Mo-ments of Experience

In this episode of Mo-Ments of Experience, Geoffrey Smith sits down with Laura Fleischfresser, nurse and co-founder of Gratia Health, to explore how healthcare organizations can capture and amplify the everyday moments that often go unseen. Drawing on over 20 years of experience across bedside care, long-term care, and clinical strategy, Laura shares how her journey led to building a platform focused on real-time recognition, using patient and peer compliments, personalized engagement, and gamified experiences to strengthen care teams and workplace culture.

They discuss how authentic, peer-driven recognition spreads organically, builds stronger teams, and provides real-time data that helps leaders identify high-performing units, support retention, and improve care quality. Laura also reflects on the personal moments that shaped her, including experiences with patients, colleagues, and her mother's care, reinforcing her mission to ensure every healthcare worker feels valued, recognized, and supported.

Additional Resources:

Follow Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-fleischfresser/

Learn more about Gratia Health: https://www.gratiahealth.com/

Visit Mo-Ments of Experience's website: www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to Mo-Ments of Experience on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mo-mentsofexperience?si=IZAB036xX1mmrn2C\\

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Real-time recognition of small moments drives motivation and engagement
• Peer-driven appreciation is more effective than top-down recognition
• Real-time data helps identify high-performing teams and retention signals
• Delayed surveys limit impact compared to immediate feedback
• Human connection is central to both caregiver fulfillment and patient experience

In this episode, Geoffrey Smith sits down with Malaika Simmons, researcher, designer, and creator of the Momentology Method, to explore how culture, leadership, and personal wellbeing are shaped by the moments we experience and the awareness we bring to them. Malaika explains how culture functions as a human operating system and why organizations often struggle to translate data, research, and good intentions into meaningful action.

The conversation dives into Malaika's concept of extraction fatigue, the toll of constantly giving without replenishment, and why many leaders and caregivers find themselves depleted while trying to serve others. She shares how the Momentology Method helps individuals and organizations reconnect with the present moment through three pillars: awareness, gratitude, and expectancy. Through stories from leadership, healthcare, and her own personal experiences, Malaika highlights how small shifts in perspective, intentional breathing, and honest self-reflection can restore clarity, resilience, and purpose in demanding environments.

Additional Resources:

Follow Malaika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malaikasimmons/

Visit Momentology Media's website: https://momentologymedia.com/

Malaika's free leadership assesment: www.servantleadertype.com

Visit Mo-Ments of Experience's website: www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to Mo-Ments of Experience on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@mo-mentsofexperience?si=IZAB036xX1mmrn2C\\

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Extraction fatigue happens when people constantly give to others without replenishing themselves.
• Awareness is the first step to recognizing challenges and gaining clarity in the present moment.
• Radical gratitude helps individuals and organizations recognize the resources they already have.
• Expectations should focus on how we show up rather than trying to control others.
• Small intentional actions like breathing and grounding can restore resilience in stressful environments.

In this episode, Geoffrey Smith sits down with Jen Marr, author, speaker, and relationship leadership pioneer, to explore how leaders can navigate uncertainty, disruption, and human challenges in the modern workplace. Drawing from over a decade of research into human behavior during crisis and upheaval, Jen shares how our instinctive responses to distress are often misaligned with what people truly need, and how leaders can develop practical skills to better support others. 

They discuss the impact of generational shifts, the rise of digital communication, and why face-to-face human connection remains essential for building trust, engagement, and belonging in teams. Jen also shares powerful insights from her work in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy, revealing how well-intentioned actions can sometimes miss the mark when people fail to ask what support is truly needed. The conversation challenges the common understanding of empathy and compassion, highlighting why emotions alone are not enough and why the right actions must come first. This episode offers a practical and deeply human perspective on leadership, showing how intentional connection, clear conversations, and consistent check-ins can transform both workplaces and lives.

Additional Resources:

Follow Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenmarr/ Visit Jen's website: https://jenmarr.com/home Check out Jen's books: https://www.showing-up.com/books

Visit Mo-Ments of Experience's website: www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to Mo-Ments of Experience on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@mo-mentsofexperience?si=IZAB036xX1mmrn2C\

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

- Humans often respond incorrectly to distress or uncertainty, making practical care skills essential for effective leadership. - Empathy and compassion are emotions, but meaningful support requires the right actions, not just good intentions. - Face-to-face connection and frequent check-ins help employees feel seen, valued, and supported. - Generational differences and digital communication are reshaping how people connect and collaborate at work. - Leaders can strengthen culture by building clear communication frameworks and focusing on human relationships first.

