In this eye-opening episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Andy Grant, bestselling author, transformational coach, and host of the award-winning podcast "Real Men Feel." Known as the "King of Authenticity," Andy shares powerful insights on why so many men struggle with emotional expression and the surprising costs of emotional suppression in business leadership.

Andy reveals how vulnerability creates psychological safety, fosters innovation, and ultimately leads to better business outcomes. Through simple yet profound exercises (like clenching your fists for 30 seconds), listeners experience firsthand the difference between emotional constriction and freedom.

Discover why choosing joy over being right transforms not just leadership but life itself, and why true stoicism isn't about never feeling emotions – it's about choosing when and where to express them. This conversation offers practical wisdom for leaders ready to create environments where authentic connection thrives.

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You can connect with Andy Grant here:

http://theandygrant.com/talk

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this engaging episode, Karl Pontau connects with Jay Kallman, founder of Loving Marketing, who brings a refreshingly human approach to franchise marketing. Jay shares her philosophy that when businesses reconnect with the humanity behind their marketing, incredible things happen.

She challenges the misconception that B2B marketing lacks emotional depth, arguing instead that understanding customer pain points and building genuine relationships leads to better outcomes. Whether you're selling B2B or B2C, Jay reminds us it's really H2H—Human to Human.

Jay offers practical advice on how businesses can bring more humanity to their marketing, including analyzing sales data, removing unnecessary barriers like gated content, and focusing on providing value at every stage of the customer journey. She emphasizes the importance of understanding your audience on a fundamental level, using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to create connections that truly resonate.

Tune in for an insightful conversation about building trust, fostering community, and creating marketing that makes people feel genuinely seen and understood.

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You can connect with Jay Kallman here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaykallman/

www.revvy-marketing.com

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this engaging episode, host Karl Pontau connects with healthcare innovation leader Suzy Engwall, CEO and founder of Health Tech Strategies. Suzy shares invaluable insights about one of the biggest challenges medtech startups face: transitioning their storytelling from investor-focused pitches to customer-centered marketing.

Through compelling real-world examples—like a company reducing hospital alarm fatigue and another creating innovative 3D-printed waterproof casts—Suzy illustrates how successful healthcare companies connect on a human level rather than getting lost in technical jargon. She emphasizes that whether selling to hospitals, physicians, or patients, the key is communicating how your product improves lives in clear, relatable terms that anyone could understand.

Perfect for healthcare entrepreneurs, marketers, and business leaders who want to craft stories that resonate with real people and drive meaningful adoption of their innovations.

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You can connect with Suzy Engwall here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sengwall/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this energizing episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Leslie Pagel, a trusted consultant and thought leader dedicated to helping organizations design customer experience strategies that provide a competitive edge. Leslie shares powerful insights on how purpose serves as a renewable source of energy for both individuals and companies.

Discover why purpose isn't just a statement to hang on the wall but a daily practice that must be embedded into habits and rituals. Learn how successful leaders integrate shared values into everyday conversations and use them for employee development. Leslie and Karl explore the importance of aligning company purpose with employee purpose, and why asking "what do you care about?" can transform workplace engagement.

Whether you're looking to optimize your business operations, boost employee satisfaction, or create stronger customer loyalty, this conversation offers practical wisdom on harnessing the power of purpose to fuel meaningful growth.

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You can connect with Leslie Pagel here:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/purposeproject-media/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this illuminating episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Marvin Dejean, a leading business futurist and transformational strategist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations adapt to changing environments.

Marvin shares powerful insights about the massive mindset shift leaders need to make for success in the 21st century business landscape. He explains why traditional hierarchical models are failing and introduces the concept of "intelligent organizations" where technology moves from the periphery to become a central driving force.

The conversation explores why all transformations "begin and end with people," how leaders can guide their teams through digital transformation, and the importance of building autonomous, accountable teams rather than micromanaging. Marvin also reveals his framework for business transformation, encapsulated in a simple formula: TIP(2M).

Whether you're a business leader feeling overwhelmed by rapid technological change or simply curious about how AI and other technologies are reshaping our workplaces, this episode offers valuable perspectives on creating human-centered organizations that thrive in a digital world.

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You can connect with Marvin Dejean here:

www.gileadsanders.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvindejean/

https://www.youtube.com/@marvindejean1971

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this insightful episode of The Human Connection podcast, host Karl Pontau speaks with Dr. Carla Fowler, an MD, PhD, and elite executive coach who has been a "secret weapon" for numerous CEOs and senior leaders. Dr. Fowler shares how performance science can transform not just individual achievement but team dynamics and organizational success.

Dr. Fowler breaks down performance science into four key buckets: strategy, execution, mindset, and physiology. Through engaging stories from her coaching experience, she illustrates how clarity in leadership goals creates a ripple effect of motivation and alignment throughout teams. When leaders share their strategic frameworks, team members gain understanding of how they fit into the bigger picture, increasing autonomy and reducing micromanagement.

The conversation explores how effective delegation isn't just about freeing up a leader's bandwidth—it's about creating growth opportunities for team members. Dr. Fowler emphasizes the importance of dedicated thinking time for leaders, calling it not a luxury but a necessity for strategic clarity and sustainable growth.

This episode offers practical insights for leaders looking to scale their organizations while maintaining team connection and avoiding burnout. Remember, no matter if your business is B2B or B2C, it's really H2H—human to human!

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You can connect with Carla Fowler here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-fowler/

www.thaxa.com

https://x.com/DrCarlaFowler

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this episode, host Karl Pontau sits down with Israeli-American entrepreneur Dan Berger Dennison to explore the concept of belonging in the workplace and beyond. Dan shares insights from his new book, "The Quest: The Definitive Guide to Finding Belonging," and challenges common corporate approaches to building community.

Dan explains his five-step framework for creating genuine belonging, including the importance of creating a culture of hospitality, safety, engagement, commitment, and reinforcement. He also introduces the concept of the "belonging fuel tank" and reveals why the popular corporate phrase "everybody belongs here" often achieves the opposite effect.

Learn why the workplace should be a platform for belonging rather than its source, and discover how understanding your unique "belonging personality" can help you fill your belonging tank both in and outside of work. Whether you're a business leader or someone searching for community, this conversation offers valuable insights into the human need for connection.

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You can connect with Dan here:

https://www.belongingquest.com/

https://assemblehospitality.com/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this engaging episode of The Human Connection Podcast, host Karl Pontau connects with seasoned PR executive Adam Belmont to discuss how brands can create authentic "aha moments" that resonate with consumers. Adam shares his 15+ years of experience working with global consumer brands and reveals how simplicity and authenticity are key to crafting messages that truly connect.

The conversation features a fascinating case study of Planet Fitness's successful "dad bod" campaign, which brilliantly positioned the gym chain as an inclusive alternative to competitors focused on "washboard abs." Adam explains how this multi-year campaign leveraged consumer research to tap into real feelings about body acceptance, creating powerful brand association through calendars featuring everyday dad activities.

Adam also offers valuable insights on conducting effective consumer research, emphasizing the importance of using third-party survey partners to eliminate bias and asking questions about habits and preferences rather than direct buying behaviors.

Whether you're in marketing, PR, or leading a business, this episode delivers practical wisdom on meeting customers where they are and creating memorable brand moments that stick.

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You can connect with Adam Belmont here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-belmont-6a541a12/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this insightful episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Pam Ross, a workplace transformation expert who quit her corporate HR job with a mission to improve work life. Pam shares her philosophy that work shouldn't just be "happy" - it should be truly awesome!

Pam reveals how her first "real job" traveling around Canada opening restaurants shaped her understanding of what makes work fulfilling: autonomy, accountability, collaboration, and trust. She discusses why forcing employees back to the office full-time is a mistake and challenges managers to stop micromanaging and instead focus on outcomes.

The conversation explores how effective leaders should:

Make conscious leadership choices rather than just relying on their title

Adopt a coaching approach that asks questions instead of dictating solutions

Address root causes rather than surface problems

Practice "100% responsibility" without overstepping boundaries

Pam shares a striking statistic from her leadership development programs - managers typically spend 30 hours weekly on "energy draining behaviors" like ruminating on problems and stressing about feedback, but her coaching helps reduce this by 60%!

Whether you're a manager looking to improve your leadership style or an employee seeking a more fulfilling work experience, this episode offers practical insights on creating workplaces where people truly thrive.

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You can connect with Pam Ross here:

https://bluerebelworks.com

https://bluerebel.getlearnworlds.com/course/feedbackmicro

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this engaging episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Richard Shapiro, founder of TCF KR and author of "The Endangered Customer" and "The Welcome Edge." Richard shares powerful insights from his journey from working in his father's clothing store as a child to becoming a customer experience expert who helped grow ADP from $400 million to over $4 billion.

Discover the transformative phrase "I can help you with that" and how it dramatically changed one law firm's business. Richard breaks down his four customer service personality types (Welcomers, Robots, Indifferents, and Hostiles) and reveals his eight essential steps to guarantee repeat business.

Listen as Richard explains why customers are "people first, customers second" and how creating emotional bonds from day one is crucial for business success. This episode is packed with practical advice for any business looking to improve customer relationships and drive growth through better human connections.

Remember: No matter if your business is B2B or B2C, it's really H2H – Human to Human!

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You can connect with Richardo here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardrshapiro

https://www.tcfcr.com

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!