can challenge conventional thinking, encourage critical reflection, and create opportunities for meaningful discussions about difficult ethical questions. We also discuss the importance of education in developing independent thinkers, the relationship between history and contemporary society, and why understanding different perspectives is essential to navigating an increasingly complex world. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Trent lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, with his wife and their two beloved cats. His home provides a welcoming environment for reflection, creativity, and the continued pursuit of his passion for writing. In this episode, we explore: At its heart, this conversation is about more than a novel. It's an exploration of how our understanding of history influences our present decisions and how the stories we tell can inspire us to examine the future we want to create. Can we truly understand where humanity is going without first confronting the decisions, beliefs, and moral contradictions that shaped where we've been? Join Kevin McShan and Trent Whippler for an engaging discussion about history, ethical leadership, moral psychology, creative writing, and the power of literature to challenge perspectives and inspire meaningful conversations. Discover how Resolver brings history and imagination together to explore a future that is both unsettling and captivating. Listen to this episode of Let's Have This Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.     For More Information: https://trentwhippler.ca/ Get the Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Resolver-Rebirth-Trent-Whippler/dp/1067862803 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 time in their messaging to reach larger audiences and break through a potential economic slowdown. Furthermore, 52% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) outsource their marketing efforts to an external agency, according to data from a study of U.S. SMBs conducted by vcita. But does successful small-business marketing require bigger teams, more employees and constant expansion? Joel Miller has spent 17 years proving there may be another way. Joel runs boutique marketing agency The Sky Floor alongside his identical twin brother, Alan. During nearly two decades in business, they have never hired a single employee—and that isn't a weakness in their business model. It's intentional. While entrepreneurs are frequently encouraged to scale faster, hire more people and continually chase growth, Joel and Alan have built their agency around a different philosophy: stay small on purpose, work with the right clients, create meaningful value and charge based on outcomes rather than hours. In this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, Joel Miller joins Kevin McShan for an in-depth discussion about the future of small-business marketing, why some companies struggle to understand their own business model, and why clarity may be one of the most valuable competitive advantages an entrepreneur can possess. Joel explains why effective marketing isn't simply about producing more content or chasing the latest marketing trend. For organizations ranging from churches and ministries to retail brands and small businesses competing online, sustainable marketing begins with clarity of message, quality of execution and outcomes that matter. We also explore Joel's philosophy of identifying recurring problems in your target market and finding ways to add greater value. When businesses become exceptionally good at solving the problems their customers actually care about, they can strengthen their positioning, increase the value of their services and potentially move beyond competing primarily on price. The conversation also examines value-based pricing, boutique agency growth, marketing outsourcing, customer relationships, entrepreneurship, business-model clarity, sustainable growth and how small businesses can differentiate themselves in increasingly crowded markets. Joel also shares lessons from nearly two decades of working alongside his identical twin brother and explains why sometimes the smartest way to grow a business isn't to become bigger—it's to become clearer about who you serve, what problems you solve and why the outcomes you create matter.   For more information: https://www.theskyfloor.com/ Discover More: https://www.theskyfloor.com/AccidentallySuccessful/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 caregiving. The Caregiver’s Journey is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Alzheimer’s and other dementia family caregivers with the knowledge, practical resources, and support they need to handle everyday caregiving challenges with greater confidence, patience, and peace of mind. Through podcasts, blogs, social media, guides, workbooks, professional speaking, and candid conversations about both the rewarding and difficult sides of caregiving, The Caregiver’s Journey provides direct, specific, and actionable guidance. Its goal is to help caregivers move from feeling frustrated and overwhelmed to feeling informed, prepared, and supported. Nancy Treaster, CSA, CCC™, co-founder of The Caregiver’s Journey, brings a unique combination of executive leadership experience, formal caregiving training, and deeply personal experience to this mission. Before dedicating her work to supporting caregivers, Nancy was a software industry executive and served as General Manager of Strategic Operations at Verint Systems. At the same time, she experienced the realities of family caregiving firsthand, supporting her father through Parkinson’s disease, her father-in-law through Alzheimer’s disease, and her husband through Frontotemporal Dementia. Today, as a Certified Caregiving Consultant and experienced speaker, Nancy uses those lessons to provide families with the frank, compassionate, and practical guidance she wishes she had received during her own caregiving journey. Nancy also serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Gerontology Society and the board of advisors for the Beyond Dementia Coalition. She contributes to the Community Advisory Boards of the NIH Open Measurement Network Initiative for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (OMNI ADRD) and Dr. Emily L. Mroz’s Frost Lab at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. In this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, we explore the realities families face when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, the difficult conversations caregivers need to have, and how families can make thoughtful decisions while preserving dignity, connection, and quality of life. We also discuss the emotional weight of caregiving, recognizing when living independently may no longer be safe, finding moments of joy throughout the journey, and why caregivers need support just as much as the people they care for. Because caregiving isn’t simply about managing a diagnosis. It’s about caring for a human being—and finding the knowledge, patience, compassion, and support necessary to navigate the journey together.     For more Information: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/   LinkedIn: @Nancy Treaster, CSA, CCC         Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 create workplaces where people can thrive psychologically while performing at their best? Dr. Ashley Smith believes it starts with learning how to master one of our most powerful—and sometimes limiting—forces: our own minds. Dr. Ashley Smith is a licensed psychologist, speaker, author, and co-founder of Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength. With more than 20 years of experience specializing in anxiety, mindset, and human behavior, she helps individuals, leaders, and organizations understand how our minds can deceive us, reinforce negative thinking, magnify fear, and convince us to play smaller than our potential. Her message is simple but powerful: Your mind will hold you back—if you let it. Dr. Ashley doesn't just study what it takes to push beyond limitations—she lives it. Born with a rare visual impairment that makes her legally and increasingly blind, she knows firsthand the difference between the limitations life gives us and the limitations our minds can create. By combining behavioral science, brain science, storytelling, and practical strategies, Dr. Ashley teaches people how to train their minds to work for them rather than against them—developing the courage, resilience, psychological flexibility, and mental strength required to live boldly and perform at their peak. Through Peak Mind, Dr. Ashley and her team are also challenging the traditional workplace wellness model. Rather than relying on temporary motivation or “feel-good” initiatives, they focus on building psychological strength: practical, evidence-based skills that support mental health, authentic leadership, resilience, and sustained performance. In this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, Dr. Ashley and Kevin McShan explore the connection between psychological safety, employee well-being, leadership, resilience, anxiety, mindset, and organizational performance. They examine why thriving people are essential to building thriving organizations—and what leaders can do to create environments where people feel safe enough to contribute, courageous enough to challenge themselves, and supported enough to reach their potential. Because breaking through limitations isn't always about changing what's happening around us. Sometimes, it begins by changing the relationship we have with the thoughts happening within us.   For more Information: https://www.drashleysmith.com/ LinkedIn: @Dr.AshleySmith    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 explored that question from a more extraordinary perspective than Dr. Subodh Verma. After opening more than 6,000 human chests during his career as a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Verma says one of the greatest lessons the heart has taught him has little to do with surgery. It is about what it means to be human—and why resilience, equity, compassion and interdependence are essential to our collective ability to thrive. Dr. Verma is a cardiac surgeon, scientist and professor at the University of Toronto, a Canada Research Chair, and one of the world’s top 1% most-cited researchers. Over three decades, his work has helped advance cardiovascular medicine, including landmark global research involving heart failure and GLP-1 therapies. His contributions have also earned major honours from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons. Yet some of his most powerful lessons extend far beyond the operating room. His TEDx message exploring what thousands of human hearts can teach us about resilience, equity, interdependence and rising together has generated more than 70 million views across Instagram and digital platforms, resonating with people far beyond the medical community. In this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, Dr. Verma joins Kevin McShan to explore why breakthroughs are rarely solitary, why resilience requires connection, and why equity may be more than a social ideal—it may be fundamental to how human beings survive and thrive together. They also examine the intersection of cutting-edge medicine and humanity, the future of cardiovascular health, and what decades spent caring for the human heart have taught Dr. Verma about leadership, compassion and our responsibility to believe in one another. Because sometimes the greatest thing we can offer another human being isn't a solution. It's the belief that they can rise.   