What Are We Talking About

This week Louis and Tammy welcome Alex Yaro, the creator of Conflict YES. He is a mediator, executive coach, and conflict resolution expert.  Alex builds trusted partnerships with senior leaders to help them create highly effective and collaborative teams.What's On Your NightstandThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanPatsy and Loretta (Netflix)Lead Me Home (Netflix)

This week we talk with Rita Ernst, the owner of Ignite Your Extraordinary. Rita is passionate about helping distressed teams become happier and more productive. She has a deep understanding of how to design workplaces so that people individually and collectively contribute and achieve their full potential.Rita shares with us her approach to diagnosing challenges with teams and how she treats them using similar tactics as you would in family dynamics. We also talk about the difference between positivity and toxic positivity.Rita's new book, Show Up Positive, can be pre-ordered here:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/show-up-positive-rita-ernst/1141376734?ean=9798985206593What's On Your Nightstand:The Way of Integrity by Martha BeckThe Circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair by Christina Baldwin and Ann LinneaBrene Brown: Atlas of the Heart (HBO Max)

Lindsey Pollak is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading career and workplace experts. She is passionate about helping individuals and organizations navigate and thrive in the ever-changing world of work. Lindsey was named to the 2020 Thinkers50 Radar List, which honors the top global management thinkers whose work is shaping the future of how organizations are managed and led.Her latest book is a response to the Covid crisis: Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through the Changing World of Work was published by HarperCollins on March 23, 2021.Her previous book, The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace (HarperCollins, 2019) was named a Book of the Month by both the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. She is also the author of two career advice books for young professionals: Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World.Lindsey’s speaking audiences and consulting clients have included more than 250 corporations, law firms, conferences and universities, including Aetna, Citi, Estée Lauder Companies, GE, Goldman Sachs, Google, Pfizer, Verizon, Yale, Harvard, Wharton and Stanford.Her advice and opinions have appeared in such media outlets as The TODAY Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR.Lindsey is a Cappfinity VEE Brand Ambassador and has served as an official ambassador for LinkedIn, a Millennial workplace expert for The Hartford and chair of Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Millennial Advisory Board. In her philanthropic work, she serves as a board director of FourBlock, a national nonprofit that supports veteran career transition.Lindsey is a graduate of Yale University.What's On Your Nightstand:Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika JaouadAfter Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News (HBO)WeCrashed (Apple TV)WeCrashed (podcast)Super Pumped (Showtime) The Dropout (Hulu)

This week we are talking to Drew Gasparini, an award-winning musical theatre composer/lyricist, a singer/songwriter, and a teacher. He is  equally committed to forging a new sound in the intersection between theatre and pop, to nurturing the next generation of artists, and to throwing one hell of a party.  Drew is currently developing a number of new stage musicals including the Broadway-bound musical adaptation of The Karate Kid for Gorgeous Entertainment (book by screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen), It’s Kind of a Funny Story for Universal Theatrical Group (book by Alex Brightman); Night Shift for Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (book by screenwriters Babaloo Mandel & Lowell Ganz); and The Whipping Boy (book and co-lyrics by Brightman).  Other writing projects include the infamous, award-winning Super Bowl publicity stunt, Skittles Commercial: The Broadway Musical, starring Michael C. Hall (book by Will Eno, lyrics with Nathaniel Lawler, directed by Sarah Benson); We Aren’t Kids Anymore  (a song cycle); Everything in its Place: The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers, a one-man-show starring Marc Summers, and Make Me Bad (both with  scripts by Alex Brightman); Crazy, Just Like Me (2011 New York Musical Theatre Festival “Best of Fest”); Turn of the Screw and #UntitledPopMusical (both with Michael Kimmel); and songs for Hit List on the NBC television series SMASH, the children’s cooking program “Monica’s Mixing Bowl”, and Hot Mess in Manhattan (“The Text Message Song”). Drew’s unique brand of musical theatre concerts have been performed to sold-out houses around the world at venues such as Joe’s Pub, Feinstein’s/54 Below, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center in D.C., and the St. James Theater in London. In Nov 2018 he was invited to present a night of his music accompanied by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.  Concert presentations of his work have been performed in six continents and the popularity of his sheet music has made him a top-10 best selling artist on NewMusicalTheatre.com.   Much of Drew’s comedic writing and performing is done with a collective of lovable wackos/Broadway besties, Alex Brightman (School of Rock, Beetlejuice), F. Michael Haynie (Frozen, Wicked), and Andrew Kober (Beautiful, Hair, Les Mis). They are lovingly referred to as The (M)orons.www.thedrewgasparini.comWhat's On Your Nightstand:A Very Punchable Face by Colin JostPersonality isn't Permanent by Benjamin HardySomebody, Somewhere (HBO Max)

