UNBOXING OD: Exploring the Work Behind the Work
Episodes
Episode 35: Strategy, Systems, and Succession - Inside STL-ODN's Growth Story
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when Organizational Development Professionals apply their own principles to their own organization? In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenn...
Episode 34: Making Change Human Again - A Conversation with Dr. Jason Guttadauria
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What actually happens after the survey closes, the insights are delivered, and the change initiative officially “launches”?In this episode of Unbo...
Episode 33: The Recruitment System is Broken - Now What?
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Applying for a job shouldn’t feel like shouting into a void. Yet for many candidates today, the recruitment process is defined by silence, redundanc...
Episode 32: The OD Perspective on Wellness - A Conversation with Dr. Katina Sawyer
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-founder of Workr Beeing, Associate Professor of Management and Orga...
Episode 31: Pop Culture, Real Lessons - Teaching Leadership with Dr. Sy Islam
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Sy Islam - Co-Founder and Vice President of Consulting at Talent Metrics, and ...
Episode 30: Hustling With Heart - Jenn Stevens on Presence, Ownership, and Developing Leaders from Any Seat
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, I sit down with Jenn Stevens, an Organizational Development leader whose path into this work is anything but conventio...
Episode 29: Strategic Clarity, Leadership, and AI - Marcus Dudley on Modern Leadership in the Digital Age
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Marcus Dudley, leadership and organizational consultant, executive coach, professor, and ...
Episode 28: The Invisible Medal - Leading with a Higher Purpose with Chris Richie
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Colonel Chris Ritchie, retired United States Marine Corps officer and Director of Human...
Episode 27: Unspoken Truths, Quiet Legacies - Five Reflections on Work and Self
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Unboxing OD is something different. Instead of frameworks or methodologies, Kenneth offers a deeply personal reflection told in five m...
Episode 26: The Inner Work of Leadership - A Conversation with Poor Bear Chalepah
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Poor Bear Chalepah, consultant, visionary leader, and soon-to-be PhD in Industrial-Orga...
Episode 25: OD Burnout Is Real - Protecting Your Capacity in the Work That Holds So Much
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson steps into a conversation that many OD practitioners feel but rarely name -- burnout. Not the sur...
Episode 24: Change by Design - A Conversation with Melissa Donegan
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Melissa Donegan - an experienced leader across federal agencies, healthcare, educa...
Episode 23: Inclusion, Community, & Compassion - Alex Ochoa & The Work of Becoming
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special in-person episode of Unboxing OD, Alex Ochoa shares what it means to show up - fully, boldly, and unapologetically - in a profession w...
Episode 22: When the Diagnosis Hurts - Telling the Truth in OD
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson takes us into one of the most delicate and defining aspects of organizational development - what ...
Episode 21: Navigating the Transition from L&D to OD with Bethany Rios, MPH
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this guest episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Bethany Rios, Organizational Development Manager and L&D professional, f...
Episode 20: The Silent Partner - Power in Organizations
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth explores the powerful presence of organizational power dynamics and the influence they carry in shaping cultur...
Episode 19: Allyship in Action with Dr. Victoria Mattingly
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful and personal conversation, Dr. Victoria Mattingly (Dr. V) - organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and CEO of Mattingly Soluti...
Episode 18: The Myth of the Quick Fix - Why OD Work Takes Time
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all love a quick fix - something that solves the problem, calms the chaos, and gets us back on track. But in the world of Organizational Developmen...
Episode 17: From Idea to Impact - Designing Strategic, Human-Centered Interventions
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What separates a one-time workshop from an intervention that actually changes the way people work together?In this episode of Unboxing OD, we explore ...
Episode 16: The Power of Storytelling in Organizational Development
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Storytelling isn’t just a soft skill - it’s one of the most powerful tools OD practitioners have to navigate complexity, build trust, and move peo...
Episode 15: The Flow of Five Tiers - Seeing the Whole System
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when we pause, zoom out, and ask: What are we really building?In this special episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson introduces The...
Episode 14: Building Trust & Credibility as an OD Practitioner
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trust and credibility aren’t just nice-to-haves in Organizational Development - they’re foundational. In this episode of Unboxing OD, we briefly e...
Episode 13: A Day in the Life - The Key Responsibilities of an OD Professional
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does a typical day look like for an Organizational Development (OD) practitioner? The short answer: there’s no such thing as typical.In this ep...
Episode 12: Followership - The Unsung Power Behind Great Leadership
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the key to better leadership ... is better followership?In this episode of Unboxing OD, we’re flipping the script and turning our attention ...
Episode 11: Systems, Ethics, Balance, & Growth - The OD Practitioner Mindset
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really mean to think like an OD practitioner? It’s more than just knowing frameworks or designing interventions - it’s about embracin...
Episode 10: What Does an Organizational Development Professional Actually Do?
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Unboxing OD, we’re pulling back the curtain on a question that’s fundamental yet often misunderstood: What does an Organization...
Episode 09: Leading with Purpose - The Connection Between Leadership & Management (Bonus Episode)
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership and management - two words often used interchangeably, yet they play distinct and complementary roles in shaping organizations. In this spe...
Episode 08: From Silence to Strength - How OD Practitioners Encourage Psychological Safety in the Workplace
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, share ideas, admit mistakes, and challenge the status quo without fear of judgment or retaliat...
Episode 07: Leading the Way - How Leadership Defines the Success of Organizational Development
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership isn’t just a title - it’s the engine that drives Organizational Development. In this episode of Unboxing OD, we explore why leadership...
Episode 06: More Than Words - Aligning Culture and Strategy for Real Impact
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Culture and strategy - two forces that shape every organization. But what happens when they’re not aligned? In this episode of Unboxing OD, we explo...
Episode 05: From Metrics to Meaning - Evaluating OD Success
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Success in Organizational Development isn’t always easy to define. Unlike tracking sales or profits, OD measures impact in areas like engagement, re...
Episode 04: The OD Practitioner - Detective, Architect, & Culture Shaper
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly does an Organizational Development (OD) practitioner do? You’ve seen them in action—or maybe just heard about them—but their role o...
Episode 03: Communication - The Heartbeat of Organizational Success
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Effective communication is the foundation of every successful organization, but it’s often easier said than done. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Ke...
Episode 02: The Human Side of Change - Keys to Leading Successful Transitions
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Change is inevitable, but managing it effectively is where the real challenge lies. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson dives into the key...
Episode 01: Introducing Organizational Development - The Human-Centered Approach
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first episode of Unboxing OD! In this episode, we dive into the foundational concepts of Organizational Development, exploring what it ...