Ever felt like you’re holding it all together on the outside but barely hanging on inside? This episode of the 1% Better Podcast hits deep.

Host Craig Thielen sits down with Luke Wendlandt, Founder and CEO of Cadre - a social platform to improve mental health.

🎙️We talk about:

The moment he realized success didn’t mean fulfillment

How discomfort became his best teacher

What most wellness apps get wrong

Why mental health at work isn’t a perk, it’s a must

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to keep going... this conversation will hit home.

Learn more about Cadre
Read Luke’s blog, It Happened For Me
Connect with Luke Wendlandt on LinkedIn

#1PercentBetter #MentalHealth #Startups #HumanCenteredAI #CadreWellness #Cadre #Wellness #GrowthMindset #AnxietySupport #ImprovementPodcast #LukeWendlandt #CadreApp

What if purpose was the smartest business strategy?

On this episode, host Craig Thielen talks with Amanda Brinkman, CEO of Sunshine Studios and creator of The Small Business Revolution. Amanda shares how doing good isn't just the right thing, it's the most impactful thing. From brand building to personal breakthroughs, Amanda’s story proves that purpose isn’t a buzzword... it’s a ripple effect.

Key takeaways:

👉Purpose drives profit – Doing good and doing well can go hand in hand

👉Long-term impact takes commitment – Great ideas need time and protection to grow

👉Your purpose is already within you – It’s more about revealing than finding

👉Small businesses lead with heart – They naturally blend community and service

👉Align work and life purpose – True fulfillment comes when both are in sync

Check out Amanda Brinkman's website
Learn more about The Purpose Pursuit
Watch episodes from The Small Business Revolution
Follow Amanda Brinkman on Instagram
Watch Amanda Brinkman's TED Talk
Connect with Amanda Brinkman on LinkedIn

#PurposeDriven #Leadership #SmallBusiness #AmandaBrinkman #Authenticity #1PercentBetter #SmallBusinessRevolution #LifeWithPurpose #marketing #SunshineStudios #ThePurposePursuit

What happens when an NFL Pro Bowler and a passionate educator team up to transform young lives?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, host Craig Thielen sits down with Chad Greenway, former Minnesota Viking and founder of the Lead the Way Foundation... and Chad Harlander, founder of the REACH Program. The two first connected at a football camp in South Dakota, and their partnership quickly grew. Together, they blend Harlander’s hands-on work with at-risk youth and Greenway’s platform and resources - helping kids overcome adversity, build confidence, and make a lasting impact beyond the classroom and the football field.

You’ll hear:

• How the REACH Program grew from 1 school to 46 across the U.S.
• How the Lead the Way Foundation is changing hospital stays and life paths
• Why integrity, consistency, and showing up still matter most
• The power of 8-for-the-Day and teaching kids to be part of the 8% who don’t give up
• What it really means to lead with purpose—and win with heart

Learn more about the REACH Program
Watch REACH video, Everyone has a StoryLearn more about Lead the Way Foundation
Donate to the Lead the Way Foundation
Connect with Chad Greenway on LinkedIn
Connect with Chad Harlander on LinkedIn

#ChadGreenway #MinnesotaVikings #DougHarlander #LeadtheWayFoundation #REACHProgram #Hutchinson #YouthEmpowerment #YouthPrograms #Itegrity #HelpingKids #Football

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In this inspiring episode, we meet Dave Clark, the only professional baseball player to pitch from crutches, and Doug Cornfield, the storyteller who helped bring Dave’s journey to life through books like A Pound of Kindness and Pulling Each Other Along. Together, they co-founded the D3 Foundation (Disability Dream & Do) to help kids with disabilities unlock their potential. This episode is their story of what happens when kindness, grit, and belief collide. Find out what turned Dave's moment of dread (teaser) into something truly unforgettable - this one small act of kindness sparked a movement, a book, and a future filled with hope. ✨⚾

Key Takeaways:

• Mindset is everything – Dave’s story demonstrates that ability is shaped more by mindset than by physical limitations
• Early encouragement matters – Small acts of belief, like a gym teacher insisting Dave try the rope climb, changed his trajectory
• Kindness echoes – A simple gesture by classmate Ernie Pound pulling Dave in a wagon became the inspiration for a children’s book and foundation
• 1% Better is a way of life – Every small improvement—one rope knot, one pitch, one more step—adds up to extraordinary achievements
• Pay it forward – Through the D3 Foundation, Dave and Doug now help kids with disabilities explore their full potential on and off the field

Get a copy of ⁠A Pound of Kindness⁠ children's book

Check out Doug's other book, ⁠Pulling Each Other Along⁠

Learn more about ⁠D3Day⁠ (Disability, Dream & Do)

Watch Dave Clark and Ernie Pound ⁠reunite⁠

Connect with Dave Clark on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Connect with Doug Cornfield on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Connect with Craig Thielen on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Check out host Craig Thielen's full ⁠bio page

#1PercentBetter #DisabilityDreamAndDo #MindsetMatters #Inspiration #DaveClark #D3Day #APoundofKindness #KindessMatters #InspiringStories #PullingEachOtherAlong #DougCornfield

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Welcome to the 1% Better Improvement Podcast.

Disability isn't rare - it's part of the human experience. In our latest 1% Better episode, Accessibility Advocate Kelly Risser shares how small changes in design, communication, and mindset create a better world for everyone. 💡 From invisible disabilities to the curb-cut effect, learn why accessibility isn't just compliance - it's innovation, empathy, and good business. Hear how 1% improvements in awareness and action can drive lasting inclusion at work and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

• Disability is everywhere: 1 in 4 Americans has a disability, many of which are invisible - and everyone is just "temporarily able-bodied"
• Accessibility benefits everyone: Concepts like the curb-cut effect prove that inclusive design helps all users, not just those with disabilities
• Simple changes matter: Improving color contrast, using accessible language, and understanding assistive technologies can make digital spaces more welcoming
• Education leads to empathy: Learning from those with lived experiences can reshape our perspective and reduce stigma
• Inclusion is good business: Companies investing in accessibility not only do the right thing but also open doors to broader markets and better customer loyalty

Learn more about Disability:IN Wisconsin
Check out The Ability Center
Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Connect with Kelly Risser on LinkedIn
Connect with Craig Thielen on LinkedIn
Check out host Craig Thielen's full bio page

#Accessibility #Inclusion #DigitalAccessibility #CurbCutEffect #1PercentBetter #WCAG

Welcome to the 1% Better Improvement Podcast.

From five-hour commutes to 58 countries and a dream job at sea—Andres Guzman’s story is a powerful reminder that the right risk can transform your life. 💡

In the latest episode of the 1% Better Podcast, we explore how authentic service, cultural empathy, and staying true to yourself can open doors you never expected.

Key Takeaways:

• Life Transitions Create Opportunity – Andres took a leap of faith by leaving his corporate job and ultimately found his dream career at sea.

• Authentic Service Builds Trust – Genuine human connection—not just technical service—defines a guest's experience.

• Cultural Understanding Matters – Working with over 25 nationalities taught Andres how to lead with empathy, not assumption.

• Adversity Can Shape Maturity – Financial struggles, long commutes, and career resets all helped shape his growth and focus.

• Small Moments Leave Lasting Impact – Whether helping a guest or mentoring a teammate, consistency and care make the difference.

Learn more about Mystic Cruises
Connect with Andres Guzman on LinkedIn
Connect with Craig Thielen on LinkedIn

#personaldevelopment #incrementalchange #trissential #culture #leapoffaith #growth #adversity #cruise #customerservice #customerexperience

Welcome back to the 1% Better Improvement Podcast.

In this episode, host Craig Thielen chats with Ben Albert - Founder of Real Business Connections and a podcasting savant who turned a COVID-era layoff into a thriving media and marketing business. Ben shares how he went from "Music Ben" to "Business Ben," the power of microinfluence, and why the key to success in podcasting, networking, and marketing lies in helping people and staying consistent. They explore how to build authentic relationships through creation-driven networking, the future of marketing with AI, and how to unlock your personal “combination code” to live and lead with purpose.

