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Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementPsychological Safety, Learning from Mistakes, and Continuous ImprovementThe blog postMany improvement efforts stall not because of poor strategy or missing Lean tools, but because people don’t feel safe speaking up.In this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban explains why psychological safety is a foundational requirement for continuous improvement. Drawing from his book The Mistakes That Make Us and decades of experience in healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries, Mark explores how fear, blame, and leader reactions silence learning — and how different leadership behaviors make improvement possible.The episode also previews themes from Mark’s upcoming workshop at Shingo Connec...
2026-01-2706 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementPsychological Safety, Learning from Mistakes, and Continuous ImprovementThe blog postMany improvement efforts stall not because of poor strategy or missing Lean tools, but because people don’t feel safe speaking up.In this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban explains why psychological safety is a foundational requirement for continuous improvement. Drawing from his book The Mistakes That Make Us and decades of experience in healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries, Mark explores how fear, blame, and leader reactions silence learning — and how different leadership behaviors make improvement possible.The episode also previews themes from Mark’s upcoming workshop at Shingo Connec...
2026-01-2706 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementUnlearning Old Habits: What a Pickleball Mistake Taught Me About Feedback and LearningThe blog postIn this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban reflects on an unexpected leadership lesson learned on the pickleball court. As a beginner unlearning decades-old tennis habits, Mark experiences firsthand how execution errors, muscle memory, and self-criticism can quietly undermine learning. A kind instructor and supportive playing partners provide timely feedback—without blame—turning mistakes into moments of growth.The story becomes a practical metaphor for leadership, psychological safety, and continuous improvement. Mark connects a missed serve, an illegal volley, and other rookie mistakes to familiar workplace dynamics: fear of speaking up, hesitation to g...
2025-12-1910 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementUnlearning Old Habits: What a Pickleball Mistake Taught Me About Feedback and LearningThe blog postIn this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban reflects on an unexpected leadership lesson learned on the pickleball court. As a beginner unlearning decades-old tennis habits, Mark experiences firsthand how execution errors, muscle memory, and self-criticism can quietly undermine learning. A kind instructor and supportive playing partners provide timely feedback—without blame—turning mistakes into moments of growth.The story becomes a practical metaphor for leadership, psychological safety, and continuous improvement. Mark connects a missed serve, an illegal volley, and other rookie mistakes to familiar workplace dynamics: fear of speaking up, hesitation to g...
2025-12-1910 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement5 Big Lean Questions with Mark Graban: Purpose, Misconceptions, and the Path ForwardThe blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban flips roles and becomes the guest—answering five core Lean questions posed by longtime Lean thinker Tim McMahon of the A Lean Journey blog. These questions have been answered by many practitioners over the years, and they cut straight to the purpose, the misconceptions, and the future of Lean.Mark shares how he first encountered Lean as an industrial engineering student, and how the system came alive when he worked inside the GM Livonia Engine Plant under a NUMMI-trained plant manager. That contrast, and the mentoring from fo...
2025-12-0912 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement5 Big Lean Questions with Mark Graban: Purpose, Misconceptions, and the Path ForwardThe blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban flips roles and becomes the guest—answering five core Lean questions posed by longtime Lean thinker Tim McMahon of the A Lean Journey blog. These questions have been answered by many practitioners over the years, and they cut straight to the purpose, the misconceptions, and the future of Lean.Mark shares how he first encountered Lean as an industrial engineering student, and how the system came alive when he worked inside the GM Livonia Engine Plant under a NUMMI-trained plant manager. That contrast, and the mentoring from fo...
2025-12-0912 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementLean Without Layoffs: The Commitment That Makes Continuous Improvement WorkThe blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban explores one of the most misunderstood — and most essential — principles of Lean: the commitment to no layoffs due to improvement. Drawing from his work with Johnson & Johnson’s ValuMetrix Services team and stories from Lean Hospitals, Mark explains why Lean cannot thrive in a culture of fear and why protecting people’s livelihoods is foundational to psychological safety.Through examples from ThedaCare, Silver Cross, Avera McKennan, NorthBay Healthcare, and more, Mark illustrates how a visible “no layoffs” pledge builds trust, accelerates improvement, and strengthens both culture and performance...
2025-12-0506 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementLean Without Layoffs: The Commitment That Makes Continuous Improvement WorkThe blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban explores one of the most misunderstood — and most essential — principles of Lean: the commitment to no layoffs due to improvement. Drawing from his work with Johnson & Johnson’s ValuMetrix Services team and stories from Lean Hospitals, Mark explains why Lean cannot thrive in a culture of fear and why protecting people’s livelihoods is foundational to psychological safety.Through examples from ThedaCare, Silver Cross, Avera McKennan, NorthBay Healthcare, and more, Mark illustrates how a visible “no layoffs” pledge builds trust, accelerates improvement, and strengthens both culture and performance...
2025-12-0506 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementStop Forcing Change: Use These Motivational Interviewing Questions InsteadThe blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban explores why so many organizational change efforts stall—not because people are resistant, but because leaders rely on telling instead of asking. Drawing from his recent Lean Blog article, Mark introduces five Motivational Interviewing questions that shift conversations from compliance to genuine commitment.He explains how MI, a framework rooted in empathy and autonomy, helps leaders uncover intrinsic motivation, build psychological safety, and coach more effectively. Mark also shares a personal example of self-coaching through these same questions, illustrating how they move us from guilt to growth....
2025-12-0207 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementStop Forcing Change: Use These Motivational Interviewing Questions InsteadThe blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban explores why so many organizational change efforts stall—not because people are resistant, but because leaders rely on telling instead of asking. Drawing from his recent Lean Blog article, Mark introduces five Motivational Interviewing questions that shift conversations from compliance to genuine commitment.He explains how MI, a framework rooted in empathy and autonomy, helps leaders uncover intrinsic motivation, build psychological safety, and coach more effectively. Mark also shares a personal example of self-coaching through these same questions, illustrating how they move us from guilt to growth....
2025-12-0207 minMy Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipWhy Unlearning Old Habits Is Harder Than Learning New OnesIn this edition of Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban tells a story that didn’t appear in any safety report or headline — it happened on a pickleball court. Early in learning the sport, Mark found his old tennis instincts taking over, leading to a very incorrect serve and a moment of embarrassment. What followed was a small but meaningful lesson in feedback, psychological safety, and the challenge of unlearning deeply wired habits. Supportive coaching, timely correction, and a friendly playing environment turned an awkward mistake into a productive one. Mark reflects on why unlearning is often hard...
2025-11-2004 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementThe Biggest Lean Six Sigma Myth: "Lean Is Just About Speed"The blog postIn this episode of the Lean Blog Audio podcast, Mark Graban reads and reflects on one of his classic posts: “The Biggest Lean Six Sigma Myth: ‘Lean Is Just About Speed.’”Far too often, consultants and trainers claim that “Lean is for speed” while “Six Sigma is for quality.” Mark calls out this false dichotomy and explains why both Lean and Six Sigma—when properly understood—aim to improve quality, flow, safety, cost, and morale together.Drawing on his own experience in manufacturing and healthcare, Mark reminds listeners what Toyota has always taught: q...
2025-11-1108 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementThe Biggest Lean Six Sigma Myth: "Lean Is Just About Speed"The blog postIn this episode of the Lean Blog Audio podcast, Mark Graban reads and reflects on one of his classic posts: “The Biggest Lean Six Sigma Myth: ‘Lean Is Just About Speed.’”Far too often, consultants and trainers claim that “Lean is for speed” while “Six Sigma is for quality.” Mark calls out this false dichotomy and explains why both Lean and Six Sigma—when properly understood—aim to improve quality, flow, safety, cost, and morale together.Drawing on his own experience in manufacturing and healthcare, Mark reminds listeners what Toyota has always taught: q...
2025-11-1108 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementI’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in TokyoThe blog postIn this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads his reflection, “I’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in Tokyo.”Join Mark as he shares a rare dining experience at the legendary Sukiyabashi Jiro — the Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurant made famous by Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Beyond the extraordinary craftsmanship and taste, Mark explores what this meal revealed about efficiency, flow, and the subtle trade-offs between speed and hospitality.Was the meal a marvel of Lean precision, or a reminder that even the best systems can become...
2025-11-0812 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementI’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in TokyoThe blog postIn this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads his reflection, “I’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in Tokyo.”Join Mark as he shares a rare dining experience at the legendary Sukiyabashi Jiro — the Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurant made famous by Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Beyond the extraordinary craftsmanship and taste, Mark explores what this meal revealed about efficiency, flow, and the subtle trade-offs between speed and hospitality.Was the meal a marvel of Lean precision, or a reminder that even the best systems can become...
2025-11-0812 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementFear and Futility: Two Barriers to Improvement (and How Leaders Can Remove Them)The blog postIn this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban explores two silent killers of improvement—fear and futility—and how leaders can dismantle both to unleash the full potential of their teams.Drawing from his book Lean Hospitals and more recent research by organizational psychologist Ethan Burris, Mark explains how fear (“What will happen if I speak up?”) and futility (“Why bother? Nothing will change.”) combine to silence ideas, suppress learning, and stall continuous improvement.Through real-world healthcare examples—including Virginia Mason Medical Center’s Patient Safety Alert system and Allina Health’s Kaizen...
2025-11-0607 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementFear and Futility: Two Barriers to Improvement (and How Leaders Can Remove Them)The blog postIn this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban explores two silent killers of improvement—fear and futility—and how leaders can dismantle both to unleash the full potential of their teams.Drawing from his book Lean Hospitals and more recent research by organizational psychologist Ethan Burris, Mark explains how fear (“What will happen if I speak up?”) and futility (“Why bother? Nothing will change.”) combine to silence ideas, suppress learning, and stall continuous improvement.Through real-world healthcare examples—including Virginia Mason Medical Center’s Patient Safety Alert system and Allina Health’s Kaizen...
2025-11-0607 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondWhy Psychological Safety Is Essential to Quality — with C.J. Kaufman In this special bonus episode of Lean Blog Interviews, Mark Graban is joined by C.J. Kaufman, Education Chair for the ASQ Cincinnati Section, to preview the ASQ Southwest Ohio 2025 Conference, themed “Excellence Through Quality.” Episode page with transcript, video, and more Taking place Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Mason, Ohio, the event brings together quality professionals from the Cincinnati and Dayton regions for a half-day of engaging speakers, practical insights, and networking — plus an optional afternoon workshop with Mark. C.J. shares how the conference was designed collaboratively by the...
2025-10-2215 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementLeader Standard Work Is About Behavior, Not Just Your CalendarThe blog postIn this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads and expands on his article, Leader Standard Work Is About Behavior, Not Just Your Calendar.Too many organizations treat “Leader Standard Work” (LSW) as a scheduling exercise—a calendar full of gemba walks, huddles, and recurring meetings. But true Lean leadership isn’t about where you go or how often you show up—it’s about how you show up.Mark explores the deeper intent behind LSW: to make leadership behavior intentional, consistent, and aligned with the principles of respect for people a...
2025-10-1408 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementLeader Standard Work Is About Behavior, Not Just Your CalendarThe blog postIn this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads and expands on his article, Leader Standard Work Is About Behavior, Not Just Your Calendar.Too many organizations treat “Leader Standard Work” (LSW) as a scheduling exercise—a calendar full of gemba walks, huddles, and recurring meetings. But true Lean leadership isn’t about where you go or how often you show up—it’s about how you show up.Mark explores the deeper intent behind LSW: to make leadership behavior intentional, consistent, and aligned with the principles of respect for people a...
2025-10-1408 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementFrom Know-It-All to Learn-It-All: Leadership Lessons from MistakesThe blog postIn this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads and reflects on his recent article, From Know-It-All to Learn-It-All: Leadership Lessons from Mistakes.Drawing from themes in his Shingo Award–winning book The Mistakes That Make Us and interviews with leaders Phillip Cantrell and Damon Lembi on My Favorite Mistake, Mark explores the transformative shift from being a leader who must always be right to one who is willing to learn.You’ll hear stories of humility in action—from Cantrell’s reinvention of Benchmark Realty after the housing collapse...
2025-10-1110 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementFrom Know-It-All to Learn-It-All: Leadership Lessons from MistakesThe blog postIn this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads and reflects on his recent article, From Know-It-All to Learn-It-All: Leadership Lessons from Mistakes.Drawing from themes in his Shingo Award–winning book The Mistakes That Make Us and interviews with leaders Phillip Cantrell and Damon Lembi on My Favorite Mistake, Mark explores the transformative shift from being a leader who must always be right to one who is willing to learn.You’ll hear stories of humility in action—from Cantrell’s reinvention of Benchmark Realty after the housing collapse...
2025-10-1110 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Ask Us Anything: Submit Your Lean, Leadership & Culture Questions ☕💡 Submit your question (and maybe win a Lean Coffee Talk mug!) at: LeanBlog.org/coffeequestions In this short bonus episode of Lean Coffee Talk, hosts Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh share an invitation for you to help shape future conversations. They’re asking for your toughest, most thought-provoking questions about Lean, leadership, culture, and continuous improvement — the ones without easy answers. Mark and Jamie will select some listener questions to feature in upcoming episodes and share their perspectives on each. Whether you’re a Lean practitioner, leader, or curious learner, your question could spa...
2025-10-1003 minMy Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipSpinal Tap’s Greatest Mistakes — And Why They Still MatterIn this very special solo episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban breaks down the gloriously ridiculous — and surprisingly instructive — mistakes made by the characters in his all-time favorite film, This Is Spinal Tap. With the long-awaited sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, now in theaters, Mark explores why Spinal Tap endures not just as a cult comedy classic, but as a brilliant satire of human behavior, team dysfunction, communication breakdowns, and leadership gone sideways. And yes — these mistakes still matter, even four decades later. From the Stonehenge measured in inches… To the fo...
2025-09-1513 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondJared Thatcher on Growing the Global Lean Summit and Partnering with ToyotaIn this bonus episode of Lean Blog Interviews, host Mark Graban talks with Jared Thatcher, founder of the Global Lean Summit, to preview the upcoming event taking place September 23–25, 2025 in Bloomington, Indiana. Jared shares the Summit’s origin story—from a virtual event launched during COVID lockdowns to a high-impact in-person gathering that brings together Lean leaders, practitioners, and learners from a wide range of industries. This year’s Summit includes: ✅ A site visit and training day at Toyota Material Handling ✅ A new healthcare track, co-hosted with Indiana University’s medical school ✅ A foundational K...
2025-07-2910 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)What do Crayola, the NFL, MIT, the Pope, and Red Eyes all have in common? In Season 2, Episode 3, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh both share specific episodes of their other podcasts. Jamie shares his People Solve Problems episode featuring Crayola CEO Pete Ruggiero, and Mark shares a repeat guest for My Favorite Mistake with NFL Players Association Dr. Thom Mayer to talk about the experiment of new kickoff formats and the impact (pun intended) on concussions. We then share our coffees, with the caffeine-laden Red Eye being the drink of choice, including Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s extreme coffee order.  EPISODE PAGE They then jum...
2025-05-231h 29Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Australia, New Coke, Boeing, and the Future of Manufacturing in America In Season 2, Episode 2, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh begin with Mark sharing about his Australia and New Zealand workshop tour with the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. Even koalas find their way into the conversation. Episode page with videos and more We then shift to our coffee selection of the day - pour overs. This old school method has found a resurgence not for being inexpensive but for giving you more control over the extraction process making it the best method for the best coffees. Jamie explains and demonstrates the process with...
2025-05-021h 25Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Starbucks, Honeywell, Tariffs, and Toyota We would have called this Episode 51 of the Lean Whiskey podcast with Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban. Episode page with video and more Lean Whiskey is transitioning to a new brand, Lean Coffee Talk, so stay tuned for more episodes from Mark and Jamie. We're also calling this Episode #1 of Season 2 of the podcast series. If you're subscribed, the podcast logo will change but the feed will continue as is. We are just as passionate about their coffee beverages as the whiskey. We’ll still talk about le...
2025-03-141h 09Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)The Final Episode... or Is It?Episode page It's Episode 50 of the Lean Whiskey podcast with Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban! tl;dr: Lean Whiskey will transition to a new brand Lean Coffee Talk, so stay tuned for more episodes from Mark and Jamie In their 50th and final episode of Lean Whiskey, hosts Mark and Jamie announce a significant transition, revealing that while this marks the end of “Lean Whiskey,” the podcast will continue under a new title called “Lean Coffee Talk.” The change is partially influenced by Jamie's lifestyle choices, which is reflected in their drink selectio...
2025-02-071h 09Business Growth Talks
Business Growth TalksMoving from Corporate to Startup: A Journey of Risk and Reward with Mark GrabanSend us a textIn this engaging episode of Business Growth Talks, host Mark Hayward speaks with Mark Graban, a noted authority on lean management and continuous improvement. With his extensive experience that spans industries such as healthcare and manufacturing, Mark Graban shares insights into fostering a culture of learning and improvement in corporations large and small. His journey from corporate life to consultancy offers eye-opening revelations about the power of entrepreneurship and the challenges and rewards of continuous improvement strategies.The conversation delves deep into the concept of a business mindset, emphasizing the significance...
2025-01-1358 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Japan Study Tour, a Lost iPhone, and Some Hibiki and Ichiro's Malt It's Episode 49 of the Lean Whiskey podcast with Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban! Episode page with video and more Mark shares tales of his holiday / study tour trip to Japan. Since we start with the whisky (like scotch, note the lack of an ‘e’), and Mark’s opportunity to visit bottle shops, his favorite whisky bar, and even a whisky museum, along with the many samples he had a chance to try along the way. He brought one home, an Ichiro’s Malt Wine Wood Reserve, which he was able to find for...
2024-11-271h 37My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipJacob Stoller on Mistakes in Music: A Concert Train Wreck and Lessons LearnedIn this bonus episode, Mark Graban sits down with author and speaker Jacob Stoller to discuss one of Jacob’s most memorable mistakes—a live performance mishap involving a botched page turn during a classical music concert. As Jacob recounts, his decision to skip having a page-turner led to a "train wreck" moment in front of an audience, forcing the musicians to restart the piece. But this unexpected blunder turned out to be a surprising gift, making the experience more relatable and memorable for the audience. Listen as Jacob reflects on how this mistake shifted his...
2024-11-0707 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Oops! Lockout Tagout Your Equipment, but Not My Whiskey In Episode 48 of the Lean Whiskey podcast, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban begin by comparing two whiskeys from the same distillery. OOPS! We recorded this in October... and I released it via YouTube and my blog. But it somehow ended up stuck in "Draft" unreleased status on the podcast. That's why we had two episodes released in the same week... Episode page with video and more Mark selected Woodford Reserve, and had a pour of both the Double Oaked (which we both agree is underrated) and their Historic Barrel...
2024-10-181h 34Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondThe Lean Global Connection: Roberto Priolo on Global Lean LearningIn this episode of Lean Blog Interviews, Mark Graban welcomes Roberto Priolo, the Managing Editor of Planet Lean, the publication of the Lean Global Network. Based in Barcelona, Roberto has a background in journalism and extensive experience in covering Lean and continuous improvement topics. Mark and Roberto discuss the upcoming Lean Global Connection event, happening on November 21st and 22nd, 2024, which is a free, 24-hour virtual event designed to bring together the global Lean community. Episode page with transcript, video, and more Key Topics Discussed: The Origins of the Lean Global Connection Event: Roberto...
2024-10-0914 minMy Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipBonus: Update with Dr. Susan Landers — Defeating Burnout for Working MothersGuest: Dr. Susan Landers Original Episode: Episode 213 - June 2023 Guest Bio: Dr. Susan Landers is an experienced neonatologist, author, and speaker who focuses on balancing a demanding medical career with motherhood. In her previous episode, we discussed her book "So Many Babies: My Life Balancing a Busy Medical Career and Motherhood." Summary: In this update episode, Mark Graban welcomes back Dr. Susan Landers to discuss her latest work, an eBook titled Defeating Burnout: A Guide for Working Mothers. Dr. Landers shares insights on how her new book builds upon her previous memoir, focusing...
2024-08-0107 minMy Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipBonus: Terry Iverson's Update, Author of "Inspiring Champions in Advanced Manufacturing"Welcome to a special bonus episode of "My Favorite Mistake" with your host, Mark Graban! In this episode, we're thrilled to reconnect with Terry Iverson, who has just released his second book, "Inspiring Champions in Advanced Manufacturing." Terry joined us previously in Episode 74, and today he's back to share insights from his new book and his ongoing efforts to inspire the next generation in manufacturing. We delve into the details of his innovative two-sided book and his exciting initiatives for middle schoolers. Tune in to hear about: Terry's new book, "Inspiring Champions in Advanced...
2024-07-1811 minYour World of Creativity
Your World of CreativityReunion Panel, with Mark Graban, Jeff Leisawitz, and Chris HoodWelcome back to "Your World of Creativity"! In this milestone episode, we reconnect with past guests from various corners of the country to catch up on their journeys and future plans. Join us as we travel to Cincinnati, Seattle, and LA to hear the latest from Mark Graban, Jeff Leisawitz, and Chris Hood.- Mark Graban shares insights from his book "The Mistakes That Make Us" and discusses the importance of learning from mistakes in personal and professional settings.- Jeff Leisawitz talks about his new book, "The Magical Impact of Storytelling," and...
2024-07-1523 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)From Decriminalizing Medical Errors, Mouse Jiggling, and New BourbonsIn Episode 47, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh attempt another experiment in format, covering a range of quick-hit topics in the news rather than a single deep dive. As always, we welcome feedback. Before we got to that, however, our whiskey theme was also new, or new to us: we each picked a whiskey we hadn’t tried before. Jamie’s pick was Four Walls Irish American Whiskey, a celebrity whiskey from a group of stars from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, including Rob McElhenney, who famously co-owns Wrexham AFC, a 3rd tier football club in the...
2024-07-121h 26My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipBonus: Phebe Trotman's Update: Author of "Never Quit on a Bad Day"Welcome to another special bonus episode of "My Favorite Mistake" with your host, Mark Graban! In this episode, we're delighted to welcome back Phebe Trotman, who has just released her second book, "Never Quit on a Bad Day: Inspiring Stories of Resilience." Phebe previously joined us in Episode 233, and today she's here to share more about her new book. We discuss the incredible stories from decorated athletes, the lessons of resilience, and how these insights can be applied to everyone's life, not just athletes. Tune in to hear about: The journey of creating "Never...
2024-06-2707 minMy Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipBonus: John Rossman's Update, Author of "Big Bet Leadership"John was a guest in Episode 242 in January 2024. That episode: https://markgraban.com/mistake242  Welcome to a pecial bonus episode of "My Favorite Mistake" with your host, Mark Graban! In this episode, we're catching up with John Rossman, who has just released his latest book, "Big Bet Leadership: Your Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era." John joined us previously in Episode 242, and today he's back to share insights from his new book. We discuss the critical lessons learned from industry giants like Jeff Bezos, John Legere, Elon Musk, and Satya Nadella. John breaks down t...
2024-06-1308 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)AI (ChatGPT) Takes Over Lean Whiskey, Including the Role of Bartender In Episode 46, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh spend a lot of time talking about AI, but that still, as always, begins with the whiskey. Episode page We both asked ChatGPT to consider all our ingredients for making a whiskey-based cocktail, and to invent an original recipe. Jamie's is called The Bourbon Harmony, although there was a lot in there to try to reach harmony, and Mark's was called the Spiced Cherry Rye Cocktail. The verdict for both drinks was that they were good, but probably wouldn't be...
2024-05-171h 23Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondLean Coaching for Lean Coaches: Sam Morgan Helps Mark Graban My guest for Episode #503 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Sam Morgan of Illuminate Coaching + Consulting. He was previously a guest in Episode #457. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Today's episode was originally live-streamed on April 9th... Sam's. been doing a livestream series on "Lean Coaching for Lean Coaches." So, in today's episode, you'll hear Sam coaching me... and then we'll have a broader conversation about the work that he's doing. We can all use a coach! We embark on a deep dive into creating...
2024-04-241h 03Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Crossover Episode: Just-in-Time Cafe and Lean Whiskey: Flinchbaugh, Graban, Swan, O'RourkeEpisode page In Episode 45, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban join the Just-in-Time Cafe team of Elisabeth Swan and Tracy O’Rourke as a special nod to their 100th Episode, while also having a chance to toast Mark’s accomplishment of 250 episodes of My Favorite Mistake podcast and 500 episodes of the Lean Blog Podcast. This episode blended the two formats a bit, but you can be sure whiskey was one of those elements that we retained.    We each selected a cocktail to make. Jamie made his original recipe, the Black Forest Kiss. Since you can’t...
2024-04-0555 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)New Year’s Resolutions, But not Dry January; Boeing Makes OneEpisode page with video and more In Episode 44, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh get back together for this first episode of 2024. Since we’re not doing Dry January, we go right into the whiskey first by talking about old bottles, including one very old one found at auction. We then did our own comparison tasting, with Jamie trying two different age statements of Knob Creek bourbon and Mark trying two different expressions of Glen Scotia scotch from Campbeltown.  Dry January is like a New Year’s Resolution that you don’t intend to keep past a month...
2024-01-191h 31Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Safety at SpaceX Under Elon Musk; 100 Years of Suntory WhiskeyEpisode page with video and more In Episode 43 of the “Lean Whiskey” podcast, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban begin by talking about each of our interviews regarding the new book by Steve Spear and Gene Kim, Wiring the Winning Organization. Mark interviewed Steve and Gene for the Lean Blog Interviews podcast, and Jamie interviewed Steve for a forthcoming episode of the People Solve Problems podcast. We then shifted our attention to celebrating 100 years of Suntory Distilling by each pouring different expressions from the Japanese side of the company, Hibiki and Yamazaki. We also discussed the Jim Beam si...
2023-12-081h 17Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Reflecting on the GE Lean Mindset Event, Including Ford, Uber, and PG&EEpisode page In Episode 42, Jamie Flinchbaugh visits Mark Graban in northern Kentucky and they get to record an episode in person. This was the origin of the podcast series — getting together in person, enjoying whiskey, and talking about Lean stuff.  In the last episode, we did an experiment that was inconclusive — sometimes that's how it goes. We had moved the whiskey talk to the end of the episode, but since we had no firm evidence that it was better, we moved it back to the beginning. Since we were together, Jamie selected something from Mark...
2023-10-201h 20Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondGE’s Lean Mindset Event: Leadership, Learning, and Sustaining ChangeEpisode page with transcript and more Featuring James P. (Jim) Womack, Katie Anderson, Jamie V Parker, and Mark Graban. There's more to come from me, Katie, and Jamie about the day.  Jamie's podcast is "Lean Leadership for Ops Managers." Katie's new podcast is called "Chain of Learning." - Coming soon Videos from the GE Lean Mindset sessions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxRhTjvLlyoIh7CVg51ZIM5hRl5XOjlgl **A Candid Conversation on Lean Thinking: Breaking Down the Lean Mindset with Industry Experts** Join us as w...
2023-09-1327 minWe are the ADHD Family
We are the ADHD FamilyEpisode 26 - (Video) The Advocateurs - Mark GrabanMy guest this week on the We are the ADHD Family is my friend and Advocateur Mark Graban. My guest today is my friend Mark Graban and we are going to talk about his journey but the theme of the episode is avoiding misdiagnoses. You hear about this more than you realize but it doesn’t seem like much is done about it, a misdiagnosis is very real. In Mark’s case, the Jury is still out on whether he is ADHD but some people go through their whole life with an incorrect diag...
2023-08-2844 minWe are the ADHD Family
We are the ADHD FamilyEpisode 26 - The Advocateurs - Mark GrabanMy guest this week on the We are the ADHD Family is my friend and Advocateur Mark Graban. My guest today is my friend Mark Graban and we are going to talk about his journey but the theme of the episode is avoiding misdiagnoses. You hear about this more than you realize but it doesn’t seem like much is done about it, a misdiagnosis is very real. In Mark’s case, the Jury is still out on whether he is ADHD but some people go through their whole life with an incorrect diag...
