Michael is the Executive Director of an organization that inspired me as much as any---The Story of Stuff. They continue to inspire me to think bigger and to focus on the details it would be easier to ignore but that matter. If you want to avoid plastic, waste, and other stuff, you'll find Michael's perspective and experience helpful. Having cut my waste a lot, talking to Michael leads me to cut it more---not out of guilt, shame, or other unwanted emotion but to live more by my values. Integrity. Michael shares a lot of facts, grounded in passion. Many people who have thought and acted long and deeply on environmental issues feel an initial resistance in acting more: Haven't I done as much as I…

Sometimes what looks like a hurdle activates your team.  Scott details how he launched his book---last I checked at 96% 5-star reviews. He tells it from the trenches, so if you lead, hope to lead, or want to write a book, you'll want to tune into this episode. We also go into his challenge of saving electricity. He found that he was probably the biggest offender in the house. So he had to be humble first to lead by example. He didn't make excuses. What great leaders do?

Scott takes on a three-part challenge in this episode . . in the middle of a book launch! We discuss how Scott is bringing his experience running multibillion dollar companies within Proctor and Gamble to helping people make sense of how they see work . . . and to create meaning and purpose in a world that doesn't do it for them any more. We discuss the life of a leader, speaker, and leadership speaker---what I was new to when we spoke (and that he's helped me with before and since). He reiterates one of the major themes emerging from nearly every effective leader on this podcast---that effective leaders focus on the other person. In his case, he focuses on helping others help others. I'll…

Jared and I have deep, engaging conversations, starting from before my appearances on his podcast a year before we recorded this one. You'll hear we quickly get deep on this one. It follows an earlier conversation a topic that many won't talk about or listen on, but that we consider essential, at least to talk about. We discuss resources per person as our populations grow. Some societies controlled their population for thousands of years in concert with their available resources. I wonder how. What mechanisms did they use, since that duration suggests it wasn't by luck. If you know, please let me know. What challenge will Jordan take on? I think you'll really enjoy this semi-controversial conversation between the two of us.

(Spoiler alert: Daniel takes on the biggest challenge so far. You could argue his circumstances make it easier than it sounds, but he's coming from Texas!) Leadership education and practice can begin in school. Sadly, in most systems it doesn't. My K-12, college, and graduate school nearly completely lacked training in the social and emotional skills of leadership, and I went to some of the world's great schools. That's why I wish the world had more Daniel Bauers. Beyond being a successful leader as a principal, he is also helping other principals lead more effectively too. He's promoting servant leadership and leading by example within and outside educational bureaucracies. He doesn't have to. Most of my teachers and principals were satisfied to do their best…

Jordan and I got to be friends over a decade ago before he moved to California. We'd get  burritos around the corner from my place. In the meantime we toured North Korea not once but twice together and I've seen him in Los Angeles. This time I hosted him and his wife for my famous no-packaging vegetable stew.You get to hear from him how it tasted (spoiler alert: he says it tastes great). He shared the importance of high-level coaching. Listening to Jordan on the Jordan Harbinger show, it's easy to think he was born with the skills of one of today's great interviewers. He's humble enough to share what I think we all need reminding of---that help from people with more skills and experience…

This podcast continues to break ground. Jeff Brown returns for an unprecedented 4th time. We dive deeper into his work with his home owners association (HOA)---how he created a team of people from his community, how he's making things happen, and his results. We talk about how it need only take a simple decision, a few conversations, and some work---but work you enjoy that creates community---to change this world. Jeff's success inspired me to talk to my co-op board to start creating a sustainability committee. I hope it inspires you too.

Does sacrificing something you love mean a worse life? Balint shares his enthusiasm to experiment and find new recipes, tastes and experiences---I would say not despite but because of his choice to act on his values. What you value is better for you.. In his words: The world is more colorful. His experience shows the difference to your life between talking about acting and acting (not to mention that talking about environmental change doesn't change the environment, and most people stop at talking). Creating momentum toward goals we care about leads to support from others and enthusiasm and joy in yourself. Will Balint continue and augment his commitment? What's next for him and his challenges? Listen.

