The Seismic Shift with Michelle K. Johnston

Michelle K. Johnston
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Management
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to Seismic Shift - a leadership podcast that focuses on connection. I’m your host, Michelle K. Johnston: management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert. I believe that today’s leaders need more than power and control to get the best from their teams; they need connection. Through interviews with some of today’s top business leaders, we are going to explore how leaders' ability to connect with themselves, their teams, and their organizations defines their ultimate success or failure. This podcast runs in close parallel to my new book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, where you can find even more insights from me and the brilliant leaders I interviewed this season. So let's set our sights on connection and get ready to take on the daunting, yet exciting, challenge of this Seismic Shift.

  1. Transforming Stress Into Fuel, featuring Dr. Rebecca Heiss

    May 27

    Transforming Stress Into Fuel, featuring Dr. Rebecca Heiss

    Stress is not the enemy, and trying to calm down may be making things worse. Dr. Rebecca Heiss joins Michelle Johnston to unpack the science behind stress, why uncertainty pushes leaders toward control, and how reframing fear can improve performance. Their conversation moves from boardrooms to classrooms to basketball courts, showing how stress can become useful energy instead of a barrier. Rebecca shares practical tools for public speaking, leadership, and self-talk, including her “coach voice,” emotional distancing, and curiosity as an antidote to fear. The result is a fresh, hopeful framework for using pressure as momentum. This episode is a strong reminder that meaningful work often comes with elevated stress, and that pressure does not have to mean panic. It can be reframed as purpose, momentum, and forward motion. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome and meeting Dr. Rebecca Heiss00:26 What a stress physiologist actually does02:13 Stress, uncertainty, and the shift in leadership04:59 Why controlling leaders create more disconnection05:21 Invite the tiger in for tea07:09 Act as if it is an adventure08:18 Why “just calm down” does not work10:08 Service to others as a stress intervention10:48 Public speaking fear and performance anxiety11:46 Stress as proof that something matters13:23 Self-talk, storytelling, and presentation confidence15:24 Coaching yourself in the third person17:30 Why acting as if can change physiology19:19 What students can do before presenting20:29 Meet the inner critic and coach voice21:56 Stress lessons from basketball23:04 What leaders can do before a tough meeting25:27 Rebecca’s new book, *Springboard*27:48 Who the book is for29:07 Using stress in service to others30:33 Closing reflections and thanks Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    33 min
  2. Redefining Success, featuring Laura Gassner Otting

    May 13

    Redefining Success, featuring Laura Gassner Otting

    A packed résumé, external validation, and a full scoreboard do not always add up to a satisfying life. Michelle Johnston welcomes Laura Gassner Otting for a lively, deeply honest conversation about the gap between achievement and fulfillment, and why so many accomplished people still feel empty after checking every box. Michelle and Laura explore how early definitions of success get planted, why they are so hard to outgrow, and what it takes to recalibrate once you realize the path you are on no longer fits. Laura shares her own story of heading toward law school, recognizing almost immediately that it was the wrong path, and making a bold pivot that eventually led her to the Clinton White House and the creation of AmeriCorps. The story becomes a larger lesson in permission: permission to change, permission to admit you were wrong, and permission to redefine success at every stage of life. Sharp, funny, and full of substance, this episode is a reminder that success without alignment can feel empty, but success rooted in self-knowledge, purpose, and real relationships can become something much more powerful. CHAPTERS:00:00 Welcome to The Seismic Shift00:35 Laura Gassner Otting on why success can feel empty02:17 Chasing goals that are not really yours04:44 From the what to the who06:08 Social comparison and redefining success07:00 What truly motivates people at work09:02 Law school, Bill Clinton, and a life-changing pivot11:47 Curiosity, reinvention, and pursuing a PhD15:02 From interesting work to rigorous research17:31 What Laura’s data reveals about leadership19:03 Why people leave when they do not feel seen20:09 Money, meaning, and what really matters21:54 Shared vision and the science of change23:51 The power of inspiration at work26:09 Carolyn’s story and redefining ambition29:11 What leaders must do differently now29:31 Laura’s top three leadership takeaways30:11 Closing reflections on success and service Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    32 min
  3. Connection as a Competitive Advantage, featuring Dennis Lauscha

