In today’s episode, Tracy & Elisabeth sit down with process improvement pro Michelle Formanczyk to talk about her exciting new role for this year’s Michigan Lean Conference—and why you won’t want to miss it.

In our Hot Apps segment, we test drive Scribe, an app that magically turns your clicks into slick, step-by-step guides.

And for Q&A, we ask: Is AI a continuous improvement hero—or just another shiny tool in the toolbox?

Lean, learning, and a little splash of sass—let’s dive in!

Scribe

Is AI a continuous improvement hero—or just another shiny tool in the toolbox?

Michelle Formanczyk

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Today’s spotlight shines on none other than Gwendolyn Galsworth—author, trailblazer, and the reigning doyenne of the visual workplace. In our feature interview, Gwendolyn shares powerful insights into how visual thinking transforms not just operations, but entire cultures. Get ready for sharp wisdom, strong convictions, and a dash of storytelling flair.

Spoiler alert: A lot.

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Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/BFfALBcMrxM

It's Episode 111 highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with best-selling author John Guaspari–about his latest book, If Engagement the Why, then Respect Is the How. We quizzed John on how an aerospace engineer ended up writing what could be a how-to guide for the Lean tenet: “Respect for People.” For Hot Apps, we’ll explore an offering from your local library that’s free and worth thousands, and for today’s Q&A, we ask, “Do traditional hierarchies make it harder to foster true respect between leaders and employees?”

Let’s explore why respect isn’t just nice to have—it’s how the world actually works—when it works.

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New! Picture Yourself a Leader as an audiobook!

Multiple-award-winning book, Picture Yourself A Leader

Ready or not, here we come!

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It's Episode 110, and the highlight is our interview with April Thomas, who has drawn on her clinical healthcare background to incorporate the stages of grief into change management. We’ll delve into how they intersect with and help drive Operational Excellence. For our Book Buzz, we’re revisiting the classic book Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. The cover has the iconic light switch–and we’ve learned the hard way that change does not happen at the flip of a switch. For Q&A, we asked, what are the most common change management obstacles you see continuous improvement professionals running into? Change, grief, and progress!

Resources:

New! Picture Yourself a Leader as an audiobook!

Multiple-award-winning book, Picture Yourself A Leader

Ready or not, here we come!

Thanks for Listening!

Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.

Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/wkibL5SHn34

- Apple Podcasts

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- Spotify

- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml

It's Episode 109, and the highlight is Elisabeth & Tracy's interview with Dan Zigmond, ordained Buddhist Priest, tech professional, and author of The Buddha’s Office. He’s seen his share of offices, so he’s in the best position to describe how mindfulness alleviates workplace suffering. For Book Buzz, we’ll cover a guide that lays out the steps to designing fully transformative workshops. It shakes up the notion that experiential workshops are the pinnacle. And then for Q&A, we asked, when does describing a feeling mask blame, judgment, or criticism?

We’re taking a deep dive into the emotional underpinnings of modern work life. Although we may not discuss emotions in the workplace, we ignore them at our peril. Let’s get mindful!

LinkedIn Live Event: "From Page to Sound: The Making of a Leadership Audiobook" with Katie Anderson, featuring Elisabeth Swan

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Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/u628h_nLgN4

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It's Episode 108, and the highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Kate Parmelee. She's the Deputy City Manager for Strategic Initiatives & Innovation, and she's transforming the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida into a model for problem solving. Cities around the country are taking notes from her and her crackerjack team. For Hot Apps, we delve into a grade-school skillset paired with an automated teacher—get ready for A+ work. And for Q&A, we asked, do you have a habit of reflection, and if you do, how do you make use of it?

Ready or not, here we come!

Do you have a habit of reflection, and, if you do, how do you make use of it?

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Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"

"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video

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Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.

Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/qTFRqBi06D4

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It's Episode 107 and it's the first menu of the year! Today’s highlight is an interview with Tracy and Elisabeth! Turns out they're the fascinating authors of the soon-to-be published second edition of the Problem-Solver’s Toolkit. Can’t wait to hear what they've got to say about that. For Book Buzz - You'll hear about the book, The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin and why it’s good for coaches and problem solvers. And for Q&A, the question is, what unconscious rules do we make that hold us back?

It’s a new year! Let’s get into the things that will make it a great year!

Resources:

Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"

"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video

Thanks for Listening!

Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.

Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/m2F_-DhdK1s

Find us on:

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- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml

Last one of the year! And Today’s highlight is our interview with Tracy Defoe the Kata Coach and Adult learning specialist about how changing a label could make the difference between resistance and acceptance of change. For our Book Buzz segment We’ll dig into a book that breaks down what your brain is up against when you try to create. And creativity is something every one of us is engaged in every day. And then for Q&A, we asked, how do you influence leadership to let go and invite others to build their skills?

It’s December–so whether your eggnog is spiked or not—and let’s get into this!

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Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/_KgkSC00pd8

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It's Episode 105 and the highlight Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Meg Brown, Vice President of Human Resources at Cambridge Air Solution, where they’ve built an amazingly successful Lean culture by combining sheet metal with unconditional love–you know you need to know more about that. For Hot Apps we’ve got a mobile diary that helps you form a practice of reflection and adjustment. And then for Q&A, we asked, what is it that makes us constantly try to fit 10 pounds of…STUFF… in a 5 pound bag?

Come hang at the cafe while we discuss!

• 0:00 - Intro

• Grid Diary

• "Do you make plans that are over-optimistic?”

• Meg Brown - Cambridge Air Solutions

• September Webinar: "Stop the Insanity! Unplug Your Materials Resource Planning (MRP)" with Jerry Wright

Resources:

• Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"

"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video

 Thanks for Listening!

Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.

Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/Hdx0W8LOd64

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It's Episode 104 and the highlight is our interview with Paul Critchley, the President of New England Lean Consulting where we find out what’s in store at the first ever New England Lean Summit this September–there’s rumors of a DJ... For Hot Apps, we sampled a platform that could inject a stealth bit of productivity into your family’s day-to-day activities. And for Q&A, we asked, “Is there an optimal intersection of fun and productivity?” Is there ever enough fun? Can you have too much? We’ll settle that question AND have fun doing it. 😊 

Sit back and enjoy!

• 0:00 - Intro

• Family Wall

• "Is there an optimal intersection of fun and productivity?”

• Paul Critchley - New England Lean Consulting

• August Webinar: "Personal Hoshin Planning—Don’t Leave It To Luck" with Bob Wallner

Resources:

• Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"

"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video

 Thanks for Listening!

Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.

Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/y4PI4JBaE-0

Find us on:

• Apple Podcasts