Lifting Leaders Podcast

We are revisiting this Fan Favorite episode because it lit so many sparks for our listeners. In this inspiring episode of Lifting Leaders Podcast, we continue our “What Brings Us Hope” series with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and moral activist John Ondrasik, best known as Five for Fighting. Recorded just minutes before he stepped onstage, John shares a powerful reflection on music, moral courage, and hopein a world facing immense challenges. Through songs that spotlight some of humanity’s most painful struggles, he uses his platform to raise awareness, compassion, and purpose-driven action. Listen as John opens up about: 🎵 His creative journey and what fuels his mission to inspire hope 🌍 Lessons he’s learned from some of the world’s most oppressed yet resilient people 💫 The importance of following your moral compass—even when it’s difficult This heartfelt conversation will move you to think differently about leadership, purpose, and the quiet power of hope in action. Listen now and be reminded that even in dark times, one voice—and one song—can make a world of difference.

In this Lifting Leaders Podcast Gems episode, inspired by our conversation with career coach and leadership expert Shirlene Evans, we explore the value of candor in leadership and why courageous conversations are essential for effective leaders. What becomes possible when a leader is willing to clearly name what is not working? In today’s complex and rapidly changing workplace, leaders must strengthen their candor muscle—the ability to speak with honesty, clarity, and purpose. Leadership candor is not about bluntness or criticism. It is about communicating truth with intention, alignment, and respect. We explore how strong leaders anchor candid conversations in shared purpose, organizational vision, and team priorities. When leaders communicate with clarity, confusion decreases, alignment increases, and teams move forward with greater focus and trust. Inspired by Shirlene’s insight, we also discuss the importance of preparing for courageous conversations at work. Before raising difficult issues, leaders should gather relevant information—such as employee feedback, surveys, research findings, and leadership assessments—and seek multiple perspectives. One powerful preparation technique we discuss: Explain the issue as if you were speaking to a sixth grader. This exercise helps leaders simplify complex ideas and communicate with greater clarity. Finally, we unpack why candor delivered with compassion and support is critical for building trust, engagement, and buy-in during change. When people feel respected and understood, they are far more willing to listen, adapt, and participate in meaningful progress. Candor is not always comfortable—but it is one of the most important leadership skills for navigating change, strengthening teams, and leading with integrity. If you are a leader, executive, or team manager seeking to improve communication, feedback, and courageous leadership conversations, this episode offers practical insight and inspiration.

What happens when a successful technology leader feels a spark that simply won’t be ignored? In this inspiring episode of Lifting Leaders Podcast, we welcome Career Coach, Shirlene Evans, ACC, whose thriving career in the tech industry took a powerful turn when she realized her true calling was helping others navigate theirs. That spark shifted her focus from building systems to building people and the ripple effects have been profound. Listen in as Shirlene shares why one of the most overlooked leadership skills is the courage to pause and identify what is not working before rushing in to fix it. Too often, leaders move straight to solutions without fully naming the real issue. Shirlene unpacks what happens, to leaders, to teams, and to entire systems, when things go unspoken. Silence does not create stability; it stifles creativity, drains energy, and quietly erodes innovation. But when leaders learn to speak up with intention, they open the door to fresh thinking and forward momentum. You will also hear why honesty alone is not always enough when naming what is not working. It takes imagination. It takes vision. It takes the ability to see beyond the current reality and invite others into what is possible. Shirlene offers practical recommendations to help leaders build the courage and skill to speak up, move forward, and foster an environment where creativity and innovation thrive. Shirlene’s energy, warmth, and passion for coaching and mentoring shine throughout this conversation. If you have ever felt the tension between staying silent and saying what needs to be said, this episode will light a spark for you. We think you’re going to love this one.

In this Lifting Leaders Spark episode, Tricia Rhine invites listeners to explore a powerful leadership question: What is your leadership superpower? Spark episodes are short leadership reflections designed to help leaders pause, think differently, and apply practical insights in their daily leadership. In this episode, Tricia explores: • Identifying your natural leadership strengths • Recognizing the gifts others consistently see in you • How your strengths can build trust, connection, and psychological safety Through thoughtful questions and relatable insights, this episode encourages leaders to notice the strengths they may be overlooking and to intentionally steward those gifts. ✨ Reflection for listeners: What is the strength people thank you for most often - the one that feels so natural you almost overlook it?

In this powerful “Gems” episode, we revisit our rich conversation with Barbara Acevedo Visser, Master Certified Coach and uncover some leadership gems we gleaned within her wisdom. If you’ve ever left a conversation thinking, “I could have listened better,” this episode is for you. We explore what it really means to listen at deeper levels - beyond words, beyond responses, and beyond the internal dialogue that competes for our attention. Barbara reminds us that curiosity is not just a mindset - it’s a disciplined leadership practice. When we intentionally suspend judgment and choose curiosity instead, we create space for trust, insight, and genuine connection. In the episode, we’re digging into: How suspending judgment transforms conversations and strengthens rapport Why curiosity is the antidote to assumption Simple, practical steps to quiet a busy mind before and during a conversation How both speaker and listener benefit when presence is intentional What to consider before a one-on-one conversation when “fixing” isn’t the goal One of the biggest insights? When leaders enter conversations without the pressure to solve or fix, something powerful happens. Clarity emerges. Trust deepens. And both parties feel heard and valued. Sometimes the most impactful leadership move is not offering the answer - it’s offering your full attention. Barbara’s sage advice offers practical tools you can apply immediately: pausing before responding, checking your intention, naming what you’re noticing, and consciously choosing curiosity over certainty. These simple shifts can radically improve the quality of your leadership conversations. There is so much to hear and reflect on in this episode. If you are committed to building trust, strengthening relationships, and leading with intention, you will find this conversation truly insightful.

We’re taking a short break from our Light the Spark series to share something close to our hearts — love. 💛 In this special post-Valentine’s Day episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we’re sending heartfelt gratitude to you, our listeners, and celebrating the people and places we cherish most — our friends and families, and the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Northwest we’re blessed to call home. We also reflect on a powerful “Gist of Things” article by Marilyn Gist, titled The Courage to Let Yourself Be Helped. As we share highlights from her insights, we explore how accepting help is not weakness - it’s love in action. What goes through your mind when someone offers to help you? Do you worry that they don’t see you are fully capable, on our own? Just what if you accepted help? There’s something profound about this simple exchange. Accepting help can build connection. It can strengthen trust. It can spark community. So, what does that have to do with interdependence? Everything. In this episode, we share stories of when interdependence was simply “the way we did life” - and why it still matters for leaders today. We hope you love this week’s episode - and that it reminds you that leadership, at its core, is relational. 💕

In this Lifting Leaders Podcast Gems episode, we revisit key insights from our conversation with Julie Pham, PhD, author of 7 Forms of Respect and share what we discovered after taking her Respect Assessment. This brief reflection revealed powerful aha moments about how respect is experienced differently across teams and cultures. We explore what the assessment uncovered for us, how leaders can intentionally build trust and respect, and why co creating team norms and working guidelines is essential for a healthy culture. If you are a leader looking to strengthen trust belonging and respect on your team, this episode offers practical insight and inspiration to spark meaningful cultural shifts. ✨ We hope this episode lights a spark and supports you in leading with greater awareness and intention to make a better world.

What does respect really mean and why does it look so different across cultures, teams, and leadership contexts? In this episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we’re joined by Julie Pham, PhD, author of 7 Forms of Respect, to explore how respect shapes leadership effectiveness, influence, trust, and belonging, especially in today’s polarized world. Julie challenges the assumption that respect is universal, inviting leaders to examine how culture, micro-cultures, hierarchy, and lived experience shape both the respect we expect and the respect we extend to others. Together, we dive deeply into two often overlooked forms of respect and why misunderstanding them can quietly erode trust, collaboration, and inclusion on teams. Grounded in our 2026 focus on Influencing Genuine Hope, this conversation explores how curiosity about respect can: Reduce polarized communication Bridge cultural and relational divides Strengthen leadership influence without authority Foster trust, psychological safety, and belonging Insightful, practical, and deeply human, this episode offers leaders a hope-forward path one where respect becomes an everyday leadership practice that brings people closer together rather than pushing them apart.

In this special Lifting Leaders Podcast “Gems” episode, we revisit the most powerful insights from our two Three-Peat conversations with Lindsey Godwin, Jeff McAuliffe, and Carla Ondrasik, three voices shaping the future of leadership, hope, and human-centered change. These conversations were rich with practical wisdom, and today we’re highlighting the moments that truly stood out, the ideas that continue to light the spark, ignite genuine hope, and help leaders lead meaningful change in 2026 and beyond. In this episode, we explore questions that matter deeply for today’s leaders: Why does language matter so much in leadership and change? What’s missing as we look toward the future of our organizations and our world? How does the way we show up influence whether people resist or embrace change? What capabilities and mindsets do leaders need to create a hopeful, sustainable future? As we reflected on these conversations, a powerful meta-message emerged: Slow down. Pay attention. Take intentional steps forward. You’ll hear our guests’ heartfelt recommendations for leaders, including: Starting small and building momentum Noticing where energy and possibility are emerging Reducing distractions to focus on meaningful action Reflecting on lessons learned before setting forward-focused intentions Whether you’re a senior leader, coach, or change agent, this episode offers practical insights and reflective prompts to help you lead with clarity, courage, and hope. 🎧 Listen in—and if you haven’t heard the original Three-Peat episodes yet, be sure to explore them on your favorite podcast platform.

