Shows
The Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonNever Outmatched: How Military Thinking Transforms Corporate Culture with Lee PepperWhat happens when military wisdom meets modern marketing challenges? In this eye-opening conversation with Lee Pepper, former Army officer turned marketing strategist, we explore the surprising intersection of battlefield tactics and business success.Lee's remarkable journey from military service through Ross Perot's presidential campaign to behavioral health marketing leadership provides the backdrop for a masterclass in strategic thinking. At the heart of our discussion is the transformative power of motivational interviewing—a technique that shifted Lee's admissions teams from simply selling services to genuinely connecting with people in crisis.Whether you're in marketing, HR, leadership, or...
2025-08-2939 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonFinding Your Divine Purpose: Conversations on Authenticity and Alignment with Christian F. JohnsonWhat does it mean to bring your authentic self to work, especially when spirituality is central to who you are? Christian F. Johnson tackles this question head-on as he shares his powerful RINSE method for maintaining focus and purpose in leadership.Christian approaches leadership development as a calling rather than just a career. He positions himself as the "mic stand" for leaders – the essential support structure that enables their voices to be heard clearly while filling the crucial gap between a leader's personal brand and their authentic self. This servant leadership perspective shifts the focus from spotlight-seeking to...
2025-08-2238 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonWiring the Brain for Leadership Excellence with Dr. Conor HoganDr. Conor Hogan takes us on a fascinating journey through the neural pathways of effective leadership in this mind-expanding conversation. Drawing from his unique background—from coaching sports as a teenager to working with special needs children and eventually earning his PhD—Hogan reveals how neuroscience principles can transform your leadership approach.The discussion begins with Hogan's remarkable early leadership experiences at just 14 years old, directing adults at his family's golf course. These formative moments taught him to read group dynamics, identify key influencers, and communicate effectively across age gaps—skills that translate perfectly to today's complex workpl...
2025-08-1541 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonHumanizing HR: Leadership for Everyone with Mandee BowsmithLeadership doesn't require a fancy title, an MBA, or a corner office. What it does demand is authenticity, communication, and genuine care for the people you work with. This transformative perspective forms the heart of my conversation with Mandee Bowsmith, an HR veteran with over 24 years of experience who's now dedicated to democratizing leadership training.Mandee's journey from temporary file clerk to HR director offers a refreshing counterpoint to traditional leadership narratives. Throughout our discussion, she challenges the notion that HR departments must function as organizational disciplinarians, advocating instead for "putting humanity back in human resources." Her...
2025-08-0841 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonRewire Your Mind: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behaviors with Dr. Albert BramanteEver wonder why some people consistently sabotage their own success? In this eye-opening conversation with psychologist Dr. Albert Bramante, author of "Rise Above the Script," we dive deep into the hidden mental patterns that keep talented people stuck in cycles of underperformance.Dr. Bramante shares fascinating insights from his journey working with actors and performers, revealing how the psychology of self-sabotage manifests in everyday behaviors like chronic lateness, procrastination, and the "I'm too busy" narrative. You'll discover how these patterns form and—more importantly—practical techniques to break free from them.Whether you're a trainer look...
2025-08-0141 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonFrom Broadway to Boardroom: Finding Your Authentic Voice with Jay HarrisWhat happens when a Broadway performer turns his theatrical training toward helping professionals find their authentic voice? In this captivating conversation with Jay Harris, we explore the powerful intersection of performing arts and professional communication that can transform how you show up in every setting.Harris shares his journey from Dreamgirls and Wicked to executive coaching, revealing how the skills that made him successful on stage now help professionals overcome their greatest communication challenges. "I had to find my voice, my real voice, not my performance voice or my agreeable voice or my professional voice," Harris explains...
