Episodes

  • E50: Increasing Human Kindness with Brad Aronson
    Jan 13 2026
    Kindness and compassion don’t require great acts of bravery, huge investments of time, or gigantic donations of money. Simple acts of kindness can have profound impact. In this episode, we talk with Brad Aronson, best-selling author of “HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time.” Brad shares some of his favorite illustrations from this collection of kind acts that changed lives and lifted hearts. You’ll learn: - How to overcome our internal resistance to reaching out to others in need. - Ways to make kindness an everyday habit. - How kindness can counter the negativity so prevalent today. - The power of kindness in changing our own mood and circumstances. Join us for a powerful discussion around simple acts of kindness. Fair warning: you might want to have some tissues nearby. Brad Aronson is the author of the National Bestseller "HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time." This heartwarming read shares real-life, feel-good stories about how one small deed can make a world of difference. "Elegant and wise" (Deepak Chopra), "The most uplifting and life-affirming book in years." (Forbes) All proceeds from his book go to Big Brothers Big Sisters and other nonprofits in his book. Brad is deeply involved with youth nonprofits, and he’s on the board of Hopeworks. Brad also teaches entrepreneurship. Everyone in his class starts their own business, which has led to many adventures in entrepreneurship. Brad and his family live in Philadelphia. Contact Brad: https://www.bradaronson.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradaronson/ https://www.instagram.com/bradaronson/ https://www.facebook.com/BradAronson2/ https://www.bradaronson.com/volunteer-opportunities/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • E49: Soft Skills are Power Skills with Chester Elton
    Jan 6 2026
    What would you ask of one of the world’s leading authorities on building strong teams and cultures in organizations? In this episode we are joined by “The Apostle of Appreciation,” co-founder of The Culture Works, Chester Elton. We pick Chester’s brain to get tips based on his decades of experience in coaching leaders and teams. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The power of knowing your people’s stories as a leader. • How “soft skills” are really “power skills.” • The key roles of leaders as coach, teacher, and mentor. • The value of gratitude in leading teams. • The growing need to be aware of anxiety in the workplace. You’ll walk away from this episode inspired, energized, and ready to take action on creating strong teams, cultures, families, and communities. Chester Elton is one of today’s most influential thought leaders in workplace culture, leadership, and employee engagement. Over the years, Chester has partnered with renowned organizations to develop high-performance cultures that drive innovation and employee satisfaction. As co-author of multiple award-winning and New York Times bestselling books—including All In, The Carrot Principle, Leading with Gratitude, The Best Team Wins, and Anxiety at Work—his work has been translated into 30 languages, with almost two million copies sold globally. Recognized for his provocative and inspiring leadership insights, Chester has appeared on NBC’s Today, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, and CBS’s 60 Minutes. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, and The Wall Street Journal. Dubbed the “Apostle of Appreciation” by Canada’s Globe and Mail, Chester provides real solutions to leaders looking to build exceptional workplace cultures and foster team resilience. Chester is a recipient of the prestigious Thinkers 50 Coaching Award, recognizing him as one of the world’s top 50 leadership coaches. He is a certified executive coach with the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Leadership (SCL) program and a proud member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches group. His coaching methodology enhances leadership effectiveness through one-on-one sessions, 360-degree feedback, and stakeholder involvement, helping leaders identify opportunity gaps and make their strongest contributions. Chester is co-founder of The Culture Works, a global consultancy that advises clients such as American Express, The World Bank, Zoox/Amazon, and Astor Chocolate. He also serves on the advisory board of One Kind Act a Day, whose mission is to make kindness a daily habit. Chester is most proud to be the father of four exceptional children, a devoted grandfather to four, and a husband to his amazing wife, Heidi. More about Chester: https://chesterelton.com/ The Culture Works website: https://thecultureworks.com/ One Kind Act A Day website: https://thepowerofkind.org/ AI Chester: https://9y89rzpa.sibpages.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • E48: Soft Skills are Power Skills with Chester Elton
    Dec 30 2025
    What would you ask of one of the world’s leading authorities on building strong teams and cultures in organizations? In this episode we are joined by “The Apostle of Appreciation,” co-founder of The Culture Works, Chester Elton. We pick Chester’s brain to get tips based on his decades of experience in coaching leaders and teams. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The power of knowing your people’s stories as a leader. • How “soft skills” are really “power skills.” • The key roles of leaders as coach, teacher, and mentor. • The value of gratitude in leading teams. • The growing need to be aware of anxiety in the workplace. You’ll walk away from this episode inspired, energized, and ready to take action on creating strong teams, cultures, families, and communities. Chester Elton is one of today’s most influential thought leaders in workplace culture, leadership, and employee engagement. Over the years, Chester has partnered with renowned organizations to develop high-performance cultures that drive innovation and employee satisfaction. As co-author of multiple award-winning and New York Times bestselling books—including All In, The Carrot Principle, Leading with Gratitude, The Best Team Wins, and Anxiety at Work—his work has been translated into 30 languages, with almost two million copies sold globally. Recognized for his provocative and inspiring leadership insights, Chester has appeared on NBC’s Today, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, and CBS’s 60 Minutes. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, and The Wall Street Journal. Dubbed the “Apostle of Appreciation” by Canada’s Globe and Mail, Chester provides real solutions to leaders looking to build exceptional workplace cultures and foster team resilience. Chester is a recipient of the prestigious Thinkers 50 Coaching Award, recognizing him as one of the world’s top 50 leadership coaches. He is a certified executive coach with the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Leadership (SCL) program and a proud member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches group. His coaching methodology enhances leadership effectiveness through one-on-one sessions, 360-degree feedback, and stakeholder involvement, helping leaders identify opportunity gaps and make their strongest contributions. Chester is co-founder of The Culture Works, a global consultancy that advises clients such as American Express, The World Bank, Zoox/Amazon, and Astor Chocolate. He also serves on the advisory board of One Kind Act a Day, whose mission is to make kindness a daily habit. Chester is most proud to be the father of four exceptional children, a devoted grandfather to four, and a husband to his amazing wife, Heidi. More of Chester: Chester Elton website: https://chesterelton.com/ The Culture Works website: https://thecultureworks.com/ One Kind Act A Day website: https://thepowerofkind.org/ AI Chester: https://9y89rzpa.sibpages.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • E47: Fateful Conversations Stem from Intent: Reflections from Cheri and Jackie
    Dec 23 2025
    Fateful conversations are those that have momentous significance or consequences. Amy and Mark share their thoughts from our conversation with Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros, authors of “Conversations Worth Having” in the last episode. In this episode, we discuss: - More about the brain science behind conversations, particularly how emotions can interfere with our ability to have Conversations Worth Having. - The power of questions and curiosity in staying engaged in conversations. - The importance of good intent to maintain positive focus in conversations. Tune in as we give more thoughts about improving our conversations and realizing better results and relationships. Jackie Stavros is a professor at Lawrence Technical University College of Business and IT in Michigan. Her passion is working with others to discover their purpose in creating positive change. She has more than 30 years of leadership, strategy, organization development, and change management experience. Prior to joining LTU as a professor, Jackie’s industry work included manufacturing, automotive, banking, technology, government, and professional services. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including the co-author of “Conversations Worth Having.” She lives in Brighton, Michigan. Cheri Torres is the lead catalyst at Collaborative by Design, where she partners with people to catalyze positive change in workplaces and communities. She has worked with thousands of leaders and teams around the world to support high performance, engagement, culture transformation, and organization success. A lifelong learner, Cheri has a PhD in educational psychology with a specialization in collaborative learning, an MBA, a master’s in transpersonal psychology, and numerous certifications. The co-author of “Conversations Worth Having” and author of many other articles and books, Cheri is from Asheville, North Carolina. More of Jackie and Cheri: www.cwh.today www.conversationsworthhaving.today Offers: Download a free conversation toolkit from the website Get 20% off the CWH Foundations Course by using the code COMPASSION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • E46: Change Begins with a Conversation with Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres
    Dec 16 2025
    We engage in conversations so often that we sometimes forget the impact those conversations can have. Today we get a double dose of guests with the co-authors of “Conversations Worth Having,” Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres. We dig into how we can make sure our conversations matter more often. In this episode you’ll learn: - The four types of conversations we can have and how to create more conversations worth having. - The impact of our neurophysiology on our conversations. - How to “tune in” during conversations to make our conversations productive and move toward better results. Listen in for great tips and even better offers for listeners to learn more about Conversations Worth Having. Jackie Stavros is a professor at Lawrence Technical University College of Business and IT in Michigan. Her passion is working with others to discover their purpose in creating positive change. She has more than 30 years of leadership, strategy, organization development, and change management experience. Prior to joining LTU as a professor, Jackie’s industry work included manufacturing, automotive, banking, technology, government, and professional services. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including the co-author of “Conversations Worth Having.” She lives in Brighton, Michigan. Cheri Torres is the lead catalyst at Collaborative by Design, where she partners with people to catalyze positive change in workplaces and communities. She has worked with thousands of leaders and teams around the world to support high performance, engagement, culture transformation, and organization success. A lifelong learner, Cheri has a PhD in educational psychology with a specialization in collaborative learning, an MBA, a master’s in transpersonal psychology, and numerous certifications. The co-author of “Conversations Worth Having” and author of many other articles and books, Cheri is from Asheville, North Carolina. Contact Jackie and Cheri: www.cwh.today www.conversationsworthhaving.today Offers: Download a free conversation toolkit from the website Get 20% off the CWH Foundations Course by using the code COMPASSION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • E45: Dr. Kasi Lacey reflections: Your Thoughts Are Not Facts
