Human Side Up

By Graystoke Networks

What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start building real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by diving into the r... more

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FAQs about Human Side Up:

How many episodes does Human Side Up have?

The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.

Human Side Up episodes:

August 27, 2025 The Human Side of Leadership | Dennis Richter
Reflective, Intentional, and Human-First: Redefining Leadership with Dennis Richter
What if leadership wasn’t about following a prescribed path, but about weaving together lived experiences, values, and the courage to do it differently?
In this insightful episode of Human Side Up, Natasha Nuytten sits down with Dennis Richter—Chief of People at Fullscript—for a conversation that is as candid as it is deeply human. From growing up in one of the poorest zip codes in the U.S. to serving in the military after 9/11, Dennis has built his leadership philosophy on reflection, intentionality, and an unwavering respect for the people around him.
His journey zigzags across industries and roles—from technical work to people leadership and back again—offering him a perspective that’s both expansive and grounded. For Dennis, leadership isn’t about titles or linear career ladders; it’s about building trust, honoring integrity, and creating environments where people can thrive as whole humans.
Together, Natasha and Dennis explore what it means to reject the playbook, embrace failure as a teacher, and design organizations where every individual—whether a manager or a “builder”—is valued for their contribution.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered what it truly looks like to lead with heart, humility, and intention in a world being reshaped by technology and change.
Highlights & Takeaways
💡 Why reflection and intentionality are Dennis’s guiding principles
💡 How lived experience—from the military to tech—shapes leadership more than any resume
💡 The danger of forcing people into management roles they don’t want (and what to do instead)
💡 Why respect, integrity, and human connection remain non-negotiables in the age of AI
💡 How to build organizations where people are thriving—not just surviving
Learn more about Dennis Richter:
🔗 ⁠LinkedIn⁠
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop following the playbook and start writing our own? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up cuts through the noise to reveal how real leaders create workplaces where people can thrive.
This isn’t about theory or trends—it’s about the practical strategies, hard-won lessons, and breakthrough moments that move the needle for the teams, cultures, and communities they serve.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 ⁠LinkedIn⁠
🎧 ⁠Listen on Spotify⁠
📺 ⁠YouTube⁠
Connect with CLARA:
🔗 ⁠LinkedIn⁠
🌐 ⁠Website⁠
📺 ⁠YouTube⁠
...more
54min
August 13, 2025 How Loss Turned Me Into a Leader | Yamani Yansa Hernandez
Rooted, Radical, and Real: Leading Movements for Justice with Yamani Yansa
What if the call to lead wasn’t a choice, but a responsibility you couldn’t turn away from?
In this powerful episode of Human Side Up, Natasha Nuytten sits down with Yamani Yansa—activist, strategist, and Executive Director of Groundswell Fund—for an unfiltered conversation about movement leadership, collective care, and creating lasting change in the face of systemic inequities.
From grassroots organizing to shaping national philanthropic priorities, Yamani’s work is anchored in a deep commitment to reproductive justice, racial equity, and building power for communities too often left out of decision-making. Their leadership journey has been one of standing firm in values, navigating resistance, and holding space for both grief and joy in the work of liberation.
Together, Natasha and Yamani explore what it means to center the most impacted voices, why leadership rooted in community is essential for real transformation, and how sustaining movements requires as much focus on care as it does on strategy.
This episode is for anyone ready to reimagine leadership as a shared, justice-driven practice.
Highlights & Takeaways
💡 Why grassroots movements are the heartbeat of social change
💡 How to lead without centering ego or personal power
💡 The role of philanthropy in fueling—not steering—movements
💡 What it means to practice collective care in high-stakes work
💡 How to navigate the tension between urgency and sustainability
Learn more about Yamani Yansa:
🔗 Groundswell Fund
🔗 LinkedIn
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.
This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📺 YouTube
Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube
...more
51min
July 30, 2025 Her Whole Town Turned on Her | Meagan O’Nan
Outed, Honest, and Home: Leading with Courage and Connection with Meagan O’Nan
What if the hardest conversation you’ve ever had… made you the leader you were meant to be?
In this deeply human episode of Human Side Up, Natasha Nuytten sits down with Meagan O’Nan—award-winning speaker, author, and founder of The Unify Experience—for an unflinching look at vulnerability, identity, and what it really means to lead from truth.
Meagan was outed in college. Rejected by her community. Told to leave Mississippi. She left—but came back. And from that return came a body of work rooted in emotional honesty, real inclusion, and conflict transformed into connection.
Together, Natasha and Meagan explore why "agreeing to disagree" isn’t enough, how leaders can respond—not react—in moments of tension, and why fear might just be the gateway to meaningful change.
This episode is for anyone holding space between who they are and who they’re becoming.
Highlights & Takeaways
💡 Why “I love you, but…” isn’t real acceptance
💡 How unresolved conflict shows up as culture problems
💡 Why self-awareness is a leadership non-negotiable
💡 What to say instead of “we agree to disagree”
💡 The power of asking: What are you afraid of?
Learn more about Meagan O’Nan:
🔗 Website
📚 Books: Held and Free, Creating Your Heaven on Earth, Courage: Agreeing to Disagree Is Not Enough
🎥 TEDx Talk: What to Do When You Disagree with Someone You Love
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.
This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📺 YouTube
Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube
...more
1h 1min
July 16, 2025 How to Tell Stories That Actually Change People | Shane Snow
Zig-Zag Careers, Smart Cuts, and Story-Driven Leadership with Shane Snow
What if the best path forward isn’t a ladder—but a sideways leap?
In this episode of Human Side Up, Natasha Nuytten is joined by Shane Snow—award-winning journalist, bestselling author (Smartcuts, Dream Teams), entrepreneur, and Broadway producer—for a rich and energetic conversation on unconventional careers, curiosity as a leadership superpower, and the real power of storytelling at work.
From exploring abandoned subway tunnels to building tech for modern film sets, Shane’s career defies categories—and that’s exactly the point. Together, he and Natasha unpack what it means to lead, learn, and build culture through exploration, empathy, and embracing the unknown.
This episode is for anyone who's ever felt "off script"—and wondered if that might be the secret to real innovation.
Highlights & Takeaways
💡 Why curiosity and contrarian thinking make better teams
💡 What storytelling has to do with building inclusive cultures
💡 How leaders can model intellectual humility in real time
💡 The surprising value of “side quests” in business and life
💡 Why zig-zag paths often lead to the most meaningful impact
Learn more about Shane Snow:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Snow Academy
📚 Books: Smartcuts, Dream Teams, The Storytelling Edge
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.
This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📺 YouTube
Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube
...more
58min
July 02, 2025 Navigating Fear, Race & Illness in the Workplace | Dr. Tonya Hampton
What if true leadership isn’t about being fearless—but being real?
In this episode of Human Side Up, Natasha Nuytten is joined by Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton—executive coach, author of The Myth of the Fearless Leader, and organizational change expert—for a candid and thought-provoking conversation on leadership, vulnerability, and doing the inner work.
Drawing from decades in human resources, organizational development, and DEI leadership, Dr. Hampton shares how navigating fear, embracing personal truth, and showing up with intention are foundational to transformational leadership. Together, she and Natasha explore what it means to lead with empathy and strategy in high-stakes environments—and why being human is one of the most powerful tools a leader has.
This episode is a guide for any leader who’s ready to get honest, get clear, and grow forward.
Highlights & Takeaways
💡 Why fear isn’t a weakness—and what it can teach you
💡 How to balance authenticity with responsibility
💡 Creating space for hard conversations around race, illness, and loss
💡 The power of story, reflection, and values-driven leadership
💡 How to build inclusive cultures from the inside out
Learn more about Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton
🔗 LinkedIn
📖 The Myth of the Fearless Leader
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.
This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📺 YouTube
Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube
...more
54min
June 18, 2025 Beyond Binary Thinking | Dr. Joel A. Davis
Queer Wisdom & Transformational Leadership: A Deeper Conversation with Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown
In this powerful follow-up episode, Natasha sits down once again with Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown—cultural strategist, organizational transformation expert, and author of The Souls of Queer Folk—for a deep exploration of what leadership can learn from queer wisdom.
This conversation builds on part one by turning insight into action. Together, Natasha and Dr. Brown unpack the cultural values, lived experiences, and resilience of queer communities—and how those lessons can shape more inclusive, authentic, and visionary leadership.
Through stories, frameworks, and fierce honesty, Dr. Brown challenges us to redefine what it means to lead. From somatic awareness and non-binary thinking to community-building and justice-driven leadership, this episode is a call to embrace nuance, show up fully, and transform not just our workplaces—but ourselves.
Highlights & Takeaways
💡Why queer culture holds powerful, overlooked leadership wisdom
💡How authenticity and resilience can coexist in systems of oppression
💡What “the inclusion paradox” reveals about power and belonging
💡Practical ways to lead with justice, verve, and non-binary thinking
💡Why transformational leadership begins with disrupting old narratives
Learn more about Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📖 The Souls of Queer Folk
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.
This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📺 YouTube
Connect with CLARA:
🔗LinkedIn
🌐Website
📺YouTube
...more
1h 34min
June 04, 2025 What 42 Years in Baseball Taught Me About Building Teams That Win | Kenneth Williams
Breaking Barriers: Leadership, Bias & the Business of Being Human
What does it take to lead with conviction—when the world would rather see you fail?