Hope-led leadership. Strategic slowness. Accountability. Collective action. What happens next when The Three-Peat conversation continues? ✨ Deeper reflection. Bolder truth-telling. Practical wisdom for leaders navigating 2026. In Part 2 of The Three-Peat, Dr. Lindsey Godwin, Jeff McAuliffe, and Carla Ondrasik return to explore the mindsets and behaviors leaders need for sustainable, hope-led leadership in a complex world. As the year unfolds, this powerful conversation invites leaders to slow down, pay attention, and lead with greater intention. Together, they challenge urgency culture and explore strategic slowness as a leadership practice, one that creates space for wiser decisions, stronger relationships, and long-term impact. In this episode, we explore: • Why strategic slowness strengthens leadership rather than weakening it • The importance of clarifying intentions at the start of a new year • How accountability turns intention into action and keeps hope moving • A surprising insight about motivation and leadership behavior • What leaders must stop doing-and start doing-in 2026 This conversation calls leaders to release habits that no longer serve and to choose practices rooted in purpose, responsibility, and hope in action. ✨ Listen in and lead differently. Because hope doesn’t rush. Leadership isn’t performative. And the future we’re creating depends on what we choose - starting now. 🎙️ Lifting Leaders Podcast | The Three-Peat-Part 2 Let’s keep lighting the spark.

Hope-led leadership. Resilience. Courageous action. What happens when three trusted leadership voices come together for the first time? ✨ A Three-Peat—and a powerful conversation to launch the new year with clarity, purpose, and hope. In this special two-part episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we welcome back three influential leaders and authors Lindsey Godwin, Jeff McAuliffe, and Carla Ondrasik, for a deep conversation about leadership in uncertain times, meaningful change, and what it takes to move from intention to action. Together, they explore how hope functions as a leadership practice, why curiosity and possibility matter more than ever, and how leaders can break free from unsustainable norms in their organizations, communities, and lives. In Part 1, we explore: • Why hope is not passive, but relational and actionable • How resilience and commitment are built over time • Why leaders must create positive visions of the future • How curiosity, purpose, and courageous leadership open new paths forward This episode is more than a reunion, it’s a call to lead with hope, act with intention, and create meaningful impact. ✨ Join us for Part 1 of The Three-Peat and begin the year with hope-led leadership and real-world action.

As we step into 2026, we’re inviting you into a bold new chapter of hope-driven, human-centered leadership, one grounded in action, connection, and real-world impact. This year on Lifting Leaders Podcast, our focus is clear: Light the Spark. Ignite Genuine Hope. Lead the Change.Together, we’ll explore how leaders can create meaningful change, in themselves, their organizations, their communities, and the world, especially in complex and uncertain times. In 2026, listening goes beyond inspiration. We’ll challenge the idea that hope is simply optimism and instead explore why hope is relational, actionable, and essential for leadership today. Through candid conversations, practical leadership tools, and powerful stories, we’ll show how hope must be practiced and lived or it fades. Expect episodes that: Expand how you think about leadership, purpose, and possibility Offer practical tools you can apply immediately Explore leadership as a force for connection, courage, and positive change Ground hope in intention, action, and human relationships If you’re ready to lead with intention, spark genuine hope, and be part of a leadership community that believes leadership can truly be a force for good, we’d love to have you with us in 2026. 🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join us as we light the spark together.

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a heartfelt pause to reflect on a powerful year of learning, leadership, and HOPE on the Lifting Leaders Podcast. This special year-end episode looks back at the conversations and guests who shaped our thinking, inspired our courage, and reminded us what’s possible when leaders show up with authenticity and purpose. Join us as we revisit the stories and insights that quieted our early-year worries and transformed them into clarity, connection, and renewed belief in what leaders can create even in complex times. Our guests shared extraordinary wisdom this season, helping us see leadership through the lens of hope, resilience, curiosity, and possibility. Most of all, this episode is about gratitude for our remarkable guests, and for YOU. Your presence, engagement, and commitment to leading with intention are the heartbeat of this podcast. You are the reason we show up, week after week, to elevate conversations that move leaders and the world, forward. Listen in as we wrap up 2025 with appreciation, reflection, and an inspired look ahead to 2026. We can’t wait to continue lifting leaders together in the new year.

Lifting Leaders Podcast closes out our 2025 guest lineup with a truly inspiring duo: acclaimed Pacific Northwest landscape photographer Robert LaSelle Chism and his life and creativity partner, Sun So, making her debut on the show. In this visually rich and deeply human conversation, Robert and Sun share the stories, techniques, and artistry behind Robert’s breathtaking Pacific Northwest landscape photography images known for their vibrant color, depth, and mind-bending perspectives. (Yes…including those “how is that even possible?” puddle shots Sun helps direct.) You’ll hear how these high school sweethearts found their way back to one another after years apart and built a life filled with creativity, collaboration, and purpose. Together, they offer a rare look into what it means to merge love, art, and a shared vision, transforming everyday moments into extraordinary works of photographic storytelling. If you’re a photography lover, PNW adventurer, artist, creative professional, or simply someone who loves a beautiful real-life love story, this episode will both inspire and delight. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How Robert captures iconic Pacific Northwest landscapes with next-level composition The creative process and partnership behind his stunning photography Tips for seeing the world through a more artistic lens How love and reconnection sparked a powerful creative collaboration Why everyday scenes (even puddles!) can become extraordinary art Tune in to enjoy an authentic, heart-centered conversation that blends nature, creativity, and the power of partnership. After this episode, you’ll never look at landscape photography—or love—quite the same way again.