The Seismic Shift with Dr. Michelle K. Johnston

If your team needs you to solve every problem, is that a sign of your success as a leader? Or a sign that something needs to shift?

On this episode of The Seismic Shift Podcast, Dr. Michelle K. Johnston sits down with Bill Flynn, author of The Hero Trap, to explore how being the person with all the answers can hold your team back, and what it takes to break that pattern.

Bill, with a rich background in startups and coaching, shares his journey of transforming from a successful operator to a mentor who empowers leaders to break free from outdated paradigms.

With insights drawn from decades of experience, Bill shares a transformative approach to feedback that fosters psychological safety and enhances team dynamics. Learn the strategies that can help cultivate exceptional companies that not only survive but thrive—like Toyota, the gold standard of continuous improvement.  

This episode is perfect for entrepreneurs, executives, and emerging leaders, it offers a fresh perspective on creating impactful change within organizations. This enlightening conversation will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about leadership.

CHAPTERS

(1:05) Bill’s path through 10 startups, two IPOs, and seven acquisitions
(2:48) Why Bill keeps writing books and why The Hero Trap matters now
(4:18) Why leadership development has not produced enough great companies
(6:56) The brain, threat mode, and why feedback often backfires
(7:41) A feedback example that puts people into survival mode
(10:15) Why “radical candor” can create fear-based cultures
(12:16) Trust, human connection, and why leaders have to start there
(13:12) “Trust arrives on foot and leaves in a Ferrari”
(15:26) Why leadership behavior and leadership messaging often do not match
(16:27) Bill’s own hero-phase and how the book’s protagonist Alex reflects real leaders
(17:55) Learning from mistakes instead of pretending leaders are perfect
(19:36) The hero trap as the paradox of success
(20:32) How the hero role creates burnout and dependency
(21:35) The two quick tests to see how deep you are in the trap
(23:01) The vacation test and how absence exposes weak systems
(24:24) How leaders can start stepping back without abandoning the team
(26:19) Why delegating tasks is not the same as delegating authority
(27:35) Southwest Airlines, divergence, and why leaders should not converge too soon
(29:18) General Motors, NUMMI, and why copied systems often revert
(30:14) What really makes Toyota work underneath the visible practices
(31:57) The biggest seismic shift: we know what to do and still are not doing it
(32:25) What leaders should stop doing, start doing, and build instead
(33:26) Bill’s legacy: bend the curve

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Watch the podcast on YouTube:youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Former NASA astronaut Charlie Camarda reveals the leadership mistake that can turn a warning sign into a catastrophe: smart people convincing themselves they already understand the problem. If you lead in a high-stakes environment, this conversation will change how you think about decision-making, dissent, and psychological safety. Michelle Johnston sits down with Charlie to unpack the seismic shifts that shaped his career, from NASA research centers to the Columbia disaster and beyond. What started as a deep technical career in hypersonic flight became a mission to understand why brilliant organizations make dangerous calls, and how to build teams that catch failure before it becomes irreversible.

Charlie shares the hard-won lessons behind Mission Out of Control, including why NASA’s recovery windows were missed for years, how bad analysis can create false confidence, and why speaking up can be career-threatening even when you’re right. He also explains how his team helped create a repair capability for shuttle damage and how that same mindset could transform industries far beyond aerospace.This episode is especially valuable for leaders, engineers, founders, safety professionals, and anyone responsible for decisions where being wrong is not an option.

CHAPTERS
00:11 Introduction to Charlie Camarda and seismic shifts
01:04 Columbia and NASA's Culture
01:16 The Columbia accident and its impact on Charlie
02:13 Analyzing decision-making failures at NASA
03:59 The importance of technical rigor and analysis
04:41 Recovery Windows and Psychological Safety
06:08 Confirmatory vs. exploratory decision modes
07:20 Psychological safety and organizational culture
08:36 Challenger's Real Root Cause
09:31 The Challenger disaster and decision-making culture
11:38 The Columbia foam strike and recovery window
12:32 EPIC and High-Performing Teams
13:50 The Epic education program for solving complex problems
14:54 Mission Out of Control
15:55 Mission Out of Control: organizational culture and safety
18:58 NASA's safety culture and Charlie’s courageous voice
19:48 Speaking Up at NASA
21:08 Silencing and listening in high-stakes organizations
22:08 NASA’s ongoing culture challenges and Charlie’s advocacy
22:41 Artemis and Heat Shield Risks
24:14 The Artemis missions and transparency issues
26:29 Lessons on decision-making and risk management in space
28:28 Leadership: Listen to Dissent
30:01 The Legacy of Safer Organizations
32:14 A Critical Decision in Space
33:33 The overview effect and critical in-space decisions
35:15 The importance of leadership and listening in space missions
36:09 Final thoughts: culture, safety, and seismic shifts
36:22 Navigating NASA's Challenges

