The Sage Sayers

Debbi Gardiner McCullough

A weekly podcast on ways to stay calm and compel others as you communicate. Along with executive communications tips and strategies, we interview intriguing individuals who've found the "Sage approach" by finding gifts, opportunities, and knowledge within trying situations. New Zealander show host, Debbi Gardiner McCullough, has written on social and business trends and struggles for the Economist, the Guardian, and Financial Times of London. She's a self-retired college professor of writing, an executive communications and narrative coach. Visit her at: www.hangingrockcoaching.com

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    "Tell me your real story, about when you earned $250 a month." LinkedIn Coach Ashi Chopra on sharing our wins and struggles

    If you seek motivation to use LinkedIn more liberally and well, start listening to and following LinkedIn Coach Ashi Chopra. She's a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who loves to help women (especially) tell their stories on LinkedIn, the world's largest social media site for business professionals.  We hear from Ashi on the missed opportunities of engaging on LinkedIn and that telling our audiences what does not work and what does work becomes vital. If we share only the highlights then nobody learns how we navigate our challenges, nor how we talked ourselves back into success.  You can find Ashi on LinkedIn here. You can enjoy our interview on YouTube here.  Debbi McCullough has written for the Economist, FT, and Guardian and serves as a Master Certified Coach and communications coach to leaders at Fortune 500s/100s including Google. Find her on LinkedIn.  Book her for a consult on the communication challenge irking you most.

    23 min
  2. "Over the years, I've come to trust my presence." A conversation with Master Coach Trainer & Author: Dr. Marcia Reynolds.

    26 MAR

    "Over the years, I've come to trust my presence." A conversation with Master Coach Trainer & Author: Dr. Marcia Reynolds.

    We spotlight a revered and favorite MCC coach, Master Coach Trainer & Author Dr. Marcia Reynolds, who has worked in 47 countries and reached over 100k people. Dr. Reynolds comes to us weeks after her Second Edition release of "Coach the Person, Not the Problem," already an Amazon bestseller.  We learn communications and listening approaches and habits leaders and coaches can emulate right away.  Coach slowly to ensure you (and they) understand their problem. (You don't always know right away.) Be curious (super curious).  Show that you understand to develop and retain their trust. Know when to give them space and be silent. And then...Move to the challenges, which many of us rush to first. (Resist!)  We also hear about what it truly entails to write a Second Edition of an already bestselling and revered book. (It's a lot, Marcia notes, but also rewarding and exciting, because much has changed with coaching and her views on coaching within six years.) Find Dr. Reynold's popular and infamous book on Amazon here: https://shorturl.at/LVlsE

    41 min
  3. Men Supporting Women through Menopause. Interviewing Simon Salt on his upcoming book “The Quiet Transition”

    14 MAR

    Men Supporting Women through Menopause. Interviewing Simon Salt on his upcoming book “The Quiet Transition”

    “There’s always a gap of what men can read, understand, and put into practice with supporting the women in their lives through menopause.”  So says British author and photographer, Simon Salt, who is working on a beautiful guide, the “Quiet Transition” to help men and women ride the perfect storm of menopause.  He reasons: Men are fixers. We are solution finders. ”Problem is with menopause, there’s nothing to fix, because nothing is broken.” Also, of the 80 or so symptoms women may experience in perimenopause and menopause, each woman's experience is totally different, and many don't know what to expect. “We want to hear less score keeping,  more understanding, and that "we are" vs. "I am" going through menopause. That's what this guide is about." You can follow Simon Salt and the Quiet Transition on Substack and his other books published on Amazon.  Debbi McCullough has written for the Economist, FT, and Guardian and serves as a Master Certified Coach and communications coach to leaders at Fortune 500s/100s including Google. Find her on LinkedIn.  Book her for a consult on the communication challenge irking you most.

    35 min
  4. “We can listen for information and for relationship.” Interviewing Dr. Haru Yamada, author of “KIKU: The Japanese Art of Good Listening”

    27 FEB

    “We can listen for information and for relationship.” Interviewing Dr. Haru Yamada, author of “KIKU: The Japanese Art of Good Listening”

    We turn the spotlight this week on Dr. Haru Yamada, a sociolinguist, listening intelligence researcher, and author of “KIKU: The Japanese Art of Good Listening” to discover just how we do listen? Also, why performative skills like speaking, presenting, and offering ideas can overshadow (in many cultures) the often under-tapped skills of listening, both for receiving information and strengthening relationships.   We hear Dr. Yamada's approach to listening, which includes listening with our heart and of the Japanese concept of “kiku,” a deep, empathetic form of listening to communicate, connect, and become more present and understanding in our interactions.  Japanese language teaches us a lot about listening, Haru reminds us. The kanji character for "to listen" (kiku, 聴) has "fourteen hearts" and is composed of an ear (耳), the number ten (十), an eye (目), and a heart (心) on the bottom, symbolizing deep, empathetic listening.  You can find Dr. Haru Yamada on LinkedIn. And follow her Substack. Her book’s now in paperback as well on Amazon.  Debbi McCullough has written for the Economist, FT, and Guardian and serves as a Master Certified Coach and communications coach to leaders at Fortune 500s/100s including Google. Find her on LinkedIn.  Book her for a consult on small talk, job interviews, or the communication challenge irking you most. Join her next active listening workshop for leaders: Listen Like a Boss.

    28 min
  5. "When I struggle connecting with someone, I ask about their day." Interviewing Austin Sussel.

    14 FEB

    "When I struggle connecting with someone, I ask about their day." Interviewing Austin Sussel.

