022 - Solo Episode - Say “Yes, And!” to Experimentation, Not Execution
Release Date: 01/27/2025
047 - Say “Yes, And!” to Human Connection with Thom Singer
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
Human connection is becoming a competitive advantage - especially as AI, automation, and digital overload keep pulling us away from real relationships. In this episode, I sit down with Thom Singer. Thom is a keynote speaker, community-builder, and CEO of the Austin Technology Council, and we talked about Human Interaction (H.I.) in an A.I. world. We unpack why “networking” isn’t something you do once in a while, it’s something you live, why introverts may actually have an edge, and how the best opportunities often come from relationships you started building years ago. We also go into...
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046 - Say “Yes, And!” to Curiosity (and Sales Without the Ick) with Kirstin Carey
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode, I reconnect with my longtime friend Kirstin Carey, a serial entrepreneur and business strategist, to talk about what happens when you’re doing all the “right” things in business… but the results still aren’t clicking. We explore why curiosity is the underrated superpower in sales, leadership, and relationships, and why most “sales resistance” is really about story, emotion, and identity. Kirstin shares practical ways to ask deeper questions (without feeling salesy), how to reframe money as an energy exchange, and how to reconnect to what you actually feel -...
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045 - Say “Yes, And!” to Stepping Into Your Greatness with Alvin Law
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode, I sit down with Alvin Law – an international Hall-of-Fame keynote speaker, Emmy Award winner, and award-winning musician who was born without arms and built a remarkable life by refusing to let other people’s labels define him. Alvin and I talk about what it really means to step into your greatness when your life doesn’t look like an Instagram highlight reel. We explore how his parents, teachers, and coaches acted as “Yes, And whisperers” – choosing to see possibilities instead of limitations – and how that mindset helped him learn to eat, drive, play...
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044 - Say "Yes, And!" to Improv, Nursing, and Leadership with Dr. Candy Campbell
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Candace “Candy” Campbell - nurse, actor, filmmaker, and international speaker - to talk about improv, healthcare, and what it really takes to communicate courageously in high-stakes environments. Candy’s journey is wild and inspiring. She started with a degree in acting and was headed for New York… until a disturbing “casting couch” moment made her walk away from the profession for over a decade. That detour led her to Pan Am, where she spent years as a flight attendant, discovered how naturally she ran toward people in crisis, and eventually...
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043 - Say “Yes, And!” to Navigating Chaos with Maartje van Krieken
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
When everything feels messy, most leaders reach for more tactics and more meetings. In this conversation, I sit down with Maartje van Krieken - engineer, skipper, crisis strategist, and host of The Business Emergency Room Podcast - to talk about how to triage chaos, make cleaner decisions, and realign people and processes without burning everyone out. We cover her “coat rack” process metaphor, the emotional side of chaos (and why emotion = people still care), and a simple way to de-risk the options you’ve been carrying around in your head. If you’re navigating growth, change, or just...
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042 - Say “Yes, And!” to READY, Set, Change with April Callis-Birchmeier
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this conversation with change-management expert April Callis-Birchmeier (CCMP™, PMP®, CSP®), we unpack her R.E.A.D.Y. framework from her READY, Set, Change! Book and framework and translate it into practical moves you can make this quarter. We cover how to turn corporate buzzwords into relevant, relatable stories, why one accountable executive sponsor changes everything, what “just send an email” thinking gets wrong, and how to handle resistance as a signal that people are finally engaging. April also shares the behind-the-scenes story of Michigan’s Healthy Michigan Plan rollout...
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041 - Say “Yes, And!” to Living UNMUTED with Rachel Druckenmiller
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
I sat down with keynote speaker, leadership trainer, and singer-songwriter Rachel Druckenmiller to explore what it really means to live and work UNMUTED. Rachel shares how she invented roles inside a corporate job, navigated a near-career-ending pivot right before the pandemic, and eventually brought her voice - literally - onto the keynote stage. We talk about borrowing others’ belief when your own is shaky, her V.O.I.C.E. framework, building self-concept clarity, and practical ways to start expressing more of who you are at work. She also tells the powerful backstory behind her original...
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040 - Say “Yes, And!” to the LEADOUT Advantage with Scott Cooksey
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode, I sit down with Scott Cooksey, CSP, founder of Leadout Performance Group, to talk about building teams that can adapt and win, especially when the plan meets reality. Scott explains why most “one-and-done” trainings fail, how to diagnose the real problem behind symptoms like conflict, and how leaders can modernize their playbook for a world reshaped by COVID and AI. We cover his Tour de France model for team strategy (sprinters, climbers, and support), what a useful return-to-office looks like (create experiences you can only have in person), and the role of empathy...
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039 - Say “Yes, And!” to Keeping It Human with Kathy Klotz Guest
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with fellow improviser and change-maker Kathy Klotz-Guest. Kathy’s career path is anything but boring. She went from being a rare female leader in Silicon Valley tech to blending her love of improv and comedy into transformational work with corporate teams. We talk about her journey, the power of “yes, and” in leading change, why vulnerability and honesty matter more than ever in the age of AI, and how embracing fun isn’t just good for morale - it’s good for business. If you're a leader navigating uncertainty, this conversation...
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038 - Say “Yes, And!” to Cheering On Others with Jan Spence
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
I had a blast talking with Jan Spence, a Certified Speaking Professional and TEDx speaker whose journey from professional women’s full‑tackle football to international keynote speaker is unforgettable. Jan shares how turning a sea of competitors into teammates through simple encouragement sparked her “Cheer Leadership®” philosophy. We dive into actionable tools - from ‘putting on that Teflon raincoat’ to overcoming fear, to using ‘A‑B‑or‑C’ goals to build momentum. Plus, we explore how small gestures - handwritten notes, energy boosts, meaningful check‑ins, etc. - can...
info_outlineIn this episode of Yes, And, I dive into the idea of thinking in terms of experimentation, not execution, especially when it comes to reaching big, impossible goals. As professionals, we're often encouraged to follow rigid plans and execute them to perfection. But in a world of constant change, creativity, and uncertainty, sometimes we need to let go of fixed plans and embrace the process of experimentation.
I share stories from my own life where I used this approach to take my keynote and business to the next level—through trial, error, and adapting as I went. Instead of adhering to a step-by-step execution model, experimentation gave me the freedom to try new things, learn from my failures, and ultimately find success in unexpected ways.
Listen in for some valuable insights on how you can apply this mindset to your own goals, whether personal or professional, and learn how embracing experimentation could lead to greater innovation, growth, and resilience.
Key Takeaways:
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Shift from execution to experimentation: Learn why experimentation, rather than rigid execution, can lead to more innovative and effective results, especially when dealing with uncertainty or creativity.
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Real-life application: Hear how I used this approach to transform my keynote, from initial failures to eventual success, and how small experiments led to big breakthroughs.
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The power of flexibility: Understand how flexibility and adaptability can help you pivot and improve your approach when things don’t go according to plan.
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How to experiment in your own life: Tips on how to apply the experimentation mindset to both your personal and professional goals, particularly when you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
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Embrace failure as part of the process: Recognize that failures are valuable learning opportunities and part of the experimental journey that leads to growth and success.