Lead with Levity

Latest Episodes:

Are You Ready for Strip Joker? Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Brené Brown says that trust is choosing to risk making something you value vulnerable to another person's actions…distrust is deciding that what is important to me is not safe with this person in this situation.
If I were to ask you to speak at an event, tell some jokes, and get naked in the process, how would you prepare for that level of courage and vulnerability?
Our guest, Britt Meyer, is a Chicago-based Art Director and the host of Strip Joker, Chicago's only body-positive stand up comedy. There are lessons to be learned that we can apply to the workplace.

[06:51] Get to know Britt Meyer and how she can help your brand to be recognized.
[10:45] Aunt Jemima brand gets a new name - Secretly Revealed!
[15:12] A secret sauce that keeps the Ten35 organization so diverse.
[19:30] Britt’s recommended ways to build trust in the communities
[22:23] Learn more about Strip Joker that encourages body positivity through comedy and nudity
[35:02] How Strip Joker Setting up 'Being Brave Space' on Stage - Secretly Revealed!

About Britt Meyer
Britt Meyer is an enthusiastic advertising creative with extensive experience in art direction, creative strategy, customer journey mapping, and concept development. With a passion for DE&I, they’ve spoken on numerous panels, (including The 3% Conference in 2019) created a standard of using pronouns in emails and meetings, and constantly works to create a culture of inclusion.

At Ten35, Britt is a highly active team member often found punching up scripts, bringing culture changing ideas to the table, and proudly supporting all of their fantastic coworkers.

Outside of work, they founded Strip Joker Comedy in 2016 to give more stage time and payment to marginalized communities in Chicago's stand up comedy scene, and uses this platform for fundraising and community engagement. Britt is openly genderqueer and champions inclusion for all in every project they approach.

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Find Your Playground of Possibilities Jan 17, 2022

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It's 2022, and the focus is on checking in with people who are actually out there promoting levity, humor, and positive applications of laughter and play in the workplace for adults.
I had the pleasure of speaking to the lovely Kay Ross. She's an applied improvisation trainer, a personal development coach, a storyteller extraordinaire, and she will even help you explore all of the wonderful possibilities in your life and in your organization.

About Kay Ross:

"I wear several related hats: Marketing-minded Editor/Copywriter, Applied Improvisation Trainer, and Personal Development Coach/Trainer. The common thread is Storytelling.

I’m a marketing-minded freelance editor and copywriter – hire me if your company or organisation needs compelling, effective, shareworthy marketing words (in English), or your team needs a training workshop about marketing, editing, copywriting or business storytelling. I've worked with clients in a wide range of industries. My mantra: Marketing doesn't have to be sleazy.

I’m an improv performer, and I lead tailor-made corporate “Applied Improvisation” workshops – hire me if you want your team to build their skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, creativity, innovation, emotional intelligence, and agile responsiveness to change, risk and uncertainty. My mantra: Life is an improvisation game.

I work in the field of personal development and healing – my “The Playground of Possibilities” card deck and workshops will help your team (either individually or as a group) to transform their old, limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories about themselves, your organisation and world so that they heal and thrive (and that's good for the whole organisation). My mantra: Life is a playground of possibilities."

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Humor Cartel Jan 03, 2022

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Let's welcome 2022 with a bang of levity! Here's a brand new episode with Dutch Martin, Roberta Gold, Ron Gagliardi, and Nancy Norton!

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Cards Against Mundanity Dec 20, 2021

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There's a card game that draws colleagues together and brings levity in the workplace? We're in!
About Jason Treu
"CEOs, senior-level executives, managers, and employees call me their strategic advantage. I’m a combination of a team building expert, Chief People Officer, organizational psychologist, and a high-performance trainer.

I’m highly effective at maximizing performance, building great teams, training managers to perform in the top 1% and helping employees make a significant impact in their roles. Clients also work with me for conflict resolution and employee engagement.

My zone of genius lies in helping successful individuals reach that even higher level. I’m even better when it comes to teams and entire organizations."

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Is the pursuit of productivity killing your business? Dec 06, 2021

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In this episode, we revisit productivity and priorities, and the implications of pursuing productivity amidst the pressure in the workplace.
About Mayo Oshin
Mayo Oshin writes about proven science and the habits of highly successful people for stress-free productivity and improved mental performance. He is a trusted source on strong work ethics, killing procrastination and time management. To get these strategies to stop procrastinating, get more things by doing less and improve your focus, you can join his free weekly newsletter or read more of his work at MayoOshin.Com.

His work has been published in Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine, Quartz, Thrive Global and more. Oshin’s book, “The Final Push: A Short Inspirational Step By Step Guide On How To Get First Class Marks”, was published in 2016, It is to help students prepare for their exams as well as stay motivated and consistent throughout the year.

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The Counterculture of Leading with Levity Nov 22, 2021

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Tune in as we provide an alternative perspective to historical workplace norms, and the challenges we face in society today.
About Dr. LaTonya Jackson
A dynamic, forward-thinking leader who contributes to a company's ongoing growth, given extensive experience in talent and workforce development, thought leadership, talent and change management, instructional design and strategy, and facilitation. An adaptable, passionate, and goal-oriented training professional highly skilled in collaborative partnerships, individual and group coaching, and people development. Builds strong interpersonal relationships by utilizing communication skills to connect with colleagues and clients. Through research-based solutions, improved organizational systems perpetuate and augment company revenue results, given a strong work ethic.

