Modern Mentor

How to change someone's mind: Persuasion for human-centric leaders

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

894. Trying to convince a senior leader or stakeholder to see things your way can be frustrating, especially when your data and logic don't land. In 2...

Stop fighting fires: 5 ways to spot problems before they become crises

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

893. Most workplace crises didn't have to be crises—they started small, stayed hidden, and grew. In this episode, Rachel Cooke explains why "firefig...

Build a culture of accountability with Work Design

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

892. Is your team missing targets, dropping the ball, or responding to missed deadlines with a shrug?Many leaders believe accountability is a personal...

Workplace cheat codes: 5 ways to up your odds of success

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

891. At work we're constantly placing bets on uncertain outcomes, which projects to prioritize and which risks to take. But most of us never think abo...

Why team silos cause failure (and how to fix your work design)

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

890. Are your teams clashing instead of collaborating? When balls are dropped and fingers are pointed, the problem usually isn’t your people—it’...

How to navigate organizational dysfunction (and still make progress)

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

889. Every organization has dysfunction. And while we should always be working to make things better, we also have to keep moving in the meantime. Rac...

Are these antipatterns stopping you from being productive?

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

888. We think we're being productive. But some of our most intentional habits are quietly costing us. Rachel explores four antipatterns that could be ...

The Creative Pulse: Why humanity is the lynchpin of business, with Andy Pizza

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Rachel sits down with author and illustrator Andy Pizza to explore why a "creative pulse" is the essential, make-or-break component o...

The expertise trap | Why your best people might be blocking innovation

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

886. Is your team's deep knowledge actually preventing them from seeing the next big breakthrough? In this episode, Rachel explores the "expertise tra...

How to stop talking about change and actually start doing it

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

885. In a world of constant meetings and shifting priorities, why does it feel like we’re repeating the same "to-do" list every six months? This wee...

The neuroscience of persuasion: How to engineer unforgettable communication, with Carmine Gallo

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

884. In this episode, Rachel Cooke and author Carmine Gallo explore the biological reality that the human brain is hardwired to ignore anything it dee...

What actually drives productivity in 2026?

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

883. Rachel shares how the productivity conversation has evolved - and what actually drives getting things done today. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rach...

Motion versus meaning: Build operating rhythms that work

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

882. Rachel shares how to design operating rhythms that create space for meaningful work instead of just adding more meetings to your calendar. Modern...

Why is your team moving fast but staying stuck?

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

881. We’re all under pressure to move faster, ship earlier, and do more. But as Rachel Cooke explains this week, "speed" often looks a lot more like...

Leading through uncertainty: Why you need an expedition mindset

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

880. Rachel shares why workplaces need expedition leadership - navigating uncertainty together - instead of tour-guide leadership that performs certai...

What Snoop Dogg can teach you about workplace collaboration

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

879. Rachel shares what the workplace can learn from how celebrities choose collaboration partners - and how to make collaboration work even when it's...

Purpose is a verb: How to practice intentional leadership, with Ira Bedzow

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

878. We often talk about "finding" our purpose as if it’s a destination on a map. But what if purpose isn’t a noun, but a verb? This week, Rachel ...

How to be more strategic at work (Reissue)

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

724. Being strategic at work is about focusing less on quantity—how much you can get done—and leaning instead on doing the right stuff in the wise...

Top five work lessons from 2025 to carry into the new year

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

877. As we close the books on a heavy year, Rachel shares her top five work lessons from 2025 to carry into the new year. She looks at why uncertainty...

5 moves to beat uncertainty and build a better 2026

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

876. It's been a hard year. As we head into 2026, Rachel shares five practices to help you focus on what you can control and make your work better. Mo...

The power of watching

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

875. As we close out the year, Rachel explores why observation - not action - might be the key to unlocking what's already working. Learn how to find ...

The 3 fundamental human needs that aren't changing about work, with JP Elliot

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

874. In a world defined by change, what are the human elements of work that remain constant? We look at this question with JP Elliot, founder of Futur...

It’s time to rethink your “productivity” (Reissue)

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

718. “Productivity” is the thing we’ve been chasing for years—more, better, faster. But is it really serving us? Or is it time for us to rethi...

Why leaders should stop solving and start inviting change

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

873. Employees are waiting for leaders to fix work. Leaders are drowning trying to fix everything. Rachel explains why both sides are stuck in an outd...

