All People Podcast

Do you want to build an irresistible culture that drives results? Culture is what employees are attracted to. It’s why they choose to work for you or why they choose to leave you. Positive cultures promote innovation, collaboration, communication, productivity, etc. Many studies will prove that positive and inclusive cultures are more successful and engaging.

Lyndsay Dowd, founder of Heartbeat for Hire and author of Top Down Culture: Revolutionizing Leadership to Drive Results, is passionate about helping leaders create irresistible cultures. Lyndsay shares how asking for feedback from your team can be a good first step to improving the culture. Lyndsay teaches us the importance of being a heart-centered leader. Lyndsay tells leaders how to develop their power skills. Lyndsay shares more about the release of her book Top Down Culture: Revolutionizing Leadership to Drive Results. Listen to Lyndsay to learn all about improving your culture, becoming a heart-centered leader, her Heartbeat For Hire podcast, her new book and more.

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Did you know that improv can improve your leadership and communication skills? Many of the tools used in improv can help you to become a better leader. Improv also can be a really great team-building activity to foster a culture of trust and inclusivity.

Caitlin Drago, Owner of Inspire Improv & Coaching Inc., is passionate about helping leaders and teams to communicate, collaborate and succeed by using the improv approach. Caitlin shares how active listening can improve communication. Caitlin teaches us how the improv approach can create psychologically safe and inclusive work environments. Caitlin tells us how both employees and leaders can use the tools they learned from the improv approach to have better interactions at work and home. Caitlin shares more about the release of her upcoming book Approaching Improv. Listen to Caitlin to learn all about the improv approach and how it can help you to become a stronger leader, better communicator and increase innovation.

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Do you want to change the intonation of your voice? Are you transitioning to your true gender and need help changing your voice to match? Are you an actor who needs help honing your accent? No matter what reason you have for wanting to learn more about your voice and how to change parts of it, the only one that matters is because YOU want to change it for yourself!

Ariela Quetant, Owner of Sound Your Best, is passionate about speech, language and vocals while also being their authentic self. Ariela shares how to help you refine your speaking style. Ariela teaches us the importance of verbal communication and body language. Ariela tells us to improve our confidence through speech. Ariela teaches us about intonation and vocal chords. Listen to Ariela to learn all about Sound Your Best and speech coaching.

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How do we improve DEI in STEM in higher education? Let’s start by understanding whose perspectives get centered. Rather than focusing on the deficits of what marginalized groups don’t have, let’s focus on the assets they do have. We need to shift the ideas of who is a good scientist. It’s also about brave individuals paving the way for others who look like them by being the first, the few or the only because representation matters.

Nicollette Mitchell, geologist and doctoral student, is passionate about DEI in STEM in higher education. Nicollette shares more on justice and equity in higher education. Nicollette teaches us the importance of citational justice. Nicollette tells us about her soon-to-be published ebook. Listen to Nicollette to learn all about DEI in higher education.

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How do we encourage entrepreneurship? We are constantly encouraging people to become an employee, urging them to pick a career and an ideal company to work for. But this country was born on entrepreneurship. Let’s encourage entrepreneurship by adding curriculum to our school systems, fostering a culture of ideas at all ages and helping those dreamers to succeed.

David Morales, author of American Familia, is passionate about entrepreneurship and fostering a learning environment that helps to encourage entrepreneurship. David shares how important culture is and how frequently it needs to be reviewed. David teaches us the importance of entrepreneurship. David tells us about his book American Familia. Listen to David to learn all about entrepreneurship and culture.

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Are you cultivating your company’s culture? As you begin to focus on your company’s culture, you must also focus on diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging. Culture and DEIB are connected and intertwined with one another throughout your organization. Your culture should be present in your mission, vision and values. It’s about listening to your employees' voice, the way you treat them and meeting them where they are at.

Tiffany Castagno, Founder & Owner of Cultivating the Evolution of Professional HR (CEPHR), helps companies to better understand their culture. Tiffany explains how DEIB and culture are linked. Tiffany shares how active listening offers significant value throughout your organization. Tiffany teaches us the importance of change management. Tiffany expresses her passion for creating people-first environments and moving the evolution of HR forward. Tiffany is a proud partner of hr-4u inc. Listen to Tiffany to learn all about culture, DEIB and active listening.

