Shows
I Need To F***ing Talk To You120 - Optimizing F-ing Revenue, Not Just Hype – With Matthew Stafford from BGSIn this episode, we sit down with revenue optimization expert Matthew Stafford, who brings over eight years of focused experience helping ecommerce businesses scale smarter and faster. As a key strategist at BGS (Build Grow Scale), Matthew talks about his personal journey from concrete, to t-shirts, to ecommerce consulting and shares what truly moves the needle in ecommerce — and the mindset shifts that help online business owners grow in revenue, profit, and sustainability.Connect with Matthew Stafford & BGS:Website: https://buildgrowscale.comInstagram: @buildgrowscaleE-mail: matt@buildgrowscale.comWant expert eyes on your eCommerce store?Book a st...
2025-07-1542 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You118 - Retaining F-ing Great Employees with Ken RuskDouble your Ken in this episode! Host Ken Cameron speaks with Ken Rusk, blue-collar entrepreneur, bestselling author of Blue-Collar Cash, and host of the Comfort, Peace & Freedom podcast.Ken shares the story of a tough conversation early in his career when one of his top employees told him they were planning to leave. Instead of trying to convince them to stay for the sake of the business, Ken took a different approach: he put the employee’s goals ahead of his own. That decision sparked a powerful shift in trust, loyalty, and long-term leadership.With ove...
2025-06-1744 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You116 - Sobriety, Strategy, and Speaking the Hard Truth with David GreerOn this episode of I Need To F**ing Talk To You*, we’re joined by David Greer—entrepreneurial coach, angel investor, and author of The Wind In Your Sails. With more than 40 years of experience building and guiding high-growth businesses, David brings unmatched depth—but it’s the personal story he shares today that hits the hardest.David opens up about the most difficult conversation of his life: a brutally honest talk with his coach about his drinking. That moment changed everything. It led to 16 years of sobriety and a new calling—supporting entrepreneurs who are battling add...
2025-05-2053 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You115 - The Adults Are Back In The F-ing Room with Monica HarrisIn this candid episode, Russell speaks with Monica Harris, Executive Director of the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR). They discuss the implications of identity politics and dive into the turbulent reaction following peak “woke” policies and the inevitable backlash of post-DEI initiatives demonstrating Newton’s third law—"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction".Monica explains how, in these polarized times, “the adults have re-entered the room.” She offers her unique perspective on reclaiming balanced, common-sense approaches to systemic problems based on our shared values.Links:Website: https://www.fairforall.org/FAIR's American Experience c...
2025-05-0654 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You114 - From Automation to F-ing Awkward Conversations: Neil Twa on Tough Talks in E-CommerceIn this episode of I Need To F**ing Talk To You*, we sit down with Neil Twa, CEO and Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings, a powerhouse behind launching and scaling successful Amazon FBA brands. Neil brings 17+ years of entrepreneurial wisdom and shares a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most difficult conversations he’s ever had as a leader in the fast-paced world of e-commerce.Neil opens up about navigating a tense situation with a business partner that put trust, strategy, and long-term goals to the ultimate test. We explore how communication breakdowns can derail even the mos...
2025-04-2249 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You112 - Sometimes you need to f-ing bitch, whine & moan with Yosi KossowskyIn this candid episode, we sit down with Yosi Kossowsky—a seasoned coach with over 17 years of experience and a 30+ year multinational career. Yosi has held top leadership roles including Chief Technology Officer and Senior Director of Talent Management, and he now leads K-Tor Consulting. His deep insights into global leadership and the modern hybrid business environment make for a compelling conversationFrom Technical Expert to Leader:Yosi discusses his personal journey transitioning from being a highly skilled technical professional to stepping into leadership roles. He shares the challenges of letting go and trusting others to get th...
2025-03-2549 minI Need To F***ing Talk To YouRe-Release: AI Is Here for F-ing Good, with Israel BeckWe're excited to reissue this episode featuring Israel Beck—titled "AI Is Here for F-ing Good, with Israel Beck"—to mark the relaunch of his company, CraticAI.Israel Beck is an entrepreneur, speaker, and consultant whose life took a transformative turn about seven years ago during a night out in San Francisco. That pivotal encounter with an AI company sparked a passion that has since driven his journey. Today, Israel is at the helm of Cratic, a tech startup that blends artificial intelligence with team culture. He’s uncovered an innovative synergy between AI and therapeutic techniques, enabli...
2025-03-1153 minI Need To F***ing Talk To YouRe-Release: The F-ing Future of Economics with Todd HirschEver wondered what an economist actually does? (And let’s be honest, who hasn’t?) Then you absolutely need to F-ing listen to this episode!We’re diving into the archives to revisit our conversation with Todd Hirsch—author, VP/Chief Economist at ATB Financial, and host of The Future Of … podcast. Todd breaks down the art and science of economics, reveals the best film featuring an economist as a lead character, and shares how to forecast effectively.Should economics and storytelling be hardwired together? How does Todd reinforce ATB’s famous corporate culture? And most importantly—sh...
2025-02-2549 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You111 - You Really Need To F-ing Listen To HR with Lisa-Maree BlumenfeldIn this episode, Russell sits down with Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld, founder of Retain, LLC, to explore the critical role of HR in helping businesses scale effectively. Lisa-Maree is a seasoned HR leader with experience across startups and Fortune 500 companies. Her passion for supporting early to mid-stage startups led her to create Retain, a firm dedicated to helping founders build strong HR foundations while providing managers and executives with dynamic training, Enneagram coaching, and executive coaching.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How HR serves as a clearer of obstacles and risk analyzer, allowing businesses to move fa...
2025-02-1143 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You108 - The F***ing New Year Edition: Remembering the Icons of 2024In this special F-ng New Year Edition of I Need to F***ing Talk to You, Ken and Russell take a moment to remember and celebrate the lives of four figures from the world of show business who passed away in 2024. From comedy legends to music pioneers and media visionaries, they reflect on the impact these individuals had on their respective industries and on popular culture.Join Ken and Russell as they share their thoughts and memories of:Bob Newhart: The beloved comedian whose dry wit and unique brand of humor left an indelible mark on...
2024-12-3131 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You107 - The F***ing Christmas Edition – Ken & Russell Recommend Books for Your Christmas StockingIn this special Christmas edition of I Need To F***ing Talk To You, Ken and Russell take a break from their usual workplace conversation tips to recommend some must-read books that will make the perfect addition to your holiday stocking. Whether you're looking to level up your communication skills, sharpen your strategy, or dive into some thought-provoking ideas, these books are sure to inspire you in the year ahead.Books Discussed in This Episode:The Invisible Asset: How Good Communication Can Fix Almost Everything by Simon HeathLearn how improving your communication can solve...
2024-12-1733 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You106 - Work should feel the human spirit not F***ing drain it, with Rob LionRob Lion shares how he botched a performance feedback conversation with his team member: AND, on a better note, how called out a “constant complainer” on his team. Rob is the Co-Founder of Black River Performance Management and a professor of human resource development at Idaho State University where his teaching and research focus on organizational psychology and behaviour. Rob is an experienced business owner himself in the food and beverage, personal fitness, and business development industries and has over a decade of work in economic development. In those roles, he says, he saw too many people leaving pieces of the...
2024-12-0345 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You105 - How HR can stop your business from f***ing exploding with Cher McArthurIn this episode, Russell sits down with Cher McArthur, the founder of Humming Bee, to discuss the complexities and challenges of human resources. With over 20 years of HR and leadership experience across various industries, Cher and her team at Humming Bee specialize in helping leaders navigate potential minefields such as performance management, conflict resolution, training and development programs, and work distribution.Cher's approach to HR is anything but one-size-fits-all. She believes that each organization has its own unique needs, and she is dedicated to developing customized solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable in the...
2024-11-1957 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You104 - I Have a F***ing Bubble and You need to Stay Out Of It with Katelyn BullockKatelyn tells us about the difficult conversation she had with a colleague who touched her inappropriately in the workplace … and why she chose not to escalate to HR. She also tells us how she almost lost her company during the pandemic but instead grew her business 5X over the next three years through the power of social media connection. Most importantly, she tells us why it’s important to be friendly at the Tim Horton’s drive thru. Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Don’t call people out - call them in—We hope you enj...
2024-11-0553 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You103 - Getting People F***ing Energized By The F***ing Power Within Them with Cheryl CrumbJoin Cheryl Crumb as she shares wisdom form her career as a trainer, a coach and a guide who works with clients to bring the voice of the customer into their organizations. Machines tend to be predictable and don’t get mad at you, but human beings are unpredictable and emotional. Producing a cohesive team dedicated to creating an Extraordinary Customer Experience requires rigorous processes, an empowered workforce and enlightened leadership. This magical combination doesn’t happen by accident… it’s both a top down and bottom up approach. Cheryl also shares her most difficult conversation: a clean up con...
2024-10-2246 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You102 - Everyone Has An F***ing Story To Tell With Heather AndrewsIn this episode, Ken and Russell sit down with Heather Andrews, the dynamic founder of Get You Visible and the Empire Authors Academy. After a successful career in healthcare, Heather made a bold move to pursue her passion for storytelling and founded Get You Visible, a publishing company dedicated to helping individuals share their unique stories with the world. Heather's belief that everyone has a story worth telling is at the heart of her work, and she has empowered countless authors to bring their narratives to life.Ken and Russell also share their experience working with Heather...
2024-10-0844 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You101 - Tough Conversations Are Hard with Alison Geskin: The Power of Strategy (and F***ing Spinach on Your Teeth)While Ken is out of town, Russell takes the reins and sits down with Alison Geskin, Founder and CEO of The Art of Strategy.Alison is a globally recognized leader in strategy, organizational development, and people performance. Her innovative approach to connecting strategy with people development has consistently driven powerful performance and positive outcomes for organizations worldwide.In this episode, Alison talks about her work in practically supporting strategic change with the 'how' and not simply the 'what'. She also shares one of the most difficult conversations she experienced as an executive—one that may res...
2024-09-2456 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You100 - The F***ing 100th Anniversary PanelJoin cohosts Russell Stratton and Ken Cameron for their 100th addition and really looking forward to this special conversation today as a discussion with returning special guests Marcy Fortnow, Meridith Grundei from Grundei Coaching, and Jonathan White from Hiro Studio.Marcy Fortnow’s company is called Engaging Play with a focus on team development work, team training, facilitation, to get all the group working together get more done and focus on areas of connection, communication and collaboration.Marcy believes that when people are in sync with those items they are more effective or positive and mor...
2024-09-101h 04I Need To F***ing Talk To You98 - Clean The F***ing Toilet with Judith ViragKen Cameron and Russell Stratton are back together co hosting again after what seems like forever and we need to F**ing talk to Judith Virag, after building a successful career within the corporate world as an executive assistant at corporations such as Citibank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Calgary Flames took a leap of faith and her residential and commercial cleaning company Clean Club Calgary.We’ve had the pleasure of working with Judith's team and she’s also a co-writer with us in our new book collaboration The Culture Revolution.Contact Judith Virag | Clean Club Calg...
2024-08-1353 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You97 - The f***ing half inch in front of you is attainable right now with Brad SmithIn this episode I need to talk f***ing talk to Brad Smith of Stellar Insight Inc. Brad is a business growth consultant, CEO and executive coach facilitator for strategic thinking planning and R&D. Brad is interested in working with CEOs and companies who are ambitious, curious and courageous enough to want more insight for their company and more sales with less effort, companies poised for significant growth, executive culture, animated for success for leaps of magnitude, and executive effectiveness.Links & Resources from this episode:CEO and business group coachingDeep Intuition MasterclassBooks Brad re...
2024-07-3051 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You96 - It's fun to be f***ing resourceful with Rebecca VickersRebecca is the VP of operations at FMO media out of Atlanta and steers the helm of operations at FMO Media with an eagle eye for efficiency and a maestro’s touch in digital strategy. She's the backbone of the production and marketing teams, pioneering systems that transform challenges into seamless workflows. When she's not innovating the next big thing in marketing automation, Rebecca cherishes life in rhythm with her husband, their two Shiba Inu rescues, Kit and Kuma, and Blue, the cat with eyes as deep as the ocean.She spent her early career working with th...
2024-07-1649 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You95 - Liz Weber says Something Needs to F***ing Change Around HereLiz Weber is a speaker and the author of 'Something Needs to Change Around Here' and 'What Women In Leadership Need to Stop Doing'. Liz has written a total of ten books, has supervised business activities in 129 countries, and has consulted in over 20 countries. Liz helps her clients focus on the right things at the right time to get the right impact. As a result, her clients measurably improve their performance, profits, and workplace culture.Links & Resources from This Episode:Company website: www.WBSLLC.comLeadership Insights Blog: https://www.wbsllc.com/blog/FREE Leadership S...
2024-07-0252 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You94 - From Purpose to F***ing Profit with Erin Andrea CraskeErin is a business and leadership success coach. She’s got over 20 years of hands-on experience. She’s got a portfolio spanning 40 industry lead brands in global companies. Erin‘s leadership skills have transformed mindset, elevated brand profiles and driven unprecedented performance, all while fostering, authentic and respectful relationships. And as you know, that’s the core of our podcast and that’s why we’re excited to chat with Erin.Erin is the author of the award-winning practical strategy guide, "From Purpose to Profit." With a dedication to ethical practices and a customer-centric approach, and a portfolio spa...
2024-06-1849 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You93 - Let’s talk about F***ing PersuasionMeet Carlos Alvarenga, the author of “The Rules of Persuasion". His book explains exactly how persuasion works in all forms of human communication. It uses insights and examples from art to history to literature to hip-hop. Carlos tells us about an uncomfortable conversation in which he refused a promotion because he was the only Latino at the firm.Contact Carlos Alvarenga:CarlosAlvarenga.comCarlos Alvarenga's Book: The Rules of Persuasion: How the World's Greatest Communicators Convince, Inspire, Lead―and, Sometimes, Deceive on Amazon—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcas...
2024-06-0457 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You92 - Tom Fox is the guy who wrote the F***ing book (on compliance)Tom is literally the guy who wrote the book on compliance with the international compliance best seller “The Compliance Handbook, 5th edition”.. along with 30 other books and just as many podcasts on the award-winning Compliance Podcast Network and hosting or producing multiple award-winning podcasts. Who knew that Tom could make compliance so F-ing interesting? Tom also tells us about how he failed in the most challenging conversation of his working career, and what we can learn from his experience. Contact Tom Fox:Compliance Podcast NetworkTom's Book: The Compliance Handbook—We hope you enjoy the pod...
2024-05-2141 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You91 - Randy McCord is the F***ing National BestRandy is the founder of National Best Financial Network, one of the most innovative, independent Life Insurance brokerages in Canada for sole proprietors or incorporated professionals. In addition, Randy has facilitated over 250 workshops and training courses in his career … and through his free monthly workshop, he teaches others how to network properly.Randy runs several meet-up/networking/education workshops:Calgary Networking and Referral Business Training Forum on the 4th Tuesday of every monthThe Calgary Northwest Business NetworkThe Calgary Investors Education ForumContact Randy McCord:National Best: Randy McCordRandy's Book: The 8 Step Dream Bus...
2024-05-0754 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You90 - Entrepreneurs! Stop the f***ing juggling act, a conversation with Kari LotzienIn this episode Russell needs to f***ing talk to Kari Lotzien. Kari specializes in personalized coaching and leadership training tailored to help entrepreneurs regain control of their time and find their spark again. Her mission is to assist you in creating a business that not only thrives in the present but can survive for years as your life changes.Contact Kari Lotzien:Anchored Leadership AcademyLinkedInKari Lotzien's podcast: Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the...
2024-04-231h 01I Need To F***ing Talk To You89 - The f***ing power of improv with Jessica BelbinIn this episode Russell talks with Jessica Belbin. Jessica is a facilitator, improviser, performer and writer. She facilitates workshops that use improv to help evolve the soft skills of people. A former broadcaster, she understands the power of great communication and believes the world should take improv classes to better their communication skills.Contact Jessica Belbin:JBelTraining.com—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach out to as at the following email address info...
2024-04-091h 00I Need To F***ing Talk To You88 - Step outside the f***ing perimeter with Ken CameronIn this episode Russell talks to Ken about his recent work at a strategic board retreat when Ken utilized one of Chris McGoff's tools from his book 'The Primes' relating to Perimeters. When individuals convene, they erect boundaries. These boundaries delineate topics deemed acceptable for discussion, effectively constraining the discourse within a predefined realm. Such conversations invariably yield predictable results.However, when a collective broadens its scope to encompass the 'uncommon' or 'extraordinary,' it fosters an environment where novel perspectives can emerge—perspectives typically stifled within the confines of conventional discourse. This shift towards expansive dialogue foste...
2024-03-2633 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You87 - The f***ing doctor will see you now - with Dr. Liora EliasDr. Liora Elias is a college professor at University of Minnesota, a communication and sexuality subject expert, and an enneagram consultant. Dr Elias works with the enneagram to help clients and therapists build their capacity to be more themselves. She is also a six on the anagram which means she is playful and curious and has a tendency to overthink everything. Contact Dr. Liora Elias: TheEnneagramDr.com—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach...
2024-03-1248 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You86 - Lessons from the psychotherapists f***ing couch, with Lindsay TsangThis episode, we need to f***ing talk to Lindsay Tsang. Lindsay is a registered psychotherapist and executive coaching expert. He brings unique blend of psychological insight and practical business acumen. He specializes in guiding CEOs and business owners of small to medium size enterprises to create sustainable, happy and effective workplaces.Contact Lindsay Tsang: LindsayTsang.com—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach out to as at the following email address info@ine...
2024-02-2743 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You85 - Good F***ing Communications Can Fix Almost Everything with Simon HeathSimon is the author of “The Invisible Asset: How Good Communications Can Fix Almost Everything”. He is an Executive Communications Coach who has been delivering communications coaching to executives since 1996. And most importantly, he was Ken’s coach and mentor, who taught him to speak in front of a crowd.Resources from this episode:SimonHeath.caSimon's book, The Invisible Asset: How Good Communication Can Fix Almost EverythingSimon on Instagram: @simonheathpottery—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues a...
2024-02-1356 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You84 - How to F***ing Collaborate OnlineWe talk about online and remote collaboration with Jonathan White a Designated Miro Expert. If you haven’t explored the online whiteboarding platform at Miro.com (or one of its knock-offs) during the pandemic, Jon is here to tell you all about it. If your question is ever “What do we do with our meeting?”, his response will definitely be “Create a Miro board!”Resources Mentioned in this Episode:HiroStudio.coFind the latest Miro Board ImprovConnect with Jon on LinkedIn—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share...
2024-01-301h 03I Need To F***ing Talk To You83 - So you Think You Can F***ing Innovate? In this episode Shannon Phillips and Tristan Ham co-founders of Unbounded Thinking share the stage to talk innovation, why an entrepreneur is just a pissed off intrapreneur and how leaders can prevent their best employees from leaving out of frustration. Shannon Phillips, co-founder of Unbounded Thinking and co-creator of Unbounded's Human-Centered Innovation Management (HCIM) Framework; ATLAS Organizational Change Process; and Unbounded Thinking Profiles (UTP). Originally from Australia, where he studied biomedical science, Shannon is now based in Calgary, where he is helping organizations and communities nurture innovation.Tristan Ham, also a co-founder at Unbounded, is an experie...
2024-01-1650 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You82 - Happy F***ing New Year It’s our first episode of 2024, so a Happy New Year to you all. Russell and Ken wish you a very Happy F**ing New Year.Russell and Ken are going to discuss the most difficult workplace conversations that each of them has encountered and they are gonna talk about what we learned from those experiences.Hopefully you can learn from their mistakes and hopefully their successes.Ken and Russell offer workplace training in difficult conversations. Perhaps this might be something for your workplace in 2024?—We hope you enjoy the po...
2024-01-0249 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You81 - How to Make Small Talk at a F***ing Holiday partyIn this special Holiday episode, we need to f***ing talk to …. Ourselves. Because it's the holiday season and everyone is forced to attend an office holiday function whether they want to or not. Don’t you hate having to make small talk at these things? We do too. So we have a series of quick-fire questions that you can use at your Merry Christmas party … er, Happy Holiday office party.—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can alwa...
2023-12-1940 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You80 - AI Is Here for F***ing Good, with Israel PeckIsrael Peck is an entrepreneur, speaker, and consultant. About 7 years ago, his life took a big turn during a night out in San Francisco, when he had his first encounter with an AI company. It captivated him and he was hooked. Now Israel runs a tech startup called Cratic, focused on AI and team culture. He has found an exciting link between AI and therapeutic techniques to help people and teams talk and communicate better. This improves businesses and lives through cool uses of machine learning. Israel talks about a hopeful future — and a World where we all have mac...
2023-12-0553 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You79 - It’s time to F***ing Grow On Purpose with Claire ChandlerIn this episode we need to F***ing talk to Claire Chandler. Claire is a corporate and cancer survivor turned entrepreneur. She helps senior leadership teams work together more effectively in less time with less cultural resistance all so that they can accelerate their business growth.She is the President and Founder of Talent Boost. Claire gets results because she’s insanely easy to work with cuts through the corporate clutter and has a simple proven approach. Claire holds a certificate in strategic HR leadership from Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relati...
2023-11-2154 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You78 - It's Not a F***ing 30 Minute ConversationIn this episode I need to F***ing talk to Kerry-Ann Powell. Kerry-Ann Powell has varied experience of over 20 years as a Washington, DC attorney, lobbyist, and fundraiser. After raising $120 million to build the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial she launched her strategic business and consulting firm, Trafalgar Strategies. About Kerry-Ann Powell:Kerry-Ann Powell has varied experience of over 20 years as a Washington, DC attorney, lobbyist, and fundraiser. After raising $120 million to build the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial she launched her strategic business and consulting firm, Trafalgar Strategies. She is committed to sp...
2023-11-0749 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You77 - Gary Simonds (It's Not F***ing Brain Surgery. Oh, wait! It IS!)The author Margaret Atwood use to roll her eyes when doctors told they wanted to be an author when they retired - as if it was that easy. Well, here comes Gary Simonds, an actual brain surgeon-turned-author. Gary has cared for tens of thousands of critically ill patients AND he has written three non-fiction books on burnout and wellness and writes blog posts for Psychology Today Online. In the realm of fiction, he has recently published a medical/psychological thriller with a paranormal twist entitled, Death's Pale Flag. Resources and References:Website:Garyrsimonds.comDeath’s Pale Fla...
2023-10-2448 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You76 - Am I F***ing Black or am I F***ing White?"Am I F***ing Black or am I F***ing White?" asks Michael Fosberg. “F***ing Hell,” said Russell upon first hearing the story of Michael Fosberg from his own lips. A Chicago native, Michael has spoken at nearly a thousand high schools, colleges, government agencies, corporations, law firms and not-for-profits since 2005. He uses his award winning autobiographical story - the journey to find his biological father and the discovery of his Black heritage - told in the form of a one-man play, as an entry point for meaningful dialogues on race and identity. BiographyChica...
2023-10-1056 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You75 - Everyone Deserves an F***ing Second Chance with Russell StrattonIn this episode, we need to F***ing talk to my co-author and cohost Russell Stratton about some of the work that he’s been doing at the Calgary Remand Centre with individuals who have been incarcerated. For those of you who are either new listeners or for those of you who have been listening a longtime and just never really cottoned on to the background and the depth of experience that Russell brings onto the show, here is Russell's background: Russell is a certified trainer, leadership coach and conference speaker with a masters degree in hum...
2023-09-2643 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You74 - Facing the 3 F***ing C’s With Dr. Taryn Marie StejskalDr. Taryn is the Founder and Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) of Resilience Leadership Institute. Her TEDx talk, How Resilience Breaks Us Out of Our Vulnerability Cage, went viral with more than 1.3 million views within a months. Her bestselling book, The 5 Practices of Highly Resilient People: Why Some Flourish When Others Fold, is endorsed by Arianna Huffington, Daniel Pink, Marshal Goldsmith and many others.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:The Five Practices of Highly Resilient PeopleTed Talk: How Resilience Breaks Us Out of Our Vulnerability CageResilience-Leadership.comResilience Institute Courses—We hope you enjoy the po...
2023-09-1247 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You72 - Navigating f***ing bias and backlash in an ever polarized workplace - a conversation with Isis FabianIn this episode, co-hosts Russell and Ken sit down with Isis Fabian, a renowned Call Out Coach, to discuss the challenges of bias, backlash, and sociocultural change in today's ever-shifting cultural landscape. Isis brings her expertise in navigating high-sensitivity topics and failures of communication across identity groups, providing leaders and teams with the tools to address these issues effectively. Isis shares her background and journey in becoming an expert in bias and failures of communication across identity groups. Isis explains the concept of Call Out Coaching and how it helps individuals and groups navigate bias, backlash, and sociocultural change...
2023-08-1543 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You71 - It’s Time to F***ing Play with Marcy FortnowIn this episode, we need to f***ing talk to Marcy Fortnow. Marcy is the owner of Engaging Play, a team building and training company that delivers workshops and programs through traditional training, active facilitation and of course, engaging play. She develops and delivers experiential learning programs for corporate groups, organizations and boards to raise their leadership level, improve teamwork, enable better communication and problem-solving, and increase productivity.Prior to beginning her entrepreneurial ventures, Marcy accumulated more than twelve years in the business software world, in training and development, change management, and implementation and consulting, for both do...
2023-08-0151 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You70 - Are you a F***ing boring speaker? with Meridith GrundeiIn this episode, we need to talk to Meridith Grundei. Meridith is an award-winning theatre director, producer, and former Second City Improv teacher. She is also a speaker, coach and host of the podcast “Are You Waiting For Permission?” who helps presenters and speakers not be boring. Past clients include Merck, Amazon, Mercer ,CenturyLink, Google, Survey Gizmo, and a whole raft of other clients. Resources:MeridithGrundei.comTiktok: @GrundeiCoachinglinktr.ee/MeridithCGrundei—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can...
2023-07-1847 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You68 - Victoria Pelletier is F***ing UnstoppableJust in time for Pride, we feature Victoria Pelletier, the the co-author of the book “Unstoppable” and Managing Director at Accenture and LGBTQ+ advocate. She is recognized across North America as a dynamic, captivating keynote speaker and dynamic executive. She was a COO at age 24, President by 35, CEO at 41. —We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach out to as at the following email address info@ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com.—Ready for the next step in y...
2023-06-2041 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You67 - Shifting Perspectives: Embodied Leadership and the F***ing Future of Psychedelics in Leadership DevelopmentShow Notes:This year, Alberta became the first province in Canada to regulate the use of psychedelic drugs for people in therapy. But psychedelics have been used by humans in various ways, for hundreds of years. What makes them innovative now? In this episode Russell interviews fellow host Ken Cameron, founder and “Facilitator of Thinking Differently” of Corporate Culture Shift, and the boys discuss the compelling case for how psychedelic-executive leadership development allows innovators, creators and entrepreneurs to expand the upper limits of their potential to create workplace cultures that are inclusive and equitable, to forge authentic enga...
2023-06-0648 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You65 - What if everything about selling is wrong? with Peter AnthonyWhat if everything about selling is wrong? What if, instead, you try the opposite? The opposite of selling, is building a relationship. Meet Peter Anthony the author of Collabradabra - The Magic Of Collaborative Conversations. Peter works with non-salespeople like engineers, lawyers, and accountants and helps them discover how to build the client business by not selling but by collaborating with clients to build deeper, longer-lasting relationships. He shares with us the most uncomfortable conversation he’s had: with an old-school VP of Sales who thought very differently and relied on bullying instead of relationship-building.Collabradabra: The ma...
2023-05-0949 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You64 - Agile teams aren’t that f***ing agile! A conversation with Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Frederick about how to use the power of conversations to change your team cultureIn this episode the boys need to f***ing talk to Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick about the benefits of 'agile conversations' - by changing how you approach conversations in your business you change your culture. We can find that our habits of conversation are deeply ingrained, and powerful cognitive biases work against any change. The good news as Squirrel and Jeffrey explain is that with disciplined practice, you can improve your conversations the way you’d improve your tennis game or your piano playing. Douglas runs a highly engaged community called the Squirrel Squadron, Douglas coaches exe...
2023-04-2556 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You63 - Most Leaders Don’t Google Very F***ing Well - A conversation with Holly CarinciHolly Carinci founded a personal publicity firm twenty-five years ago, and worked alongside Seth MacFarlane, William Shatner, Leonardo DiCaprio, and many others. Now she establishes positive reputations for leaders and helps them navigate new critical issues. Because reputation matters. If customers don’t like what they see in a company’s leadership they won’t buy from that company. So get your Google in order. Holly Carinci is the CEO of HwP PR Inc., a leadership communications team of exceptional experts from top establishments across North America, including Bloomberg, Disney, PwC, and more. They are committed to promoting...
2023-04-1150 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You62 - Lessons from the f***ing Tech Industry, a conversation with Limor BergmanSince 2017 Limor has run LBG Consulting Services Ltd, helping Women in tech transform their LinkedIn profile, Improve their confidence, and find the right career path for them. Limor talks to us about her career and also the most difficult conversations she had to address as a leader.You can find out more about Limor’s work at:Linkedin: Limor BergmanLimorBergman.com—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach out to as at the foll...
2023-03-2844 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You60 - What makes a great leader is common sense, but common sense isn’t so f***ing commonMeet Anila (Umar) Lee Yuen, President & CEO at the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary, martial arts advocate … and cosplayer. Anila tell us why we have to remember that not EVERYTHING needs to be called out: and she also tells us about the life lessons taught to her by Ahsoka, the Padawan learner to Anakin Skywalker and hero of the Clone Wars.—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach out to as at the following email address inf...
2023-02-281h 05I Need To F***ing Talk To You57 - Kiran Dhaliwal is a F***ing Ray of LightMeet Kiran Dhaliwal from Ray of Light Consulting, a true “soulpreneur”. Kiran has a great personal story of over-coming difficulties, none of which have ever dimmed her joy, generosity or ambition. Kiran will tell you how she became a successful leader, how she started one of Calgary’s most successful pizza joints as a hobby (despite being unable to physically make a pizza) and how she helps leaders get the most value out of their business. Oh! And she will also explain what a “soulpreneur” is.—We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or...
2023-01-1745 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You55 - A Very F***ing Special Holiday EpisodeIn this episode Ken & Russell need to f-ing talk about office holiday parties gone awry. We discuss how to deal with a leader who has had to much to drink and promised a raise that isn’t coming; and how to deal with a leader who took a staff karaoke night a little too far and became a little too infamous on social media. —We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach out to as at the follow...
2022-12-2037 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You54 - 'Slow time down in a crisis' lessons from former Australian Paratrooper and Private Security Contractor Mark AshbyIn this episode the boys f***ing talk to Mark Ashby. Mark is a former surfer, military serviceman in the Elite Australian Paratroopers and other Specialist roles in the Australian Army & Private Security Contractor in the Middle East. Since transitioning to the corporate sector in Australia, Mark has been using his experience to assist high performers & senior members of multinational companies in leadership, crisis awareness and cultural change so they can become more resilient and adaptable. Mark is also a direct descendent of the Historical Aboriginal leader King Bungaree, who assisted English explorer Matthew Flinders when he ci...
2022-12-0648 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You53 - Be F***ing Authentic As A Leader, Don't Try And Be Who You're Not with Paul McIntyre RoystonIn this episode the boys talk with Paul McIntyre Royston, CEO of the Grand River Hospital Foundation about the need for authenticity as a leader in both what you say and do and in and the importance of preparation when handling difficult workplace conversations. Paul brings a cause profit mentality to the Grand River Hospital Foundation focused on building an incredible staff team to support and create world-class healthcare for Waterloo Region. Paul believes you can build and create 'profit' for a cause you're passionate about, directing your energies into building what you believe for a higher purpo...
2022-11-2248 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You52 - The girl who cried F***ing wolf with her mental health with Michelle BergAre we using mental health as a get out of jail free card? Michelle Berg shares an example of an employee who avoided being held accountable by returning with a doctor’s note. As a result the issues of accountability and expectations can’t be challenged and we can’t help the person get better at their job. Could this have been avoided? What would happen if we just stopped being scared. Along the way Michelle shares her own experiences with working in (and contributing to) a toxic work environment, why terminations should be the easiest thing you do and how sometim...
2022-11-0856 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You51 - Lessons From The Pharmacy - The 5 F***ing Steps To Avoiding Conflict with Jerry FuThe boys virtually venture to Texas for this episode, to talk with conflict resolution coach, pharmacist and salsa dancer Jerry Fu. Jerry works with Asian-American professionals on their career and life journeys. He focuses on resolving clients' conflict at work, in culture, and within themselves. His services include one-on-one coaching, group workshops, and keynote presentations. Jerry tells the boys about his 5 Steps of Conflict Avoidance model and his own personal experiences of tackling a difficult workplace conversation with one of his co-workers. To check out Jerry's services visit his website AdaptingLeaders.com—We hope yo...
2022-10-2546 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You50 - I Got Fired By My Best F***ing Friend with Tyler FoleyWe’re joined by Sean Tyler Foley, who technically was fired by his best friend’s Dad because his best friend chickened out. But it was a family company and we thought “I Got Fired By My Best F***ing Friend” made a better title, so facts be damned. Tyler tells us about how being fired was an unexpected gift, and how it set him on the path to the work he was better suited to. Tyler also gives us some insight into his work with executives and CEOs, helping them show up powerfully behind the mic to gain the exposure...
2022-10-1151 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You49 - Getting Really F***ing Present with Master Certified Coach Jen LofgrenIn this episode Ken speaks to Jenn Lofgren, Managing Partner at Incito Executive and Leadership Development and author of The Inspired Leader: A Reference Guide. As a Master Certified Coach, Jenn is one of only 5% with this certification in North America. With over 15 years experience in coaching, mentoring, gap analysis, and strategic development Jenn is fortunate to be a partner with the Women’s Executive Network, contributor to the Forbes Coaches Council, MBA mentor through the Haskayne School of Business. She was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (WXN) in 2018. Learn how being present is the...
2022-09-2754 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You48 - Like the movie 'Cool Runnings', but even f***ing better - in conversation with former Olympic Bobsledder Jayson KrauseIn this episode the boys talk to former Olympic Bobsledder Jayson Krause about his experiences as a leader and coaching leaders, his new book "The Science Behind Success - What every leader needs to know about mindset, influence, culture and performance" and the most difficult f***ing conversation of Jayson's career - when he left bobsledding for good. Learn how honesty, vulnerability and an openness to letting people express their views are a key to success in navigating this difficult workplace conversation. Jayson is now the Managing Director at Level 52, providing executive coaching and customized leader development to a ra...
2022-09-1347 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You46 - From The End Of The World Club, To The Save The World ClubIn this episode the boys are joined by Nic Blanchet. They chat to Nic about his varied experiences - specifically his focus on learning and growth both personally and with his team, the importance of listening to different views and opinions even if you don’t agree with them, especially important when managing multiple stakeholders - politicians, the public, different interest groups and a variety of businesses and sponsors. Nic served as an aircraft engineer in the RAF for ten years straight out of school. Subsequently gained a joint honours degree and masters degree in conservation biology. Wor...
2022-08-1651 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You43 - Creating better humans, not simply better hockey players with Jordan FentonFor our regular listeners today’s podcast will be a little different, my regular co-host Ken is working south of the border in Portland, Oregon and as Jordan was my daughter’s hockey coach last season, Hannah will be joins us in the second half of the podcast to ask Jordan some hockey specific questions from her and her former teammates. Meanwhile I’ll be discussing the principles of effective leadership, why being to explain your ‘why’ is important and why Jordan’s aim is to create better humans, not simply better hockey players A school principal, Jordan has co...
2022-07-051h 01I Need To F***ing Talk To You40 - You Didn't Wake Up To Be F***ing Mediocre - A Conversation With Educator Heather MartinOoops!! we've just cheekily added the f*** word to one of Heather's life mottos! In this episode the boys chat with Heather Martin from the Chiu School of Business at Bow Valley College about the importance of suitably preparing the next generation of Canadian employees and the need to bring a diverse group of voices to the forefront in business. Heather has been facilitating groups of adult learners since 2007 in Canadian non-profit and post-secondary environments. Currently, she provides transformative learning experiences that give learners the necessary critical and creative thinking skills to solve complex problems with creative solu...
2022-05-2449 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You39 - When Entrepreneurs Get Stuck, Who The F**k Helps Them Gain Traction? - An interview with Chris McPhee, Professional EOS Implementer®If you run a business, you've got problems: people problems, growth problems, profit problems. If your problems have gone from 'a bit annoying' to 'mildly infuriating' to 'downright painful' and you feel like you're losing your grip on the business or simply not getting what you want from it, the Chris is the man to speak to.Chris has a background in technology and management, having run the operations of a Calgary-based software company starting in 2011 until it was successfully acquired in 2019. He now works with entrepreneurs, business owners and their leadership teams to help them get m...
2022-05-1057 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You38 - In the f***ing psychologists chair. A conversation with psychologist and entrepreneur Dr Laura Hambley LovettThe guys speak with psychologist and entrepreneur Dr Laura Hambley Lovett about her thoughts on authentic leadership, organizational psychology and the culture of remote working and virtual teams. Dr Laura is a sought-after thought leader on workplace psychology and career development in Canada and is regularly interviewed by the media on current trends – in addition to writing and speaking in public forums. Dr. Laura has 20 years of experience consulting with organizations in Canada and internationally to help their leaders and team thrive. Above all else, she is a leader and mentor who is passionate about making a diffe...
2022-04-2647 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You37 - Why is there a f***ing monkey on my back? A conversation about the importance of taking a coach approach as a leaderIn this episode the boys discuss the problems with a 'leader as hero' mindset and how this can lead to an office full of peanut throwing monkeys, you'll have to listen to find out what the f*** they are talking about. Ken and Russell go on to discuss the benefits of taking a 'coach approach' as a leader and what the balance should be between having technical expertise and leadership expertise in a managerial role. Throughout, the episode is sprinkled with stories and anecdotes from Ken and Russell's own work experiences and their work with leaders during their forum...
2022-04-1248 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You36 - I Need To Get These F***ing Roads Cleared with Dean JettenDean Jetten started his career as a heavy duty mechanic. Now he leads a Volker Stevin highways team that maintains 18,500 km of highway, mows the equivalent 38,376 football fields and uses 700,000 litres of reflective paint, all in an effort to keep drivers safe. Dean, a man whose employees drive 5 million km a year on scheduled road patrols, tells us how he believes that if you want to go far you “need to go together”. —We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you...
2022-03-2946 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You35 - Accountability is f***ing king - an interview with Tyler Chisholm CEO of Clear Motive MarketingTyler has a love of marketing and co-founded clearmotive marketing in 2007. With offices in Calgary and Toronto Tyler’s goal was to build a marketing-first agency focused on better connecting clients to their customers. In a wide ranging conversation the boys talk to Tyler about his experiences of pivoting his business during COVID, the changing world of work, his experiences with the RCAF Snowbirds display team and he and Ken’s canoeing escapade.Tyler also hosts two podcasts, They Just Get It and Collisions YYC, https://www.theyjustgetit.ca & https://www.collisionsyyc.com. Tyler brings a voice to a...
2022-03-1539 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You34 - How To Be A SHIFT DisturberKen explains that a SHIFT Disturber is not the same as a sh__ disturber. He describes the SHIFT card deck and how to create a High-Performance Culture in 9 Not-So-Simple-But-Totally-Necessary Steps ... so that you too can become a SHIFT Disturber. Russell demonstrates how to use the deck to distill the core values of you or your team.Mentioned In This episode:https://www.corporate-culture-shift.com/the-programs/—Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Ar...
2022-03-0147 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You33 - Who gives a f**k about your’ feelings’? Our latest interviewee Shannon Burch doesThe boys talk with Customer Experience Guru, Passionate Leader and Catalyst for Change Shannon Burch and learn her insights into building the power of the customer experience, her leadership ethos as to why it’s important to allow people to fail and then learn from it. Shannon shares her experiences of a career in a range business leader roles. Having listened to the podcast, if you are interested in Shannon’s new venture with Neo Financial check out the Neo Financial Website and a promotion they have where new credit card customers receive $50 rewards (which is like ca...
2022-02-1545 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You32 - You’re Paying How F***ing Much? - A Conversation With Financial Advisor Dean Kendall at Ideal Life ExperienceDo you know about the ‘hidden’ fees behind your investments?A. YesB. NoC. What hidden fees?The boys find out why knowing the answer to this question is f***ing important for your finances and investments. Dean is Calgary's only FLAT FEE for advice financial fiduciary providing truly comprehensive financial services, an author, public speaker and 8X National #1 BMX racing Champion.If you are interested in Dean’s services check out his website IdeaLlifeExperience.com. You can purchase Dean’s books 'Stop Paying Hidden Investment Fees!’ and ‘Becoming The Champion of Your Dreams’ on Amazon.-R...
2022-02-0135 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You30 - Do you deserve an f***ing Academy Award?Stephen Schroeder of the Calgary International Film Festival tells you how CIFF became an an Oscar-qualifying festival and is regularly cited as one of the world’s "50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee". He also explains the best leadership lesson you can learn from the beaches of Thailand, how to rescue a soccer team from a flooded cave and how learning to put the customer first can rescue an organization from the brink. It turns out we can learn a lot from Canada’s 4th largest film festival.-Ready for the next step in your...
2022-01-041h 07I Need To F***ing Talk To You28 - A Horse, A Horse, My Kingdom For A F***ing Horse - A Conversation with Kari Fulmek & Carolyn Charles from Equine ConnectionAfter f***ing up a quote from Shakespeare the boys are in conversation with Kari Fulmek & Carolyn Charles from Equine Connection. They discuss what equine assisted learning is, the similarities between a team of people and herd of horses and how horses make great teachers bringing out the authentic leader in you. Kari and Carolyn also talk about the most important personality trait/strength someone would need to work as a leader and what horses can teach us about leadership.For further information on the various programs offered by Equine Connection please visit www.equineconnection.ca...
2021-12-0750 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You26 - WTF!! Builders and Brews - A conversation with Byron Brooks from Brookwright Developments and Builders & BrewsIn this episode the guys finally catch up with Byron Brooks the f***er, sorry builder, who built Ken’s new house and learn about the creative side to the construction industry that is more than simply hard hats and work boots. Byron talks about his philosophy of craft building with Brookwright Developments leadership lessons learnt running a small business, the company’s links to microbrewing and his networking group Builders & Brews. Brookwright Developments are design conscious carpenters who are energized by the idea of helping homeowners and architects realize their vision. They’re individuals who have been dr...
2021-11-0940 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You25 - I Need to F***ing Talk to Todd HirschIf you’ve ever wondered what an Economist actually does (and hey, who hasn’t) then you absolutely need to F-ing listen to Todd Hirsch, author, VP/Chief Economist at ATB Financial and host of The Future Of … podcast. Todd shares his views on whether economics is an art or a science, what’s the best film with an economist as a lead character and how to forecast effectively. You can also find out why economics and story should be hardwired together, how he reinforces ATB’s famous corporate culture and whether or not you should listen to a hamste...
2021-10-2649 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You24 - Dropping The Gloves - a conversation with Kevin Kobelka from Hockey CalgaryIn this episode Russell is in conversation with Kevin Kobelka, Executive Director with Hockey Calgary and thankfully neither of them end up in the penalty box! Kevin talks about the greatest challenges in leading Hockey Calgary, whether he feels that criticism of hockey culture is fair and why ultimately he believes that hockey offers more to young people than simply the sport itself. You will also learn who Kevin’s favourite hockey player is, but not before he names drops a few current NHL players who are Hockey Calgary alumni.Hockey Calgary is a volunteer driven organization th...
2021-10-1255 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You23 - F***ing Leadership Lessons from City Administration, Community Building and And Baseball - A Conversation With DJ KellyWard 4 candidate and brilliant polymath DJ Kelly shares some F***ing Leadership Lessons from City Administration, Community Building and And Baseball. In this episode the guys share a wide ranging discussion all of which boils down to this: "if you don’t like it, pitch better”.We hope you enjoy the podcast. Remember to subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, share the link with your friends and colleagues and you can always reach out to as at the following email address info@ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com.-Ready for the next step in your difficult conv...
2021-09-2847 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You22 - You’re Not A Member Of My Tribe - “F*** Off!” - The Pros & Cons Of TribalismThere is an old Arab Bedouin saying: “I, against my brothers. I and my brothers against my cousins. I and my brothers and my cousins against the world.” In this episode the guys consider examples of being part of a tribe in both business and the wider society and talk about the pros and cons of tribalism. They make certain startling f***ing observations, someone who has socially liberal views isn’t a communist, someone who is concerned about illegal immigration isn’t a nazi and the person who opposed your budget amendments in the office isn’t part of a sinis...
2021-09-1434 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You21 - The Behaviour Isn’t The F***ing PersonIn this episode the guys talk about the importance of separating behaviour and opinion from the person. In a seemingly ever polarising world, both at work and in society generally, just because an individual does or says something you don’t like or agree with, it doesn’t automatically mean that that individual is an ‘evil’ person, whose raison d’etre is to piss you off. People aren’t bad people simply because they don’t agree with us, perhaps we should try and understand the world from their perspective, rather than simply tell them they are wrong. Once we understand...
2021-08-3126 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You20 - Leave Your F***ing Ego At The Door (A Career In Public Sector Leadership) - A Conversation With Fergus LawsonFergus Lawson studied French at University and developed a love for France and the French culture. He has been an organizational development and leadership consultant across the public sector for the main part of his career, working with the National Health Service, the Metropolitan Police in London and the London Ambulance Service.In this interview Fergus talks about the challenges of public sector leadership, including the need to understand the context you are leading in, taking a whole systems approach to change and leaving your f***ing ego at the door. He survived having the f...
2021-08-1758 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You19 - 'You're Nicked My Old Beauty' - Experiences of Four Directional Influencing At Scotland YardWith a podcast title in homage to Monty Python's 'Life of Brian', the guys discuss the Four Directional Influence Model from their book "I Need To F***ing Talk T You The Art Of Difficult Workplace Conversations'. In the absence of a real f***ing guest Russell dons a deerstalker hat and tweed coat to discuss his previous role as a consultant at Scotland Yard, when he first encountered this influence model and Ken assumes the mantle of interviewer with the consummate ease of Peter Mansbridge. -Ready for the next step in your...
2021-08-0342 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You18 - F***ing COVID and Achieving Work Life BalanceIn this episode Russell is locked in his f***ing basement, why Ken lives his best life swinging in a f***ing hammock watching an eagle fly over his cabin in the forest. The guys talk about their experiences of f***ing COVID lockdowns and how they and their clients have tried to manage work/life balance. Some 'homeplay' for you - What work/life balance habits are you going to carry forward from the pandemic? What pre-pandemic habits are you going to re-establish? How are you going to hold yourself accountable?Email your responses to...
2021-07-2039 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You17 - Leading from the F***ing Heart, A Conversation With Monique AuffreyWe’ve wanted to f***ing talk to Monique for some time. Monique has a f***ing impressive resume - she is currently a City Council Candidate for Ward 8, she is a transformative CEO, International speaker, author, board member, advocate & catalyst for change in the social sector. Monique shares with us her unique experiences in social work, specifically in her role as a CEO for one of Canada’s top 100 charities. Her thoughts on ‘housing first’ and reframing the focus from victim and perpetrator to the children when supporting the victims of domestic violence demonstrate the innovative approache...
2021-07-0653 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You14 - Lessons in Leadership 3 - British General Sir John Moore and Irish Singer/Songwriter Phil LynottRussell talks to Ken about two figures from history, British General Sir John Moore and Irish Singer/Songwriter Phil Lynott. Now what the f**k could these two people teach us about leadership and what could they f***ing have in common? Can Russell make the link? Of course he f***ing can! It is our mission to develop leaders in organizations, check out our website at www.ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com -Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To...
2021-05-2542 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You12 - Hollywood F***ing Legend - Not Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy or Liam Neeson, but an interview with actor and improvisor Peter Strand RumpelWhat a f***ing great interview with actor and improvisor Peter Strand Rumpel, our long time friend and collaborator who has worked with us in our Forum Theatre for Business Programs since the beginning. Peter has also appeared in many TV Shows including Wynonna Earp, Tin Star and Hell on Wheels and Hollywood blockbusters including The Revenant with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy and Cold Pursuit with Liam Neeson. Peter talks about his experiences in acting and also the lessons the corporate world can learn from TV and Film.Peter’s Biography, Movie Credits & Demo Reel on IM...
2021-04-2747 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You11 - Bullshit BingoRussell & Ken share some of their least favourite phrases and explain why they’re so tired, disingenuous, or just plain offensive. Download our Bullshit Bingo playcard at www.ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com before your next Zoom meeting and see if you can score a bingo. Interested in that story about the SHIFT deck? Order a SHIFT deck from https://www.corporate-culture-shift.com/shop-Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Diffic...
2021-04-1333 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You10 - The Sun HatDo you have colleagues wearing a Sun Hat in your workplace? If they are disengaged, disgruntled or just plain disappointed, then they’re wearing a Sun Hat. In this episode Ken & Russell share the consequences to your organization of someone wearing a Sun Hat and what causes them to don this particular piece of headgear. Also, Russell waxes poetic about work life in the auld country.-Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | Th...
2021-03-3044 min
Story World Explorers#52 - In Conversation with Ken Cameron & Russell StrattonSend us a textThis week’s guests are our new friends, Ken Cameron & Russell Stratton! Ken and Russell have together created the Forum Theatre for Business series to help organizations give their employees the tools they need to co-create a respectful workplace culture and empower individuals to challenge disrespectful behavior.We spoke about the power of Forum Theatre, how there’s nothing wrong with an enjoyable training program, and how they have built an amazing ecosystem around their book “I Need to F***ing Talk to You”.It’s an F***ing ama...
2021-03-221h 03I Need To F***ing Talk To You09 - Leadership Lessons from History, Part 2What do Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol have in common? Not a lot. And they didn’t like each other. So they'd probably resent being paired together like this. But we’ll learn what we can from them anyway and apply it to communication, collaboration and the world of business. -Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations - Amazon | Owl's Nest Books | Shelf Life Bookshttps...
2021-03-1639 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You08 - Viking Helmet #2Have you ever been guilty of wearing a Viking Helmet in your workplace? You can’t help your employees overcome their resistance if you can’t have empathy for them. Recognizing your Viking behaviour is the best way to build empathy. Russell walks us through his own experience as a Viking.-Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations - Amazon | Owl's Nest Books | Shelf Life Books
2021-03-0229 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You07 - Viking Helmet #1Do you have colleagues wearing a Viking Helmet in your workplace? If they’re resistant to change and clinging to the old ways, then you do. In this episode Ken & Russell look to the last Viking King as an analogy for how resistance to change can sabotage an organization.-Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations - Amazon | Owl's Nest Books | Shelf Life Bookshttps://www.in...
2021-02-1634 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You06 - Why The Feedback Sandwich Is A S**t SandwichLeaders tend to assume that sandwiching negative feedback in between a couple of pieces of positive things will soften the blow. This is bulls**t. And Russell’s going to tell us why and lay out the f***ing facts for us.-Resources mentioned in this episode:https://www.bluegemlearning.com/post/2018/04/17/how-to-give-effective-feedback-at-work-use-the-four-box-reflective-model-Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations...
2021-02-0231 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You05 - Leadership Lessons from History, Part 1Episode 5, in which Ken responds to some f***ing listener's feedback while Russell shares some lessons from history provided by Winston Churchill and the Celtic Queen Boudica. -Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations - Amazon | Owl's Nest Books | Shelf Life Bookshttps://www.ineedtof-ingtalktoyou.com/
2021-01-1933 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You04 - The Four HatsIf we agree that it’s not effective to think of our employees as “fxxxing unmanageable, flawed individuals” for whom there is little hope, then we need a new language; one free of F-bombs and other gratuitous swear words. Let's talk about why we find it useful to think of your employee as wearing a hat that epitomizes the behaviour they’re exhibiting.-Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficul...
2021-01-0525 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You03 - Are People Really F***ing UnmanageableIs there really such thing as an employee who is truly unmanageable? or is thinking of these individuals as “fxxxing unmanageable”, unfairly demonizing them, and unfairly positioning yourself as a victim or martyr? Let's talk about why it may feel good, but it rarely positions you as a strong and reliable leader-Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations - Amazon | Owl's Nest Books | Shelf Life Books...
2021-01-0522 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You02 - Fear of the Angry Blast, the Tears and More…Do you have someone storming around the office, loudly and belligerently taking up a lot of space? Do you have some people in your workplace whom you choose to give extra space to, or sit at the opposite end of a boardroom table from, or angle your chair slightly away from, or sit just a little further back from? let's talk about how to deal with them. -Ready for the next step in your difficult conversations? You can buy the book on Amazon now.I Need To F***ing Talk To You! | T...
2021-01-0527 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You01 - Why Do Managers Not Challenge Problems?Too many managers approach a conversation in which they must challenge difficult behaviour with a lot of trepidation. Why? Are you afraid of angry reactions on the part of the employee? Do you know what you want to say, but once the employee is in front of you, you get tongue-tied? Do you beat around the bush and try to soften the blow to avoid an adverse reaction? Let's run down the list and discuss why none of these are good reasons for avoiding what you know you have to do.-Ready for the n...
2021-01-0527 minI Need To F***ing Talk To You00 - TrailerSometimes conversations suck, but you need to have them, and this podcast lays out how.Read the Book: I Need To F***ing Talk To YouKen Cameron: LinkedInRussel Stratton: LinkedIn
2020-12-1101 min