The Human Side of Leadership

Dr. Pelè
  • 5.0 (31)
  • Management
  • Updated Biweekly

The Human Side of Leadership, hosted by Dr. Pelè, explores what it truly means to lead in today’s complex and rapidly changing world. Through conversations with executives, authors, clinicians, and thought leaders, the podcast examines how leadership is experienced by teams, customers, patients, and organizations in real time. Each episode reveals the human behaviors that build trust, strengthen culture, improve performance, and turn leadership insight into measurable results. In an age increasingly shaped by technology and AI, this podcast brings the focus back to what matters most: how leaders show up, connect with others, and create confidence in the moments that matter.

  1. Sep 2

    306: Training That Actually Changes Results: Why It Takes a Village, With Greg Schinkel

    Why does so much great training fail to produce measurable results? In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè sits down with Greg Schinkel, CEO of Unique Training & Development, for a candid conversation between two leadership development practitioners who have spent decades wrestling with the same challenge: how do we turn learning into behavior change, and behavior change into business results? Greg shares his journey from manufacturing and leadership development into the ongoing pursuit of better ways to activate and measure learning. Dr. Pelè traces his own perspective back to an extraordinary childhood experience during the Nigerian Civil War, where he learned a lesson that would shape his philosophy decades later: survival did not depend on one person. It took a village. Together, they explore why traditional training measurement often stops short of results, the limitations of surveys and self-reported behavior, the roles managers and executives must play after training, and how AI is creating new possibilities for seeing behavior change as it happens. Their central conclusion is simple but consequential: the learner cannot carry the responsibility for training success alone. If organizations want development programs to create measurable results, participants must practice, leaders must activate, and organizations must leverage what they learn. Training may begin in the classroom. Results happen in the village.

  2. Aug 19

    305: Leadership Without Losing the Human Touch, With Joshua Evarts

    As technology and AI reshape the way we work, how do leaders embrace innovation without losing the human touch? Joshua Evarts has spent more than three decades building businesses in technology. But some of his most important lessons about leadership came from an unexpected place: a cigar lounge he opened as a gathering space for conversation, community, and connection. In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè talks with Joshua, author of If Jesus Smoked Cigars, about why relationships remain at the heart of meaningful leadership, even as technology becomes more powerful. Joshua shares how his battle with cancer deepened his appreciation for human connection, why technology should ultimately lead us back to better conversations, and what his cigar lounge taught him about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. They also explore the growing role of AI, the importance of listening more than speaking, and why knowing that relationships matter isn't enough. Leaders have to turn that belief into everyday behavior. Joshua's challenge to leaders is both simple and profound: don't try to transform every relationship at once. Start with one. Because ultimately, great leadership isn't just about building a successful business. It's about building a culture strong enough to help people navigate the inevitable challenges of business and life without losing what makes us human. Connect with Joshua Evarts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaevarts/

  3. Aug 13

    304: The Psychology of AI Adoption: Why Resistance Is Human, With Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

    Why do some employees embrace AI while others resist it, quietly avoid it, or deliberately use it poorly? According to behavioral scientist Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, AI adoption is not primarily a technology challenge. It is a human challenge rooted in three powerful emotions: fear of job loss, threats to professional identity, and shame surrounding the use of AI-generated work. In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè talks with Dr. Gleb about his new book, The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results. Together, they explore why traditional change-management approaches often fall short, how leaders unintentionally trigger resistance, and why simply purchasing AI tools and telling employees to use them rarely produces meaningful results. Dr. Gleb also explains how organizations can discover where AI will genuinely help employees, design tools around real workplace frustrations, and move from scattered individual experimentation to productive team-wide adoption. If leaders want AI to deliver results, they must first address the psychology of the people being asked to use it. Dr. Gleb Tipursky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gleb-tsipursky/

  4. Jul 28

    303: Execution Visibility: Why AI Doesn't Replace Jobs, It Replaces Tasks, with Kason Morris

    Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, but are organizations redesigning work before they truly understand it? In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership, Dr. Pelè sits down with workforce transformation executive, author, and LinkedIn Top Voice Kason Morris to explore his groundbreaking concept of Execution Visibility. Together, they discuss why AI doesn't replace jobs, but the tasks within them, why human judgment may become the most valuable capability of the AI era, and why leaders must first understand how work creates value before they can successfully redesign it. Kason shares practical guidance for executives, HR leaders, and learning professionals on balancing automation with human development, preserving critical thinking, and building organizations where technology strengthens rather than weakens capability. If you're leading AI transformation, workforce strategy, leadership development, or organizational change, this conversation offers a thoughtful framework for designing the future of work without losing what makes people indispensable. Connect with Kason Morris below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kason-morris/ Kason's book on Amazon: "Lifework Revolution"

  5. Jul 20

    302: Why Trust Is the Foundation of Every High-Performance Culture, With Kerry Siggins