The 4 ways to rebuild your "second place" for belonging

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

872. Work used to be a place where connection happened naturally. Now it's not - and the impacts run deeper than we realize. Rachel explores why we've...

How to make hard choices as a leader

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

871. When there's no clear right answer, how do you move forward? Rachel shares insights from philosopher Ruth Chang and her own experience to help le...

Why you need to choose confidence (even when you're afraid), with Juan Bendaña

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

870. Confidence isn't a character trait you're born with; it's a muscle you develop. In this episode, author and speaker Juan Bendaña shares his pers...

Make meetings matter: Intentional gatherings for impact

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

869. We gather constantly but feel more disconnected than ever. Rachel uses insights from Priya Parker's "The Art of Gathering" to show how intentiona...

How I'm actually using AI at work

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

868.  AI is everywhere. There’s not currently a right or wrong way to be using it. Many of us aren’t - largely because we’re not sure where to ...

How to define your professional identity beyond your title, with Dr. Sarabeth Bickerton

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

867. Are you struggling to articulate your value because you feel like a "jack of all trades"? This episode features Dr. Sarabeth Bickerton, who defin...

Fixing morale in tough business seasons

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

866. When sales dip, profits stall, or the world throws curveballs, morale tends to suffer. But you do not need to wait for business to be perfect bef...

The invisible ways we’re eroding trust at work

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

865. We all know trust matters at work—but too often, we’re unintentionally chipping away at it without even realizing. In this episode, we’ll e...

The business case for employee well-being

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

864. Companies these days, amidst uncertain times, are shrinking their investments in wellness and engagement programs. But when well understood, well...

Make your time at work work for you

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jobs aren’t forever. But instead of disengaging when loyalty feels uncertain, we can use the work in front of us to grow stronger, smarter, and more...

Your team doesn’t have to hate the workout

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you and your team running on a treadmill that's going nowhere? Modern Mentor Rachel Cooke shares four real-world experiments that helped leaders i...

How to learn at work when there’s no time for learning

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learning and development at work are essential - for expanding our skills, for being more innovative, and for keeping us engaged. But also, there’s ...

Four steps to fix team conflict at work

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re not all friends at work. And we don’t have to be. But what you do do have to do is work well - effectively - together. In this week’s epis...

How work design can reignite tremendous results

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Too many teams are stuck in a swirl. Unclear on priorities, disconnection from purpose, and lost momentum. But we don’t need org-wide overhauls to f...

Is "quiet cracking" happening to your team?

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Quiet cracking isn’t burnout, and it’s not disengagement. It’s the early warning signal that something in the work is out of alignment. In this ...

Stop fixing wellness symptoms, fix the work

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our approach to wellness at work is wrong and it needs to be fixed. Currently we’re pushing ourselves to the edge and using wellness programs to hel...

Work moves faster with clarity and collaborative context

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Clarity doesn’t come from top-down communication. It comes from shared context, built through curiosity, trust, and connection. Here’s how to crea...

How the Ladder of Impact helps us achieve success

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Change and success live on a dial, not a switch. And when we’re only looking for complete overhauls, we miss the signals we’re achieving something...

How to build a healthier workday, minute by minute, with Dr. Rich Safeer

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Workplace well-being isn't just a buzzword; it's a critical component of a thriving team. This episode looks at the current state of employee health a...

How to lead through a difficult change

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Companies are making tough decisions these days that leaders need to help their teams through. Here are some ways to get through even the toughest of ...

Workplace wild west: AI, return-to-office, and DEI shifts with Jaime Klein

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the final installment of our series of shorter form interviews, Rachel speaks with Jaime Klein, founder and CEO of Inspire HR. They dive into the t...

Implementing a pilot approach to drive organizational change with Brett Underhill

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the third installment of our series of shorter form interviews, Rachel sits down with Brett Underhill, who heads up talent acquisition and learning...

The feedback fix: Grow your team, grow your career with Mike Jacobson

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of a series of shorter form interviews, Rachel sits down with Mike Jacobson, VP of People Operations at Steno. They discuss why traditio...

Trust and engagement: Alex Salas's HR insights on employee sucess

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of a series of shorter form interviews we're releasing in June, Rachel sits down with Alex Salas, Assistant Chief People Officer at the N...

