Keeping It Real with Tiff and Carl

Carl Damian Rabun and Tiffany Salcido
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Keeping It Real with Tiff and Carl is a leadership podcast featuring candid conversations, practical strategies, and real-world insights for people working in government, human services, and today’s workplace. From communication and coaching to burnout, conflict. Tiffany Salcido and Dr. Carl Rabun are professional training and coaching consultants with a passion for leadership development. Together they have over 40 years of combined experience working and leading in government agencies and 25 helping professionals maximize their customer service, communication skills and leadership potential.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 156: Your Employees Are Your Customers: Leadership Lessons with Kathy Cuff

    What does it mean to lead by serving others? In this episode, Carl and Tiffany welcome leadership consultant, executive coach, and Legendary Service co-author Kathy Cuff, who reflects on nearly four decades with Blanchard and the leadership lessons she's learned along the way.Kathy explores servant leadership, Situational Leadership®, psychological safety, empowerment, and accountability, emphasizing that great leaders don't simply manage employees—they see their people as customers they are responsible for supporting. The conversation examines how leaders can "define the playing field," establishing clear expectations while giving employees the freedom and judgment to succeed.They also tackle generational differences, return-to-office challenges, quiet quitting, supporting high performers, and why even experienced employees need different levels of direction and support when tackling something new. Throughout the conversation, one message emerges: when people feel valued, supported, and safe enough to learn, they're more willing to grow, contribute, and serve others. Kathy's bio is below: Kathy Cuff has spent more than 37 years with Blanchard® as a Senior Consulting Partner and Master Trainer and is a co-author of the bestselling book, Legendary Service: The Key Is to Care, with Ken Blanchard and Vicki Halsey. She creates an effective and positive environment to support her clients to reach their personal and professional goals by cutting through the clutter that sometimes gets in the way of people reaching their full potential.Her years of experience as a consultant and coach in a wide variety of industries as well as all levels of the organization have allowed her to hone her skills in listening, asking thought-provoking questions, and, when needed and asked for, providing guidance and insights that might otherwise be missed. Her sense of humor and calming demeanor create the psychological safety where clients can dig deeper and eventually shift their motivational outlook to get the positive results they are hoping for. Her passion is to help people be the best version of themselves so that they can feel great about who THEY are as a person and a leader of others. She is certified in several 180/360 assessments and other best practices to gather leadership-development data and provide feedback.Kathy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications from San Diego State University as well as numerous professional development courses. She received her Professional Coaching Certification from CoachU and her ACC credentials through the International Coaching Federation. Kathy enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and, of course, her dog, Roscoe.

    Episode 156: Your Employees Are Your Customers: Leadership Lessons with Kathy Cuff

  2. Sep 25

    Episode 155: See the Person, Not the Diagnosis with Greg Nicholson

    What changes when leaders truly understand the people they serve? In this episode, Carl and Tiffany welcome disability advocate and trainer Greg Nicholson for a conversation about developmental disabilities, neurodiversity, leadership, and creating more inclusive workplaces. Drawing from his experience as a father, advocate, and longtime trainer, Greg discusses why leaders need to get closer to frontline services, understand the realities facing direct support professionals, and regulate their own emotions before attempting to de-escalate others. The conversation explores breaking down organizational silos, strengthening relationships between administrative and direct-service staff, and using experiential learning to build empathy. Greg also challenges assumptions about employing people with developmental disabilities and highlights the importance of recognizing individual strengths rather than defining people by a diagnosis. Together, the group explores how leaders can create workplaces where differences in communication, learning, and working styles are understood, supported, and valued. Contact Greg for more information or to schedule training. email: greg.nicholson@developmentaladvocacyservices.com; phone: 951-533-2306