Right off the bat you can hear my joy to hear how composting has changed Robbie's life. I used to see composting as an odd thing that I probably should do but didn't know how so didn't. I think most people see it that way, especially if they don't have gardens. In this episode Robbie shares about composting and giving slop for pig feed. He talks about how he loves the idea that what would be trash goes instead into the soil. His enthusiasm to act more is apparent, but I want to make sure he acts on his values---what he cares about, which leadership concerns, not just complying with something I suggest, which is more the domain of management. Leadership leads people to do…

Balint took on one of the bigger challenges on this podcast---one that nearly everyone knows the value of, many mean to do, but few do. He cut his beef intake from almost daily to once a month. How did he do it? How did his body react? His relationships? His health? Would he do it again? He shares how he became more aware of the different forms of protein and how his eyes and palate opened up to new tastes and dishes. He shared how it affected his relationship with his girlfriend. Most people I talk to know beef as one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, resource depletion, and other environmental effect. Balint shares some numbers he's long known but didn't…

What happens when you start with your passion and what you care about? Robbie Samuels is also a podcaster who has created great relationships through his show. He shares how he learned. He sounds like a natural, but he didn't start that way. In this episode we discuss the value of the skill of creating meaningful conversations with influencers. We talk about relationship building skills, which Robbie builds his podcast and business on. We then discuss the challenges and joys of composting and how Robbie has brought into his household. Where many people see problems and give up, Robbie sees potential to build relationships. Listen to how much he laughs. Leaders don't see other people as problems. Robbie's "Ten Tips for Conference Connections" is www.robbiesamuels.com/LatE…

Can you enjoy leading a movement to change a neighborhood? In this episode we dive deeper into Jeff's experience leading the charge to bring recycling amenities to his housing association. His voice reveals and exudes the emotional reward the challenge creates for him and how he's creating relationships with his community. I don't think there's any question that this activity is not the end but the start -- of action, connection, and fun. As a leadership author, I can't help but repeat that Jeff has reviewed hundreds of leadership books. He could have taken this leadership role at any time, but books about leadership don't develop leadership skills, experience does, which is why my book and podcast teach leadership experientially.

Balint Horvath and I are physicists and both podcasters -- a rare combination. I think the connection helps make this conversation inspire. That's the goal. I originally appeared on his podcast, where we connected. His love for environment and interviewing skill brought out mine last summer, when this podcast was taking shape in my mind. He played a big role in Leadership and the Environment forming and my taking the necessary concrete steps to implement it. We talk about his podcast and how he separates entrepreneurship and academia. We discuss how he views environment and leadership as related and important. This was this podcast's first recording, which for various reasons emerged from the editing cycle later, so we dive into what my mission and goal…

David Burkus returns to share his cold shower challenge. He's a leadership expert and shares great insight, especially about networking and tolerance. There's a lot to learn from him. If I'm honest, in contrast to my usual enthusiasm at a guest's actions, you'll hear a failure of leadership on my part. I believe effective leadership is based on learning the motivations and cares of the other person and connecting them to the task, which imbues the task with meaning for them. I don't think I did that with David. It sounds to me like he did something out of motivation for me as a friend since he heard me respond positively to cold showers. The result, to my ears, is that he sounds more like…

Can a small change lead a community? Our conversation with Jeff Brown shows how a small action on what you care about can inspire and lead a community. Even small actions, when based on your values---what you care about---can make big differences because humans are social and share many values---for example, clean air and water. Helping his neighborhood recycle acts on those shared values. Jeff likes business ideas and leadership---enough to start a podcast on it. You can hear the potential he anticipates in being a leader to help people around him. Acting on the environment starts the process. Helping others and himself make it more meaningful, at least as I hear it. Jeff shows that simple beginnings, acting on your values, can change your…

For such a successful man, Vincent Stanley is as down to earth as they come. He returns to discuss his experience disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with his values, especially his words. People seem to believe that technology saves time or gives us attention despite experience, research, and headlines to the contrary. Vincent shares that disconnecting actually created more time for him. He felt less consumed and the need to be doing multiple things at one time truly diminished. We all know it will happen. The experience of doing it helps more than talking or reading about it. Vincent says that the experience of this challenge was "wonderful" -- something he wanted to do before we met because this is what connects with his values.…