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube:    / @theseismicshiftwithmichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Lucy Bustamante is a multi-Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, born and raised in New Orleans, now serving as a morning anchor at FOX 8. She joins Michelle Johnston for a heartfelt conversation about connection, culture, leadership, and what it means to stay real in a rapidly changing world. From covering Hurricane Katrina as a young journalist to returning home to New Orleans after years away, Lucy reflects on the power of authenticity, the pull of family, and the beauty of a city that begins every relationship with humanity. She also shares what seismic shifts she is seeing in media and the workplace, including AI, streaming, social media, and trust. The conversation is honest, lively, and full of wisdom about relationships, resilience, and choosing what matters most.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and introducing Lucy Bustamante
00:31 Michelle shares how she knew Lucy had to be on the show
01:23 Lucy’s career, awards, and return to New Orleans
01:51 Covering Hurricane Katrina and staying on air
04:15 Why Lucy’s reporting felt like home
05:05 New Orleans and the power of authenticity
06:56 Michelle on why she fell in love with New Orleans
09:18 Lucy’s family story and New Orleans roots
12:35 What brought Lucy back home
15:56 Raising children in New Orleans
18:52 Why New Orleans is worth investing in
20:05 Michelle’s daughter chooses to come back to New Orleans
23:40 The seismic shifts Lucy sees in media and work
24:04 AI and how Gray Media is approaching it
25:08 Streaming and changing audience habits
25:37 Social media, trust, and misinformation
28:31 What leaders need to understand right now
29:13 Lucy’s unforgettable leadership advice
30:34 Choosing the right partner, therapist, and lawyer
31:04 Closing reflections and thanks

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

Jim Lager is an executive leader at Penske Truck Leasing and he joins Michelle Johnston for a conversation that feels equal parts leadership masterclass and reunion. Jim brings a rare combination of humility, warmth, and practical leadership wisdom to this episode of The Seismic Shift. In a conversation rooted in longtime friendship, he and Michelle Johnston explore how connection, curiosity, and authenticity can shape not only a career, but an entire life. 

This episode is packed with grounded advice for anyone who wants to grow as a leader without losing themselves in the process. Jim’s message is simple, but powerful: be yourself, stay curious, listen well, and never underestimate the value of treating people with genuine respect.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and introducing Jim Lager
00:40 Auburn memories and the Jazz Fest trip
02:15 How connection shaped lifelong friendship
03:18 Jim’s natural gift for people and relationships
04:08 The influence of his mother and early hardship
06:10 Why he has always been fascinated by people’s stories
08:18 Listening as a leadership and sales advantage
11:12 Roger Penske and the idea that there are no big shots
12:00 Why command and control does not work anymore
13:12 What has changed about younger workers
15:20 Why today’s workers want balance and collaboration
16:40 Connection in virtual meetings and leading through Zoom
18:24 Using technology without losing human connection
20:22 Productivity without connection creates emptiness
21:47 Owning your calendar and protecting time to think
24:00 Why in-person training still matters
26:24 The seismic shifts Jim sees in business today
27:15 Using technology as a tool, not a replacement
28:01 The leadership mistake that changed everything
29:52 Why authenticity is the real key to trust
30:47 Closing reflections and thanks

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

Caroline Webb is an executive coach, author, economist, and former McKinsey partner known for translating behavioral science into practical tools for leadership and performance. She joins Michelle Johnston for a smart, energizing conversation about what leadership requires in a world being reshaped by AI, constant change, and rising pressure. She breaks down the pillars of her new book, Leadership Intelligence, including wisdom, inspiration, and resilience, and offers practical ways leaders can improve decision-making, build trust, reduce stress, and motivate teams. The conversation is a compelling reminder that human intelligence, not just artificial intelligence, will determine how well leaders and teams perform. 