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Are you focusing on DEI in hiring? As you look to hire new talent in your organization, you must also focus on diversity, equality and inclusion. Do you have diversity in your hiring practices? Do you provide pay equality? Do you have an inclusive culture? DEI in hiring is more than just checking off boxes when you reach the desired numbers. It’s about committing to a culture that affords inclusivity, that provides fair and equitable wages and that is genuinely diverse. 

Desiree Goldey, Director, Talent Operations & Culture at Hub Recruiting, helps companies understand diversity, equality and inclusion, particularly in hiring. Desiree explains how to effectively implement a DEI framework into your hiring process. Desiree shares how active listening offers significant value in implementing DEI. Desiree teaches us how creating an actionable plan is impactful. Desiree gives us the ROI of using a DEI framework to hire talent. Desiree expresses her passion for creating people-first environments. Desiree is a proud partner of hr-4u inc. Listen to Desiree to learn all about DEI in hiring and culture.

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Do you know what the lean business model is? Continuous improvement and respect for people are the foundation or pillars of lean. Lean is not only for manufacturing environments who are looking to increase value and minimize waste. Lean can be used in any organization to improve current processes, increase value and enhance purpose and engagement.

Sam Morgan, Founder of Illuminate Coaching & Consulting, explains how a lean business model can breathe new life into your obligatory meetings. Sam explains how the principles of lean can improve engagement, purpose and experience for employees. Sam shares the ways he has implemented these concepts into his corporate work and how his clients can add a lean mindset into theirs. Sam teaches heart-centered lean leaders how to thrive! Sam is passionate about creating people-first environments through his coaching and training and is a proud partner of hr-4u inc. Listen to Sam to learn all about lean, purpose-driven work, heart-centered leadership and empowering people to be their full selves.

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You can have everything you want, just not all at once! Understanding yourself requires you to do some deeper inner work in order to get to the root cause of your values, priorities and who you are. How do you better understand yourself and what you value without judgment? 

Dawnell Kelly, Strategic Leader and Mompreneur, helps individuals navigate the inner work that needs to be done to understand themselves better and to identify their values and priorities. Dawnell explains how to implement this in a company or in a family. Dawnell shares about her time working as a firefighter in the military. Dawnell teaches us how to look at ourselves and one another as a whole person. Dawnell gives us the tools to unravel our common threads throughout our life journey. Dawnell expresses her passion for creating people-first environments and the effectiveness of shorter workweeks. Dawnell is a proud partner of hr-4u inc. Listen to Dawnell to learn all about understanding yourself better, creating meaningful values, recognizing that you are many things to many people and putting people first.

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Being a better leader means understanding yourself. This requires each of us to look inside ourselves and really understand who we are and how we operate. Holding this mirror up to ourselves can mean we have to heal our inner child. It also means eliminating or reducing the feelings of self-sabotage that we feel and experience. This is conscious leadership. 

Janet Mohapi-Banks, of Janet Mohapi-Banks Conscious Consulting, explains how healing our inner child can improve many areas of our lives. Janet explains how to overcome self-sabotage and reminds us to give ourselves grace. Janet shares her beliefs on stakeholder versus shareholder capitalism. Janet teaches us that we are not just one thing or one person! Janet gives us insight into her book titled, Habits for Happiness. Janet is passionate about creating people-first environments through her conscious leadership training and is a proud partner of hr-4u inc. Listen to Janet to learn all about conscious leadership, healing our inner child, conscious communication and living wage employment.

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Are you demonstrating human-centered leadership? Leaders, if I asked you, what is your job, how would you answer? Would you begin by telling me all the tactical, functional things you do or would you tell me that you lead people? Human-centered leadership is about having a people first approach. 