Most of us attribute a negative connotation to hype, bringing to mind snake-oil salesman, propaganda, and con artists. This week, Michael F. Schein, author of The Hype Handbook, talks to us about his strategies to use hype for good. He shares with us his pillars for leveraging our behavioral instincts to generate hype for outcomes that have deeper meaning and purpose. Going back to his days as a punk rock musician and his attempts at fame by snagging a spot for his band at the famed Apollo Theater to his more recent gambits coming up against some of the heavyweights in business and social media, Michael keeps us on the edge of our seat with brilliant tactics.We have a lively discussion about why our brains are so susceptible to hype and some of the less than favorable hype artists who have successfully permeated our consciousness. You'll discover some great ideas and ways in which to become your own hype artist!What's On Your Nightstand:Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture by John HuizingaAwakenings (Prime Video)Inventing Anna (Netflix)

Ryan Sullivan, founder of Podcast Principles and host of BopCast Podcast, talks to us about all the ins and outs of podcasting. He shares some of the best strategies for launching and building a successful podcast and then gives us a little feedback on our own podcast!What's On Your Nightstand:The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick LencioniNever Eat Alone by Keith FerrazziThe Last Movie Ever Made Podcast

How does one find their voice - as a writer, a speaker, a singer, a communicator? That is the question Louis and Tammy ponder with the first guest of the season, Tom Fiffer. This fascinating discussion explores what we define as voice and how we can find our authentic voices. Louis and Tom talk about the different ways in which they coach singers and writers, respectively, to find their voices.Tom is the Founder of Christmas Lake Creative which offers workshops, coaching, and a community for writers. It also has its own publishing imprint with a complete list of titles.What's on Your Nightstand:Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert AlterTalking to Strangers by Malcolm GladwellThe Hype Handbook by Michael Schein

At some point in our lives, we all have to deal with those conversations that make us uncomfortable or stressed out. And, generally, those are high-stakes discussions. In this episode, Louis and Tammy break down the different ways we often show up in these conversations - using violence or silence - as communication responses. They talk about how to better understand your triggers so you can have productive and less stressful interactions.What's On Your Nightstand:Genius Foods by Max LugavereHacks (HBO)

In 2014 Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, attempted to tackle the toxic culture of the company by asking all the senior leaders to read Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg. He was signaling to his executives that he expected them to lead with compassion and empathy. That was nearly 8 years ago and here we are now with some of the same issues cropping up all over the place because of the challenges from the Pandemic. In this episode, Tammy and Louis break down the elements of the book and help listeners understand how they can use empathy, compassion, curiosity, and a collaborative approach to communication to improve their relationships, be more influential, and find more meaning in their interactions.What's On Your Nightstand:Civilized to Death by Christopher RyanOzark (Netflix)

What do Popsicles, Penicillin, Slinkies, Stainless Steel, Play-Doh, and Post-It Notes have in common? They were all “improv mistakes.”Learning how to do Improv may not seem like an obvious topic for becoming a better communicator or a more effective engineer but, in fact, it is a great tool for just that! Improv forces you to be present and in the moment which is hard for most of us to do. It requires deep listening so you can react to what the other person is saying. And, there are no wrong answers which ignites creativity. What's On Your Nightstand:Sex at Dawn by Chris RyanYear of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Often, when someone tells you that they want to give you some feedback, the things that go through your mind include: “What did I do wrong?” “I knew this day would come” or “It wasn't me!” But, in fact, feedback is always valuable if delivered and received properly. In this episode, Louis and Tammy dive into the topic of feedback and discuss strategies for managing the process in any context.Book: Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila HeenWhat's On Your Nightstand Links:New York Times - To Boldly Explore the Jewish Roots of 'Star Trek"Quantum Love by Dr. Laura Berman

Words matter in communication. Even though research suggests that 93% of the impression we form is rooted in our non-verbal messaging, the words we use can either help or hurt our interactions. Plus, words create intentions and intentions create outcomes. Louis and Tammy talk about how different types of language, like bro speak or negative self-talk can have a damaging impact on people. They share tips for positive communication strategies.Masaru Emoto book - The Hidden Messages in WaterMasaru Emoto Water ExperimentGeorge Carlin Football vs BaseballWhat's On Your Nightstand Links:The Inventor: Out for Blood (HBO Max)Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown

Anthropologists tell us that storytelling is central to human existence. We use stories to make sense of our world and to share that understanding with others. Storytelling is part of our everyday lives and a key element in our ability to communicate with others. Louis and Tammy offer some great tips this week on how to be effective storytellers.Pixar Storytelling ModelWhat's on Your Nightstand? links:Being the Ricardos on Prime Video Don't Look Up on NetflixSmartless Podcast

Empathy is the ability to understand someone else's feelings and experiences. Being empathetic can allow you to understand someone else's perspective, strengthen your ability to connect with others, and develop a broader view of the world. In this episode, Louis and Tammy talk about the role empathy plays in being able to have meaningful interactions with others and provide some tips on how to up the empathy in your life.What's on Your Nightstand? links:The Crown on NetflixModern Love Anthology Modern Love on Prime Video

Here's a little clip of our new podcast about all things related to communication. Join Louis and Tammy as they have conversations about conversation.