The Thermostat with Jason Barger

Jason V Barger
  • 5.0 (56)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

A thermostat is proactive. It sets the temperature in a room. Controls the temperature. Regulates the temperature. But in today's distracted, fast-paced and digital world, it's easy for individuals and organizations to act more like thermometers, slipping into reactionary thinking, becoming scattered and inconsistent. The most compelling leaders, teams, organizations, families or collection of humans of any kind operate in thermostat mode. They calibrate their mind and heart to set the temperature for the vision and culture they want to create. Jason Barger, globally celebrated author, keynote speaker and founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, guides this journey to discover authentic leadership, create compelling cultures and find clarity of mission, vision and values. Learn more at JasonVBarger.com or on social media @jasonvbarger

  1. 4d ago

    Honoring 9/11 & Servant Leadership with Jason Thomas

    In the midst of the terror at ground zero on September 11, 2011, some heroic servant leaders ran into the chaos to serve something greater than themself. This episode is in honor of those lost and those who inspire us to serve.   Jason is joined by former U.S. Marine and 9/11 first responder Jason Thomas for a gripping firsthand account of servant leadership under extreme crisis.   For Full Show Notes visit https://www.jasonvbarger.com/podcast/honoring-9-11-jason-thomas/ Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, how do we honor the sacrifices made and carry those lessons into how we lead our teams today? In this powerful episode of The Thermostat, Jason V. Barger sits down with former U.S. Marine Jason Thomas, whose heroic actions at Ground Zero served as the real-life inspiration for the film World Trade Center. Thomas shares his harrowing story of driving into Manhattan on September 11, 2001, and navigating the scorching debris to rescue two trapped Port Authority officers. This conversation moves beyond typical business anecdotes to explore the ultimate test of servant leadership. Jason and Jason discuss how deeply ingrained family values—specifically the mandate to "be your brother's keeper"—dictate our actions in times of chaos. They explore what it means to keep your word under immense pressure, the selflessness required to put your team first, and why authentic leaders never go backwards. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and anyone committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers profound insights on resilience, honoring commitments, and building an organizational temperature grounded in unwavering support. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason sets the stage for an unforgettable conversation honoring the events of 9/11 and defining what servant leadership truly looks like. Meet Jason Thomas: Introduction to Jason's background, his transition from the Marine Corps to Air Force medic, and how the trauma of 9/11 shifted his career path. The Morning of 9/11: Jason recounts the surreal moments of dropping his newborn off, seeing the North Tower hit on television, and immediately throwing on his uniform. The Foundation of Culture: Exploring how Jason's mother established a powerful family temperature of "never leave your brother behind" that guided his actions that day. Into the Rubble: The daunting physical challenge of crawling over hot I-beams, shouting into the darkness, and refusing to retreat when warned by other responders. "Are You An Angel?": The chilling moment of falling 12 feet into a dark hole and discovering the trapped Port Authority officers, Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin. The Ultimate Sacrifice: Will Jimeno's selfless request to have his leg amputated with a K-bar knife to save his sergeant, highlighting true team devotion. Keeping Your Word: The emotional weight of learning that an earlier responder had promised to return but didn't, and Jason's unwavering commitment to stay. The Aftermath: The psychological toll of the rescue, driving home covered in ash, and returning to Ground Zero for 20 straight days to search for more survivors. Questions to Ponder: Jason V. Barger challenges listeners to evaluate the temperature they are setting in their own lives and organizations. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Be Your Brother's Keeper: Establish a culture where team members instinctively support one another, proving through daily action that no one will be left behind. Your Word is Your Currency: In moments of crisis, trust is the only thing that holds a team together. If you make a commitment to your people, you must fulfill it. Forward Motion: Authentic leaders do not retreat when operations become difficult; they rely on their deeply ingrained values to navigate the chaos and pull their team out of the dark. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/honoring-9-11-and-servant-leadership-with-jason-thomas/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    Honoring 9/11 & Servant Leadership with Jason Thomas

