Latest Conversations
A sharper feed for leaders
who keep learning.
The live page lists the full catalog. This redesign brings the newest and most relevant episodes forward with clearer hierarchy and more room for the show artwork.
.png)
Episode 1
In The Beginning...
In this inaugural episode of the Mission First People Always: Great Leaders. Great Teams. podcast, Dr. Mike Patterson introduces himself, describes the purpose of the podcast, and sets the stage for all the episodes that will follow.
.png)
Episode 4
A C.R.A.Z.Y. Approach to Marriage with Ernie Cason
Dr. Mike reconnects with a former team member, Ernie Cason, to discover powerful lessons about creating a healthy marriage even in the face of the most extreme challenges. After meeting on a blind date and quickly becoming engaged, Ernie's heart was pierced...not by Cupid's arrow, but by a serrated steak knife wielded by his fiance, Ronna's, enraged ex-boyfriend after he attacked her.
Episode 7
The Antifragile Team with Jodi Orgill Brown
Dr. Mike interviews Jodi Orgill Brown about what it takes to build an antifragile team. "Antifragile" is a term coined by mathematical statistician Nissim Taleb whose work is focused on dealing with randomness, probability, and uncertainty. It suggests a property of systems that increase their capability to thrive amidst stressors, attacks, mistakes, and volatility--something we've all experienced in sometimes overwhelming degrees in the past 2-years.
Episode 10
Navigating Change with Karen Simmons
Today, we gain a new perspective on organizational change from change expert, Karen Simmons! Karen Simmons is CEO and founder of The Change Executive, an organizational development agency, based out of Sydney, Australia. She is a complex change specialist (and enthusiast!) working across the UK, Europe, USA, Asia Pacific, and Australia for the past 30 years leading and supporting high-impact social and business transformations, including service, programs, operations, and financial performance shifts, organizational restructures, and culture change.
.png)
Inclusioning with Ray Linder
They are entrepreneurs who are taking an old, stale, stuffy industry and turning it onto its head by creating a people-centered culture for their clients and for their employees.
Episode 13
.png)
An International Entrepreneur's Long Journey to Success with Gerald White
One of the goals of this podcast is to inspire you with stories of people who overcame adversity, worked hard, played fair, made good decisions, learned from bad decisions, and found a way to succeed. I’m confident that today’s guest will do just that–inspire you to keep pushing forward even when it seems impossible.
Episode 16
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
.png)
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
.png)
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
.png)
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
.png)
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
.png)
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
.png)
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 1
David is considered one of the top business thought-leaders in the world by Thinkers50, is a sought after keynote speaker with a Ted Talk that's been viewed over 2 million times, and is an active consultant who has a track record with some of the world's top organizations. He's the author of several highly acclaimed books, and today, we dig into this latest book, Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams.
Episode 19
.png)
Episode 2
Leadership Lessons I Learned in the White House with Darrell Williams
White House Communications Agency Hall of Famer, Darrell Williams, shares leadership insights gathered while working in the White House during the George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush administrations.
.png)
Episode 5
Mindful Leadership with Dr. Jenn Guignard
Today, Dr. Mike interviews Dr. Jenn Guignard about the benefits and practices of mindful leadership. During the course of our conversation, Jenn reveals the three key aspects of mindful leadership.
Episode 8
Purpose Centered Leadership™ with Art Jackson
Dr. Mike here, today I talk with speaker and executive coach, Art Jackson. Join us as we discuss the reason why we have lousy leaders in organizations and what we should do about it when we get one.
.png)
Episode 11
Neuropsychology Basics for Leaders with Dr. Steve Swavely
Over 100 years ago, Henry Ford was reputed to have said, "You can have a car painted any color you want--as long as it's black." It was the beginning of mass production and the assembly line, and "once-size-fits-all" was necessary to make it all work. For many years, we have treated employees pretty much the same way. We hired people for their hands and their ability to perform certain tasks with consistency, but that is rapidly changing in the knowledge era.
