Explore every episode of the podcast The Empathy Edge
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Dhrimaj: How to Lead Teams Through Change with Empathy | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:51:04 | |
Most leaders are promoted because they’re excellent at strategy, operations, or delivering results. But very few are ever taught how to lead people or give feedback. And that’s where things fall apart. Rebecca Dhrimaj is on a mission to redefine what leadership looks like in the C-suite and beyond. As a Chief Empathy Officer of The Empathy Collective, Rebecca empowers leaders to coach teams and give honest feedback through change, one conversation at a time. Rebecca shares how she “stumbled into” her business model through lived experience and hard-earned insight. She walks us through a powerful case study of her work with a large customer excellence team, where leadership training directly mapped to measurable improvements in employee engagement and change readiness scores. This isn’t theory—it’s tangible impact. We also talk about why leaders often rise because of their technical and business acumen, but are rarely equipped with the skills to navigate human emotion. Rebecca explains why starting with a WHY of genuine care and understanding your team’s collective strengths can transform even the most disruptive change into momentum instead of burnout. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"You don't necessarily have to always be on the lookout for things, but if you're asking the right questions in your one-on-ones with your people, floodgates will open, and they will talk, and they will share." — Rebecca Dhrimaj Episode References:
The Empathy Edge podcast:
About Rebecca Dhrimaj, Chief Empathy Officer, The Empathy Collective: As Chief Empathy Officer, Rebecca’s mission is to redefine the role of the C-Suite by empowering leaders to coach people through change, one conversation at a time. After leading change management for an organizational restructuring, she noticed there was a lack of tools available to leaders dealing with the human side of change: the emotions, the fear, the resistance. She discovered that when leaders start with a WHY of caring and an intimate understanding of their team’s collective strengths, any change is possible. When she is not preparing teams for change, she laces up her running shoes and tunes into an audiobook. Fun fact: she has lived in the US, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France and always has a secret stash of Belgian chocolate. Connect with Rebecca: The Empathy Collective and Resilient Change Leader™ course: theempathycollective.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebeccadhrimaj Podcast - Return on Empathy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/return-on-empathy/id1750060452
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| Alex Tieu: How Empathy as Policy is Disrupting a Cutthroat Industry | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:45:55 | |
Today we get to see what it actually looks like when a leader builds an entire organization around empathy and people - operationalizes it, measures it, and watches it drive real, bottom-line results. When Alex stepped into leadership of JLG Lawyers, she brought an operational mindset and a transformative question that became their cultural north star: what would the legal profession look like if it were built around people rather than billable hours? That question became the foundation of everything. They call it Justice with Humanity. Alex gets refreshingly practical about what it actually means to walk the talk. We dig into how JLG Lawyers has operationalized their people-first philosophy for both employees and clients. We talk about the fascinating tension of being both an employee law firm AND an employer, and how they hold themselves to the same standard they fight for in court. We get into their counter-cultural approach to AI, using it responsibly to grow the business without displacing people, and why understanding your workflows is the key to knowing where you actually need human judgment in the loop. If you have ever wondered what it looks like when empathy stops being a value on a wall and starts being a genuine competitive advantage, JLG Lawyers is your proof of concept. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"My leaders absolutely challenge me. They push me. They tell me things like that, and it's because they care. They, and you, have the same values, and the same goals." — Alex Tieu
Episode References:
About Alex Tieu, Founder & CEO, JLG Lawyers: Alex is CEO of JLG Lawyers, where she leads business strategy, operations, technology, and organizational development. She brings over two decades of leadership experience from real estate, technology, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, including senior roles at Keller Williams, Movoto, Propy, and Twenty Five Ventures. At JLG, Alex is known for building an organization that's both high-performing and deeply human, using technology and AI to support attorneys' judgment rather than replace it, and creating multiple paths to success for both attorneys and staff. JLG believes there is rarely only one path to success, and that strong organizations can maintain high standards while giving talented people room to excel in different ways. She calls this broader approach "The Human Middle": proof that accountability and opportunity, high standards and empathy, don't have to be trade-offs. Connect with Alex Tieu: JLG Lawyers: jlglawyers.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandra-tieu-62845b6 Instagram: instagram.com/jlglawyers
From Our Sponsor: Get$500 off with code EDGE500 at checkout: retreat.therisingmastermind.com Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Carlo Odicino: How People-Centered Leaders Get Big Sh*t Done! | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:37:27 | |
Warning: We're getting a little spicy today! What if caring deeply about your people was actually the fastest way to get big sh*t done? I’m talking with Carlo Odicino, CEO and Founder of One TEAM Partners, where he helps early-stage companies bring innovations to market without burning out their teams. With more than 24 years of experience in scaling businesses, Carlo knows that psychological safety and empathy aren’t “soft” skills — they’re the drivers of high performance. Carlo shares how a high school drama teacher first recognized his leadership talent and modeled people-first leadership, shaping how he leads with empathy today. We dive into trust and psychological safety, the natural human tendency to want to learn, and how that builds relationships and trust between leaders and their teams when that trust is there and individuals feel respected and heard. When it comes to getting sh*t done, we discuss and debunk the excuses that leaders use and give practical steps that can be taken now to show you care and get things done. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"True empathy and caring actually require you to challenge people and raise their standard." — Carlo Odicino Episode References:
About Carlo Odicino, CEO and Founder, One TEAM Partners: Carlo Odicino is the CEO and Founder of One TEAM Partners. He specializes in helping early-stage companies bring their innovations to market without succumbing to the burnout often faced by start-ups. With 24+ years of experience scaling businesses of all sizes, he guides CEOs and leadership teams through complex challenges to achieve extraordinary results. Carlo holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and directs high school theater in his spare time. He lives in Costa Mesa, CA, with his wife and two sons. Connect with Carlo: One TEAM Partners: https://oneteampartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjodicino/ From Our Sponsor: Get$500 off with code EDGE500 at checkout: retreat.therisingmastermind.com Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Hot Take: What the Fire Horse Has Taught Leaders About Reinvention | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:15:04 | |
We are living in the Year of the Fire Horse. And if you know anything about Chinese astrology, you know that the Fire Horse is not a gentle, meandering kind of energy. It is fast, fierce, unpredictable, and transformative. It burns down what isn't working to make room for what's next. And that feels about right for where we are as a culture, as leaders, and as human beings right now. Today, I share the neurological impact significant change triggers in humans and give actionable steps to build resilience to withstand the change that is going to continue, and lead and live with more purpose and intentionality through whatever is thrown your way. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"If you're clinging to a way of working, a title, a strategy, a version of yourself, or a version of your company that's no longer serving you, the Fire Horse year is asking you to release it. Not recklessly, but thoughtfully, with intention." — Maria Ross
References:
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Nada Lena Nasserdeen: Why Expertise Isn’t Enough to Lead High-Performing Teams | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:42:53 | |
We’re entering a leadership era where charisma without self-awareness falls flat, expertise without empathy stalls out, and confidence isn’t a personality trait; it’s a leadership skill that can be trained. Nada Lena Nasserdeen has built her life’s work around that reality. Nada is the Founder and CEO of Rise Up For You, a globally recognized leadership development and coaching organization dedicated to advancing confidence, emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and influential communication. Today, Maria and Nada discuss Nada’s personal experiences that shaped her focus on confidence and emotional intelligence, and led to her creation of Rise Up For You, including her Power Up Method. They also dive into the difference between high performers and high-potential talent, and what shifting from transactional to transformational leadership really demands. This is a grounded, practical conversation about how leaders grow influence, presence, and impact, not by adding more tactics, but by strengthening the inner skills that drive everything else. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"If you want to be in the top 1% or even in the top 10%, these are the skills that are going to help you stand out. I always say, be seen, be heard, and be relevant." — Nada Lena Nasserdeen Episode References:
About Nada Nasserdeen: Founder and CEO of Rise Up For You Nada Lena Nasserdeen is the Founder and CEO of Rise Up For You, a globally recognized leadership development and coaching organization dedicated to advancing confidence, emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and influential communication. With over a decade of experience, Nada has partnered with executives, organizations, and institutions across North America, supporting leaders at every level through research-backed coaching and training programs designed for real-world impact. Nada is a certified coach, keynote speaker, and bestselling author whose work has been featured on platforms including TEDx, Bloomberg, CBS, and Entrepreneur. She is known for her ability to translate leadership psychology, emotional intelligence, and neuroscience into practical, human-centered development experiences that drive measurable growth. Under her leadership, Rise Up For You has delivered more than 15,000 coaching sessions in the last three years and maintains a 95 percent client renewal rate, and consistently receives high performance ratings from leaders and teams. Nada’s work emphasizes ethical coaching practice, sustainable leadership development, and the belief that soft skills are the new success skills. Through her speaking, writing, and certification programs, she continues to empower individuals and organizations to lead with clarity, presence, and purpose while creating cultures that thrive in an evolving business landscape. Connect with Nada: Rise Up For You: riseupforyou.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nadalena Instagram: instagram.com/nadalenanasserdeen YouTube: youtube.com/@RiseUpForYou/videos
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Scott Stirrett: Why Getting Comfortable with Uncertainty Is a Core Leadership Skill—and How to Build It | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:39:14 | |
What if uncertainty isn’t something to fear or even survive, but a skill you can train and a competitive advantage you can build? Scott Stirrett has spent more than a decade helping people do exactly that. Scott is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and the founder of Venture for Canada, a national charity that has supported over 10,000 young professionals since 2013. He’s also the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a powerful guide for navigating the future of work that argues uncertainty isn’t a bug in the system. It is the system. Scott walks us through how empathy and emotional skills play starring roles in his six pillars that help build real resilience, alongside some surprising mindset shifts and practical exercises you can start using right away. We also talk about why traditional career playbooks no longer apply and how leaders and professionals can turn volatility into opportunity instead of paralysis. If you’re navigating change, rethinking your career, or leading others through uncertainty, this episode offers both reassurance and a roadmap. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"We don't choose what era we live in. We live in an era of rapid change. Learning to develop a positive relationship with uncertainty is one of the most important things that you can do, perhaps at any moment in human history." — Scott Stirrett
Episode References:
About Scott Stirrett: Founder, Venture for Canada and Author, The Uncertainty Advantage Scott Stirrett is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and the Founder of Venture for Canada (VFC), a national charity that has supported over 10,000 young professionals since 2013. Under his leadership, VFC raised $80 million and partnered with leading organizations to equip early-career Canadians with entrepreneurial skills to thrive in an uncertain world. Scott is the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a guide for young professionals navigating the future of work, endorsed by leaders including Andrew Yang and Amanda Lang. The book draws on lessons from building VFC, emphasizing adaptability, entrepreneurial thinking, and lifelong learning. A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Scott began his career at Goldman Sachs in New York. He’s been recognized as a Telus LGBTQ Innovator, Ashoka Fellow, and Globe and Mail Changemaker. His commentary has appeared in The Washington Post, Forbes, The Globe and Mail, and more. He currently co-chairs the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights. Connect with Scott: The Uncertainty Advantage: scottstirrett.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scottstirrett Facebook: facebook.com/stirrett Instagram: instagram.com/scottstirrett Substack: substack.com/@scottstirrett
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. Ute Liersch: How Resilient Leaders Bend Without Breaking | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:44:25 | |
What if resilience isn’t about powering through, pushing harder, or staying unbreakable but about knowing how to bend, recalibrate, and return to center without losing yourself in the process? That question sits at the heart of my conversation with Dr. Ute Liersch, a German psychologist, leadership coach, and resilience expert who works with high-performing leaders, especially those navigating burnout, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, or major career transitions out of corporate life. She has more than a decade of experience at the intersection of mental health, leadership, and neurodiversity. She brings a rare blend of clinical depth and real-world pragmatism, drawing from evidence-based approaches to help leaders build psychological flexibility, resilience, and purpose without sacrificing wellbeing. Today, she shares some of that wisdom, explaining the truth behind resilience, why emotions are neutral data, and she describes how “nice-looking” rules can actually prevent the necessary actions that leaders need to take. It’s a wonderful conversation with so many nuggets for wherever you are on your leadership journey. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"If you want to become more resilient, one of the things you really need to learn is to be courageous and brave and curious enough to start noticing how am I right now? What's my body doing? What are my thoughts? How am I positioned in the situation? An honest reflection of HOW you are, not who." — Dr. Ute Liersch About Dr. Ute Liersch, Chartered Counselling and Coaching Psychologist: Dr. Ute Liersch is a Chartered Counselling and Coaching Psychologist based in the UK, with over a decade of experience working at the intersection of mental health, leadership, and neurodiversity. Her unique blend of clinical expertise and coaching insight supports high-performing individuals—particularly leaders, professionals, and creatives—who navigate anxiety, trauma, burnout, or ADHD. Drawing from evidence-based modalities like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, and emotional intelligence frameworks, Dr. Liersch empowers clients to build psychological flexibility, resilience, and purpose. She is known for her pragmatic yet deeply compassionate approach, often challenging mainstream psychology with philosophical depth and a touch of humour. Her latest book is A Minimalist's Guide to Becoming Resilient, full of no-fluff micropractices, reframings, and toolkits In addition to her private practice and workshops, Dr. Liersch speaks internationally on topics like mental health in leadership, high-functioning anxiety, and creating neurodiversity-affirming spaces at work. She is passionate about helping people redefine success on their own terms—without sacrificing wellbeing. Connect with Dr. Ute: Website: drute.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drute Instagram: instagram.com/dr_ute_ YouTube: youtube.com/@DrUteLiersch Book: A Minimalist’s Guide to Becoming Resilient: amazon.com/Minimalists-Guide-Becoming-Resilient-Psychologist-ebook/dp/B0F95Z82XF
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Hot Take: You Are Your Decisions, Not Your Intentions | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:12:22 | |
While many leaders want to lead with empathy, they often fail to translate that desire into actionable decisions. Today, Maria discusses the distinction between intention and decision and highlights the importance of making–and committing–to those decisions that lead to tangible changes. She also emphasizes the urgency of making the most of the opportunities we have today, not waiting for what might change in the future. Finally, Maria challenges listeners to use their agency to be empathetic leaders and to act now, regardless of external circumstances. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"We get to make better decisions about how we structure work. About how we run companies. About the metrics that matter. About how we lead with ethics, humanity, and mutual concern." — Maria Ross
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| What Does It Mean to Be Human? Ep 6: The Whole Messy Thing We Want to Protect | 06 Aug 2026 | 00:53:41 | |
In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries here on The Empathy Edge. Rob and Maria started this subseries with a single question: What does it mean to be human? Six episodes later, we don't have a tidy answer. And that might be the most human thing of all. In this final episode, we pull the threads together across everything we explored: consciousness, mortality, emotion, aspiration, and morality, and wrestle with what we actually want to protect as AI becomes more woven into daily life. We share an experiment we ran in real-time, asking AI directly whether it can imagine something that has never existed before. The response was surprisingly nuanced. We close with a provocation from Madonna's new album Confessions II for what it says about creativity, individuality, and what only a human can bring to the world. And our call to action for listeners as they move forward in this brave new world. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. "AI knows most things that have existed, and therefore can draw on that and summarize and give you different ways to think about it. It's up to us to create something new to build beyond it." — Rob Volpe Episode References:
The Empathy Edge Podcast: About Maria Ross: Maria Ross is a speaker, author, empathy strategist, and host of The Empathy Edge podcast, now in its sixth year. She believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™, and has spent decades helping leaders balance empathy with accountability to drive better results, stronger teams, and lasting impact. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning The Empathy Dilemma, a Forbes.com contributor on Workplace Empathy, and creator of two LinkedIn Learning empathy courses. About Rob Volpe: Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries. Connect with Rob: Website: robvolpe.expert Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Florence Ann Romano: Build Your Village | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:37:42 | |
They say “It takes a village.” But how do you build it? For all our technology, tools, and ways to stay “connected,” many of us are feeling more isolated than ever. And that lack of connection is showing up everywhere. Florence Ann Romano believes the answer isn’t doing more; it’s rebuilding what we’ve lost. Florence Ann is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and author. Her work has been featured across more than 900 national and local media outlets, including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and major network affiliates. We talk about why you need a village now more than ever and why that village matters just as much at work as it does in our personal lives. Florence Ann shares why people are struggling to create meaningful connections, how loneliness quietly undermines performance and mental health, and why rebuilding community is foundational to growth. We dive into what actually makes a village work, including the six types of villagers needed for a fully functioning, supportive community. We also explore the reciprocal nature of connection: how supporting others enriches your own life, and how a true village becomes a network of mutual growth, trust, and purpose. If you’re looking for a reset that centers humanity, collaboration, and belonging, this conversation is a powerful place to start. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"If you are feeling this isolation, maybe you need to lean in to those relationships that you do have at work - that could be a place that could deepen or strengthen and feel like you're not reinventing the wheel." — Florence Ann Romano
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge podcast:
About Florence Ann Romano, Speaker and Author of Build Your Own Village: Florence Ann Romano is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and author, known for her ability to cultivate meaningful connections. She is passionate about helping others create their own community to be seen, heard, and understood. As an acclaimed author, Florence Ann's insights are captured in her book, Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Every Stage of Life (Beyond Words), which has been celebrated as a top 10 in its category. Her expertise and charismatic delivery have earned her features across over 900 national and local esteemed media outlets across the country, including SHERRI, ABC/CBS/ NBC and FOX TV affiliates, Home & Family, Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She is also currently a regular expert on over 10 various national TV affiliates across the U.S. Connect with Florence Ann Romano: Website: https://florenceann.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlorenceARomano/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/florenceann.romano Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Every Stage of Life: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158270886X
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| What Does it Mean to Be Human? Ep 5: Morals, Ethics, and The Stories We Tell | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:55:42 | |
In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries here on The Empathy Edge. Morality, Conscience, Storytelling & Community Where does our sense of right and wrong actually come from? Maria and Rob trace the roots of human morality across three sources: evolutionary wiring that hardwired empathy for group survival, cultural transmission passed down through family and community, and the personal reflection that continues to shape our ethics well into adulthood. They look to Frans de Waal's research on chimps and bonobos, and to highly social species like wolves, crows, and honeybees, who enforce unwritten norms on the group. But a key distinction: animals register unfairness, while humans ruminate in moral anguish over it. By the end of the conversation, they find themselves less certain than when they started about whether humanity could ever agree on even three to five truly universal moral principles, and invite their listeners to contact us with their opinions. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. "That’s where our empathy work lies - how do you bridge that gap between your different potentially moral or ethical codes?" — Maria Ross
Episode References:
About Maria Ross: Maria Ross is a speaker, author, empathy strategist, and host of The Empathy Edge podcast, now in its sixth year. She believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™, and has spent decades helping leaders balance empathy with accountability to drive better results, stronger teams, and lasting impact. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning The Empathy Dilemma, a Forbes.com contributor on Workplace Empathy, and creator of two LinkedIn Learning empathy courses. About Rob Volpe: Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries. Connect with Rob Volpe: Website: robvolpe.expert Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. Adam Dorsay: The 4 Types of Connection That Transform Your Life and Leadership | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:49:26 | |
What if the secret to a more fulfilling life (and a more effective leadership style) isn't productivity or strategy, but connection? My guest today is Dr. Adam Dorsay, a licensed psychologist and executive coach in Silicon Valley, where he works with high-achieving professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and even professional athletes. He's the host of the award-winning SuperPsyched podcast and has delivered three highly regarded TEDx Talks. Adam shares why so many of us are more disconnected than ever and what's really driving that gap. He unpacked the four types of human connection that are vital for a thriving life. We also explore what connection looks like in the workplace, how leaders can foster a genuine culture of empathy and belonging, and why diversity in your personal and professional connections along many vectors matters more than you think. Finally, he wrapped up with some incredibly grounding advice for anyone who feels like they're running on empty when it comes to meaningful relationships. If you're a leader wanting to build a more engaged, connected team, or simply someone craving more depth and fulfillment in your life, this conversation delivers both the science and the heart to help you get there. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"We need to override our narcissistic tendencies and get to know our colleagues and go to bat for them, and they will go to bat for us.” — Dr. Adam Dorsay Episode References:
About Adam Dorsay, Psychologist, Author of Superpsyched: Dr. Adam Dorsay is a licensed psychologist and executive coach in Silicon Valley, where he works with high-achieving adults (including professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes). Adam is the host of SuperPsyched, an award-winning podcast with more than 200 episodes. He has given three highly regarded TEDx Talks: one about men and their emotions, another about friendship in adulthood, and the most recent about the four ways humans connect. His new best-selling book is the International Impact Award-winning Super Psyched: Unleash the Power of the 4 Types of Connection and Live the Life You Love. Beyond his private practice, Adam is a resiliency expert who co-created an international program for Facebook’s Online Safety employees for several years. He now serves as the resiliency consultant to DigitalOcean and has frequent requests from the media for interviews. He has provided keynotes and trainings to multiple corporations and organizations, including Microsoft, LinkedIn, and the California Psychological Association. Connect with Adam Dorsay: Website: dradamdorsay.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adam-dorsay-psyd-cpcc-a582a2 Facebook: facebook.com/dradamdorsay Book: Unleash the Power of the 4 Types of Connection and Live the Life You Love
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| What Does It Mean to Be Human? Ep 4: Dream Forward, Remember Back | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:54:32 | |
In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries here on The Empathy Edge. Aspiration, Hope, Free Will & the Future-Oriented Mind Humans don't just live in the present. We imagine futures that don't exist yet, then try to build them, and we do it using the same neural machinery that lets us remember our past. Maria Ross and Rob Volpe explore what psychologist Endel Tulving called mental time travel: the brain's unique ability to simulate scenarios that haven't happened using a network that overlaps almost entirely with episodic memory. We can't dream forward if we can't look back. Yet, our memories can be unreliable, causing us to build narratives around what actually happened or how it impacted us. Are we the only species who can do this? That sets up the harder question: do we actually choose, or does it just feel like we do? Finally, we discuss the difference between hope and optimism. When humans are at their best, they describe aspiration, vision, and forward motion, but humans in survival mode, who cannot access hope or aspiration, are equally human. What does that tell us about how fragile, and how earned, this superpower really is? To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.
"We don't just react to the present like many species. We reflect on the past. We imagine the future." — Maria Ross
Episode References:
About Maria Ross: Maria Ross is a speaker, author, empathy strategist, and host of The Empathy Edge podcast, now in its sixth year. She believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™, and has spent decades helping leaders balance empathy with accountability to drive better results, stronger teams, and lasting impact. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning The Empathy Dilemma, a Forbes.com contributor on Workplace Empathy, and creator of two LinkedIn Learning empathy courses. About Rob Volpe: Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries. Connect with Rob Volpe: Website: robvolpe.expert Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. Tracy Brower: Why Community Is the Cure for the Loneliness Epidemic - at Work and in Life | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:40:50 | |
We are more connected and lonelier than ever. That paradox is shaping not just our personal lives, but our workplaces, our leadership, and our long-term well-being. And if we don’t address it intentionally, loneliness becomes more than a social issue; it becomes a business risk. Today, welcome back Dr. Tracy Brower, who has spent her career studying exactly this intersection of community, happiness, and the future of work. Listen in as we unpack the epidemic of loneliness, the ROI of community in the workplace, and how leaders can balance the human need for connection with the flexibility employees have come to expect. Tracy also shares practical ways to create the conditions for belonging and meaningful relationships without manufacturing culture or mandating connection. Finally, we explore the power of mentorship and social capital, why diversity strengthens our communities when built with intention, and how even introverts benefit from thoughtful connection. This is a conversation about designing work and leadership around what humans actually need to thrive. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"You won't be purely happy if everybody's like you; your best happiness and well-being come when your network is about 50/50 - 50% who are more similar to you, 50% who are different from you." — Dr. Tracy Brower
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge podcast:
About Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD: Author, Critical Connections, The Secrets to Happiness at Work, Bring Work to Life Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying community, happiness, and the future of work and life. She is a Global 50 Thinker and the award-winning author of three books: Critical Connections, The Secrets to Happiness at Work, and Bring Work to Life. She is the vice president of workplace insights with Steelcase and a senior contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. She is a Top 101 Experience and Engagement Influencer, and her work has been translated into 25 languages, while her TEDx talk has been viewed 8.6 million times. Connect with Tracy: Website: tracybrower.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracybrowerphd Instagram: instagram.com/tlb108 TikTok: tiktok.com/@tracybrowerauthor
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| What Does It Mean to Be Human? Ep 3: Feeling Everything | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:55:33 | |
In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries here on The Empathy Edge. Is being vulnerable and admitting mistakes part of being human? Antonio Damasio is a professor at USC, not Vanderbilt. We apologize for any confusion. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. "I think the allure of AI for some people is that ‘I'm going to get a very objective, pragmatic, data-driven answer, devoid of emotion.’ But then that's why sometimes what you get back doesn't work in real life." — Maria Ross
Episode References:
About Maria Ross: Maria Ross is a speaker, author, empathy strategist, and host of The Empathy Edge podcast, now in its sixth year. She believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™, and has spent decades helping leaders balance empathy with accountability to drive better results, stronger teams, and lasting impact. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning The Empathy Dilemma, a Forbes.com contributor on Workplace Empathy, and creator of two LinkedIn Learning empathy courses. About Rob Volpe: Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries. Connect with Rob Volpe: Website: robvolpe.expert Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| July 2026 Hot Take: Connection, Hope | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:14:06 | |
Connection isn't a nice-to-have. It is the thing - the whole thing. And right now, in a world that seems to be working overtime to divide us, finding our people and building our communities might just be the most radical, most hopeful, and frankly most strategic thing we can do. Maria discusses the importance of connection and hope in this divided world, emphasizing community and collaboration as powerful tools in the fight against division and discord. She discusses the imperfect and awkward actions that lead to real change, and invites everyone to start today to start to build stronger connections at work and in life. This month on the podcast, the theme is connection and hope - and hope can feel pretty hard to come by these days. So continue to listen in and continue to build community, build joy, and build collaboration. They are among the most powerful forces we have against injustice, against tribalism, against the kind of fear and division that wants to keep us isolated and manageable. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Collaboration and joy in community are not distractions from the fight for a better world. They ARE the fight. They are how we sustain ourselves, build power, and remind each other that another way is possible." — Maria Ross
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| What Does It Mean to Be Human? Ep 2: We Know We're Going to Die | 09 Jul 2026 | 01:04:31 | |
In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries on The Empathy Edge. We may be the only species that lives with the conscious knowledge of our own death. Maria and Rob sit with an uncomfortable truth of human existence: that we are finite, and that knowledge shapes how we love, create, grieve, and find meaning. Something AI cannot even register. We explore what it means to be a time-malleable species - aware of the past, present, and future in ways no other animal appears to be - and we are most when time starts to run out. We look at evidence of grief in elephants and chimps, asking whether mourning requires mortality awareness or whether it's something else. Rob asks Maria about her own 2008 near-death experience from a brain aneurysm, and together they wrestle with the near-death experience as a pivot point: the moment when abstract knowledge of death becomes real, and life suddenly looks completely different. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. "One of the fundamental aspects of the human experience is knowing that death’s coming, but we all, as humans, deal with that knowledge very differently." — Rob Volpe
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge:
Washington Post:
About Maria Ross: Maria Ross is a speaker, author, empathy strategist, and host of The Empathy Edge podcast, now in its sixth year. She believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™, and has spent decades helping leaders balance empathy with accountability to drive better results, stronger teams, and lasting impact. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning The Empathy Dilemma, a Forbes.com contributor on Workplace Empathy, and creator of two LinkedIn Learning empathy courses. About Rob Volpe: Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries. Connect with Rob Volpe: Website: robvolpe.expert Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
https://retreat.therisingmastermind.com/ | |||
| Aubrey Morgan Yee: Radical Collaboration to Create Alternate Futures | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:46:43 | |
What if the future of leadership isn’t about scaling faster or competing harder, but about finding empathy and remembering what it truly means to be human? Aubrey Morgan Yee invites us into a radically different way of thinking about leadership, collaboration, and the futures we’re actively creating. She is a cultural strategist, narrative practitioner, and empathy-centered futurist whose work bridges emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and Indigenous wisdom. After experiencing profound personal collapse, Aubrey rebuilt her life around empathy, presence, and purpose. That lived experience now informs her work with leaders and changemakers seeking to grow their impact without losing their humanity. We explore the idea of radical collaboration rooted in Indigenous frameworks that teach us new ways of understanding time, trust, leadership, and technology. We also talk about alternative and preferred futures, and how imagination is not a luxury but a leadership responsibility. Aubrey shares what her personal collapse taught her about empathetic leadership, how emotional presence and cultural storytelling shape resilient organizations, and why the stories we choose to live by can either limit us or unlock entirely new realities. This is a conversation for leaders ready to question old myths, collaborate rather than compete, and help build futures that are not just more effective but more humane. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title. Listen in for…
"’Indigenous mind’ is just a way of being. It's a very grounded understanding that there are ways of thinking about what it means to be human, what it means to be a leader, what it means to be in business." — Aubrey Morgan Yee Episode References: The Empathy Edge:
About Aubrey Morgan Yee, Ph.D, Indigenous Politics and Alternative Futures: Aubrey Morgan Yee is a cultural strategist, narrative practitioner, and empathy-centered futurist with a PhD in Indigenous Politics and Alternative Futures. After overcoming alcoholism and burnout, Aubrey rebuilt her life around empathy, presence, and purpose—now guiding others to do the same. Her work bridges emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and Indigenous wisdom to support leaders and changemakers in building more compassionate, regenerative futures. She’s led cultural transformation initiatives for organizations like Culture Hack Labs and Project Biome, founded the rewilding sanctuary Hokuao Farm & Temple on O‘ahu, and hosts the Beloved Futures podcast. Her book, Our Beloved Futures, is a call to reimagine what it means to be fully human, to face and metabolize the toxic systems of modernity. Aubrey brings a rare blend of vulnerability, strategy, and deep presence—offering practical insights for leaders seeking to grow their impact without losing their humanity. Connect with Aubrey: Our Beloved Futures: ourbelovedfutures.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aubrey-yee-phd-110153186 Instagram: instagram.com/aubrey.morgan.yee Beloved Futures: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beloved-futures/id1681375129 Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| What Does It Mean to Be Human? Ep 1: The Aware Animal | 02 Jul 2026 | 00:46:15 | |
In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries here on The Empathy Edge. What does it mean to be aware that you exist? In this first episode of the What Does It Mean to Be Human? subseries, Maria Ross and Rob Volpe dig into one of the most profound and surprisingly unsettled questions in science and philosophy: what makes human consciousness distinct from every other species on the planet — and why does that question matter more urgently now than ever before? From the evolutionary leap of the prefrontal cortex, to Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey's field evidence of chimp and gorilla emotional lives, to Michael Pollan's exploration of "the hard problem" of consciousness, Maria and Rob explore the idea that humans aren't running a different program than other animals — we're running a souped-up version of largely the same one. And yet something tipped. Something made us capable of recursive self-awareness: knowing that we exist, wondering why, and imagining how others see us. What was that tipping point? And can any technology ever cross it? To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. "People interact with AI as though there is a human behind it, because it communicates, and I think that's part of the danger that we're running into." — Rob Volpe Episode References:
About Rob Volpe: Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and lives in San Francisco with his husband and 3 cats. Learn more at his website: www.robvolpe.expert or follow on Instagram: @Empathy_Activist. Connect with Rob Volpe: Website: robvolpe.expert Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Moshe Engelberg: Leading with Love Leads to Success | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:41:54 | |
What if I told you that the most powerful force in business isn’t strategy, innovation, or tech: it’s love? Every great leader you admire already practices it. They might call it something else: respect, compassion, trust, purpose. Yet, underneath it all, it’s love, the energy that connects us, motivates us, and reminds us we’re human first. Today’s guest, author, executive leadership coach, and international speaker, Dr. Moshe Engelberg, has spent nearly three decades helping organizations and leaders rethink what it means to lead with love as a strategic advantage. His work, grounded in behavioral science and wisdom traditions, shows how love drives engagement, loyalty, innovation, resilience, and how it goes hand-in-hand with empathy. In our conversation, Moshe and I dig into what “love” really means in a business context and how you can model it without getting side-eyed in the boardroom. We talk about why culture is designed to resist change and what to do about it, the ABC model of The Amare Wave, and how to unify your team around a shared vision with more confidence, compassion, and clarity. If the word love makes you a little uncomfortable, lean in closer. Because discomfort is usually where growth and better leadership begin. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Culture is designed not to change. That's its purpose, is to offer stability, certainty, and predictability. So, it's hard to change, and when we find tools that work that are usually behaviorally oriented, it can be profound for an organization." — Moshe Engelberg
Episode References:
About Moshe Engelberg, Author, Executive Leadership Coach, International Speaker: Dr. Engelberg inspires businesses worldwide to think differently, act courageously, and lead with love. His work blends applied behavioral science with diverse wisdom traditions, refined through nearly three decades of consulting with world-class organizations across healthcare, technology, government, nonprofits, foundations, and start-ups. A teacher at heart, Moshe helps others uncover the knowledge and truth within themselves. He holds a PhD in Communication from Stanford University, master’s degrees in Psychology and Public Health, has published numerous research papers, taught executive and graduate-level courses, and is known as a speaker for his innovative thinking, open heart, dry wit, and practical leadership tools. He is also the author of *The Amare Wave: Uplift Your Business By Putting Love to Work*, a weekly leadership newsletter, and more than 150 articles published in *INC. Magazine*. Connect with Moshe: Amare Leadership: amareleadership.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mosheengelberg Facebook: facebook.com/MosheEngelbergAuthor Instagram: instagram.com/mosheengelberg YouTube: youtube.com/@mosheengelbergauthor9276
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Terri Givens: Reckoning: Creating Positive Change through Radical Empathy | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:52:11 | |
Join this deep conversation about what empathy really looks like in our institutions, our communities, and our leadership—especially at a time when empathy feels both urgent and under pressure. Dr. Terri Givens has been doing this work long before it became a headline or a corporate initiative. Terri is a Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia, and from 2021 to 2024, she served as the Provost’s Advisor on the Strategy to Address Anti-Black Racism at McGill University. She is the former CEO of the Center for Higher Education Leadership and has partnered with colleges, universities, and ed-tech companies to drive innovation, equity, and excellence in higher education. Terri is the author of the new book, Reckoning: Creating Positive Change through Radical Empathy, as well as her past book, Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides. Her new book takes her work even further into how individuals and institutions can confront history and move toward meaningful change. Terri shares stories of early work at IBM, Intel, and L’Oréal Canada that both strengthened culture and moved the bottom line. She also speaks about her collaboration with the Menlo Park Police Department, where empathy became a practical tool for healing divides, improving communication, and synthesizing multiple perspectives across the city council, police, and the community. Terri shows us that empathy isn’t a buzzword, a trend, or a “nice to have” in today’s polarized world—it’s a leadership competency, a community-building tool, and a catalyst for true connection and accountability. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Creating a brave and safe space was really important so that we weren't just attacking what the police were doing. It had to be an environment where we were trying to uplift rather than tear down." — Terri Givens
Episode References:
About Terri Givens, Professor and Author of Reckoning and Radical Empathy: Terri Givens is a Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She was the Provost’s Advisor on the Strategy to Address Anti-Black Racism at McGill University from 2021 to 2024. She is formerly the CEO of the Center for Higher Education Leadership and has worked with a variety of colleges, universities, and ed tech companies on issues related to innovation and excellence in higher education. As the author of the new book Reckoning and the past book Radical Empathy, she is a sought-after consultant and speaker on issues related to leadership and inclusion. She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, politics, international affairs, and nonprofits. She is an accomplished speaker and uses her platform to develop leaders with an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion, while encouraging personal growth through empathy. Connect with Terri: Givens Consulting: terrigivens.com Book: Reckoning: terrigivens.com/reckoning LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/terrigivens Facebook: facebook.com/Terri.Givens64 Instagram: @tgivens64
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Meghan French Dunbar: Work Isn't Working for Anyone Right Now | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:57:38 | |
If work feels harder than it should—more exhausting, more fragmented, more misaligned—it’s probably not because people are failing. It’s because the system is. Meghan French Dunbar has spent her career studying organizations like an anthropologist, looking beneath policies, perks, and performance metrics to understand why modern work so often isn’t working for the humans inside it. Meghan is a workplace strategist, speaker, entrepreneur, and the author of the bestselling book This Isn’t Working, which explores how working women (and men) and the organizations they lead can move beyond stress, guilt, and overload toward a more sustainable definition of success. Her work has reached more than a million people worldwide. We dive into some of the juiciest insights from her book. We talk about why empathy isn’t a “feminine” skill- or a soft one - and how the same patriarchal systems that burn out women also do irreparable harm to men. We unpack the difference between sacrificial leadership and sustainable leadership, and why research shows that holistic leadership - where performance and well-being aren’t at odds - is actually the most effective way to lead. Meghan also shares the most powerful things leaders can do to access healthy leadership traits like empathy - and how empathy enables more customizable workplaces that truly engage younger generations. This is a conversation about redesigning work, so it actually works for people and for business. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Autonomy, having control and agency in your life, is one of our core intrinsic motivators, and when you strip it from people, it's one of the primary causes of chronic stress and burnout." — Meghan French Dunbar
Episode References: About Meghan French Dunbar: Workplace Strategist, Speaker, Author, This Isn't Working Meghan French Dunbar is a “business anthropologist” who studies organizations to find solutions that improve work for everyone. As an author, entrepreneur, workplace strategist, and speaker, her work has touched the lives of over a million people worldwide. She's the author of the best-selling This Isn’t Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success. Meghan co-founded the first nationally distributed print magazine in the U.S., focusing on impact-driven business, Conscious Company Magazine, where she interviewed more than 1,000 business leaders worldwide. As a leadership and workplace strategist, she works with leadership teams at companies like Coach, Kate Spade, Leonard Green, Charter Next Generation, and more while writing for outlets like Forbes, Fast Company, and Inc. about her key insights. Connect with Meghan French Dunbar Website: meghanfrenchdunbar.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meghanfrenchdunbar Instagram: instagram.com/meghanfrenchdunbar Substack: meghanfrenchdunbar.substack.com Book: This Isn't Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success: https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-isn-t-working-how-working-women-can-overcome-stress-guilt-and-overload-to-find-true-success-meghan-french-dunbar/3775a58ced9d08f8
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Robert Coleman, Ph.D: Only 14% Get Empathy Training — and It's Costing You Everything | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:38:14 | |
The data proving empathy is smart business has always been there, it's all we talk about here - but now it's bigger, broader, and more impossible to ignore than ever. Dr. Robert Coleman is Director of Research and Thought Leadership at Dale Carnegie and Associates, where he leads ongoing research into the issues facing leaders, employees, and organizations worldwide. He comes bearing serious receipts in the form of Dale Carnegie's white paper, The Power of Empathy: A Key Soft Skill for the Future of Work. Now in its third consecutive year of global research with roughly 4,000 respondents. This isn't a one-off survey. This is an ongoing comparative study that is building an airtight case for empathy as a core business strategy. Robert walks us through what the data actually shows - and it is compelling. Employees in high-empathy workplaces dramatically outperform those in low-empathy ones on retention, satisfaction, and goal achievement. Teams in high-empathy organizations are significantly more likely to meet and exceed their targets. And here's the stat that stopped me cold: only 14% of employees say they've received training specifically focused on empathy, despite its proven link to performance and retention. Not because employees don't want it, they are craving it. It's the interpersonal skills they know matter most. And yet companies continue to underinvest. We dive deep into the data together and then pull back out to make sense of what it means for your organization and why you need to pay attention right now. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Without empathy, emotional intelligence loses its effectiveness, because empathy makes it actionable. It's how people experience it, and it is that action piece that transforms emotional awareness into those meaningful leadership outcomes that people are looking for." — Robert Coleman, Ph.D About Robert Coleman, Ph.D., Director of Research and Thought Leadership, Dale Carnegie Robert A. Coleman, Ph.D., is the director of research and thought leadership for Dale Carnegie and Associates, where he is responsible for ongoing research into current issues facing leaders, employees, and organizations worldwide. Connect with Robert: Dale Carnegie & Associates: dalecarnegie.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robertcoleman5 Dale Carnegie White Paper: The Power of Empathy: A Key Soft Skill for the Future of Work: https://www.dalecarnegie.com/en/state-of-organizational-health
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| Mitch Shepard: Unfiltered! The Leadership Gender "Rules” That Hurt EVERYONE | 02 Jun 2026 | 01:10:48 | |
What if the biggest thing holding leaders back isn’t a lack of ambition or skilL but outdated operating systems we’ve never questioned? Mitch Shepard lives at the intersection of truth-telling, leadership, and systems change. She’s an Applied Behavioral Scientist, Chief Truth Teller, and CEO of HUMiN, Inc., and a trusted advisor to leaders at some of the world’s most influential companies. In this unfiltered conversation, the throughline is clear: we must all embrace authentic leadership, equity, and courage to be fully human at work and in life. This is a bold, honest, and expansive conversation about legacy. How leaders can do truly great work by creating equity, telling the truth, and inviting men and women alike to bring all of who they are so we can solve hard problems together. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"If you observe environments, it turns out men really are more likely to have the masculine traits in excess or higher quantities, women are more likely to have feminine ones. But this is where the narrative has to shift. None of us are off the hook on learning ALL the skills." — Mitch Shepard
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge:
About Mitch Shepard: Chief Truth Teller and CEO, HUMiN, Inc. Mitch Shepard is an Applied Behavioral Scientist and trusted advisor to some of the world’s top leaders. She began her career leading wilderness expeditions through the rivers, canyons, and peaks of Utah and Colorado, guiding teams to achieve bold goals in unpredictable environments. That foundation, combined with a formal education in Economics and Behavioral Science, prepared Mitch for two decades navigating the equally wild terrain of corporate America. She has since built three companies and coached hundreds of leaders across tech and biotech - from scrappy startups to the Fortune 500. Mitch is known for her candor, warmth, truth-telling, and sharp strategic mind. She is also an author, mama, wife, sought-after speaker, cancer ass-kicker, social justice warrior—and passionate global citizen. Mitch’s first book, Lessons From My Daughter, will explore the generational updating of our operating systems from one generation of women to the next. Connect with Mitch: HUMiN Inc: humininc.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitchshepard Facebook: facebook.com/mitch.loomisshepard Instagram: instagram.com/mitchshepard
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| David Grossman: Why "Good Enough" Leadership Is Your Biggest Risk | 26 May 2026 | 00:40:08 | |
Most leaders think they're doing fine. Their teams think otherwise. And that gap - hiding in plain sight across organizations everywhere - is exactly what my guest today has spent his career trying to close. David Grossman is one of America's foremost authorities on leadership and change communication inside organizations. He's a six-time author, and his latest book is The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: 6 Differentiators of Exceptional Leaders. David shares findings from a survey he conducted in partnership with Harris Poll to find out what 2,200 employed Americans thought of their leaders and what they revealed about the dangerous gap between how leaders see themselves and how their teams actually experience them. We get into the three gaps preventing good leaders from becoming exceptional, why the poker face problem is quietly undermining your credibility and connection, and why David pushes back on calling empathy a soft skill. He makes the case that empathy is actually an intelligence system, and we discuss why exceptional leaders blend both heart and head skills, how vulnerability builds trust in ways nothing else can, and that the most important leadership skill might be learning to hear what people aren't saying out loud. If you think you're a pretty good leader, this conversation is going to reveal how you can be an exceptional one. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Part of our responsibility as leaders is to help create stability for our folks. We create that stability by being predictable, by leveraging these all-important heart skills as a means to get to results. I want to ensure leaders hear the need for balance between strategic thinking and empathy, or EQ - this is not an either/or proposition." — David Grossman
About David Grossman, Founder and CEO, Author, The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: David Grossman is one of America's foremost authorities on leadership and change communication inside organizations. An award-winning author, keynote speaker, and trusted executive coach to the C-suite, he also advises academic institutions, offering guidance on curriculum and programs. David is the founder and CEO of The Grossman Group. A media source for his expert commentary and analysis on employee and leadership issues, David has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Sun Times, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Newsweek, the World Economic Forum, Directors & Boards, and CBS MoneyWatch, among many others. David is a six-time author, and his latest book, The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: 6 Differentiators of Exceptional Leaders, is an Amazon Best Seller in Communication, Leadership & Motivation, Workplace & Culture, and Business Culture. Connect with David: The Grossman Group: yourthoughtpartner.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidgrossmanaprabc Get the book! The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: 6 Differentiators of Exceptional Leaders: www.thegrossmangroup.co/edge