  2. Sep 1

    Retention is a Leadership & Culture Problem

    Are you interested in retaining your best people on your team? It might just be a leadership and culture problem (or opportunity).   For Full Show Notes Visit: https://www.jasonvbarger.com/podcast/retention-culture-problem/   Jason explores why losing your best people isn't just a market condition—it's a leadership and culture problem, and shares a proactive framework to reverse the trend. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: In an era of intense competition for top talent, why are so many organizations struggling with a revolving door of their best people? In this solo episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger breaks down the reality that employee retention is rarely just a recruitment or compensation issue—it is a direct reflection of an organization's leadership climate. With 57% of employees reporting that a deep distrust in their leadership makes them consider leaving, Jason challenges executives to take immediate ownership of their internal ecosystem. This conversation moves beyond standard HR exit interviews to address the core mechanics of proactive culture building. Jason explores his foundational mantra: "what we allow lingers and what we teach triggers," explaining how toxic behaviors silently suffocate teams and become the default culture when left unaddressed. He then outlines six concrete strategies to transform retention from a defensive panic into a proactive, value-driving competitive advantage. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers actionable insights on conducting stay interviews, co-creating behavioral standards, and breathing much-needed oxygen into your daily operations. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason welcomes listeners and sets the stage for a conversation on why retention is fundamentally a leadership opportunity. A Milestone Celebration: Thanking the audience as The Thermostat reaches over 345 episodes and continues to grow. The Trust Deficit: Analyzing the staggering statistics that reveal why top talent is actively looking for the exit, including the 57% of employees who consider leaving due to leadership distrust. Allow Lingers vs. Teach Triggers: Deconstructing how toxic behaviors fester into default culture when ignored, and how teaching new habits creates a positive chain reaction. Identify and Intervene: Why the best organizations don't wait for exit interviews and instead proactively conduct "stay interviews" with their top talent. 2 & 3. Articulate and Co-Create: The necessity of clearly defining your future culture and identifying the specific daily actions and behaviors that align with it. Optimize Hiring and Onboarding: How to infuse new hires with your company's cultural DNA and expectations during their critical first 90 days. 5 & 6. Emerging Leaders and Congregation: Investing in the next generation of thermostats and utilizing regional culture summits to realign focus. Questions to Ponder: Jason leaves leaders with reflection prompts to help audit their current retention strategy and calibrate their personal thermostat. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Proactive Intervention: Don't wait for a top performer to give their two-week notice. Identify the people you need to retain right now and proactively intervene to ensure they feel valued and developed. Trigger Positive Habits: Understand that what you allow lingers. Actively address toxic environments and teach clear, expected behaviors to trigger a healthier cultural ecosystem. Continuous Calibration: Culture is not static. Use regional summits, intentional onboarding, and ongoing leadership development to continually breathe oxygen into your team. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/retention-is-a-leadership-and-culture-problem/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    Retention is a Leadership & Culture Problem

  3. Aug 25

    Thermostat Cultures LIVE Event 11/6/26 Preview

    The best leaders and team cultures take time to calibrate their thermostat. Join Jason Barger and other thought leaders for the 10th year of this inspiring event.   For full show notes visit: https://www.jasonvbarger.com/podcast/tcl-preview-2026/   Jason provides an exclusive preview of the 10th anniversary Thermostat Cultures Live event, challenging leaders to step back, breathe, and proactively calibrate their organizations. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: In an era of business that often glorifies speed at the expense of substance, how do executives break out of the daily grind to actually stimulate progress? In this solo episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger previews the highly anticipated 10th anniversary of the Thermostat Cultures Live event, taking place on Friday, November 6, 2026. This gathering is designed specifically for authentic leaders to pause, reflect, and intentionally set the temperature for their teams. This conversation moves beyond standard leadership advice to outline the strategic necessity of stepping back. Jason shares five essential details about the upcoming hybrid experience—featuring a VIP in-person event in Columbus, Ohio, alongside a global virtual broadcast. He also highlights the exceptional roster of thought leaders joining him on stage, including social psychologist Owen Fitzpatrick, future-of-work expert Rebecca Hinds, and former Starbucks President Howard Behar. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode serves as an invitation to stop reacting to daily chaos and start building actionable solutions for the road ahead. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason sets the stage by announcing the upcoming 10th anniversary of Thermostat Cultures Live on November 6, 2026. A Milestone Celebration: Thanking the listeners as The Thermostat is recognized as the #13 top authentic leadership podcast in the U.S. by Million Podcasts. A Decade of Impact: Reflecting on the event's history and the incredible thought leaders who have shared the stage over the past ten years. The 5 Things You Need to Know: Jason breaks down the core elements of the 2026 event, starting with its hybrid format accommodating both in-person and virtual attendees. The Strategic Pause: Why stepping back to calibrate your personal and organizational thermostat is a performance necessity, not an administrative luxury. Action and Pre-Sales: Highlighting the solutions-focused nature of the curriculum and how to secure pre-sale tickets and VIP corporate sponsorships. Meet the 2026 Voices: Previews of upcoming sessions with Owen Fitzpatrick (Inner Propaganda), Rebecca Hinds (The Future of Work and Meetings), and Howard Behar (Servant Leadership). Questions to Ponder: Jason challenges listeners to evaluate where in their schedule they are making intentional time to reflect, breathe, and grow. Key Takeaways for Leaders: The Strategic Pause: Understand that elite performance requires stepping out of the frantic daily grind to proactively calibrate your leadership approach. Action-Oriented Culture: Move beyond passive listening and focus on building tangible, solutions-based strategies to elevate your team's everyday experience. The Power of Congregation: Discover the unmatched competitive advantage of placing yourself in a room full of authentic, growth-minded leaders dedicated to shaping the future of work. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/thermostat-cultures-live-event-preview/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    Thermostat Cultures LIVE Event 11/6/26 Preview

