Erica Woods is the Director, Talent Experience & Social Impact for Apex Systems.

She is also a great chicken fryer and a lot of fun to interview!

On this podcast we talked about low cost (frequently free) ways to do team building. (One idea was a typing speed test, so we tested it out live on the podcast).

And we talked about National Parks - Phil adds one to his bucket list!

It's a great conversation packed with incredible ideas. Enjoy!

Erica on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericawoods/

Apex webinars: https://www.apexsystems.com/careers/webinars-and-workshops

Phil's Fry Your Chickens Newsletter:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fry-your-chickens-7245485596381454336/

In this episode, I sit down with Darren LaCroix—stand-up comedian turned Las Vegas keynoter, 2001 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking winner, and coach to speakers around the world.

We talk about Darren’s first stand-up performance, the bomb that taught him the most, and how stage time—real stage time—shaped everything that followed. From comedy clubs to a world championship to building Stage Time University, Darren shares what actually helps speakers improve—and why most never do.

We also covered bears vs. chickens, a question from Darcy, and a few lessons you only learn by stepping on stage, over and over again.

If you believe growth is earned, not imagined, this conversation is for you.

SHOW NOTES:

Darren's website: https://darrenlacroix.com/

Darren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenlacroix/

Darren on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/stagetime

Darren on TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@darren.lacroix

Phil's Substack:

https://pbarth.substack.com/

Phil's Linked In Newsletter:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fry-your-chickens-7245485596381454336/

Cybersecurity expert Bryce Austin returns to Fry Your Chickens for his second appearance — and yes, we have a little fun with the fact that being a multi-time guest is clearly a big deal.

But the laughs come with a serious purpose.

In this episode, Bryce breaks down what’s really happening at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI. We talk about where AI is making organizations safer, where it’s creating new risks, and the very human mistakes that still cause the biggest problems. This isn’t fear-based or theoretical — it’s practical, real-world insight that affects how you protect your business, your data, and your sanity.

Despite the seriousness of the topic, we still managed to have plenty of laughs along the way.

If you want to fry your IT security chickens, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

Links:

https://bryceaustin.com/

(Also tcestrategy.com will get you there)

Email: [email protected]

Anytime you've heard "I'm a sage on the stage", "I'm the guide by their side" and "You can't who up and throw up" within the first THREE MINUTES of a podcast you know it's going to be good.

My conversation with Patrick Donadio was very good. Lots of great points and lots of laughs.

You don't want to miss this one!

Patrick Donadio, MBA, is a communication strategist, Certified Speaking Professional (CSP™), Master Certified Coach (MCC), and author of the influential book “Communicating with IMPACT©”. His IMPACT© Process empowers C-suite executives, leaders, and their organizations to communicate clearly, lead effectively, present powerfully, shift mindsets, and drive results. Patrick is one of the few globally to have earned the highest designations in speaking (CSP) and coaching (MCC). He delivers engaging keynotes, practical training programs, and personalized coaching that enhance business growth, success, and a substantial IMPACT on their bottom line.

More About Patrick links:

• Website: https://patrickdonadio.com/
• Contact: https://forms.gle/PxmQQFSPs91w3R9i8 (Questions, Event Bookings, Communication coaching)
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickdonadio
• IMPACT© Process Overview: https://patrickdonadio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Communicating-with-IMPACT-Wheel.pdf
• “Communicating with IMPACT©” book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/vh9a7em

Free Resources:

• IMPACT Six-Step Process©: Summary with examples for written, interpersonal, and group communication. https://patrickdonadio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Communicating-with-IMPACT-Wheel.pdf

• Common Mistakes Presenters Make: https://patrickdonadio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Presentation-Skills-IMPACT-Common-Pitfalls-Patrick-Donadio-CSP-www.PatrickDonadio.com-updated-1.pdf

Welcome to season two of Fry Your Chickens!

In this episode, I’m joined by AJ Hawley — keynote speaker, consultant, and a good friend.

We talk about imposter syndrome (the kind that still shows up even when things are going well), keynote speaking and more.

