The Mike Method

Mike Desjardins

Welcome to the Mike Method, where we believe conversations with leaders matter. Join host Mike Desjardins, CEO of ViRTUS as he takes you on a journey through conversations with some of the most inspiring leaders he's had the pleasure of meeting over the past 25 years. In each episode, listeners get to be a fly on the wall as Mike chats with leaders who are more than just that—they're mentors, coaches, and true inspirations. Imagine having coffee with them, diving into their stories, learning about their triumphs and trials, and discovering the lessons they've applied to achieve real success. These aren't run-of-the-mill media personalities; these are leaders who make a difference behind the scenes, whose impact is felt by those they lead and work with every day. As a B Corp committed to the triple bottom line, ViRTUS cares about everyone involved in their journey—partners, vendors, customers, employees, families, charities, the environment, and communities. Join the exploration of how leaders who think differently show up differently. New episodes coming to your ears every Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. EP101 How Small Choices Shape Character, Discipline, and Identity with Andrew Allen

    9시간 전

    EP101 How Small Choices Shape Character, Discipline, and Identity with Andrew Allen

    Character is not something we talk about often in modern leadership conversations, but according to Andrew Allen, it may be one of the most important forces shaping the lives we build. Andrew Allen is a multi-platinum Canadian singer-songwriter, keynote speaker, and creator of the HIIDA framework: “How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything.” After nearly two decades touring alongside artists like Bruno Mars, OneRepublic, Train, and Andy Grammer, Andrew shifted from music into leadership conversations focused on discipline, intentionality, responsibility, and character development. In this conversation, Mike and Andrew explore the difference between personality, identity, and character, why repeated choices matter more than motivation, and how small daily actions quietly shape the way we respond under pressure. They also discuss willpower versus discipline, stoicism, resilience, habits, fatherhood, leadership, and the connection between intentional living and personal responsibility. This conversation offers a grounded reminder that character is not built in one defining moment. It is developed through repeated choices, practiced consistently over time. Topics We Explore: The HIIDA framework: How You Do Anything Is How You Do EverythingThe difference between personality, identity, and characterWhy discipline matters more than motivationHow repeated choices shape future behaviorStoicism and intentional livingBuilding resilience before life becomes difficultThe role of habits and consistency in leadershipWhy goals can begin to feel hollowFatherhood, leadership, and evolving identityCreating meaningful change through small daily action Episode Resources: Andrew Allen: Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57분
  2. EP100 Why “Just Push Through It” Stops Working with Kara Kalin

    5월 19일

    EP100 Why “Just Push Through It” Stops Working with Kara Kalin

    We’re excited to welcome Kara Kalin for the 100th episode of The Mike Method. We’re also incredibly grateful for the support that has helped us reach this milestone. Every listen, follow, share, and conversation around the podcast truly means so much to us. In this conversation, she shares how early experiences in sport, grief, pressure, and performance shaped the way she understood strength, achievement, and emotional survival. Kara has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of trauma, resilience, mental health, and high performance as a registered clinical counselor, certified EMDR therapist, mental performance specialist, former national level athlete, and Team Canada coach. Together, she and Mike explore how trauma can remain stored in the body long after an experience is over, why “just push through it” is not a sustainable strategy, and how nervous system overload often shows up as anxiety, overthinking, shutdown, or emotional exhaustion. Kara also breaks down EMDR in a practical and accessible way, explaining how trauma loops form, the difference between conscious and unconscious looping, why many people cannot simply reason their way out of activation, and how processing experiences can create more capacity, connection, and resilience over time. The conversation explores parenting, sport culture, leadership, grief, emotional regulation, and the difference between surviving hard experiences and actually healing from them. This episode is about learning how to move through life with what Kara calls a strong spine and an open heart. Episode Resources: Kara Kalin: Website / LinkedIn Shift Change - leadership and corporate integration: Website ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn Sign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49분
  3. EP99 Almost Good Enough: Perfectionism, Peace, and the Nervous System with Lynn Sumida

    5월 12일

    EP99 Almost Good Enough: Perfectionism, Peace, and the Nervous System with Lynn Sumida

    In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with returning guest Lynn Sumida for a deeply personal conversation about perfectionism, nervous system safety, and the hidden fear many high performers carry beneath constant striving. Lynn is the founder of Mirrors Point and Expanding You, co-author of The Extraordinary Within, and is currently writing her upcoming book Almost Good Enough, which explores the pressure so many people feel to perform, perfect, and prove themselves. Together, Mike and Lynn explore why peace can feel uncomfortable for the nervous system, how early experiences shape our relationship with safety, and why many leaders stay stuck in cycles of achievement while struggling to actually enjoy the journey. The conversation also moves into masculinity, emotional sensitivity, vulnerability, and the difference between the polished facade people present to the world and the very human reality underneath it. Topics include: nervous system protection and hypervigilanceperfectionism and productivitywhy white space can feel threateningemotional safety and childhood patterningvulnerability and leadershipthe inner critic and self-protectionpeace, achievement, and identityhow early experiences shape adult behavior Lynn also shares details about her upcoming Almost Good Enough workshop experience happening in Nanaimo. Episode Resources: Connect with Lynn: Linkedin / Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47분
  4. EP98 Alignment Over Agreement: The Leadership Skill Most People Miss with Céline Williams

    5월 5일

    EP98 Alignment Over Agreement: The Leadership Skill Most People Miss with Céline Williams

    Agreement is not the goal. Alignment is. In this episode, Mike sits down with Céline Williams, a business strategist, executive coach, and leadership development expert who has spent more than 15 years helping fast-growth companies and Fortune 500 organizations build stronger cultures, improve communication, and lead with greater clarity. This conversation starts where most leadership advice does not, with self-awareness. Céline shares why understanding your own reactions, patterns, and internal drivers is the foundation for everything else, including empathy, communication, and decision making. From there, they explore the difference between listening for agreement and listening for understanding, and why that shift can change how we navigate conflict, relationships, and team dynamics. They also get into: Why empathy starts with curiosity about yourselfA simple two-question framework to approach difficult conversationsThe relationship between people and systems, and why one cannot be prioritized at the expense of the otherThe false choice between kindness and accountabilityWhy leaders need to acknowledge power dynamics to build real psychological safetyThis is a grounded, practical conversation with ideas that feel clear once they are named, but are easy to miss when you are immersed in the day to day. Episode Resources: Connect with Celine on LinkedIn reVisionary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44분
  5. EP97 Resilience, Clarity, and Decision Making in an AI Driven World with Reese Haydon

    4월 29일

    EP97 Resilience, Clarity, and Decision Making in an AI Driven World with Reese Haydon

    Resilience is often framed as pushing through. But in a world where AI, fintech, and constant change are reshaping how we work, that definition is no longer enough. In this episode, Mike sits down with Reese Hayden, Senior Director and Head of Executive Talent and Learning at PayPal. Reese leads executive selection, development, and top team effectiveness for senior leaders, and has spent over a decade helping organizations like Salesforce, Dropbox, and Cisco connect leadership development directly to strategy and performance. Together, they explore what leadership requires when the pace of change continues to accelerate. They break down PayPal’s four core leadership capabilities: investing in self and others, leading with clarity, impactful problem solving, and agile decision making, and how these show up in real, day to day leadership. The conversation moves beyond theory into practical tools, including how to recognize when you are in the “yellow” before burnout, the difference between productive and destructive tension, and how simple frameworks like DAISY and the Five Whys help leaders make better decisions and avoid solving the wrong problems. This is a grounded, practical conversation on how leaders can stay effective, present, and resilient without running themselves into the ground. Episode Resources: Connect with Reese on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46분
  6. EP96 Boundaries That Change Everything: Strength, Safety, and Letting Go of People Pleasing with Dana Skaggs

    4월 22일

    EP96 Boundaries That Change Everything: Strength, Safety, and Letting Go of People Pleasing with Dana Skaggs

    Setting and defending healthy boundaries saved Dana Skaggs’ life, and in this conversation, she breaks down exactly why. Mike Desjardins sits down with Dana Skaggs, therapist and trauma specialist known for her work on boundaries, to explore how anxiety, people pleasing, resentment, and emotional exhaustion are often rooted in one core issue: weak or unclear boundaries. Drawing from both her professional work and her own upbringing in a home shaped by unpredictability and emotional volatility, Dana shares how discovering boundaries changed not just her career, but her entire life. Together, they unpack what boundaries actually are, why they feel so difficult to set, and what really happens when you start to change the dynamic in your relationships. Dana introduces practical frameworks like the “yard” analogy, where your thoughts, feelings, and actions are yours to own, and explains why the pushback you receive after setting a boundary is not a sign you are doing it wrong, but often a sign you are doing it right. They also explore people pleasing, the fear of losing relationships, and the reality that if someone cannot accept your “no,” the relationship may not be what you think it is. This conversation offers a grounded, honest look at what it takes to move toward relationships built on strength, safety, and personal responsibility. Episode Resources Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend Learn more about Dana Skaggs: Website Connect with Dana: LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54분
  7. EP95 Building Real Relationships in a Digital World with Janice Porter

    4월 14일

    EP95 Building Real Relationships in a Digital World with Janice Porter

    JIn a world where AI can automate outreach and communication, authentic human connection has never been more valuable. In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Janice Porter, entrepreneur, trainer, and relationship marketing expert, to explore why trust and meaningful relationships remain the ultimate competitive advantage. Janice, a former teacher and corporate trainer, now helps business owners grow their companies through relationship-driven networking. Specializing in LinkedIn consulting and training, she is the creator of the REAL framework—Refresh, Engage, Appreciate, and Leverage—a practical approach to nurturing connections, staying top of mind, and generating referrals through genuine engagement rather than transactional networking. Together, Mike and Janice discuss the erosion of trust in a digital-first world and share simple, actionable ways to build deeper relationships. From reconnecting with existing contacts to thoughtful gestures like handwritten cards, video messages, and intentional introductions, this conversation offers practical strategies to strengthen trust and create lasting opportunities. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why trust is the true competitive advantage in today’s business landscapeHow the REAL framework supports meaningful relationship buildingThe importance of reconnecting with existing contactsSimple gestures that create lasting impressionsWhy referrals are earned through consistent connection, not requested Episode Resources: Janice Porter: Website / Podcast / LinkedIn Generating Business Referrals by Stacey Brown Randall ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn Sign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46분

소개

Welcome to the Mike Method, where we believe conversations with leaders matter. Join host Mike Desjardins, CEO of ViRTUS as he takes you on a journey through conversations with some of the most inspiring leaders he's had the pleasure of meeting over the past 25 years. In each episode, listeners get to be a fly on the wall as Mike chats with leaders who are more than just that—they're mentors, coaches, and true inspirations. Imagine having coffee with them, diving into their stories, learning about their triumphs and trials, and discovering the lessons they've applied to achieve real success. These aren't run-of-the-mill media personalities; these are leaders who make a difference behind the scenes, whose impact is felt by those they lead and work with every day. As a B Corp committed to the triple bottom line, ViRTUS cares about everyone involved in their journey—partners, vendors, customers, employees, families, charities, the environment, and communities. Join the exploration of how leaders who think differently show up differently. New episodes coming to your ears every Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.