  4. Aug 18

    Purpose as a Superpower with Tom Rath

    Purpose is the greatest superpower people and organizations have in the world today. The best leaders and cultures know how to unleash their people by staying focused on the point. For Full Show notes visit: https://www.jasonvbarger.com/podcast/purpose-superpower-tom-rath/ Jason is joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Rath for an eye-opening conversation about dismantling the corporate hustle and turning purpose into a daily superpower. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: In a fast-paced corporate world where employee engagement is hitting historic lows, how can leaders help their teams find true meaning? In this episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger sits down with Tom Rath—author of massive global hits like StrengthsFinder 2.0, How Full Is Your Bucket?, and his latest book, What's the Point?. Together, they challenge the traditional narrative that purpose is a grand, elusive destination, reframing it instead as a daily practice that fuels sustainable high performance. This conversation moves beyond standard leadership platitudes to address the core mechanics of human energy and contribution. Jason and Tom explore why "follow your passion" is often flawed advice, how to leverage personal strengths outwardly to serve others, and why the 100-year-old industrial mindset of "first in, last out" is actively destroying team productivity. They also tackle the rapid integration of AI, urging leaders to shift their teams from passive responders to active builders. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers actionable insights on daily habit building, modeling healthy boundaries, and cultivating the connective tissue of purpose within modern organizations. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason welcomes listeners and sets the stage for a conversation on finding meaning and purpose in daily moments. Meet Tom Rath: An introduction to Tom's incredible background, the evolution of his work from StrengthsFinder to children's books, and how he sets his personal temperature. Applying Strengths Outwardly: Tom discusses how to use self-awareness tools not just to look inward, but to ask: "What do the people around me need?" The Myth of the Grand Purpose: Why we need to stop viewing purpose as a mythological destination and start treating it as a daily superpower built through small interactions. Why "Follow Your Passion" Falls Short: A breakdown of why passion is too self-centric and why focusing on contribution and meaning is better advice for incoming generations. Dismantling Hustle Culture: Jason and Tom challenge the "all gas, no brakes" industrial mindset, highlighting how daily habits like sleep and boundaries drive real productivity. AI and the Shift to "Builder" Mindsets: Tom shares how AI has transformed his workflow and why leaders must help their teams transition from passive responders to active creators. The Power of Congregation: Exploring the future of work and why creating connective tissue through intentional gatherings is a leader's greatest competitive advantage. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Micro-Purpose: Stop searching for a grand life mission and start asking "What's the point?" in daily meetings and tasks to build a consistent, daily superpower. Model Well-Being: If leaders preach work-life integration but send emails from the beach, the culture will default to exhaustion. True productivity requires modeling actual rest and boundaries. Embrace the Builder Mindset: Use emerging technologies like AI to offload routine responses so your team can focus on creative building and strategic contribution. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/purpose-as-a-superpower-tom-rath/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    Purpose as a Superpower with Tom Rath