    Episode 155: See the Person, Not the Diagnosis with Greg Nicholson

  3. Sep 18

    Episode 154: Creating Communication and Connection with Monica Eisel

    Great leadership communication isn't just about what you say—it's about how people receive it, understand it, and act on it. In this episode, Carl and Tiffany welcome executive consultant and coach Monica Eisel for a practical conversation about authentic communication, emotional intelligence, and leading through change.Drawing on more than 25 years of experience, Monica shares strategies for helping leaders communicate with greater intention, including repeating key messages, thinking out loud so employees understand the reasoning behind decisions, and using frameworks such as What? So What? Now What? The conversation also explores the SCARF model, different communication and DiSC styles, and how leaders can adapt their approach without losing authenticity.The group tackles feedforward versus feedback, purposeful meetings, resilience, and the Circle of Control and Influence. They also discuss the unique challenge facing middle managers: creating clarity and maintaining a sense of agency for their teams while navigating decisions and constraints they don't always control.Ultimately, effective leadership communication isn't about communicating more—it's about creating clarity, connection, and understanding. Monica's bio is below: Monica Eisel helps organizations align strategy, culture, communication, and leadership to create lasting organizational change. With more than 25 years of experience as an executive consultant, coach, facilitator, and strategist, she partners with executives and leadership teams to strengthen leadership capability, build healthy workplace cultures, and translate vision into action.Drawing on expertise in leadership development, strategic communications, organizational development, and change leadership, Monica helps organizations move beyond planning to implementation. She is known for facilitating meaningful conversations, building alignment around shared priorities, and designing practical leadership systems that create measurable results.Throughout her career, Monica has partnered with public agencies, higher education, nonprofits, and private organizations to lead enterprise strategic planning, organizational transformation, executive coaching, and leadership development initiatives. Her collaborative style, thoughtful facilitation, and ability to connect strategy with people have earned her the trust of leaders navigating complex change.Monica believes that culture is one of an organization's greatest strategic advantages. By aligning strategy, communication, and leadership, she helps leaders create workplaces where people are engaged, organizations are resilient, and change becomes sustainable

    Episode 154: Creating Communication and Connection with Monica Eisel

  4. Sep 10

    Episode 153: SCARF: 5 Things Your Employees Need From You

    What makes people feel engaged, motivated, and valued at work? In this episode, Carl and Tiffany break down the SCARF Model—Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness—and explore how these five social needs influence workplace behavior, trust, and employee engagement. Through practical examples, they discuss why predictable leadership creates certainty, how autonomy looks different depending on the person, and why clear expectations should be paired with appropriate freedom and choice. They also explore how belonging, favoritism, and perceptions of fairness can strengthen—or quickly undermine—team culture. The takeaway for leaders is practical: increase clarity, provide meaningful choices, strengthen connection, and lead with transparency.

    Episode 153: SCARF: 5 Things Your Employees Need From You

  5. Sep 4

    Episode 152: Building Culture That Lasts with Dr. Keirsten Taillon

    Leadership and organizational change rarely succeed through a one-size-fits-all solution. In this episode, Carl and Tiffany welcome organizational development psychologist and leadership consultant Dr. Keirsten Taillon for a conversation about what it really takes to help leaders, teams, and workplace cultures change.Keirsten shares why effective consulting begins with curiosity, trust, and understanding an organization before prescribing solutions. The conversation explores the difference between co-creating change and imposing it, balancing compassion with accountability, and accepting that sometimes organizations simply aren't ready to change.Carl, Tiffany, and Keirsten also examine the parallels between parenting and leadership, the importance of leaders modeling the culture they want to create, and why meaningful culture change requires discipline and sustained attention rather than another quick fix. They discuss self-awareness, competing commitments, Tiffany's mindset–skill set–tool set framework, and the challenge of adapting your leadership style without losing your authenticity.For leaders navigating uncertainty and consultants helping organizations evolve, this episode is a reminder that sustainable change isn't something you do to people—it's something you build with them. Keirsten's bio is below.Dr. Keirsten Taillon is an organization development psychologist and leadership consultant who has spent more than two decades helping leaders communicate with clarity and courage. Through her firm MaxPotentials, she has trained over 3,000 leaders and coached more than 1,000 executives across state government, public safety, healthcare, and private industry. Her leadership philosophy is simple: after our love, the greatest gift we have to give is our labor — and leaders have a special responsibility to honor the work people give. She lives in Northern California with her four children, ages 17 to 23, who remain her most important work.

