Culture Architects™ cover art

Culture Architects™

Culture Architects™

By: David J. Friedman
Listen for free

Most leaders know that a strong culture is a foundation for building a great organization, but great cultures don't just happen on their own. Rather, they're designed and built systematically, brick by brick. Each week, join David J. Friedman, the best-selling author of Culture by Design, as he speaks with extraordinary leaders, from all walks of life, and they share their biggest successes, failures, and lessons learned on their culture journeys. If you're searching for the best insights on building a high-performing culture, then Culture Architects, a production of CultureWise, is for you.Copyright CultureWise LLC Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 57. The Culture Behind the Numbers w/ Chris Powell

    57. The Culture Behind the Numbers w/ Chris Powell
    Aug 3 2026
    In a business built around claims, revenue, and operational precision, Chris Powell believes culture still has to start with people.

    In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman speaks with Chris Powell, CEO of Prosperity Behavioral Health, a revenue cycle management company serving behavioral health clinics. Chris shares how his career in healthcare technology and leadership shaped his belief that even in highly numbers-driven environments, culture cannot be treated as an afterthought.

    David and Chris discuss the culture behind the numbers: the trust, clarity, follow-through, transparency, and humility that help teams perform at a higher level. Chris also explains why Prosperity is working to see beyond the claim itself and focus on the patient journey, connecting back-office work to the larger purpose of helping behavioral health providers expand care.

    Together, David and Chris explore what it means to build culture as a system, one that helps people grow personally, professionally, and financially while creating stronger results for the organization.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • 56. Giving Employees Their Brains Back w/ Ron Lovett

    56. Giving Employees Their Brains Back w/ Ron Lovett
    Jul 13 2026
    What happens when a leader decides to give employees their brains back?

    In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman reconnects with entrepreneur, author, and fellow culture builder Ron Lovett. Ron is the founder of Source Security, the author of *Outrageous Empowerment* and *Scaling Culture*, and the founder of VIDA Living, a community-oriented affordable housing company based in Canada.

    David and Ron explore Ron’s unconventional approach to building decentralized organizations with fewer layers, more ownership, and greater trust in frontline decision-making. Ron shares how removing middle management in his security company helped unlock engagement, innovation, and accountability, and how those same ideas now shape VIDA Living’s model of empowering building ambassadors within affordable housing communities.

    The conversation covers the difference between low-risk and high-risk decisions, why rules often weaken adult responsibility, and how leaders can create frameworks that help people think rather than simply comply. Ron also shares how VIDA is integrating AI at the grassroots level while continuing to invest deeply in communication, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building.

    Together, David and Ron offer a lively, practical conversation about empowerment, decentralization, culture, leadership, and what it really takes to build organizations where people are trusted to act like adults.
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • 55. How Conversational Debt Sabotages Your Company’s Culture w/ Gustavo Rizzetti

    55. How Conversational Debt Sabotages Your Company’s Culture w/ Gustavo Rizzetti
    Jun 22 2026
    What happens when talented people and great ideas are trapped inside a culture that does not allow them to thrive?

    In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman speaks with Gustavo Razzetti, CEO of Fearless Culture and author of Forward Talk: The Bold New Method for Getting Teams Unstuck. Gustavo shares how his career in advertising, innovation, and organizational leadership led him to recognize that many companies do not suffer from a lack of talent or ideas. They lack the cultural conditions needed to put those strengths to work.

    David and Gustavo explore how leaders can intentionally shape culture without ignoring the unwritten norms already influencing their organizations. Gustavo explains his Culture Design Canvas, a framework built around alignment, belonging, and collaboration, and discusses why culture must be understood as a living system rather than a set of aspirational values.

    The conversation also examines what Gustavo calls “conversation debt,” the accumulating cost of problems, tensions, and disagreements that teams avoid addressing. He shares why even psychologically safe workplaces can struggle with silence, how leaders can approach difficult conversations with greater curiosity and vulnerability, and why speaking honestly only matters when people feel heard.

    Together, David and Gustavo offer a practical and candid look at the conversations, behaviors, and systems that help teams move forward.
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.