    Dec 9 2025
    Compassionate leadership starts with compassion for yourself. In this episode, Amy and Mark reflect on the conversation with Dr. Kasi Lacey about how our thoughts impact our ability to lead and serve others effectively. We explore further the dangers and possibilities of comparison and the negative thoughts that sometimes hold us back. We also discuss: - How to feed your inner critic in appropriate, compassionate ways. - The power of showing up as your most authentic self, even when it’s hard. - Our own examples of effective, compassionate leadership. Listen in to strengthen your capacity to believe in yourself and be the leader you want to be and that everyone deserves to have. Dr. Kasi Lacey is the CEO & Founder of H & L Legacy, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to executive and leadership coaching. She has had a distinguished career as a psychologist and c-suite executive and 15+ years in higher education spanning various leadership roles/positions. Dr. Lacey’s coaching philosophy is rooted in actionable strategies for success, the importance of strong interpersonal relationships/communication in organizational success, and leadership development. As a psychologist turned keynote speaker and executive confidence coach, she helps women and organizations unlock unshakeable confidence, elevate leadership, and create thriving, inclusive workplaces. Contact Dr. Kasi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kasi-lacey-207815110/ www.kasilacey.com https://www.instagram.com/drkasilacey/?next=%2F Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • E44: Dr. Kasi Lacey - Rewrite Your Narrative With Love
    Dec 8 2025
    Sometimes the bad examples start something good. In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, we talk with Dr. Kasi Lacey (yes, it rhymes), whose journey to help create more positive, impactful leaders stemmed from seeing leaders who were creating negative impact. Get ready to take notes as Dr. Lacey teaches us: - Three ways we compare and how to compare in a more healthy way. - The power in naming your inner critic and understanding its needs. - The importance of acknowledging your accomplishments and accepting praise gracefully. If you’re looking to have more impact as a leader or hope to develop into a leader with impact, this episode is for you. Join us for a compassionate look at leading people the right way. Dr. Kasi Lacey is the CEO & Founder of H & L Legacy, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to executive and leadership coaching. She has had a distinguished career as a psychologist and c-suite executive and 15+ years in higher education spanning various leadership roles/positions. Dr. Lacey’s coaching philosophy is rooted in actionable strategies for success, the importance of strong interpersonal relationships/communication in organizational success, and leadership development. As a psychologist turned keynote speaker and executive confidence coach, she helps women and organizations unlock unshakeable confidence, elevate leadership, and create thriving, inclusive workplaces. Contact Dr. Kasi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kasi-lacey-207815110/ www.kasilacey.com https://www.instagram.com/drkasilacey/?next=%2F Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • E43: Invest in Your Relationships Reflections from Greg Stephens Episode
    Dec 8 2025
    We feel differently about costs than we do about investments. Sometimes we think of the time spent on restoring difficult relationships as a cost, but it’s an investment. In this episode, Amy and Mark reflect on their conversation with Greg Stephens from last week’s Infuse Compassion podcast. Listen in as we discuss: How fear always distracts us from our ultimate goal. The danger in listening to your limiting beliefs and how “your ego is not your amigo.” The power of coupling your heart – having a good motive – with skills. How we create, promote, or allow everything in our life. Join us as we further explore key principles to help us make the investment in restoring seemingly impossible relationships. Greg Stephens is a communication consultant and executive coach, professional speaker, facilitator and author of “Build New Bridges: The Art of Restoring Impossible Relationships.” He holds a Business Degree from Baylor University and is a certified professional behavior analyst, Master Certified Trainer, and a corporate executive coach. Greg has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies and National Organizations. He has 25 years of practical business experience in Sales and Marketing with professional sports organizations, advertising agencies, technology companies, small business, the health care industry, and several government agencies. His purpose is to empower and transform individuals and corporations to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Contact Greg: greg@alignment-resources.com, alignment-resources.com, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstephens2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins