Lifting Leaders Podcast

What does deep listening in leadership really require, especially during rapid change? In this episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we welcome Master Certified Coach Barbara Acevedo Visser, MCC, for a powerful conversation about deep listening, curiosity, self-awareness, and sensing emerging possibilities in uncertain times. Barbara shares how intentional slowing down strengthens executive presence and transforms the way leaders respond to complexity. When leaders choose curiosity over judgment, they create psychological safety, expand perspective, and make wiser decisions. Curiosity becomes a leadership discipline — not just a mindset. You’ll learn: How deep listening improves leadership effectiveness and team trust Why slowing down enhances strategic thinking and innovation How to sense what is emerging before it is fully visible Practical ways to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively Why self-awareness and clarity of values are essential during rapid change This episode explores how leaders can stay grounded in who they are while adapting to shifting environments. When leaders are anchored in values and identity, they can navigate uncertainty without losing effectiveness or themselves. If you are leading through complexity, change, or organizational transformation, this conversation offers practical leadership wisdom, reflective insight, and actionable strategies to help you listen more deeply and lead more intentionally. Light the Spark. Ignite Genuine Hope. Lead the Change.

We’re taking a short break from our Light the Spark series to share something close to our hearts — love. 💛 In this special post-Valentine’s Day episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we’re sending heartfelt gratitude to you, our listeners, and celebrating the people and places we cherish most — our friends and families, and the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Northwest we’re blessed to call home. We also reflect on a powerful “Gist of Things” article by Marilyn Gist, titled The Courage to Let Yourself Be Helped. As we share highlights from her insights, we explore how accepting help is not weakness - it’s love in action.  What goes through your mind when someone offers to help you? Do you worry that they don’t see you are fully capable, on our own?  Just what if you accepted help?  There’s something profound about this simple exchange. Accepting help can build connection. It can strengthen trust. It can spark community. So, what does that have to do with interdependence? Everything. In this episode, we share stories of when interdependence was simply “the way we did life” - and why it still matters for leaders today. We hope you love this week’s episode - and that it reminds you that leadership, at its core, is relational. 💕

In this Lifting Leaders Podcast Gems episode, we revisit key insights from our conversation with Julie Pham, PhD, author of 7 Forms of Respect and share what we discovered after taking her Respect Assessment. This brief reflection revealed powerful aha moments about how respect is experienced differently across teams and cultures. We explore what the assessment uncovered for us, how leaders can intentionally build trust and respect, and why co creating team norms and working guidelines is essential for a healthy culture. If you are a leader looking to strengthen trust belonging and respect on your team, this episode offers practical insight and inspiration to spark meaningful cultural shifts. ✨ We hope this episode lights a spark and supports you in leading with greater awareness and intention to make a better world.

What does respect really mean and why does it look so different across cultures, teams, and leadership contexts? In this episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we’re joined by Julie Pham, PhD, author of 7 Forms of Respect, to explore how respect shapes leadership effectiveness, influence, trust, and belonging, especially in today’s polarized world. Julie challenges the assumption that respect is universal, inviting leaders to examine how culture, micro-cultures, hierarchy, and lived experience shape both the respect we expect and the respect we extend to others. Together, we dive deeply into two often overlooked forms of respect and why misunderstanding them can quietly erode trust, collaboration, and inclusion on teams. Grounded in our 2026 focus on Influencing Genuine Hope, this conversation explores how curiosity about respect can: Reduce polarized communication Bridge cultural and relational divides Strengthen leadership influence without authority Foster trust, psychological safety, and belonging Insightful, practical, and deeply human, this episode offers leaders a hope-forward path one where respect becomes an everyday leadership practice that brings people closer together rather than pushing them apart.

In this special Lifting Leaders Podcast “Gems” episode, we revisit the most powerful insights from our two Three-Peat conversations with Lindsey Godwin, Jeff McAuliffe, and Carla Ondrasik, three voices shaping the future of leadership, hope, and human-centered change. These conversations were rich with practical wisdom, and today we’re highlighting the moments that truly stood out, the ideas that continue to light the spark, ignite genuine hope, and help leaders lead meaningful change in 2026 and beyond. In this episode, we explore questions that matter deeply for today’s leaders: Why does language matter so much in leadership and change? What’s missing as we look toward the future of our organizations and our world? How does the way we show up influence whether people resist or embrace change? What capabilities and mindsets do leaders need to create a hopeful, sustainable future? As we reflected on these conversations, a powerful meta-message emerged: Slow down. Pay attention. Take intentional steps forward. You’ll hear our guests’ heartfelt recommendations for leaders, including: Starting small and building momentum Noticing where energy and possibility are emerging Reducing distractions to focus on meaningful action Reflecting on lessons learned before setting forward-focused intentions Whether you’re a senior leader, coach, or change agent, this episode offers practical insights and reflective prompts to help you lead with clarity, courage, and hope. 🎧 Listen in—and if you haven’t heard the original Three-Peat episodes yet, be sure to explore them on your favorite podcast platform.

Hope-led leadership. Strategic slowness. Accountability. Collective action. What happens next when The Three-Peat conversation continues? ✨ Deeper reflection. Bolder truth-telling. Practical wisdom for leaders navigating 2026. In Part 2 of The Three-Peat, Dr. Lindsey Godwin, Jeff McAuliffe, and Carla Ondrasik return to explore the mindsets and behaviors leaders need for sustainable, hope-led leadership in a complex world. As the year unfolds, this powerful conversation invites leaders to slow down, pay attention, and lead with greater intention. Together, they challenge urgency culture and explore strategic slowness as a leadership practice, one that creates space for wiser decisions, stronger relationships, and long-term impact. In this episode, we explore: • Why strategic slowness strengthens leadership rather than weakening it • The importance of clarifying intentions at the start of a new year • How accountability turns intention into action and keeps hope moving • A surprising insight about motivation and leadership behavior • What leaders must stop doing-and start doing-in 2026 This conversation calls leaders to release habits that no longer serve and to choose practices rooted in purpose, responsibility, and hope in action. ✨ Listen in and lead differently. Because hope doesn’t rush. Leadership isn’t performative. And the future we’re creating depends on what we choose - starting now. 🎙️ Lifting Leaders Podcast | The Three-Peat-Part 2 Let’s keep lighting the spark.

Hope-led leadership. Resilience. Courageous action. What happens when three trusted leadership voices come together for the first time? ✨ A Three-Peat—and a powerful conversation to launch the new year with clarity, purpose, and hope. In this special two-part episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we welcome back three influential leaders and authors Lindsey Godwin, Jeff McAuliffe, and Carla Ondrasik, for a deep conversation about leadership in uncertain times, meaningful change, and what it takes to move from intention to action. Together, they explore how hope functions as a leadership practice, why curiosity and possibility matter more than ever, and how leaders can break free from unsustainable norms in their organizations, communities, and lives. In Part 1, we explore: • Why hope is not passive, but relational and actionable • How resilience and commitment are built over time • Why leaders must create positive visions of the future • How curiosity, purpose, and courageous leadership open new paths forward This episode is more than a reunion, it’s a call to lead with hope, act with intention, and create meaningful impact. ✨ Join us for Part 1 of The Three-Peat and begin the year with hope-led leadership and real-world action.

As we step into 2026, we’re inviting you into a bold new chapter of hope-driven, human-centered leadership, one grounded in action, connection, and real-world impact. This year on Lifting Leaders Podcast, our focus is clear: Light the Spark. Ignite Genuine Hope. Lead the Change.Together, we’ll explore how leaders can create meaningful change, in themselves, their organizations, their communities, and the world, especially in complex and uncertain times. In 2026, listening goes beyond inspiration. We’ll challenge the idea that hope is simply optimism and instead explore why hope is relational, actionable, and essential for leadership today. Through candid conversations, practical leadership tools, and powerful stories, we’ll show how hope must be practiced and lived or it fades. Expect episodes that: Expand how you think about leadership, purpose, and possibility Offer practical tools you can apply immediately Explore leadership as a force for connection, courage, and positive change Ground hope in intention, action, and human relationships If you’re ready to lead with intention, spark genuine hope, and be part of a leadership community that believes leadership can truly be a force for good, we’d love to have you with us in 2026. 🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join us as we light the spark together.

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a heartfelt pause to reflect on a powerful year of learning, leadership, and HOPE on the Lifting Leaders Podcast. This special year-end episode looks back at the conversations and guests who shaped our thinking, inspired our courage, and reminded us what’s possible when leaders show up with authenticity and purpose. Join us as we revisit the stories and insights that quieted our early-year worries and transformed them into clarity, connection, and renewed belief in what leaders can create even in complex times. Our guests shared extraordinary wisdom this season, helping us see leadership through the lens of hope, resilience, curiosity, and possibility. Most of all, this episode is about gratitude for our remarkable guests, and for YOU. Your presence, engagement, and commitment to leading with intention are the heartbeat of this podcast. You are the reason we show up, week after week, to elevate conversations that move leaders and the world, forward. Listen in as we wrap up 2025 with appreciation, reflection, and an inspired look ahead to 2026. We can’t wait to continue lifting leaders together in the new year.

Lifting Leaders Podcast closes out our 2025 guest lineup with a truly inspiring duo: acclaimed Pacific Northwest landscape photographer Robert LaSelle Chism and his life and creativity partner, Sun So, making her debut on the show. In this visually rich and deeply human conversation, Robert and Sun share the stories, techniques, and artistry behind Robert’s breathtaking Pacific Northwest landscape photography images known for their vibrant color, depth, and mind-bending perspectives. (Yes…including those “how is that even possible?” puddle shots Sun helps direct.) You’ll hear how these high school sweethearts found their way back to one another after years apart and built a life filled with creativity, collaboration, and purpose. Together, they offer a rare look into what it means to merge love, art, and a shared vision, transforming everyday moments into extraordinary works of photographic storytelling. If you’re a photography lover, PNW adventurer, artist, creative professional, or simply someone who loves a beautiful real-life love story, this episode will both inspire and delight. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How Robert captures iconic Pacific Northwest landscapes with next-level composition The creative process and partnership behind his stunning photography Tips for seeing the world through a more artistic lens How love and reconnection sparked a powerful creative collaboration Why everyday scenes (even puddles!) can become extraordinary art Tune in to enjoy an authentic, heart-centered conversation that blends nature, creativity, and the power of partnership. After this episode, you’ll never look at landscape photography—or love—quite the same way again.

As we close out our “What Brings Us Hope” series, we’re taking time to reflect on the most powerful lessons, insights, and stories shared by our extraordinary guests—leaders, creators, innovators, and everyday changemakers who brought hope to life in meaningful ways. In this episode, we revisit key themes from the series and highlight the surprising insights, moving stories, and memorable moments that resonated with our listeners. We also share discoveries from our two-year research study on HOPE, including what helps people strengthen hope, sustain it during challenges, and amplify it in community. Whether you’re new to the series or catching up on episodes you missed, this conversation will leave you feeling inspired, grounded, and ready to carry hope into the future.

This Thanksgiving week, we’re sharing what we’re most grateful for and exploring creative, eco-friendly ways to celebrate the holiday. In this episode of Lifting Leaders Podcast, we dive into simple, sustainable Thanksgiving ideas, from reducing waste to choosing Earth-friendly traditions, that can make your holiday more meaningful, mindful, and memorable. Whether you’re cooking, commuting, or prepping for the big feast, tune in for low-effort, high-impact tips that help you honor gratitude while caring for the planet. If you’re looking for sustainable holiday ideas, greener hosting practices, or inspiration for a more intentional Thanksgiving, this episode offers plenty to reflect on. Give it a listen before Thursday because your future self (and the Earth) may thank you. Happy Thanksgiving!

In this inspiring episode of Lifting Leaders Podcast, we continue our “What Brings Us Hope” series with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and activist John Ondrasik, best known as Five for Fighting. Recorded just minutes before he stepped onstage, John shares a powerful reflection on music, courage, and hope in a world facing immense challenges. Through songs that spotlight some of humanity’s most painful struggles, he uses his platform to raise awareness, compassion, and purpose-driven action. Listen as John opens up about his creative journey and what fuels his mission to inspire hope, lessons he’s learned from some of the world’s most oppressed yet resilient people and the importance of aligning your actions to your values even when it’s difficult. This heartfelt conversation will move you to think differently about leadership, purpose, and the quiet power of hope in action. Listen now and be reminded that even in dark times, one voice and one song, can make a world of difference.

Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless? You’re not alone. In this Lifting Leaders Podcast episode, Kristal Roberts and Tricia Rhine share practical ways to rise out of hopelessness and rediscover hope through small, intentional actions—like self-care, gratitude, and shifting your mindset. Tune in and learn how to rebuild resilience, nurture emotional wellbeing, and move forward with grace.

In this episode of Lifting Leaders Podcast, we continue our “What Brings Us Hope” series with a powerful conversation with Jeni Craswell, President & CEO of Leadership Eastside. Jeni shares how courageous, values-based leadership can transform not only organizations but entire communities. As co-chair of the visionary team that created the first community-focused adaptive leadership curriculum for LE, she’s helping local leaders build the mindset and capacity to address complex social challenges collaboratively. Discover how initiatives like Eastside Pathways are creating thriving, equitable communities through trust, connection, and shared purpose. Jeni offers wisdom on aligning who you are and what you value with the work you do, reminding us that real change begins within. Tune in for inspiration on how to lead with hope and courage in times of change, build leadership capacity across communities, and foster collaboration, equity, and belonging. Listen now to be inspired to lead differently, starting with yourself.

This week on Lifting Leaders Podcast, we explore the power of pressing pause. In a world that glorifies busyness, intentional rest can feel risky—but it’s often where hope, resilience, and creativity return. Learn how taking an intermission can restore well-being, spark innovation, and renew your sense of purpose as a leader and human being.

Continuing our “What Brings Us Hope” series, we explore what our Hope Survey reveals about how people sustain hopein daily life and leadership. Discover simple, research-backed practices that build resilience, strengthen well-being, and help leaders stay grounded when challenges arise. Hope is a verb — and we all have a role in keeping it alive.

Continuing with our theme of “What Brings Us Hope,”  we are so happy to introduce you to Darrell Thomas, Creator and Host of “The Money Levels Show,” host of “Resource Investment Conference Media Channel” and seasoned EDI professional. Spend this time with us, as Darrell candidly shares his fascinating story, from his beginnings in Oklahoma, through his varied endeavors that have led him to this point in his life journey.  Learn what sparked Darrell’s focus toward financial wealth and how that started him on a new journey to help others gain control of their own finances.  He even has a few things to say about our country’s current economic concerns and how we can keep things in perspective. We HOPE you enjoy spending this time with the three of us.

Continuing with our theme of “What Brings Us Hope,”  we are excited to introduce you to a World-class research scientist, Dr. Matt Sturchio, PhD, who is transforming how we think about solar energy. Most people know that solar panels are used to feed the grid, so we can heat and light up our homes or recharge our vehicles. Imagine a world where solar panels coexist with native plants, nourishing the soil and possibly mitigating some of our worst climate challenges. What if we could grow more habitats for foraging animals?  Listen in and learn about Ecovoltaics, and how Matt’s research is transforming our future.  Hear about Matt’s Cornell University project focusing on the co-location of agriculture and solar, in New York State and beyond. If you, like us, are interested in learning about how existing materials are shaping a better world for now and for our future, listen to this episode. We HOPE you will feel as inspired as we do.   

We’re beyond excited to share our first-ever public speaking engagement, on the topic of HOPE—at the International Organization Development Network Conference. It’s only Day One but we are already learning so much! We spent this great day meeting fellow OD Professionals and learning from some of the pioneers in our profession.  What does it feel like to step onto a global stage for the first time? How can somatic practices, like music, create alignment across systems and organizations? Do you know what Agency is and why it matters? And what unexpected insights emerge when you sit in a World Café conversation, where collective wisdom takes shape through dialogue? In this episode, we reflect on what we learned, how it inspired us, and why this milestone matters for our journey. Curious? Come listen in—you might discover ideas that spark your own growth, too.