Lassoing Leadership

Summary

Garth and Jason have been asking a lot of questions this season on Beard's Book Club. Questions about what it means to lead well, to show up with intention, and to stay human in a world that keeps moving faster than most of us feel ready for.

This conversation with Kate Arthur might be the one that reframes all of those questions.

We have been thinking a lot lately about what it actually means to be literate. Not just able to read. Not just able to decode text on a page. But truly literate in a world where the machines generating that text are getting smarter by the day.

Kate brought some of the most grounded thinking on this that we have encountered in Season 3. Her journey with literacy is personal before it is professional, and that is exactly what makes her perspective so compelling. She is not coming at AI with alarm or with uncritical enthusiasm. She is coming at it the way a thoughtful educator should: with open curiosity and a deep commitment to the humans in the room.

What stayed with us from this conversation is her reminder that trust is built slowly and lost in a second. In a world flooded with AI-generated content, that is not just a philosophical observation. It is a design challenge for every school leader trying to build culture right now.

If you are wrestling with how to approach AI in your school, or how to help your students and staff develop the discernment they need, this conversation is a good place to start.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to literacy and AI06:08 Kate's journey and what literacy really means09:10 The kipu knots: a story about communication across cultures12:11 Foundational skills and the literacy gap15:09 AI literacy and understanding how machines think18:00 Trust, authenticity, and AI-generated content21:04 Mental health and the societal impact of AI24:16 Advice for school leaders navigating AI and literacy27:04 Closing thoughts and where this is all going30:07 Beard's Book Club outro

Key Takeaways

Literacy has always evolved. Kate traces this beautifully, from the kipu knots of the Inca to the printing press to the screen in your pocket. What counts as literacy has never been fixed, and leaders who understand that history are better equipped to navigate what is coming next.

Foundational skills are not optional. Before students can think critically about AI-generated content, they need the foundational literacy tools to engage with any content. The gap between students who have those tools and those who do not is widening, and the arrival of AI is making it more urgent, not less.

Open curiosity is a leadership stance. Kate frames this not as naive optimism but as a deliberate choice to engage with the unknown rather than retreat from it. That applies to how we lead our staffs, how we talk to students, and how we show up in our own professional development.

Mental health is part of this conversation. The pressure that AI is placing on young people's sense of identity, authenticity, and belonging is real. School leaders need to be thinking about AI policy and student well-being in the same breath.

Quotes

"Trust is built slowly and lost in a second." — Kate Arthur

"We need to protect mental health in the age of AI." — Kate Arthur

"Open curiosity helps us navigate the unknown." — Kate Arthur

Connect with Kate

Website: https://katewebsite.comSubstack: https://substack.com/@kate

Summary

There is a question we keep coming back to.

Not as a thought experiment. As a genuine, uncomfortable, sit-with-it question: where does the authority lie now?

That is what Kate Arthur put on the table when Garth and I sat down with her for this episode of Season 3. Kate is a thinker at the crossroads of literacy, generative AI, and what it means to know something in a world where the answer is always a prompt away. Her book, Am I Literate?, is the kind of read that does not give you easy answers. It gives you better questions.

What struck us most was not the AI conversation, honestly. It was the mental health thread running underneath it. Because if we are honest with ourselves as school leaders, the tools our students are using are changing faster than our understanding of what those tools are doing to them. Kate brought that tension into the open in a way we found clarifying.

We talked about the role of storytelling in a generated world, what critical thinking actually demands now, and why you cannot shortcut your way to wellness. Not with a product. Not with an app. Not with AI.

This one stayed with us. We think it will stay with you too.

Chapters

00:00 introduction to Beard's Book Club and a bit about where this conversation came from

04:53 pulling on the mental health thread in education and why school leaders can't afford to look away

09:40 the intersection of AI and literacy, and the question of where authority lives in a generated world

16:03 how educators and leaders can navigate change without losing what matters most

21:39 preparing students and systems for what learning actually looks like going forward

24:06 Beard's Book Club outro

Key Takeaways

Gratitude is not a gesture. Kate's reminder that it needs to be specific, timely, and personal landed for us as a leadership reminder more than a wellness tip. We do a lot of general acknowledgment in schools. The specific stuff takes more intention, but it is the only kind that actually lands.

You cannot generative AI your way to wellness. Full stop. This line came out of a conversation about mental health in education, and it is one we will be repeating. There is no tool, platform, or productivity hack that replaces genuine human connection. The shortcut does not exist.

The authority question is real and it is unresolved. When Kate asked "where does the authority lie now?" in the context of AI-generated knowledge, we felt the room shift a little. As educators, we have built entire systems around the idea that we curate, evaluate, and deliver reliable information. Generative AI has complicated that arrangement in ways we are still working through.

Literacy is not a fixed destination. What it means to be literate has always evolved, and Kate makes a compelling case that we are in one of those inflection moments right now. The question for school leaders is not whether to respond. It is how to build the critical thinking and self-regulation muscles that will outlast whatever the current tools are.

Storytelling still matters. Maybe more than ever. In a world where content is generated at scale, narrative grounded in genuine human experience carries a different kind of weight. Kate made that case quietly and convincingly.

Quotes

"Make gratitude specific, timely, and personal." — Kate Arthur

"You can't generative AI to wellness." — Kate Arthur

"Where does the authority lie now?" — Kate Arthur

Resources

Am I Literate? by Kate Arthur: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Am+I+Literate+Kate+Arthur

Kate Arthur on LinkedIn (G7 and government influence): https://www.linkedin.com/in/katearthur

CIS Ontario Impact Report: https://cisontario.org/impact-report

Connect with Kate Arthur

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katearthur

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katearthur

Summary

Some leaders manage from a distance. Claude Silver leads from the inside out.

As Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia, Claude has built a career around a simple but demanding premise: that how people feel at work is not a soft concern sitting alongside strategy. It is the strategy. In this conversation, Garth and I dig into what that actually looks like in practice, and what it demands of the person at the front of the room.

What stayed with me was her clarity about self-awareness. Not as a personality trait you either have or do not have, but as something you build intentionally, day by day, through the way you start your morning and the way you show up when things get hard.

This is a conversation for leaders who want to go deeper. Not just into their organizations, but into themselves.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to leading with heart07:05 Claude Silver's journey and what authentic leadership actually means09:54 Knowing yourself and reading your context13:05 How to prepare for leadership before you are ready15:54 Juggling the demands that come with the role18:57 Setting intentions and building emotional intelligence as a practice22:03 Closing thoughts and a gentle challenge24:09 Beard's Book Club outro

Key Takeaways

Culture is not a byproduct of strategy. Claude makes the case that culture is the strategy, and that leaders who treat it as a downstream concern are building on sand. Getting intentional about the environment you are creating is not a nice-to-have. It is the job.

Self-awareness is a daily practice. Knowing your triggers, your tendencies, and your defaults under pressure does not happen through reflection alone. It happens through small, consistent rituals, including the way you choose to start your morning before the day starts managing you.

Authenticity at work is not oversharing. Claude draws a helpful distinction between being real and being unguarded. Bringing your full self to work means leading with your values, not leading with your nervous system.

Quotes

"Culture is a strategy."

"Start your day with a mantra of gratitude."

"Lead with kindness and compassion."

Connect with Claude Silver on LinkedIn or find her book Be Yourself at Work wherever books are sold.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason and Garth sit down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia and author of Be Yourself at Work.

Claude has built her career around a simple but powerful belief: workplaces perform better when leaders focus on the humans first.

Throughout the conversation, Claude shares what it means to lead with vulnerability, why emotional intelligence is becoming a core leadership skill, and how leaders can create cultures where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

The discussion also explores neurodiversity in the workplace, practical ways leaders can listen more intentionally, and why creating psychological safety isn’t just compassionate — it’s a competitive advantage.

If leadership is about influence, Claude reminds us that the most powerful influence often comes from authenticity, empathy, and courage.

Key Take Aways:

• Why vulnerability is a leadership strength, not a weakness
• How to infuse empathy into workplace culture
• Supporting neurodiversity and different ways of thinking at work
• Creating authentic, human-centered leadership environments
• Practical strategies for listening, connecting, and leading people well
• Vulnerability builds trust.
• The best leaders are willing to be human. When leaders show vulnerability, they create space for others to do the same.
• Empathy drives performance.
• A culture of care and emotional awareness leads to stronger engagement, retention, and results.
• Listen for patterns, not just problems.
  Great leaders listen deeply and notice recurring themes in what their teams are saying.
• Neurodiversity requires intention.
• Supporting different ways of thinking means creating systems, tools, and spaces where everyone can thrive.
• Leaders shape the emotional tone of their organizations.
• Leadership is not just about strategy — it’s about setting the emotional framework that allows people to succeed.

Soundbites:

“Vulnerability is the foundation of true leadership.”

“Emotional fluency is the key to effective leadership.”

“Keep leading the Lasso way.”

