149 No Manual for Leadership: Building Loyalty, One Story at a Time with David Semersheim
Release Date: 08/06/2025
156 Manufacturing Teamwork and Accountability: Leading with the Thermostat Mindset with Sheri Holt
Mindfulness Manufacturing
Are you leading like a thermometer or a thermostat? If you find yourself reacting to problems instead of setting the tone for your team, you might be acting like a thermometer. But with practice and the right mindset, you can become a thermostatic leader who sets the climate for your whole team or organization. Learn more in this episode with guest Sheri Miller Holt, the author of Thermostatic Leadership: The Quiet Power of Creating Balance and Influence. Drawing on her years of experience in organizational development and leadership training, Sheri unpacks the true meaning of thermostatic...
info_outline
155 Culture Improvement Starts with Self-Awareness in Leadership with Anne Bonney
Mindfulness Manufacturing
Change can be daunting, but learning how to effectively navigate uncertainty and discomfort is essential for leaders who want to grow their mindset, shift from panic to curiosity, and show up as their best selves for their team. In this episode, take a deep dive into the psychology of change with Anne Bonney, a certified speaking professional, leadership expert, and TEDx speaker who specializes in helping leaders navigate change. She covers topics like how leaders can shift their mindset to thrive in uncertainty, how to manage the fear of the unknown, and why understanding the human brain’s...
info_outline
154 Break the Blame Cycle: Approaches to Solving Problems with Maggie Harlow
Mindfulness Manufacturing
If you want to change your results, you need to change your approach. These words of wisdom come from Maggie Harlow, the co-owner of Signarama Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky. With years of experience in the custom sign manufacturing industry, Maggie doesn’t just talk about leadership—she lives it. She’s also a keynote speaker and speaks on a range of topics, including visionary leadership, gratitude, and finding new approaches to problem-solving. In this episode, Maggie shares more about her background in the sign industry and offers practical, transformative insights on what it...
info_outline
153 Closing the Generational Gap: What Manufacturing Leaders Must Get Right Now with Michelle McCullough
Mindfulness Manufacturing
When your workplace includes baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z employees, it can seem impossible to keep everyone happy and fulfilled. In a multigenerational workplace, can you really create an environment where everyone feels supported, valued, and motivated? It is possible—and in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, guest Michelle McCullough provides the insights and tools you need to drive engagement, trust, and emotional well-being across all generations. Michelle is a nationally recognized speaker, leadership expert, and workplace culture expert and has spent years...
info_outline
152 Why Your Team Lacks Motivation and How You Can Improve It with Jim Pancero
Mindfulness Manufacturing
When you’re dealing with a disengaged team or low morale on the manufacturing floor, a motivation team might sound like a myth. But with the right mindset and workplace environment, you can improve morale, performance, and engagement. Learn more on the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast with guest Jim Pancero! Jim is a legendary sales and leadership coach and has over 40 years of experience working with manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution teams. In this episode, he shares insights on what truly motivates teams, touching on subjects like positive communication, building engagement, and...
info_outline
151 You Think People Don't Want to Work in Manufacturing? You're Asking the Wrong Questions with Chad Littlefield
Mindfulness Manufacturing
Do you want drive results, retain your team, and create a culture where people show up and stick around? Then it’s time to embrace the art of powerful questions! Through curious questions and intentional conversations, you can change the way people think and work. Learn more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Chad Littlefield, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and the creator of We! Connect cards, which help leaders ask powerful questions and cultivate deeper conversations. Chad shares stories that highlight the power of questions, unpacks the struggles many leaders...
info_outline
150 Lessons from the Pentagon: Commanding Our Chaos with Angela Billings
Mindfulness Manufacturing
Are you ready to handle a crisis at your manufacturing plant? Find out in this episode, which is all about crisis communication and how to lead under pressure. This episode’s guest in Angela Billings, a seasoned strategic communication with over 20 years of experience in the Air Force—including during September 11th, when she was stationed at the Pentagon. She is also the author of Command the Crisis: Navigate Chaos with Battle-Tested Public Relations and Communication Strategies. Angela shares gripping stories from her career and firsthand experience at the Pentagon, plus offers...
info_outline
149 No Manual for Leadership: Building Loyalty, One Story at a Time with David Semersheim
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In modern manufacturing, many employees want more than just a paycheck—to truly feel engaged and show up as their best selves at work, they need to feel like they’re part of something bigger. This means that if you really want to build momentum, drive greater results, and find higher employee retention rates, you need to transform the way you interact with your team. How do you do this? It all starts with curiosity and storytelling! I recently spoke with a storytelling expert: David Sermersheim, a seasoned team leader, public speaker, and the founder of Celebrate Audio, a podcasting...
info_outline
148 Keep Talent, Crush Risks: The Power of Transparent Accountability with Christopher Santomassimo
Mindfulness Manufacturing
Are you tapping into your team’s full potential? As the manufacturing industry continues to grow, many leaders find themselves searching for ways to engage their teams, drive productivity, and create a culture where everyone shows up ready to reach their full potential. In this episode, learn more with Christopher Santomassimo, a lawyer and founding partner of Outside General Counsel (OGC) Solutions. With OGC Solutions, Chris assists companies with a wide range of legal and business issues, from employment claims to compliance counseling. With over 30 years of legal experience, Chris has...
info_outline
147 You Are Not a Machine: Leading with Energy That Lasts with Kathy Oneto
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, we’re all about meeting goals, staying productive, and keeping up with new and ever-changing technology and machinery. If you’re a busy manufacturing leader, it might feel impossible to balance your goals and your role in your plant with setting boundaries, prioritizing your energy, and avoiding burn-out. But there is a way to create a sustainable path toward your goals—and you can find out more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Kathy Oneto. Kathy is a consultant, advisor, facilitator, and executive coach, who shares powerful lessons on how...
info_outlineIn modern manufacturing, many employees want more than just a paycheck—to truly feel engaged and show up as their best selves at work, they need to feel like they’re part of something bigger. This means that if you really want to build momentum, drive greater results, and find higher employee retention rates, you need to transform the way you interact with your team.
How do you do this? It all starts with curiosity and storytelling! I recently spoke with a storytelling expert: David Sermersheim, a seasoned team leader, public speaker, and the founder of Celebrate Audio, a podcasting service that allows people to share their own unique stories. In this episode, David shares his philosophy for why storytelling and curiosity leads to stronger teams, plus gives actionable insights leaders can use to empower their teams and make stories a central part of their leadership.
1:33 – Through personal and professional commitment, you can transfer customer-focused strategies to employee-focused leadership
2:51 – Autonomy plays a key role in employee retention rates
6:22 – There are many creative ways to connect with remote team members, like starting a podcast
7:35 – During new hire orientations, embed core company values and the “why” behind your organization
10:35 – Employees need to connect with something beyond just your mission statement
11:51 – Make sure your job postings reflect your organization’s value and purposes
13:18 – Connect orientation, behaviors, and metrics to your organization’s core values
13:53 – Quarterly reviews and structured feedback sessions can improve job satisfaction
18:20 360-degree feedback is important for self-awareness and leadership
22:02 – Be genuinely interested in the people you lead and take the time to understand everyone’s unique story
Connect with David Semersheim
Learn more about Celebrate Audio
Email David at david@celebrateaudio.com