In this episode of The BOLT Podcast, Todd sits down with Kathy Sullivan—organizational development consultant, executive coach, and author of Moms Eat First—for a powerful conversation on leadership, emotional intelligence, and the human side of change. Kathy shares how her personal journey, professional experience, and hard-won lessons shaped her approach to sustainable growth, both at work and at home. Together, Todd and Kathy explore why real change is not about pushing harder, but about slowing down, reflecting honestly, and creating the space to lead with greater clarity, intention, and resilience.

From organizational transformation to personal well-being, this episode unpacks the systems, mindset shifts, and leadership behaviors that help change actually stick. Kathy introduces her five RE principles—Reflect, Rediscover, Reset, Reclaim, and Release—and explains how they can help anyone navigate disruption without losing themselves in the process.

Topics discussed in this episode:

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/leadership-power-of-putting-yourself-first-with-kathy-sullivan/

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In this episode, Todd Bertsch sits down with Michael E. Krumpak to challenge the myth that “smart” leadership is enough. Together, they unpack a practical, story-driven roadmap for building legendary leaders through psychological safety, empathy, growth mindset, disciplined decision making, and intentional delegation.

If you’ve ever seen a “perfect on paper” leader struggle when pressure rises, this conversation explains why — and what to do differently starting now.

In This Episode, We Cover:

You’ll walk away with actionable tactics, reflection prompts, and a clearer path from pressure to performance — from smart to legendary.

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/why-smart-leaders-do-stupid-things-with-michael-krumpak

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The hardest part of change isn’t the plan or the platform—it’s leadership. In this episode, Todd sits down with Leslie Ellis, CEO of Meaningful Change Consulting, to unpack why transformations stall and how leaders can turn constant disruption into a durable advantage. Drawing from work across dozens of organizations and nearly a million stakeholders, Leslie shares a powerful truth: change doesn’t fail because people resist—it fails when leaders stop listening. Together, they explore how mindset, alignment, and simple micro-shifts build trust, reduce rework, and create lasting impact.

Topics Discussed

If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with someone navigating change—and help more leaders find the show by subscribing and leaving a review.

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/meaningful-change-leadership-with-leslie-ellis

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Burnout is rising, trust is fragile, and the old playbook of perks over people is running out of steam. In this episode, we sit down with David Noe, a trusted voice in HR, to unpack what actually drives engagement today, and what leaders must rethink as we head into 2026.

We name the tension leaders feel every day: caring for people while still hitting targets. David shares the reset question every manager should ask, what makes your job harder than it needs to be, and how it quickly surfaces fixable blockers. From there, we explore why middle managers burn out first, how bloated spans of control erode trust, and why hybrid and flexible work are now baseline expectations, not perks. The throughline is clear: culture isn’t built by systems alone. Leadership behavior, clarity, and consistency set the tone, and when people feel seen, supported, and empowered, performance follows.

Topics Discussed

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/2026-hr-trends-shaping-the-workplace-with-david-noe

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Season Two launches with Harvey Nelson, entrepreneur, mentor, and lifelong explorer, as we walk through the SPARK Framework (Curiosity, Mindset, Action, Growth, Impact) using stories that are funny, raw, and immediately practical. From hitchhiking across America to leading through real business crises, Harvey shares how small, repeatable choices build resilience, how focus and priority beat busyness, and why people-first leadership creates lasting success. You’ll leave with simple, doable moves: stack one-inch wins, take the next brave step, and let curiosity guide you to better questions and a bigger life.

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-long-game-of-leadership-with-harvey-nelson

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We cap season one with a best-of collection on growth, resilience, and people-first leadership, stitching together the most impactful insights from several candid conversations. We share tools to clarify purpose, break free from restraints, recover well, and design a life you truly choose.

Guests who were highlighted on this special episode:

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/best-of-the-bolt-season-one-part-2

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We celebrate a season dedicated to growth and service with a curated highlight reel on mindset, habits, leadership, and fulfillment. Guests share tools for tiny wins, deeper listening, sober clarity, and the discipline that turns choices into lasting change.

Guests that were highlighted on this special episode:

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/best-of-the-bolt-season-one-part-1

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Sam Falletta went from a four-cubicle call center to president, owner, and leader of a values-driven sale. In this episode, he breaks down how he built an award-winning culture by focusing on what employees truly need: strengths-based leadership, real-life support, meaningful incentives, and coaching that shifts mindsets.

We explore why most engagement efforts fall flat, how culture changes in a remote world, and the personal reasons behind his decision to step back and choose presence over pressure.

We close with Capiches, his collection of bite-sized life lessons inspired by his dad. This episode is packed with practical insight for leaders who want to build trust, retain talent, and create workplaces that genuinely work.

What we discuss in this episode:

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/sam-falletta-on-leadership-change-culture/

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In this episode of The BOLT Podcast, Dave Loomis, founder of Loomis Marketing and author of Customer Outsight, shares powerful lessons from conducting over 10,000 customer interviews. Drawing from decades of experience with Fortune 500 companies, Dave explores how curiosity, empathy, and active listening can transform leadership and organizational growth. Together, we unpack what it truly means to lead with outsight—seeing beyond yourself to better understand, connect, and inspire those you serve.

What we discuss in this episode:

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-curious-leader-with-dave-loomis

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In this powerful episode, Leadership Akron President and CEO Justin Hilton joins host Todd Bertsch to explore what it truly means to be a trailblazer. From his journey as the first African-American architect intern under Robert P. Madison to his leadership across higher education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, Justin shares lessons on courage, context, and curiosity. He opens up about vulnerability, faith, mentorship, and the power of designing not just a career—but a life. A conversation filled with wisdom, humility, and hope for the next generation of leaders. 

Discussion points from this episode:

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/trailblazing-leadership-with-justin-hilton

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 ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com