.png)
Episode 14
Three Kindnesses with Odell Mitchell III
How do you define kindness? Selfless acts that make someone else's life better would probably be part of your definition. You might even offer examples of kind behavior like compassion, generosity, or genuine concern for others. In today's episode, we hear from a kindness ambassador who not only defines kindness in a very precise way, but teaches organizations how to build kindness into their culture.
Episode 17
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
Did you know? According to the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), about 60% of employees are asked to take an assessment of some sort, with 22% of employers using assessments to screen job applicants. It’s no surprise then to learn that the growing assessment market is now estimated to represent $500 million in annual sales with strong–as much as 10% per year–growth in recent years. In short, it’s big business.
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
.png)
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
.png)
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
.png)
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
.png)
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
Episode 20
Leading from Anywhere with Dr. David Burkus - Part 2
We are back again with Dr. David Burkus for part two of our conversation about remote teams and remote leadership. Before you hit play, be sure to catch last week's episode for part one so you are caught up to speed. If you are a leader who has found yourself "working from anywhere," these two episodes are a game changer!
.png)
Episode 3
Leadership Lessons from the Life of Rosa Parks with Dr. Angela Sadler
Dr. Mike interviews documentary filmmaker and television personality, Dr. Angela Sadler Williamson, who is a cousin of civil rights icon, Rosa Parks. Through family interactions with "Cousin Rosie" and her deep research in support of her award-winning documentary, Angela offers reflections and insights on Rosa Parks as a leader, supporter of leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a member of the broader team of civil rights workers.
Episode 6
The Antifragile Team with Jodi Orgill Brown
Dr. Mike interviews Jodi Orgill Brown about what it takes to build an antifragile team. "Antifragile" is a term coined by mathematical statistician Nissim Taleb whose work is focused on dealing with randomness, probability, and uncertainty. It suggests a property of systems that increase their capability to thrive amidst stressors, attacks, mistakes, and volatility--something we've all experienced in sometimes overwhelming degrees in the past 2-years.
Episode 9
Do You Need A Coach? with Dr. Gary Reinecke
On today’s episode, we invite you to carefully consider an important personal and professional question: Do I need a coach? Your answer could change the trajectory of your career and greatly benefit those around you
.png)
Episode 12
Your Team Needs Rhythm with Dr. Gil Brady
Today’s episode is all about teamwork. Teamwork is a term we initially hear at a very early age. It usually happens at 5-, 6-, or 7-years old, or whenever you step onto a sports field or court for your first attempt at sports.
.png)
Episode 15
Innovation in an Old Industry with Latane Meade and Matt Paulson
Today’s guests are two guys who are doing it RIGHT!
.png)
Episode 18
Building Resilient Teams with Dr. Gene Coughlin
Resilience is the capacity to deal with difficulty, adapt, and come back stronger. It's something today's guest argues is critically important for teams--especially if there is going to be meaningful development and learning. But this requires an intentional approach that engages all of the key components of resilience.
.png)
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
.png)
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
.png)
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
.png)
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
.png)
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
.png)
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
Episode 21
Grief in the Workplace with Kim Kerr
Grief is both a very individual experience as well as a universal reality. At some point in our lives, we will all lose something or someone that we hold dear to us. It will make a significant impact on who we are, how we understand the world, and how we do our work, but the thing to know about grief is that, while painful, it can ultimately lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living.
Show Themes
Conversations that make leadership more practical
The show stays close to the real work: decisions, disagreement, trust, growth, and the human side of performance.
01
Trust under pressure.
Create direction people can act on without turning urgency into chronic pressure.
02
Conflict competence.
Build cultures where collaboration, communication, and accountability reinforce each other.
03
Career momentum.
Turn insight into action with questions, stories, and developmental activities built for real teams.
04
Culture by design.
The systems and habits that make values visible in everyday work.
BOOKS
Two Books,
One Idea
Get the relationship right, and the work follows.
Leadership Guide
Mission First, People Always
A practical guide for leaders balancing performance with people, with frameworks, stories, and reflection questions that turn insight into action.
Business Fable
Have a Nice Conflict
A story about what happens when capable people stop avoiding conflict and start understanding motivation, triggers, and relationship awareness.