Chapters:

00:00 – Opening: Leadership lessons from Ted Lasso
08:49 – Why vulnerability matters in leadership
14:54 – Career transitions and finding meaningful work
20:52 – Responding to real vs. manufactured crises
26:44 – Final reflections on great leadership
36:17 – Beard’s Book Club Outro

Claude Silver is the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia and the author of Be Yourself at Work. She is widely known for championing human-centered leadership, emotional intelligence, and workplace cultures where people feel valued, heard, and supported.

Summary

In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason and Garth explore what it really means to “be yourself at work” through the lens of Work That’s Worth It and the leadership philosophy of Claude Silver.

Together, they unpack why authenticity in leadership is harder than it sounds, especially in environments where professionalism can sometimes become performance. The conversation explores emotional intelligence, psychological safety, vulnerability, and the importance of creating workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and safe enough to grow.

From difficult conversations to emotional resilience during the busiest parts of the school year, Jason and Garth reflect on the idea that leadership is not just about driving results. It is about creating the conditions where people can thrive.

Themes:

Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Psychological Safety, Claude Silver, Organizational Culture, Authentic Leadership, Trust, Compassion, Emotional Resilience, Heart-Centered Leadership

Take Aways:

• Why authenticity matters in leadership

• Psychological safety and creating cultures of trust

• Emotional intelligence and emotional agility

• The role of vulnerability in leadership

• Navigating hard conversations with care and accountability

• Emotional resilience during demanding seasons

• Building workplaces where people can genuinely belong

• Leaders who model authenticity and vulnerability create stronger, safer cultures.

• Emotions are not weaknesses to suppress. They are signals worth paying attention to.

• Psychological safety fuels innovation, trust, and long-term organizational health.

• High care and high expectations are not opposites. They belong together.

• Emotional bravery and emotional efficiency help leaders remain steady during stressful seasons.

• The best leaders are intentional about the emotional temperature they create around them.

About Claude Silver:

• The Power of Authentic Leadership: Be Yourself at Work

• Building Trust, Resilience, and Psychological Safety

• Why Great Leadership Starts with Authenticity

• Leading with Humanity in High-Pressure Environments

Soundbites:

“Ride the wave of emotions. Don’t drown in it.”

“Set boundaries and live with them.”

“The stories we tell ourselves shape the leaders we become.”

“People remember how leaders make them feel long after they forget the meeting agenda.”

“Psychological safety is not softness. It is the foundation for courage.”

Chapters:

00:00 — Introduction and anticipation for upcoming guest
06:22 — Exploring the idea of being yourself at work
09:13 — Psychological safety and the role of trust in leadership
12:29 — Emotional intelligence and emotionally agile leadership
15:20 — Emotional efficiency, resilience, and leadership strategies
18:31 — Listener engagement and community connection
21:17 — Final reflections on leadership and authenticity

Summary

Time is the one resource we cannot make more of. That is the uncomfortable truth sitting at the centre of Cassie Holmes' remarkable book, and it is the thread Garth and I pull on throughout this conversation.

Cassie is a professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management, and her research does something rare. It takes happiness seriously as a subject of rigorous study. Not as a feel-good concept, but as something worth measuring, protecting, and designing your life around.

What landed for us in this conversation was how directly her work applies to leadership. We spend a lot of time in schools talking about culture and well-being, but we do not always turn that lens on ourselves. This episode is an invitation to do exactly that.

If you have ever felt busy but not fulfilled, productive but not present, this one is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Happier Hour08:40 The importance of time in leadership11:41 Strategies for effective time management14:56 Building happiness into your leadership practice17:50 The concept of time empathy20:52 Looking ahead30:10 Beard's Book Club outro

Key Takeaways

The time audit is where it starts. Cassie's research asks a simple but unsettling question: do you actually know how you are spending your time? Mapping it honestly, without judgment, is the first step toward changing it.

Happiness stacking is not a luxury. Layering small moments of genuine enjoyment into your existing schedule is a practice, not an indulgence. Leaders who do this consistently are more present and more effective.

Presence is the point. Being physically somewhere and actually being there are two different things. Cassie's work reinforces what we see in schools every day: the leaders who show up fully are the ones people remember.

Time empathy matters. Understanding that the people we lead experience time differently than we do changes how we schedule, how we communicate, and how we build culture. It is worth sitting with.

The 5AM club is not for everyone, but the principle is. Protecting some portion of your day for what matters most to you is non-negotiable if you want to lead sustainably.

Quotes

"Get out there and do a little bit of me-search on time."Cassie Holmes

"Lead with your heart and be authentic."Jason Rogers

"Leverage the power of the 5AM club."Garth Nichols

Resources

The Happier Hour by Cassie HolmesAtomic Habits by James ClearThe 5AM Club by Robin Sharma

Connect with CassieLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cassieholmesTwitter: @cassieholmesUCLA Anderson profile: anderson.ucla.edu

Summary

In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason and Garth sit down with Cassie Holmes—professor at UCLA and author of Happier Hour—to explore a powerful and often overlooked leadership truth: how we spend our time is how we shape our lives.

Cassie shares her personal journey into the science of happiness, unpacking the concept of time poverty and how the feeling of “never having enough time” is one of the greatest barriers to well-being. But instead of offering productivity hacks, she flips the script—suggesting that time isn’t the problem… it’s the solution.

Through practical tools like the Five Whys exercise, Cassie challenges us to align our calendars with our purpose, prioritize meaningful connection, and rethink what it truly means to live—and lead—well.

This conversation is a reminder that leadership isn’t just about how we lead others… it’s about how intentionally we lead our own lives.

Keywords

Happiness, Time Management, Intentional Living, Purpose, Well-Being, Leadership, Personal Development

Themes

• The hidden cost of time poverty and why busyness is not a badge of honour
• How our perception of time shapes happiness more than the amount of it
• Why purpose—not productivity—should guide our schedules

• The Five Whys as a tool for uncovering what truly matters
• Shifting from quantity of time → quality of moments
• Leadership through intentional living and modeling balance

Quotes:

• “Time is the solution, not the challenge.”
• “Purpose guides how we spend our time.”
• “If you say you don’t have time, what you’re really saying is it’s not a priority.”
• “It’s not about having more time—it’s about using it with intention.”
• “Weekly coffee dates can create a lifetime of connection.”

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Cassie Holmes and the Science of Happiness
01:25 – Cassie’s Journey into Happiness Research
04:33 – Understanding Time Poverty and Its Impact
07:15 – Time as the Solution, Not the Challenge
09:17 – Rethinking Balance Through Purpose and Connection
11:12 – The Power of the Five Whys Exercise
15:49 – Time Audits and Appreciating Life’s Moments
20:51 – Quality Over Quantity in Time and Happiness
23:03 – “I Don’t Have Time” Reframed
26:28 – Making Time for What Matters Most
28:35 – Ted Lasso, Leadership, and Living with Intention

What we learned:

• Busyness is not effectiveness—it’s often misalignment.
• Time poverty is a mindset as much as a reality.
• Leaders who model intentional time use create healthier cultures.
• Purpose should drive your calendar—not the other way around.
• Small, consistent moments (like a weekly coffee) create outsized impact.
• Asking “why” repeatedly can reconnect you to what truly matters.spot

Where to find more....

• 📘 Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes

• 🎓 UCLA Anderson Faculty Profile (Cassie Holmes)
• 🧠 Five Whys Exercise – Harvard Business Review
• 📺 Ted Lasso

Episode Summary

What if the biggest barrier to happiness isn’t a lack of success—but how we spend our time?

In this energizing and deeply practical conversation, Jason and Garth sit down with UCLA professor and The Happier Hour author Cassie Holmes to unpack the powerful connection between time, intention, and happiness.

Cassie blends cutting-edge research with real-life application, challenging the idea that we’re simply “too busy” to be happy. Instead, she offers a compelling reframe: time is not the problem—it’s the solution.

From the concept of time poverty to the role of presence in leadership, this episode is full of insights that will help you rethink your calendar, your priorities, and ultimately, your life.

Key Topics

• The science behind time and happiness
• Why feeling “busy” can actually decrease well-being
• The idea of time poverty and how leaders fall into it
• How presence and mindfulness elevate both joy and performance
• Aligning your time with your purpose and values
• Practical strategies to reclaim your time (and your energy)
• Leadership implications: modeling well-being in high-performance environments

• Time is a leadership tool. How you spend it signals what matters most.
• Presence > productivity. Being fully engaged in the moment amplifies both joy and impact.
• You don’t need more time—you need more intention.
• Small rituals matter. Regular, meaningful moments (like weekly coffee dates) create lasting happiness.
• Purpose should guide your calendar, not just your to-do list.

Quotes:

• “Time is the solution, not the challenge.”
• “Purpose guides how we spend our time.”
• “Presence enhances our joy.”
• “Reflecting on how we spend our time is really reflecting on how we live our lives.”

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to Lassoing Leadership
• 07:23 – Why Time and Happiness Are Deeply Connected
• 10:35 – Cassie Holmes: Research Meets Real Life
• 13:39 – Designing a Life with More Joy and Intention
• 16:42 – Leadership, Busyness, and Control of Time
• 19:26 – Reframing Time as a Strategic Advantage
• 24:15 – Beards Book Club Outro

Key Words

time management, happiness, leadership, personal development, Cassie Holmes, The Happier Hour, presence, joy, purpose, UCLA, time poverty, mindfulness, intentional living

This episode is a bit of a wake-up call—in the best way.
Closing Thoughts...