Along the way, the conversation takes a few very detours into dogs, zombies, Halloween creativity, and — naturally — rubber chickens. There’s humor, real talk, and plenty of moments that remind you that even high performers still wrestle with the same doubts as everyone else.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you belong, wondered how speakers really build their craft, or just enjoy a smart conversation that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I sit down with Claire Edwards—a true morning routine ninja (my words, not hers). Claire has completed a morning routine 2,000 days in a row, and the results have been incredible.

As always, we mixed practical insights with the usual nonsense, including deep philosophical questions like “Would you rather fight one bear-sized chicken or 100 chicken-sized bears?” (Science was inconclusive.)

We also spent time talking about our Maisys—yes, we both have dogs with the same name—which somehow made the conversation even better.

If you care about habits, energy, and building a life that actually feels good, this one’s worth your time.

Links

https://heyitsclaireedwards.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqArVJXZXaE <- Mel Robbins interviews Dr. Ethan Kross (importance of journaling)

In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and keynote speaker Kamilla Pinel for a conversation that blends emotional intelligence, AI, and real-world leadership in a refreshingly human way.

Kamilla shares her DREAM™ framework and how AI can help make us better humans. Oh and she also talks about the human side of coaching. I learned a lot!

Inspired by Kamilla’s spontaneity and coaching style, I bring one of her suggestions into the moment: they generate 10 real-time improvement ideas — a brutally honest list I requested from ChatGPT to become the best goal-achievement keynote speaker (“chicken fryer”) in the world. Together we unpack highlights like sharpening positioning, quantifying audience outcomes, creating viral stage moments, and building AI as a competitive moat.

We also cover:

• Why color-coding your calendar reveals more than you think
• How AI can make leaders more human.
• The legendary horse-sized chicken question, of course

This episode is a mix of heart, strategy, coaching presence, and laugh-out-loud moments — a perfect blend of Kamilla’s grounded leadership approach and humor.

Links:
You Dream You Do Coaching — https://www.youdreamyoudo.com/
Kamilla on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamillagpinel/
Kamilla’s Book — https://a.co/d/0Kh5A0w

In this episode, I sit down with keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and all around great guy Vince Mirabelli to unpack a topic most people avoid — organizational politics. Vince argues that politics, when done right, can actually be a force for good, helping teams navigate influence, alignment, and change.

We dive into:

• Why every organization has politics (and how we can make that a good thing)

• How to deal with a boss who’s a “BJ” — the Brilliant Jerk

• The role of humor and self-awareness in building trust at work

• And of course… the age-old showdown: one bear-sized chicken or 100 chicken-sized bears?

It’s a fast, funny, and thought-provoking conversation that’ll make you rethink what “playing politics” really means.

🎧 Tune in, laugh a little, and maybe fry one of your own workplace chickens.

LINKS:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemirabelli/

I tried to link to Vince on Linked In Learning but couldn't make it work. But if you go to LinkedIn Learning and search on Vince Mirabelli you'll find him!

Kevin Bacon, Remain Calm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPIq29ro

In this episode, I sit down with my college roommate and longtime friend Brad Perkins, now Managing Partner at Perkins Equity Management, to talk about the twists, turns, and lessons from a life spent leading massive software teams… and why he walked away from corporate life to build something on his own terms.

We cover a lot of ground — and yes, plenty of laughs:

• Why contractors and software developers are way more alike than you think

• The #1 lesson Brad took from decades in IT leadership

• A few classic Airplane! jokes (because we can’t help ourselves)

• A round of ChatGPT-powered Trivial Pursuit inspired by our college game nights

• How Brad’s definition of success has evolved — and why Mondays feel different now

• And of course… we wrap it up with a dad joke

It’s funny. It’s thoughtful. It’s two old friends reconnecting with a lot more wisdom — and still plenty of nonsense.

This is one of the most important episodes I've done in the podcast.

Bryce Austin is a cybersecurity expert. He fights the bad guys. And he can help you fight them too. More importantly he can help you avoid ever having to fight them in the first place.

If you have the same password on multiple accounts, this one is for you.

If you have an IOT water softener, it's for you.

If you want to hear (for the second time in podcast history) the best answer to the horse sized (now bear sized) chicken question - it's totally for you.

LINKS:

The time the Astros were the victim - who knew?

https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/baseballs-data-breaches

Links:

https://bryceaustin.com/

(Also tcestrategy.com will get you there)

Email: [email protected]

The book link