This episode offers practical wisdom for any leader who wants to raise their game, build more resilient teams, and stay deeply human in a rapidly changing world. 

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and introducing Caroline Webb
00:40 Caroline’s new book and major career highlights
01:35 The seismic shifts shaping leadership right now
02:44 Why leaders need to understand the human mind
03:28 The Leadership Intelligence system explained
05:33 Wisdom, inspiration, and resilience as key pillars
06:04 How leaders can help reduce stress
08:42 Connection, trust, and leading teams well
09:39 Caroline Webb’s journey from economics to leadership
12:12 Why she left McKinsey
13:06 The story behind How to Have a Good Day
14:47 Why 21 leadership situations made sense
15:59 A practical example of wisdom in decision-making
18:34 Shifting perspective from what to who
19:39 Inspiration through competence and connection
22:44 Building connection with intentional team rituals
25:29 Resilience and leading through challenge together
27:49 A real example of human-centered leadership
29:22 Why connection drives motivation and performance
30:40 Three practical leadership takeaways
32:35 Closing reflections and thanks

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

Andrea Hogan shares the deeply personal story behind leaving a high-powered marketing career, returning home to care for her mother, and making the spontaneous decision to walk the Camino de Santiago. What unfolds is a conversation about grief, identity, ambition, and the courage to choose a different path when life demands it. Michelle and Andrea explore what happens when achievement no longer feels like enough, how joy can be rediscovered in simple moments, and why stepping away is sometimes the most powerful move a person can make. It is a moving reflection on reinvention, purpose, and the seismic shift that happens when you finally listen to yourself.

This episode is a reminder that stepping back is not the same as falling behind. Sometimes the boldest move is to leave the noise, listen to your own voice, and trust that a different path may lead you closer to yourself.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and introducing Andrea Hogan
00:42 How Michelle and Andrea first met at Qualcomm
01:36 Andrea’s journey from tech executive to author
03:31 Caring for her mother and returning to Ireland
04:25 Finding her mother’s Camino journal
05:00 Why she decided to walk the Camino right away
07:01 What 33 days of walking began to change
08:13 The shift from achievement to identity
11:05 What changed personally on the trail
12:11 A powerful moment in Portomarin
15:47 Rediscovering joy as a factory setting
16:56 What action came from that transformation
18:54 Writing the book and starting a new chapter
20:14 Grief, permission, and stepping back from work
22:40 Building a consulting business with purpose
23:09 Comparing corporate life to life now
24:42 Energy, routines, and owning your calendar
27:28 Why her mother walked the Camino
30:15 Michelle’s reflection on Andrea’s seismic shift
31:26 Where to find The Closest Thing to Magic

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

In this episode of the Seismic Shift Podcast, host Dr. Michelle Johnston interviews Deanna Rodriguez, President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans. They explore the critical importance of human connection in both personal and professional life, especially in the evolving workplace shaped by remote work, technology, and post-pandemic challenges. Deanna Rodriguez shares stories from her leadership journey, including navigating major crises and advocating for empathy, flexibility, and authentic relationship-building at work. The conversation offers practical advice on fostering stronger team relationships and underscores the impact of genuine connection for well-being and organizational success.

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

Stress is not the enemy, and trying to calm down may be making things worse. Dr. Rebecca Heiss joins Michelle Johnston to unpack the science behind stress, why uncertainty pushes leaders toward control, and how reframing fear can improve performance. Their conversation moves from boardrooms to classrooms to basketball courts, showing how stress can become useful energy instead of a barrier. Rebecca shares practical tools for public speaking, leadership, and self-talk, including her “coach voice,” emotional distancing, and curiosity as an antidote to fear. The result is a fresh, hopeful framework for using pressure as momentum.

This episode is a strong reminder that meaningful work often comes with elevated stress, and that pressure does not have to mean panic. It can be reframed as purpose, momentum, and forward motion.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome and meeting Dr. Rebecca Heiss
00:26 What a stress physiologist actually does
02:13 Stress, uncertainty, and the shift in leadership
04:59 Why controlling leaders create more disconnection
05:21 Invite the tiger in for tea
07:09 Act as if it is an adventure
08:18 Why “just calm down” does not work
10:08 Service to others as a stress intervention
10:48 Public speaking fear and performance anxiety
11:46 Stress as proof that something matters
13:23 Self-talk, storytelling, and presentation confidence
15:24 Coaching yourself in the third person
17:30 Why acting as if can change physiology
19:19 What students can do before presenting
20:29 Meet the inner critic and coach voice
21:56 Stress lessons from basketball
23:04 What leaders can do before a tough meeting
25:27 Rebecca’s new book, *Springboard*
27:48 Who the book is for
29:07 Using stress in service to others
30:33 Closing reflections and thanks

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

A packed résumé, external validation, and a full scoreboard do not always add up to a satisfying life. Michelle Johnston welcomes Laura Gassner Otting for a lively, deeply honest conversation about the gap between achievement and fulfillment, and why so many accomplished people still feel empty after checking every box. Michelle and Laura explore how early definitions of success get planted, why they are so hard to outgrow, and what it takes to recalibrate once you realize the path you are on no longer fits. Laura shares her own story of heading toward law school, recognizing almost immediately that it was the wrong path, and making a bold pivot that eventually led her to the Clinton White House and the creation of AmeriCorps. The story becomes a larger lesson in permission: permission to change, permission to admit you were wrong, and permission to redefine success at every stage of life. Sharp, funny, and full of substance, this episode is a reminder that success without alignment can feel empty, but success rooted in self-knowledge, purpose, and real relationships can become something much more powerful.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome to The Seismic Shift
00:35 Laura Gassner Otting on why success can feel empty
02:17 Chasing goals that are not really yours
04:44 From the what to the who
06:08 Social comparison and redefining success
07:00 What truly motivates people at work
09:02 Law school, Bill Clinton, and a life-changing pivot
11:47 Curiosity, reinvention, and pursuing a PhD
15:02 From interesting work to rigorous research
17:31 What Laura’s data reveals about leadership
19:03 Why people leave when they do not feel seen
20:09 Money, meaning, and what really matters
21:54 Shared vision and the science of change
23:51 The power of inspiration at work
26:09 Carolyn’s story and redefining ambition
29:11 What leaders must do differently now
29:31 Laura’s top three leadership takeaways
30:11 Closing reflections on success and service

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/ 

Dennis Lauscha carries one of the most demanding leadership portfolios in sports—President and CEO of the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, and a wide network of Gayle Benson companies. Sitting down at the Saints training facility, Michelle Johnston and Dennis unpack what’s changing fastest in the NFL and NBA—and what leaders can learn from it. Dennis breaks down a major business reality fans don’t always see: how the shutdown of regional sports broadcast partners forced teams to rethink distribution, marketing, and the entire way games reach the public. The Saints and Pelicans responded by moving deeper into content creation and direct-to-consumer offerings—expanding visibility across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle, and reframing what “small market” even means. He and Michelle tackle the real tension leaders feel: calendars that don’t match values, the pressure professional sports can put on families, and the manager’s responsibility to set clear expectations and coach performance with honesty and respect.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 A capital gap across the Gulf South
00:36 Inside Dennis Lauscha’s role leading Saints, Pelicans, and Benson companies
01:41 The seismic shift: regional sports networks disappear
03:10 Becoming a content company: broadcasts, radio, and direct-to-consumer
05:52 Connection at scale: listening systems and “number one” fan experience
07:34 Kaizen in action: making every voice speak up in meetings
09:23 Psychological safety: bring the problem and a solution
11:42 Beyond Gen Z labels: explain the “why” and set people up to win
14:51 One life, one calendar: leadership pressure and work-family balance
18:39 Why the Benson Leadership Academy exists
22:37 Leader vs. manager: art + science
25:28 Loyalty and trust as a talent strategy
26:42 The “it factor,” DEI, and widening the talent pipeline
30:06 Dennis’ career path: Loyola, CPA, and the Saints audit that changed everything
37:42 Leadership under Gayle Benson and the “double/triple bottom line”
42:45 Advice for breaking into pro sports: commitment, growth, and opportunity
44:35 Closing and thanks

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston 
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/