In this episode, Geoffrey Smith sits down with Meredith Mangold to explore how lived patient experience can reshape the way digital health tools are designed, implemented, and adopted. Drawing from her journey through severe illness, surgeries, and years of navigating chronic conditions, Meredith shares how personal experience reveals the emotional and practical realities patients face that systems often overlook.

They discuss the critical gap between innovation and usability, why healthcare solutions must serve patients, clinicians, and administrators together, and how technology must go beyond functionality to foster trust and connection. Through powerful stories from the bedside, coaching, and product design, the conversation highlights how validation, empathy, and storytelling transform engagement. This episode offers a human-centered lens on innovation, reminding listeners that the most effective solutions are those patients choose, trust, and rely on.

Additional Resources:

Follow Meredith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithmangold/

Visit Empower Health Strategies website: www.empowerhealthstrategies.com

Visit Mo-Ments of Experience's website: www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to Mo-Ments of Experience on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@mo-mentsofexperience?si=IZAB036xX1mmrn2C\\

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Lived patient experience brings insight that data and research alone cannot provide.
• Adoption improves when digital health tools make patients feel seen, supported, and empowered.
• Healthcare solutions must consider patients, clinicians, and administrators as part of one system.
• Storytelling is a powerful mechanism for trust, validation, and human connection.
• Resistance to innovation often stems from misalignment between real needs and designed solutions.

In this episode, Geoffrey Smith sits down with Kelly Hines-Stellisch to unpack the hidden cost of burnout in healthcare and why information alone is never enough to create real change. Drawing from her lived experience as a nurse practitioner, researcher, and wellness coach, Kelly explains why healthcare leaders struggle to act on the overwhelming evidence around workforce wellbeing and how the disconnect between frontline clinicians and administrators keeps systems stuck. They explore the reality of post-pandemic trauma, the illusion of "quick win" wellness fixes, and the urgent need to translate knowledge into action. Through powerful stories from the bedside and coaching room, the conversation reveals how reclaiming energy, agency, and small moments of joy can restore purpose, rebuild hope, and help clinicians move from survival mode back into meaningful, sustainable work.

Additional Resources:

Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-hines-stellisch/

Feel free to email Kelly: [email protected]

isit Reviving Wellness Coaching: https://revivingwellnesscoaching.com/

Visit Mo-Ments of Experience's website: www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to Mo-Ments of Experience on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@mo-mentsofexperience?si=IZAB036xX1mmrn2C\\

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Burnout in healthcare is systemic, not personal, and requires system-level change.
• Information alone does not create transformation, action is what moves people forward.
• Frontline clinicians and administrators speak different languages, and bridges must be built between them.
• "Quick win" wellness initiatives fail when they ignore the lived reality of the workforce.
• Restoring energy and agency allows clinicians to advocate, reconnect with purpose, and sustain long careers.

In this episode, Geoffrey Smith sits down with Katina Sawyer to explore what truly drives wellbeing, engagement, and human flourishing at work. Katina shares how her research bridges science and real-world leadership, revealing why good intentions are not enough without clear, actionable behaviors. Together, they unpack what exemplary leaders actually do, from showing up authentically and building meaningful relationships to creating cultures of gratitude, flexibility, and psychological safety. Through stories from healthcare and beyond, the conversation highlights how small, human moments can create lasting impact, how leaders shape environments that unlock potential, and why attention, presence, and compassion are the real engines of engagement and performance.

Additional Resources:

Follow Katina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katina-sawyer-ph-d/

Take a look at Katina's book: workrbeeing.com/book

Take a look at Mo-Ments of Experience's website: www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to Mo-Ments of Experience on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@mo-mentsofexperience?si=IZAB036xX1mmrn2C\\

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Great leaders turn inspiration into action by giving people clear, practical behaviors to follow.
• Authentic, human leadership builds trust and helps people see themselves as capable leaders.
• Gratitude creates a ripple effect that strengthens connection, morale, and retention.
• Strong relationships save time by reducing conflict and empowering teams to support one another.
• Leaders shape environments that unlock potential by honoring boundaries and removing stigma around struggle.

this episode, Geoffrey Smith and Cory Jenks discuss the importance of human connection in healthcare, the need for innovation, and the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Cory shares his unique background as a pharmacist and improv comedian, emphasizing the significance of creating meaningful experiences for patients and caregivers alike. They explore the barriers to change within the healthcare system and the potential for individual engagement to drive transformation. The conversation highlights the importance of authentic presence, breaking down self-imposed limits, and the lessons learned from both positive and negative experiences in healthcare.

Additional Resources:

Follow Cory on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-jenks-3ba17314/

Take a look Cory's book, Permission to Care: Building a Healthcare Culture that Thrives in Chaos: https://rb.gy/4a8yoo www.coryjenks.com

www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to Mo-Ments of Experience on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@mo-mentsofexperience?si=IZAB036xX1mmrn2C\\

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Cory emphasizes the importance of getting patients off medication.
• Healthcare professionals can create joy in their work environments.
• Authentic presence is crucial in patient care.
• Building trust with patients is essential for effective healthcare.
• Self-imposed limits can hinder innovation in healthcare.

As we head into the holidays there is no better "Greatest Hits" episode of Mo-ments of Experience to share than "Making a Joyful Ruckus in Healthcare" with my amazing guest and friend Denise Wiseman. There is no more powerful message to share this time of the year than to focus on staying authentically present in life to never miss each and every small mo-ment of JOY that surrounds you!

In this conversation, Geoffrey and Denise Wiseman explore the need for a human-focused approach in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of action and joy in creating meaningful change. They discuss the impact of small moments of joy, the role of compassion, and the necessity of building supportive networks to foster collaboration among healthcare professionals. The conversation highlights the Healthcare Reinvention Collaborative as a platform for connecting purpose-driven individuals to collectively address the challenges in the healthcare system.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Denise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wisewoman1/

https://www.healthcarereinvention.com/

www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

• Healthcare should be human-focused, considering all stakeholders.
• Action and joy are essential in transforming healthcare.
• Small moments of joy can have a significant impact.
• Compassion is crucial for both caregivers and patients.
• Building a supportive network is vital for healthcare professionals.

Ok folks, we're almost there, we will get back to brand new episodes of Mo-ments of Experience after the new year. Mo is doing MUCH better, so THANK YOU for all the kind well-wishes! Here is today's re-release of a "Greatest Hits" episode of Mo-ments of Experience as we head into the holiday season. Please join me and my brilliantly inspiring guest, the "Healthcare Maverick" Shawn Nason as we discuss "Doing Cool Sh*t and Blowing Things Up" in healthcare, that in many cases lags decades behind other industries in creating extraordinary human experiences. This episode has surprises at every turn, you won't want to miss it.

In this episode, Geoffrey interviews Shawn Nason, a maverick in the healthcare industry, discussing the importance of human connection, compassion, and innovative experiences in healthcare. They explore the challenges patients face in navigating the healthcare system, the significance of surprise moments in patient care, and the need for a more compassionate approach in healthcare practices. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of creating extraordinary experiences for patients and the role of empathy in transforming healthcare.

Additional Resources:

Follow Shawn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasonshawn/

https://shawnnason.com/

www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

• Human connection is vital in a technology-driven world.
• Surprise moments can significantly enhance patient experiences.
• Compassion and empathy are free and essential in healthcare.
• The healthcare system often fails to make processes easy for patients.

As Mo continues on the mend after a challenging few months of poor health… but doing MUCH better, so THANK YOU for all the kind well-wishes, I wanted a re-release a "Greatest Hits" episode of Mo-ments of Experience as I continue a brief sabbatical from new content to care for my best boy. Please join me and my brilliantly inspiring guest Michael Goldberg as he shares what it was like to lead a health system at "ground zero" of the COVID 19 pandemic, delivers a rallying cry for healthcare leaders, and explains why we all need to lead like life depends on it.

What happens when a hospital CEO trades the boardroom for the bedside, and leads like lives depend on it?

Geoffrey sits down with Michael Goldberg, a healthcare executive, author, and professor with a front-row seat to the most critical moments in modern healthcare. From navigating a hospital through the eye of the COVID-19 storm to redefining what it means to truly care for caregivers, Michael doesn't hold back. He shares chilling stories of loss, powerful moments of human connection, and bold insights on why one in five healthcare workers are leaving the field, and what leaders must do to stop the bleeding.

Expect raw emotion, deep wisdom, and a rallying cry for leaders to ditch outdated models and walk alongside their people with purpose. Because in healthcare, and life, how you show up might just save someone's life. ❤️

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Walkalongside Leader

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

• Leadership must prioritize human connection over hierarchical control.
• Healthcare access is declining while demand is rising.
• Generational gaps require innovative leadership approaches.
• Employee retention is the core healthcare workforce issue.
• Listening and presence build authentic organizational trust.