Jason (Jay) Grooms, leadership consultant and people-first advocate, joined All People Podcast to discuss human-centered leadership, empathy and people over profits. Jay explains the importance of providing a people first leadership style and how to begin leading this way. Jay talks about unconscious biases and the importance of making resumes blind. Jay shares the value of meeting employees where they are at. Jay teaches us that speaking up takes courage and that ally voices need to be as loud or louder than those fighting against marginalized groups. Jay is passionate about micro-photography (the photographing of small items), especially flowers and bees. Jay is a member of hr-4u inc. Listen to Jay to learn all about kindness, compassion, human-centered leadership, people over profits and unconscious bias.

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Do you work in HR or People Ops and feel lonely? Do you feel like you are alone on an island? A supportive community with mentorship and coaching can help you! Jessica Baker, from The People Posse, joined All People Podcast to share how to improve mental and emotional health and well-being for people people. Jessica shares her journey as a Head of People Ops and how she felt alone in her role. She encourages real talk and hard truths. Jessica explains how to prepare to process negative feelings or emotions that arise at work. She shares how HR and People Ops people have trouble building relationships in their personal or work lives. Listen to Jessica to learn all about The People Posse and how you can stop feeling alone as an HR and People Ops professional.

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Are you looking to increase retention in your organization? Are you an individual looking to learn and earn at the same time? A Registered Apprenticeship through the Department of Labor could be the best opportunity for you! Cierra Mitchell, Division Director of the Office of Apprenticeship at the Department of Labor, joined All People Podcast to share all the benefits of implementing a Registered Apprenticeship program. Registered Apprenticeship programs allow employers to select an occupation and build a curriculum and on-the-job training plan for each cohort, in order to hire and retain talent. Apprentices usually have no experience in the occupation and are learning the educational and hands-on knowledge needed for the role. Listen to Cierra to learn all about how this program is funded and the impressive benefits that come with implementing it. Even learn about the time that Cierra met Michelle Obama.

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Are you a woman looking to untangle the knots at work and in your career? Wendy Hultmark, Founder of Wendy Hultmark Coaching, coaches women at all levels in their career to balance work and their career. She spent a lot of time working with executive women in this way, but has evolved her practice to supporting women at all levels. She remembers needing support early in her career and wants to provide that to those who also may need it. She works with clients to “unearth what’s preventing them from meeting their biggest, most audacious dreams.” Wendy provides 1:1 coaching funded by the individual or their employer.

Are you struggling with stress, burnout, overwhelm, perfectionism or imposter syndrome? You’re not alone. Karen Pambianchi, Founder of Swift Water Life Coach, covers all of these topics and more and how she coaches individuals to overcome these in their personal and professional lives. She provides group coaching which can improve communication, awareness and feedback. She works with companies to offer training, coaching and workshops to employees in these topics and many others. She also offers 1:1 coaching for clients. Karen encourages everyone to give themselves space to process and reflect.

Does your company offer a mentorship program? If not, you could be missing out on significant benefits for your employees and the organization! If so, is it structured in a way that is effective for the business need and the employee need? Jodi Petersen, Co-Founder of MentorStrat, shares the values of mentorship programs. Jodi tells us all about MentorStrat and why partnering with them to develop or enhance your mentor program is important. She explains the values of mentoring for an organization and also how mentoring benefits a mentor and the mentee. If your company doesn’t have a mentorship program, but you are looking to grow and develop, consider the MentorStrat Academy!

Are you providing a positive parental leave experience to your employees? Many organizations are not supporting their employees in making a parental leave experience fluid or positive. Amanda Hemm, Parental Leave Coach, joined All People Podcast to discuss how she supports organizations and new parents with parental leave by offering coaching to both sides. She coaches both parties by providing planning, support and education. She helps them develop a communication plan. She works with them to develop a pre-leave, during leave and post-leave plan that works for the employee and the company.

Do you understand radical leadership? Is your organization prioritizing anti-racism training and education? Kyle Cronk, CEO of South Sound YMCA, discusses his principles of what he calls Radical F*cking Leadership. He explains how company leaders should be raising the BAR, through Belonging, Achievement and Relationships. Kyle talks about how white, male, cisgendered leaders need to do better by doing more to support marginalized and oppressed groups. Kyle talks about his experiences with his own white privilege. He explains how he has diversified the board of his YMCA and how he changed foundational documents to ensure that there can never be an all white board again.

