In this FastBlast edition of the BetterCulture Podcast, Brett Hoogeveen dives into one of the simplest - yet most powerful - pieces of leadership advice you’ll ever receive: oral highlighting. Discover why attention spans keep shrinking (hint: tacos vs. salad debates happen in real meetings!), and how most people miss chances to truly connect with their audiences. Learn exactly how to signal your key ideas so they not only land but stick—and get ready for practical, easy-to-copy phrases that will help you boost engagement in your next team meeting, coaching session, or family dinner.

Tune in and unlock the secret to making your words echo long after you've said them. If you want your ideas remembered, respected, and repeated, this is the episode to lean in for.

Heather Tussing, President of The Aspenwood Company, joins Brett Hoogeveen to reveal how a people-first approach turned Aspenwood into a top workplace in senior living. Discover Heather’s journey from community sales to the C-suite, her playbook for turning around struggling teams, and the real strategies behind industry-leading employee engagement. Filled with actionable leadership tips and culture wins you can use in any organization.

What’s the single, most impactful action your organization can take to build an amazing place to work? In this thought-provoking episode of the Better Culture podcast, Brett Hoogeveen and Kim Hoogeveen unpack the audacious goal that can revolutionize any workplace: ensuring every employee reports to an outstanding supervisor. Discover why this deceptively simple goal drives organizational engagement, retention, and success—and why so few companies pursue it seriously. Packed with practical advice on selecting, training, and supporting exceptional leaders, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for turning this goal into reality. If you care about culture, don’t miss this essential conversation for making your organization a truly great place to work.

In this BetterCulture Podcast Fastblast, host Brett Hoogeveen flips the script on a common business myth: the belief that focusing on people and culture is just a cost. Brett makes a compelling case that culture isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s your most powerful growth engine. Through practical advice, candid examples, and simple steps you can take today, discover how great culture fuels retention, productivity, and customer loyalty—saving and making you money every single day.

If you’ve ever wondered why team morale is low, turnover is high, or projects keep missing the mark, this episode will help you see the hidden costs (and massive opportunities) embedded in your workplace culture. With actionable tips—like asking the right questions and measuring the right metrics—you’ll leave inspired to invest in the kind of culture that compounds positive results across your business.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a leader who needs to hear the truth about culture! For more resources, visit BetterCulture.com.

In this inspiring episode of the BetterCulture Podcast, host Brett Hoogeveen and guest Danielle Geiger dive deep into what it takes to build and sustain an award-winning workplace culture—especially in a high-impact industry like healthcare. Danielle Geiger, Practice Administrator at Nebraska Cancer Specialists, shares her journey from bedside nurse to leading a 380-person, multi-site operation recognized as one of Omaha’s best places to work.

Together, they discuss how Nebraska Cancer Specialists puts patients and employees at the center of every decision, the real business impact of strong culture (including their astonishingly low 5.7% turnover rate compared to the 20-25% healthcare industry norm), and practical strategies for creating lasting engagement at every level of the organization. From embracing continuous improvement and welcoming employee feedback to integrating core values into daily practice and launching their “NC-YES” initiative, this episode is packed with real stories and actionable insights.

Whether you’re passionate about organizational development, a leader in healthcare, or simply looking to build a positive workplace, this episode offers a candid, practical look at how culture drives results—and how every leader can make a difference.

Key Takeaways:

• Why culture is a life-or-death differentiator in healthcare—and how focusing on staff engagement translates directly to patient care and business health
• The importance of involving employees at every stage of culture-building, from shaping core values to leading change initiatives
• Tips for using feedback, mentorship, continuous learning, and inclusive communication to foster long-term loyalty and drive organizational success
• How “NC-YES” encapsulates the spirit of saying yes to new ideas, employee input, and better patient outcomes

Tune in for a masterclass in culture from one of the Midwest’s leading healthcare operations—without the buzzwords or BS.

What separates an average manager from a transformational one? According to Brett Hoogeveen and Dr. Kim Hoogeveen, it might be the most overlooked—and misunderstood—decision in business: choosing the right people leaders.

In this episode, the father–son founders of Better Culture unveil their brand-new—and completely free—People Leader Checklist, a practical, research-backed tool that helps organizations identify real leadership potential before someone steps into a management role.

You’ll hear why promoting top performers can backfire, the three core leadership domains that predict success, and the simple criteria any organization can use to select, grow, and coach stronger leaders. With relatable stories, real-world examples, and immediately usable insights, this episode gives CEOs, HR pros, and emerging leaders a clear roadmap for building healthier, higher-performing teams.

Want to elevate your leadership bench? Download the checklist and start developing the kind of leaders people actually want to follow.  The People Leader Checklist - BetterCulture

Brett Hoogeveen shares how addressing the “unspeakable” tensions between two coworkers turned quiet conflict into connection — offering simple tools every leader can use to build trust and teamwork.