Sustaining momentum in the battle against burnout

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Burnout doesn’t end with one big fix. Here’s how to build real, lasting relief by trading perfection for momentum—one reset, one decision, one h...

Let activation be your burnout antidote

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're not "either burned out or not burned out." Healing is a gradual process of chipping away at what drains you. Join Rachel Cooke, your Modern Men...

We’ve handed managers an impossible job

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Managers are burning out—not just from doing too much, but from carrying too many roles that were never meant to be theirs. Let’s name the burden ...

Fixing burnout begins with understanding burnout

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Team challenges can feel overwhelming to tackle head-on. Here’s how leaders in a recent Activation Bootcamp found ways to infuse small but meaningfu...

Sustaining progress: Rethinking DEI for the next generation of work with Lily Zheng

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel sits down with DEI strategist Lily Zheng for a candid conversation on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. They exp...

How to repair fractured relationships at work

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some work relationships feel easy. And some… don’t. When a relationship feels rocky—even without a big conflict—there’s a path to a more col...

Making work more human with Bonnie Davis

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel sits down with Bonnie Davis, co-founder of HuWork, to answer your questions about building more human-centered workplaces. You’ll also hear h...

How to reignite your motivation when it dips

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone’s motivation dips sometimes. But when it does, we often default to the wrong solutions. Here’s how to get curious, not critical, and reig...

So you wanna DIY a team offsite...

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You want to run an offsite for you team. You're craving the connection, the alignment, the levity and the action plan. You just don't know where to be...

The power of empathy in leadership with Jerry Colonna

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this insightful conversation, executive coach Jerry Colonna joins The Modern Mentor Podcast to explore the transformative power of empathy in leade...

How to solve workplace problems by focusing on success

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tired of always fixing what’s broken? What if instead, you focused on what’s working well and built from there? Today, we’re talking about using...

Feeling the slump? 7 easy ways to reignite workplace morale

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Low morale seems to be rampant in the workplace today. So many people are feeling it - without a sense of empowerment (or budget) to change it for the...

Finding your creative spark: AJ Jacobs on curiosity, gratitude & reinvention

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel welcomes bestselling author AJ Jacobs, known for his immersive "method writing" approach. They discuss how curiosity, gratitude, and risk-takin...

The power of kind leadership with Linda Cohen

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does kindness really mean in a business context, and how can it drive retention, culture, and success? Linda Cohen, The Kindness Catalyst, joins ...

How to get your ideas truly heard at work

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like your ideas get ignored while someone else says the same thing and gets immediate buy-in? It’s not about speaking louder—it’s abou...

Authentic personal branding: How to stand out on LinkedIn with Danielle Hughes

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Struggling to stand out on LinkedIn? Rachel welcomes Danielle Hughes, Chief Personality Officer, to discuss how to build a genuine personal brand with...

The 5 skills you need for success in today’s workplace

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world of work isn’t slowing down, and success isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Here are five essential skills t...

Rethinking career progression: Beyond promotions

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Employee engagement surveys often highlight frustration with career development. Here’s how to shift the conversation and create more satisfaction—...

Easing, not solving, team challenges

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Team challenges can feel overwhelming to tackle head-on. Here’s how leaders in a recent Activation Bootcamp found ways to infuse small but meaningfu...

Burned out? 5 things to stop doing now

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Burnout isn’t just about working too much. It’s also about working in the wrong ways. Here are five things to stop doing now to reclaim your energ...

Use an entrepreneurial approach to achieving success this year

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Success doesn’t come from waiting for the stars to align—it comes from taking action. Here’s how to channel your inner entrepreneur to create yo...

How to build connection when everyone feels disconnected

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s disconnected world, building connection at work can feel like an uphill battle. But small, intentional actions can make all the differenc...

Time for a year-end career audit?

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The end of the year is the perfect time to step back and assess where you are in your career. Are you on the path you want to be on? Are you growing i...

How to activate yourself

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Activation is the experience of being both deeply productive and engaged. And we all deserve to feel it. Good news is we have the power to create that...

The anti-resolution plan for a successful 2025

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Setting resolutions as we look toward a new year - a fresh start - is so tempting. And yet the likelihood of failure is super high. Here’s a fresh a...

Creating moments of professional development

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We know professional development is important - for performance and engagement. But when time and budgets are tight, how can we make it happen? Stick ...

