Bricks+Brands Podcast

In this episode of the Bricks+Brands Podcast, my guest Ralph Rathburn has run international businesses in Asia for over 32 years, helping to entertain tens of millions of Japanese people through the facilitation of tours such as "Disney On Ice," "Disney Live," and other live entertainment shows. Meet Ralph RathburnFor 32 years he's run international businesses in Asia. Ralph founded and managed 4 businesses in Japan – 2 for himself and 2 subsidiaries of a Spanish company. His company, AmAsia, has helped entertain tens of millions of Japanese people by facilitating the Japan tours of events such as “Disney On Ice”, “Disney Live”, “Thomas the Tank Engine – Live” and other live entertainments. They've worked the Beijing Olympics and Tokyo Olympics and the Rugby World Cup among other major events. With my his company, Praxi K.K., he's worked in B2B wholesale and in B2C retail. The company manufactured consumer electronics under license from Hamilton-Beach and imported those and other electronics and household products into Japan. Ralph has worked with factories in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Italy and Poland and has sold products to companies throughout Asia.The core pillar of Ralph's career, whether working in entertainment or product sales, has been helping people be successful, especially when they are working with people who are different from themselves. Ralph has provided intercultural training to dozens of foreign CEOs/Presidents working in Japan and to hundreds of Japanese who have to work with foreigners. He's helped multi-cultural teams do creative problem solving to find solutions to intractable problems. Ralph is always looking for the next person or company to help.Learn More and Connect with RalphYou can find Ralph on LinkedIn or visit his website to learn more. After listening to this episode, you'll walk away learning:Why diversity in creativity is critical to understanding the problem at handWhat creativity means to Ralph and how he encourages it amongst his teamsWhy understanding your team's threshold for uncertainty can lead to innovative breakthroughsPlus a whole lot more!Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

On this episode of the Bricks+Brands Podcast, my guest is a Chief Chaos Organizer based in Berlin, Germany with a focus on helping people and organizations become more collaborative, innovative, flexible, and transparent, moving towards flattening hierarchies, improving employee engagement and adapting an ever evolving environment. With an impressive skill set including strategy development, requirements analysis, business process development, problem solving, communication, change management, creativity and innovation, Stephanie is well equipped to help people and organizations become more collaborative, innovative, flexible, and transparent, moving towards flattening hierarchies, improving employee engagement and adapting an ever evolving environment. You’ll walk away after listening to this episode:What Radical Knowledge Management (KM) isWhy sustainable leadership behaviors are more closely linked to creativity than first glanceWhy organizations miss the mark when it comes to allowing their employees to tap into their creative capacityPlus a whole lot more!Meet Stephanie BarnesStephanie Barnes is Chief Chaos Organizer at Entelechy, a consultancy whose main purpose is helping people and organizations become more collaborative, innovative, flexible and transparent as they flatten hierarchies, improve employee engagement and adapt to an ever-evolving environment.As an artist and passionate expert in knowledge management and culture change, Stephanie advocates for curiosity, playfulness and creative learning as the cornerstones of the journey towards knowledge, a context-sensitive notion whose principles have been educated out of us through production line thinking.Aside from her expertise and experience in the realm of Knowledge Management, Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with Honours from Brock University (St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada) and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada). Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast we’re speaking with a leadership expert on a mission to inspire new business owners to believe that leadership is simple. In this conversation, we cover:Why leadership is S.I.M.P.L.E.What #Beinterested means to herWays to boost engagement with your teamMeet Rhonda DelaneyRhonda is on a mission to inspire NEW BUSINESS OWNERS to believe Leadership is S.I.M.P.L.E.Why?  Because EVERYONE deserves a Leader that EMBRACES their UNIQUENESS and is COMMITTED to CULTIVATING their POTENTIAL.How? By sharing The People Gardener Principle that cultivates Safe | Intentional | Maximized | People | Loving | EnvironmentsOver the years she's discovered the tenets of gardening equally apply to leading and nurturing humans. Tending plants requires interest, curiosity and patience. Our human connections are enlivened when we incorporate this.Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

In this episode of the Bricks+Brands Podcast, we’re speaking with an international consultant who has been a pioneer in remote work since 2012. In this conversation, we cover:Hybrid & remote workEmployee engagementEmployee advocacyLeadershipFuture of workplace cultureMeet Nola SimonShe's an international consultant who has helped develop hybrid/remote work teams for the last 10 years. People hire Nola because she knows how to get things done. Challenging the status quo is bred in the bone.She's worked for five (5) different corporations, two (2) of them global, over the last two decades. She's developed extensive business acumen and experienced lots of change. Nola pioneered hybrid work and has worked some version of hybrid and/or remote since 2012.It changed her life. The secret to hybrid work is intention. Communication matters - it requires listening, asking great questions, establishing trust and psychological safety. Flexibility and a willingness to experiment and adjust course is the way to build effective culture and process.Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

As leaders and managers, we have a lot going on in our head. Often, too much. And because of this, it makes communicating with our team and asking for help a lot harder.  This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast, I'm talking about a topic that can be hard for leaders to open up about: transparency and how to embrace it.By not being transparent, it can create unnecessary friction and tension between you and your team. They may feel like you are keeping things from them, or that they aren’t able to do their best work, or that they are missing out on opportunities to grow. In this episode, I share three big lessons around transparency as a leader and why it is critical to successful teams. You’ll walk away from this episode learning:Why team members feel disconnected, cold, or distant (and what to do about it)Why building trust and connection is critical, but without one key missing ingredient, it makes it nearly impossible to get things doneWhy withholding information can actually be beneficial to a team (in certain situations)Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast, we’re talking with certified Insight Coach and Meditation teacher on the powerfully transformational effects meditation can have on our lives and in our work.In this conversation, we cover:Her journey into coachingHow meditation has transformed her lifeHer newly published children's bookPlus the practice of Ho'oponoponoMeet IpekIpek Williamson is a Certified Insight Coach, Listener, Certified Ikigai Coach, Certified Ho'oponopono Practitioner, Meditation Teacher, and Blogger. Her journey as an Insight Coach took over her focus after working for more than two decades as an Executive Assistant for C suite leaders of several multinational organizations. She perfectly blends her vast corporate experience with diversified areas of expertise as a coach and mentor.In addition to the Ipek Williamson Coaching practice, she provides coaching and consulting to corporations as one of Annie Leib LLC and Happy Work Environment Ltd. elite coaches. She is a columnist with the BizCatalyst 360 platform and an Ambassador for the HumansFirst movement.As well as her multiple highly acclaimed meditations that she showcases on the Insight Timer App, Ipek also leads live meditation sessions through that same application.Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast, we explore reconnecting to self through creativity, innovation, and leadership with a facilitator and coach who happens to have a computer programming background.In this conversation, we chat about:What innovation is and why it’s critical to the workplaceWhat creativity means to Steven and how he taps into itThe importance of leadership & cultureTeam development; andSelf-awareness of your skill sets, strengths, and weaknesses so that you can better communicate and thrive in your workMeet StevenSteven Sanchez is born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. A loving husband and father, he wears a number of hats including that of facilitator, coach, DJ, innovator, programmer, and product manager. He’s a connector and designer, but above all he is both curious and thankful. Steven has the skilled ability to learn from anyone. He prefers to influence people to the next best version of themselves. Connect with StevenTo learn more about Steven and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn or visit his website, Everyday Agile.Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

My guest this week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast helps organizations create the processes, tools, and team habits necessary to deliver breakthrough innovations. In this episode, we cover a variety of topics including:What innovation isDefining problem solving stylesCommunication effectivenessLeadershipKirton Adaption-Innovation TheoryMeet Benjamin AtkinsonThrough his work as Director of Innovation of Production Engineering at Toyota of North America, Ben helps  to create the processes, tools, and team habits necessary to deliver breakthrough innovations. By combining “respect for people” with a “systems thinking” approach, organizations can leverage what W. Edwards Deming called the System of Profound Knowledge. Innovation Engineering is a discipline that can be learned by anyone who is willing. It is the surest way to sustain the growth of a business and create enriching work for the team. Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast, my guest is an intellectual property, tech, and cannabis attorney based in Los Angeles, California to discuss creativity, workplace culture, communication, and technology. In this episode, we cover:How Justin started his career in computer scienceWhat creativity means to himHow he transitioned into lawIntellectual propertyplus LEGOMeet Justin Justin Battle is an intellectual property, tech, and cannabis attorney based in Los Angeles, California. To learn more, visit www.battle.lawBrain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Have you ever thought about why difficult, confrontational conversations so hard to have?  Maybe, you've spent the majority of your life and career avoiding them. Know that you are not alone. My guest this week helps leaders overcome the art of avoidance, empowering them to understand and honor the beautiful complexity of the humans they serve. In this conversation, we cover:Why are difficult conversations so hard to have?How can you overcome the art of avoidanceCompany culture and how it impact the employee experiencePlus, details about her newly released book Don't Feed the Elephants: The Art of Overcoming Avoidance to Build Powerful PartnershipsMeet Sarah Noll WilsonSarah and her team are on a mission to help leaders build and rebuild their teams. With 15+ years in leadership development, Sarah Noll Wilson earned a Master's Degree from Drake University in Leadership Development and a BA from the University of Northern Iowa in Theatre Performance and Theatre Education. Through her work as an Executive Coach, an in-demand Keynote Speaker, Researcher, and Author, Sarah helps leaders close the gap between what they intend to do and the actual impact they make. She is certified in Co-Active Coaching, Conversational Intelligence, and is a frequent guest lecturer at universities. In addition to her work with organizations, Sarah is a passionate advocate for mental health.Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

My guest this week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast is a digital fluency pioneer. Originally from Germany, she moved to Silicon Valley just over 10 years ago with a suitcase and an idea. In this conversation, we cover:What Digital Fluency isHow you can train in it Why it matters in today’s business environmentWhy it’s a superpower for womenMeet SimoneSimone is a corporate innovation expert and digital fluency pioneer. She arrived in San Francisco with a suitcase and an idea just over 10 years ago.  Against the sound advice of her family, she left her secure but unfulfilling management career in Germany behind and built a new life in southern California. She brings German CEOs to Silicon Valley to match them with innovative start-ups. During the pandemic, she founded MatchlabN, a global professional development community where she trains Digital Literacy and unique human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence - or as she calls it, Digital Fluency.Simone’s mission is to energize more corporate professionals, particularly women, to think about the digital future we want to live in and help create it.Connect with SimoneJoin over 180+ of today’s leaders coming together to envision and create the workplace culture of tomorrow.Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

My guest this week is a leadership expert on a quest to equip new and advancing leaders to leverage their uniqueness, unleash their leadership potential, and become the leader only they can be. In this episode, we cover:Why Leadership is so hard to defineHow to become a great leaderThe Great ResignationWhy Values are so important as a leaderPlus a whole lot more!Meet KarenKaren founded PeopleThink in 2000 and the name says it all. She has never wavered in her belief that people can do more and be more if they choose to. As a corporate leader, consultant, facilitator, and executive coach, she has helped numerous organizations develop and retain their most precious asset: their PEOPLE.Karen has worked with leaders at all levels – from first-time leaders to senior executives. She has learned the qualities and behaviors that make great leaders, and she’s given honest and constructive feedback to those who weren’t quite there yet.Connect with Karen inside the Bricks+Brands NetworkJoin over 180+ of today’s leaders coming together to envision and create the workplace culture of tomorrow. REQUEST TO JOINBrain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

My guest this week makes it easy for coaches, consultants, speakers, and solopreneurs to write a world class book in five weeks and get clients BEFORE they're published. This means that you can create the life that you want, the business you love, AND make a bigger impact right away!In this episode, we cover:Becoming a unique expertMagnetizing vs SellingHow to Stand OutSmiling MeditationPlus a whole lot more!Meet BenHe is a three-time, best-selling author and creator of PUBLISH, POSITION, and PROFIT MASTERPLAN. He helped a Fortune 100 company shift culture by creating an empathy video game in collaboration with MIT. Ben has trained leaders at Stanford and created the first mindfulness program for The ALS Association (The Lou Gehrig's disease). With 35 years of writing and publishing adventures, Ben has produced more than 352 million magazines! He believes that people thrive when they relax, smile, and 'Quit Suffering Now.'Connect with BenContinue the conversation and connect with Ben Gioia inside the Bricks+Brands Network. It's a community of today's best leaders discussing and creating how to develop, design, and deploy the workplace of tomorrow. REQUEST TO JOINSupport the show

