Not Simple

Not Simple is created by people who care deeply about the way we as humans oversimplify the complex problems of the world. Will we solve those problems in this podcast? Probably not! But we encourage you to join us as we embrace their complexity and try to think differently.

Not Simple: Cathy Carroll, Leading a Family Business With Love and Logic 10/25/2024

Not Simple: Cathy Carroll, Leading a Family Business With Love and Logic Cathy Carroll is the granddaughter of an entrepreneur who led a Fortune 500 company and the daughter of an entrepreneur. She led a turnaround of her father's manufacturing business and encountered the distinctions between leadership in a corporate domain and leadership in a family business. She founded Legacy Onward, Inc. to support family business leaders through the complexities of family business leadership. Her book is out now. Rebecca and Cathy discussed the complexities of leadership in family businesses, with Cathy sharing her insights from her experience leading her father's business and her book, "Hug of War, How to Lead a Family Business with both Love and Logic." They explored the concept of 'hug of war' and the importance of balancing the business and family mindsets in a family business. The conversation also touched on the concept of integrating opposing mindsets, the role of shadow influencers, and the challenges of leadership and ownership succession in family businesses. Mentioned in the podcast: /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/33614292

Not Simple: Robin Katcher, Cooperative Leadership 10/10/2024

Not Simple: Robin Katcher, Cooperative Leadership "Societal change requires movements and networks of organizations working together—but what if the way we work together could be even better? Could it lead to greater freedom for our leaders and more realistic expectations? ... No one person holds the answer, but when the right people come together, we just might find a better one." Robin Katcher is a colleague at Cultivating Leadership and has spent the past 25 years supporting justice organizations, leaders, and networks as a faciliatior, consultant, and a coach. She and Rebecca discuss how leaders from across different organizations come together across differences to accomplish tasks and win gains that they couldn't on their own and how that affects their leadership. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/33395677

Dr. Jaime Lee, the Power of Rest 07/11/2024

Dr. Jaime Lee, the Power of Rest "How do you experience rest while doing what you love? What if we could even experience a sense of relaxed focus while hosting a party for 20?" In our latest podcast episode, we dive deep into the art of grounded leadership with , a fellow CL colleague. Jaime believes that true leadership starts with connecting to our health and the innate intelligence of our bodies. She expertly guides her clients and teams through the intricate balance of work, life, health, and relationships, helping them reclaim their sovereignty, alignment, and wholeness for a more effortless flow. Jaime explores how we can cultivate rest daily, even while hosting a party or pursuing our passions. She challenges the traditional view of self-care, suggesting that instead of fixing deficiencies, we can embrace self-acceptance and see that we already have everything we need. Discover how making time your friend and putting "breathe" on your to-do list can transform your life, allowing you to be more generous with yourself and more trusting of the world in this latest podcast hosted by Rebecca Scott. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/32074832

Victoria Leavitt, Sex Differences in the Brain 05/23/2024

Victoria Leavitt, Sex Differences in the Brain “So it’s not that our brain constrains the activities we can engage in and the behaviors that we have. It’s the other way around. The behaviors we engage in change the brain we have.” Dr. Victoria Leavitt is an assistant professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University who studies brain resilience, brain reserve, and cognitive reserve, companion theories that help us understand individual differences in our ability to maintain brain function over the lifespan. She and Rebecca discuss the arc of evolution, the effect biologial dictates have on our brains, the challenges of thinking about difference, and the promise (and limits) of precision medicine. Mentioned in this episode: Dr. Leavitt’s research on sex difference: Leavitt VM, Dworkin JD, Kalina T, Ratzan AS. Sex differences in brain resilience of individuals with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 May 1;87:105646. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105646. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38718749. Leavitt VM, Dworkin JD, Galioto R, Ratzan AS. Disparities in DMT treatment: Demographic and neurocognitive differences between MS patients currently treated versus not treated with disease-modifying therapies. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 May;85:105508. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105508. Epub 2024 Feb 22. PMID: 38452646. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/31444392

Barry Bales, Small Moves 05/09/2024

Barry Bales, Small Moves “In addition to it being small moves, I would say consistent moves. What are those consistent practices help that create the conditions for impact?” CL colleague thinks of leadership as an action rather than a title, and he knows that sometimes the most effective actions are small ones. He and Wendy discuss the importance of connection and engagement, as well as the small moves they’ve seen have big impact. Mentioned in this episode: /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/31216962