In this Leadership FastBlast episode, BetterCulture co-founder and host Brett Hoogeveen tackles one of the stickiest kinds of workplace tension — the unspoken issues that feel too uncomfortable to address.

Through a relatable story about two receptionists whose silent frustrations threatened team harmony, Brett reveals how hidden conflicts quietly drain culture — and how a thoughtful, appreciation-based conversation can turn tension into teamwork.

With practical leadership insights and simple, repeatable ground rules, this episode shows how surfacing the “unspeakables” can build trust, strengthen relationships, and even spark a little laughter along the way. Perfect for leaders looking to create healthier, higher-performing teams, this FastBlast delivers actionable tools you can use right away.

Ready to kick off your company's journey toward a better culture? Schedule a free 15-minute culture call directly with podcast host and BetterCulture co-founder Brett Hoogeveen here: https://betterculture.com/freecall/ 
 
For an extensive library of free BetterCulture leadership and culture-building resources, visit https://betterculture.com/insights/
 
Follow us on social media!
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterculture/
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What makes today’s young professionals actually want to stay? In this eye-opening episode, host Brett Hoogeveen sits down with Colin Hensel, a rising star who’s lived both sides of workplace culture—the kind that drives you out in six months and the kind that makes you want to stay for years.

Colin pulls back the curtain on what truly matters to modern talent: real appreciation, meaningful relationships, room to grow, and leaders who mean it when they say they care. You’ll hear stories that challenge old-school thinking and reveal the small, authentic actions that make a big difference—from simple recognition to letting employees see how decisions get made.

If you’re serious about keeping your best people (and not just filling roles), this is the gut-check episode you can’t afford to miss. Tune in to see culture the way your employees do—and walk away inspired to build a workplace they’ll never want to leave.

f you’re ready to transform your approach to talent and leadership, this episode is packed with strategic insights and practical steps from one of the top experts in the field. Don’t miss it!

Ready to kick off your company's journey toward a better culture? Schedule a free 15-minute culture call directly with podcast host and BetterCulture co-founder Brett Hoogeveen here: https://betterculture.com/freecall/ 
 
For an extensive library of free BetterCulture leadership and culture-building resources, visit https://betterculture.com/insights/
 
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetBetterCulture
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterculture/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterculture/

Think culture is just HR’s responsibility? Think again.

In this episode of the BetterCulture Podcast, host Brett Hoogeveen and BetterCulture Senior Consultant Kevin Hensel stir up an honest, energetic debate about who really owns workplace culture. From where HR’s role stops to where leaders at every level must step up, they share bold insights, fresh perspectives, and real-world stories that challenge the status quo.
You’ll walk away with practical takeaways and a new mindset about what it really takes to build — and sustain — a great place to work.

🔥 If you care about culture, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.

If you’re ready to transform your approach to talent and leadership, this episode is packed with strategic insights and practical steps from one of the top experts in the field. Don’t miss it!

Ready to kick off your company's journey toward a better culture? Schedule a free 15-minute culture call directly with podcast host and BetterCulture co-founder Brett Hoogeveen here: https://betterculture.com/freecall/ 
 
For an extensive library of free BetterCulture leadership and culture-building resources, visit https://betterculture.com/insights/
 
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetBetterCulture
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterculture/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterculture/

In this BetterCulture Fast Blast, Brett Hoogeveen shares the motivation and impact of including team members in knowledge and decisions being made for and around them.  Brett quickly and directly shares tools, techniques and insights that build trust, pride and ways to help develop team members such as:

The "Inside the Tent" Concept: Great leaders don't hoard information; they invite team members to become insiders, making them feel like valued contributors by bringing them "inside the tent."
Information as Connection, Not Control: Unlike leaders who use information to maintain power, effective leaders democratize knowledge to foster connection and trust.
Language Matters: Pay attention to whether employees refer to the company as "they/them" or "we/us"—the latter indicates a stronger sense of connection and ownership.
Seeking Employee Input: Pulling people inside the tent also means soliciting feedback from all levels—not just the usual decision-makers—to foster belonging and inclusion.
Building Trust and Ownership: These small acts help team members feel seen, valued, and more invested in the company’s success, strengthening overall culture.

If you’re ready to transform your approach to talent and leadership, this episode is packed with strategic insights and practical steps from one of the top experts in the field. Don’t miss it!

Ready to kick off your company's journey toward a better culture? Schedule a free 15-minute culture call directly with podcast host and BetterCulture co-founder Brett Hoogeveen here: https://betterculture.com/freecall/ 
 
For an extensive library of free BetterCulture leadership and culture-building resources, visit https://betterculture.com/insights/
 
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetBetterCulture
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterculture/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterculture/