(Ep. 263) Garry Ridge: Culture makers and breakers

Defiance is a practice, not a personality - and it's something anyone can do. In Episode 265, Dr. Sunita Sah drops by to redefine defiance. We discuss why people avoid speaking up, the cost of staying silent, and how we can apply acts of "quiet defiance" in the workplace.

You can't lead others unless your first unblock yourself. In Episode 264, Muriel Wilkins explores the hidden beliefs that hold leaders back. We discuss ways to unblock your leadership potential, how to develop strong self-awareness, and how leaders should practice unblocking at every stage of their careers.

WD-40 created a company culture where people can make a contribution, learn something new, feel safe and protected, and go home happy. Do you wish that your company culture looked just like that? In Episode #263, who spent two decades as WD-40's CEO and chairman, explains why "learning moments" drive the culture, how leaders can balance candor with caring, and why ego is the #1 culture killer.

IN EPISODE 262:Leadership is uncomfortable. Finding your leader identity doesn't have to be. In Episode 262, Natalie Pickering explains how leaders can develop their inside game and amplify their impact. We discuss how personal narratives influence leadership style, how to become more comfortable with discomfort, and how to take feedback with more grace. Good leaders operate from the inside out -- and after listening to Natalie, you'll know how to bring out your leadership best.ABOUT NATALIE PICKERING:Natalie Pickering, PhD, is a TEDx speaker, organizational psychologist, and executive coach who helps leaders trade performance pressure for authentic influence. For more than two decades, she's helped executives, founders, and teams  navigate change, strengthen culture, and lead with courage. She is the author of Leading Becomes You: A Real-World Framework for Leading from Inside Out.

IN EPISODE 261:In this episode, Joe Hirsch speaks with Christian "Boo" Boucousis, a former fighter pilot and CEO of Afterburner, about the principles of flawless leadership. Boo shares insights on how the fighter pilot mindset can be applied to business, emphasizing the importance of having a clear destination, valuing mistakes as learning opportunities, and the necessity of debriefing to foster growth and accountability within teams. The conversation highlights how leaders can normalize accountability and create a culture of continuous improvement. ABOUT BOO BOUCOUSIS:Christian “Boo” Boucousis is a former fighter pilot and the CEO of Afterburner, a global leadership company that has worked with over 3,500 organizations and 2 million professionals. Known for bringing fighter pilot precision to business, Boo helps leaders navigate complexity, drive execution, and perform under pressure, and he's the author of The Afterburner Advantage.

IN EPISODE 260:We have too many meetings and not enough clarity. In Episode 260, Rebecca Hinds is here to make meetings more intentional and effective. Using Rebecca's powerful meetings model, you'll learn what to cut, what to keep, and how to right-size your internal communications. From the rise of "digital twins" to measuring meeting ROI, this episode is packed with no-nonsense tips that will make your next meeting time well spent. ABOUT REBECCA HINDS:Rebecca Hinds founded the Work Innovation Lab at Asana and the Work AI Institute at Glean, first-of-their-kind corporate think tanks dedicated to conducting cutting-edgeresearch on the future of work. Her research is consistently featured in top-tier publications and has appeared all across the popular press. She is the author of Your Best Meeting Ever: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done.

IN EPISODE 259:There's value in knowing our core values . In Episode 259, Robert Glazer returns to the show to explore how we should lead and live by core values.  We discuss how core values influence decision-making, the distinction between inner and outer work in identifying values, and whether values can evolve over time. If you want to make better life choices and navigate relationships effectively, you'll find value in thisconversation.ABOUT ROBERT GLAZER: Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency and the recipient of numerous industry and company cultureawards. Robert is the bestselling author of six books, most recently, The Compass Within, and also hosts The Elevate Podcast. He appeared back on Episode 214.LINKS:https://robertglazer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Robert-Glazer-Speaker-Kit-v6-For-Speaking-Bureaus.pdf

IN EPISODE 258:Want to make a great first impression? Put the other person first. In Episode 258, Rebecca Okamato shows us how to make a lasting first impression in 20 words or less. We discuss why so many first impressions fail to impress, how to craft a clear and compelling message, and how to tune our nonverbal cues for success. Whether you're trying to stand out at work, land a new job, or discover new opportunities, these tips will make your first impression memorable.ABOUT REBECCA OKAMOTO:Rebecca Okamoto is the founder of Evoke Strategy Group. She teaches people how get their audience to say “tell me more” in 20 words or less. Her talk, “How to introduce yourselfand get hired” is one of the most popular TEDx talks of 2025.

IN EPISODE 257:To be a super-performer, you don't need extraordinary effort - just ordinary habits. In Episode 257, George Pesansky explores ways individuals can optimize their everyday behavior and decisions to drive improvement throughout their organization. Whether it's listening to frontline workers, understanding the root causes of success, or creating a culture of continuous improvement, super-performers aren't born -- they're bred. ABOUT GEORGE PESANSKY:George Pesansky has fostered a culture of continuous improvement in numerous Fortune 500 organizations and has provided training, coaching and support for over 10,000 Six Sigma, Lean and World Class Manufacturing professionals across six continents. He's the author of Superperformance: 8 Strategies to Reach Full Potential for Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization.

IN EPISODE 256:In Episode 256, Kelli Thompson explores the cost of overestimating others and underestimating ourselves. We discuss ways to align decisions with values, how to stay grounded as a leader, why we should treat AI with white gloves, and the importance of mentorship.ABOUT KELLI THOMPSON:Kelli Thompson is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and executive coach who is on a mission to help more women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She is theauthor of Closing The Confidence Gap, and her work has been published in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Marketwatch, Quartz, Business Insider. Her TEDx talk on fulfilling your leadership potential was a 2025 Editor’s Pick.LINKS:Episode #80: How to grow sideways in your careerTEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVbsZ52jgLs