    Episode 152: Building Culture That Lasts with Dr. Keirsten Taillon

  6. Aug 28

    Episode 151: Breaking the Ice Without Breaking the Room

    Nobody wants another awkward icebreaker. In this episode, Carl and Tiffany explore how to use icebreakers and training activities with purpose—creating connection and engagement without making participants uncomfortable.From music-based mingling and People Bingo to breakout rooms and topic-focused questions, they discuss how facilitators can choose activities that support actual learning outcomes rather than simply filling time. They also tackle the importance of psychological safety, reading the room, providing choices, and recognizing that not everyone wants to participate in the same way.The takeaway: a good icebreaker isn't about forcing people out of their comfort zones—it's about creating the conditions that make them want to engage.

    Episode 151: Breaking the Ice Without Breaking the Room

  7. Aug 21

    Episode 150: Keeping the Human in Human Services with Julie Fong

    How do you keep the human in human services when your work is shaped by policy, bureaucracy, and complex systems?In this episode, Carl and Tiffany welcome Julie Fong for a conversation spanning more than two decades of experience in social services, public policy, and Tribal TANF. Julie reflects on her journey from civil rights work to a 26-year federal career working alongside Tribal governments, and her transition to state-level eligibility policy with the California Department of Social Services.The conversation explores how social work values can guide leadership and policy decisions, the importance of supporting and professionalizing frontline eligibility and case management staff, and why trauma-informed approaches and plain language matter when serving people in crisis. Julie also shares strategies for breaking down organizational silos, strengthening partnerships across government systems, and balancing administrative responsibilities with meaningful human connection.Ultimately, the discussion challenges human services leaders to think beyond individual programs and perspectives—to build relationships intentionally, approach conflict with curiosity, and create systems that are both effective and compassionate. Julie's Bio is below:Julie Fong, is a social services and public policy leader with more than 28 years of experience working with state, territory, and Tribal governments in social services, government relations, public policy, and social justice. She brings nearly 25 years of experience with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, first as a Tribal TANF Program Specialist and later as Region IX TANF Program Manager, overseeing more than 30 programs with funding exceeding $4.3 billion.

    Episode 150: Keeping the Human in Human Services with Julie Fong

  8. Aug 14

    Episode 149: Mastering Your Inner Dialogue with Derrin Ford

    What we say to ourselves can shape how we perform, lead, and respond to challenges. In this episode, Carl and Tiffany welcome workforce development consultant and coach Derrin Ford for a conversation about self-awareness, inner dialogue, imposter syndrome, and the role coaching can play in personal and professional growth.Derrin shares his journey from athletics to career counseling, teaching, and coaching, along with the inspiration behind his Mastering Inner Dialogue curriculum. Drawing connections between sports, the workplace, and leadership, the group explores how negative self-talk and performance anxiety can undermine confidence—even when someone has the skills and experience to succeed.The conversation moves from theory to practice as Derrin, Tiffany, and Carl share strategies for managing imposter syndrome, challenging unproductive thought patterns, and building confidence through action and reflection. They also tackle an important reality of coaching: you can't want growth more than the person you're coaching.Ultimately, the discussion is about knowing what you can influence, recognizing what belongs to someone else, and learning not to take every response personally. It's a practical and relatable conversation about developing the inner dialogue that helps us show up more confidently—for ourselves and for others. Derrin's bio is below.Derrin Ford, M.Ed., is a workforce development consultant and coach who helps individuals achieve clarity and structure in their professional goals. Drawing on mentorship from leaders across industries, Ford specializes in building self-awareness through his approach, Mastering Internal Dialogue. With more than nine years of experience, including roles as a career counselor and workforce development coach and trainer within CWDS, he integrates critical thinking, reflection and self-awareness strategies into group and individual settings. Ford’s facilitation style promotes engagement and equips professionals with practical tools to succeed in today’s workforce.Derrin can be reached on LinkedIn

    Episode 149: Mastering Your Inner Dialogue with Derrin Ford
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Keeping It Real with Tiff and Carl is a leadership podcast featuring candid conversations, practical strategies, and real-world insights for people working in government, human services, and today’s workplace. From communication and coaching to burnout, conflict. Tiffany Salcido and Dr. Carl Rabun are professional training and coaching consultants with a passion for leadership development. Together they have over 40 years of combined experience working and leading in government agencies and 25 helping professionals maximize their customer service, communication skills and leadership potential.

Information

  • Creator
    Carl Damian Rabun and Tiffany Salcido
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Carl Damian Rabun and Tiffany Salcido
  • Show Website
    Keeping It Real with Tiff and Carl