  5. Aug 11

    Breathing Oxygen into Your Culture

    Just because you had a great team or organizational culture does not mean it is guaranteed for tomorrow. The best leaders and teams breathe oxygen into their people and the future culture. See the full show notes and access at: https://www.jasonvbarger.com/podcast/breathing-oxygen-in-your-culture/ Jason explores how the best leaders and organizations actively breathe oxygen into their teams and offers a six-step framework to fuel a dynamic, high-performing culture. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: Just because your organizational culture was thriving yesterday doesn't guarantee its health tomorrow. In this solo episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger tackles the reality that culture is dynamic—shaped moment by moment by how we think, act, and interact. To avoid complacency and toxic stagnation, executives cannot simply "set it and forget it." This conversation explores the critical distinction between "oxygen givers" who fuel team energy with solutions and gratitude, and "oxygen takers" who drain environments through gossip, blame, and triangulation. Backed by neurological insights from the National Science Foundation into how negative, repetitive thoughts clutter our decision-making, Jason outlines a proactive approach to clearing the air and optimizing focus. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode provides six actionable strategies to sustain a thriving ecosystem—from culture-driven onboarding to the undeniable power of congregation. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason sets the stage for a conversation on the specific mindsets needed to breathe oxygen into your culture and fuel your team. A Milestone Celebration: Thanking listeners as The Thermostat is recognized as the #13 top authentic leadership podcast in the U.S. by Million Podcasts. Culture is Dynamic: Why organizational health isn't static and the dangers of a "set it and forget it" leadership mentality. Oxygen Givers vs. Oxygen Takers: Defining the behaviors of people who inject life and possibility into a room versus those who suck the energy out through negativity. The Science of Cluttered Minds: Analyzing the reality that 80% of our 12,000 to 60,000 daily thoughts skew negative, and how that toxic air stunts decision-making. Identifying Your Air Quality: Taking a step back to evaluate the conditions, environments, and people that either energize your leadership or drain it. Strategies 1 & 2: Articulating the culture clearly and identifying the specific actions and behaviors that support or destroy your ecosystem. Strategies 3 & 4: Rethinking hiring and onboarding for the first 90 days, and the necessity of proactively developing emerging leaders. Strategies 5 & 6: The power of congregation through regional culture summits and why ongoing leadership development is required to model the temperature. Questions to Ponder: Jason leaves leaders with reflective prompts to help calibrate their personal and organizational thermostats. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Protect the Air Quality: Identify and address "oxygen takers" who rely on gossip and blame, while actively empowering the "oxygen givers" who focus on shared solutions. Define the Behaviors: Move your core values off the wall by co-creating clear, actionable behaviors with your team that define exactly what your culture looks like in practice. The Power of Congregation: Combat remote and hybrid isolation by prioritizing consistent, intentional gatherings to realign your team's mission and relationships. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/breathing-oxygen-into-your-culture/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    Breathing Oxygen into Your Culture

