The Love Mondays Podcast

Ron Monteiro

Welcome to the Love Mondays Podcast! My goal is to bring on inspiring, authentic guests who share real stories, lessons, and practical tools to help you love your Mondays, and every other day of the week. Because life is too short to just get through the week. This podcast is about being intentional, energized, and excited—EVERY DAY. Whether it’s leadership, mindset, career growth, or personal development, you’ll walk away with ideas you can apply immediately.

Episodes

  1. Aug 10

    The Love Mondays Podcast - Robert 'Cujo' Teschner

    What if your team could become dramatically better with just four minutes after every important meeting?In this episode of the Love Mondays Podcast, I sit down with Robert "Cujo" Teschner—former F-22 fighter pilot, author of Debrief to Win, keynote speaker, and leadership expert.I first met Cujo while speaking at Kent State University, where I had the chance to watch his opening keynote. His story, his humility, and his approach to leadership immediately stood out.After an extraordinary military career and a courageous battle with colorectal cancer, Cujo has dedicated his second career to helping organizations build high-performing teams through one simple but powerful practice: the debrief.In this conversation we discuss:✈️ Lessons from flying the F-22📘 The story behind Debrief to Win🎯 Why elite teams improve faster than everyone else💬 How to create honest conversations without blame🤝 Why high-performing teams spend time together🚀 Leadership lessons that apply in every boardroom⭐ Top Gun vs. Star Wars (we had to ask!)One of my favourite moments is Cujo's story about a near-fatal flying mission where his team spent just four minutes debriefing after landing. No blame. No defensiveness. Just a commitment to learning before the next mission.Imagine bringing that mindset into your next leadership meeting.If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to build stronger teams and better leaders.Thank you, Cujo, for your remarkable service and for continuing to inspire leaders around the world.

  2. Jul 20

    The Love Mondays Podcast - Jill Nykoliation

    The Love Mondays podcast - Finding Purpose, Reinvention & Happiness with Jill Nykoliation What if the career you've worked so hard to build isn't your final chapter?In this inspiring episode of the Love Mondays Podcast, I sit down with Jill Nykoliation, whose career journey is a masterclass in courage, reinvention, and following your intuition.Jill began her career in Marketing at Kraft Foods, where she learned under legendary business leader Irene Rosenfeld. Rather than following the traditional career path, she trusted her instincts and accepted a unique role that others overlooked—one decision that would shape her remarkable career. She later co-founded Juniper Park, one of Canada's most successful independent advertising agencies, leading an award-winning organization that worked with iconic brands such as lululemon. Today, Jill serves as an Executive Coach and Facilitator with the Modern Elder Academy, where she teaches alongside renowned happiness expert and bestselling author Dr. Arthur C. Brooks.One of my favourite moments from our conversation is learning why Jill doesn't love Mondays—she loves Thursdays.During the pandemic, she introduced weekly Thursday mindfulness sessions for her team, sharing everything she had learned about resilience, gratitude, and being present. The impact was extraordinary. Team members began recognizing one another, generosity became part of the culture, engagement soared, and business results followed. The approach was so successful that Harvard Business School developed a business case on Juniper Park's remarkable culture.We also explore:✅ The leadership lessons Jill learned from Irene Rosenfeld and the power of mentorship✅ Why trusting your intuition often leads to your greatest opportunities✅ The importance of asking yourself "Who am I now?" and using Brené Brown's Values Exercise to reconnect with what truly matters✅ Lessons from Dr. Arthur C. Brooks on happiness, fulfillment, and his bestselling book From Strength to Strength✅ Why Jill's work with the Modern Elder Academy (Chip Conley) has become one of the most meaningful chapters of her life✅ The wisdom of Boyd Varty's The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life and how paying attention to life's small clues can lead to your next great adventure✅ Practical ways to create more purpose, fulfillment, and yes…more Love MondaysOne quote beautifully captures the spirit of this conversation:"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."(Often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.)Whether you're navigating a career transition, leading a team, searching for greater purpose, or simply trying to create a more meaningful life, Jill shares practical wisdom that will inspire you to listen more closely to your head, your heart, and your gut.If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who is ready for their next chapter.I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments:👉 What lights you up? And what is one small clue life might be giving you about your next great adventure?#LoveMondays #JillNykoliation #Leadership #Purpose #CareerGrowth #Happiness #FromStrengthToStrength #ModernElderAcademy #Mindfulness #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #BreneBrown #Gratitude #PersonalGrowth #Reinvention #Culture #Podcast

  3. Jul 6

    The Love Mondays Podcast - Vanessa Judelman

    What does it take to build a workplace where people genuinely love Mondays? In this episode of the Love Mondays Podcast, Ron Monteiro sits down with Vanessa Judelman—leadership expert, executive coach, author of Mastering Leadership, and founder of Mosaic People Development—to discuss leadership, communication, accountability, and creating high-performing teams. Vanessa shares why she truly loves Mondays and explains why we are all the CEO of our own careers. Rather than waiting for the perfect job, she encourages us to be intentional about creating meaningful and fulfilling work. In this conversation you'll learn: Why taking ownership of your career changes everything Vanessa's 4C Leadership Framework: Culture Clarity Coaching Communication How leaders can create cultures where people thrive The importance of thoughtful recognition Practical tips for navigating challenging conversations Why sales is really about adding value to others Leadership one-liners you'll never forget—including "No agenda, no attenda." Whether you're a leader, aspiring leader, or simply looking to make your Mondays—and every other day—more meaningful, this episode is filled with practical insights you can put into action immediately. About Vanessa Judelman Vanessa is the Founder of Mosaic People Development, where she helps leaders and organizations strengthen communication, develop high-performing teams, and build exceptional workplace cultures through coaching, training, and keynote speaking.