In this episode, Natasha Nuytten sits down with Kenneth Williams, former MLB Executive VP and current Executive Chairman of CLARA, for a powerful, no-filter conversation on leadership, legacy, and the weight of being “the first.”

From decades in professional sports to breaking into tech, Kenny shares the untold stories behind building championship teams, navigating public scrutiny, and redefining what success really means when you're carrying a movement on your shoulders.

This isn’t just a story about baseball. It’s about how to lead when you're underestimated, how to create cultures of real safety and trust, and why the future of leadership demands more than just performance—it demands purpose.

Whether you're a founder, a changemaker, or someone trying to make sense of this moment in history, Kenny offers grounded, deeply human insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Highlights & Takeaways:
💡 Leading while Black: the unseen cost of “firsts” in leadership
💡 From the dugout to the boardroom: lessons on building high-trust teams
💡 Why psychological safety isn’t soft—it’s a strategy
💡 A candid call-out on DEI pushback: “If you’re against fairness, just say that.”

Learn more about Kenneth Williams:
🔗 LinkedIn

Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.

This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.

Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Spotify
📺 YouTube

Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube
...more
59min
May 21, 2025 The Power of Workplace Relationships | Jason Lauritsen
From Metrics to Meaning: Reinventing Leadership Through Connection
What if the key to better performance isn’t found in KPIs or dashboards—but in deeper human relationships?
In this episode, Natasha Nuytten sits down with Jason Lauritsen, employee engagement expert and CEO of Check-In To Thrive, for a powerful conversation about rebuilding leadership from the ground up—starting with how we treat one another at work.
Jason has spent his career challenging outdated management models and advocating for relationship-centered leadership. From corporate burnout to breakthrough moments, he shares why thriving organizations aren’t driven by control—but by connection, trust, and care.
Whether you're a founder, a people leader, or just tired of performative workplace culture, Jason brings insights that go beyond engagement surveys and into the heart of what makes work actually work—for everyone.
Highlights & Takeaways:
💡 Why employee engagement has failed—and what to do instead
💡 The science behind human-centered leadership
💡 How “check-ins” can become your organization’s most powerful tool
💡 Rethinking success through psychological safety and authentic connection
Learn more about Jason Lauritsen:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📖 Book: Unlocking High Performance
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.
This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Spotify
📺 YouTube
Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube: @GET-CLARA
...more
1h 1min
May 07, 2025 Lessons from a Self-Made Billionaire | Liz Elting
From Dorm Room to $1B: Power, Purpose, and the Future of Women’s Leadership
What does it take to build a billion-dollar company—and still center purpose, people, and progress?
In this episode, Natasha sits down with Liz Elting, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and women’s rights advocate, for a bold and energizing conversation on building from nothing, navigating power as a woman in business, and reshaping leadership for the next generation.
Liz co-founded TransPerfect from her dorm room—and over 25 years, scaled it into the world’s largest provider of language and business solutions. Now, as the founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, she’s channeling her influence and insight into driving equity, empowering women, and redefining success beyond the bottom line.
From business strategy to bold advocacy, Liz shares the personal principles and pivotal moments that shaped her journey—and what it really means to lead with purpose in a world that still sidelines too many women.
Highlights & Takeaways:
💡 How Liz scaled a dorm room startup into a $1B global business
💡 Why power and purpose don’t have to be at odds in leadership
💡 How to challenge systemic barriers without burning out
💡 The mindset shifts every woman in business needs to thrive
Learn more about Liz Elting:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📖 Dream Big and Win
Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.
This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.
Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Spotify
📺 YouTube
Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube
...more
58min
April 23, 2025 A Leadership Coach's Perspective | Luis Velasquez
From Adversity to Empowerment: Resilience, Leadership, and the Human Factor

Leadership isn’t just about influence—it’s about overcoming, adapting, and showing up with purpose.

In this episode, Natasha sits down with Luis Velasquez, leadership coach, Harvard Business Review contributor, and Founder of Velas Coaching, for a powerful conversation on resilience, perception, and leading with intention.

Luis opens up about his remarkable journey from a background in fungal genetics to the frontlines of executive coaching in Silicon Valley. Diagnosed with a brain tumor that impacted his speech, Luis turned adversity into a catalyst for growth—transforming his life and the lives of leaders around him. Now, through his coaching and teaching at Stanford Graduate School of Business, he helps executives shift their self-perception, lead with authenticity, and build trust in high-stakes environments.

Highlights & Takeaways:
💡 How personal adversity can sharpen leadership clarity and empathy
💡 The invisible power of perception in leadership—and how to shift it
💡 Why resilience is more than grit, and how to build it from the inside out
💡 How to stop managing optics and start building trust

Learn more about Luis Velasquez:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website

Human Side Up
What happens when we stop ticking boxes and start driving real change? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up flips the script on diversity, equity, and inclusion by uncovering the real, raw stories behind the headlines.

This podcast isn’t about corporate checklists—it’s about the leaders, changemakers, and innovators rethinking workplace culture and championing transformation. From breakthrough strategies to bold decisions, we explore what it truly takes to build workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.

Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Spotify
📺 YouTube

Connect with CLARA:
🔗LinkedIn
🌐Website
📺 YouTube

...more
51min

FAQs about Human Side Up:

How many episodes does Human Side Up have?

The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.