UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders

Cohesion Culture
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Every leader has an UH-OH moment. The great ones know how to turn those moments into momentum.In UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with industry experts for candid, high-stakes confessions regarding their most crucial leadership mistakes. We peel back the curtain on the errors that cost time, money, and trust, and more importantly, we map out the exact steps taken to fix them.Designed for emerging leaders and seasoned executives alike, this podcast is your weekly guide to building emotional resilience, fostering cohesive teams, and leading with a strong, ethical backbone. Stop fearing the UH-OH and start mastering the recovery.

  1. Bikes, Joy, and the Art of Making the Ask (Rerun)

    4D AGO

    Bikes, Joy, and the Art of Making the Ask (Rerun)

    In this inspiring episode, Katie Blomquist, founder of Going Places, reveals a leadership lesson about the importance of asking.  Learn how her initial hesitation to seek sponsorships nearly cost her nonprofit valuable opportunities, and discover the mindset shift that transformed her approach to fundraising. Katie shares her unique journey of providing new bikes to low-income elementary school children, and explains why sometimes the most significant barriers are the ones we create in our own minds.  Packed with energy, humor, and actionable insights, this episode will challenge listeners to overcome their fears and embrace the simple strategy of just asking.  Whether you're a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to advance your career, Katie's story offers a refreshing perspective on growth, community impact, and the unexpected rewards of stepping out of your comfort zone. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    33 min
  2. From "Them vs. Us" to Cohesive Trust

    FEB 24

    From "Them vs. Us" to Cohesive Trust

    What happens when your best leadership trait becomes your biggest liability? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, hosts Dr. Troy Hall and Trevor Crunelle sit down with Andrew Brümmer, a fractional executive, international mentor, and former stunt double for Robert Downey Jr! Andrew shares a raw and insightful UH-OH moment from his career: the time his commitment to team autonomy accidentally birthed "Golden Child Syndrome," alienating an entire department and creating a deep organizational rift. In this episode, you’ll learn: How servant pleasing can inadvertently damage your professional brand.The danger of "Command and Control" vs. "Autonomous" cultures clashing within the same company.The bold strategy Andrew used to face 17 disgruntled employees and clear the air through radical vulnerability.How to identify when team members are perpetuating a victim identity instead of seeking solutions.The power of critical thinking in transforming your most vocal critics into your most loyal allies.Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, Andrew’s house on the hill perspective provides a masterclass in navigating toxicity and reclaiming the truth. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The SafeWork Advantage PodcastMost workplaces react to violence—SafeWork Advantage shows employers how to prevent it.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    42 min
  3. Surviving Your Own UH-OH Era

    FEB 17

    Surviving Your Own UH-OH Era

    What happens when you hit peak success at age 30, only to realize you’ve started coasting? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Trevor Crunelle chat with Aaron Trahan, founder of Performance Mindset Coaching. Aaron pulls back the curtain on his UH-OH era, a period where early career wins led to a dangerous comfort zone and a 360-degree feedback report that changed everything. We discuss how transcendental meditation keeps him grounded, why focus is a leadership superpower, and the system-driven approach he uses to help businesses get better at getting better. Key highlights include: The Power of Meditation: How 35 minutes of meditation daily removes ego and sharpens decision-making.The Emerging Mindset: Why you should never stop being an emerging leader, regardless of your title.Blind Spots are Like Cigarettes: The story of the feedback report Aaron still carries in his backpack 12 years later.Getting in the Pool: Why leadership, like swimming, requires you to get wet and embrace the messiness of human connection.Whether you're a seasoned executive or a rising leader, Aaron’s insights on moving from coasting to continuous improvement are the wake-up call every leader needs. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    34 min
  4. Mingle Over Metrics: Why Real Connection Wins at Work (Rerun)

    FEB 10

    Mingle Over Metrics: Why Real Connection Wins at Work (Rerun)

    What happens when a serial DIYer meets a leadership challenge he can’t fix with a toolbox?. In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy are joined by John Patsch, co-founder of Miingl. John is a craftsman who rolls up his sleeves to understand the how behind everything from garage projects to corporate culture. The UH-OH Moment John pulls back the curtain on a startup failure from 12 years ago that changed his perspective on leadership forever. It wasn't a product failure or a market shift. It was a power struggle. John shares a raw account of how a "need to be right" fueled argumentative communication, caused the founders to lose sight of their vision, and ultimately ended a business partnership for good. What You’ll Learn: The DIY Leadership Paradox: Why rolling up your sleeves helps you empathize with the struggle of others.Vulnerability vs. Transparency: Ben-Jamin Toy unpacks why simply being honest isn't enough if you aren't willing to feel the weight of your mistakes.The Miingl Mission: How John is using technology to humanize culture and rebuild authentic, live connections in a world of shrinking attention spans.Unconventional Hiring: Why John looks for people with better ideas than his own and values a penchant for leadership over a perfect resume."You don't have to know everything. You just need to be teachable.". If you’ve ever prioritized "winning the argument" over "winning the mission," this conversation is the wake-up call you didn't know you needed.  Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    33 min
  5. They Still Send Him Thank You Notes