Key takeaways:

• Reinvention is possible – A layoff became the spark for Ben’s entrepreneurial journey

• Podcasting is a powerful connector – It's more about building relationships than chasing fame

• Microinfluence matters – Impacting a small, focused audience can drive real business results

• Consistency builds trust – Success in podcasting (and business) comes from showing up over time

• Marketing starts with helping – The best strategy is offering real value and letting that speak for itself

• Learn more about Ben’s podcasts at Real Business Connections
• Follow Real Business Connections on Spotify
• Subscribe to Real Business Connections on YouTube
• Follow Ben Albert on LinkedIn

#personaldevelopment #career #pocastingtips #podcast #improvementpodcast #benalbert #realbusinessconnections #rbc #trissential #craigthielen #microinfluence #podcasters

🏀 Cinderella Story? Not a chance. 🏀During last year’s March Madness, the world saw Jack Gohlke sink 10 three-pointers and shock No. 3 seed Kentucky - but what they didn’t see was the years of work, setbacks, and relentless 1% improvements that led to that moment.

In the latest episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Jack shares:

• How he built unshakable confidence through daily discipline
• Why he embraced his role as a 3-point specialist to fit the right system
• How team chemistry and experience helped Oakland take down a giant
• His journey from D2 underdog to NBA G League pro

Jack Gohlke's story is a blueprint for winning in business, sports, and life - when the big moment comes, will you be ready?Check out Gohlke's 16 three-point shots from '24 NCAA Tourney

Learn more about the Wisconsin Herd

Follow Jack Gohlke on Instagram

#MarchMadness #UnderdogMentality #1PercentBetter #BasketballMindset #HardWorkPaysOff #Confidence #Gohlke #NCAA #JackGohlke #basketball #improvement

Welcome to the 1% Better Improvement Podcast - Craig Thielen sits down once again with Paul Batz, CEO & Founder of Good Leadership.

Craig and Paul kick off season 3 discussing accountability—everyone wants it, but why does it so often feel negative? 🤔

In this episode, Paul Batz, CEO of Good Leadership, shares groundbreaking research on how leaders can foster healthy accountability—one that drives ownership, growth, and team success rather than fear and blame.

🔹 Why most organizations get accountability wrong
🔹 The "only one pilot lands the plane" rule
🔹 How leaders can role-model accountability
🔹 The power of clear language in driving ownership
🔹 Practical steps to create a culture of healthy accountability

If you’ve ever struggled with accountability on your team, this episode is a must-listen!

Learn more about Good Leadership
Check out Good Leadership’s Healthy Accountability ResearchConnect with Paul Batz on LinkedIn
Connect with Craig Thielen on LinkedIn

#accountability #incrementalchange #improvementpodcast #growthmindset #goodleadership #trissential #paulbatz

1% Better Improvement Podcast's very first guest returns — this time as the host! Shane Zutz, VP of HR at DigiKey flips the script on Craig Thielen to reflect on a year of inspiring conversations, leadership insights, and the evolving role of AI. Don’t miss this special year-in-review episode!

Key Takeaways:

• Optimism is a Leadership Superpower: True leadership isn't blind positivity but a confidence in navigating uncertainty and bringing people into the conversation. Great leaders balance optimism with realism to inspire and guide teams through challenges.

• Human-Centered Leadership Wins: Across industries and roles, leaders who prioritize relationships, emotional intelligence, and adaptability tend to create more engaged, resilient, and high-performing teams.
• AI is a Catalyst, Not a Threat: The rise of AI in 2024-25 underscores the importance of human-centered AI - using technology to enhance, not replace, human connection, decision-making, and creativity in leadership.
• The Power of Language in Driving Change: David Marquet’s insights on leadership transformation highlight that changing language is key to shifting behavior. Using new terminology signals change and helps organizations break out of outdated mindsets.
• 1% Better Every Day is a Mindset, Not a Limit: Continuous improvement isn't about incremental gains alone - it's about building a culture where every day presents an opportunity for growth, whether at an individual, team, or organizational level.

Learn more about DigiKey
Check out Good Energy by Calley and Casey MeansConnect with Shane Zutz on LinkedIn
Connect with Craig Thielen on LinkedIn

#1PercentBetter #Leadership #PodcastYearInReview #GrowthMindset #HumanCenteredLeadership #AIandLeadership #OptimismInBusiness #ContinuousImprovement #FutureOfWork #LeadershipLessons #PersonalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #SuccessMindset #ResilientLeadership #LearningEveryDay