042 - Say “Yes, And!” to READY, Set, Change with April Callis-Birchmeier
Release Date: 10/27/2025
053 - Say "Yes, And!" to My New Book!
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
Today is the day is launch day for my new book, "Say 'Yes, And!' to Change"!!! You can get it here: The E-Book is $0.99 during launch week! Thanks, and keep saying "Yes, And!"
info_outline![052 - Say “Yes, And!” to Long Term Adaptability with Alexander Bolkhovsky [From the Vault!] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/40908435?height=50&width=50)
052 - Say “Yes, And!” to Long Term Adaptability with Alexander Bolkhovsky [From the Vault!]
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
This week I am pulling one of my favorite interviews out from the archives. Why? Three reasons: My last episode with Anish Mahajan really did quite well, so I wanted to follow up with another episode with an “industry veteran.” Since that episode did well, I wanted new subscribers to get an episode of a similar format. I have been super busy myself preparing for the launch of my new book, Say “Yes, And!” to Change. You can learn all about that here: Here’s the episode info: In this episode, I sit down with one of my oldest friends and longtime ExxonMobil leader,...
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051 - Say “Yes, And!” to Leadership, Listening, and Change with Anish Mahajan
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend (all the way back to childhood!) Dr. Anish Mahajan for a fascinating conversation about leadership, listening, and leading through uncertainty. Anish has led at the highest levels of healthcare and public health, from helping implement the Affordable Care Act to leading a major public hospital through the COVID crisis in Los Angeles. What I loved about this conversation is how much of it applies far beyond healthcare. We talk about why great leaders listen first, how to navigate skepticism and resistance, what it means to lead with humility,...
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050 - Say “Yes, And!” to Saying “Yes, And!” to Change (Inside the Framework from My New Book) - Solo Episode
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my brand-new book, Say “Yes, And!” to Change. For years, I believed the biggest challenge in change was resistance. But after working with leaders and teams across many industries, I realized something surprising: Resistance isn’t the biggest problem. Apathy is. Most people aren’t openly fighting change—they’re quietly checked out. In this episode, I explain why apathy is the silent killer of change efforts and how the improv principle of “Yes, And” can help transform apathy into engagement and excitement. I also walk...
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049 - Say ‘Yes, And!’ to Publicity, Visibility & Kindness with Jill Lublin
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode I sit down with publicity expert Jill Lublin to unpack what it really means to get visibility in today’s world. Many people think publicity is press releases or blasting on social media, but Jill shares how it’s truly about message clarity, storytelling, and getting others to care about why you do what you do. We talk about practical frameworks for pitching podcasts, leveraging community platforms, creating consistent outreach systems, and even how kindness and authenticity play into influence and visibility. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your message seen and heard...
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048 - Say “Yes, And!” to Taking Agency in Your Life and Business with Jacob Aldridge
Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
In this episode, I’m joined by Jacob Aldridge, an international business advisor and keynote speaker who’s calling in from Malaysia - where he can literally see Singapore from his window! Jacob and his family recently made a massive “Yes, And” decision: they packed up their life, became full-time travelers, and now “worldschool” their daughter while Jacob coaches businesses remotely. We talk about what it means to design your life (and business) on purpose, why uncertainty is often the very thing that makes you valuable, and how to stop waiting for perfect clarity before taking...
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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...
info_outlineIn 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 and how simple choices (like naming and login labels) can remove adoption friction fast.
Key Takeaways
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R.E.A.D.Y. in brief: Relevant/relatable messaging; Engage leaders as sponsors; Advanced, multi-channel communication; Develop support & training; “Y = Why” to address resistance and cement adoption.
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Story beats slide decks. Use everyday metaphors and images to explain benefits; tailor stories for execs vs. frontline.
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One real sponsor > many names. The accountable “throat to choke” must be visible, vocal, and equipped weekly with talking points.
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Kill “just send an email.” Over-reliance on email reduces attention; combine channels (leaders’ voice, signage, pop-ups, text, live touchpoints).
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Vendor training ≠ your training. Customize to your workflows so people know what to pick and why.
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Welcome resistance. It’s engagement; loop back to the Why and pair mindset shift with behavior change.
Relevant Links
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April’s site & training: Springboard Consulting (book, courses, CCMP™ prep). Springboard Consulting
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Book: READY, Set, Change! Simplify and Accelerate Organizational Change. Amazon