Lead with Levity

Send us a text

Is it dangerous to joke at work? Let’s hear from a corporate comedian about the perils of using humor at work…and how you can overcome them.

Key Takeaways:

• What sets Greg apart from other corporate entertainers?
• Greg Schwem makes Fortune 500 Companies laugh at themselves
• Greg Schwem is not your typical comedian
• Greg rules as a comedian
• The different definitions of what is funny
• Rock, Roll and Laugh your way to the top
• You can't cancel laughter
• Work, Laugh, Repeat
• Benefits of humor in the workplace

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

Have you ever felt like… It's 7:30.The coffee hasn't kicked in yet. The to-do list is a mile long. Your phone just reminded you that it's still only Tuesday. And, there's no relief in sight?

If you’re feeling so stressed out that you don’t know what to do with yourself, then this episode is for you. 

Key Takeaways:
-How to bring more Levity and Humor in play into your life
-How does humor help us build connections with ourselves and other people?
-Importance of enjoying life and taking time to see the humorous side
-Clarifying priorities, time, values, goals, vision for self and family
-Tips that can help you get reconnected to playful moments
-Details on the Therapeutic Perspective Podcast
-What is Therapeutic Humor and was not Therapeutic Humor 
-Establishing mindfulness habits to boost calmness, creativity, and productivity
-Mindset shifts in confidence, self-doubt

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

In our last episode with Christie Buchele, we learned the mechanics of comedy and received a crash course in how to construct a joke. We're going to continue to celebrate Humor Appreciation Month with our next guest, Maria Ross, marketing maven. Our focus today is not so much on how to be funny, but how to appreciate the humorous aspects of what's going on in your life right now, no matter what is going on in your life right now. 

In this episode, Heather and Maria discuss:

* Does humor in advertising really work?

* Importance of understanding the humor of your ideal audience

* How humor can be the secret weapon

* What is Humor in the workplace?

* Importance of using authentic humor

This is the third time that Maria has appeared on the Lead with Levity podcast. If you like this episode, you’ll love the others too:

• Episode 24: Why employees need storytelling and marketing too
• Episode 61: Will customers still like you?

About The Guest

Hello! I’m Maria Ross, the founder of RED SLICE.

As a brand strategist, author, speaker, podcast host, and actress (when I have time!) I believe cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive. 

My infatuation with the power of storytelling started young. From dominating my kindergarten classroom to delighting theatre patrons to directing brand strategies, I’ve been entertaining and educating audiences from the moment I could walk.

I’ve authored multiple books, including my most recent, The Empathy Edge (named by Forbes as a Top 11 book redefining leadership) and I’m host of The Empathy Edge podcast.

See, empathy is at the root of all successful brands, movements, and stories. It’s a key competitive advantage. And I understand the power of empathy on both the brand and personal levels: In 2008, shortly after launching my business, I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that almost killed me and inspired my best-selling memoir, Rebooting My Brain. It tells the story of my brain aneurysm and near-miraculous recovery—with tongue-in-cheek humor and levity (yes, really).

As a brand and empathy expert, my insights have been featured in many media outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.com – and a slew of podcasts and video shows. As a keynote and workshop speaker, I’ve delighted live and virtual audiences ranging from TEDx to Women in Tech Regatta to BlogHer to The New York Times to Salesforce – and livened up many conferences and company events. My writing has appeared in media such as Entrepreneur.com, Newsweek, MarketingProfs, Life By Me, and The Huffington Post. I’m based in the San Francisco area with my husband, young son and the memory of my first Chief Morale officer, Eddie the Wonder Dog, but I work with clients all over the world. (Email, phone, and Zoom make everything possible).

• https://red-slice.com/ 

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

Y'all sit down and get ready, because it’s Humor Appreciation Month! We are showcasing comedians this month so if you are interested in learning more about that, please check out the website. 

Because it is Humor Appreciation Month, we better learn about some humor. Right? Today’s guest is Christie Buchele, a comedy instructor who has agreed to teach us how we can be at least 10% funnier.  

Key Takeaways in this Episode:

• The moment when Christie figured out that she is funny 
• How to get started writing comedy
• How to be a comedian - baby steps you need to know
• Reveal the two sides of comedy
• What are the purposes of comedy?
• Reveal the formula to become a successful comedian
• What to do when things don’t go well on stage
• Learning is success especially when you’re the leader
• The use of Humor in the workplace

About the Guest

Christie Buchele is a Denver-based comedian who "fell" into comedy in 2010 when she went to see a cute guy do an open mic and thought to herself "I can do better." She was right. Despite being raised by her single father named Todd, Christie made a name for herself by joking about the heart-wrenching and hilarious realities of being a woman with a disability. ​Christie is a strong stand-up with weak legs and her comedy aims to make the audience think about how they perceive people with disabilities while making them hurt from laughter. Christie reps the Mile High City hard while crushing audiences with a wry, biting style that’s a bit sweet, and a little bit surly; proving time and again that you can say almost anything with a smile on your face and a gimp in your step.

http://www.kpcomedy.com/christie-buchele.html
http://facebook.com/Kirkland-Productions-123725907663590/http://twitter.com/kirklandprod
[email protected]

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

We are still in the month of March and it is still Appreciation Month! In honor of appreciation month, I just finished the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman and Paul White.

