425: How to create a people-first leadership strategy - with Christy Honeycutt
Release Date: 06/23/2026
438: How to turn your accent into an asset - with Nammy Sirur
The Simplifiers Podcast
Have you ever shared an idea at work, only to wonder if people were hearing your accent more than what you were actually saying? Maybe you’ve been asked to repeat yourself. Or you’ve felt pressure to change the way you speak so you’ll sound like everyone else in the room. Over time, that can shake your confidence and leave you feeling like an outsider. But what if your accent isn’t something you need to erase? What if it’s part of the perspective, experience, and identity that makes your voice valuable? My special guest today is communication strategist Nammy Sirur, and...
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437: How to lead yourself before leading others - with Riunita Martin
The Simplifiers Podcast
Picture this: You get promoted. Suddenly, you’re responsible for a team. The decisions come faster. The expectations get bigger. And people want answers... even when you’re still figuring things out yourself. You might not have received much training on how to lead people. But before you look for a quick fix, my guest today says there’s another question that deserves your attention: Who are you becoming as a leader? You say you value honesty, but what happens when telling the truth might upset your boss? You want your team to speak up, but how do you respond when someone...
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B174: How to calm your nerves (ALL-STAR - guided visualization)
The Simplifiers Podcast
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to calm your nerves, especially if you’re about to do something big in life. Maybe you’re about to take the stage and deliver a presentation… or maybe you’ve got to have a crucial conversation and want to get your point across calm, cool, collected and confident. I mean, there are so many times our emotions and anxiety get the best of us, so how do you get yourself centered? It has everything to do with your central nervous system and today’s episode is especially good to listen to 20-30 minutes before that big moment happens. So,...
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436: How to develop future-ready leaders - with Dr Kevin Fleming
The Simplifiers Podcast
What’s the old career advice you’d get? Choose a path. Work hard. Move up. Stay there. But for the next generation of leaders, my special guest today thinks that careers may look less like climbing a ladder and more like rock climbing... moving sideways, changing direction, and finding a new route when the old one no longer works. AI is changing jobs. Career paths are becoming less predictable. And the skills that helped someone land their first role may not be the same skills they’ll need five years from now. So, how do we prepare emerging leaders for a future that none of us...
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435: How to stop chasing & start creating at work - with Justin Jones-Fosu
The Simplifiers Podcast
You can be dependable, hardworking, and successful at what you do… and still feel unseen. You keep delivering. Keep saying yes. Keep chasing the next goal, the next bit of recognition, or the next sign that your work matters. But when does meaningful work become chasing approval? And what does that cost you as a leader? My special guest today is Justin Jones-Fosu and he’s simplifying how to stop chasing & start creating at work. We’ll talk about why managers shape the meaning people find in their work, often more than the organization’s mission. Justin will also share how...
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434: How to future-proof HR in the age of AI - with Amy Dufrane
The Simplifiers Podcast
HR leaders are being asked to help everyone navigate AI at work. But many are still figuring out what it means for their own roles. How do you guide an organization through a change you haven’t been trained for yourself? And what happens to the future talent pipeline if the work that once helped people start their careers begins to change? My special guest today is Amy Dufrane, CEO of HRCI, and she’s simplifying how to future-proof HR in the age of AI. We’ll talk about why HR professionals feel vulnerable, what leaders need to learn now, and why job design and succession...
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433: How to be a compelling storyteller at work - with Eric Harris
The Simplifiers Podcast
What makes a compelling storyteller at work? Someone who’s an excellent communicator, warm, captivating, and understands the value of being clear and concise. But what if there’s more at play here than what meets the eye? My special guest today is author Eric Harris and he’s simplifying how to be a compelling storyteller at work. If you’ve got a big presentation soon and really need to effectively get your point across, this one is for you! Know your audience Craft your story Know yourself Leverage your environment ---- Show notes available with all links...
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B173: How to reframe anything (guided visualization)
The Simplifiers Podcast
Time for a guided visualization exercise: how to reframe anything. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed or simply have a bit of writer’s block that’s keeping you from doing the thing, my hope is that today’s episode will help you hit the reset button, find clarity, and get yourself in a position to make positive movement forward. And so… to kick off the month, today is another guided visualization episode, which we release on the first Tuesday of every month this season. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your...
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432: How to build a leadership legacy - with Rhoda Banks
The Simplifiers Podcast
Think about the leaders who’ve shaped you. Some made you feel seen, supported, and capable of more. Others left you questioning yourself long after you stopped working with them. Because every leader leaves something behind. A mark. Or a scar. Your leadership legacy isn’t simply what you accomplish or the results you deliver. It’s the imprint you leave on people and how they feel, perform, and lead others after you’re no longer in the room. But we don’t lead from a blank slate. We bring our experiences, beliefs, fears, and personal stories into every decision we make....
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431: How to rethink your job search + career path - with Mike Peditto
The Simplifiers Podcast
Let’s talk about your career. Because for a lot of people right now, work feels shaky. Maybe you’ve been laid off, applied for dozens of jobs with no response, or you’re quietly wondering whether your current career path still makes sense. The rules have changed. AI is reshaping jobs. Hiring technology is filtering candidates before a human ever sees them. And the traditional corporate ladder feels more and more, totally and utterly disconnected from reality. So, how do you stay grounded through the uncertainty? And how do you build a career that can evolve with you? My...
info_outlineLeadership is easy to talk about when everything is calm.
But what about when the system feels stretched?
When the team is tired.
When the pressure is high.
When the old ways of leading are no longer working… but the new way forward still feels unclear. That’s where people-first leadership becomes more than a nice idea. It becomes a strategy.
Because if leaders want to build strong teams, close skill gaps, make better decisions, and create cultures where people can actually do their best work, they have to start with the humans in the room. Including themselves.
My special guest today is Christy Honeycutt and she’s simplifying how to create a people-first leadership strategy.
We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:
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Where leaders should begin when they are assessing where their team is now, identifying skill gaps, and clarifying where they want the team to go next.
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What it means to “hold space” for C-suite leaders and founders as they elevate, especially in high-pressure seasons of transition.
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How self-awareness, CliftonStrengths, and meditation can help leaders understand their strengths, regulate their emotions, and make better decisions under pressure.
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A sneak peek inside her upcoming book, The Inner Work of Leading in a Broken System, and the core ideas leaders need right now to reclaim agency, alignment, and purpose.
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And there's a moment where we totally geek out about a reality TV show on Netflix called "Outlast: the Jungle" that teaches you a lot about good (and bad!) leadership styles that (totally) translate to Corporate America.
Q: Are you wanting to create a people-first leadership strategy? If yes, this one is for you.
It’s time to #DoTheThing!
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Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/425-how-to-create-a-people-first-leadership-strategy---with-christy-honeycutt