For Our Edification

Real stories of transformation. Strategic insights for navigating change.
  • 5.0 (8)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A personal leadership podcast that shares real stories about moments that transform people's careers. Eddie Francis reaches into his bag of strategic communications and leadership expertise, while Dr. Halima Leak Francis comes in with super cool sociological insights to help us be our best selves. forouredification.substack.com

  1. FEB 25

    076 | Resilience in Mindfulness with Dave Delaney

    As was the case for so many, 2020 wasn’t a great year for Dave Delaney. With the COVID-19 lockdown, his speaking business took a big hit, and natural disasters had become too much a part of his life. On top of that, Dave had been diagnosed with ADHD. With his love for communication and the stage, Dave found a renewed energy in improv, but he found new life in mindfulness. In this conversation, Dave shares how finding resilience in mindfulness and community has played a role in both his personal and professional lives. About Dave Delaney | davedelaney.me Dave Delaney is a communication and leadership strategist, ADHD-aware coach, keynote speaker, and published author with 25-plus years of experience helping organizations and professionals communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. He blends communication strategy, digital fluency, human-centered leadership, and creativity to help teams solve real problems: unclear messaging, siloed communication, low engagement, stalled growth, and the everyday friction that slows mission-driven work.Dave has served organizations as a senior communications leader, director of communications, consultant, and fractional support for marketing, culture, and leadership teams. He also coaches professionals, especially ADHD adults, to improve communication, navigate change, and build the clarity and follow-through they need to grow in their work and lives. Dave is the host of the Wise Squirrels Podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    43 min

  2. FEB 5

    075 | Discovering His Sovereign Path with Rory Verrett

    Rory Verrett felt "rudderless" after being defeated early in his career—literally. The New Orleans native had returned from Harvard Law School and had a strong start to his career when he decided to run for public office. But he suffered a bitter defeat. It was a moment that Rory describes as feeling "devastated" and "embarrassed." That moment led to a series of career moves that have helped Rory discover a superpower that he didn't realize he had. This discussion is a lesson in coping with what happens when manifesting doesn't work, making room for what may be your real talent, and the power of introspection when you rely on your supporters. About Rory Verrett | mysovereignpath.com The founder of Sovereign Path™ and one of the most trusted executive coaches for purpose-driven leaders across industries and continents, Rory brings a rare combination of experience in executive search, leadership development, and succession strategy. He brings deep insight into what it takes to lead with clarity, conviction, and long-term impact. Rory has coached CEOs, general counsels, professional sports coaches, startup founders, nonprofit executives, finance leaders, and global entrepreneurs. His work draws on over two decades of advising senior leaders at critical inflection points in their careers and organizations. Rory developed Sovereign Path after leading succession planning for global corporations, managing the NFL’s leadership academy for emerging front office executives, and curating learning experiences for club executives at Stanford and Wharton business schools. He has presented talent strategy insights at the White House, testified before Congress, and lectured on leadership and equity in North America, Europe, and Africa. As founder of Protégé Search, Rory has recruited executive leaders for some of the world’s most mission-driven companies, nonprofits, and B Corporations. This unique vantage point—at the intersection of purpose, power, and placement—makes him a uniquely effective coach for those seeking to lead authentically and with legacy in mind. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Rory earned his undergraduate degree from Howard University and was selected as a Truman Scholar. Through Sovereign Path, he helps ambitious, values-driven leaders design the next chapter of their lives and careers—on purpose, with purpose. The views expressed on “For Our Edification” do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    44 min

  3. JAN 23

    074 | Transformation Beyond Corporate Politics with Melinda Van Fleet

    What happens when a self-described workaholic hits a wall with corporate politics? For Melinda Van Fleet it was a sign that something had to change. Melinda visited For Our Edification to share her journey from successful retail buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue to empowerment and business coach. After years of thriving in Corporate America, regularly working 12-hour days because she genuinely loved what she did, Melinda discovered that loving your work wasn’t enough when corporate politics got in the way. Her turning point came in 2009 when both Melinda and her husband Ryan got laid off simultaneously. They moved to the Florida Keys without knowing anyone. But from that rock-bottom moment, they built three successful businesses. Melinda shares how her new reality has been built on her revolutionary view on leadership, uncovering the power of meditation vs. mind loops, radical self-awareness, and more. About Melinda Van Fleet | melindavanfleet.com An intuitive and energetic empowerment business coach/mentor, Melinda is also a business owner with her husband and a bestselling author. She helps people understand how to expand their conscious awareness and use their intuitive gifts so they can achieve their goals and live their best life possible. Melinda and her husband, Capt. Ryan Van Fleet have an inspiring story of how they moved to The Florida Keys in 2009 and created Good Karma Sportfishing and Educational Programs. In 2021, she wrote and self-published two bestselling non-fiction books, Confidence Master for Couples: Roadmap to a More Intimate Relationship and Life & Love Lessons: How to Develop Confidence Through Your Spiritual Journey. Both are available on Amazon, Audible, in paperback, and eBook. Melinda is currently working on her first fiction book series in the Sci-Fi worldview genre. Connect also at: * Instagram: @melinda_vanfleet * Patreon: Conscious Convergence- Your Most Purposeful Life * Facebook: melinda.vanfleet.31 * LinkedIn: melinda-van-fleet * TikTok: @melindavanfleet7 The views expressed on “For Our Edification” do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    40 min

  4. JAN 12

    073 | 5 Leader-Follower Relationship Promises to Make in 2026

    The Season 7 premiere kicks off a new direction for the podcast. For Our Edification is setting sail into deeper personal leadership waters with stories of career transformation. We’re kicking off the new season with a challenge to both managers and their direct reports in the workplace to make five promises to tighten their relationships. These aren’t just any promises. I reach into my strategic communications bag to encourage a better leader-follower relationship with an eye on organizational improvement. Keep up with more strategic communications insights by signing up for my monthly LinkedIn newsletter, Edifying the Brand. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    30 min
  5. 072 | Season 6 in Review

    12/11/2025

    072 | Season 6 in Review

    I focused more on personal leadership in Season 6 of For Our Edification, brought back the Write to Bear Alms segment, and launched the Higher Edification segment. Take a listen to some of the episodes that stood out to me: 56 | Eddie’s the Guest 68 | Creating Student Success From Access with Dr. James K. Winfield 71 | Colleges and Universities as Civic Anchors with Dr. Halima Leak Francis 70 | Philanthropic Investment in New Orleans with Halima 69 | The Fight for Critical Thinking with Dr. Esha Lovrić 58 | Thinking, Feeling, and Leading with Christopher Tidrick 59 | Strength in Authenticity with Rashad Young 62 | Winners Win with Carlos Henry And many thanks to those who joined me: Christine D. Ross, Dominique Luster, Lori Osborne, Andrea C. McLean, and Randy Phares. The views expressed on “For Our Edification” do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    34 min

  6. 11/07/2025

    071 | Colleges and Universities as Civic Anchors with Dr. Halima Leak Francis

    In the Higher Edification segment, Halima discusses how colleges and universities are civic anchors, something that was part of her doctoral research in higher education administration at New York University. She shares her thoughts about the importance of colleges and universities’ role as civic anchors, how different types of institutions of higher learning contribute to their respective communities, and how the presence of colleges and universities influences citizens’ personal leadership. The views expressed on “For Our Edification” do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    45 min
  7. 070 | Philanthropic Investment in New Orleans with Dr. Halima Leak Francis

    10/16/2025

    070 | Philanthropic Investment in New Orleans with Dr. Halima Leak Francis

    Approaching the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, The Data Center published “The New Orleans Index at Twenty” Collection, which included “Resourcing resilience and prosperity: Philanthropic investment in New Orleans’ nonprofit sector after Hurricane Katrina”. The research was produced by For Our Edification’s very own Dr. Halima Leak Francis, who is the Carnegie Corporation of NY Professor of Social Entrepreneurship in the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation & Design Thinking at Tulane University. For this Write to Bear Alms segment, I’m rerunning a conversation that I had with Halima about her research and how New Orleans can continue to attract philanthropic investment on my weekly radio show, “The Way Forward” on WBOK radio. The views expressed on “For Our Edification” do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    35 min

  8. 10/01/2025

    069 | The Fight for Critical Thinking with Dr. Esha Lovrić

    Dr. Esha Lovrić deeply believes that there is a need to widely promote critical thinking. She is so convinced of it that she has taken to Threads for a public commentary, even focusing on making the distinction between critical thinking and conspiratorial thinking. I was so excited about her posts that I invited Esha to join me for an episode of my weekly radio show “The Way Forward” on WBOK radio. This episode of “For Our Edification” is a replay of that conversation. Ending the episode with my Leadership for Good thoughts, I admit that this was supposed to be another episode entirely. But the ancestors said, “Ah-ah! Don’t do it.” About Dr. Esha Lovrić Raised in a region ripped apart by social and political upheaval, Esha is a social scientist dedicated to asking questions to give people more clarity about their relationship with society and society’s relationship with them. Her research and study quest begins with fundamental questions like: How do we perceive the world? Why do we perceive the world as we do? What can we control? How can we increase the chance of personal success? Over the past 15 years, Esha’s journey in the field of sociological discourse has primarily revolved around the Western context. She has taught, lectured, supervised, and mentored at universities in Australia and now in the European Union. She continues to research and write scientific publications, as well as uphold the requirements of her appointment as a visiting academic fellow. Esha teaches at the intersection of sociology and social structures, along with philosophy and other scientific evidence. She wholly rejects scientific dichotomies. Her research interests are studying what motivates human beings to work hard for their future selves and what pulls people backwards. Esha also researches rituals and social pollutants, and social constructions. The views expressed on “For Our Edification” do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit forouredification.substack.com

    34 min
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5
out of 5
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About

A personal leadership podcast that shares real stories about moments that transform people's careers. Eddie Francis reaches into his bag of strategic communications and leadership expertise, while Dr. Halima Leak Francis comes in with super cool sociological insights to help us be our best selves. forouredification.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Real stories of transformation. Strategic insights for navigating change.
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Eddie Francis
  • Show Website
    For Our Edification