  6. Aug 4

    Inner Propaganda with Owen Fitzpatrick

    How do the stories we tell ourselves impact our performance and cultures? What inner narratives are you perpetuating in your life, your leadership, and throughout your organizational culture? View the full access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/inner-propaganda-owen-fitzpatrick/ Jason is joined by social psychologist, keynote speaker, and author Owen Fitzpatrick for an eye-opening conversation about the internal stories that shape our leadership, culture, and reality. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: In a world flooded with external noise and information, how do the most effective leaders manage their own minds to drive organizational performance? In this episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger sits down with Owen Fitzpatrick, creator of Belief Leadership and author of Inner Propaganda. Drawing from his global experiences in over 100 countries and his profound personal journey, Owen challenges leaders to recognize that the most dangerous lies we face don't come from a screen—they come from the mirror. This conversation explores the hidden mechanics of human belief, shifting the focus from traditional task management to true "belief leadership." Jason and Owen explore how corporate culture is dictated by the stories teams tell themselves and deconstruct the concept of "naive realism." They also tackle the common vulnerability of cultural dissonance, challenging executives to move their core values off the office walls and actively embed them as "posters in their people." Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers actionable insights on silencing the "inner dictator," leading with genuine service, and mastering the psychological narratives that dictate success in business and life. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason welcomes listeners and sets the stage for a conversation on authentic leadership, celebrating the podcast's recent top 70 ranking. Meet Owen Fitzpatrick: Introduction to Owen's background as a social psychologist, screenwriting enthusiast, and global traveler who has studied human belief in over 100 countries. Setting the Temperature: Owen discusses managing the culture "inside" (inner propaganda) versus the culture "outside" (belief leadership) when dealing with high-stress environments. The Origins of Inner Propaganda: Owen shares a deeply moving personal story of writing a suicide note, the single question that shifted his belief, and why the most dangerous lies come from the mirror. The Mechanics of Belief: An exploration of "naive realism" and why new ideas must first "feel right" and "fit in" emotionally and socially before they ever make logical sense. Belief Leadership vs. Thought Leadership: Differentiating between managing actions, sharing good ideas, and actively generating the emotional certainty required for true leadership in teams. Flipping the Leadership Pyramid: A critical look at why coercive, top-down power always leaves a trail of destruction, and why true leadership rests on service and belief. Posters in the People: Jason and Owen discuss why words like "integrity" are merely table stakes, and how to define behaviors so that corporate culture becomes a living habit rather than a static poster. Silencing the Inner Dictator: Strategies for combating the internal voice that presents anxiety as objective fact, and the importance of intentionally directing your focus during turbulent times. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Master Inner Propaganda: Recognize and challenge your "inner dictator" before it distorts your strategic decision-making and spreads anxiety across your team. Cultivate Belief Leadership: Stop relying purely on logic and data to drive change; ensure your initiatives connect with your team's emotions and identity to generate genuine buy-in. Operationalize Core Values: Move beyond generic mission statements by clearly defining what your values look like in daily action, putting the "posters in your people." Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/inner-propaganda-owen-fitzpatrick/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at  https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X:  https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    Inner Propaganda with Owen Fitzpatrick

  7. Jul 28

    Soul on Fire with Bria Martin

    It's common for leaders and cultures to rely too heavily on passion and achievement. The best set a temperature that brings rhythm to their soul and their fire. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at:  https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/soul-on-fire-bria-martin/ Jason is joined by his long-time friend, Bria Martin, for an illuminating conversation about blending humanity with high performance using the Soul Fire framework. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: In an era marked by historic burnout and low employee engagement, how can organizations drive results without destroying their people? In this episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger sits down with Bria Martin, VP of Organizational Strategy and Culture at Ultragenyx. Bria shares her transformative journey from operating in a relentless "fire-only" management consulting mode to discovering that integrating humanity into leadership actually fuels sustainable success. This conversation challenges the traditional corporate hustle culture. Jason and Bria introduce the "Soul Fire" framework—a fluid dance that balances compassion, intuition, and connection (soul) with ambition, accountability, and execution (fire). They discuss how leaders act as the emotional "nervous system" of their teams and explore the crucial need for authentic, face-to-face connection to counter the rising tides of macro-level suffering and technological disruption. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers actionable insights on setting healthy boundaries, navigating the AI transition with discernment, and redefining the modern workplace with "joyful productivity." Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason sets the stage for a conversation on the rhythm between soul and fire to build congruence in leadership. Meet Bria Martin: Introduction to Bria's background in organizational culture and her current role as VP at a rare disease biopharma company. Setting the Temperature: Bria discusses prioritizing her family and her role as the "caregiver of the culture" at work. The Leader's Nervous System: Insights into how executives serve as the emotional regulators for their teams and the importance of daily grounding practices. The Wake-Up Call: Bria shares her powerful story of severe burnout in management consulting, sending client emails while in labor, and the perspective shift that changed her leadership style. The Soul Fire Framework: Deconstructing the duality dance between soul (compassion, connection) and fire (ambition, accountability) to sustain high performance. Current Culture Trends: A look at how global human suffering and the rapid integration of AI are fundamentally transforming the modern workplace. Joyful Productivity: Challenging industrial-era metrics to embrace a new form of productivity that leverages AI for efficiency while protecting human connection. The ROI of Culture: Evidence showing how high engagement, trust, and mission alignment drastically reduce turnover and elevate business outcomes. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Regulate the Nervous System: Recognize that your emotional state sets the climate; prioritize your well-being to be a calming, focused presence for your team. Balance Soul and Fire: Move away from burnout-inducing hustle culture by integrating compassion and intuition with accountability and execution. Navigate Tech with Discernment: Treat AI integration as a human and cultural transition, leveraging it to eliminate busywork and foster "joyful productivity." Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/soul-on-fire-bria-martin/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your Year Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    Soul on Fire with Bria Martin

