Mental Stillness

Dr. Dan Pelton is the author of ⁠Rethinking Employee Resilience⁠ (APA, May 2025) and a speaker dedicated to fostering a culture of employee well-being and mental health. He challenges conventional wisdom with research-backed truths that drive behavioral change and workplace improvements. As a board-certified clinical psychologist, he served the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. For over a decade, he has led mental health initiatives in management consulting, enhancing well-being and boosting business performance. Dan has spoken globally, championing mental health awareness and early intervention.

After spending the first 22 years of his life pursuing a career in Major League Baseball, Damon made a pivotal shift in 1995. He joined his father, Walt Lembi—Founder of Learnit—and poured his heart into helping others gain the knowledge and confidence to reach their professional goals through the power of education.

Damon has a deep commitment to the Learnit team past and present and the San Francisco Bay Area community as a whole, where he was born and raised. Damon attributes Learnit's longevity and success to the ability to surround himself with "A" players and taking advantage of learning / evolving through past mistakes. Outside of Learnit, Damon is an avid reader, moviegoer, and live music fanatic. Most of all, Damon loves spending time with his wife, children—Lucy and Wally, and his dog.

Jared Haslam brings over 18 years of experience in the automotive industry, having served as a Vice President of Product Planning and Strategy. Through his leadership journey, he recognized the profound impact of mental health on business success and saw a critical gap in resources to help professionals—especially leaders—manage their own well-being while fostering thriving workplace cultures.

Stacey Haslam holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and focuses on helping professionals, executives, and teams heal from past trauma, break free from negative patterns, and build emotional resilience. She understands the deep connection between unaddressed emotional wounds and workplace challenges, helping individuals not only manage stress and burnout but also create healthier, more fulfilling professional and personal lives.

Together, they co-founded The Kintsugi Institute, combining Jared’s strategic business acumen with Stacey’s expertise in mental and emotional health. Their mission is to elevate mental well-being in the corporate world, creating healthier leaders, stronger teams, and more successful businesses—ultimately leading to greater life satisfaction for professionals at every level. With their unique blend of experience, they offer a powerful and holistic perspective on what truly drives leadership, performance, and business success.

Leadership isn’t just about guiding—it’s about remembering. Remembering where you started, the obstacles you faced, and the patience someone once had with you.

Think back to when you were the one learning—when you doubted yourself, when the path forward wasn’t clear. Growth wasn’t instant. It took time, effort, and someone who believed in you.

Now, you’re asking someone else to grow in ways you once had to. The frustration they feel? You’ve felt it too. The doubts they carry? You’ve carried them too.

You didn’t become who you are overnight. Your strengths were once your struggles.

So lead with patience. Lead with empathy. Because great leaders don’t just demand growth—they nurture it. Never forget the journey to your strengths.

Rising to fame in Russia in the 90s with a chart-topping song ("Our Generation") that became a symbol of freedom, Christian later shifted his focus to service—leading global initiatives in healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship. As a co-founder of Hollywood World and Third Drive, he mentors leaders, raises funds for startups, and empowers artists. Join us for an inspiring conversation on leadership, resilience, and purpose-driven living.

In this episode, we welcome Christian Ray Flores, a visionary leader whose journey spans continents and industries. Born in Moscow to a Chilean father and Russian mother, he overcame political upheaval and exile, becoming fluent in four languages by age nine.

Tom Collins, MD is the Professor of Pediatrics & Vice Chair at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.In addition to his day job, he is the only person to have ever conducted a scientific study interviewing Four-Star Generals and Admirals about their most important leadership lessons. He has synthesized their insights into a unique framework that can elevate leadership capabilities for anyone, regardless of experience. His expertise combines his leadership journey, formal training, scientific research, and the unparalleled wisdom of 51 Four-Star officers with nearly 2,000 years of combined military leadership experience. He is also the host of The Science of Leadership podcast.

As an adoptive mom and disability advocate, Kim Botto is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces where every child can grow in faith. Through speaking, writing, and coaching, she equips leaders and families to build strong teams and supportive communities. Kim is the former Director of Training and Development at a Cincinnati nonprofit serving multi-system involved youth, has trained thousands of ministry staff, educators, parents, and nonprofit teams on trauma-informed care and engaging neurodivergent kids and teens.

Maggie Olson is the Founder of Nova Chief of Staff, the premier and first-of-its-kind destination for Chief of Staff education, certification, and development. She has 20 years of experience in retail, food and beverage, and technology sectors and has held leadership roles at Nordstrom and T-Mobile.

At T-Mobile, Maggie's impressive work led her to become the Chief of Staff to the President of the T-Mobile Business Group. In this role, she built the Chief of Staff model from the ground up, creating a highly efficient team and establishing an executive back-office structure. supporting the President, SVPs, and over 5,000 employees. She also built a Chief of Staff team, defining all roles, processes, and systems.

Dr. Cameron Roth, an orthopedic surgeon, is known for his empathic and patient-centered approach. His dedication to people is truly inspiring, whether he's in the operating room, consulting for MLB's Chicago White Sox, or serving under-resourced communities both locally and globally. He is actively involved in research and serves as a peer-reviewer for The Journal of Hand Surgery. Outside of his practice, he contributes to global health efforts and enjoys running, yoga, and travel.

Karl Cook began riding horses at just 8 years old, alongside his mother and sister, sparking a lifelong passion for equestrian sports. After a successful junior and young rider career, Karl went on to represent the U.S. Equestrian Team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he earned a silver medal! In this episode, we explore the crucial role mindset plays in achieving success across all aspects of life.

For more information from Karl and Mackenzie Drazan Cook, check out:

MiResource (https://miresource.com/)Walking and Talking (https://walkingandtalking.com/)