This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast, my featured guest is known as "The Original Neuro Skills Coach.” He developed an original program from scratch after years of experience as Neuro Program Director for several world-renowned organizations. Throughout this conversation, we cover:Understanding Neuroscience at a high-levelThe link between patterns and playAccelerating Productivityand More!Meet NathanThrough his program, Nathan has coached top-level athletes, actors, and business executives. High profile athletes include:MLB All-Star First Baseman Josh BellNew York Yankees Starting Pitcher Jameson TaillonCollegiate Baseball's 2020 National Player of the Year Nick GonzalesConnect with Nathan inside the Bricks+Brands NetworkJoin over 180+ of today’s leaders coming together to envision and create the workplace culture of tomorrow. REQUEST TO JOINSupport the show

This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast, my featured guest draws on a broad range of experiences as a corporate HR professional, public speaker, career coach, classical musician, and a proud introvert to inspire others towards meaningful work and productive workplace relationships.Throughout this conversation, we cover:Value of a Professional CommunityNetworking for IntrovertsProductive Communicationand More!Meet ErichErich is actively involved in cultivating a community of HR professionals across the United States to solve real problems. He is the owner of Harmony Insights, a company that helps organizations and consultants leverage the DISC personality assessment. He is the founder of HRHotSeat, an inclusive mastermind community of real HR pros solving real HR problems.Support the show

This week on the Bricks+Brands Podcast, my featured guest uses experiential hip-hop inspired training methodologies to help his clients achieve their business goals.Throughout this conversation, we cover:Workplace Culture Creative Problem-Solving Collaboration Innovation AR/VR/MR Inclusivity; and More!Meet Jason William JohnsonJason is actively involved in the Chicago business community as an entrepreneur,  professor, small business ecosystem leader,  and hip-hop artist/producer. As if he wasn’t busy enough, Jason is also a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership. Connect with Jason in the Bricks+Brands NetworkRequest to Join Learn More www.notoriousbiz.comConnect with Jason on LinkedInSupport the show

I had the great opportunity to meet Brian Reinbold  at a virtual event, hosted a mutual friend. From that initial meeting, we chatted via Zoom and quickly became friends. We touch on a variety of topics throughout our conversation, but the common theme throughout is a motto that Brian proudly wears on his myriad of T-shirts: "Celebrate Every Day."In this episode we talk about finding our purpose and how it can help guide you through life. We touch on leadership, workplace culture, play, teamwork, and so much more!Meet BrianBRIAN REINBOLD is at his best when he is helping others to become their best. He is the eternal optimist, an enlightening and uplifting speaker, and a community builder who inspires people in all walks of life to rise and meet their challenges through the service of others. With his innovative approach to leadership development, soothing voice, engaging sense of humor, passion for mentoring, and ability to harness the power of analogy to create the aha moment, Brian invites you to dream bigger, accomplish more, and have more fun than you ever thought possible.Brian is the architect of a successful career that spans business ownership, consulting, coaching, sales management, sales training, philanthropy, professional speaking, and broadcasting, As the host of the BraveHearts Radio Show on Voice America Internet Radio, he is taking the thought leadership conversation to the next level, providing an outlet for experts to broaden their reach and find a target audience. As the Mission Specialist, he is elevating the profile of BraveHearts for Kids, a charity organization that supports the needs of pediatric cancer patients and their families. Through his corporate board experience, broadcasting platform, writings, and instructional methods, Brian is crystallizing the concept of mission-building behavior and helping mission-driven organizations connect with their employees and/or constituents. He is known as a design thinker and a dot connector who can align people with ideas, course a path, and generate a best-fit solution. His vision is to create an environment that supports open communication, increases employee and customer retention, and drives profitability.About BraveHearts for KidsBraveHearts for Kids is a national 501(c)(3) public charity with a mission of providing life-saving treatments, hope, and inspiration to families facing a pediatric cancer ordeal through outreach, information, and mentoring.Adopting the title of Mission Specialist to align with Bravehearts’ connection to NASA, Brian builds on a tradition of excellence in corporate board service in a leadership role akin to a chief operating officer. He oversees the operations of the organization and manages the resources that build capacity and drive the success of each initiative. In Brian’s words, “I don’t fly the rockets; I just make sure the mission gets accomplished.” At the focus of Brian’s work is elevating the national profile of BraveHearts through outreach and coordination of the fundraising effort. He is interested in connecting with servant business leaders, community leaders, people focused on social advocacy, unity, and constructive civic discourse, and influencers who leverage their status to lift people’s spirits and give them purpose and cause. Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Creativity is becoming an essential skill in the workplace of tomorrow. And yet, it is getting squandered by the push from employers to be more productive. Here's the thing: creativity is not the polar opposite of productivity. In fact, when we can tap into our creativity, we're able to solve problems much more quickly, be more productive, and collaborate with less friction. When leaders allow their teams the environment to fully express themselves creatively, it often leads to amazing innovations as well as a stronger team bond, a feeling of ownership in the project, and more willing to implement and adapt the solution going forward. In this episode, I explore three reasons why creativity will become an essential skill in the workplace. Brain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

