• Creating Events that Spark Joy, featuring 2025 Super Bowl Czar Michael Hecht | S3E5
    Nov 20 2024

    The city of New Orleans recently experienced “the Taylor Swift effect”—the whole city coming together culturally and economically for the singer’s Eras Tour weekend. Today on The Seismic Shift, Michelle sits down with 2025 Super Bowl Czar Michael Hecht to talk all about how the city can recreate that sense of joy and belonging during next year’s Super Bowl.

    As New Orleans natives, Michelle and Michael are both passionate about seeing their city thrive during big events like a Taylor Swift concert and the Super Bowl, and New Orleans undoubtedly does big events very well (just look at Mardi Gras!). But how can other cities or organizations recreate the kind of weekend these two just experienced in their city—one that fostered belonging, sparked joy, and thrived on spontaneity and inclusivity? Michelle asks Michael to break it down during this conversation. Together they take a look at the practical ways Michael’s preparing for the Super Bowl next year, how other entities can foster connection around their own big events, and why the Taylor Swift effect doesn’t have to end when the Eras Tour leaves your city.


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Power of Connection in Divisive Times
    03:08 Taylor Swift's Impact on New Orleans
    05:51 The Role of Community in Major Events
    09:12 Creating a Lasting Legacy Beyond the Super Bowl
    11:56 The Joy of Freedom and Individuality
    14:49 Engagement as a Key to Success
    18:13 Decentralized Models of Celebration
    21:00 Building Anticipation for the Super Bowl
    24:08 Michael Hecht's Journey to Super Bowl Czar


    Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
    Track Title: My Hearts On Fire

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    33 mins
  • Optimizing your Calendar for Connection, featuring executive coach Taylor Johnson
    Nov 13 2024

    We all have those things that are most important to us, but do our calendars actually reflect those priorities? This week on The Seismic Shift, Michelle is joined by an individual who has personally helped her make some of the biggest shifts of her professional life over the past six months. That person is former NFL coach turned executive coach, Taylor Johnson. Taylor is an expert when it comes to helping others craft that winning formula that will set them on the path towards greater connection, clarity, and confidence. Taylor and Michelle dive into it all in today’s conversation.

    Given Michelle’s connection to Taylor and his strategies, they start this episode a little differently: with Michelle sharing how hearing Taylor speak at a conference led to working with him to create her own connection cadence. Taylor then goes into his own areas of expertise, walking listeners through a series of exercises to spark connection—including “the best of me” framework, how to optimize your calendar for connection, and taking a look at why it’s so important to start with ourselves and our own priorities before adding others to the equation.

    This is a truly transformational conversation on the power (and logistics!) behind building connections and increasing your performance that you’re not going to want to miss!

    Download "The Best of Me" exercise worksheet here:
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cnRb1mnI11mvCfysSjWWyqTkj-pVcTFS/view?usp=sharing

    Complementary Strategy Session:
    https://www.taylorjohnsonperformance.com/strategy-call

    Taylor Johnson, LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjohnsonperformance/

    Taylor Johnson Performance:
    https://www.taylorjohnsonperformance.com/

    Paul Graham, Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule:
    https://www.paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Understanding Relationships: The Three Buckets
    04:01 Taylor Johnson: A Journey from Sports to Coaching
    07:14 The Business Athlete Concept
    11:59 The Winning Formula Session
    14:48 Self-Awareness Drives Performance
    22:10 Optimizing Your Calendar for Connection
    29:27 Creating a Connection Cadence
    32:03 Planning for Connection: Annual to Daily
    38:44 The Importance of Reflection and Learning
    42:04 Wrapping Up: Intentionality in Relationships

    Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
    Track Title: My Hearts On Fire

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    46 mins
  • The Power of Leading Yourself Well, featuring Elizabeth Lotardo and Lisa McLeod
    Oct 30 2024

    How do we deal with a micromanaging boss? What if you are that micromanaging boss? Can leading yourself well really bring purpose to even the most mundane job functions? On this week’s episode of The Seismic Shift, Michelle sits down with mother-daughter consulting team Lisa McLeod and Elizabeth Lotardo to answer these questions and more—focusing on the power we can all find in being our own best leader.

    Lisa is an executive coach and the author of Leading With Noble Purpose. Elizabeth is also a coach and the author of the new book Leading Yourself. Together these three dynamic leaders discuss the seismic shift this next generation of leaders is experiencing in the workplace, how to make the shift from feeling powerless to powerful at work (and why that matters), and what both the older and younger generations can learn about leadership from the other. Elizabeth and Lisa leave listeners with practical tips on everything from dealing with jerk bosses to eliminating minimizing language from your work communication.

    No matter what your role, leading yourself well can change everything about how you work. Don’t miss this important episode of The Seismic Shift!