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. Jay Jakub: Economic Mutuality and the Empathy of Purpose | 19 May 2026 | 00:41:54 | |
What if business wasn’t just about profit, but about creating mutual value across stakeholders and communities that would actually DRIVE more profit? That’s the question driving today’s guest, Dr. Jay Jakub. Jay is the Executive Director of the Economics of Mutuality Foundation. Jay is no stranger to transforming big ideas into practice. He spent years as Senior Director of External Research at Mars, Inc., has taught in business schools around the world, and is an international speaker and author. We dig into the Economics of Mutuality, how stakeholder capitalism differs from shareholder capitalism, and why purpose is so essential to mutual value creation. Jay shares amazing real-world examples of how this approach produces impressive ROI. We talk about what it takes for leaders to embrace new KPIs to include social and human capital, how to convince allies inside your organization, and how empathetic leadership plays a critical role in reimagining business as a platform to tackle society’s biggest challenges while still generating healthy profit. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"We're trying to remove the perceived trade-off of doing some good, but always at a cost to profit, and demonstrating that you can actually create more profit and growth by solving problems than you can by creating them to…profit for yourself." — Dr. Jay Jakub References:
The Empathy Edge:
About Dr. Jay Jakub, Executive Director, Economics of Mutuality (EoM) Foundation: Dr. Jay Jakub is the Executive Director of the Economics of Mutuality Foundation, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. He also serves as Chief of Staff for the EoM Alliance’s Mutual Value Labs consultancy and for its Mutual Value Investments PE company. Jay is on the Boards of Doma-Livanta, a healthcare advocacy and IT company based in Virginia Beach, and the Human Flourishing Foundation in Switzerland. He is a Board advisor for the Thompson Family Office in Richmond, Virginia, that is seeking to build a smart city between Washington, DC, and Richmond, and for Eagle Ventures, which invests in technology to defeat human trafficking, with offices in Fort Worth, Zurich, and Singapore. Jay also advises the Singapore government’s Alliance for Action on Corporate Purpose. He is an international speaker, a business school professor, an author, and a former Senior Director of External Research at Mars, Inc. Jay is the co-author of Completing Capitalism: Heal Business to Heal the World, and is a contributing co-author of Putting Purpose into Practice: The Economics of Mutuality. His doctorate is from Oxford University, St. John’s College. Connect with Jay: Economics of Mutuality Alliance: eom.org LinkedIn: Jay Jakub
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. David Bray: From Bioterrorism to AI — Why Empathy Is Your Best Strategy in a Chaotic World | 12 May 2026 | 00:41:05 | |
Dr. David Bray is one of those rare humans who has done so much, across so many high-stakes arenas, that his bio almost reads like fiction. David is Chair of the Accelerator at the Loomis Council and a Distinguished Fellow with the Stimson Center. He is a Principal at LeadDoAdapt Ventures, and was previously the Executive Director of a bipartisan National Commission on R&D. At 15 years old, he got a job offer from the U.S. government after he built a program to track the ozone layer's deterioration - you'll hear more of that crazy story. And his non-partisan, solutions-first DNA? It wasn't an accident — it was baked in from childhood. Dr. Bray helps leaders and organizations understand how geopolitics shapes technology and how technology reshapes geopolitics. Because in today's world, you simply cannot understand one without the other.And why government should NOT be run as a business. We cover a lot of ground, all with a bent toward how empathy and collaboration across diverse points of view lead to more creative solutions. If you care about where technology, humanity, and democracy are headed, and how empathetic leadership just might save all three, listen in. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"When humans feel stressed, doomsdayism becomes almost a fad, and I think it's more symbolic of that than it is the reality of the situation." — Dr. David Bray References: The Empathy Edge: About Dr. David Bray, Chair of the Accelerator, Stimson Center, and Principal, LeadDoAdapt Ventures: Dr. David A. Bray is Chair of the Accelerator at the Loomis Council and a Distinguished Fellow with the Stimson Center. He is also a non-resident Distinguished Fellow with the Business Executives for National Security, and a CEO and transformation leader for different “under the radar” tech and data ventures seeking to get started in novel situations. He is Principal at LeadDoAdapt Ventures and has served in a variety of leadership roles in turbulent environments, including bioterrorism preparedness and response from 2000 to 2005. Dr. Bray previously was the Executive Director for a bipartisan National Commission on R&D, provided non-partisan leadership as a federal agency Senior Executive, worked with the U.S. Navy and Marines on improving organizational adaptability, and aided the U.S. Special Operations Command’s J5 Directorate on the challenges of countering disinformation online. He has received both the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal. Business Insider named him one of the top “24 Americans Who Are Changing the World” under 40, and he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. For twelve different startups, he has served in President, CEO, Chief Strategy Officer, and Strategic Advisor roles. Connect with David: Stimson Center: stimson.org/ppl/david-bray LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dbray More from David: cxotalk.com/bio/dr-david-a-bray-distinguished-chair-of-the-accelerator-stimson-center
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Brandon Peele: What America's 250th Birthday Is Really Asking of Us | 07 May 2026 | 00:39:01 | |
America is about to turn 250 years old. My guest today believes this moment is asking something from all of us. Not a celebration or parade, but a reckoning, a chance to find our way back to each other. Brandon Peele is a bestselling author of 6 books on purpose and civic leadership, is Executive Director of the National Pilgrimage, and a trusted keynote speaker and consultant. His work sits at the intersection of purpose, democracy, and what it means to be a nation. On June 9th, 2026, a caravan of diverse Americans will set out on the National Pilgrimage — driving through the heart of this nation, sitting with people along the way, and asking the questions our political system never asks: What values should guide us? What would it take for this to be a great place for all of us to raise children? What kind of country do we want to leave for the next generation? The journey culminates in the National Assembly — a virtual gathering open to everyone on July 6th and 7th, 2026, from 5 to 8 pm PDT, where your voice will be heard and counted. Six storytellers will then travel to Chicago, and on July 9th — the anniversary of the 14th Amendment — they will read aloud a new national covenant. PBS documentarians are capturing every mile. You'll learn more details and how to get involved. We discuss why empathy is the core mechanism of e pluribus unum — out of many, one — and why, just like any organization, we need a shared moral vision to know where we're going and who we want to be. Brandon shares the three layers of democracy and why our nation's problems are as much moral, psychological, and spiritual as they are political. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"This is not about politics. This is about a shared moral vision that includes all of us, and so I don't care how you voted or if you voted. I don't care how you make love. I don't care how much melanin is in your skin. You're an American, and you belong in this conversation." — Brandon Peele
References: The Empathy Edge:
About Brandon Peele: Executive Director, National Pilgrimage Brandon Peele is a best-selling author and the Executive Director of the National Pilgrimage. He's trusted as a keynote speaker, consultant, and program leader by organizations such as Google, Harvard Business School, Johnson & Johnson, Stanford University, JDRF, Morgan Stanley, U.S. Marine Corps, YPO, University of California - Berkeley, Vistage, Forum for Workplace Inclusion, LinkedIn, the U.S. Navy, Slalom Consulting, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the University of Minnesota. He is the author of Bison Medicine (2025), Purpose Work Nation (2022), The Purpose Field Guide (2019), and Planet on Purpose (2018), and co-author of Purpose Rising (2017) and The Purpose Blueprint (2015). His work has been featured by news organizations such as USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, the US Business Journal, and Forbes. Connect with Brandon: Brandon Peele: nationalpilgrimage.us LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bpeele Instagram: instagram.com/natnlpilgrimage The National Pilgrimage and Assembly: chuffed.org/project/nationalpilgrimage Synanim (platform enabling the Assembly’s virtual collaboration): synanim.com Connect with Maria: Books: Red-Slice.com/books Speaking: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Ceallaigh Smart: The Power of Being Seen | 05 May 2026 | 00:44:35 | |
The power of being seen can change everything. We see it in the workplace and in our world. And one way to strengthen empathy and build that connection is through photography. A single photograph—placed in someone’s hands—can affirm dignity, spark connection, and grow empathy on both sides of the lens. That’s the heartbeat of Print the Love, the nonprofit founded 15 years ago by today’s guest, Ceallaigh Smart. We explore how photography creates empathy, how international travel to under-resourced communities expands perspective, why giving back in any capacity is healing, and how ethical photography and storytelling train our empathy muscle—through permission, protection, and honoring people’s stories. Ceallaigh also shares a vulnerable personal journey of healing that led to her love of global travel and a desire to serve. That’s the power of being seen. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"I want to live in a world where a stranger says, ‘You are beautiful today, no matter what, and here's a memory for you and your family to keep for a long time to bring you joy." — Ceallaigh Smart Episode References:
The Empathy Edge podcast episodes:
About Ceallaigh Smart, Executive Director, Print the Love: Ceallaigh (pronounced Kelly) founded Print the Love in 2015 and has worked in nonprofits for over 20 years. In addition to her work at Print the Love, Ceallaigh is the Executive Director of Haiti Outreach. With a background and education in Arts Administration (MA), Experiential/Adventure Education and Art Therapy (BA), and Colorado Outward Bound Alum, Ceallaigh brings a unique depth of leadership experiences and knowledge to the international NGO space. She is passionate about humanitarianism, international travel, narcissistic abuse recovery, Jesus, peace activism, running, the arts, self-care, the outdoors, social justice, fighting for the oppressed, crushing the patriarchy, and finding an awesome new keto dessert or mocktail recipe. She currently lives in Minneapolis with her husband, rescue pup, and two amazing teens. Connect with Ceallaigh: Print the Love: printthelove.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ceallaighsmart Facebook: facebook.com/printthelove Instagram: instagram.com/printtheloveorg
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. Jaime Goff: How Secure Leaders Rewrite Unhelpful Stories to Find Success | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:45:27 | |
What are the hidden, unconscious forces that shape how we lead—why we react the way we do, why some situations knock us off center, and how we can build the internal security to lead with more empathy, clarity, and connection? My guest, Dr. Jaime Goff, is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and founder of The Empathic Leader, where she now works full-time helping leaders “lead from security, not fear.” With a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy and two decades in organizational leadership, Jaime translates attachment theory, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence into practical tools leaders can use immediately. Her new book, The Secure Leader, helps readers uncover the narratives shaping their leadership, regulate under pressure, and create environments where their teams can thrive. We dig into why our brains love stories, and how those stories can limit us, what to do when leaders can’t see their own unhelpful narratives, why adaptive challenges can’t be solved with technical solutions, and the essential first step to emotionally regulate in today’s turbulent world. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"You end up stifling the growth and development of your team because you're holding on to so much control that you don't let go of the reins and you don't empower them. You don't let them experiment, innovate, learn, and grow.” — Dr. Jaime Goff
Episode References:
About Jaime Goff, PhD, Founder, The Empathic Leader, and Author of The Secure Leader: Dr. Jaime Goff is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and founder of The Empathic Leader, where she now works full-time helping leaders “lead from security, not fear.” She previously served as Director of Leadership Development at CHRISTUS Health, designing programs for more than 45,000 associates, and she brings a powerful blend of research and real-world experience to her work. With a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy and two decades in organizational leadership, Jaime translates attachment theory, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence into practical tools leaders can use immediately. Her new book, The Secure Leader, helps readers rewrite unhelpful narratives shaping their leadership, regulate under pressure, and create environments where their teams can thrive. Whether delivering a keynote, facilitating workshops, or engaging in one-on-one coaching, Jaime is known for weaving research with relatable stories to spark insight and lasting behavior change. Connect with Jaime: The Empathic Leader, LLC: drjaimegoff.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjaimegoff Instagram: instagram.com/dr_jaimegoff Book: The Secure Leader by Dr. Jaime Goff
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Kevin Perlmutter: Sparking Brand Desire with Empathy | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:49:34 | |
Do you know that customers who are highly emotionally connected to your brand are 53% more loyal than those who are merely satisfied with your products and services? Today I’m talking with Kevin Perlmutter. We explore why traditional brand strategies often miss the mark, how branding has evolved beyond surface-level connections, and Kevin’s concept of Limbic Sparks—those moments when emotional motivation meets brand desire. You’ll learn the three steps to spark brand desire and how even B2B brands can connect emotionally. Kevin shares why talking directly to customers beats cold data alone and staying in the thick of the details will make you more successful than just relying on AI. And we chat about marketing ethics and the crucial difference between being a customer habit versus gaining their loyalty. Finally, Kevin shares the one big lesson he wants every leader to take away from his book. We could have talked forever about one of my favorite topics, so enjoy the insights and take a listen! To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Limbic sparks are what you feel when emotional motivation meets brand desire. It's that moment when you encounter a brand, and it feels like it was designed with you in mind." — Kevin Perlmutter Episode References:
About Kevin Perlmutter, Chief Strategist & Founder, Limbic Brand Evolution: Kevin Perlmutter is Chief Strategist and Founder of Limbic Brand Evolution, a brand strategy and neuromarketing consultancy that puts emotional insight at the center of how brands attract and retain customers. He is also the Author of BRAND DESIRE: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights. Based near New York City, he works with business and brand leaders to create stronger connections between their brand and the people they want to reach – as a consultant, speaker, and workshop facilitator – to guide the development of more effective methods for brand evolution and customer engagement. Connect with Kevin Perlmutter: Limbic Brand Evolution: https://www.limbicbrandevolution.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinperlmutter/ Book: BRAND DESIRE: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights www.BrandDesireBook.com
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ | |||
| April Hot Take: How to Practice, Prove, and Hire for Empathy in the Age of AI | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:24:47 | |
How do you actually practice empathy? How do you prove you have it — to employers, to clients, to the people you lead? And if you're building a team, how do you hire for it? Because here's the uncomfortable truth: most of us can't answer any of those questions well. And in the age of AI, that gap is getting more expensive by the minute. In this episode, Maria answers these questions as she discusses the importance of empathy in the age of AI, citing data from studies showing its impact on loyalty, efficiency, and job satisfaction. She dives into actionable steps you can take to hire empathetic leaders, gives practical tips for practicing empathy (and stresses the importance of practicing empathy under real pressure, in real-time situations), and discusses the need for better tools to develop, measure, and verify empathy as AI is accelerating. Finally, she invites everyone to learn more about and register for the upcoming Synanim FlexEmpathy event at flexempathy.com. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Empathy is not soft. It's not optional, and in the age of AI, where human connection is simultaneously more scarce and more valuable than ever. It's your most important competitive advantage." — Maria Ross Episode References:
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. Joel Pérez: Becoming an Exceptional Leader Through Cultural Humility | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:44:01 | |
Teams today are more diverse than ever—and within that diversity lies the potential to unlock innovation, performance, and belonging. But only if leaders practice cultural humility. It’s not just about competence or checking boxes; it’s about fostering safety, trust, and transformation. Dr. Joel Pérez equips leaders to navigate today’s instability with empathy and authenticity. He has partnered for decades with national nonprofits, corporations, and higher education institutions to deliver keynotes, workshops, and strategic consulting that inspire action and lasting change. In this conversation, we unpack what cultural humility really means, how leaders can move beyond cultural competence, how cultural humility can help you navigate the instability of today's market and world, why he wrote Dear White Leader, and how organizations can leverage diversity to create lasting impact and stronger results. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Cultural humility allows you to navigate the complexity that comes with developing organizations with a strong sense of belonging and psychological safety." — Dr. Joel Pérez
Episode References:
About Dr. Joel Pérez, Executive Coach and Author of Dear White Leader: Dr. Joel Pérez is an executive and leadership coach, speaker, and consultant who helps leaders and organizations create inclusive cultures through the practice of cultural humility. As founder of Apoyo Coaching and Consulting, LLC and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), he specializes in identity-conscious leadership, career transitions, and DEIB strategy. A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, Joel draws on more than 20+ years of leadership experience in higher education to guide clients through meaningful transformation. He is the author of Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility, which received the Silver Medal for Best New Voice – Nonfiction from the Independent Book Publishers Association. Joel has partnered with national nonprofits, corporations, and higher education institutions to deliver keynotes, workshops, and strategic consulting that inspire action and lasting change. His work moves organizations toward creating a sense of belonging and the psychological safety to meet their goals. Joel holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Claremont Graduate University. Outside of work, he enjoys life with his wife of over 28 years, their four children, cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers, and watching movies. Connect with Dr. Joel Pérez: Apoyo Coaching and Consulting: apoyocoaching.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelperezphd Instagram: apoyocoaching01
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Ashley Jones: How to Courageously Lead and Support Through Grief | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:43:38 | |
Some conversations linger long after the recording stops; the conversations that deepen your humanity and reshape how you think about leadership. This episode is one of those conversations. Ashley Jones knows grief in its most devastating form. When her daughter Skylar died from a terminal illness just before her second birthday, Ashley was thrust into a darkness no parent should ever face. But through that unimaginable loss, she discovered a calling: helping people heal in grief. Today, Ashley shares her personal story and what her healing journey revealed about grace, resilience, and the power of community. We discuss the four survival reactions to trauma - fight, flight, freeze, and fawn - and how these can manifest. We also dive into the relationship between trauma and grief and how leaders can support those around them during these times. Trigger warning: In this episode, we both talk about experiences with sexual assault. Ashley shared incredibly valuable tips and resources to help you become a more trauma-informed leader and support your team to their fullest potential. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"It's really about choosing love regardless of the situation, regardless of the people involved. To show up and say, ‘What is the best way I can love myself and others right now in this moment?’" — Ashley Jones
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge:
About Ashley Jones, Founder, Momento Foundation: Ashley was thrust into the depths of grief when her daughter, Skylar, died from a terminal illness just before her 2nd birthday. Her unique experience through darkness and healing led her to create the Momento Foundation (formerly Love Not Lost), a nonprofit on a mission to help people heal in grief. Known for creating innovative tools, new resources, and meaningful solutions for navigating grief, Ashley provides individuals and organizations with tangible help to better support themselves and each other through trauma and loss. She’s a sought-after TEDx & keynote speaker, author, and passionate plant mom. Connect with Ashley: Momento Foundation: momentofoundation.org Author Site: www.ashleynicolejones.com Book: When You Can't See the Light LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleynicolejones Facebook: facebook.com/momentofoundation Instagram: instagram.com/momentofoundation Momento Community: momento. impact.app
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Conny Kalcher: How Zurich is Making Empathy Pay Off by Closing the Gap | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:47:12 | |
For years, empathy was treated as a business nice-to-have—important, but secondary to speed, scale, and efficiency. The data now tells a very different story. In this conversation, Maria and Conny, the Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group, dive into Zurich’s new global study, Addressing the Empathy Gap, which surveyed more than 11,000 consumers across 11 markets. The findings are striking: 79% of consumers say empathy matters more than any other factor, and 43% have left a brand due to a lack of empathy. This isn’t theoretical; it’s revenue walking out the door. Conny shares how Zurich is closing that gap by treating empathy as a learnable skill. She shares practical first steps organizations can take, starting right where they are. We also explore Zurich’s philosophy of AI with a human touch - using technology to augment human connection, not replace it. This is a conversation about moving from transactional payer to trusted partner—and why, in an industry ripe for disruption, empathy is quickly becoming a competitive advantage. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"We started out with the starting point that empathy can be taught, and if people get the right tools, they will also do the right thing. So we can de-learn practices you've had over the years, and you can bring new aspects into them." — Conny Kalcher
Episode References:
About Conny Kalcher: Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group: Conny Kalcher is Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group and a global leader in customer experience with a reputation for embedding empathy into business strategy to drive long-term business success. She is a founding partner of the Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Loyalty Forum with more than three decades of experience from senior roles at LEGO and consultancy work at Mindfolio. Connect with Conny: Zurich Insurance Group: zurich.com LinkedIn: ch.linkedin.com/in/conny-kalcher-198ba5 Company LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/zurich-insurance-company-ltd
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Claude Silver: Be Yourself at Work for the Ultimate Leadership Advantage | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:58:17 | |
Too many leaders are still trying to succeed by becoming someone they think they’re supposed to be—quieter, tougher, more polished, less human. And in the process, they’re leaving their greatest strengths at the door. My guest believes that’s exactly backward. Today, we welcome back Claude Silver to discuss her latest book, Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. We explore what authentic presence really looks like at work, and why pretending to be a different kind of leader rarely gets better results. Claude and I unpack why many leaders have accountability backwards, why the more power you gain, the less truth you often hear, and how being open and emotionally present doesn’t weaken communication but rather prevents under-communicating with your team. Finally, Claude offers us a simple, actionable practice you can use right away to take a small step and rebuild trust and connection where it matters most. This is a conversation with one of my favorite humans on the planet about stopping the performance of leadership—and starting to lead from the strengths that made you worth hiring in the first place. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"When a person is real, they are not carrying the burden or the weight of any other facade." — Claude Silver About Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer, VaynerX, and Author of Be Yourself at Work: Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, partnering with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. Silver has earned Campaign US's Female Frontier Award and AdWeek's Changing the Game Award, and she electrifies audiences at national and international conferences, as well as at organizations including Meta, Google, US Government agencies, and the US Armed Forces. She has been interviewed on dozens of podcasts and featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. Silver lives in New Jersey with her wife and two young children. She is the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. Connect with Claude: Website: claudesilver.com VaynerX: beyourselfbook.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/casilver Instagram: instagram.com/claudesilver
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Dr. Claire Yorke: Can Empathy Fix Broken Politics? | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:47:47 | |
It’s easy right now to believe that the divisions we see are simply too deep to repair. That empathy has become a liability. That listening has been replaced by winning. And yet, I still believe, perhaps more than ever, that empathy remains our greatest tool for healing even the most jagged fractures in our world, not as a naïve ideal, but as a courageous, strategic choice. And that choice has the power to transform entire systems. My guest today, Dr. Claire Yorke, has devoted her career to studying exactly that possibility. We explore what empathy in politics actually looks like, why empathy is essential for effective leadership, the challenges empathetic leaders face in polarized environments, and why we can’t simply wait for more empathetic political leaders to emerge. We also talk about hope. Not passive hope, but participatory hope. The kind that invites each of us - as citizens, leaders, and humans - to model empathy, practice deeper listening, and engage in shaping healthier political cultures, whether through community dialogue, civic participation, or simply choosing curiosity over certainty. This is a conversation about what’s possible when we choose empathy, not as an escape from reality, but as a path forward through it. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"We need to change our politics. So it's much more about building relationships, building that sense of connectedness, both between politicians and the public, between citizens and their communities, and seeing this as an ecosystem." — Dr. Claire Yorke
References:
The Empathy Edge:
About Dr. Claire Yorke, Senior Lecturer at Deakin University, Author of Empathy in Politics and Leadership: The Key to Transforming our World: Dr. Claire Yorke is an author and academic. Her work focuses on the role of empathy and emotions in international affairs, politics, leadership, and society. She is a Senior Lecturer at the Australian War College, Deakin University, Canberra, where her research and teaching focus on these topics. In 2025, she published Empathy in Politics and Leadership: The Key to Transforming Our World with Yale University Press. She is writing two more. Claire received her PhD in International Relations from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. She has a Master's in Middle East Politics from the University of Exeter, and a BA in Politics, International Relations and French from Lancaster University. Connect with Claire: Website: claireyorke.me LinkedIn: Dr Claire Yorke Instagram: @theempathydoctor BlueSky: @claireyorke.bsky.social Book: Empathy in Politics and Leadership: The Key to Transforming our World Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Joris Merks-Benjaminsen: Managing Without Power to Balance Humanity and Performance | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:50:40 | |
Balancing performance with human leadership can be tough for some leaders. The goal is to strike a healthy balance, while always remembering that taking thoughtful care of your people, recognizing their unique contributions, and creating an environment where they can thrive can lead to the stellar performance results you seek. But how would you lead if your title or position didn't give you any power? Joris Merks-Benjaminsen is a leadership trainer and the award-winning author of Managing Without Power. Joris shares his unique journey at Google, watching the culture and leadership he loved so much shift as his managers changed, and why he’s committed to helping companies capture that early magic and scale it as they grow. We discuss recognizing and respecting your power dynamic while also understanding that the title does not give you power, but consistent, intentional small behaviors will ensure your team will help you meet your goals. Joris shares how to balance people nd performance through the five basics of his interconnected, practical, holistic leadership approach. And he shares how to solicit and take in upward feedback to help you effectively support an employee's journey, ensure high performance, and make tough decisions when needed. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
“The problem I see is this balance between human-focused and performance-focused leadership. I regularly meet leaders who think of them as opposites, but you need both of them in a certain balance...in order to create a high-performing team and organization." — Joris Merks-Benjaminsen Episode References:
About Joris Merks-Benjaminsen, Leadership Trainer, Author of Managing Without Power: Joris Merks-Benjaminsen is a leadership trainer and the award-winning author of Managing Without Power. Joris had a leading role in Google's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives, and was one of the highest-scoring managers in the company's history. Today, he trains managers and leaders to help find the right balance between humaneness and performance pressure. Connect with Joris: Managing Without Power: www.managingwithoutpower.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joris-merks-benjaminsen-5673384/ Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Kasey D'Amato: Making High-Stakes Decisions Requires Empathy and Self-Compassion | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:41:07 | |
What happens when you’re standing at a pivot point — the kind where your next move could shift everything for your business, your team, or your career? In those high-stakes moments, success doesn’t come from spreadsheets alone. It requires empathy, emotional intelligence, and even self-compassion. Kasey D’Amato knows this firsthand. A keynote speaker, executive coach, and strategic advisor, Kasey has guided founders and corporate leaders through major transitions with clarity and resilience. In our conversation, we dug into her four pillars of holistic leadership and how self-regulation shapes better decisions. We explored the “decision threshold,” why every choice has three outcomes, and how to balance head, heart, and gut when the numbers don’t tell the full story. Kasey also shared why grounding yourself is key to hearing other perspectives without defensiveness — and how empathy and self-compassion aren’t soft skills, but strategic advantages when the stakes are high. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"I believe it is the critical moments of decision and how you handle your emotional intelligence in those critical moments and pivots that set you up for success, no matter how big your failures are along the way." — Kasey D'Amato Episode References:
About Kasey D'Amato, Business Leader and Holistic Coach: Kasey D’Amato is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and strategic business advisor who helps business founders and corporate leaders navigate high-stakes decisions and transitions with clarity, confidence, and resilience — without burning out in the process. With over 20 years of experience across healthcare, entrepreneurship, and business consulting, Kasey brings a unique blend of business acumen, human behavior expertise, and emotional intelligence to her work. She is a former Dermatology PA who went on to launch multiple ventures — including a global skincare brand, a healthcare consulting agency, and an executive leadership advisory. She’s consulted with Fortune-level companies, led workshops across the healthcare and financial industries, and spoken at major institutions like UCLA, USC, and the University of Miami. Kasey is known for her dynamic, actionable, and emotionally intelligent approach to leadership — guiding ambitious entrepreneurs and executives to think bigger, lead better, and align their next move with both performance and personal fulfillment. Connect with Kasey: Website: https://www.kaseydamato.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaseydamato/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kasey.damato/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaseydamato/?hl=en
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Rebecca Geshuri: When Good Moms Feel Bad and Why Supporting Them is a Leadership Imperative | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:49:09 | |
What if the problem isn’t that moms are failing—but that we’ve built systems that quietly ask them to do the impossible and then blame them when they struggle? My guest today, Rebecca Geshuri, sits at the intersection of motherhood, mental health, and compassion in a way that feels deeply needed right now. We talk about why so many moms feel like they’re failing even when they’re doing everything they possibly can. We unpack the crushing mental load, the lack of structural support, and how quickly shame spirals take hold when moms feel they’re “not good enough.” This is a conversation about empathy, support, and the quiet strength of caregiving—and why taking better care of moms in the workplace and beyond ultimately makes all of us stronger. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Don't count moms out. They’re working their tails off, trying to be everything to everybody, to care for everyone. They have parts of themselves that are planning things and organizing things, and seeing things that don't exist yet. Moms are visionaries and strategists." — Rebecca Geshuri Episode References:
About Rebecca Geshuri, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Co-Author, When Good Moms Feel Bad: Rebecca Geshuri, M.A., PMH-C, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She holds certifications in Internal Family Systems, Perinatal Mental Health, and Brainspotting. Rebecca is the co-author of When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide for Transforming Guilt, Anxiety, and Anger into Compassion, Confidence, and Connectedness. In addition to seeing moms, their partners, and their babies in her private practice in Campbell, CA, Rebecca teaches workshops to therapists, physicians, doulas, and yoga practitioners. Rebecca is the Founder of Second Street Collective, which provides psychotherapy and support to moms and their families throughout California. She has presented at the IFS Institute and Postpartum Support International conferences and has been featured on several prominent podcasts. Rebecca’s work is grounded in the profound and extraordinary experience of being a mom to three daughters. Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca Geshuri LMFT: https://rebeccageshurilmft.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-geshuri/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccageshurimft Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccageshurilmft Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| February Hot Take: Leading Humans in a Hurting World | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:12:23 | |
In today’s timely hot take episode in this heavy world, Maria discusses the importance of empathy in leadership during challenging times, emphasizing that emotional connection at work is crucial. She highlights how unaddressed employee emotions lead to disengagement and reduced performance, and offers 3 practical ways for leaders to connect with their employees, regardless of how high their discomfort with emotion. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Empathy isn’t about fixing emotions; it is about acknowledging reality. People don’t need you to fix everything; they need to know they’re not invisible." — Maria Ross From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Michelle Feferman: How Leaders Create Psychological Safety When Employees Are Afraid | 05 Feb 2026 | 00:49:54 | |
I had to get this urgent episode to you sooner rather than later, given the climate of fear in the U.S. in current times. For many employees right now, work doesn’t feel like a safe place. It feels uncertain, frightening, and deeply personal. In moments like this, how leaders respond matters more than ever. Michelle Feferman has spent decades helping organizations navigate complex DEI and workplace culture challenges in ways that protect people and strengthen the business. We talk directly about what leaders can do to support employees in the face of ICE raids and immigration-related fear, how to create real psychological safety at work, and why most DEI efforts are still entirely legal if you’re focused on risk mitigation, clarity, and care. We also unpack how retention, engagement, and productivity are tightly tied to DEI and empathy work, and the key elements leaders need to think through right now to support their people while capturing the full business benefit. This is a practical, compassionate conversation for leaders who want to do the right thing without panicking, posturing, or staying silent. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"If you can take the time now to get these things in place, the majority of people will relax, to some extent, and feel like they can come to work and just focus on work. People will relax more and be much more productive at work." — Michelle Feferman
Episode References:
About Michelle Feferman, Founder and CEO, Equity at Work, Author of Do DEI Right Michelle is passionate about helping organizations have a profound impact on their employees, businesses, and communities through their diversity, equity, and inclusion work. She is the Founder and CEO of Equity At Work, known for creating innovative, customized solutions for even the most complex DEI and workplace culture challenges. Her clients outperform their peers in revenue and margin growth, productivity, engagement, and retention. Michelle is the author of Do DEI Right, co-host of the podcast Your DEI Minute, and on the Investment Committee of RevTech Venture Capital. Before this, she spent 25 years working at Accenture, Kurt Salmon, Macy’s Inc., and The Walt Disney Company. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Michelle: Equity At Work: https://www.equity-at-work.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleebogan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093183559876 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equity_at_work Substack: https://mfeferman.substack.com/
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Amy Mosher Berry: Beyond Coffee Runs: Turning Interns into Impact | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:49:03 | |
Internships have changed a lot since COVID, and if done well, they can be powerful tools for both attracting top young talent and fueling your organization’s productivity. But too often, leaders miss the mark, leaving interns underutilized and organizations frustrated. Amy Mosher Berry shares what's really going on with young professionals today and why mentorship and meaningful work enable your organization to thrive. Amy and I delve into what truly motivates and drives today's young professionals, the biggest mistakes leaders should avoid when hiring interns, and how intergenerational strategies fueled by empathy can enhance collaboration and productivity. We discuss the important role of casual mentorship, how your internship program becomes a marketing strategy, and how effective programs not only benefit interns but also drive your mission and results. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Internships, by law, need to have 51% majority benefit going to the intern. It has to be officially structured with learning objectives, and there needs to be that supportive process." — Amy Mosher Berry
Episode References: Forbes articles:
The Empathy Edge:
About Amy Mosher Berry, CEO of Visions Internships: Amy Mosher Berry is a passionate social entrepreneur with over 20 years of diverse experience in business, government, and the nonprofit sector, including 15 years in workforce innovation, 5 years teaching college, and now as the CEO & Founder of Visions Internships. Visions Internships primarily helps organizational leaders design and manage customized, impactful internship programs without the overwhelm. Amy's social enterprise also empowers young professionals with the skills and support to succeed. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® with a Master's degree in Community Development and Planning and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies/ Spanish, she enjoys bringing a project management approach to program development for maximum results. Amy lives in Central MA and is deeply dedicated to Co-Creating a World that Works - especially with her young daughter inspiring her every day. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Amy: Visions Internships: visionsinternships.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amymosherberry Facebook: facebook.com/visionsinternships Instagram: instagram.com/visions_internships LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/visionsinternships INTERNSHIP INSIDER™ Training (IIT): A live virtual 5-week program development course teaches 2-4 key staff members how to design a customized, impactful internship program as part of your organization's overall growth strategy. visionsinternships.com/internship-insider
Connect with Maria: Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria Ross Instagram: @redslicemaria Facebook: Red Slice Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/ Join Maria at The Rising Executive Women's Retreat, Nov. 4-7. Use code "Edge500" to get $500.00 off! Slots are going fast.