  4. Apr 27

    The Love Mondays Podcast - Joe Oswald

    Welcome to the Love Mondays Podcast—helping you build a life and career you’re excited to wake up to. On MONDAYS and every other day.  Today’s guest? Joe Oswald—a global business leader turned executive coach who truly loves his Mondays.   1. Loving Mondays: Find Your People + Your Mission Joe reminds us that loving your work isn’t luck—it’s alignment. It’s about finding your people and chasing a mission that matters together. He measures leadership with one simple question:  “Did everyone get better?”   2. Reinvention & Networking: Listen to Life’s Whispers After 19 years at one company, Joe’s career unexpectedly ended. Instead of rushing, he paused… took a year off… and listened to what Oprah Winfrey calls:  “Life’s whispers.” That led him to a second career he once admired—executive coaching. His approach to networking is refreshingly practical: Be genuinely interested in others Prepare and ask thoughtful questions Be specific: “Who would you like an intro to?” Share what distinctly sets you apart And his biggest lesson?  Be of service. (A powerful clue to both happiness and success.)   3. Loving Sales: A Noble Profession Joe reframes sales in a way most people miss:  “Sales is a noble venture.” It’s not about pushing—it’s about discovering if there’s real value. Don’t sell something that doesn’t help A fast no is a good outcome Understand and navigate objections (Joe has a 6-category framework)   4. Authentic Leadership: Connection Over Control Joe’s leadership style is simple—and powerful. One of his best ideas?  Bringing in a taco truck and connecting with team members one-on-one as they grab food. No formal meetings. Just real conversations. Because great leadership isn’t about authority… It’s about connection, growth, and impact.   Final Thought Reinvention. Service. Authentic leadership. This episode is a masterclass in building a career—and life—you don’t need to escape from.

  5. Mar 30

    The Love Mondays Podcast – Never Quit | Sam Akrivopoulos

    Welcome to the Love Mondays Podcast, where we bring you inspiring, authentic stories to help you love your Mondays… and every other day of the week. In this episode, I sit down with Sam Akrivopoulos, a true example of resilience, grit, and growth. Sam’s journey didn’t start easy. He struggled in school, worked his way up as an apprentice plumber, and made a bold decision to bet on himself by starting Flowtek Plumbing. Today, he’s built a thriving business, but the road was anything but smooth. We dive into: The courage to take the leap into entrepreneurship Lessons learned building a business from the ground up His mindset of “Never Quit” Overcoming a horrific skiing accident and a recent health scare Daily habits and continuous learning that fuel his success On a personal note, Sam and I go way back—our families grew up on the same street, and we share some great memories watching our kids play together. It made this conversation even more meaningful. 💡 Key Takeaways: You don’t have to have it all figured out to start Challenges can become your greatest teachers Persistence and mindset can change everything 🔥 If you’re feeling stuck, facing challenges, or thinking about taking a leap… this episode is for you. 👉 Question for you: What’s one area in your life where you need to adopt a “Never Quit” mindset? If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe—it helps us continue bringing you stories that inspire you to love your Mondays. #LoveMondays #Entrepreneurship #Mindset #NeverQuit #Leadership

  6. Mar 16

    The Love Mondays Podcast - Lisa Broderick

    What if two minutes a day could change your life? In this episode of the Love Mondays Podcast, Ron Monteiro sits down with leadership expert Lisa Broderick, co-author of the book Permanence, to discuss one of the most powerful accountability experiments ever conducted with top leaders. Lisa was invited by legendary executive coach Marshall Goldsmith to embark on a fascinating mission: hold CEOs, heads of state, and other prominent leaders accountable to their daily intentions. https://permanencebook.com/ Her role was simple — ask them a short set of active questions every day. Questions like: Did I do my best to be happy today? Did I do my best to make progress toward my goals? Did I do my best to be fully engaged? The results were remarkable. Leaders who continued this two-minute daily accountability practice dramatically outperformed those who stopped. The simple act of answering these questions changed daily behavior, focus, and ultimately long-term success. In this conversation, Ron and Lisa explore: The surprising power of active questions Why accountability drives behavior change The leadership experiment with top CEOs and world leaders The six powerful questions from the book Permanence How a two-minute daily practice can help you design and live your best life This episode is packed with practical tools, leadership insights, and simple habits you can start using immediately. If you're looking to bring more purpose, accountability, and intentionality into your life, this conversation is for you. About the Love Mondays Podcast: Hosted by Ron Monteiro, the Love Mondays Podcast explores practical ideas, inspiring stories, and powerful frameworks to help leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs find more purpose, growth, and fulfillment in their work and lives. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode: Like the video Subscribe to the channel Share it with someone who wants to design a better life

About

Welcome to the Love Mondays Podcast! My goal is to bring on inspiring, authentic guests who share real stories, lessons, and practical tools to help you love your Mondays, and every other day of the week. Because life is too short to just get through the week. This podcast is about being intentional, energized, and excited—EVERY DAY. Whether it’s leadership, mindset, career growth, or personal development, you’ll walk away with ideas you can apply immediately.