Does your company measure organizational health? Three areas of focus to measure organizational health include culture, health and finance. Wanido found that those three areas significantly improve an employee’s overall well-being and job performance. Calli Adamson Bakken, Director of Engagement of Wanido, shares how the platform helps improve organizational health. Do you want to increase productivity and profitability? Do you want to decrease turnover and absenteeism? Then Wanido could be the system for you. Wanido explains that companies must be employee centric for this platform to be the right solution for them. Calli talks about how Wanido communicates, educates and listens to employees to help improve your organizational health.

Is your company military ready? Your company might be using phrases like military friendly or veteran employer, but that doesn’t mean you are truly military ready. Matt Wood, Founder and Chief Headache Reducer of Suiting Green Consulting, shares how companies can start to become military ready. He recommends developing a military hiring strategy. Matt emphasizes the importance of retention and engagement. He suggests implementing ERGs and how they can be integral to your military hiring strategy. Matt discusses how remote work can be a good way to hire more military spouses. Learn more about Matt and his award-winning buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese recipe and how he has taken off in more planes than he has landed!

Are you struggling to retain talent? A talent listening strategy could be a good place to start making improvements. Implementing a talent listening strategy within your organization can be extremely beneficial in retaining talent, improving employee experience, enhancing culture and helping with buy-in. Devin Broadbent from HSD Metrics joins All People Podcast to discuss the importance of talent listening strategies. He shares information about the HSD Metrics solutions and how companies can use them. Devin provides insights on what the future of companies could look like and how the talent listening solutions offered by HSD Metrics can support these changes. Devin shares some of his personal experiences in acting and cracks a few jokes throughout the episode. He also makes a Matthew McConaughey reference!

Women career changers and ladder climbers, this episode is for you!

Tonya Montella, of Tonya Empowers, joins All People Podcast to discuss why she is passionate about empowering women. She provides guidance toward women who are corporate ladder climbers and career changers! She discusses the importance of developing a job search strategy and being recession-proof. Tonya encourages listeners to stand out among the other applicants in such a saturated job market. Tonya shares the importance of building a community of women who can mentor and support one another. We are stronger together!

What do you know about Generation X? Have you ever even heard of that generation? Sarah Blankenship of Gen X Nation, joins us to share more about Generation X and why she started Gen X Nation. She provides guidance to job seekers who are in Generation X and also provides tips for employers on how to support their employees. Listen to Sarah share the strengths of Gen X and why companies should hire candidates in that generation.

Is your organization struggling to hire talent? Your processes could be in your own way in terms of hiring talent. In this episode, A People Partner’s CEO, Alysa Southall, provides insight into how you can make changes to your job descriptions, job advertisements and hiring processes to provide a better candidate experience. She uses the information from her e-book The Secret Formula of Hiring Talent…It’s Not So Secret. Improve your hiring processes today!

Lead with empathy. Emily Morash, owner of Hampton Morash, LLC, joins All People Podcast to discuss mindful communication and why it’s important for company leaders to lead with empathy. Emily explains how leaders can make improvements in this area and acknowledges that mindful communication can be difficult. Emily shares a little about the 5 Chairs, 5 Choices model designed by Louise Evans and how the chairs function. Together we talk just a little bit about neurodiversity in the workplace and better understanding how to support your employees in the ways that they function best. To learn more about Emily and Hampton Morash, LLC, watch episode 3 or check out the show notes below.

People-first culture starts with listening to your employees. Chason Forehand, founder of hr-4u inc., joins All People Podcast to discuss people-first cultures and how employers can make changes to move toward having these types of cultures in their organization. Chason discusses how companies who pour into their people and listen to their people will see a huge return on investment (ROI). He talks about how positivity from leaders increases employee productivity. Together we discuss how employee experience is tied specifically to customer experience. To learn more about Chason and hr-4u inc. watch episode 2 or check out the show note links below.

Welcome to All People Podcast where we talk all people, all the time! We will discuss topics that are geared toward leaders, human resources and recruiting professionals, job seekers and hiring professionals.  

During our first episode, we discuss people-first cultures, people operations versus human resources and share what you can expect to hear from us in future episodes.  

Lead with empathy. Act with kindness.