    Like many effervescent people, Ohio-based Austin Sussel has little trouble connecting even with strangers, and even at work. He got great at it, actually, as an international account manager of Fortune 100/500s. But even Austin struggles at times when the connection's not there. Or worse, the receiver of your attempts to converse stone walls you.   "In those moments, sales leaders told me I ought to compliment them on their shoes they're wearing," he laughs. "But I find what works best is simply asking about their day--or what's happening next." The key, he says: "Be curious. Be kind. And keep it short, simple, and about them." Learn tips and tactics on listening and human connection from two conversationalists who love it. Also hear about active listening and comfort with pause and silence in conversation, especially what I learned from certifying as a Master Certified Coach last week, something Austin asks me about. (Because he's curious, and that kind of friend.) You can reach out to Austin Sussel on LinkedIn here.  Debbi McCullough has written for the Economist, FT, and Guardian and serves as a Master Certified Coach and communications coach to leaders at Fortune 500s/100s including Google. Find her on LinkedIn.  Book her for a consult on small talk, job interviews, or the communication challenge irking you most. Join her next active listening workshop for leaders: Listen Like a Boss.

    30 min
  6. Harvard Student Athlete Nick McCullough: "Similarities and differences can connect you when networking. And you get rewarded for being yourself."

    31 JAN

    Harvard Student Athlete Nick McCullough: "Similarities and differences can connect you when networking. And you get rewarded for being yourself."

    We're welcoming back to the show Harvard student athlete, Nick McCullough, now on his second semester at Harvard as an Econ student and defensive tackle player for the Harvard Crimson football team. [Listener note: Nick is also my oldest son.]  We hear from an 18-year-old first-year student and footballer all about networking and what that means at Harvard: Getting in with people you like and want to grow with for your "block" (the dormitory wing for your second year).  Making connections for internships and your hopeful work, after the studies are done.  And building trust, and camaraderie, important especially for student athletes at Harvard who can pull 60-70-hour weeks when the sport season is underway. The friendships formed help support and pull you through.  Follow our first Sage Sayers interview on Nick's communications strategy (from age 15) which helped him find his way to Harvard. And you can follow or support Nick on LinkedIn here.  D G McCullough has written for the Economist, FT, and Guardian and taught business communications and journalism at UNC Chapel Hill. She runs Hanging Rock Coaching and serves as a communications coach to leaders at Fortune 500s/100s, including Google. Find her on LinkedIn.  Or book her for a consult on your communications challenges bothering you the most.

    14 min

  7. 16 JAN

    Setting goals without forcing them: Interviewing Malvika Joshi

    Happy New Year, dear Sage Sayers listeners. Welcome back. 2026, Year of the Fire Horse, will be awesome.  If you're stuck on how to approach goals this year, or even to bother with them, British tech marketer and coach, Malvika Joshi, joins me for episode 1, season 5, with her approach, and how to communicate goals (to ourselves, and others.) (Popular data tells us 80-90% of professionals abandon their resolutions, and usually by mid-January, highlighting the need for clear plans, new approaches, and accountability.)   Malvika likes to see her goals compound interest over time and to let curiosity vs strict structure lead the way. She creates themes to her goals, like health and growth, and pledges daily write ups on her progress. So far, two weeks in, she's maintained this flow.  Public building of goals is another strategy, one I've played with on LinkedIn, which helps with accountability and brings interesting opportunities with communicating our success and failures.  If you’d like to find Coach Malvika, reach out to her on LInkedIn.  D G McCullough has written for the Economist, FT, and Guardian and taught business communications and journalism at UNC Chapel Hill. She runs Hanging Rock Coaching and serves as a communications coach to leaders at Fortune 500s/100s, including Google. Find her on LinkedIn.  Or book her for a consult on your communications challenges bothering you the most.

    26 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    What if Grammar Stopped Being Brussels Sprouts and Became Birthday Cake? Patty McGee on our Need for Great Grammar

    Patty McGee never cared for how grammar was taught to her at school. “It was always so strict, rigid, and not interesting at all.”  After years as a teacher, Patty pledged to make grammar interesting for the kids she taught at school. From seeing such great results and children loving her approach, she co-wrote a book on grammar, one which we can appreciate as business communicators too.  In our interview, we hear of Patty’s new love for grammar, her book-writing process, and insights into the rules which make many of us feel stuck (like capitals or lowercase after a colon). Also hear her guidance on the em-dash, which AI tools love, and with that, make the punctuation mark (alas) less popular.  You can find Not Your Granny’s Grammar: An Innovative Approach to Meaningful and Engaging Grammar Instruction here. Please follow Patty McGee on LinkedIn here.  D G McCullough has written for the Economist, FT of London, and the Economist and taught communications and journalism at UNC Chapel Hill. She runs Hanging Rock Coaching and serves as a communications coach to leaders at Fortune 100s, including Google. Find her on LinkedIn.  Join her workshops on Maven, Brag Anyway, and Listen Like a Boss. Or book her for a consult on your bio, one-liner, and work story.  Note to my dear Listeners: This is the last episode of the Sage Sayers for 2025. Thank you for enjoying this podcast with me. We resume our show first Friday of January.

    26 min
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About

A weekly podcast on ways to stay calm and compel others as you communicate. Along with executive communications tips and strategies, we interview intriguing individuals who've found the "Sage approach" by finding gifts, opportunities, and knowledge within trying situations. New Zealander show host, Debbi Gardiner McCullough, has written on social and business trends and struggles for the Economist, the Guardian, and Financial Times of London. She's a self-retired college professor of writing, an executive communications and narrative coach. Visit her at: www.hangingrockcoaching.com

Information

  • Creator
    Debbi Gardiner McCullough
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    154
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sage Sayers
  • Show Website
    The Sage Sayers