2025-07-2545 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonLeading Through Uncertainty with Peter Willis and Gareth MorganWhat separates a true crisis from everyday challenges, and how can leaders effectively navigate through unprecedented disruption? In this eye-opening conversation, Peter Willis and Gareth Morgan—authors of "Becoming Good at Crises: A Field Guide For Leaders"—share hard-won wisdom from leading through Cape Town's devastating drought and the COVID-19 pandemic.The conversation cuts through crisis leadership platitudes to reveal something profound: leaders aren't born ready for crises—they become good at handling them through intentional capability building before disaster strikes. Willis and Morgan outline four distinct phases of crisis management and the specific leadership approaches each requir...
2025-07-181h 01The Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonBeyond the Self: Creating Waves of Positivity in Work and Life with Jon SabesTake a deep dive into the philosophy that transforms daily habits into lifelong success with serial entrepreneur Jon Sabes. This conversation uncovers the power of "small, consistent efforts made upstream that lead to significant downstream effects" across all areas of life.Jon shares his journey as a two-decade entrepreneur who's built multiple companies, gone public, and experienced both incredible success and massive challenges. Through these experiences, he's developed practical wisdom about what truly drives performance and happiness.The conversation explores the true nature of happiness as a journey rather than a destination. Jon differentiates between...
2025-07-1141 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonIndependence in Learning - Fourth of July SpecialWhat makes a training program truly effective? The answer might be simpler than we think: independence. When learners feel ownership over their development journey, engagement and results skyrocket.In this special Fourth of July solo episode, our host Jay explores how traditional training programs often fail despite abundant resources. The missing ingredient? Relevance and autonomy. When we don't see how learning connects to our career growth or daily challenges, motivation vanishes. Most valuable skills develop through independent practice, not prescribed training sessions.The most impactful learning experiences often stem from self-directed discovery rather than forced...
2025-07-0410 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonThe Power of We: Building Connection in Corporate Culture with Kyle McDowellHave you ever achieved success but felt empty inside? Kyle McDowell's journey from corporate executive to leadership visionary offers a roadmap for anyone feeling disconnected in their professional life.After spending decades climbing the corporate ladder, managing 30,000 employees, and multi-billion dollar P&Ls, Kyle found himself in a state of profound apathy. The turning point came with a shocking realization: what he had perceived as respect from his team was actually fear. This revelation sparked a transformational journey that would not only reshape his career but his entire approach to life.For anyone responsible for...
2025-06-2751 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonTransforming Learning Through AI-Powered Job Shadows with Frank FuscoEver watched someone masterfully perform a task and thought, "I wish I could understand exactly what they're doing and why"? In today's episode of The Talent Forge, we explore the revolutionary approach Silicon Society is taking to transform workplace learning through AI-powered job shadowing.Frank Fusco, a fascinating founder with roots in both liberal arts and computer science, shares how his journey through humanitarian work, bootcamp education, and software development led to a breakthrough realization: traditional learning approaches are fundamentally flawed in today's rapidly changing world. As Frank explains, "We're not built for even a six-month curriculum...
2025-06-2043 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonClarity, Communication, and Co-Pilots: The New Skills for an AI-Powered Workplace with Fahed BizzariThe AI revolution is reshaping how we work, learn, and create—yet 81% of professionals feel anxious about this transformation. Why? Many have been avoiding the inevitable, creating what Fahed Bizzari calls "heads in the sand" that are now being forced into the open as AI capabilities expand exponentially.Fahed shares his journey from achieving the "4-hour workweek" back in 2006 to experiencing an existential crisis when ChatGPT outperformed his own engineering capabilities in minutes rather than days. This pivotal moment led to his realization that our value isn't diminished by AI—it's multiplied when we embrace it properly. Thro...
2025-06-1352 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonBeyond Training: The Art of Speaking Leadership's Language with Traci AustinWhy does executive leadership often fail to see the value in talent development initiatives? Traci Austin of Elevated Talent Consulting reveals the critical disconnect between HR professionals and the C-suite that's creating frustration on both sides.The conversation explores specific techniques for gaining trust in challenging industries where vulnerability isn't welcome, including the one question that transforms any training session: "What would make this hour a good use of your time?" This simple approach demonstrates respect while opening the door to meaningful engagement.Whether you're in HR, talent development, or leadership, this episode provides the...
2025-06-0641 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonLeading Through Change: Succession Planning at Scale with Ernesto GómezWhat happens when nearly 150 leadership positions need to be filled simultaneously due to a wave of retirements? For Ernesto Gómez, former VP of Human Capital at Grupo Alpha and CHRO at Sigma Alimentos, this wasn't a hypothetical scenario—it was the challenge that defined his career transition from business leader to HR innovator.Ernesto shares how he approached this daunting succession planning challenge by reframing it as an innovation problem rather than a traditional HR issue. With no formal HR background but extensive business leadership experience, he crafted a comprehensive talent development strategy involving partnerships with eli...
2025-05-3050 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonUnleashing Your Inner Champion: How Mindset Drives Success with Nicky BillouNikky Billou takes us on an extraordinary journey from post-revolution Iran to becoming a champion for freedom and human potential. As a Christian immigrant fleeing religious persecution, Nikky's early experiences shaped his profound understanding that freedom isn't just political—it's the essential foundation for entrepreneurship, creativity, and human flourishing.Drawing wisdom from his late father's example, Nikky shares the transformative lesson that became his life's mission: "Your job is to see greatness in people and show it to them." This philosophy has guided him through writing ten books (including two New York Times bestsellers), hosting hundreds of po...
2025-05-2328 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonThe Psychology of Presence: How to Connect and Influence Through Body Language with Richard ReidRichard Reid takes us on a fascinating journey from his classics degree and IT consulting days to his current role as a psychologist working with executives and organizations. The discussion opens with a counterintuitive insight: being too polished in your presentation style can actually make people distrustful. Instead, Richard advocates for finding that sweet spot between authentic self-expression and professional delivery. Whether you're looking to enhance your presence as a trainer, develop stronger connections with your team, or simply communicate more effectively, Richard's insights offer a refreshing blend of psychological depth and practical application. His em...
2025-05-1641 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonBridging Cultures: How Understanding Differences Improves Business Outcomes with Sanjyot DunungCultural intelligence has become the hidden competitive advantage in today's global business landscape. When your teams can navigate the subtle nuances of cross-cultural communication, everything from customer satisfaction to operational efficiency improves dramatically.Sanjyot Dunung brings her fascinating journey from banker to cultural anthropology expert to this episode, sharing how her unique background—born in India but raised in Chicago—provided the perfect foundation for helping organizations bridge cultural divides. What sets this conversation apart is the emphasis on measurable business impact. Cultural training isn't presented as a nice-to-have diversity initiative but as a strategic imper...
2025-05-0944 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonDigital Overwhelm in the Workplace with Dr. Craig MattsonThe digital workplace isn't just changing how we work—it's fundamentally altering how we communicate, learn, and connect. After spending years interviewing dozens of Millennial and Gen Z professionals, Dr. Craig Mattson uncovered surprising patterns in how people cope with the constant barrage of platforms, tools, and digital expectations.While popular advice suggests digital minimalism as the solution, Mattson's research reveals a more nuanced reality. For most professionals, simply using fewer tools isn't an option. Instead, developing what he calls "digital flexibility" proves far more effective—the ability to navigate between different communication modes depending on the situ...
2025-05-0237 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonThe 86% Solution: Why Accountability Partners Transform Goal Achievement with Aaron HeltonWhat if the leadership development initiatives you're pouring resources into aren't delivering measurable results? In this eye-opening conversation with Aaron Helton, leadership consultant and author, we uncover the science behind truly effective coaching and development programs—and it's all in the numbers.The statistics are startling: people with accountability partners achieve their goals 86% of the time versus just 16% for those going it alone. That's a 70% difference that directly impacts your organization's bottom line. Aaron breaks down how replacing senior executives can cost up to 400% of their annual salary, transforming a modest investment in coaching into a massive RO...
