Culture at Work

Former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder joins Tim Carroll for a candid conversation about what truly builds culture on high-performing teams. From the trust and “safe space” of the locker room to leadership under pressure, Christian shares what sports teaches that business often forgets. They also explore why athletes can thrive in the boardroom, and why proximity still matters when you’re building real culture.

Cory Carlson returns as Culture at Work’s first repeat guest to kick off 2026 with a message leaders need: you can’t build a great workplace culture while neglecting the culture you’re creating at home.

In this conversation, Tim and Cory unpack how trust is built through consistency, why leadership stamina matters beyond the office, and how intentional habits—like reducing digital noise, keeping commitments, and practicing healthy accountability—shape the way we lead everywhere.

Tim Carroll sits down with Matt Tiller, President of Middle Tennessee Christian School, to explore what a truly Christ-centered school culture looks like in real life. From hiring for cultural fit and defining core values to weaving faith into everyday moments on campus, Matt shares how MTCS builds a sense of belonging for students, staff, and families. They also dig into how the school balances innovation, like project-based learning and AI tools, with a relational, mission-driven approach to education.

Growth strategist and bestselling author Tiffani Bova joins Tim to unpack The Experience Mindset, why cultures thrive when customer experience and employee experience rise together. She shares practical ways to align KPIs, map the employee journey, remove friction, and build teams ready for an AI-powered future.

Tim sits down with Brian Hubbard, Senior Associate and Design Director at Gensler Nashville, to unpack what “experience-driven” actually means at work today, from hospitality cues and circadian lighting to the data (and interviews) that reveal what people really need. They also tackle AI’s role in design, avoiding sameness, and why the most valuable budget line is often…time.

• (00:00:00) - Opening Hot Take: “Don’t Fear the Tools”
• (00:00:13) - Intro: Welcome to Culture at Work
• (00:00:34) - Meet Brian Hubbard, Design Director at Gensler Nashville
• (00:02:05) - Defining Culture: It Starts with People
• (00:03:08) - Coaching Clients & Aligning Company Culture
• (00:03:35) - Sponsor Message: The McSweeney Group
• (00:04:14) - The Shift: Experience-Driven Workplaces
• (00:05:15) - Personalization in the Modern Office
• (00:05:43) - Hospitality Principles in Workplace Design
• (00:06:12) - Lighting, Choice & the Human Experience
• (00:08:07) - Balancing Data with Human Intuition
• (00:09:49) - Questions That Reveal True Workplace Needs
• (00:10:32) - Key Data Points & What Companies Should Track
• (00:11:49) - Observing Workspace Use Without Fancy Tech
• (00:12:53) - Designing for Flexibility & Choice
• (00:13:41) - Ad Break & Transition Back to Culture at Work
• (00:14:32) - AI in Design: From Fear to Embracing the Tool
• (00:16:05) - The Human Element Behind AI
• (00:17:22) - Sameness in Design & Losing Local Culture
• (00:18:51) - If CEOs Invested in Culture, Where to Start
• (00:20:10) - Designing with Time: Why Iteration Matters
• (00:21:41) - The Business of Design & Ownership Mindset
• (00:23:17) - Closing Thoughts

Certified Futurist and Applied Insights Strategist Kaelynn Reid (host of Kimball’s Alternative Design podcast) joins Tim to kick off Season 3. They unpack why culture is “the energy of an organization” and how strategic foresight turns offices into responsive, human-centered experiences.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: Welcome to Season 3 of Culture at Work
• (00:00:21) - Meet Kaelynn Reid: Futurist, Strategist & Podcast Host
• (00:01:17) - Opening conversation & Alternative Design Podcast
• (00:02:08) - Defining culture: “The energy of an organization”
• (00:02:48) - What is a Certified Futurist? Strategic foresight explained
• (00:05:04) - Data sources & “signals of change”
• (00:06:24) - Quiet Cracking: A new workplace challenge
• (00:07:26) - How employers can respond to disengagement
• (00:10:08) - About the Alternative Design Podcast & its audience
• (00:13:26) - Lessons from 5 seasons: Shaping the future actively
• (00:15:30) - How the role of designers is evolving
• (00:18:27) - The futurist approach to organizational culture
• (00:20:12) - Beyond echo chambers: Designing for connection
• (00:21:35) - Social skills gap & creating safe spaces for belonging
• (00:23:30) - The future of the office: Responsive, modular, alive
• (00:26:33) - Personalized workplace experiences & closing thoughts
• (00:27:31) - Wrap-up

Season 2 of Culture at Work brought bold ideas and fresh perspectives on leadership, belonging, mindset, and purpose. In this special recap, host Tim Carroll highlights the most powerful insights from every guest. Don’t miss this collection of culture-shaping wisdom from today’s most inspiring voices.

How does branding influence not just external perception, but the very culture of a company? In this episode of Culture at Work, Tim Carroll sits down with Ren Scott, Principal and Creative Director of BrandMinded Digital Marketing, to explore the deep connection between authentic marketing and workplace culture.

How does your brain shape workplace culture? In this episode of Culture at Work, Tim Carroll sits down with Lisa Marini, a Brain-Based Performance Coach, to explore how mindset, stress, and neuroscience impact the way we work and lead. Discover practical, science-backed strategies to improve your attitude, reduce stress, and create a thriving workplace culture—starting with how you train your brain.

In this episode, host Tim Carroll sits down with Vicki McGuire, Vice President of Client Experience at Working Spaces. Join us as we explore how Vicki’s passion for client experience not only shapes the success of Working Spaces but also creates a meaningful, collaborative culture where everyone can thrive.