I came across PlayAction International while scrolling through Twitter. Something about the organization caught my attention and I felt called to send them a message to connect and learn more. I quickly received a response from the marketing team and was connected with Murielle Maupoint, CEO of the organization and my guest this week. In this episode, we discuss leading through COVID, what play is and why it is critical, not only for child development, but for workplace cultures. We chat about creativity and how following your curiosity can lead to better performance, both individually and as a team.  Meet MurielleI am a Dreamer. I am a Do-er, I am a Believer. I believe every one of us can do things we never imagined possible. I believe we each have far more power, courage and passion than we give ourselves credit for. I believe the world can be a better place. I believe we can each make a massive difference to our lives, those of others and the world through our individual and collective thoughts and actions. I believe that we have a responsibility to make this life the best life we can possibly experience. An inspired and inspirational life full of passion, purpose, love and fulfilment. My aim is to facilitate and motivate as many people as possible to stop existing and to start living!Recently recognised as Inspiring Leader 2020 for outstanding leadership during COVID. Connect with MurielleFollow Murielle on LinkedinConnect with Murielle inside the Bricks+Brands Network and continue the conversationAbout Play Action InternationalWe work in disadvantaged communities, focusing on enhancing children’s learning, development and access to education through play. We take an innovative child-centred approach to education and use the power of play to transform the lives of children through our play programmes.We work with some of the most vulnerable children and communities in the world, supporting children living in extreme poverty and those experiencing danger, displacement, conflict and natural/humanitarian disasters.We work with children, parents, caregivers, teachers, community leaders and NGOs to highlight the importance of play and enable them to integrate play-based initiatives for enhanced education, health and development outcomes.To learn more and donate, visit www.playactioninternational.orgBrain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

When it comes to understanding organizational structure, processes, and systems in order to produce the best results, my guest is one of the best at helping her clients turn their ideas into reality. In this episode, Michelle and I explore entrepreneurship and corporate cultures. As an entrepreneur, it's easy to get stuck in the mindset of "having to do it all," whereas in corporate, you may have a wide set of skills, but also a team around you. We cover a range of topics ranging from the differences between corporate cultures, entrepreneurship, and startups to the future of work to the intricacies of employee being either introverted or extraverted. Will be go back to the office? Will we find a groove with a hybrid work experience? Meet Michelle CalcagniIf you ask Michelle what kind of work excites her, she’ll quickly jump into stories about how women coming together can inspire, support and help each other to succeed. That’s why, after five years in business, she decided to take PhoneBox in a new direction and to focus on women entrepreneurs. As she’d tell you herself, she spent most of her career helping big companies be successful – now it’s her chance to help the smaller ones get a chance at those opportunities (and revenue). Connect with MichelleLearn more about her work at PhoneBox GroupFollow Michelle on LinkedInJoin the Bricks+Brands Network and connect directly with MichelleBrain.fm Our science-first approach creates music that sounds different–and affects your brain differently.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show