    Learn more about Lisa and Elizabeth’s consulting work here: https://www.mcleodandmore.com/

    Buy Leading With Noble Purpose here: https://www.mcleodandmore.com/leading-with-noble-purpose/

    Check out Leading Yourself here: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Yourself-Elizabeth-Lotardo/dp/1394238703

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Finding Purpose in Work
    02:50 The Shift to Leading Yourself
    06:05 Generational Perspectives on Work
    09:07 Mindset and Control in the Workplace
    11:56 Practical Strategies for Employees
    14:55 Navigating Difficult Bosses
    18:10 The Importance of Communication
    20:58 Empowering Yourself at Work
    24:08 Closing Thoughts and Practical Tips

    Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
    Track Title: My Hearts On Fire

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    33 mins
  • Disrupting the Way we Connect, featuring Business Outside’s Bart Foster
    Oct 16 2024

    When Bart Foster was forced out of the company he founded, he was challenged to think about how to do business differently. In the aftermath his organization, Business Outside, was born—all about disrupting the ways we connect and working to foster those connections in whole new ways.

    On today’s episode of The Seismic Shift, Michelle sits down with Bart—one of her good friends in business—to talk about all the ways we can think outside the box when it comes to building connections. During their conversation Bart and Michelle break down how meetings as we once knew them are changing (for the better!), why getting outside can actually help you connect in more meaningful ways, and what it means to work from your “zone of genius.” Bart closes their conversation with a gratefulness challenge you’re going to want to put into practice this week!

    Learn more about Business Outside on their website: https://www.businessoutside.com/.

    Grab a copy of Bart’s book here: https://bart-foster.com/businessoutside-discover-your-path-forward.

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Introduction to Job Crafting and Connection
    01:46 Bart Foster's Journey to Business Outside
    08:29 Seismic Shifts in Leadership and Business
    17:38 Disrupting Traditional Meetings and Connection
    23:47 Finding Your Zone of Genius and Connection

    Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
    Track Title: My Hearts On Fire

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    29 mins
  • Building a Better Meeting, featuring Organizational Psychologist Steven Rogelberg
    Oct 2 2024

    Welcome to season 3 of The Seismic Shift podcast! This season Michelle is sitting down with 20 bestselling authors—diving into how their work and research is shaking up the way we live and do business. Our first guest is organizational psychologist and chancellor professor, Steven Rogelberg. Steven is an expert when it comes to meetings, specifically how to build a better meeting.

    During today’s conversation Steven and Michelle take a look at the intention behind meetings, why meetings have become so arduous, and how exactly to make those meetings better—for employees and leaders alike. Steven pulls from his years of research to outline how meetings are primarily about connection, and that those connections are only made through being intentional, asking questions of your people, and ending each meeting with clear action steps. Michelle and Steven conclude their conversation by taking a look at one-on-one meetings specifically, and how these types of meetings build relational capital between leader and employee.

    Thanks for tuning in to this first episode of season 3! We can’t wait to dive into more conversations that are shifting how we work and live.

    Check out Steven’s newest book on one-on-one meetings here: https://www.amazon.com/Glad-We-Met-Science-Meetings/dp/0197641873.

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Purpose of Meetings: Connection Over Elimination
    15:20 The Importance of One-on-One Meetings
    24:00 Disrupting Meetings for Meaningful Connection

    Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
    Track Title: My Hearts On Fire

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    26 mins
  • We're Back! with Season 3!!
    Sep 25 2024

    Welcome back to season 3 of the Seismic Shift podcast!!

    We're so excited to tell you all that it is launching on October 2nd.

    The Seismic Shift podcast is sponsored by Loyola University New Orleans and we'll be interviewing 20 best selling authors and they'll be talking about the seismic shifts that are shaking up how we work and how we live.

    So please tune in, like, subscribe, follow, share, and we'll see you all on October 2nd.

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    1 min
  • Summer Re-Release: Own Your Story with Kenneth Polite, US Assistant Attorney General
    Sep 18 2024

    Original Aired Date: 7/13/2022

    Every leader has their own story behind them, but do they truly own that same story? If we’re going to lead others through connection, we need to prioritize getting connected with ourselves first. To shed light on this central tenet of connective leadership, Michelle is joined by US Assistant Attorney General, Kenneth Polite, who, having grown up in the highly incarcerated lower ninth ward of New Orleans and since risen through the ranks of the US justice system, is an unparalleled voice on the importance of understanding and owning where you came from in order to get where you, and the team you lead, want to go.

    You can pick up a copy of Michelle Johnston's newest book, The Seismic Shift, on her website: https://michellekjohnston.com

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    50 mins
  • Summer Re-Release: How to Lead like a Super Bowl Champion with Jon Stinchcomb
    Sep 4 2024

    Original Aired Date: 2/8/2023

    Ever wonder what takes place behind the scenes of a Super Bowl team? Learn leadership best practices from former Super Bowl Champion, Jon Stinchcomb. Jon played for The New Orleans Saints for 8 seasons and served on the offense with Drew Brews when they won Super Bowl XLIV. According to Jon, the secret sauce is not just skill level, it’s your character, how you treat each other inside and outside of the locker room.

    Tune in to this episode and learn how to build a championship team whether you are a leader in the sports, non-profit or corporate world.

    You can pick up a copy of Michelle Johnston's newest book, The Seismic Shift, on her website: https://michellekjohnston.com

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    40 mins