Excellent book. They argue that appreciation –showing you value the person, is more important than recognition. I agree that recognition programs these days have diminishing returns. What do you think? 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. John Gillis, Jr. is a Program Director at The Conference Board. In addition, he facilitates, engages, and develops global executives in leadership and teamwork.

Leadership Development: The classroom immerses in an experiential next-generation, digital and high-fidelity business simulation… the Leadership Xperience. He transforms leaders in critical executive competencies to become high-performing.

Teambuilding Workshop/Keynote: This interactive workshop is based on his best-selling book, Powerhouse: 13 Teamwork Tactics That Build Excellence and Unrivaled Success. Leveraging coauthor Kristine Lilly’s US Women’s National Soccer Team experiences, he dynamically delivers how your organization can build Powerhouses: teams with great energy, strength and potential for success.

Consulting: Through collaborative business relationships, John delivers expertise focused on strategic planning, board alignment, talent management, change management and organization development.

Thought Leadership: Through The Conference Board Human Capital practice, he provides the world's leadiorganizations with the practical knowledge needed to improve their performance by focusing on key business issues. For the past nine years, he has provided brief, insightful and thoughtprovoking weekly blogs, Leadership Xpressions. Previously, Dr. Gillis has worked for numerous companies globally as a management consultant.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

Gratitude is sort of the gateway drug to wellbeing. One thing that's really, really important for you to know about gratitude is that it gives you an opportunity to take a step back and to see the value in others, to see the value in your situation, and to reframe what you're going through.

I have the pleasure of revisiting with a past guest. He’s an amazing person with some really cool experiences. His name is Robin Dreeke. Robin is the Founder and CEO of People Formula. 

The People Formula team helps people build up their communication skills so that they can build trust, rapport, and solid relationships with others. 

Robin draws on his experiences as a behavioral analyst, as well as his work with the FBI. And if you're interested, I encourage you to check out our original episode: “How to build rapport with anyone.”

Join us today as we explore:

• 10 statistics about gratitude
• How humor helps build stronger relationships
• How to use self-deprecating humor wisely as a leader
• How Robin turns challenges into growth moments
• How to see the funny moments in the middle of a crisis 
• Psychological safety, vulnerability, and tips for Type A people
• How Netflix built its culture

Resources mentioned

• Gratitude statistics: 10 Amazing Statistics to Celebrate National Gratitude Month | HALO
• Episode 10: “How to Build Rapport with Anyone” 

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

What if you could buy insurance for every new hire in your organization that would guarantee retention or your money back? What a concept! A coaching and employee engagement firm called LeggUP® claims that it is the first company to insure employee productivity, wellbeing and retention for their clients.

I wanted to speak to the CEO of LeggUP® to find out what this means, how it works, and what benefits they’ve seen from this new approach. 

Join us as we explore:

• Why and How LeggUP was founded 
• How do you ensure employee retention?
• LeggUP results - from 44% turnover to zero in six months
• Reveal what is special about LeggUP’s program
• Manager tips on how you lift up your team 
• Tips for keeping your team together in a remote environment
• Alternatives to EAP
• How LeggUp supports a fun work culture

About Tom Finn

Tom Finn is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LeggUP®, the first company to insure employee productivity, wellbeing and retention for their clients. He is also the host of the Talent Empowerment podcast where he sits down with people leaders, talent development savants, founders, and executives from every industry to learn how they’re driving people innovation. Spending his entire career in the insurance industry, Finn possesses a wealth of experience in employee benefits, InsurTech, business development, and underwriting strategies—all central to the company’s unique offering, Talent Insurance®. Talent Insurance® provides a single platform for personalized professional development and preventative mental health support, for a fraction of the cost. Since launching in 2017, LeggUP® has helped organizations dramatically reduce staff turnover while increasing output, boasting impressive book-of-business results like a 73% improvement in employee job satisfaction, a 66% improvement in ability to avoid burnout, and a 39% improvement in physical health, lowering medical costs for client companies. LeggUP® improves the culture of organizations and issues Talent Insurance® payments to customers experiencing turnover.

Finn has been recognized by The Financial Technology Report as a Top InsurTech Executive for 2021. In addition to being an active member of SHRM and PIHRA, Finn is a member of the Young Entrepreneurs Council, a Forbes contributor, and a 2021 Innovator of the year in his local business journal. LeggUP was additionally recognized as a Great Place to Work thanks to its inclusive company culture efforts. Finn previously worked at Aetna as VP, growing regional earnings from $6 million to $50 million and expanding the business from 110,000 covered employees to over 500,000. He was also the regional managing director of Anthem Blue Cross. Finn earned his MBA from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in business from The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Business.

