316: Culture Change That Sticks: Stories from the Field with BJ McKay
Release Date: 08/21/2025
Addicted to Betterment: What’s Your Lighter Fluid? with David and Nikki Gregory
Gut + Science
Ever feel like life’s flame is flickering out? Whether it’s a bad day, a tough quarter, or a rocky relationship, what’s your go-to lighter fluid to reignite your fire? 🔥 Nikki and David crack open the metaphorical bottle of lighter fluid and ask the real question: how do you keep your fire lit when everything around you says quit? From explosive fire pit confessions to real talk about parenting struggles, relationship lows, and business setbacks, this conversation pulls no punches. You’ll hear how David resets after gut-punch days, why Nikki finds power in celebrating the small...
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331: Beyond Clicks and KPIs: Bringing Humanity Back to Digital Work with Andy Sitison
Gut + Science
What if the real key to connection in the digital workplace isn't more tools, but more trust? In a world obsessed with metrics, platforms, and productivity hacks, Andy Sitison flips the script. A strategist, designer, and people-first tech mind, Andy joins Nikki to explore how we move from clicks to true connection. 💡 Andy unveils his "Three Ps" framework, Population, Prompt, Product, and shows how empathy, when paired with intentional design and thoughtful data use, can create workplaces that actually feel human again. From overcoming the “digital veil” that clouds real connection to...
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Community Conversation: Leading Well Starts with Living Well
Gut + Science
Episode Description: What if wellness wasn’t just a perk, but a leadership necessity? In this Working Forward Conversations episode, Nikki Lewallen Gregory and Jason Cochran flip the script on workplace wellness, diving deep into why wellness is a non-negotiable requirement for modern leadership. From morning meditations and mid-day workouts to setting boundaries and asking for help, they share personal rituals and team-wide practices that fuel sustained capacity and impact. Get a behind-the-scenes of how People Forward Network lives out people-first values, with wellness baked into every...
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In the Loop: Good Leaders are Great Listeners with Katherine Coble
Gut + Science
What if the most powerful leadership skill isn’t what you say, but what you don’t? Katherine shares a surprising truth: she struggles with listening, and she knows she’s not alone. As leaders, we often think communication is about what we say, but the real power lies in what we hear. 👂💬 Katherine explores why listening is so hard (even for well-intentioned leaders), the hidden costs of distraction, and how our brains deceive us into thinking we’re better at it than we are. Most importantly, she breaks down five practical shifts that will help you listen deeper, lead better, and...
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330: Leadership Is a Choice: Building Self-Efficacy Through a Behavioral Approach with Wesley Bender
Gut + Science
What if your greatest leadership move isn’t climbing the ladder, but choosing to show up differently, every single day? Nikki sits down with Wesley Bender, a leadership coach who believes the most powerful leaders aren’t defined by titles or personality types, but by their actions. Together, they unpack the bold idea that leadership is a choice, grounded in behavior and built through self-efficacy: the belief that your actions can shape outcomes. Wesley brings a refreshing challenge to traditional frameworks and dives into why admired leaders stand out: not just because they drive...
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329: LOVE at Work: How Leaders Transform Through Human Connection with Mark Mears
Gut + Science
What if the most powerful tool in your leadership toolkit isn’t strategy or structure, but love? Nikki sits down with Mark Mears, bestselling author, speaker, and former C-suite executive. to explore his revolutionary new framework: LOVE (Listen, Observe, Value, Empower). After a career shake-up that sparked deep personal insight, Mark redefined what it means to lead and thrive at work. From high-stakes boardrooms to heartfelt human moments, Mark shares how love in its most actionable form can transform culture, inspire growth, and re-engage teams in a world desperate for purpose-driven...
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Addicted to Betterment: You’re Good Enough Now. Do the Thing. with Nikki and David Gregory
Gut + Science
What if the only thing standing between you and your big dream was… just starting? Nikki and David tackle the excuses, fears, and perfection traps that keep us stuck on the sidelines. From the myth of “not being ready yet” to the fear of failing in front of others, they share real stories and reframes that prove you’re good enough to start right now. You’ll hear why momentum builds confidence, how failure is really just feedback, and why declaring your goals out loud creates unstoppable energy. Whether it’s launching a podcast, building a business, or finally chasing that thing...
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Community Conversation: Purpose Over Profit - Reimagining Success
Gut + Science
What if chasing profit is actually killing your team's potential? 🎯 Nikki and Jason unpack one of PeopleForward Network’s most powerful culture codes: Purpose Over Profit. They explore what happens when teams stop measuring success in dollars and start designing work around meaning, strengths, and alignment. From sharing candid team experiences, like skipping 4:30 AM workouts for midday movement guilt-free, to building a results-first, flexibility-driven culture, this episode challenges leaders to rethink how we define and pursue success 🧭. Whether you're climbing the ladder, leading...
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328: The Inner Work of Leadership: Rewiring Subconscious Blocks with Roya Mattis
Gut + Science
Ever feel like you're doing everything right, but still stuck? It’s not your strategy…it’s your subconscious. Nikki chats with transformational speaker and coach Roya Mattis, creator of the Trifecta Method. Roya dives deep into the invisible forces that hold high performers back, those hidden subconscious blocks formed before we even turned seven. 😳 Through stories, science, and soul, she explains how rewiring happens not just in the mind, but also in the body and even at the DNA level. Roya also breaks down the powerful balance between masculine and feminine energy, and why the most...
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In the Loop: Mastering Executive Presence with Katherine Coble
Gut + Science
What’s the real reason some leaders instantly command a room while others struggle to connect? Katherine unpacks the secret sauce behind authentic leadership: executive presence. But don’t mistake it for just charisma or a polished look. This is about substance over style, connection over performance, and leading with confidence, clarity, and calm. She explores why presence, not just words, shapes how people trust, respect, and follow you. You’ll learn how to shift from filler words to powerful pauses, how to read a room and adapt with empathy, and why showing up with grounded confidence...
info_outlineEver felt like your culture change efforts are just… throwing spaghetti at the wall 🍝? In this episode, Nikki sits down with BJ McKay from Advisa to swap real, in-the-trenches stories of transformation.
Together they break down the ATLAS framework, reveal why discomfort is the secret ingredient to lasting change, and share how to keep leaders energized instead of burned out.
From ditching the busywork to mastering the art of measurable impact, BJ’s insights will have you rethinking how you approach culture so it actually sticks. This is your backstage pass to what works (and what doesn’t) when you’re leading people-first change that lasts. 🎯
Additional Resources:
Get Your 5 Minute Culture Check!
Learn more about Advisa
Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!
Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Key Takeaways:
- Real transformation is uncomfortable but necessary.
- Systems must show measurable impact, not just look good.
- Focus on fewer priorities to reduce burnout and increase impact.
- Leadership growth at work benefits life outside of work.
- Self-awareness plus consistent practice builds great leaders.