For more Information: https://drsubodhverma.com/ Email: [email protected] TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqY9R6RGoiw&t=24s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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% roughly a year earlier. As AI continues to reshape the modern workforce, one question becomes increasingly important: How can job seekers leverage artificial intelligence to gain a competitive advantage without sacrificing authenticity, professional identity, or human connection? Carrie Christiano, founder of Empower Career Studio, is a professional résumé writer, career coach, and former recruiting and talent acquisition professional who helps individuals navigate career transitions with confidence, clarity, and smarter job search strategies. As the author of EMPOWER Your Job Search with AI: A Future-Ready Strategy for Advancing Your Career, Carrie introduces a practical seven-step framework designed to help experienced professionals take greater control of their career development. Her EMPOWER framework helps job seekers: During this episode of Let's Have This Conversation, Carrie joins host Kevin McShan to explore how artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude can help professionals strengthen their job search, optimize their résumés, improve LinkedIn visibility, prepare for interviews, and make more confident career decisions. The conversation also examines the importance of networking, personal branding, and maintaining an authentic professional voice in an increasingly competitive, technology-driven employment landscape. Whether you're actively searching for a job, considering a career change, returning to the workforce, or looking to future-proof your professional development, this conversation offers practical insights into using AI as a strategic career partner rather than a replacement for human judgment. The future of career advancement isn't simply about using artificial intelligence. It's about knowing how to combine emerging technology with your unique skills, experience, and professional relationships to create meaningful opportunities. Listen now to discover how to take control of your career journey and navigate the AI-powered job market with greater confidence.   For more information: https://empowercareerstudio.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 gaming industry evolves, where will the next generation of innovation—and investment—come from? On this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, I sit down with Ivan Marchand, President and Co-founder of Gamevestor, a regulated European crowdinvesting platform designed to open video game financing opportunities to individual investors while helping independent studios access the capital they need to bring new games to market. Before launching Gamevestor, Ivan spent more than 15 years building and scaling digital businesses across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including roles at Google, Amazon and Electronic Arts. His career has existed at the intersection of platform growth, strategic partnerships, revenue ownership, gaming, technology and entrepreneurship. At Gamevestor, Ivan has helped build the business from the ground up, raising more than €1 million and reviewing more than 400 game studio applications while developing a new approach to connecting investors with early-stage opportunities in the global gaming market. During our conversation, we explore the economics behind the video game industry, the challenges independent studios face when trying to secure funding, what investors should understand about financing video games, and why a bigger development budget doesn't necessarily guarantee a bigger return. We also discuss what Ivan learned during his time at some of the world's largest technology and gaming companies, what it takes to scale a digital platform, how strategic partnerships drive sustainable growth, and how crowdinvesting could reshape the relationship between game developers, investors and players. As gaming continues to mature into one of the world's most significant entertainment industries, this conversation examines an important question: Could opening access to video game investment help fund the industry's next generation of great ideas?   For more Information: https://www.gamevestor.co/ LinkedIn: @Ivan Marchand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 organizational performance are interconnected. This week on Let’s Have This Conversation, I was joined by Liz Watt, an author, speaker, holistic wellness expert, and co-founder of Be Healthy Utah. Liz believes true success is holistic. When people feel well, think clearly, and live with purpose, they are better positioned to become stronger leaders, healthier employees, more engaged family members, and more impactful contributors to their communities. As organizations continue to navigate burnout, stress, disengagement, and rising healthcare costs, workplace wellness can no longer simply be viewed as an employee benefit. It is also a conversation about resilience, productivity, leadership, culture, and sustainable human performance. Liz’s work is grounded in helping people connect mind, body, and purpose. Through corporate keynotes, employee wellness workshops, executive wellness sessions, and the Be Healthy Utah Natural Health & Wellness Conference, she provides practical education designed to help people make lasting changes in their lives. One idea from our conversation particularly resonated with me: Life is not just about education. It is about learning, experience, and what we choose to do with both. When we intentionally apply what we have learned, we gain the opportunity to change lives—starting with our own. Organizations can invest in technology, strategy, infrastructure, and innovation. But ultimately, people are responsible for bringing all of those investments to life. Investing in their holistic well-being means investing in their capacity to think, contribute, adapt, lead, and thrive. Healthy people. Stronger leaders. More resilient teams. Thriving organizations. Liz joined me this week on Let’s Have This Conversation to tell me more.   