2023-08-2844 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Should Lean be Forced? Running & Evaluating Experiments with the Podcast and Beyond, Inexpensive SipEpisode link with video and more In Episode 41, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh try a couple experiments, in the spirit of continuous improvement. You’ll first notice that we moved the whiskey talk to the end. The hypothesis here is that some people don’t want to hear the whiskey talk, so they can just exit the podcast when we finish the lean talk. We also used a different platform for recording, so it may affect your listening or viewing experience. We would really appreciate any feedback at all on these experiments.  In lean talk, we ex...
2023-08-251h 14We are the ADHD Family
We are the ADHD FamilyEpisode 25 - The Advocateurs - Mark GrabanMy guest this week on the We are the ADHD Family is my friend and Advocateur Mark Graban. My guest today is my friend Mark Graban and we are going to talk about his journey but the theme of the episode is avoiding misdiagnoses. You hear about this more than you realize but it doesn’t seem like much is done about it, the chances of a misdiagnosis is very real. Without question Mark's journey highlights the need to beyond a simple questionnaire that a doctor gives you and ask questions - more importantly, how to...
2023-08-2138 minWe are the ADHD Family
We are the ADHD FamilyEpisode 25 - (Video) The Advocateurs - Mark GrabanMy guest this week on the We are the ADHD Family is my friend and Advocateur Mark Graban. My guest today is my friend Mark Graban and we are going to talk about his journey but the theme of the episode is avoiding misdiagnoses. You hear about this more than you realize but it doesn’t seem like much is done about it, a misdiagnosis is very real. In Mark’s case, the Jury is still out on whether he is ADHD but some people go through their whole life with an incorrect diag...
2023-08-2138 minWe are the ADHD Family
We are the ADHD FamilyEpisode 25 - The Advocateurs - Mark Graban - FullMy guest this week on the We are the ADHD Family is my friend and Advocateur Mark Graban. My guest today is my friend Mark Graban and we are going to talk about his journey but the theme of the episode is avoiding misdiagnoses. You hear about this more than you realize but it doesn’t seem like much is done about it, a misdiagnosis is very real. In Mark’s case, the Jury is still out on whether he is ADHD but some people go through their whole life with an incorrect diag...
2023-08-211h 18Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)If Burbn Didn’t Pivot to Instagram, We Might Not Have ThreadsEpisode page with video and more In Episode 40, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh get back together after their in-person visit where they enjoyed the origins of this podcast: talking about lean stuff while enjoying some whiskey. We get to celebrate the launch of Mark’s new book, The Mistakes That Make Us, as well as Jamie’s new podcast titled People Solve Problems. We recap our in-person visit and some of the great whiskey we were able to try. And we taste one of the expressions we were able to try at the distillery, New Riff’s Straig...
2023-07-141h 24Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondPaul Critchley Interviews Mark Graban About “The Mistakes That Make Us”Episode page with transcript, video, and more For Episode #480 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast turns the tables, as regular host Mark Graban is interviewed today by a guest host, his friend Paul Critchley. Paul was previously the host of the New England Lean Podcast and he's been a guest of Mark's in Episode #5 of the Lean Whiskey podcast series. Today, Paul asks Mark questions about his new book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, the general topic of learning from mistakes, and more. Questions, Notes, and Highl...
2023-07-1253 minMy Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipBook Launch LIVE - Featuring Mark Graban - ”The Mistakes that Make Us”This originally appeared as a LinkedIn Live, hosted by John Saunders. Book website pre-orders of signed copies | Amazon Kindle version pre-order / order Description of the event... Join us for a new segment of “Meet the Author LIVE.” “Meet the Author LIVE” is an opportunity to learn everything valuable there is to know about the author. Plus, we can answer your questions live in the chat so be sure to drop them in there. This episode will feature Mark Graban, and we’ll chat about his June 2023 book, "The Mistakes That Make U...
2023-06-2344 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Does Starbucks’ CEO Serving Coffee and Uber’s CEO Driving Passengers Do Any Good? Tasting Sourced WhiskeysEpisode page with links, video, and more In Episode 39, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh toast the completion of Mark's new book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation (coming soon!). We also acknowledge Jamie's forthcoming podcast based on the book People Solve Problems. That's already plenty to cover before we even get into our whiskey.  Our whiskey theme was sourced juice, or essentially whiskey producers that buy whiskey from other distillers. This practice takes many different forms. Jamie is drinking Holla Bourbon Whiskey, a 4 year wheated bourbon, while Mark...
2023-05-051h 25My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipPodcasting Mistakes, 200 Episodes, and Learning From Errors with Mark GrabanEpisode page with video, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #200 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is… me, Mark Graban. It's hard to believe that the podcast has reached 200 episodes. If you forgive me for the other episode (#16) where I talked about my own mistakes, that's 198 guests who have shared compelling “favorite mistake” stories with me. Enter to win a My Favorite Mistake coffee mug! In this episode, I'm joined by my guest host, Tom Ehrenfeld. He's the editor who is working with me on my upcoming book, The Mistakes That Make Us. He...
2023-03-0658 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Starbucks’ Gemba, Toyota’s Tour, Product Innovation & Lean Process ImprovementsMark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh Alternative title: “I’ll have a half-caff no-whip soy-milk chestnut praline latte… to-go” Episode page with video and links In Episode 37, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays with some new (to us) holiday cocktails. Mark tries the Bourbon Flip, and Jamie makes a Hot Buttered Bourbon. Neither will likely be in our regular rotation of cocktails, but they suit the “spirit” of the holiday season and might be a nice treat to make for guests.  Your hosts explore the possible reinvention of Starbucks, whi...
2022-12-221h 22Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Crazy Ideas, From Shipping Flowers to Crab WhiskeyEpisode page: https://leanblog.org/whiskey34 In Episode 34, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh begin by belatedly celebrating the 3rd birthday of Lean Whiskey. No, this wasn’t a pandemic-launched podcast, although if we hadn’t started it yet it probably would have become one. We also learn of Mark’s pending trip to Islay, where an awful lot of good whisky is produced. Apparently, Jamie wasn’t invited to record an “on location” episode.  Most of the episode we explore the challenges, benefits, and approaches to developing and seeing through the crazy ideas. This conversation builds from a...
2022-07-2958 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondJust the Lean Talk 2 -- Mark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh Discuss Lean Supply ChainsAs I did two weeks ago, when Jamie Flinchbaugh and I talked about “Lean 101” training (and should you skip it), I'm sharing another episode (as a “bonus” episode in the “Lean Blog Interviews” podcast series), a “just the Lean talk” discussion. This comes from Episode #27 where we started the episode by taking a deep dive into coffee (making it and drinking it at home) instead of talking whiskey. We were recording in the morning, so whiskey wasn't appropriate. The weather was nice, so Jamie was sitting outside, so we get to hear some birds in his background. Again, we kno...
2022-06-0855 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondSkip the Lean 101 Training? Mark Graban and Jamie FlinchbaughThis is a "bonus" episode where Mark and Jamie talk about "Lean 101" training -- experiences, lessons learned, tips, and more. This is the "just the Lean" part of Episode #33 of our "Lean Whiskey" podcast. We realize some of you might not care about the whiskey talk or you just don't want to hear that at all. But, the Lean discussion is pretty good, so here it is. If you're interested in Lean Whiskey, it's quite likely that you can subscribe anywhere you are listening to this post.
2022-05-2557 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)On the Road Again and In Person for the First TimeEpisode page: https://leanblog.org/whiskey33 In Episode 33, we recognize some of the back to normal which includes Mark heading out on the road to do consulting again. That brings Mark close enough to Jamie for a new first: an in-person recording of Lean Whiskey. Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh meet up in Philadelphia to drink some Garrison Brothers special barrel selection from Mark as well talk about Lean 101 training.  In many ways, this is an origin story for Lean Whiskey. Mark and Jamie would be opportunistic about their travels, end up in the same city...
2022-05-201h 21CFO Bookshelf
CFO BookshelfMeasures of Success With Mark GrabanMy four favorite authors on performance measure with improvement as the primary aim is Don Wheeler, Stacey Barr, Dean Spitzer, and Mark Graban.In this conversation, we find out three of the most important questions surrounding performance improvement the right. Our guest is Mark Graban, and he's the author of Measures of Success, our topic for this episode.
2022-02-0656 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Employee Engagement Beyond Buying Them Pizza (or Bourbon)Episode page: https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey32 In Episode 32 of “Lean Whiskey,” Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh have a first… comparing two similar whiskeys from the same distiller. In this case, family-owned Willett and their Willett Pot Still Reserve bourbon and the Johnny Drum bourbon. We definitely both have our favorite of the two, but you'll have to listen to find out which. We also spend a little time exploring the history of this old brand, their departure, and their recent return to the spirits world. This all happens between NFL conference championship games where neither o...
2022-02-041h 34Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementThis WSJ Article About Lean Isn't Terrible (via GE and Larry Culp)Blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban breaks down a rare moment in mainstream business journalism: a Wall Street Journal article that actually does a respectable job explaining Lean. Using GE and CEO Larry Culp as a case study, Mark explores why the story stands out—and what it reveals about leadership, culture, and the real work of continuous improvement.Mark walks through examples highlighted in the article, from simple but powerful flow redesign at a GE factory to Culp’s hands-on participation in kaizen events. He reflects on the WSJ’s surprising accuracy in descri...
2022-01-0412 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementThis WSJ Article About Lean Isn't Terrible (via GE and Larry Culp)Blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban breaks down a rare moment in mainstream business journalism: a Wall Street Journal article that actually does a respectable job explaining Lean. Using GE and CEO Larry Culp as a case study, Mark explores why the story stands out—and what it reveals about leadership, culture, and the real work of continuous improvement.Mark walks through examples highlighted in the article, from simple but powerful flow redesign at a GE factory to Culp’s hands-on participation in kaizen events. He reflects on the WSJ’s surprising accuracy in descri...
2022-01-0412 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)End a Year, End a Bottle; Start a Year, Start a BottleShow notes: https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey31 In Episode 31 of “Lean Whiskey,” Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh discuss the routines and practices of wrapping up a year, and kicking off a new year. In that spirit, we either finish a bottle of whiskey, or start a new one. We also invite three guests to share their thoughts. Past Lean Whiskey guests Jim Benson, Deondra Wardelle, and Chris Burnham join and share their thoughts on finishing up a year and starting a new one. Routines, habits, practices that help you transition the year and s...
2021-12-101h 36My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership
My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and LeadershipA ”Vaccine Administration Error” That I Experienced This WeekIn today's bonus episode, host Mark Graban talks about an error that he was "victim" of this week. He was given the incorrect Moderna booster dose, being given the "full" 0.5 mL dose instead of the "booster" dose of 0.25 mL. This is, thankfully, an error that's not harmful (in fact, it may be to his benefit). But, everyone, from the CDC to the store, pharmacy manager agreed this was a "serious" error that "should not occur." How can we learn from mistakes like this so we prevent giving the wrong dose (or the wrong vaccine)?? Will learning from this help prevent...
2021-11-0627 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Celebrating 30 Episodes, Writing Books, and Great WhiskeyShow notes: https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey30 In Episode 30 of “Lean Whiskey“, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh find things to celebrate, starting with the fact that we have hit 30 episodes. In that time, we've had 14 guests or co-hosts, and tasted 56 different whiskeys (not counting the gin and coffee detours) covering 5 countries and 7 states. We've also had over 10,000 downloads which is a celebration of its own right, and while we do not record this show just to get lots of listeners, we are extremely grateful for all of you who have tuned in.  Having both just...
2021-10-221h 38Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)The Accidental St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, and Discussing New CEOs Carol Tomé, Rosalind Brewer, and Jane FraserShow notes and links: https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey26 In Episode 26, we accidentally celebrate St. Patrick's Day with some Irish whiskey, lightly mourn some NCAA March Madness losses (or absences, and Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban welcome guest co-host Adam Zak. We selected Irish whiskey as a category because we hadn't used it yet, but after changing the date of the scheduled recording, we ended up quite close to St. Patrick's Day (which was officially a dry holiday until 1970, but that pendulum certainly swung the other way).  In the spirit of Adam Zak's career as an e...
2021-03-261h 20Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Peaty Scotch, Working from Home, and Misunderstood Lean Phrases with Jim BensonIn Episode 25, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban welcome a guest to our show, with Jim Benson joining us. Jim has been a long-time collaborator of Mark's, and certainly enjoys a dram or two of whiskey. We begin by getting the backstory on Jim's Twitter handle @OurFounder, complete with artwork.  Show notes: https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey25  Since it's still winter, and Jamie continues to spend more time driving his snowblower than his car, we thought “something peaty” felt fitting. We all selected something peaty from our scotch collection, from Highland Park to Samaroli to Lagavulin, and we learne...
2021-02-261h 15Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Homemade Whiskey Cream and Vaccination (Not to be Mixed Up)Mark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey24 In Episode 24, Mark and Jamie return to a familiar format, just the two of them chatting over some whiskey. In this episode, they decide to make homemade whiskey cream (more popularly known as Irish cream or just Bailey's). Mark's recipe is keto-friendly and Jamie's utilizes rye whiskey. Check out the links below for their recipes and a history of the creation of Bailey's Irish Cream.  After celebrating Jamie's completion of his next book's manuscript and Mark's immersion into the world of spirits with WSET L...
2021-02-051h 21Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Finishing 2020 with Kentucky Bourbon, Eggnog, and Kata TalkMark Graban, Jamie Flinchbaugh, and Deondra Wardelle https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey23 for show notes and links In Episode 23, Mark and Jamie return to finish out 2020, this time joined by Kentucky native Deondra Wardelle, so naturally Kentucky bourbon is our whiskey category of choice. Bourbons selected include Brough Brothers, Willett, and Barton 1792. After introducing Deondra to our listeners, we take a moment to toast the life of Norman Bodek, who passed away last week at the age of 88.  After briefly debating whether peppermint should ever be added to beer, even if it is t...
2020-12-171h 12Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Catching Up with Honsha Friends Over Whisky, Sake, and an Old FashionedMark Graban, Darril Wilburn, and Sammy Obara https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey22 For Episode 22, Mark Graban is joined by Darril Wilburn and Sammy Obara, two former Toyota employees who are colleagues at the firm Honsha. They are two of the authors of the excellent book Toyota by Toyota. The three talk about how they met (via LEI and other Lean events) and how Mark was invited by Darril and Honsha to go to Japan with them two years ago (see posts about that trip). They talk about the "conveyor belt sushi...
2020-10-301h 06Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Highland Park Scotch, What is the Point of Lean During a Rare Pandemic?Mark Graban, Jamie Flinchbaugh, and Tom Ehrenfeld https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey21 In Episode 21, Mark and Jamie return to our regular casual format of open discussion over a drink, this time joined by Tom Ehrenfeld, well known to the lean community for his writing and editorial work with the Lean Enterprise Institute. We all enjoyed tasting some Highland Park scotch, with Tom trying it for the first time, Mark opening a new bottle, and Jamie getting towards the end of a bottle.  We talk about what new things we’ve been up to, wit...
2020-10-231h 35Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Live from the Colorado Lean Network Summit, Affordable WhiskeysMark, Jamie, Katie Benik, and Jen House http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey20 In Episode 20, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh join the Colorado Lean Summit live and host a virtual happy hour while discussing the first couple days of the events proceedings. Joining us as co-hosts are CLN members Jen House (also a board member) and Katie Benik. We took some questions, shared what people were drinking in the chat, and had our own chat about what we’ve learned from the Summit. We started by sharing our whiskey selections in the “budget-friendly” category. We cer...
2020-09-181h 07Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Mark Graban & Cliff Hazell: Amrut, Uncle Nearest, and Some TweetsMark Graban and Cliff Hazel http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey19 For Episode #19, Mark Graban is joined by a new guest host, Cliff Hazell. Mark and Cliff first met years ago in Austin at the Lean Coaching Summit, where they shared some Garrison Brothers whiskey and talked about Lean, Deming, coaching, and such. So today, Mark and Cliff share a drink — Amrut whiskey from India for Cliff and Uncle Nearest 1856 Tennessee whiskey for Mark. “Uncle Nearest” is a new brand that's named after Nearest Green, the slave who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiske...
2020-08-271h 04Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Just the Two of Us (Mark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh), Islay Scotch & MoreMark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey18 In Episode 18, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh return to our tried and true format of “just the two of us”, although that won’t last long as Mark will soon have a guest co-host and then we will record an episode live as part of the Colorado Lean Network Summit. Jamie decides to move to the porch, a “proper” whiskey drinking spot in contrast to his office, which might be a new standard (at least until winter).  In this episode, we begin by remembering...
2020-08-061h 19Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Show Firsts: 3 People (Jim Huntzinger), 2 Pours, 3 KeynotesMark Graban, Jamie Flinchbaugh, Jim Huntzinger http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey17 In Episode 17, after not doing an episode of Lean Whiskey in almost two months, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh try all sorts of firsts. We had three people, with Jim Huntzinger of Lean Frontiers joining us. We all drank the same whiskey. We used two different whiskies. We talked about 3 different keynotes. OK, so they aren’t groundbreaking firsts, but it was new for our show.  Jim Huntzinger joined us after an aborted attempt in March for Jamie to do an in-person epi...
2020-07-091h 23Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Relocating Coast to Coast, Making Cocktails, and CovidEpisode page: http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey16 In Episode 16, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh take a little longer than usual to get to the lean talk. Our whiskey topic was cocktails, which takes longer to make (and apparently talk about) than pouring neat whiskey into a tumbler. Mark made a Boulevardier and Jamie made an Old Fashioned. We discuss bar tools and stirring versus shaking (sorry Mr. Bond, see the links below). See, we talked about process. We also explore Mark’s experience in traveling coast to coast in his move from Orlando to LA, an...
2020-05-141h 10Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Shelter-in-Place & Drink Local; Proper Handwashing InstructionsView the episode at http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey15 In a special live-to-YouTube Episode 15 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh begin their week by catching up, drinking whiskey, and talking shop. This episode was an experiment both in video recording the episode and in streaming it live to get viewer participation and questions. We didn't have a large audience, but those who showed up shared what they were drinking and asked some great questions.  We used shelter-in-place as our whiskey selections, with Mark in Florida and Jamie in Pennsylvania, we chose l...
2020-04-011h 07Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Coronavirus, Supply Chains, and Just-in-Time; Adding Water to WhiskeyEpisode page In Episode 14 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh finish off another weekend by catching up, drinking whiskey, and talking shop.  In whiskey, we explore the idea of adding water to your whiskey. Rather than take the tradition as fact, the lean thinker must seek an understanding of cause and effect. We find some of the research, and perform our experiments to validate that it actually works.  We move on to a more serious topic, coronavirus or Covid-19, and its impact on your supply chain. We avoid any exploration in th...
2020-03-131h 13Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Don’t Drink Pacific Northwest Whiskeys While Standing in Ohno’s Circle?Episode page: http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey13 In Episode 13 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh reconnect in their first joint episode this year, after a couple weeks of guest hosts. Our last episode together was filled with Grinches, gremlins, and glitches, so it was nice to both be in a proper recording location and be able to focus on the conversation and the whiskey.  Our whiskey selections were on the theme of the Pacific Northwest, a growing region for whiskey. Mark's Westland American Single Malt Whiskey really specializes in using Oregon ingredients, including 5 d...
2020-02-141h 18Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Canadian Whiskey, the Ups & Downs of Healthcare, and a CEO Thrown Under the Bus http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey12  In Episode 12 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban is back and he's joined by a friend from the Lean healthcare world, Ryan McCormack. Jamie will be with Mark for our next episode. You might know Ryan as the creator of the awesome "Operational Excellence Mixtapes" that he sends out via email and he also allows to be posted here on the blog. Ryan, like Mark, started his career in manufacturing and then transitioned to healthcare. After working for a hospital in Winnipeg, Ryan is now OpEx manager f...
2020-01-241h 21Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)The Grinch Stole our Tech, Holiday Whiskey, Lean in Japan, and Getting Ready for 2020Episode page http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey10 In Episode 10 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh do their best to work through technology issues, as the Grinch clearly didn’t want us to record. We apologize if this affected the final product just a little bit, but the show must go on.  The two whiskey enthusiasts select something to drink that they think goes well with the holidays, as we both prepare to share this time with others. Unfortunately, neither of our selections are easily acquired, so these selections might have been more for our...
2019-12-201h 03Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Affordable Bourbon, Halloween, Air Travel, Six Sigma, and Lean as a 2nd JobEpisode page In Episode 9 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh link up on Halloween night to share a drink and ideas about lean. We discuss air travel, which we both experience in volume, and taste affordable whiskeys under $35.  We both agree handing out whiskey for Halloween would be a bad idea.  In the news, we discuss an article exploring the rise and fall of Six Sigma, and its relationship to GE. This is a topic that could keep us going for a few episodes, but we focus on how too much focus on th...
2019-11-051h 20Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementMark Graban Interviewed by KOGO Radio, San Diegohttp://www.leanblog.org/audio285 This is a radio segment from the KOGO morning news on August 23rd, 2019. LaDona Harvey: When it comes to your career path, your family’s financial future, or even a weight loss journey, focusing on little setbacks can throw a real wrench in your progress. Ted Garcia: Joining us on the KOGO news live, the author of, “Measures of Success. React Less, Lead Better, Improve More,” Mark Graban. Good morning, Mark. Mark Graban: Good morning.
2019-09-0204 minLean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous ImprovementMark Graban Interviewed by KOGO Radio, San Diegohttp://www.leanblog.org/audio285 This is a radio segment from the KOGO morning news on August 23rd, 2019. LaDona Harvey: When it comes to your career path, your family’s financial future, or even a weight loss journey, focusing on little setbacks can throw a real wrench in your progress. Ted Garcia: Joining us on the KOGO news live, the author of, “Measures of Success. React Less, Lead Better, Improve More,” Mark Graban. Good morning, Mark. Mark Graban: Good morning.
2019-09-0204 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Remembering Lee Iacocca, and Ross Perot; Speyside ScotchEpisode page -- http://www.leanblog.org/whiskey6  After the last episode with guest host Paul Critchley, I'm once again joined by Jamie Flinchbaugh for another "Lean Whiskey" podcast. In Episode 6 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh explore two icons as leaders and the impact they’ve had. Lee Iacocca and Ross Perot passed away recently, and we explore their impact on their companies and most importantly, on people.  We also enjoy a couple of Speyside single malt whiskeys, Jamie’s from Glenrothes and Mark’s from Balvenie. These are two differen...
2019-08-151h 01Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Nikka Whisky, Performance Reviews, KPIs, More Lean Pet PeevesShow notes: http://leanblog.org/whiskey4 In Episode 4 of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh (and a cameo from his cat Rocco), join forces to enjoy a casual conversation -- mostly about lean and a little bit about whiskey. We recap Mark's recent trip to Louisville, including our friends at Glenns Creek Distillery, before tipping our glasses with Japanese whiskey, both from Nikka. Jamie is tasting the Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt, named after the father of Japanese whiskey, Masataka Taketsuru. Mark is tasting the Nikka Coffey Malt, named after the Coffey Still.  Whi...
2019-07-171h 00Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Kentucky Ryes, Surgical Behavior, Lean & Robots, Pet Peeveshttps://www.leanblog.org/whiskey3 The first guest host joining me is my friend Chris Burnham. Chris is also an experienced Lean practitioner and leader, and we've talked about Lean over whiskey in person (at last year's KaiNexus User Conference). We chat about what we're sipping (Kentucky rye whiskeys), discuss two articles from the news, and we answer a listener question. We also added a short segment called “Lean Pet Peeves.” Jamie will be back next episode. Chris Burnham and Mark Graban start Episode 3 by telling listeners how they met and a little bit ab...
2019-07-0100 minLean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)
Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)Our Lean Whiskey Debut; Fiat Chrysler Plan; Getting Started with LeanRecorded April 14, 2019 -- Mark and Jamie chat out their hopes for the podcast, “lean coffee,” a news story about a Fiat Chrysler plant, a reader question about getting started with lean, and more. In the very first episode of Lean Whiskey, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh, longtime friends, lean thinkers, and whiskey enthusiasts, join forces to enjoy a casual conversation — mostly about lean and a little bit about whiskey. In Episode 1, which we labeled as a “wet run” instead of a “dry run”, we share some of our joint interests, explore our whiskey choices, react to an article...
2019-04-2545 minPracticing Lean (Audiobook Preview)
Practicing Lean (Audiobook Preview)Chapter 2 - Mark GrabanTo learn more about the book, including how to buy it, go to www.PracticingLean.com. To learn more about the Batz Foundation, their incredible Batz Guide publications for patients, and to donate, visit www.louisebatz.org. Thanks. Chapter 2 written and read by Mark Graban. www.MarkGraban.com. Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, published author, professional speaker, and blogger. He builds upon a deep education in engineering and management with practical experience working with executives and frontline employees in multiple industries to synthesize and practice methods including Lean management, continuous improvement, statistical methods, and people-centered leadership approaches. Mark is...
2018-11-2330 minPracticing Lean (Audiobook Preview)
Practicing Lean (Audiobook Preview)Chapter 1 - Mark GrabanTo learn more about the book, including how to buy it, go to www.PracticingLean.com. To learn more about the Batz Foundation, their incredible Batz Guide publications for patients, and to donate, visit www.louisebatz.org. Thanks. About Mark Graban: Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, published author, professional speaker, and blogger. He builds upon a deep education in engineering and management with practical experience working with executives and frontline employees in multiple industries to synthesize and practice methods including Lean management, continuous improvement, statistical methods, and people-centered leadership approaches. Mark is the author of the Shingo-Award winning book...
2018-11-2219 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondIs Lean Really Dead? Karen Martin on Leadership, Culture, and Long-Term ThinkingIn this episode, Mark and Karen discuss a provocative question she raised: "Is Lean Dead?" (or "dying?"). Karen is the author of books including "Value Stream Mapping" and "The Outstanding Organization." Her next book is titled "Clarity First" and we'll be discussing that in a future episode. http://www.leanblog.org/285 Is Lean dead—or just misunderstood? Karen Martin joins Mark Graban to explore why Lean often gets dismissed, how leadership habits and short-term thinking derail improvement, and why Lean still matters when practiced as a true management system—not a toolbox.
2017-08-1048 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondCEO Dean Gruner, MD, Lean & Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) at ThedaCareEpisode #144 is a discussion with Dean Gruner, MD, the president & CEO of ThedaCare, talking about Accountable Care Organizations  (ACOs) and how ThedaCare is using this approach, along with Lean methods, to improve the coordination of care for patients. Dean was  previously a guest in episode 119, talking about the “strategy deployment” methodology. Dean will be presenting at the upcoming Lean Healthcare Transformation Summit, June 6-7, 2012 in Minneapolis. I hope to see you there! I'll be attending and moderating the CEO panel again this year. For a link to this episode, refer people to  www.leanblog.org...
2012-04-1622 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondMark Graban Interviewed on Quality Digest Live About Healthcare QualityEpisode Page Podcast #128 turns the tables a bit, as your host Mark Graban is, this time, interviewed by Dirk Dusharme and Ryan Day from the online video show “Quality Digest Live.” Thanks to Quality Digest, I'm able to share the audio from my segment on the show with you in this format. You can view the episode here, if you like. In this episode, we talk about lean healthcare and quality. We'll be back to the regular show next week. For a link to this episode, refer people to  www.leanb...
2011-08-2415 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondStephen Covey on Toyota’s Respect for People and Lean LeadershipEpisode page Remastered 2023 Episode #91 is a very special one-on-one conversation with Dr. Stephen Covey, recorded at the Shingo Prize Conference in Salt Lake City last week. My main question to Dr. Covey was to ask his thoughts on Toyota's “Respect for People” principle, sometimes called ‘Respect for Humanity.” You can listen to the audio or you can read a transcript below in this post. After the chat with Dr. Covey, I share a few thoughts at the end of the podcast about Dr. Covey's work and Lean, along with a little background about the intervi...
2010-05-2310 minLean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and BeyondYour Guest, Mark Graban - Celebrating 50 Episodes with Jamie Flinchbaughhttps://leanblog.org/50  To celebrate the 50th LeanBlog Podcast, the tables are turned. Guest host Jamie Flinchbaugh chats with me, Mark Graban, about the history of my blog, my podcasts, and how this led into my new book, Lean Hospitals. This was Jamie's idea (thanks). I normally try not to be the center of attention on the podcasts, letting my guests do most of the talking (so I can learn), so I'm a bit uncomfortable talking about myself… but here it is. Topics include why I started the blog, what I've learned along the way, how I go...
2008-08-0728 min