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028 - Say “Yes, And!” to Creating the Impossible with Melissa Dinwiddie

Yes, And! With Avish Parashar

Release Date: 04/14/2025

043 - Say “Yes, And!” to Navigating Chaos with Maartje van Krieken show art 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...

info_outline 042 - Say “Yes, And!” to READY, Set, Change with April Callis-Birchmeier show art 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...

info_outline 041 - Say “Yes, And!” to Living UNMUTED with Rachel Druckenmiller show art 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...

info_outline 040 - Say “Yes, And!” to the LEADOUT Advantage with Scott Cooksey show art 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...

info_outline 039 - Say “Yes, And!” to Keeping It Human with Kathy Klotz Guest show art 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...

info_outline 038 - Say “Yes, And!” to Cheering On Others with Jan Spence show art 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_outline 037 - Say “Yes, And!” to Navigating the Future of Creativity and AI with Nye Warburton show art 037 - Say “Yes, And!” to Navigating the Future of Creativity and AI with Nye Warburton

Yes, And! With Avish Parashar

In this episode, I connect with my old friend Nye Warburton, someone I’ve known since our  college improv‑comedy days. Nye’s journey has taken him from animating features like Monster House and Battleship to chairing an Interactive Design & Game Development department of a college and writing provocative essays about AI, blockchain, and creative technology. We talk about the pressures of entertainment, how to treat uncertainty as play, the importance of iteration over perfection, and why every creator should ship something - even if it’s rough. If you’re navigating...

info_outline 036 - Say “Yes, And!” to Unstoppable Momentum with Kim Becking show art 036 - Say “Yes, And!” to Unstoppable Momentum with Kim Becking

Yes, And! With Avish Parashar

What if the chaos and uncertainty in your life could become the very fuel that propels you forward? In this episode, resilience and adaptability expert Kim Becking shares her powerful Unstoppable Momentum™ framework for navigating change with grit, grace, and purpose. A stage-3 breast cancer survivor, former attorney, and bestselling author, Kim brings real-world experience and deep research to the conversation—showing how to stop, shift, and reframe challenges into catalysts for growth. You’ll learn: Why acknowledging your emotions is the first step to building real resilience How...

info_outline 035 - Say “Yes, And!” to EPIC Connections with Riaz Patel show art 035 - Say “Yes, And!” to EPIC Connections with Riaz Patel

Yes, And! With Avish Parashar

I had the privilege of sitting down with longtime friend and Hollywood veteran, Riaz Patel. Trained in psychology at UPenn and raised in a world where he was rarely the "norm," Riaz has built a career around authentic transformation - first on TV, and now live onstage. In this episode, we dive into: His creative process behind TV hits like How to Look Good Naked Why "authentic transformation" matters more now than ever The EPIC system and how it underpins his live experience, ConnectEffect Practical tips on how listening can build real connection in business, parenting, and...

info_outline 034 - Say “Yes, And!” to Resetting with Penny Zenker show art 034 - Say “Yes, And!” to Resetting with Penny Zenker

Yes, And! With Avish Parashar

In this episode, I talk with Penny Zenker—the Focusologist—about her Reset Mindset approach. We dive into what exactly a reset moment is, explore her three‑step framework (Step Back, Get Perspective, Realign), and apply it to everyday life—from emotional triggers to workplace pivots. Penny also breaks down how to ask powerful questions like “What else?” to shift thinking, how to scale reset practices, and why it matters now more than ever. Key Takeaways Recognize Reset Moments: These are small or large interruptions—your alarm, emotional trigger, organizational shift—telling...

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In this episode of Yes, And with Avish Parashar, I sit down with creativity expert Melissa Dinwiddie. Melissa shares her journey from a Juilliard-trained dancer to a professional artist and creativity instigator. She introduces us to her Create the Impossible framework, which helps individuals and teams harness the power of play, take risks, and learn from failure to spark innovation. Melissa emphasizes that it’s not about making things perfect but making things, experimenting, and allowing space for mistakes. We dive into how leaders can foster creativity and encourage their teams to take playful risks to solve complex problems.

Key Takeaways:

  • Play Hard: Embrace your inner child by experimenting, exploring, and being curious.

  • Make Crap: It’s okay to fail! Making mistakes is a crucial part of the creative process.

  • Learn Fast: Turn every failure into valuable data. Rapid feedback loops drive innovation.

  • Practical Tips: Start with small, playful actions like asking creative questions in meetings or implementing “wild idea Wednesdays.”

  • Gremlins: Recognize the self-doubt voices in your head and replace them with a playful, “Yes, And” mindset to keep moving forward.

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