Shows
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels Ep 08 w Allison McHenryAllison McHenry is currently serving as the CTO of Daily Kos, a progressive political blog. Previously, she was CTO at The Daily Beast, and has also held leadership roles at Meta and The New York Times. She most loves thinking about ways to enable teams to use technology to move socially conscious businesses forward.Key Moments & Timestamps00:00 - 01:11 - Personal Introduction BuildAllison builds a rotating model representing herself in the center trying to connect with her four daughters - two older ones in London and San Diego, and five-year-old twins...2025-07-2217 min
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels Ep 07 w Dave WaltersIn this engaging episode, we explore leadership through the lens of technical teams with Dave Walters, former CTO of Hired, Lacalle Group, and Spa Finder Wellness. With 13+ years at The Knot Worldwide (XO Group) and 20+ years as a volunteer firefighter, Dave brings unique perspectives on leading high-stakes teams. Using LEGO® Serious Play® methodology, Dave shares powerful insights on team alignment, staying calm under pressure, and nurturing collective success.About Dave WaltersDave Walters is the former CTO of Hired, Lacalle Group, and Spafinder Wellness, after spending 13 years at The Knot Worldwide (XO Group). He brings a...2025-07-1625 min
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels Ep 06 w John FlyEpisode OverviewIn this engaging episode, we explore leadership through the lens of trust and vulnerability with John Fly, CTO of FirmPilot. Using LEGO® Serious Play® methodology, John shares powerful stories from his 25+ years in technology leadership, revealing how his approach evolved from technical perfectionism to collaborative partnership.Through hands-on building exercises, John demonstrates key leadership principles including taking responsibility for failures while sharing credit for success, the importance of direct communication about trust, and why understanding your team members as individuals is crucial for effective collaboration. The conversation touches on everything from DIY projects an...2025-05-2624 min
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels Ep 05 w Jessica MosleyMeet Jessica Mosley, a quality engineering virtuoso who’s been wrangling tech teams, dodging bureaucracy, and making waves in the software world for over 20 years. She’s got the kind of experience you just can’t fake, having tackled everything from software development to DevOps, IT, and Customer Experience. If there’s an inefficiency lurking in a process, Jessica’s the one to spot it, and she’ll do it with a grin and maybe just a touch of sarcasm.But don’t let her laid-back style fool you. Jessica’s fierce about quality. For her, it’s not just a metri...2025-05-2120 min
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels Ep 04 w Frédéric RivainFrédéric is the Chief Technology Officer at Dashlane, a leading cybersecurity company specializing in credential management and digital identity solutions. With over two decades of experience in tech leadership, Frédéric drives innovation in security and privacy. A passionate advocate for user-centric security, he brings a unique perspective on blending convenience and robust protection for both individuals and businesses.Find Frédéric online and at the Dashlane Blog: https://www.dashlane.com/blogEpisode Highlights[00:03:52] The foundations of great teams: shared mission and unity[00:06:29] Building consistency and unity in teams...2025-05-1327 min
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels Ep 03 w Cole ChristieHerding Squirrels Episode 3: Building Bridges and Breaking Patterns with Cole ChristieIn this enlightening episode of Herding Squirrels, host Brandon Wetzstein sits down with Cole Christie, Senior Engineering Manager for Site Reliability Engineering at Gap. With 18 years of experience in tech and 10 years in leadership positions, Cole shares profound insights about team dynamics across various industries.Episode HighlightsThe Art of Team CommunicationCole emphasizes that communication breakdowns are universal challenges across all industries and experience levels. He memorably explains that "you don't bring facts to a feelings fight" – highlighting the im...2025-04-2223 min
Superpowers School - Human Skills to Thrive in the Age of AIScience of play at work to facilitate better meetingsWe delve into the science of play in facilitation with special guest Brandon Wetzstein. Discover how play, especially through LEGO Serious Play, transforms adult behaviour and enhances creativity, collaboration, and connection in team settings. Learn about the surprising benefits of incorporating playful elements into serious work environments and how they can lead to better ideas and stronger team dynamics. Brandon shares personal stories of breakthroughs and offers practical advice on making workplaces more engaging and productive through play.00:00 Introduction03:05 The Importance of Play in the Workplace06:59 Exploring LEGO Serious Play2025-04-2247 min
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels 02 w Jiovanni RosarioEpisode OverviewIn this episode, host Brandon welcomes Jiovanni Rosario, Controls Engineering Manager at Amazon. Using LEGO Serious Play methodology, they explore Jiovanni's journey from individual contributor to leader, discussing team dynamics, leadership challenges, and strategies for effective management.Guest BioJiovanni Rosario has worn many hats in the tech industry—controls engineer, sales engineer, and software developer. These days, he manages a team of controls engineers keeping data center servers cool and powered. He shares leadership stories on Substack, mentors aspiring managers, and recently became a dad.Key Moments & Topics...2025-04-0929 min
Herding SquirrelsHerding Squirrels 001 w Giacomo PallottiHerding Squirrels Podcast - Episode 001Giacomo Pallotti: Engineering Leadership Through LEGO Serious PlayIn our inaugural episode of Herding Squirrels, we welcome Giacomo Pallotti, VP of Engineering at Everyday Health Group, for a conversation about engineering leadership, team dynamics, and personal growth - all explored through the creative lens of LEGO Serious Play methodology.Episode Highlights:Opening LEGO Tower Build - We kick off with a quick tower-building exercise that reveals Giacomo's approach to engineering challenges.Life Beyond Code - Through his LEGO model, Giacomo shares a...2025-04-0127 min
Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of WorkBeyond the Ping Pong Table - Why Top Companies Actually Use Play to WinSend us a textIn a world obsessed with productivity, could play be your team's secret weapon?Brandon Wetzstein has helped transform teams at major organizations by tapping into the power of strategic play. In this episode, he breaks down why traditional "serious" approaches often lead to mediocre solutions, and how structured play can break through conventional thinking to unlock breakthrough ideas.Key Episode Highlights: [00:03:45] Why NASA and Google use play-based methods for complex problems [00:12:30] The psychology behind why play creates psychological safety [00:18:20] How one leadership team resolved long-standing conflicts through play [00:25:15] P...2024-11-0547 min
TOP5_DefinedTalentTop5 Reasons LEGO® Builds Better TeamsOver 80% of employers and employees believe creating a sense of community at work is important. What is an innovative community-building tool that works both virtually and in person?Brandon Wetzstein, Founder & Chief Team Builder at IN8 Create, joins Tara Thurber to share his Top5 Reasons LEGO® Builds Better Teams.IN8 Create leverages LEGO® Serious Play® to engage participants in sharing stories about themselves in a fun and psychologically safe way.Diminished Consciousness of SelfInverted PersuasionEquitable ExpressionCurious ListeningTime CompressionSpeaker Bio - Brandon is driven by a passion to reshape the way we...2024-04-0227 min