Claim OwnershipUNBOXING OD: From Curiosity to Capability in Organizational Development
Subscribed: 1Played: 10
Subscribe
© 2025 UNBOXING OD: From Curiosity to Capability in Organizational Development
Description
Unboxing OD is your guide to making sense of Organizational Development - one thoughtful conversation at a time. Hosted by Kenneth Pearson, seasoned OD practitioner and author of The Flow of Five Tiers, this podcast unpacks the complexity of organizational life with clarity, compassion, and a bit of edge.
Whether you're an early-career OD professional, a leader trying to navigate change, or simply someone who believes workplaces can be more human, you'll find grounded insights and actionable takeaways here. While most episodes are solo deep dives into the fieldwork and philosophy behind OD, we also feature voices from the field, bringing in experts, newcomers, and those who challenge the status quo.
No jargon. No endless theory. Just practical wisdom, lived experience, and a steady focus on making organizations better for the people who keep them alive.
Ready to deepen your OD practice? Connect with Kenneth on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson or visit the Pearson & Pearson LLC website at www.pearsonpearson.llc.
32 Episodes
Reverse
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-founder of Workr Beeing, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Eller College of Management, and co-author of Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives. Together, they explore the deeper meaning of workplace wellness - beyond programs, perks, and initiatives - and uncover how true well-being is built through leadership behavior, team culture, and daily interac...
In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Sy Islam - Co-Founder and Vice President of Consulting at Talent Metrics, and Associate Professor of Psychology at Farmingdale State College - to explore the art and science of leadership development. Dr. Islam shares his insights on how organizations can better support middle managers, why data-driven decisions need a human lens, and how integrity in action separates good leaders from great ones. Together, they discuss t...
In this episode of Unboxing OD, I sit down with Jenn Stevens, an Organizational Development leader whose path into this work is anything but conventional. From firefighter to yoga studio owner to executive coach and L&D leader in tech, Jenn’s story reflects a career stitched together by one consistent thread: a deep commitment to people. We talk about what it really means to “hustle with heart” - bringing both drive and presence into the work. Jenn shares why presence is the true di...
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Marcus Dudley, leadership and organizational consultant, executive coach, professor, and CEO of Mammoth Leadership and Organizational Development. With over three decades of experience spanning the military, sports, nonprofits, and business, Marcus brings a direct, no-fluff perspective on what modern leaders need most. The conversation explores why so many leadership development programs fall short, the importance of strategic...
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Colonel Chris Ritchie, retired United States Marine Corps officer and Director of Human Resource Development at Auburn University. Across his career, Chris has led organizations from small teams to global commands and now designs leadership and performance development programs that reach thousands of employees. Their conversation explores the shift from success to significance -- how true leadership lives not in accolades, b...
This episode of Unboxing OD is something different. Instead of frameworks or methodologies, Kenneth offers a deeply personal reflection told in five movements -- exploring the hidden labor of showing up at work while holding parts of ourselves back, the unspoken space between people, and the truths we carry but often leave unsaid. Across these movements, Kenneth reflects on what it means to return to ourselves and to each other, and the quieter legacies we leave behind in the trace of o...
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Poor Bear Chalepah, consultant, visionary leader, and soon-to-be PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. As a proud member of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Poor Bear shares his journey across industries -- from railroads and welding to organizational psychology, and the lessons that shaped his approach to leadership, belonging, and growth. Together, Kenneth and Poor Bear explore what it means to move beyond the buzzword...
In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson steps into a conversation that many OD practitioners feel but rarely name -- burnout. Not the surface-level fatigue that comes after a long week, but the deep, layered exhaustion that comes from holding space for others, navigating resistant systems, and balancing the emotional labor that sits beneath our day-to-day work. Kenneth unpacks how OD burnout shows up, why it builds over time, and the quiet cost of constantly staying present...
1In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Melissa Donegan - an experienced leader across federal agencies, healthcare, education, and tech - to talk about what it really means to design for change instead of reacting to it. Together, they explore how intentional listening and career mindfulness can transform not only the outcomes of an initiative but also the people at the heart of it. Melissa shares how her career path has shaped her perspective, what it means...
In this special in-person episode of Unboxing OD, Alex Ochoa shares what it means to show up - fully, boldly, and unapologetically - in a profession where you don’t always see yourself reflected. A first-generation Latina college graduate, Learning & Development Specialist, and co-founder of Latinos in I/O Psychology (LIOP), Alex opens up about navigating identity, imposter syndrome, and the quiet power of building space when none was offered. This episode isn’t about theory. It’s a...
In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson takes us into one of the most delicate and defining aspects of organizational development - what happens when your findings reveal something uncomfortable, something that leadership might not be ready to hear. OD practitioners are often asked to assess culture, diagnose issues, and present a path forward. But what happens when the data tells a harder story? One of broken trust, misaligned values, or leadership that’s lost touch? How d...
In this guest episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Bethany Rios, Organizational Development Manager and L&D professional, for a candid conversation about stepping into the world of OD from a background in training and development. Together, they explore what it means to shift from a skills-based approach to a systems-level mindset, how OD differs from L&D in practice, and why relationship-building and leadership buy-in are essential to long-term success. B...
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth explores the powerful presence of organizational power dynamics and the influence they carry in shaping culture, conversations, and decisions. These dynamics often live beneath the surface, guiding what is shared, what remains unspoken, and how change takes shape across teams and leadership. Kenneth invites listeners to reflect on what it means to be brought in as a trusted voice, while also encountering subtle boundaries around what can truly be ...
In this powerful and personal conversation, Dr. Victoria Mattingly (Dr. V) - organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and CEO of Mattingly Solutions - joins Kenneth to explore what it really means to act like an ally in the workplace. From her unexpected entry into IO psychology to the human-centered heart of her work, Dr. V shares the stories and insights that have shaped her journey. Together, they dive into how allyship can move from performance to partnership, how vulnerability and i...
We all love a quick fix - something that solves the problem, calms the chaos, and gets us back on track. But in the world of Organizational Development, quick fixes often don’t fix anything at all. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth explores the myth of fast solutions and why real, sustainable change takes time, reflection, and iteration. He unpacks why surface-level interventions often miss the mark, how root cause analysis requires patience, and what it really means to “slow down to sp...
What separates a one-time workshop from an intervention that actually changes the way people work together? In this episode of Unboxing OD, we explore what it really takes to design effective Organizational Development interventions - those that align with strategy, honor the human experience, and create lasting movement in the system. Kenneth Pearson walks through how to ground interventions in real organizational goals, shares listener and colleague inspired stories from leadership and team...
Storytelling isn’t just a soft skill - it’s one of the most powerful tools OD practitioners have to navigate complexity, build trust, and move people through change. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson explores how stories can transform the way organizations engage with change, strategy, and culture. You’ll get a quick overview of how to simplify complex initiatives through narrative, craft compelling change stories that resonate, and use storytelling techniques to build authentic...
What happens when we pause, zoom out, and ask: What are we really building? In this special episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson introduces The Flow of Five Tiers - a reflective, systems-based framework for understanding how real change happens inside organizations. Rather than offering another top-down model, this episode presents a fresh, integrated lens for OD practitioners and change leaders seeking clarity in complexity. Kenneth walks through each tier - Foundational Core, Leader...
Trust and credibility aren’t just nice-to-haves in Organizational Development - they’re foundational. In this episode of Unboxing OD, we briefly explore how OD practitioners can build influence without formal authority, create psychological safety within teams, and turn resistance into opportunity. Through the story of Devon, a new internal OD specialist navigating the difference between permission and trust, we uncover what it really takes to earn leadership buy-in and foster meaningful chan...
What does a typical day look like for an Organizational Development (OD) practitioner? The short answer: there’s no such thing as typical. In this episode of Unboxing OD, we walk through the real-world responsibilities of OD professionals - how we move from deep diagnosis to intentional intervention, build strategic trust with leadership, navigate complex political dynamics, and make tough prioritization calls when everything feels urgent. Through the story of Liana, a fictional but deeply re...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States