For more information: https://www.behealthyutah.com/ Discover More: https://www.elizabethannwatt.com/ Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-healthy-naturally/id1473357062 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 bankruptcy filings increased 7.1%, rising from 23,107 to 24,737, while non-business filings climbed 11.2% to 549,577, compared with 494,201 in December 2024. While bankruptcy filings remain well below their historical highs—including nearly 1.6 million filings in 2010—they have increased every quarter since reaching a low of 380,634 in June 2022. So, what do these numbers tell us about the financial pressures facing individuals, families, and businesses? And when someone finds themselves overwhelmed by debt, how can bankruptcy become part of a broader conversation about rebuilding rather than simply financial failure? On this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, I’m joined by Chad Van Horn, Esq., a South Florida attorney, entrepreneur, business leader, and philanthropist committed to helping people navigate financial challenges and create a path forward. Chad is the founder of Van Horn Law Group, P.A., one of South Florida’s leading bankruptcy law firms. Beyond his legal practice, he has been involved in developing startup ventures that contribute to the local economy and has served his community through organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. Throughout his career, Chad has built his philosophy around the importance of relationships, shared values, and connecting people with the resources and individuals who can help them succeed. As Chad says: “It’s always better to have a team pulling together than to try to go it alone. However, you need to have the right team with shared values to achieve your true aspirations.” During our conversation, we explore what the continued rise in bankruptcy filings says about today’s financial environment, the misconceptions surrounding bankruptcy, why financial hardship shouldn’t eliminate someone’s opportunity to rebuild, and how individuals and business owners can make more informed decisions when debt becomes overwhelming. We also discuss Chad’s journey as an attorney and entrepreneur, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, how relationships can accelerate personal and professional growth, and why helping people regain a sense of possibility can be just as important as solving the immediate financial problem. This conversation goes beyond bankruptcy law. It’s about financial resilience, second chances, entrepreneurship, relationships, leadership, and creating a roadmap forward when circumstances become difficult.   For more information: https://www.vanhornlawgroup.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Margaret Buj, an interview coach and international recruiter who helps professionals communicate their value clearly, confidently, and convincingly so they can pursue the roles they truly want. Since beginning her recruitment career in 2005, Margaret has worked with thousands of job seekers across the UK, Europe, the United States, and beyond—from ambitious graduates to senior managers and C-suite executives. She has also personally coached more than 1,000 job seekers, helping them strengthen their positioning, improve their LinkedIn profiles and résumés, prepare for high-stakes interviews, and develop more effective job-search strategies. What makes Margaret’s perspective particularly valuable is that she understands both sides of the hiring table. She knows how organizations assess talent—and where highly qualified candidates can struggle to communicate the value they bring. Her work sits at the intersection of hiring, professional positioning, and interview strategy, helping companies build stronger teams while helping professionals compete more effectively for the right opportunities. Margaret’s career advice has been featured in Forbes, the Financial Times, Business Insider, The Guardian, Fox Business, CIO Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and other leading publications. She has also been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice. Margaret joined me for an in-depth conversation about: • Building a more intentional job-search strategy • Positioning yourself effectively on LinkedIn and through your résumé • Preparing to communicate with confidence during interviews • Understanding what recruiters and hiring managers are really evaluating • Standing out when competing against other highly qualified candidates • Turning your experience into a compelling professional value proposition Your qualifications may open the door. Your ability to articulate their value can determine what happens once you walk through it. Tune in to this insightful conversation with Margaret Buj on Let’s Have This Conversation.   For more information: https://interview-coach.co.uk/ LinkedIn: @Margaret Buj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 an international speaker, fitness industry leader, corporate culture specialist, and founder of O’Grady Consulting. She is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to pursue attainable wellness goals that contribute to healthier, more engaged, motivated, and sustainable workplace cultures. Robin believes wellness doesn't have to be complicated. Through simple strategies and actionable tools, she helps organizations make well-being achievable and accessible while strengthening employee engagement, team motivation, productivity, and connection. Drawing from her diverse experience as an operations director, fitness industry leader, dance instructor, and aerialist, Robin brings energy, authenticity, and practical insight to conversations about what it takes to create environments where people can thrive. During our conversation, we explore the relationship between employee well-being and workplace culture, why organizations should think more strategically about wellness, and how leaders can move beyond short-term wellness initiatives toward sustainable practices that become embedded in the everyday employee experience. We also discuss the connection between personal wellness and professional performance, the importance of setting attainable goals, what leaders can do to reignite engagement and motivation, and why sustainable organizational change often begins with giving people practical tools they can actually use. Outside of her professional work, Robin enjoys dancing, group fitness, aerial arts, and—just for fun—doing handstands. Based in Calgary with her husband and two boys, she brings her belief in balance and sustainable wellness into both her professional and personal life. Robin O’Grady joined me this week to explore how organizations can close the gap between talking about employee well-being and making it a meaningful part of workplace culture—and why helping people thrive can ultimately help organizations thrive.   