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| Donzel Leggett: Designing Success When the Odds Are Not In Your Favor | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:44:30 | |
What if creating championship-level performance has far less to do with the team you inherit and everything to do with your own mindset and how you lead, design systems, and set standards from day one? That question came up again and again in my conversation with Donzel Leggett, a leadership strategist, executive coach, and the award-winning author of Make Your Destiny Happen. We dive into what leaders can learn from one of the most talked-about leadership turnarounds in sports this season: Curt Cignetti and the remarkable transformation of Indiana Hoosiers football. We unpack why turnaround success isn’t about inheriting the “right” team, it’s about setting expectations, creating belief, and installing systems that allow people to perform at their best. With more than three decades of leadership experience at Fortune 200 companies, Donzel helps leaders and organizations build clarity, capacity, and intentional leadership. He’s also a former Academic All-America football player, which makes his perspective on leadership, discipline, and performance especially powerful. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"In most cases, the majority of people have the talent and have the capability. They just need to believe, and they need some tools and some processes to go along with that to allow them to win." — Donzel Leggett About Donzel Leggett, Founder, Destiny Development Delta, LLC, and Author, Make Your Destiny Happen: With more than three decades of leadership experience at Fortune 200 companies, Donzel is the Principal of Destiny Development Delta, LLC, where he focuses on executive leadership development. He is also the award-winning author of Make Your Destiny Happen: Take Control of Your Life with the Destiny Development Delta Model for Transformational Success. Recognized for his strategic vision and commitment to mentorship, Donzel is passionate about coaching and developing leaders worldwide. His purpose is clear: to help people unlock their full potential and become the best leaders they can be. A proud Purdue graduate and former Academic All-America football player, Donzel now splits his time between Florida and Chicagoland with his wife, Tracy. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Donzel: Destiny Development Delta: destinydevdelta.com Book: Make Your Destiny Happen LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donzelleggett Facebook: facebook.com/destinydevdelta Instagram: instagram.com/donzel_leggett YouTube: youtube.com/@DonzelLeggett
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| Sam Daley-Harris: Reclaiming Our Democracy | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:37:45 | |
What if everything you believe about advocacy is incomplete? What if the real work of changing the world isn’t just about fixing problems, but about transforming ourselves in the process? That’s the heart of the work of Sam Daley-Harris, Founder and Principal of Civic Courage, and author of Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy. This conversation reframes what it means to participate in democracy. It’s not just about agonizing or protesting or turning off the news. It’s about awakening to our own power and using empathy to bridge divides and build the kind of future we actually want. It’s about sharing personal stories, engaging in deep listening and conversation, and making bold asks of leaders and volunteers. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Transformational advocacy is where you're trained, encouraged, and succeed at doing things as an advocate that you never thought you could do. When you do those kinds of things, you see yourself differently." — Sam Daley-Harris
Episode References:
About Sam Daley-Harris, Founder, Civic Courage, and Author, Reclaiming Our Democracy: Sam Daley-Harris started as a symphony musician and then founded the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS in 1980, co-founded the Microcredit Summit Campaign in 1995, and founded Civic Courage in 2012. The paperback edition of his book Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy was named an editor’s pick by Publishers’ Weekly BookLife. Daley-Harris has been interviewed on NPR’s Here and Now and on PBS’s Laura Flanders and Friends. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Sam: Civic Courage: reclaimingourdemocracy.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sam-daley-harris-b8bb796 Facebook: facebook.com/sam.daleyharris Instagram: instagram.com/samdaleyharris
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| Ed Kirwan: The Most Effective Way to Build Empathy | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:42:32 | |
What if empathy wasn’t something we talked about, but something we actually trained, practiced, and scaled? My guest today, Ed Kirwan, is doing exactly that. Ed is the CEO and Founder of Empathy Studios, a creative education organization using the power of film to develop empathy as a real, learnable skill. He’s also the founder of Empathy Week, now the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, reaching more than 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020. In this conversation, we explore why film is such a powerful catalyst for empathy, what Ed has learned from years of working with students around the world, why empathy is becoming a critical skill in the age of AI, and how developing empathy can boost well-being and help create a better world. This is a hopeful, practical, and deeply human conversation about what empathy looks like when we stop treating it like a soft skill and start treating it like a core capability. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"That's the power of film. It can really supercharge emotions; it can supercharge feeling; it can supercharge connection." — Ed Kirwan Episode References: About Ed Kirwan, CEO and Founder, Empathy Studios Previously a science teacher in London, Ed founded Empathy Studios, an education and creative organisation using the power of film to develop the skill of empathy in all. A director, filmmaker, and educator for 10+ years, Ed also started Empathy Week, the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, which has reached 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020. Their framework for empathy development is backed by the University of Cambridge, and Ed’s team now works across teams and leaders in the business world to help develop and embed the skill of empathy - foundational to high-performing and thriving teams. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Ed Kirwan: Empathy Studios: empathystudios.com Empathy Week: empathyweek.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ed-kirwan Instagram: instagram.com/edkirwan YouTube: youtube.com/@Empathy-Studios
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| Julia Armet: Solving the Double-Empathy Problem to Harness Neurodiversity | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:47:19 | |
Did you know that 53% of Gen Z, the rising workforce, identifies as neurodivergent? If that’s the future of work, what does it mean for how we lead, collaborate, and connect? It means if we don't learn how to lead for the needs of neurodiverse employees, we could be facing a huge hiring and unemployment gap. Julia Armet, people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader, is on a mission to humanize work. Julia shares her own powerful personal journey navigating her own neurodivergence, and we discuss why relationship-building is the heartbeat of modern work. She debunks myths around autism and empathy, and introduces the concept of the “double-empathy problem” - reframing how we see inclusion and communication across differences. You’ll also hear why listening to neurodivergent voices elevates everyone, why the outlier is often the source of innovation, not friction, and how empathy can activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"Solving for empathy for the most marginalized populations is what's going to actually benefit all populations." — Julia Armet Episode References: The Empathy Edge podcast:
About Julia Armet, Founder of Higher Playbook Julia Armet, PCC, ELI-MP, is a people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader on a mission to humanize work. As Founder of Higher Playbook, she partners with visionary leaders and progressive organizations to design workplace cultures where all people — and all minds — can thrive. With a career spanning media, technology, and professional services, Julia brings deep expertise at the intersection of relationship-building, leadership development, and culture transformation. From scaling a mission-driven tech company to leading global leadership programs, she empowers organizations to foster psychological safety, unlock talent potential, and drive culture change. Through experiential keynotes, leadership retreats, and high-impact workshops, Julia equips leaders with socially innovative approaches and relational strategies to cultivate inclusion and conscious leadership. Her signature programs — Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion — harness the power of empathy to activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond. Connect with Julia: Higher Playbook: higherplaybook.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliaarmet Facebook: facebook.com/julia.armet Instagram: @higherplaybook LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/higherplaybook Check out her signature neurodiversity programming: Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion: higherplaybook.com/leadership-programs
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| Catherine Ducharme: Managing Up for Two-Way Empathy | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:41:28 | |
Managing up is one of the most powerful career accelerators you can master—and it all starts with empathy. Not just empathy flowing downward from leaders to teams, but empathy for your leaders: understanding their pressures, challenges, and decision-making context so you can build trust, influence outcomes, and create mutual success. Given multiple generations in the workforce, we need empathy flowing up for leaders dealing with added pressures and mental health issues right now. Today’s guest, Catherine Ducharme—Founder of Fluency Leadership, award-winning communicator, certified coach, and TEDx speaker—has spent over 30 years helping leaders and teams lead with heart, curiosity, and inspiration. She shares her own story of learning to manage up, the mindset shifts that change everything, and practical ways to anticipate needs, respond more effectively, and position yourself as a strategic leader. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"A little vulnerability goes a long way. And it doesn't mean you're pouring your heart out, your woes and everything to your team, but giving them insight to what you're juggling or what's on your mind will tip the balance toward compassion." — Catherine Ducharme
Episode References:
About Catherine Ducharme, Founder, Fluency Leadership Founder and Principal of Fluency Leadership, a leadership + team development and coaching practice, Catherine is a certified coach and facilitator with 30+ years of professional communications and leadership experience. She works with leaders and teams to build relational skills, empowering them to lead and influence with heart, empathy, curiosity, and inspiration. She’s been recognized as Regional Leader of the Year by the International Association of Business Communicators. She’s passionate about the need for more appreciation in the workplace and did a TEDx talk on that topic. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Catherine: Fluency Leadership: fluencyleadership.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catherineducharme
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| Jen Marr: Own the Awkward to be a Better Leader | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:43:26 | |
Technology has always been a double-edged sword. As the workplace and culture shift, we as humans are seeing more collaboration, access, and the ability to communicate across borders. But, it's also leading us to more stress, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Those dopamine hits are no joke! This all impacts how we need leaders to show up and lead. We have to upskill our leaders for more connection, conversation, and collaboration. AI will be taking over a lot of the drudgery, so leadership now looks different from what it did 20 or 30 years ago. And for some leaders, there is a big skill gap between intent and impact. Something my guest today calls the Awkward Zone as she helps leaders to Own the Awkward. Today, Jen Marr shares the three forces behind our fundamental workplace shifts and how this has changed the role of leaders. She talks about that Awkward Zone and how to navigate through it. She shares the Barbell concept, necessary to build up healthy, productive employees. We have an interesting discussion about time - how leaders track it, spend it, and can find more ways to spend it on their people rather than on useless tasks. And Jen shares what may finally shake us up from the unhealthy ways tech has taken over our lives at the cost of real connection, and what that flashpoint might be for us. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"The awkward zone is that gap between our intent and our impact. Within that is a whole series of different habits, mindsets, and behaviors that get in our way." — Jen Marr About Jen Marr, Founder & CEO, Showing Up LLC Jen Marr helps leaders Own the Awkward - the high-stakes moments that decide whether people stay or stray. As founder of Showing Up LLC, she built the first research-driven framework that turns relational skills into repeatable business practice. More than 150 certified facilitators now deploy her process across Fortune 50 tech, major-league sports, healthcare systems, and even the White House Leadership Program. Her programs replace awkward and nuanced relational issues with clear, confident skills and conversation frameworks. Freeing managers’ time, boosting collaboration, and anchoring cultures where people want to stay and do their best work. A former healthcare and business development executive, she blends three decades of frontline experience with partnered research. Her books—Showing Up and the new Lifting Up package, the playbook. Jen’s message is timely and actionable: relationships run results. When leaders lift people, performance follows, and every metric that matters moves with it. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Jen: Showing Up LLC: showing-up.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenmarr Book: Lifting Up showing-up.com/lifting-up
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| Jamie Lee: Rewire Your Brain with Empathy to Better Stand Up For Yourself | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:46:20 | |
What if the key to self-advocacy wasn’t being louder—but rewiring how you think, feel, and connect with empathy? Today, I’m joined by executive coach and podcast host Jamie Lee, who specializes in helping women and underrepresented leaders rise through the ranks without compromising their integrity. We dive into how empathy and neuroplasticity form the foundation of effective self-advocacy — and how rewiring internal narratives can lead to greater confidence, deeper connection, and clarity when speaking up. Jamie shares evidence-based techniques for regulating the nervous system so you can show up with presence and poise in high-stakes conversations. Plus, we touch on the six types of intelligence you can access to build connections and ask for what you want. If you’ve ever struggled with self-advocacy or want to communicate with more impact and empathy, this episode is for you. To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title. Listen in for…
"The brain adapts. The brain grows. It changes according to the practices that you expose it to. Compassion is the missing link that helps us be able to access those self-advocacy muscles for ourselves." — Jamie Lee
Episode References:
About Jamie Lee, Coach, Trainer, Podcast Host Jamie is an executive coach who specializes in women and underrepresented leaders who are "allergic" to office politics. She focuses on helping them get promoted and better paid without compromising their integrity or throwing anyone under the bus. In her practice, she blends proven self-advocacy strategies with evidence-based neuroplasticity tools. Over a decade, Jamie has trained thousands of professionals in effective self-advocacy at leading organizations, including Citi, Unilever, Association of Corporate Counselors, American College of Cardiologists, UC Berkeley School of Business, and Smith College. She's also the host of the Risky Conversations podcast, where she has honest talks with thought leaders on topics often considered taboo or "too risky" at work -- negotiation, mental and reproductive health, office politics, social injustices, and unconventional ways smart women navigate their path forward despite a flawed workplace. From Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Jamie: Jamie Lee Coach: jamieleecoach.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leejieunjamie Instagram: instagram.com/jamieleecoach
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