  8. Jul 21

    The Leadership Recharge with DJ DiDonna

    What if the future of work was focused on human beings flourishing and greater outcomes followed? Research suggests there is a great opportunity for leaders and cultures to embrace sabbaticals. Jason is joined by Harvard Business School lecturer and Sabbatical Project founder DJ DiDonna for an eye-opening conversation about the strategic necessity of extended rest and the true power of a leadership recharge. Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others! Summary: In an era of relentless connectivity and mounting burnout, how do the most effective leaders sustain high performance without sacrificing their well-being? In this episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger sits down with DJ DiDonna, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project. Drawing from deep social science research, DJ challenges executives to rethink the traditional corporate grind and exposes the hidden dangers of "functional workaholism." This conversation moves beyond standard time-management advice to address the core mechanics of human recovery and corporate retention. Jason and DJ explore the profound difference between a standard vacation and a true sabbatical—an intentional, extended leave from routine work. They deconstruct the business case for "big time off," revealing how providing structured recovery windows actually audits key-person risk, drives unparalleled loyalty, and aligns perfectly with the rising cultural demands of the next generation. Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers actionable insights on eradicating the "worker devotion norm," utilizing inflection points in your career, and optimizing your team's long-term performance. Episode Notes & Timestamps: Intro: Jason welcomes listeners and sets the stage for a conversation on the power of recharging as a leader and a human being. Meet DJ DiDonna: Introduction to DJ's background teaching entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School, his creation of The Sabbatical Project, and his personal six-week Buddhist walking pilgrimage in Japan. Thinking in "Chunks": DJ shares his perspective on organizing life into intentional chapters and using sabbaticals as inflection points so your career doesn't become one giant "run-on sentence." Sabbatical vs. Vacation: Defining a true sabbatical as an "extended leave from routine work on purpose" and why the mental background script of work must be completely shut down to truly heal. The Vacation Deficit & Functional Workaholism: Discussing the 768 million unused vacation days in the U.S. and the trap of performing well on the outside while rotting away on the inside. The Duration of Disconnection: Why a short break isn't enough to drop your work identity, and the research supporting the ideal length for an effective sabbatical. The Business Case for Big Time Off: Deconstructing the corporate fear of extended leave—how over 80% of employees return after a sabbatical and why it builds a resilient, cross-trained organization. The Worker Devotion Norm: How leaders must proactively model taking time off to empower their teams to do the same, breaking the cycle of unused paid leave. The 30-Minute Cafe Challenge: A powerful exercise to help leaders zoom out, confront their future regrets, and make concrete plans to prioritize personal passions over non-stop productivity. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Eradicate Functional Workaholism: Shift your team's mindset to recognize that constant busyness does not equal effectiveness, and that chronic lack of rest is an operational risk. Culture Ownership & Role Modeling: Fight the "worker devotion norm" by actively taking and celebrating time away. If executives don't unplug, their teams never will. The Sabbatical Strategy: Utilize extended leave as an equitable benefit to attract Gen Z talent, audit your company's key-person dependencies, and significantly boost long-term employee retention. Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/the-leadership-recharge-dj-didonna/ Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice. Connect: Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger Make Your 2026 Effective! Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com Like or Follow Jason 👍 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/ X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

    The Leadership Recharge with DJ DiDonna
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About

A thermostat is proactive. It sets the temperature in a room. Controls the temperature. Regulates the temperature. But in today's distracted, fast-paced and digital world, it's easy for individuals and organizations to act more like thermometers, slipping into reactionary thinking, becoming scattered and inconsistent. The most compelling leaders, teams, organizations, families or collection of humans of any kind operate in thermostat mode. They calibrate their mind and heart to set the temperature for the vision and culture they want to create. Jason Barger, globally celebrated author, keynote speaker and founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, guides this journey to discover authentic leadership, create compelling cultures and find clarity of mission, vision and values. Learn more at JasonVBarger.com or on social media @jasonvbarger

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