    FEB 3

    They Still Send Him Thank You Notes

    In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Ben-Jamin Toy and Dr. Troy Hall chat with Jim Carlough, a seasoned executive and Chief Sales Officer, to discuss one of the most difficult and often most mishandled moments in leadership: downsizing. Jim shares a candid UH-OH experience from earlier in his career, when following traditional “be firm, be direct, be short” guidance damaged trust, hurt his reputation, and left lasting emotional fallout for employees. He doesn’t sugarcoat the cost, both personal and professional. But the story doesn’t stop there. Twenty years into his career, Jim rethought everything. What followed was a radically human, integrity-driven approach to layoffs built on transparency, empathy, and shared dignity—an approach that resulted in the highest employee satisfaction scores in a 20,000-person organization, even as jobs were being eliminated. This conversation is a masterclass in: Leading under pressureIntegrity as a daily behaviorHow cohesion changes outcomes especially in hard momentsWhat leaders and employees can do when facing transitionIf you think cohesion only matters when times are good, this episode will challenge that belief. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    37 min
  6. Why Your Biggest Business UH-OH Might Be Your Breakthrough

    JAN 27

    Why Your Biggest Business UH-OH Might Be Your Breakthrough

    What happens when a six-figure mistake forces a leader to look in the mirror? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with entrepreneur and insurance leader David Price for an honest conversation about accountability, ego, and growth under pressure. David shares how a $100,000 operational oversight exposed deeper issues around systems, leadership readiness, and removing himself from the business too quickly. Instead of deflecting blame, he walks through how owning the mistake sharpened his discipline, improved his processes, and ultimately strengthened the company. This conversation goes beyond business mechanics. David opens up about his recovery journey, how discipline is built through repetition, why mistakes are expensive education, and what it really means to act like the leader you want to become before the title shows up. If you’ve ever: Missed something costly at workFelt the sting of accountabilityStruggled with ego, growth, or delegationWondered how leaders turn failures into fuelThis episode will hit home. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    35 min
  7. The Cost of Scaling Too Fast: A Leadership Lesson (Rerun)

    JAN 20

    The Cost of Scaling Too Fast: A Leadership Lesson (Rerun)

    In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Ryan DuBois. He’s an endurance athlete at heart, a builder by trade, and the kind of leader who’s learned most of his lessons the hard way. From scaling startups across the Southeast to grinding through 20-hour days in manufacturing, Ryan brings a grounded, people-first view of leadership when things stop going according to plan. Ryan shares his defining UH-OH moment, a rapid expansion that pushed his team beyond capacity and forced a hard reset. The fallout went deeper than operational pain and became a leadership wake-up call. By slowing down, applying lean principles, and choosing readiness over raw output, he learned that if your people aren’t ready, your business isn’t either. The conversation digs into what actually sustains organizations. Why every company is, at its core, in the people business. How transparency earns trust instead of eroding authority. And what leaders should really be looking for when promoting from within. Ryan connects endurance thinking, intentional conversations, and long-term perspective into a leadership approach that favors progress over panic. If you’re a founder moving fast, a leader navigating growth, or someone who wants to lead with more clarity and less ego, this episode is a reminder worth hearing. Sustainable leadership doesn’t come from sprinting harder. It comes from listening well, learning fast, and choosing the long road when it’s the right one. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    37 min
  8. Using AI Without Losing Trust

    JAN 13

    Using AI Without Losing Trust

    What happens when integrity collides with convenience? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Trevor Crunelle chat with leadership coach, author, and podcaster Kathy Archer for a refreshingly honest conversation about confidence, competence, and the cost of leadership missteps. Kathy shares a pivotal UH-OH moment involving AI, trust, and a leadership value she holds deeply: integrity. What followed wasn’t a public disaster, but something quieter and more dangerous... a crack in trust. Together, they unpack: Why imposter syndrome is often a skill gap, not a character flawHow leaders unintentionally say one thing and model anotherThe difference between niceness and kindness in leadership conversationsWhy confidence grows from competence, not complimentsHow AI can support leaders without undermining authenticityWhy owning mistakes builds credibility faster than pretending they didn’t happenThis episode is practical, direct, and grounded in leadership experience. No motivational posters. No performative vulnerability. Just honest reflection, accountability, and tools leaders can actually use. If you lead people. or want to, this conversation will challenge how you think about trust, growth, and what it really means to be teachable. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community The Path to ExitFounders—thinking of selling or raising capital? Here's what you should know... Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

    35 min
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About

Every leader has an UH-OH moment. The great ones know how to turn those moments into momentum.In UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with industry experts for candid, high-stakes confessions regarding their most crucial leadership mistakes. We peel back the curtain on the errors that cost time, money, and trust, and more importantly, we map out the exact steps taken to fix them.Designed for emerging leaders and seasoned executives alike, this podcast is your weekly guide to building emotional resilience, fostering cohesive teams, and leading with a strong, ethical backbone. Stop fearing the UH-OH and start mastering the recovery.

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