loader from loading.io

047 - Say “Yes, And!” to Human Connection with Thom Singer

Yes, And! With Avish Parashar

Release Date: 02/02/2026

047 - Say “Yes, And!” to Human Connection with Thom Singer show art 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...

info_outline 046 - Say “Yes, And!” to Curiosity (and Sales Without the Ick) with Kirstin Carey show art 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 -...

info_outline 045 - Say “Yes, And!” to Stepping Into Your Greatness with Alvin Law show art 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...

info_outline 044 - Say 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_outline 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
 
More Episodes

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 Thom’s personal story of navigating a mental health crisis during the pandemic, what it really means to ask for help, and (because Thom is Thom) the wild decision he made to start doing stand-up comedy at 52 - and what that taught him about resilience, confidence, and being better on any stage.

Key Takeaways

  • The term “Networking” has baggage - focus on human connection and intentional relationships instead.

  • The best time to build your network is before you need it (“dig your well before you’re thirsty”).

  • Introverts often make better connectors because they ask more questions and listen more deeply.

  • Meeting someone once doesn’t make them “in your network,” it makes them someone you’ve met once.

  • Community and career resilience grow when you help others without keeping score.

  • Asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s leadership (and sometimes the turning point).

  • Stand-up comedy is “public speaking on hard mode,” and it can sharpen every other communication skill.

Relevant Links

Join My Book Launch Team!

My new book, “Say, ‘Yes, And!’ to Change” is coming out this April. I’m assembling a Launch Team for my upcoming book on using the Yes, And mindset to harness change, unlock brilliance, and transform apathy into excitement.

Launch Team members will receive:

- A free digital advanced copy of the book in late March

- Access to a free YES AND training

- A few bonus resources

- The warm fuzzy feelings you will get from helping me out 😁

All I ask is that you read the book and leave an honest review a few weeks later.

To cut down on SPAM and bots filling out the Launch Team Form, I am not posting the link publicly. Email me now at avish@avishparashar.com with the word “Launch” in the subject and I will send you the sign-up link!