In addition to this work, she makes time to volunteer with Unform Your BiasTM; a not-for-profit organization focused on reducing racial injustice through honest conversations and systemic solutions. She is co-author of 5 Blinders to Seeing Color and author of The Layoff Lab: 7 Strategies to Navigate a Layoff or Career Transition. She welcomes opportunities to speak. She is a writer and enjoys walking challenges, action movies, and time with family.

LinkedIn
Website

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Your Power is in Your Story Nov 08, 2021

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Let's delve into storytelling as a way to nurture your business. In this episode, master storyteller Jerome DeRoy shares with us his storytelling strategies.
About Jerome DeRoy

Jerome Deroy is the CEO of Narativ. He met Narativ's co-founders, Murray Nossel, Ph.D., and Dr. Paul Browde, after responding to an ad for a production assistant. Soon after, they presented him with a shoebox full of ideas, saying, "We think there is a company in here." Narativ was born. Jerome coaches executives and leads storytelling workshops. His passion is to show you how you can use storytelling to enhance your onboarding program.

About the Lead with Levity Podcast
The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

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Navigating difficult conversations with the Relationship Protocol Oct 24, 2021

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Are you ready to navigate your next convo with ease? Tune in for conversation strategies from the creator of the Relationship Protocol, Debra Roberts.
About Debra Roberts

In my book, The Relationship Protocol: How to Talk, Defuse and Build Healthier Relationships I teach people how to have effective and uncomplicated communication. The book describes the RP model in easy to read terms. The model itself is a common-sense approach that can benefit all relationships. And I know from many years of experience - if you give someone helpful, actionable tools for communicating, you’re not only going to improve their relationships, but you’ll grow their confidence and change their quality of life for the better.

Let’s transform how people think about communication! Learn how to resolve differences, speak thoughtfully and become stronger together.

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Will customers still like you if you're not perfect? Oct 11, 2021

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86% of the people surveyed (Consumer Content Report) say that authenticity is important when deciding what brands they like and support.
In this episode, we're going to talk about the power of authenticity and branding. Don't worry. It's going to be a good conversation. You're going to appreciate it. No matter what position you hold in your organization.
Check out why it's so important to let the real you shine through....not the #authenticversionofyou.
About Maria Ross
Maria Ross is the founder of Red Slice, a consultancy that advises solopreneurs, startups, and fast-growth businesses on how to build an irresistible brand story and authentically connect with customers. She is a keynote speaker who regularly speaks to audiences on marketing and building a standout brand that engages the right customers and drives growth. She is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business and The Juicy Guide eBook Series for Entrepreneurs.

Maria started her career as a management consultant with Accenture and went on to build marketing and brand strategies for multiple companies, including Discovery Communications, Monster.com, BusinessObjects (now SAP), and many other startups and technology leaders, before starting her own business. Maria understands the power of empathy at both a brand and personal level: in 2008, six months after launching her business, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that almost killed her. Her humorous and heartfelt memoir about what is was like to survive this health crisis, Rebooting My Brain, has received worldwide praise.

Maria has made numerous media appearances, including on MSNBC, ABCNews.com, and Forbes.com; in Entrepreneur magazine; and on hundreds of radio shows and popular podcasts such as Entrepreneur on Fire, The Shameless Mom Academy, and Suitcase Entrepreneur. She writes a contributor column for Entrepreneur.com and has written for Huffington Post, MarketingProfs.com, Seattle Business, Life by Me, Inspire Me Today, Columbus CEO, among others.

Resources mentioned:

Website: www.red-slice.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redslice/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajross/
Email: maria@red-slice.com
Book: The Empathy Edge: Harnessing the Value of Compassion as an Engine for Success (www.theempathyedge.com)

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The Curse of Busy-ness: My Most Vulnerable Episode Yet Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

I woke up one day and realized that I was too busy to enjoy life. Have you ever been there?
I get real in this episode, and reflect on a common problem that we typically see as a "good problem to have" in America--busy-ness. We seek out this lifestyle because we stand to gain from it, but if we're honest with ourselves we know that we also have to give up some pretty important things in the process.
Today, we take a moment to pause and think about how the curse of busy-ness keeps us from activating the more playful side of ourselves. We explore what playfulness is, redefine it for busy adults, and cover the benefits we stand to gain from being letting loose more often.
I bring on a past guest, Robin Dreeke, to find out how he deals with the increasing pace of change in his life and how he is choosing to lead with levity.
About Robin Dreeke
Robin is a best-selling author, professional speaker, trainer, facilitator, and retired FBI Special Agent and Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. Robin has taken his life's work of recruiting spies and broken down the art of leadership, communication, and relationship building into Five Steps to TRUST and Six Signs of who you can TRUST. Since 2010, Robin has been working with large corporations as well as small companies in every aspect of their business. Whether it is newly promoted leaders, executives, sales teams, or customer relations, Robin has crafted his People Formula for quick results and maximum success.

Website: https://www.peopleformula.com

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