    Apr 29

    Connection as a Competitive Advantage, featuring Dennis Lauscha

    Dennis Lauscha carries one of the most demanding leadership portfolios in sports—President and CEO of the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, and a wide network of Gayle Benson companies. Sitting down at the Saints training facility, Michelle Johnston and Dennis unpack what’s changing fastest in the NFL and NBA—and what leaders can learn from it. Dennis breaks down a major business reality fans don’t always see: how the shutdown of regional sports broadcast partners forced teams to rethink distribution, marketing, and the entire way games reach the public. The Saints and Pelicans responded by moving deeper into content creation and direct-to-consumer offerings—expanding visibility across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle, and reframing what “small market” even means. He and Michelle tackle the real tension leaders feel: calendars that don’t match values, the pressure professional sports can put on families, and the manager’s responsibility to set clear expectations and coach performance with honesty and respect. CHAPTERS:00:00 A capital gap across the Gulf South00:36 Inside Dennis Lauscha’s role leading Saints, Pelicans, and Benson companies01:41 The seismic shift: regional sports networks disappear03:10 Becoming a content company: broadcasts, radio, and direct-to-consumer05:52 Connection at scale: listening systems and “number one” fan experience07:34 Kaizen in action: making every voice speak up in meetings09:23 Psychological safety: bring the problem and a solution11:42 Beyond Gen Z labels: explain the “why” and set people up to win14:51 One life, one calendar: leadership pressure and work-family balance18:39 Why the Benson Leadership Academy exists22:37 Leader vs. manager: art + science25:28 Loyalty and trust as a talent strategy26:42 The “it factor,” DEI, and widening the talent pipeline30:06 Dennis’ career path: Loyola, CPA, and the Saints audit that changed everything37:42 Leadership under Gayle Benson and the “double/triple bottom line”42:45 Advice for breaking into pro sports: commitment, growth, and opportunity44:35 Closing and thanks Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    46 min
  4. Building Rhythms & Rituals in the Age of AI, featuring Tim Williamson

    Apr 15

    Building Rhythms & Rituals in the Age of AI, featuring Tim Williamson

    Tim Williamson—founder and CEO of NewCo—maps the seismic shift he’s watching unfold: AI accelerating change while humans decide whether to lean in or lock down. He and Dr. Michelle K. Johnston trace how New Orleans’ superpower—real connection—can become a competitive advantage in the next innovation cycle. Tim unpacks why most new ideas die at the “Thanksgiving table,” how supportive ecosystems keep curiosity alive, and why rhythms and rituals are more than fun—they’re civic glue that helps communities recover from shocks. The conversation lands on a bold vision: AI freeing time, humans reconnecting, and creativity surging into a new renaissance. CHAPTERS:00:00 Welcome + meet Tim Williamson and NewCo01:35 The seismic shift: AI, fear, excitement, and disruption cycles03:43 “AI is connection” and getting off the scary cliff04:08 Why new ideas need a safe community to survive06:49 The “Thanksgiving table” where ideas go to die08:15 New Orleans as a front-porch city built for connection10:02 What NewCo is and why it’s a home base for new ideas12:46 AI that helps leaders connect people at scale16:07 Connection dinners: designing belonging on purpose20:01 Why connection drives trust, innovation, and performance20:52 Rhythms and rituals: the civic cadence that holds a city together26:19 Katrina lessons: how rituals helped New Orleans come back29:44 AI frees time—what if it triggers a creative renaissance?33:13 Closing: calendar, connection, and choosing deeper humanity Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    35 min