LinkedIn: @RobinO'Grady Email: [email protected] 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 an international speaker, fitness industry leader, corporate culture specialist, and founder of O’Grady Consulting. She is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to pursue attainable wellness goals that contribute to healthier, more engaged, motivated, and sustainable workplace cultures. Robin believes wellness doesn't have to be complicated. Through simple strategies and actionable tools, she helps organizations make well-being achievable and accessible while strengthening employee engagement, team motivation, productivity, and connection. Drawing from her diverse experience as an operations director, fitness industry leader, dance instructor, and aerialist, Robin brings energy, authenticity, and practical insight to conversations about what it takes to create environments where people can thrive. During our conversation, we explore the relationship between employee well-being and workplace culture, why organizations should think more strategically about wellness, and how leaders can move beyond short-term wellness initiatives toward sustainable practices that become embedded in the everyday employee experience. We also discuss the connection between personal wellness and professional performance, the importance of setting attainable goals, what leaders can do to reignite engagement and motivation, and why sustainable organizational change often begins with giving people practical tools they can actually use. Outside of her professional work, Robin enjoys dancing, group fitness, aerial arts, and—just for fun—doing handstands. Based in Calgary with her husband and two boys, she brings her belief in balance and sustainable wellness into both her professional and personal life. Robin O’Grady joined me this week to explore how organizations can close the gap between talking about employee well-being and making it a meaningful part of workplace culture—and why helping people thrive can ultimately help organizations thrive.   LinkedIn: @RobinO'Grady Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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., SPHR, an employment attorney, award-winning speaker, author, executive coach, and senior People and Culture leader. Drawing on experience across academia, technology, law enforcement, and highly regulated industries—including roles with Stanford University and the United States Capitol Police—Natalie brings a practical perspective on inclusive leadership, organizational culture, and HR compliance. Natalie approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion as a leadership and accountability discipline embedded in everyday decisions. Her work connects organizational trust, legal risk, and employee performance, helping leaders build systems designed to withstand regulatory scrutiny, leadership transitions, and external pressure. Her career results include increasing applicant flow by 82%, increasing hiring of underrepresented talent in technology by 23%, and increasing hiring of women in a law enforcement agency by 15%. She has also delivered court-ordered compliance training and built succession planning, employee relations, and performance management frameworks across industries. In this conversation, we explore: • How inclusive leadership translates into everyday workplace practices. • Why accountability matters when building employee trust . • How organizations can connect HR compliance with a stronger workplace culture. • What it takes to attract talent and develop future leaders. • How executive coaching helps turn professional potential into meaningful impact. If you’re an executive, HR professional, people manager, or emerging leader, this episode offers a fresh perspective on building an organization where people and performance can thrive. What’s one action leaders can take to make employees feel valued? Share your perspective in the comments, and subscribe to Let’s Have This Conversation for more conversations on leadership, inclusion, and positive change.   For more information: https://natalieholderspeaks.com/NatalieHolderSpeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 leadership continues to highlight the importance of empathy, authenticity, communication, and meaningful connection. On this episode of Let’s Have This Conversation, I sit down with Nathalie Blais, Founder and CEO of Coach Academy, TEDx speaker, and ICF Master Certified Coach, to explore a powerful premise: connection is not an assumption; it is a skill. At a time when communication can feel increasingly reactive and transactional, Nathalie challenges us to rethink how influence is built, how people create meaningful change, and why coaching skills are ultimately connection skills. For Nathalie, coaching isn't about fixing people or simply telling them what to do. It's about creating the conditions for insight, responsibility, growth, inclusion, and meaningful exchange. Her philosophy positions coaching as a language leaders can use to deepen relationships and create sustainable