Elena Tochilina, War in Ukraine 04/26/2024

Elena Tochilina, War in Ukraine “It’s like our mind wants to categorize things, and it’s much easier to feel pity than trying to embrace the complexity that life goes on and you can live in the midst of war.” is a Ukrainian coach and consultant as well as a colleague at Cultivating Leadership. In this conversation she challenges Wendy, and all of us, to step away from pity and see life in the midst of war as changing, evolving, and composed of not just pain but also beauty. Mentioned in this episode: by Giovanni Boccaccio /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/31001263

Fred Jones, Meanwhile 04/12/2024

Fred Jones, Meanwhile “I care about supporting people more as wayfinders and what it might take to ditch the maps and find your own way—and keep learning and growing.” CL colleague Fred Jones is a lover and collector of questions that he stays with a long time. One of those questions: how do you help people create time and space for reflection in periods of transition, those moments of “meanwhile” where what’s next isn’t obvious? Join Fred and Wendy as they explore the questions this question inspires that might help in these mapless moments. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Fred and his work at . /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/30799243

Rehema Kutua, Primary Care 03/28/2024

Rehema Kutua, Primary Care “It matters how we feel because how we feel and how we’re doing impocts everyone.”   TV has taught us that doctors are sexy, mysterious superheroes, but what is really happening at the other end of the stethoscope is more complex than we realize. Rehema Kutua, a pediatrician and certified coach, came to Not Simple to discuss what it feels like to be a primary care physician today and what happens when we see the human behind the title. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/30580413

Bill Pullen, Change 03/14/2024

Bill Pullen, Change “There’s a deep sense of letting go, of surrendering so they can open up into a new possibility for themselves, whether it’s becoming a coach or becoming a senior leader or leading in a new way.” We all know changing behaviors and habits is hard, but our language around it often “just” oversimplifies it. Bill Pullen brings his experience as a person in recovery, a coach, and a teacher of coaches to this thoughtful conversation that covers adult development, the importance of connection, and the slow and beautiful process of emergence. Mentioned in this episode: Read more of Bill's thoughts on change on the . /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/30364388

Jennifer Garvey Berger and Carolyn Coughlin, Unleash Your Complexity Genius 05/25/2023

Jennifer Garvey Berger and Carolyn Coughlin, Unleash Your Complexity Genius "Carolyn and I got excited about the question of how does your body know how to handle complexity in ways that are exciting and useful and even joyful—and how can you amplify that?" Wendy is back in the host's chair, talking to her longtime friends and colleagues about their book, Unleash Your Complexity Genius: Growing Your Inner Capacity to Lead. They cover action urges, the power of noticing, and the genius of breath, dance, and laughter. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/26954028

Human Work, Leanne Holdsworth and Naryan Wong 05/11/2023

Human Work, Leanne Holdsworth and Naryan Wong "What we’re seeing as we start to humanise organizations is this acknowledgment that actually leadership exists within everyone." Leanne Holdsworth and Naryan Wong recently led their Cultivating Leadership colleagues in a research and writing project that resulted in the book Human Work: Five Leadership Mindsets for Humanising Workplaces. They share those mindsets with Rebecca and discuss the ripples unleashed when work is truly human. Their book is available now. Learn more and connect with The Human Work Network . /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/26812230

Leading Through Covid, Jarel LaPan Hill 07/14/2022

Leading Through Covid, Jarel LaPan Hill "I think we do ourselves such a disservice to not acknowledge that iterative process, to just pretend that it’s yes/no, black/white. It’s never been the world we live in, but it certainly isn’t now." Jarel LaPan Hill, the former city manager of the City of Santa Fe, NM, shares the complexity lessons learned managing an organization through Covid and how we might carry them forward. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/23745284

Eileen O'Grady, Unconventional Wellness 05/20/2022

Eileen O'Grady, Unconventional Wellness “I spent two decades writing prescriptions… and it occurred to me that what determined somebody’s health was really what they were doing between visits.”   Dr. Eileen O’Grady is a nurse practitioner, a wellness coach, and the author of . She joined Rebecca and Diana to discuss often overlooked facets of well-being like setting boundaries, parenting, and dealing with difficult people. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/23178341

Jennie Snyder, Educational Change 04/28/2022

Jennie Snyder, Educational Change “We tend to think if we send teachers off to a two day workshop magically they’ll come back to the classroom and be able to do something different that will impact the lives of children.” Dr. Jennie Snyder, deputy superintendent for instructional services for the Sonoma County Office of Education and longtime educator, talks to Wendy about enacting change in education and the difference made by approaching things with a spirit of experimentation and curiosity. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/22942232

Ciela Hartanov, Sensitivity 03/24/2022

Ciela Hartanov, Sensitivity "There is so much emergent change that’s happening around us, so we need every piece of this human condition to be able to be okay and to thrive and to be resilient." Dr. Ciela Hartanov is the founder of , and her book, Reclaiming Sensitivity, will be out in the new year. She and Wendy discuss how we have oversimplified the idea of sensitivity and what we may gain by embracing it in all of its complexity and messiness. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/22557866

Parker Mitchell, Talking Our Way to Better Teams 03/10/2022

Parker Mitchell, Talking Our Way to Better Teams “We try to help people ask additional questions, to say ‘How might I work differently than Wendy and how can I take a couple of steps to be closer to where she is so that our differences can be strengths?’” Parker Mitchell is the founder of , a software company specializing in building stronger teams. He joined Wendy to talk about teamwork—especially how to help individuals work with a wider diversity of styles and approaches. /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/22408709

Sarah Dasher, Stigma and Disclosure 12/09/2021

Sarah Dasher, Stigma and Disclosure “The world doesn’t allow a lot of room for messiness these days, as messy as the world is.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/21425378

TJ Fairchild, Coffee and Connection 10/28/2021

TJ Fairchild, Coffee and Connection "Every moment in my life where I’ve learned some massive truth or had some big epiphany has always been in some small group or coffee shop experience. Human connection is ridiculously important to me." /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/20971724

Dominic Longo, Leadership Development and DEI 10/14/2021

Dominic Longo, Leadership Development and DEI “The world demands that all leaders be inclusive leaders. If we’re not leading inclusively, we’re really not leading in some crucial dimension.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/20819876

Amiel Handelsman, Jewel Kinch-Thomas, & Greg Thomas, Interdependent Independence 09/23/2021

Amiel Handelsman, Jewel Kinch-Thomas, & Greg Thomas, Interdependent Independence “I see democracy as a reflection of and a demonstration of how much we value each other as human beings. And in that light, it is very relational. It is very interdependent.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/20578607

Kerry Arabena, Developing Healthy Families 09/09/2021

Kerry Arabena, Developing Healthy Families “As women, when you carry a daughter, you’re also carrying your grandchildren… so having a quality experience of pregnancy will impact two generations down the line.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/20426348

Jewel Kinch-Thomas and Greg Thomas, Jazz and Leadership 07/22/2021

Jewel Kinch-Thomas and Greg Thomas, Jazz and Leadership “You don’t always know exactly what to expect, but you know that everyone is bringing their best to that moment and so then what is created is something that is reflective of all of those bests coming together." /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/19896665

Monica Hopkins, Criminal Justice & Urbanization 07/08/2021

Monica Hopkins, Criminal Justice & Urbanization “We are the largest incarcerator in the world. That is our response to everything. I think it is the place where we cannot afford to oversimplify anymore” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/19749917

Rachel Simmons, Asking for Help 06/10/2021

Rachel Simmons, Asking for Help “The more complex work that I’ve tried to do is to really dig into those unwanted identities… and say, ‘Well, is it really true that I’m a burden to others?’” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/19433474

Tom Draffen, Adoption & Identity 05/27/2021

Tom Draffen, Adoption & Identity “Even that simplifies the process; it’s just a box and a name on a tree and then you pick up the phone and there’s a voice on the other end of it and it alters the landscape just a hair.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/19266779

Nicolai Tillisch, Ambition 05/13/2021

Nicolai Tillisch, Ambition “What we find is that there are three aspects of life that they are good at nurturing… performance or achievement, personal growth, and well-being.”   /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/19096808

Aletha Snowberger, Reopening Schools in a Pandemic (2) 04/21/2021

Aletha Snowberger, Reopening Schools in a Pandemic (2) “The problem with strategic planning in a pandemic is there are so many different elements in there that impact our ability to have student achievement, but we can’t lose sight of that goal.”   /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/18814436

Rebecca Scott, Setting Boundaries 04/08/2021

Rebecca Scott, Setting Boundaries “I’m trying to say yes to the things that bring me more joy.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/18651320

April Carson, Public Health and COVID 12/10/2020

April Carson, Public Health and COVID “Public health is happening in communities, in neighborhoods, where you live, where you work, and there’s not really enough appreciation for that.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/17144423

The Poseidon Adventure: Leadership Lessons from the Gods 11/25/2020

The Poseidon Adventure: Leadership Lessons from the Gods “There’s something very powerful about the fact that we see ourselves in stories.” /episode/index/show/notsimple/id/16912325

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