  5. Apr 1

    Say It Skillfully, featuring Molly Tschang

    Molly Tschang doesn’t sugarcoat it: most workplaces don’t suffer from a lack of talent—they suffer from people holding back what they really think. In this episode, host Dr. Michelle K. Johnston sits down with Molly—co-author of Say It Skillfully with Marshall Goldsmith—to talk about the real reason teams stall: disconnection, fear, and leaders who unknowingly make it unsafe to speak up. Michelle and Molly also explore seismic shifts in leadership: the rise of leaders willing to lead when it’s inconvenient, and the growing urgency for workplaces where truth can be spoken without punishment. Molly ends with a mic-drop reminder for anyone feeling stuck: you have choices—find environments that deserve you, then bring your full voice to the table. CHAPTERS:00:00 Welcome + meet Molly Tschang and Say It Skillfully01:28 Molly’s origin story: belonging, shyness, and finding her voice03:45 Cornell, chemical engineering, and early identity pressure05:40 The IBM pivot: choosing growth over the bigger paycheck07:35 Deloitte consulting + the power of learning through people08:30 U.S. Filter: integrating acquisitions and leading through change10:02 Burnout, “In Transition,” and getting connected to yourself11:01 Cisco’s heyday: high trust teams and “set the container”13:22 Philanthropy, Ethiopia/Uganda, and a perspective-reset on work16:39 Relationship systems coaching and the role of vulnerability18:10 Abella Consulting: helping senior teams “Win as One”18:26 Meeting Marshall Goldsmith + the videos that took off23:03 Radio show to podcast: reverse-engineering the skillful model26:32 Connection, empathy, and why it starts within29:10 When it isn’t safe: choosing workplaces that deserve you32:41 Seismic shifts in leadership + courage at every level37:14 Final advice: the energy you bring is the message39:00 Wrap + where to find the book Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    40 min
  6. Visual Leadership in a Disconnected World, featuring Todd Cherches

    Mar 18

    Visual Leadership in a Disconnected World, featuring Todd Cherches

    Visual leadership is having a moment—and Todd Cherches explains why. From our dopamine-driven obsession with images to the loneliness epidemic, Todd and Dr. Michelle Johnston connect the dots between how we communicate and how we belong. Todd shares his “three V’s” (visibility, voice, value), why knowing someone’s name changes everything, and how leaders can help people see what they’re saying. You’ll also get practical guidance for presentations (goodbye bullet-point “slideuments”), meetings that feel co-owned, and a simple learning model (VARK) leaders can use to boost attention, comprehension, and retention. CHAPTERS 01:41 Why visual leadership is “having its moment”04:58 The 3 V’s: visibility, voice, value08:46 Todd’s story: introvert to TEDx + prog Visual Leadership + the four buckets15:01 Presenting now: WSIC + WIFM (make it about them)17:29 Slide design: “let your slide be your guide”21:28 Rethinking academia + building learning together24:40 VARK explained (with the IKEA example)25:49 Fixing meetings: engagement, ownership, shared journey30:03 Closing takeaways: reflection, introspection, connection Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    34 min
  7. Aim High, Bounce Back, featuring Fiona Macaulay & Deborah Riegel

    Mar 4

    Aim High, Bounce Back, featuring Fiona Macaulay & Deborah Riegel

    A seismic shift can wipe out a plan in five days—or hand you the clearest view you’ve ever had of your purpose. Fiona Macaulay opens up about what happens when an entire industry gets upended, and the funding model you relied on disappears overnight. Instead of shrinking, she chooses forward motion: staying true to the mission, redesigning the business model, and thinking bigger about impact. Deborah Grayson Riegel brings the conversation into the terrain many leaders quietly carry: anxiety, mental health, and the pressure to never slip. She shares how her daughter Sophie’s middle-school diagnoses became a family wake-up call—and how Sophie’s insistence on honesty pushed Deborah to be more public, more vulnerable, and more useful to others navigating the same realities. Together, Fiona and Deborah unpack the heart of their book, Aim High and Bounce Back: ambitious goals are supposed to be ambitious, which means setbacks are not an exception—they’re part of the process. They talk about the “messy middle,” how feedback can land differently for women, why perfection is a trap, and how leaders can reframe failure into learning without minimizing the pain of the moment. The result is an energizing, real-world playbook for anyone who wants to take bigger swings—without letting fear of failure call the shots. CHAPTERS:00:00 Welcome + why these two guests are “seismic shifters”x-up that led to a perfect co-author pairing04:17 Fiona’s seismic shift: industry upheaval and a forced business pivot06:33 “Add a zero”: using disruption to expand impact08:59 The messy middle: small steps when everything feels unstable10:53 Deborah on anxiety, advocacy, and leading with the truth14:20 Thought leadership as activism and giving voice to others15:57 How Fiona and Deborah met—and why “Me too” became the spark18:34 Fear of failure as the hidden engine beneath leadership challenges20:53 Deborah’s assignment: go fail on purpose (and build resilience)22:46 Frances Frei’s on-stage moment and what authenticity looks like24:54 Stories and insights from Frances Frei that shaped the book31:08 What Aim High and Bounce Back is really for—and who needs it33:30 The survey: 1,062 responses on failure from around the world35:01 Rehumanizing leadership: imperfection, connection, and growth36:43 Closing gratitude and send-off Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    38 min
  8. Leading with Humility and Heart, featuring Garry Ridge

    Feb 18

    Leading with Humility and Heart, featuring Garry Ridge

    Dr. Michelle Johnston welcomes the legendary Garry Ridge to the Seismic Shift Podcast for a conversation filled with wisdom, humility, and tangible leadership tools. As the former CEO of WD-40 for 25 years, Garry shares how rethinking leadership through a servant lens created seismic results—both in culture and in the bottom line. Garry shares how servant leadership, purpose-driven values, and a culture of belonging transformed a legacy company into a global success story. He explains how redefining leadership roles from "manager" to "coach," embedding purpose into decision-making, and investing in people-first culture led to 93% engagement scores and a 10x market cap increase. Now in his next chapter, Garry reflects on his legacy, his book Any Dumbass Can Do It, and his mission to help leaders embrace humility, connection, and courage. This episode is a masterclass in values-based leadership. Whether you're a CEO, team lead, or just starting out, this episode will equip you to lead with more purpose, courage, and connection. Garry’s approach proves that when people feel like they belong and know their work matters, business transformation naturally follows. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introducing Garry Ridge01:30 WD-40: From legacy brand to global leadership example03:00 93% employee engagement: What drove it?04:30 Why WD-40 eliminated the word “manager”06:30 Culture equation: Values + Behavior × Consistency08:00 Redefining company purpose as creating lasting memories10:00 Value-based decision-making in action12:30 How values protect and set you free14:00 Purpose, values, and trust across global teams16:00 You don’t manage people—you coach them18:00 Building a Leadership Academy for real development20:00 From micromanaging to empowering22:00 Culture embedded in bricks and mortar23:00 Happy people create a happy world24:00 The deeper meaning behind Any Dumbass Can Do It26:00 Marshall Goldsmith’s advice that sparked the book28:00 Preparing to leave with purpose and legacy30:00 Garry’s coaching pillars: Care, candor, accountability, responsibility31:00 Final call to action: Lead people to the best version of themselves Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5bInstagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

    33 min
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Welcome to Seismic Shift - a leadership podcast that focuses on connection. I’m your host, Michelle K. Johnston: management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert. I believe that today’s leaders need more than power and control to get the best from their teams; they need connection. Through interviews with some of today’s top business leaders, we are going to explore how leaders' ability to connect with themselves, their teams, and their organizations defines their ultimate success or failure. This podcast runs in close parallel to my new book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, where you can find even more insights from me and the brilliant leaders I interviewed this season. So let's set our sights on connection and get ready to take on the daunting, yet exciting, challenge of this Seismic Shift.

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