Not about doing more… but about doing what matters, on purpose.

Because in the end, how we spend our time is how we spend our lives.

Episode Summary

This is more than a recap—it’s a reckoning.

After a powerful conversation with Jennifer Wallace, Jason and Garth come back together to unpack what might be one of the most important leadership ideas of our time: mattering.

In a world that relentlessly pushes achievement, performance, and external validation, this episode asks a deeper question:
Do the people around us feel like they truly matter—no matter what?

Through the lens of attunement, the SAID framework, and the idea of being a “corner person,” this conversation brings leadership back to its human core. It’s about shifting from managing performance… to affirming worth.

This episode is the emotional and intellectual closer to a powerful triad—and it lands with clarity, urgency, and heart.

Key Topics

• Why mattering is emerging as a defining issue in leadership and society
• The hidden cost of achievement culture on well-being
• The SAID Framework (See, Acknowledge, Include, Depend) as a daily leadership practice
• Attunement as the leadership superpower we don’t talk about enough
• The “corner person” concept and why everyone needs one
• How gratitude and acknowledgment build cultures of belonging
• Practical ways to embed mattering into organizational life

• Mattering is not a soft skill—it’s a survival skill.
• People thrive when they know their worth is unconditional, not tied to performance.
• Attunement is presence in action—it’s noticing, listening, and responding with care.

• Great leaders don’t just drive outcomes—they become corner people for others.
• Cultures don’t drift toward mattering—they are built through intentional daily acts.

Quotes

• “People feel that their worth is not conditional.”
• “The joy train is a leadership life skill.”
• “Let someone know they matter to you today.”
• “Attunement is how we show people they’re seen—without needing them to perform.”

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to Mattering and Leadership
• 07:07 – Why Mattering Matters (Now More Than Ever)
• 10:10 – The SAID Framework in Action
• 12:51 – Attunement: The Missing Leadership Skill
• 16:02 – The Power of Being a “Corner Person”
• 19:04 – Gratitude, Acknowledgment, and Daily Practice
• 22:03 – What This Means for Leaders Going Forward

Keywords

leadership, mattering, attunement, well-being, coaching, gratitude, organizational culture, leadership development, emotional intelligence, belonging, SAID framework, Jennifer Wallace, Never Enough

Closing Thoughts

If the first conversation opened our eyes…and the second gave us language…

This one gives us responsibility.

Because once you understand mattering, you can’t unknow it.

And from that point forward, leadership becomes a daily choice:
Will people feel seen, valued, and needed because of you?

Episode Summary

In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason Rogers and co-host Garth Nichols sit down with bestselling author Jennifer Wallace to explore one of the most important—and often overlooked—ideas in leadership and education today: mattering.

Together, they unpack what happens when achievement becomes the only currency in schools, and how leaders can intentionally build cultures where students, staff, and communities feel seen, valued, and deeply connected.

This is a conversation about shifting from pressure to purpose—and from performance to people.

• Why mattering is a fundamental human need—and how it shapes motivation, well-being, and performance
• The hidden costs of toxic achievement culture on students and educators
• How small, intentional micro-moments of significance can transform school culture
• The role of gratitude and attunement in building authentic connection
• The power of a “corner person” and the idea of ego extension in supporting others

• Mattering isn’t a bonus—it’s foundational to healthy, thriving communities
• Culture shifts don’t require massive overhauls—small moments, done well, matter most
• Recognizing the person behind the performance builds trust and connection
• Moving from a zero-sum mindset to one of shared success strengthens resilience
• When schools prioritize mattering, the impact extends far beyond the classroom

• “Mattering is a fundamental human need.”
• “A corner person supports your ego extension.”
• “Attunement is feeling felt—truly understood.”

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to Leadership and Mattering
04:39 — Understanding Toxic Achievement Culture
06:55 — Why Mattering Matters in Schools
09:05 — Balancing Mattering and Achievement
11:46 — Clean Fuel vs. Dirty Fuel
12:59 — The Role of a Corner Person
17:15 — The Power of Gratitude
19:01 — Attunement: Feeling Felt
22:05 — Advice for New School Leaders
25:40 — Outro

Links

• Jennifer Wallace — Website: https://jenniferbwallace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbrahennywallace
• M&M’s (as a simple symbol of appreciation): https://www.mms.com
• Dan Siegel’s work on attunement: https://www.dansiegel.com