The power of self-awareness at work (Reissue)

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Self-awareness is more than just knowing who you are. It’s having the insight to fully leverage your strengths and to flex your style in any moment ...

Navigating tough conversations at work with Amanda Perez Leder

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel talks with Amanda Perez Leder, conflict resolution specialist about how unresolved conflict can undermine an organization’s mission and how t...

How to recover from a confidence blow at work

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A blow to our confidence can throw us off our game if we let it. But there are ways to wallow and ways to recover. Let’s choose to recover. Modern ...

How to prepare for a nerve-wracking presentation

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Public speaking remains a top source of anxiety for so many adults. There are strategies anyone can use to dial the anxiety back and the confidence up...

The habits that drive innovation

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Innovation doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s driven by intentional habits that anyone can cultivate, whether you’re leading a team or workin...

Building your own success with Erika Ayers Badan

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan joins the show to share insights from her new book "Nobody Cares About Your Career: Why Failure Is Good, ...

Leadership blind spots that keep popping

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While every leadership team thinks its challenges are unique – to their company or industry – you’d be surprised how often they’re wrong. Let’...

5 reasons your change efforts are failing

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Organizational change today is rampant. Non-stop. And organizations are frankly failing at leading their teams through it. Today let’s talk about th...

Running meetings that matter with Mamie Kanfer Stewart

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel sits down with Mamie Kanfer Stewart, host of The Modern Manager podcast, to dive deep into the art of leading effective and enjoyable meetings....

Stack your micro-credentials to find success

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s competitive job market, having the right skills is critical—but it’s also important to show how those skills stand out. That’s wher...

The Alchemy of Talent and team success with Vijay Pendakur

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel sits down with Vijay Pendakur, the author of The Alchemy of Talent: Leading Teams to Peak Performance. The two dive into an engaging discussion...

Make your communication more meaningful

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Communicating is something we all do daily. But for all our efforts, we’re not always maximizing its impact. Let’s talk about ways to make our com...

My secrets to not struggling with imposter syndrome

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imposter syndrome, for many, is a real challenge. But it’s overcomable. And today I’d love to share my secrets for keeping it at bay.Modern Mentor...

Setting norms and boundaries with Beth Messich

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel interviews executive coach Beth Messich about the importance of setting clear boundaries and prioritizing effectively to manage workplace overw...

Better ways to have tricky conversations at work

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Saying hard things at work is hard. Sometimes we avoid saying them at all. Sometimes we say them in ways that damage our personal brand. But there’s...

Coaching and supporting top talent with Saatva CPO Maureen Cawley

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does a Chief People Officer believe we can all be doing more – and less – of in order to achieve the most important things? This interview wi...

Getting real about resilience and agility

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Resilience and agility. These are buzzwords we hear all the time. But what do they actually mean? What tangible things can we do to drive up our own c...

Can activation solve your team’s overwhelm?

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

During an Activation bootcamp, a cohort of leaders workshopped the challenges they were having reducing their teams’ overwhelm. Here are just some o...

Cognitive offloading – Your secret weapon for success?

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us are carrying too much stuff in our brains – meetings, ideas, to-do’s. We mean well, but we’re failing to leave space for the creativi...

How to combat "carewashing" at work

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carewashing - the process of companies implementing wellness programs and benefits that sound good, but fail to address real problems - is holding us ...

Use labels to fuel your success at work

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us have been taught labels are a bad thing. And they can be. But they can also be the key to success if we understand how to use them effectiv...

How to finally have that dreaded conversation (Re-issue)

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are so many conversations we know we should be having—the hard, the awkward, the uncomfortable. But we put them off for fear of making things ...

Employee engagement surveys are worsening our experience at work

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Too many companies are relying on Employee Engagement surveys to save the day. But just the opposite is happening. So what can we do instead?Modern Me...

How and why to ask better questions at work

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We know, generically, we should be living in a season of curiosity, always asking questions. But is it really important to be doing this? And if so, h...

How can one leader change a toxic workplace culture?

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A listener asked Modern Mentor for strategies on how to change a toxic workplace culture. Here are 5 actions that listener might take.Modern Mentor is...

Make the workplace irreplaceable with Kevin Kelley

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin Kelly, author of the new book Irreplaceable, delivers his insights around how a workplace can be designed to draw us in, to drive connection, in...