The Science of Human Performance with Melissa Painter
Release Date: 11/20/2025
What AI Can't Do For Your Relationships featuring Eric Mill and Jessica Montague
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
I recently sat down Eric Mill and Jess Montague, the co-founders of Relatable, for a conversation about the skills that become more important as AI continues to change the way we work. We talked about their journey from working as marriage and family therapists to building Relatable, a relationship learning platform that brings many of the skills they have developed through years of therapy into the workplace. Eric and Jess shared what they see when they work with founders and leaders, including the less obvious forces behind high performance. We talked about grit, fear, insecurity, and the...
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What Theater Can Teach Us About Work featuring J. Noble and Nora Wheaton
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
I recently welcomed J. Noble and Nora Wheaton from American Conservatory Theater (ACT) onto the Snafu podcast for a conversation about theater, storytelling, leadership, and what the performing arts can teach us about how we communicate and work together. We talked about the tension between adapting to the person or situation in front of you while still bringing your own personality, perspective, and strengths into the conversation. We also explored storytelling and the role it plays in everything from sales and leadership to building relationships and communicating ideas. J and Nora made the...
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The New Rules Of Teamwork In The Age Of AI featuring Dane Groeneveld
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
I recently sat down with Dane Groeneveld for the second part of our conversation on Snafu, where we went deeper into his journey, his thinking on teams and leadership, and what it takes to navigate work when the world changes faster than we can plan for it. We talked about Dane’s childhood growing up in Australian mining towns, his 25-year career in recruiting, and the experiences that led him to become fascinated by what makes some teams thrive while others struggle. We also explored AI, from its potential to create abundance to the disruption and uncertainty it may bring. Dane shared how...
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The Myth of AI Adoption
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
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The Art of Human Connection featuring Adam Rosendahl
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Rosendahl – facilitator, artist, and founder of Late Nite Art – for a conversation about creativity, trust, belonging, and why deeply human experiences may matter more than ever in an increasingly AI-driven world. Adam’s work uses collaborative art, storytelling, music, and facilitation to help people lower their defenses and reconnect with one another in ways that traditional meetings, networking, and workplace culture often fail to create. We explore how creativity can function as a kind of social technology — building trust, emotional openness,...
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Why Human Experience Still Matters In The Age Of AI featuring Sara Loncka
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
In this episode, I’m joined by Sara Loncka – experiential learning designer, leadership strategist, and CEO of Experience Institute – for a conversation about why human experience may matter more than ever in an increasingly AI-driven world. Sara’s work focuses on leadership development, experiential learning, and organizational transformation, but this conversation goes far beyond workplace training. It’s about what happens when people become disconnected from themselves, each other, and the environments shaping their lives – and why intentional experiences can interrupt the...
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Incorruptible: How Great Companies Stay Great featuring Eric Ries
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
In this episode, I’m joined by Eric Ries – entrepreneur, founder of the Lean Startup movement, and author of The Lean Startup and Incorruptible – for a conversation about what it actually takes to build companies that last. Eric’s work has shaped how startups and large organizations approach innovation, but this conversation goes deeper than experimentation. It’s about what happens after you succeed and why so many good companies slowly lose their way. At the center is a concept he calls financial gravity: the invisible force that pushes organizations toward short-term decisions,...
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How Cults Work with Ellen Huet
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
In this episode, I’m joined by Ellen Huet – journalist at Bloomberg and author of Empire of Orgasm – for a conversation about power, belonging, and the sometimes blurry line between influence and manipulation. Ellen has spent over a decade covering Silicon Valley – from AI startups to the personalities shaping the industry. Empire of Orgasm explores OneTaste, the sexual wellness company and alleged sex cult. Throughout the book, Ellen also explores the broader question of how high-demand groups actually work. At the center of this book is the uncomfortable idea that cults aren’t a...
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Building Community that Drives Business with Joshua Zerkel
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
In this episode, I’m joined by Joshua Zerkel – community strategist, former Evernote ambassador turned community leader, and author of The Community Code – for a conversation about what it really takes to build community that drives business outcomes. Joshua’s path is anything but typical. He started as a power user and advocate, writing productivity books about Evernote before eventually joining the company and helping scale its community as it grew from 100M to 200M users. From there, he went on to build and lead community at Asana, turning it into a global program spanning forums,...
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How to Move People with Lindsey Caplan
Snafu w/ Robin Zander
.In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsey Caplan — organizational psychologist, former Hollywood screenwriter, and upcoming author — for a conversation about creativity, communication, and how people and groups are actually moved. Lindsey’s path is anything but linear. She started her career on TV and film sets in Los Angeles, working on shows like Malcolm in the Middle, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Amazing Race. From there, she transitioned into learning and development at companies like DreamWorks Animation, Zendesk, and Credit Karma, eventually stepping fully into organizational...
info_outlineWelcome back to Snafu with Robin Zander.
In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Painter, founder of Breakthru – a platform bringing movement, mindfulness, and behavior change into workplaces around the world.
We talk about how Melissa uses movement as a tool to improve focus, resilience, and well-being, and how her background in dance and creative movement informs her approach to human performance. We explore the science and art of helping people move more, think better, and feel more connected to their work and each other.
Melissa shares how she designs short, immersive experiences for employees, what it takes to change workplace culture, and why small, intentional shifts in movement can unlock big changes in thinking and performance.
We also dive into the intersection of creativity, neuroscience, and technology, and how thoughtful, human-centered design can make work feel more alive and meaningful.
If you’re curious about how movement, mindfulness, and behavior change can transform your work and life, this episode is for you. And for more conversations like this, stay tuned for Responsive Conference 2026, where we’ll be continuing the dialogue on human connection, creativity, and thriving in the modern workplace.
I’m so glad and honored to have Melissa joining us in this talk. If you’re interested in her work, take a look at Breakthru – you can try it and share it with your team here: Take your first Breakthru! https://breakthru.me/