    What transforms a workplace from a collection of employees into a culture of ownership? In this episode, Dr. Pelè sits down with StoneAge CEO and bestselling author Kerry Siggins to explore the leadership behaviors that create trust, accountability, and genuine ownership. Drawing from her own remarkable journey—from overcoming addiction to leading a global, employee-owned company—Kerry shares why culture isn't built through slogans or values on the wall, but through the conversations leaders choose to have every day. Together, they discuss the "Own It" mindset, why trust is the foundation of high-performing teams, how leaders can recognize accountability (and excuses), why difficult conversations are essential to healthy cultures, and how AI can become a powerful thought partner without replacing the human side of leadership. Whether you lead a global organization, a small team, or simply want to become a better leader, this conversation offers practical wisdom for building cultures where people—and results—can thrive. Connect with Kerry Siggins on LinkedIn: [ HERE ] Visit her website: https://kerrysiggins.com Get the Book "Talk With Trust" on Amazon [ HERE ]

  6. Jun 22

    301: Predictive Care, Human First, With Dr. Trevor Turner, MD

    What if healthcare could identify disease before symptoms appear? And what if artificial intelligence could help physicians think better, not simply move faster? In this episode of The Human Side of Leadership in Healthcare, Dr. Pelè sits down with Trevor Turner, MD, Co-Founder of Provida Health, to explore the future of predictive, personalized medicine. Drawing from his experience caring for professional athletes, Special Operations personnel, and everyday patients, Trevor explains how genomics, wearables, imaging, and AI-powered clinical intelligence are transforming healthcare from a reactive system into a proactive one. But this conversation goes far beyond technology. Trevor shares his own journey through injury and recovery, explains why movement is foundational to long-term health, and reveals why the most important moments in medicine still require human connection, trust, and compassion. Together, they explore:  Why healthcare remains largely reactive  The difference between information and clinical intelligence  How AI can support physician judgment without replacing it  Why more data does not automatically create better outcomes  The role of emotional intelligence in healthcare leadership  What leaders can do today to move their organizations toward predictive care If you're interested in the future of healthcare, leadership, artificial intelligence, and the human experience of medicine, this conversation is for you. Connect with Dr. Trevor Turner on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-turner-9778733/

  7. Jun 15

    300: The Indoor Epidemic: Why Nature Is the Missing Medicine for Burnout, Sleep, and Performance, With John La Puma

    What if burnout isn't simply a workload problem? In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Pelè sits down with physician, chef, regenerative organic farmer, and two-time New York Times bestselling author Dr. John La Puma to explore a surprising idea: many of the health challenges we blame on stress, aging, and burnout may actually be linked to the fact that modern humans spend approximately 93% of their lives indoors. Drawing from more than 2,000 scientific studies and the research behind his new book, Indoor Epidemic, Dr. La Puma explains how natural light, fresh air, distance, movement, and time in nature directly influence sleep, mood, memory, focus, cardiovascular health, and even leadership performance. They discuss: • Why "nature is not a luxury, it's a biological requirement" • The concept of "digital obesity" and pixel overload • How morning light impacts deep sleep and brain health • What healthcare organizations can learn from hospital design research • Why burnout may actually be a symptom of under-restoration • The surprising minimum effective dose of nature for better performance Whether you're a healthcare leader, executive, clinician, or simply someone who spends too much time in front of a screen, this conversation may change the way you think about productivity, wellness, and the environments we create for ourselves and others.

  8. Jun 10

    299: The EQ Zone: How Great Leaders Think Clearly Under Pressure, with Dr. Mickey Lebowitz

    Healthcare professionals are some of the smartest people in the world. Yet burnout, frustration, and emotional exhaustion continue to drive talented clinicians away from the work they love. In this episode, Dr. Mickey Lebowitz, physician, emotional intelligence expert, and author of The EQ Prescription, explains why the real challenge in healthcare is not a lack of knowledge. It is learning how to manage ourselves when the pressure is highest. We explore Dr. Mickey's powerful concept of the Emotional Intelligence Zone, why leaders often struggle under stress, and practical techniques for staying grounded when the heat is on. If you've ever wondered why knowing better doesn't always lead to doing better, this conversation is for you. Connect with Dr. Mickey Lebowitz on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickey-lebowitz-2550b2156/

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About

The Human Side of Leadership, hosted by Dr. Pelè, explores what it truly means to lead in today’s complex and rapidly changing world. Through conversations with executives, authors, clinicians, and thought leaders, the podcast examines how leadership is experienced by teams, customers, patients, and organizations in real time. Each episode reveals the human behaviors that build trust, strengthen culture, improve performance, and turn leadership insight into measurable results. In an age increasingly shaped by technology and AI, this podcast brings the focus back to what matters most: how leaders show up, connect with others, and create confidence in the moments that matter.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Pelè
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    306
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Human Side of Leadership
  • Show Website
    The Human Side of Leadership