• LinkedIn
• Website

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

Do you have a plan to navigate work when all hell is breaking loose at home? It’s pretty unrealistic to think that you can fully compartmentalize your work life and your personal life. Stress is stress–whether it’s happening during work hours or after hours doesn’t make a difference. It will eventually spill over into other parts of your life. 

I spoke to Theadora Vosse, a relationship coach, about ways to handle work when all hell is breaking loose at home. We don’t always get the chance to speak on this, but there can be levity even in the midst of struggle.

Key Takeaways: 

• Theadora Vosse on helping young singles & divorcées free themselves from shackles of their past to pave a clear path towards their future.  
• Tips on balancing your career with your divorce.
• Boundaries and guidelines when sharing your vulnerability with other people at work. 
• Sharing vulnerability will lead to closer friendships.
• Tips to balance and maintain your work and livelihood when you’re going through a majorly stressful life event.
• And learn so much more….

About Theadora Vosse
I come from a high tech background, having supported some of the largest Tech companies’ leadership development programs. That’s how I used to define myself, based on my work. At the age of twenty-six that definition shifted when I separated from my spouse and ultimately divorced. This shift led me to take a pause and focus on my own healing journey. In taking that time, I discovered a passion for coaching in the areas of Finance, Love, and Life. I’ve found light, joy, and happiness through empowering others to discover themselves and become their own hero. 

• Website: https://singleordivorced.org
• Instagram: @singleordivorced 

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

Dr. Brené Brown says that trust is choosing to risk making something you value vulnerable to another person's actions…distrust is deciding that what is important to me is not safe with this person in this situation.

If I were to ask you to speak at an event, tell some jokes, and get naked in the process, how would you prepare for that level of courage and vulnerability?

Our guest, Britt Meyer, is a Chicago-based Art Director and the host of Strip Joker, Chicago's only body-positive stand up comedy. There are lessons to be learned that we can apply to the workplace. 

• [06:51] Get to know Britt Meyer and how she can help your brand to be recognized.
• [10:45] Aunt Jemima brand gets a new name - Secretly Revealed!
• [15:12] A secret sauce that keeps the Ten35 organization so diverse.
• [19:30] Britt’s recommended ways to build trust in the communities
• [22:23] Learn more about Strip Joker that encourages body positivity through comedy and nudity
• [35:02] How Strip Joker Setting up 'Being Brave Space' on Stage - Secretly Revealed!

About Britt Meyer

Britt Meyer is an enthusiastic advertising creative with extensive experience in art direction, creative strategy, customer journey mapping, and concept development. With a passion for DE&I, they’ve spoken on numerous panels, (including The 3% Conference in 2019) created a standard of using pronouns in emails and meetings, and constantly works to create a culture of inclusion.

At Ten35, Britt is a highly active team member often found punching up scripts, bringing culture changing ideas to the table, and proudly supporting all of their fantastic coworkers.

Outside of work, they founded Strip Joker Comedy in 2016 to give more stage time and payment to marginalized communities in Chicago's stand up comedy scene, and uses this platform for fundraising and community engagement. Britt is openly genderqueer and champions inclusion for all in every project they approach.

• Britt's Portfolio
• More about Britt

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

Send us a text

 It's 2022, and the focus is on checking in with people who are actually out there promoting levity,  humor, and positive applications of laughter and play in the workplace for adults. 

I had the pleasure of speaking to the lovely Kay Ross. She's an applied improvisation trainer, a personal development coach, a storyteller extraordinaire, and she will even help you explore all of the wonderful possibilities in your life and in your organization.

About Kay Ross:

"I wear several related hats: Marketing-minded Editor/Copywriter, Applied Improvisation Trainer, and Personal Development Coach/Trainer. The common thread is Storytelling.

I’m a marketing-minded freelance editor and copywriter – hire me if your company or organisation needs compelling, effective, shareworthy marketing words (in English), or your team needs a training workshop about marketing, editing, copywriting or business storytelling. I've worked with clients in a wide range of industries. My mantra: Marketing doesn't have to be sleazy.

I’m an improv performer, and I lead tailor-made corporate “Applied Improvisation” workshops – hire me if you want your team to build their skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, creativity, innovation, emotional intelligence, and agile responsiveness to change, risk and uncertainty. My mantra: Life is an improvisation game.

I work in the field of personal development and healing – my “The Playground of Possibilities” card deck and workshops will help your team (either individually or as a group) to transform their old, limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories about themselves, your organisation and world so that they heal and thrive (and that's good for the whole organisation). My mantra: Life is a playground of possibilities."

• Kay's Website
• Playground of Possibilities Website
• LinkedIn

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!