change across organizations, cultures, and systems. Nathalie brings extensive experience to this conversation, including more than 50,000 hours in facilitation, learning design, research, and education development. She has designed multiple ICF-accredited coach education programs and trained thousands of leaders and coaches around the world. Her research explores the deeply human forces that shape how we relate to one another—including fear, motivation, grief, compassion, and connection. Her forthcoming 2027 book examines why human-centered connection may become an even more critical capability as automation and artificial intelligence reshape how we live and work. Throughout our conversation, we explore the ROI of executive coaching, human-centered leadership, authentic influence, emotional intelligence, inclusion, organizational change, and the skills leaders will need to remain distinctly human in an AI-driven world. If connection can be learned, strengthened, and practiced, the question for every leader becomes: How intentionally are you developing it?   For More Information: https://canadacoachacademy.com/ Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/connection-experiment-by-coach-academy/id1708030774 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, experimental music, and Americana. But the most powerful story Ezra has to share isn't simply found in a song. It's found in the life he had to reconstruct. Ezra is now 13 years sober. His journey has included addiction, depression, a felony DWI, divorce, and the unraveling of the identity and life he once knew. Recovery required him to rebuild much more than his sobriety. He had to rediscover discipline, repair relationships, reconnect with family, reclaim his creativity, and redefine his sense of purpose. That rebuilding process eventually became Morning & Midnight—an expansive creative project consisting of two albums, a book, and original artwork created during the recording process. The project also became a family affair, featuring vocals from his daughter Cozi, editing contributions from his son, appearances from Paco Estrada, and flamenco guitar from legendary guitar technician Rene Martinez. However, today's conversation goes beyond the music. We're talking about collapse, recovery, restoration, and what sustainable change actually looks like when life forces you to start over. Ezra and I explore how failure can redefine our understanding of success, why creative blocks can sometimes signal personal misalignment rather than a lack of talent, and why lasting transformation requires something deeper than temporary motivation. We also explore how creativity can help us make sense of experiences that don't fit neatly into categories. Ezra's songwriting reflects the entire spectacle of being human—marriage and divorce, children and parents, heartbreak and loneliness, addiction and recovery, faith and spirituality, nature, love, failure, and hope. Because life doesn't fit neatly into one genre—and neither does recovery. When everything you thought defined you disappears, how do you rebuild a life that is not simply successful, but sustainable, meaningful, and authentically yours? Let's have this conversation with Ezra Vancil.   For more information: https://ezravancil.com/ Instagram: @ezravancil Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 themselves, influence others, navigate change, and build organizations where people can flourish. Melissa is a scholar-practitioner, change theorist, international bestselling author, keynote speaker, executive coach, and organizational culture advisor. Her work bridges psychology, leadership development, organizational culture, change theory, human behavior, and whole-person development to help leaders move beyond surface-level solutions and create sustainable transformation. According to Gartner research, 90% of HR leaders believe that focusing on the human aspects of leadership is necessary for success in today's workplace. Yet recognizing the importance of human-centered leadership and consistently putting it into practice are two very different things. Melissa's work addresses that gap through Connection-Centered Leadership™ and her Integrative Transformation Blueprint™, a research-informed approach built around three stages: Awareness → Connection → Movement The framework challenges leaders to examine not only what they are building, but what they are building on. Sustainable organizational change requires understanding the underlying beliefs, relationships, behaviors, and informal systems influencing how people communicate, collaborate, make decisions, and respond to change. Throughout our conversation, we explore why leadership begins long before someone receives a title, how self-awareness influences organizational culture, and why meaningful connection can become a catalyst for stronger leadership and sustainable change. We also examine Melissa's concept of radical kindness and why kindness, connection, and human-centered leadership should not be confused with avoiding accountability. Instead, they can help create the conditions for trust, honest communication, meaningful relationships, and transformational performance. Melissa shares insights from her work across executive advisory, leadership and culture consulting, speaking, workshops, retreats, and author development through The Muse & The Method™. In This Conversation, We Explore: At its core, this conversation asks leaders to consider a powerful question: What are you building—and what are you building it on? For executives, HR professionals, people leaders, entrepreneurs, organizational development professionals, and anyone interested in the future of work, this episode offers a deeper examination of how connection-centered and human-centered leadership can create sustainable transformation from the inside out.   For more information: https://www.thesagehillproject.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices