The Simplifiers Podcast
The Simplifiers Podcast is for HR leaders, People & Culture pros, and people managers who want to improve the employee experience (EX) in simple, practical ways. Hosted by Mary Baird, each episode breaks down what drives workplace culture, trust, retention, and change management—with an employee listening / voice of the employee mindset from the start. Built around The Simplifiers Employee Experience Flywheel™ (anchored in employee listening), you’ll get real-world tools for: talent assessments, succession planning, employer brand, leadership development (manager enablement, coaching, and feedback), new hire onboarding, recognition and engagement programming, performance management, digital employee experience, and workplace experience—designed to scale across the enterprise. If you’re a corporate HR pro, people manager, or senior leader who wants a better workplace—and you’re trying to create positive, scalable change with ideas you can actually use—press play.
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427: How to better understand your team - with Scott Wood
07/14/2026
427: How to better understand your team - with Scott Wood
If you lead a team, work on a team, or are trying to build a better one, you’ve probably noticed this: People do not all think, communicate, or make decisions the same way. And that can either create friction… or it can become one of your team’s greatest strengths. The problem is, many leaders say they want diverse teams, but then unintentionally hire, promote, or reward people who operate exactly like they do. Same communication style. Same decision-making style. Same way of solving problems. Same way of showing up at work. And over time, that can create blind spots, groupthink, and missed opportunities. My special guest today is Scott Wood and he’s simplifying how to better understand your team. Scott is the author of , a book and framework that uses animal personality types to help people better understand themselves and the people around them. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: The core idea behind Jungle Motives, and how animal personality types can help us better understand the people we work with. Four primary types include: Bear - balanced, event planners, intellectual, inventors Monkey - spontaneous and make everything fun Horse - Herd animal, focused on building community and connections Jungle cat - Alpha personality, natural leader, top-of-the-food-chain, and at times, focused on control Why he believes many organizations are using talent assessments the wrong way. Where leaders go wrong when they use personality data to decide who “fits” a role. How to separate personality from capability, especially when someone has the potential to be great but needs stronger skills, training, or support. Why teams get weaker when leaders surround themselves with people who think, communicate, and operate just like them. Better to have diversity in: Personality Character Perspective And what to do after your team takes an assessment so the insights actually improve communication, trust, culture, and performance. The goal is not to put people in boxes. It’s to better understand how to lead them well. That’s how diverse teams build stronger culture, better ideas, and healthier growth. Q: Are you wanting to better understand your team? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B171: How to stop carrying it all (guided visualization)
07/07/2026
B171: How to stop carrying it all (guided visualization)
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to stop carrying it all. Because maybe right now, you’re carrying more than people can see. The decisions. The details. The emotional labor. The deadlines. The expectations. The invisible mental list that seems to follow you from room to room. Maybe you’re the one everyone comes to. The steady one. The capable one. The one who knows where everything is, what needs to happen next, who needs what, and what might fall apart if you stop paying attention. And maybe lately, it’s been feeling like too much. Not because you’re weak. Not because you’re bad at this. Not because you should be able to handle more. But because no human being was designed to carry everything at once. So this episode is an invitation to pause. To stop gripping so tightly. To come back to yourself. To remember that responsibility does not require self-abandonment. You do not have to hold the whole world together today. You get to breathe. You get to notice what is yours. You get to release what is not. And you get to take the next right step with a little more steadiness. 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 inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to stop carrying it all. You can do this, I believe in you. It’s time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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426: How to listen like a (real) leader - with Dr. Adam Hickman
06/30/2026
426: How to listen like a (real) leader - with Dr. Adam Hickman
We say we want leaders who listen. But if we’re being honest, a lot of what we call “listening” is really just waiting for our turn to respond. Or scanning the engagement survey results and then, do nothing. Or hosting an overly scripted town hall. Or asking employees for feedback once a year, checking the box, and moving on. But real listening? That requires better questions. Simpler questions. Braver questions. Questions like: What’s not working? Where are you stuck? What are we pretending not to see? And maybe the most important one for senior leaders to ask themselves: How did we get these results in the first place? My special guest today is Dr. Adam Hickman, VP of Employee Development, Talent Management, and HRIS with Partners / The Walt Disney Company, and he’s simplifying how to listen like a (real) leader. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: Why he believes we don’t actually have a listening problem, we have a question problem. Why leaders often avoid asking the most basic questions, even when those questions could reveal what’s really broken at work. What to do after your engagement survey results come in, so feedback turns into action instead of another forgotten report. The art of asking great questions, and why leaders should not always start with the end in mind. And how to reframe engagement as a real performance driver, while also letting go of the myth that people need to show up as all-star workers every single day. Q: Are you wanting to listen like a (real) leader? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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425: How to create a people-first leadership strategy - with Christy Honeycutt
06/23/2026
425: How to create a people-first leadership strategy - with Christy Honeycutt
Leadership 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: 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. What it means to “hold space” for C-suite leaders and founders as they elevate, especially in high-pressure seasons of transition. How self-awareness, CliftonStrengths, and meditation can help leaders understand their strengths, regulate their emotions, and make better decisions under pressure. 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. And there's a moment where we totally geek out about a reality TV show on 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! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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424: How to squash burnout at work - with Michelle Hartley (ALL-STAR)
06/16/2026
424: How to squash burnout at work - with Michelle Hartley (ALL-STAR)
Just checking in… How are you doing? No like, really. On a scale of 1-10 (10 = on the brink), are you feeling a bit frazzled, stressed, or overworked? Answer honestly, friend. How are you feeling these days? My all-star special guest today is Michelle Hartley and she’s simplifying how to squash burnout at work. You see, this insidious little thing called burnout can sneak up on you while you’re not looking. And if you’ve been pounding away the triple iced coffees and burning the candle at both ends, you might not have noticed how it’s wearing down your body, mind, and spirit. But the good news is… you can do something about it. *NOTE: This episode originally aired on June 18, 2024. Here’s how. My all-star special guest today is Michelle Hartley and she’s simplifying how to squash burnout at work. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What the tell-tale signs are that you’re about to hit burnout soon. The biggest misconception people have about burnout recovery and how to squash it in a different, more simpler way. What the three phases to burnout recovery are and how to take good care of yourself in each phase. How to ask your manager and/or HR team for support before/during/after you experience burnout and how to overcome the fear of speaking up. Also, if you’re a people leader who notices someone is struggling on your team, she shares what you can do to proactively support them through it and help them get back to thriving. …and ultimately, the truth is that many people who suffer from burnout do it again and again… Michelle shares how you can begin to see the warning signs sooner in order to stop the cycle, or at least slow it down. Q: Are you ready to learn how to squash burnout at work? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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423: How to not crash out at work - with Hiba Tanvir
06/09/2026
423: How to not crash out at work - with Hiba Tanvir
Let’s be honest. Work can bring out parts of us we don’t always love. The sharp email. The tense meeting. The moment you feel your face get hot and your patience leave the building. The instant when one more request, one more change, one more “quick question” feels like the thing that might finally push you over the edge. And in those moments, it can feel like your brain has gone offline. You’re not thinking clearly. You’re reacting. You’re defending. You’re spiraling. You’re trying not to say the thing you’ll regret later. In other words… you’re trying not to lose your ish at work. My special guest today is Hiba Tanvir and she’s simplifying how to not crash out at work. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What emotional dysregulation can look like at work, and why it doesn’t always show up as a big dramatic blow-up. The early signs we might notice in ourselves or others before we reach that breaking point. What to do in the moment to regulate your nervous system before you react. When someone does crash out at work, what belongs to the manager, what belongs to the individual, and how both can respond with more care and accountability. What it means to “lend your calm and your cortex” when someone else is dysregulated. How her “Play & Pause” methodology can help us create just enough space to choose a better response. And in her chapter on emotional intelligence in the AI era, Hiba connects emotionally intelligent leadership to hope. So we talk about how leaders can use: Self awareness - being aware of your needs, strengths and weaknesses Self management - what do I need in order to regulate? Social awareness - empathy and compassion for others, and reading the room - “empathy in action” Relationship-building - working together with others …to help people feel steadier, safer, and more hopeful at work. And why that is something AI simply cannot replace. Q: Are you wanting to not crash out at work? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B170: How to reset your energy (guided visualization)
06/02/2026
B170: How to reset your energy (guided visualization)
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to reset your energy. Because maybe you are halfway through the year and already feeling tired. Maybe the first half of the year asked a lot of you. The meetings. The decisions. The constant change. The budget pressure. The AI conversations. The team needs. The invisible emotional labor. The things you handled that no one else even saw. Maybe you have been holding it all together for everyone else. Your team. Your family. Your clients. Your organization. Your people. And somewhere along the way, your own energy got pushed to the bottom of the list. So this episode is an invitation to pause. Not to perform wellness. Not to force positivity. Not to pretend everything is fine. Just to pause. To breathe. To notice what your body knows. To ask yourself what needs to be restored before you keep going. Because here’s the truth, dear friend: You are not a machine. You are not your calendar. And you are (certainly) not your inbox. You are a human being. And human beings need rest. They need space. They need sunlight. They need breath. They need permission to begin again. 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 inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to reset your energy. You can do this, I believe in you. It’s time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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422: How to make workforce training stick - with Ryan McCrea
05/26/2026
422: How to make workforce training stick - with Ryan McCrea
Here’s the thing about workforce training… Most companies are not short on content. They are not short on slide decks. They are not short on smart people teaching smart ideas. But the real question is this: Does the training actually stick? Because we’ve all been in those sessions where everyone nods along in the room… maybe even feels inspired for a minute… and then Monday happens. The inbox fills back up. The meetings stack up. The old habits come roaring back. And suddenly, that great training moment becomes just that. A moment. So how do we help busy adults learn in a way they can actually remember, apply, and turn into real behavior change at work? My special guest today is Ryan McCrea, and he’s simplifying how to make workforce training stick. Here’s how. My special guest today is Ryan McCrea and he’s simplifying how to make workforce training stick. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What micro-sized learning is, and why it works so well for busy adults at work. What helps people actually retain new information, including the power of relevance, repetition, and real-world application. How AI can support learning without weakening critical thinking, human skills, or good judgment, including the AHAH Method: A = Ask the right question H = Human first A = AI second H = Human last What it takes to turn training into real behavior change on the job, not just a great learning moment in the room. And the role managers play after training, including how they can reinforce learning, coach in 1:1s, and recognize positive behavior change when they see it. Q: Are you wanting to help make your workforce training stick? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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421: How to heal your career wounds - with Mandy Tang
05/19/2026
421: How to heal your career wounds - with Mandy Tang
Sometimes, the thing we call “career stress” is actually something deeper. It is not just one hard week. Or one bad boss. Or one season of burnout. Sometimes, work leaves a mark. A layoff that shook your confidence. A toxic leader who made you question your voice. A job that trained you to people-please, over perform, stay quiet, or constantly prove your worth. And even after you leave that role… the wound can come with you. My special guest today is Mandy Tang, and she’s simplifying how to heal your career wounds. Here’s how. My special guest today is Mandy Tang and she’s simplifying how to heal your career wounds. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What a career wound actually is, and how it’s different from everyday job stress. Why patterns like perfectionism, burnout, imposter syndrome, apathy, and comparison show up so often, especially for high achievers. What it means to reclaim your voice and reclaim your peace after a toxic boss, painful layoff, or season of people-pleasing. How her “dark night of the soul” framework can help you understand where you are in the healing process. Disruption - the event where there’s no turning back Dismemberment - coming back to create space with limited direction Liminal Space - the void, the in-between time Rememberment - coming back together with intention And where to begin if you feel stuck, exhausted, disconnected, or unsure how to find your way back to yourself at work. Q: Are you wanting to heal your career wounds? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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420: How to leverage Human Intelligence in a digital world - with Jacqueline Langlois
05/12/2026
420: How to leverage Human Intelligence in a digital world - with Jacqueline Langlois
We are living through a fascinating moment at work. Technology keeps getting faster. AI keeps getting smarter. And digital tools keep changing how we communicate, collaborate, and lead. But here’s the thing: The more digital our world becomes, the more human our leadership has to be. Because people still need clarity. They still need trust. They still need connection. They still need leaders who know how to communicate with care, intention, and presence. My special guest today is Jacqueline Langlois, and she’s simplifying how to leverage Human Intelligence in a digital world. Here’s how. My special guest today is Jacqueline Langlois and she’s simplifying how to leverage Human Intelligence in a digital world. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What “Human Intelligence” really means, and why these skills matter even more in a world that is becoming more digital, automated, and AI-enabled. What she means by “Gen D,” the digital generation, and how this shift is changing the way leaders need to communicate, connect, and build trust. How to think about the “leadership thermostat,” and why leaders set the tone for their teams instead of simply reacting to the temperature around them. How to communicate through screens in a more human way, stop making assumptions, and bring greater intention to digital conversations. And how leaders can rebuild clarity, confidence, and communication when they feel stuck, shaken by change, or caught in imposter syndrome. Q: Are you wanting to leverage Human Intelligence in a digital world? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B169: How to squash the Sunday Scaries (guided visualization)
05/05/2026
B169: How to squash the Sunday Scaries (guided visualization)
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to squash the Sunday Scaries. Because maybe it’s Sunday night for you right now. Maybe tomorrow morning is already starting to creep into your mind. The inbox. The meetings. The decisions. The people. The deadlines. The things you know are waiting for you. Or maybe it’s not Sunday at all. Maybe it’s the middle of the workweek and you feel that same tightness in your chest. That same mental swirl. That same feeling of, “I don’t know if I have what it takes for everything ahead.” So this episode is an invitation to pause. To come back to center. To remember that you do not have to solve the entire week tonight. You do not have to carry Monday before Monday arrives. You do not have to be everything to everyone. You simply get to breathe. Choose what matters. And take the next right step. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to #dothething. You can do this, I believe in you. It’s time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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419: How to cultivate Thought Intelligence at work - with Katherine Fry
04/28/2026
419: How to cultivate Thought Intelligence at work - with Katherine Fry
Most of us don’t realize how much our thoughts are shaping the way we move through the workday. How we respond in stressful moments. How we talk to ourselves after a hard meeting. How we make decisions. Set boundaries. Or spiral when things feel off. And when work feels heavy, fast, or overwhelming, it’s easy to believe every thought that passes through our mind is true. But what if it’s not? What if the way we think can be noticed, shifted, and strengthened with practice? And what if doing that could change not just how we work, but how we lead? My special guest today is Katherine Fry, and she’s simplifying how to cultivate Thought Intelligence at work. Here’s how. My special guest today is Katherine Fry and she’s simplifying how to cultivate Thought Intelligence at work. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What in her own story led her to create Thought Intelligence and why this work became so personal. What burnout taught her about the power our thoughts have over our health, choices, and experience at work. What Thought Intelligence means, simplified, and how it connects to emotional intelligence. How to use her CUP framework — Catch, Upgrade, Practice — when your thoughts start working against you. And how connection conversations and more empowered thinking can help you set better boundaries at work. Q: Are you wanting to learn how to cultivate Thought Intelligence at work? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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418: How to gain synergy with your team’s energy - with Vicki Landers
04/21/2026
418: How to gain synergy with your team’s energy - with Vicki Landers
Why do two people experience the exact same moment at work and walk away with completely different stories about what just happened? That’s often where tension begins. Misread signals. Frustration. Defensiveness. Disconnection. But here’s the challenge. It’s easy to assume someone else is the problem. When really, a lot of what’s happening comes down to the lens each person is bringing into the moment. And when you understand that, you can communicate more clearly, work through tension faster, and create stronger team synergy. My special guest today is Vicki Landers, and she’s simplifying how to gain synergy with your team’s energy. Here’s how. My special guest today is Vicki Landers and she’s simplifying how to gain synergy with your team’s energy. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What the Energy Leadership Index is and how it helps us better understand communication patterns, stress responses, and the default ways people show up at work. What she means by the “lens” we choose at work, and how that lens shapes the way we interpret other people’s behavior. A simple breakdown of the different levels or lenses people move through, and what each one can sound like in real-life team communication, including: Level 1 - Victim Level 2 - Conflict Level 3 - Tolerance Level 4 - Compassion Level 5 - Curiosity & Opportunity Level 6 - Flow Level 7 - Enlightenment How this framework can help you stop taking things personally when a coworker seems defensive, distracted, frustrated, or hard to connect with. And two or three small shifts you can make this week to listen better, communicate more clearly, and create more synergy with your team’s energy. Q: Are you wanting to learn how to gain synergy with your team’s energy? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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417: How to use people data to win executive buy-in - with Kelly Timpane
04/14/2026
417: How to use people data to win executive buy-in - with Kelly Timpane
Right now, HR leaders are being asked to do more than ever. They’re expected to solve complex people problems. Guide change. Improve culture. Support the business. And increasingly, they’re being asked to prove it all with data. But here’s the challenge. Having the data is one thing. Knowing how to use it is another. Because if you can’t turn people data into a clear story that matters to executives, even the best ideas can get stuck. Not because they’re wrong. But because the business case wasn’t strong enough. My special guest today is Kelly Timpane, and she’s simplifying how to use people data to win executive buy-in. Here’s how. My special guest today is Kelly Timpane and she’s simplifying how to use people data to win executive buy-in. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: How to define “people data” in a simple, practical way, especially for those new to HR analytics. Why people data is only useful if it’s accurate, trustworthy, and strong enough to support decision-making, especially when AI is involved. How to structure a presentation to your executive leadership team so it’s concise, compelling, and more likely to earn a yes: Problem Impact Solution ROI The biggest mistake HR leaders make when trying to get executive buy-in for a new idea or initiative. And which metrics matter most when making the case for new HR technology versus a people, culture, or employee experience initiative, and how to tie it all back to business impact. Q: Are you wanting to learn how to use your people data to win executive buy-in? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B168: How to #dothething (guided visualization)
04/07/2026
B168: How to #dothething (guided visualization)
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to #dothething. (It’s a hashtag because it’s an action statement!) Especially when you don’t feel fully ready yet. Especially when fear is whispering in your ear. Especially when doubt, hesitation, or perfectionism starts creeping in. Because doing the thing is not about having it all figured out first. It’s about choosing courage. It’s about trusting the next step. It’s about taking action anyway. Maybe the thing for you is going for a walk. Making the call. Pitching the idea at work. Having the hard conversation. Laying down the boundary. Saying hell yes. Or no thank you. Whatever your thing is… today’s episode is for you. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to #dothething. You can do this, I believe in you.It’s time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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416: How to be a positive changemaker - with Catherine Alonzo
03/31/2026
416: How to be a positive changemaker - with Catherine Alonzo
Right now, a lot of people are feeling overwhelmed. At work. At home. In the world around them. Things feel heavy. Uncertain. Bigger than any one person can fix. And when everything feels this hard, it’s easy to wonder… is this just the reality now? Is it hopeless? Or is it still possible to create positive change? My special guest today is Catherine Alonzo, and she’s simplifying how to be a positive changemaker. Here’s how. My special guest today is Catherine Alonzo and she’s simplifying how to be a positive changemaker. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: Why this moment feels so overwhelming right now, both personally and professionally, and how her trifecta of change helps explain what we’re experiencing. Where her own drive to make change comes from, and how that shaped the changemaker and leader she has become. The four tools every changemaker needs: vision, action, core values, and conviction. What “your five yards” means, and how to figure out the part you are meant to carry forward right now. And how to keep going when change feels hard, especially when you’re facing burnout, imposter syndrome, setbacks, or the fear that your efforts are too small to matter. Q: Are you wanting to learn how to be a positive changemaker? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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415: How to build micro-cultures that boost performance - with Bruce Mayhew
03/24/2026
415: How to build micro-cultures that boost performance - with Bruce Mayhew
When people hear the word culture, they often think of something big. Something set at the top. Something shaped by company values, leadership retreats, or a mission statement on the wall. But culture doesn’t only live at the organizational level. It gets built much closer to the ground. In the day-to-day interactions between a manager and their team. In the habits of a small group. In the trust, clarity, and behavior patterns people experience every single day. Because whether leaders realize it or not, they are constantly shaping small team environments that directly affect performance. My special guest today is Bruce Mayhew, and he’s simplifying how to build micro-cultures that boost performance. Here’s how. My special guest today is Bruce Mayhew and he’s simplifying how to build micro-cultures that boost performance. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What a micro-culture is, and why most organizations underestimate its impact. The difference between culture by design and culture by default. Why culture is built locally through everyday relationships between two people or small teams. Why trust matters more than chemistry when building strong teams, and what leaders should focus on instead of personality fit. Why becoming a people leader should be an intentional choice, not just the default next step in someone’s career. And how leaders can support healthy micro-cultures, build loyalty, and lead with integrity without over-controlling the team. Q: Are you needing to learn how to build micro-cultures that boost performance? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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414: How to survive a toxic workplace - with Theresa Chilcoat
03/17/2026
414: How to survive a toxic workplace - with Theresa Chilcoat
A toxic workplace rarely reveals itself all at once. It builds slowly. In the tension people avoid. In the fear of saying the wrong thing. In the stress that follows you home and starts to change how you show up. And over time, even good people can begin reacting in ways that don’t feel like themselves. Because when you’re stuck in survival mode, your clarity gets cloudy. Your confidence starts to slip. And it becomes harder to tell what’s really happening… and how to move forward. My special guest today is Theresa Chilcoat, and she’s simplifying how to survive a toxic workplace. Here’s how. My special guest today is Theresa Chilcoat and she’s simplifying how to survive a toxic workplace. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What actually defines a toxic workplace, and how to tell when you’re in one. What her personal breaking point was, and what made her decide this story needed to become a book. What’s happening internally when people go into survival or reactive mode and start acting out of character. How her four-step response works in real life: Self-awareness Self-control Self-care Self-empowerment. And the single most important pause or reset someone can use right before they react, to regain clarity and agency. Q: Are you needing to learn how to survive a toxic workplace? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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413: How to build a strong culture as a people manager - with Andre Young
03/10/2026
413: How to build a strong culture as a people manager - with Andre Young
When people hear the word culture, they often think of something abstract. Something owned by HR. Something written in a values statement or talked about at the annual offsite. But culture isn’t built in theory. It’s built in the everyday moments. In how a manager starts the day. In how they respond under pressure. In what they model, reinforce, ignore, and repeat. Because whether they realize it or not, people managers are shaping culture every single day. My special guest today is Andre Young, and he’s simplifying how to build a strong culture as a people manager. Here’s how. My special guest today is Andre Young and he’s simplifying how to build a strong culture as a people manager. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: How culture actually gets built day-to-day by people managers, not just by HR or senior leadership. What the “5 Points of Your Day” framework is, and why it matters so much for managers leading people. What are you consuming when you wake up? Does it make you bitter or better? Organize your day and your calendar. Track and write down your ‘wins’ at the top of your to-do list. Focus on relationship building and self-care today. Put you in your calendar, to fill your own cup. How we return home after work is everything. Show up at home how you expect your employees to show up at work every morning: engaged, present, and glad to be there. At night, ask yourself and your closest person: What was my biggest accomplishment from today? Listen with intention. How this framework helps managers stay steady and consistent, especially on stressful or chaotic days, keeping you: Positive Passionate Productive Why leaders need to examine the integrity of what they’re offering their teams — and how to tell if their behavior is helping or hurting the culture they want to build. And why personal leadership matters so much, because whether you’re at work or at home, you’re always role-modeling behavior, through: Communications Connection Culture Q: Are you ready to learn how to build a strong culture as a people manager? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B167: How to lead with gratitude (guided visualization)
03/03/2026
B167: How to lead with gratitude (guided visualization)
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to lead with gratitude. Because gratitude isn’t just a feeling. It’s a leadership practice. It’s the difference between rushing through the day… and actually noticing the people who make the work possible. Between managing tasks… and leading humans. This episode is an invitation to pause, reset your perspective, and reconnect with gratitude as a steady, grounding force in your leadership. Not forced positivity. Not ignoring challenges. But choosing to lead with appreciation, awareness, and intention—even when things feel hard. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to lead with gratitude. I hope this visualization sticks with you the entire week through. Do it again and again if you need clarity or fresh ideas to help your spirit feel refreshed once again… because when you tap into your deep inner knowing, you’re accessing the deep inner wisdom. That electric energy that can be found inside all of us that connects us all together. It knows. You know. We all know if we are brave and we open ourselves to it. You can do this, I believe in you. It’s time to SIMPLIFY. —--- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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412: How to respectfully disagree - with Justin Jones-Fosu (ALL-STAR)
02/24/2026
412: How to respectfully disagree - with Justin Jones-Fosu (ALL-STAR)
Ever been in a heated debate (or worse) an argument where you flat-out disagreed with the other person? How did it go? How did it end? And more importantly, how is that relationship doing after that conversation? Let’s talk about respect today, my friend! My all-star special guest today is author Justin Jones-Fosu and he’s simplifying how to respectfully disagree, both at work and at home. As you think about the potential critical conversations that might happen today or this week ahead, I hope today’s conversation gives you deeper insight on how to keep your cool, not get triggered, but equally, how to gain a deeper understanding of the other side (even if you still disagree after that), so you can maintain a strong working relationship built on dignity, being valued, and solid respect. *NOTE: This episode originally aired on September 9th, 2024. Here’s how. My all-star special guest today is Justin Jones-Fosu and he’s simplifying how to respectfully disagree. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: Why he’s not a big fan of the term “civil discourse” and instead, he suggests there’s a better way to frame things so your communication comes from the heart. What “golden respect” is and how it can help you become a better listener and communicator. How your earliest role models in life are the ones who’ve shaped your communication style now. He talks about his earliest memories of his mom and how she “planted the seeds of humanity” in him that rooted his current work in respectful conversations. What the 5 pillars of respectfully disagreeing are and 1-2 practical tips that you can test out today. Challenge your perspective Be the student Cultivate your curiosity Seek the gray Agree to respect …and ultimately, when someone says something to you that is especially triggering and/or emotionally charged to get a rise out of you, how to handle that situation in the best possible way, moving forward. Q: Are you ready to learn how to respectfully disagree? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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411: How to help high achievers share the load - with Meghan French Dunbar
02/17/2026
411: How to help high achievers share the load - with Meghan French Dunbar
High achievers are the ones everyone counts on. They say yes. They move fast. They carry the team when things get heavy. And on paper, it looks like high performance. But underneath? A lot of “high performance” cultures are really optimizing for output… not human flourishing. And the people who pay the price first are the high achievers — the over-functioners — the ones who quietly become the bottleneck and the safety net. Because when success means sacrifice… sharing the load can start to feel like failure. My special guest today is Meghan French Dunbar, and she’s simplifying how to help high achievers share the load — without slowing everything down. Here’s how. My special guest today is Meghan French Dunbar and she’s simplifying how to help high achievers share the load. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: How to spot whether your culture is optimizing for productivity or human flourishing — and how you can tell by what gets measured and rewarded. What the “success means sacrifice” mindset looks like in day-to-day behavior for high achievers — and why it’s so hard to interrupt. Why burnout is a systemic problem, not an individual one — and the org-level drivers that push high achievers into over-functioning. One simple practice she’s seen in healthy companies that helps high achievers share the load without losing momentum. And for the HRBPs and managers listening: 3 quick moves you can try this week to make “sharing the load” normal — using collaboration and psychological safety, not guilt or heroics. Q: Are you ready to learn how to help your high achievers share the load? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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410: How to be a joy-centered people leader - with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker
02/10/2026
410: How to be a joy-centered people leader - with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker
A lot of people leaders are exhausted right now. They’re holding the line on performance… trying to keep their teams engaged… and making hard calls under pressure. And in the middle of all that, one thing gets pushed to the bottom of the list: Joy. Not the “happy all the time” kind of joy. Not “good vibes only.” But joy as an operating system — the thing that stabilizes how you lead, how you respond, and how you treat people when work gets messy. Because when a leader runs on urgency, fear, or control… the team can feel it. And it costs you: trust, creativity, psychological safety, retention… and eventually, results. My special guest today is Sheryl Raphael Whitaker, and she’s simplifying how to be a joy-centered people leader. Sheryl is a leadership transformation expert and best-selling author of It Starts with Joy: The Inner Shift that Changes Everything. She helps leaders and teams move from overload and disconnection into clarity, authenticity, and steady leadership — through her JoyShift™ method and the idea that “Joy is your COO.” Here’s how. My special guest today is Sheryl Raphael Whitaker and she’s simplifying how to be a joy-centered people leader. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: That when you believe “Joy is an operating system” and “Joy is your COO,” what that really means and the real cost to a team when a leader runs on urgency, fear, or control instead. The most common signs a people leader is not joy-centered (even if they’re high-performing) versus someone who truly is. How to use the JoyAudit — and a couple of questions a manager can ask themselves to get clarity in under 10 minutes. A step-by-step, simplified walkthrough of the JoyShift Method: Joy Aware, Joy Embraced, Joy Committed, Joy in Motion — and one simple action you can take this week for each step. And if joy is the operating system, how it changes the most important people-leader moments: feedback, conflict, decision-making under pressure, and building trust — with a couple “before vs. after” examples you can picture immediately. Q: Are you ready to learn how to be a joy-centered people leader? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B166: How to be a calm, centered people leader (guided visualization)
02/03/2026
B166: How to be a calm, centered people leader (guided visualization)
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to be a calm, centered people leader. Because let’s be honest—leading people is meaningful work… and it can also be emotionally demanding. You’re holding space for others, making decisions, navigating change, managing expectations, and trying to do it all with empathy and integrity. This episode is for the moments when you want to lead with clarity instead of reactivity. With presence instead of pressure. With calm confidence instead of overwhelm. This is about learning how to center yourself first, so you can show up as the steady, grounded leader your people need. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to be a calm, centered people leader. You can do this, I believe in you. It’s time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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409: How to stand out on LinkedIn - with Haley ONeill (ALL-STAR)
01/27/2026
409: How to stand out on LinkedIn - with Haley ONeill (ALL-STAR)
Raise your hand if you’re currently looking for a job right now? You might be curious… How do I get more recruiters to notice me? How do I elevate my credibility in my sector? Or maybe you’re wanting to speak at more industry conferences? How might you better achieve your professional goals this year? Well, it’s time to rethink how you show up on LinkedIn... more specifically, how to stand out on this professional platform as a thought leader. My all-star special guest today is recruiter Haley ONeill and she’s simplifying how to stand out on LinkedIn. With over 109k followers at the time of recording this episode, (now 150k+ as of Jan 2026!) Haley has solidified herself as one of LinkedIn’s top voices in Recruiting, which I can imagine, keeps her talent pipeline quite full when she’s hiring for new roles.* If you’re looking to take your career to the next level, learn from Haley the very best insider secrets to elevate your personal brand on LinkedIn, get connected with others, and become a thought leader in your industry. *NOTE: Haley ONeill is now Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition Strategy & Process Innovation at Marriott International, as of January 2026. Here’s how. My all-star special guest today is Haley ONeill and she’s simplifying how to stand out on LinkedIn. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: Why it’s important to have a personal brand presence on LinkedIn and how to define your WHY. What the first, practical steps are after you define why you want to stand out on LinkedIn. How to create content on LinkedIn that is simple and easy, helping to elevate your voice. What advice she gives to those that are afraid of coming off as “bragging or boasting” when they post about their own achievements. …and ultimately, how to measure your success with all the effort that will be necessary to stand out on LinkedIn. What metric matters the most? Q: Are you ready to learn how to stand out on LinkedIn? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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408: How to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams - with John Bernatovicz
01/20/2026
408: How to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams - with John Bernatovicz
HR teams are being asked to do more than ever before — move faster, support burned-out employees, and navigate constant change. And yet, many HR functions are still operating with a compliance-first mindset that slows innovation and limits impact. What if HR didn’t function like a back-office department… but instead, like a startup inside the organization? My special guest today is John Bernatovicz, and he’s simplifying how to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams. John has built his career blending entrepreneurship and HR, and he believes the future of HR depends on autonomy, agility, ownership, and a problem-solving mindset — not just policies and procedures. Here’s how. My special guest today is John Bernatovicz and he’s simplifying how to build entrepreneurs culture within HR teams. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What it actually means for an HR team to have an entrepreneurial culture — and why it matters now more than ever. One practical shift leaders can make to move HR teams from enforcing rules to solving problems creatively. What the “20 things you MUST do first” really mean in his book HR Like a Boss — including 3–4 of the most impactful ones, like defining your purpose and practicing real self-care outside of work. What would change first if HR operated like a startup — from how we hire, to how we measure success, to how we experiment. …and ultimately, advice for CHROs who want to empower their teams to think like founders, not function owners — even when budgets, compliance, or legacy systems slow them down. Q: Are you ready to learn how to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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407: How to design workspaces where every brain thrives - with Nikki Drader-Mazza
01/13/2026
407: How to design workspaces where every brain thrives - with Nikki Drader-Mazza
When leaders talk about workplace design, they often focus on the physical space. But the environments that shape how people think, collaborate, and perform are just as much about processes, expectations, and unspoken norms. If we want every brain to thrive at work, we have to examine the systems that quietly determine who gets supported — and who’s left to adapt. My special guest today is Nikki Drader-Mazza, and she’s simplifying how to design workspaces where every brain thrives. This conversation challenges how we think about neurodiversity, inclusion, and what it actually takes to build workplaces that work for more people — not just the non-neurodiverse majority. Here’s how. My special guest today is Nikki Drader-Mazza and she’s simplifying how to design workspaces where every brain thrives. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What we really mean by neurodiversity and the newer term “neurodistinct” — and why the language we use matters more than we might think. Why “workspace design” isn’t just about the physical office, and which parts of the work ecosystem most influence whether every brain can thrive. Why it’s critical to examine the assumptions baked into systems designed for the non-neurodistinct population — and the risk of leaving those systems unchallenged. Why stigma around accommodations still exists, and how leaders can begin to dismantle it in meaningful ways. …and ultimately, the first assumption or system leaders and HR teams should take a hard look at when designing workplaces where every brain can thrive. Q: Are you ready to learn how to design a workspace where every brain thrives? If yes, this one is for you. It’s time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B165: How to have an incredible year ahead (guided visualization)
01/06/2026
B165: How to have an incredible year ahead (guided visualization)
Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to have an incredible year ahead. Not a year filled with overwhelm. But a year filled with simplicity and ease. A year where you go after your goals—using your vision board as your compass—guiding you toward what you truly want, need, and desire in your work and your life. This is about … creating new opportunities that actually support your vision of an incredible life. One where you practice discernment. You say no to the things, people, and opportunities that don’t fit your vision. And you stay committed to showing up for the ones that feel like a full-body hell yeah. You’re being bold. You’re asking for what you need—with your outside voice. You’re pursuing what’s already yours. And most importantly… you’re learning to trust yourself. To listen to your intuition. To root down into your deep inner knowing—your deep wisdom and courage. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to have an incredible year ahead. I hope this visualization sticks with you the entire week through. Do it again and again if you need clarity or fresh ideas to help your spirit feel refreshed once again… because when you tap into your deep inner knowing, you’re accessing the deep inner wisdom. That electric energy that can be found inside all of us that connects us all together. It knows. You know. We all know if we are brave and we open ourselves to it. You can do this, I believe in you. It’s time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B164: How to create a vision board 2.0
12/30/2025
B164: How to create a vision board 2.0
Happy New Year, friends - to kick things off on the right foot, here’s how to create a vision board to help guide you in the year ahead. This has been a tool I’ve used for the last decade and let me tell you, it works! I like to create mine during the last week of the year and it serves as a visual guide to help me remember what is most important in my life. Let me explain… It's a visual representation of my core values, my desires, and my goals. Every single element I put on my vision board has been carefully picked and considered to ensure it feels right… and it’s actually what I want to create in the year ahead. As such, I wanted to share my top 5 tips on creating a vision board, so if you want to make one for yourself this year, it’ll be a simple process. I released a similar version of this episode a few years ago and wanted to give you an updated look to how this practice has evolved for me. Thus the 2.0! Here goes… Keep your focus on the Light and your chin up, trusting and believing in the process. Every artist goes through a “this sucks, this sucks, this is the worst, this is horrible, oh look it’s pretty cool” cycle when creating art. Even if you don’t identify as an artist yourself, you’re still going to (likely) go through that cycle too when creating your vision board. It’s a given… but it doesn’t define you. Rise above. You can do this, I believe in you. It’s time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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B163: What I learned this year + what’s next in 2026
12/23/2025
B163: What I learned this year + what’s next in 2026
Gosh, that year went by FAST! Let’s recap 2025 — Season 8 of The Simplifiers Podcast. The greatest things I’ve learned. What stood out the most. And where we’re headed next. ✨ What Season 8 Made Crystal Clear Before I wrap up, I just want to say thank you. To our incredible guests — for sharing real, honest insights. To our clients — for trusting us with meaningful work. And to you, our listeners — for believing that work can be better. Because the truth is… Work is broken for a lot of people. And here at The Simplifiers, we’re on a mission to fix it. By simplifying the complex. Equipping HR professionals. And helping people fall back in love with their work again. As always friends, keep things simple.—--- Show notes available with all links mentioned here:
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