2025-04-2537 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonBeyond Visualization: The Mind-Body Connection That Changes Everything with Dominika StaniewiczCould your brain be lying to you? What if everything you thought about motivation and training is fundamentally flawed? In this eye-opening conversation with Dominika Staniewicz, we dive deep into how neuroscience is revolutionizing corporate training and personal development.Drawing from her extensive background as an HR director, career coach, and advisor to the Polish president on education standards, Staniewicz reveals how neuroencoding—a practical application of neuroscience—creates lasting behavioral change by rewiring the brain. Unlike traditional visualization techniques that only engage the visual cortex, neuroencoding involves practicing scenarios with full body engagement before they happen, allo...
2025-04-1846 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonThe Dance of Authentic Leadership: Embracing Your Whole Self at Work with Dr. Jennifer NashDr. Jennifer Nash takes us on a profound journey into what it truly means to lead with humanity in today's complex workplace. Drawing from her background in piano, dance, foreign languages, and eventually the automotive industry, she shares how these seemingly divergent paths converged to form her unique leadership philosophy.Nash reveals the powerful concept behind her book "Be Human, Lead Human," explaining that authentic leadership begins with recognizing that people—not products or services—create organizational value. She articulates how organizations function best when viewed as spaces where people both work and evolve as human beings, rath...
2025-04-1152 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonThe Elite Mindset: Transforming How Athletes and Executives Reach Their Peak with Gary ChupikWhat separates truly exceptional performers from the merely talented? According to mental performance coach Gary Chupik, it's not motivation, talent, or even discipline—it's self-leadership.Drawing from his extensive work with professional athletes and high-performing executives, Chupik challenges conventional thinking about performance psychology. While most focus on fixing weaknesses, he advocates for a strength-based approach that identifies what's working well and replicates it. This shift in perspective—from the "training room" of mental health to the "gym" of mental performance—reveals hidden reservoirs of potential in even the most accomplished individuals. Meet the Host
2025-04-0447 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonStrategic Storytelling: The Key to Transformational Training with Aleya HarrisHow do you turn mandatory corporate training from a dreaded box-checking exercise into an engaging experience that actually changes behavior? The answer lies in strategic storytelling.In this eye-opening episode, Aleya Harris, a strategic storytelling consultant, reveals how the same storytelling frameworks used in marketing can revolutionize leadership development and corporate training. Drawing from her background as a marketing executive and entrepreneur, Aleya shares how she accidentally discovered the power of storytelling in building high-performing teams and authentic leadership.Whether you're designing onboarding programs, leadership development initiatives, or mandatory compliance training, this episode offers practical...
2025-03-2837 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonTransforming Vision into Action: Emma Rainville's Guide to OperationsDive into an insightful conversation with Emma Rainville, dubbed the Wizard of Ops, as she shares her unparalleled wisdom on the intersection of operations and talent development. With an incredible journey from managing one of the largest HVAC companies in Texas to becoming a fractional COO, Emma unveils the secret ingredients for operational success. Join us as we explore the fundamentals of effective operations in talent development. This discussion serves as an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their organizational effectiveness and drive meaningful change. Meet the Host Jay Johnson wo...
2025-03-2042 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay JohnsonCrayon Revolution: How Child-Like Play Makes Better Executives with Susan HensleyWhat happens when a television journalist becomes an HR executive and discovers the transformative power of crayons? Susan Hensley shares her transformative three-career act from television journalist to HR executive to art journaling coach, revealing how each career phase built valuable skills that enhanced her effectiveness as a leader. Her expertise in developing teams, navigating transitions, and using creative tools for personal growth offers powerful insights for talent development professionals. Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder o...
2025-03-1346 min