Ever feel like life's flame is flickering out? Whether it's a bad day, a tough quarter, or a rocky relationship, what's your go-to lighter fluid to reignite your fire? 🔥

Nikki and David crack open the metaphorical bottle of lighter fluid and ask the real question: how do you keep your fire lit when everything around you says quit? From explosive fire pit confessions to real talk about parenting struggles, relationship lows, and business setbacks, this conversation pulls no punches.

You'll hear how David resets after gut-punch days, why Nikki finds power in celebrating the small wins, and how anchoring to your "why" can turn a smolder into a roaring comeback. They share actionable ways to reset, refuel, and rise, because the fire always dims, but it doesn't have to go out.

Additional Resources:

Follow Addicted to Betterment wherever you listen to podcasts!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Your fire will dim, expect it and prepare for it.
• Recenter on your "why" when motivation disappears.
• Intentional routines can shift your mindset quickly.
• Community is key, borrow belief from others.
• Celebrate progress, not just outcomes.

What if the real key to connection in the digital workplace isn't more tools, but more trust?

In a world obsessed with metrics, platforms, and productivity hacks, Andy Sitison flips the script. A strategist, designer, and people-first tech mind, Andy joins Nikki to explore how we move from clicks to true connection. 💡

Andy unveils his "Three Ps" framework, Population, Prompt, Product, and shows how empathy, when paired with intentional design and thoughtful data use, can create workplaces that actually feel human again. From overcoming the "digital veil" that clouds real connection to using AI to amplify rather than replace human insight, this episode challenges the way we approach employee experience, belonging, and meaningful work. 🧠💛

Whether you're rethinking hybrid culture, onboarding, or how to really listen to your people, this one will make you pause, reflect, and take action.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn

Learn more about Elemental Advising

Learn more about Share More Stories

Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Nikki's Key Takeaways:

• Technology doesn't create connection, people do.
• Trust unlocks honest and useful feedback.
• Know your people to serve them better.
• Data without empathy risks missing the human story.
• Surveys ask, stories reveal the real truth.

Episode Description:

What if wellness wasn't just a perk, but a leadership necessity?

In this Working Forward Conversations episode, Nikki Lewallen Gregory and Jason Cochran flip the script on workplace wellness, diving deep into why wellness is a non-negotiable requirement for modern leadership. From morning meditations and mid-day workouts to setting boundaries and asking for help, they share personal rituals and team-wide practices that fuel sustained capacity and impact. Get a behind-the-scenes of how People Forward Network lives out people-first values, with wellness baked into every level: micro (individual), mezzo (team), and macro (world-changing mission).

Whether you're burned out or building a better culture, this convo offers a fresh, energizing perspective on leading well by living well.

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Define wellness clearly for yourself and your organization.
• Micro habits shape sustained leadership and personal energy.
• Team rituals protect energy and promote shared accountability.
• Modeling self-care encourages psychological safety and trust.
• Wellness supports impact beyond profit.

What if the most powerful leadership skill isn't what you say, but what you don't?

Katherine shares a surprising truth: she struggles with listening, and she knows she's not alone. As leaders, we often think communication is about what we say, but the real power lies in what we hear. 👂💬

Katherine explores why listening is so hard (even for well-intentioned leaders), the hidden costs of distraction, and how our brains deceive us into thinking we're better at it than we are. Most importantly, she breaks down five practical shifts that will help you listen deeper, lead better, and connect more authentically.

If you want to build credibility, foster trust, and truly hear your people, start here.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Katherine Coble on LinkedIn

Learn more about Borshoff

Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Listening is a leadership skill, not just a courtesy.
• Distractions kill connection. Eliminate them intentionally.
• Interrupting signals your words matter more than theirs.
• Validation shows you hear both words and emotion.
• Empathy builds trust. Focus on others, not yourself.

What if your greatest leadership move isn't climbing the ladder, but choosing to show up differently, every single day?

Nikki sits down with Wesley Bender, a leadership coach who believes the most powerful leaders aren't defined by titles or personality types, but by their actions. Together, they unpack the bold idea that leadership is a choice, grounded in behavior and built through self-efficacy: the belief that your actions can shape outcomes.

Wesley brings a refreshing challenge to traditional frameworks and dives into why admired leaders stand out: not just because they drive performance, but because people actually want to follow them.

From personal stories to practical takeaways, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to model the way, at home, in the workplace, and everywhere in between. Tune in to rethink what leadership really looks like. 🌌

Additional Resources:

Connect with Wesley on LinkedIn

Explore the Field Notes page at Admired Leadership

Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Nikki's Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is a daily behavioral choice, not a title.
• Self-efficacy drives lasting leadership impact and growth.
• Admired leaders combine results with genuine followership.
• Behavioral leadership builds better habits than assessments alone.
• Real leadership shows up through consistent, intentional action.

What if the most powerful tool in your leadership toolkit isn't strategy or structure, but love?

Nikki sits down with Mark Mears, bestselling author, speaker, and former C-suite executive. to explore his revolutionary new framework: LOVE (Listen, Observe, Value, Empower). After a career shake-up that sparked deep personal insight, Mark redefined what it means to lead and thrive at work.

From high-stakes boardrooms to heartfelt human moments, Mark shares how love in its most actionable form can transform culture, inspire growth, and re-engage teams in a world desperate for purpose-driven leadership. This isn't fluff, it's the fuel that moves people and results alike. ❤️

Tune in and discover how to build not just a culture, but a true community.

Additional Resources:

Get Mark's Book! "LOVE@WORK"

Take the LOVE@WORK Assessment

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Nikki's Key Takeaways:

• Shift from "command & control" to "love & connection."
• Lead with L.O.V.E.: Listen, Observe, Value, Empower.
• Create community, not just culture.
• Anchor work in purpose, not just performance.
• Practice humility and grace as a daily leadership discipline.

What if the only thing standing between you and your big dream was… just starting?

Nikki and David tackle the excuses, fears, and perfection traps that keep us stuck on the sidelines. From the myth of "not being ready yet" to the fear of failing in front of others, they share real stories and reframes that prove you're good enough to start right now.

You'll hear why momentum builds confidence, how failure is really just feedback, and why declaring your goals out loud creates unstoppable energy. Whether it's launching a podcast, building a business, or finally chasing that thing you've been putting off, this conversation is your nudge to stop waiting and start doing. 🔥

Additional Resources:

Follow Addicted to Betterment wherever you listen to podcasts!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Perfection is the enemy of progress, and momentum creates confidence.
• You don't need more time, clarity, or credentials… you need to start.
• Reframe negative self-talk: "I'm not qualified" becomes "I'm called to do this."
• Failure isn't final; it's feedback that teaches and strengthens.
• Declaring your commitment out loud creates accountability and accelerates action.

What if chasing profit is actually killing your team's potential? 🎯

Nikki and Jason unpack one of PeopleForward Network's most powerful culture codes: Purpose Over Profit. They explore what happens when teams stop measuring success in dollars and start designing work around meaning, strengths, and alignment.

From sharing candid team experiences, like skipping 4:30 AM workouts for midday movement guilt-free, to building a results-first, flexibility-driven culture, this episode challenges leaders to rethink how we define and pursue success 🧭.

Whether you're climbing the ladder, leading others, or reevaluating your own path, this conversation is packed with stories and strategies to help you shift focus from hustle to heart ❤️.

It's not just about how much you earn, it's about how deeply your work matters.

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Purpose fuels performance more than profit ever will.
• Work-life integration drives meaningful work culture.
• Great leaders connect roles to individual purpose.
• Team alignment requires clear, shared outcomes.
• Purpose evolves through life's changing seasons.