The Well-led Podcast

Culture Keepers: A conversation about managing versus leading.

In this conversation, Kate sits down with Layci Nelson, founder of the Transcend Leadership Collective, to explore a deceptively simple question with big implications: What’s the real difference between managing and leading?

Together, they unpack why effective leadership isn’t about choosing one or the other—it’s about integrating both. Layci emphasizes that leaders need fluency in two domains: the operational competence that keeps work moving and the visionary clarity that keeps people aligned and inspired.

They dig into the value of understanding project management basics, paying attention to the details that shape team experience, and staying close enough to the work to remove friction meaningfully. Layci also shares a compelling story of a CEO who transformed his leadership approach by reconnecting with his employees—ultimately improving alignment, engagement, and satisfaction across the organization.

The conversation also returns to core values: how they anchor decision-making, guide behavior, and keep leaders steady when things speed up, slow down, or veer unexpectedly.

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Revisit & enjoy: Early, direct, and well-structured conversations

As we near the end of the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most practical and personal conversations we’ve shared on the comfy chairs. In this rerun, Kate sits down with her dad, Charlie—a leader with decades of experience in higher education, the military, and church governance—to talk about why early, direct, and kind confrontation is one of the most underrated leadership skills.

This episode explores:

If you’re avoiding a hard conversation (or carrying one into the new year), this episode is a steady reminder that clarity and kindness aren’t opposites—they’re partners.

Additional resources mentioned during our conversation:

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Revisit & enjoy: Making sense of leadership, management, and the feedback we’d rather avoid

As we wind down the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most downloaded comfyHQ episodes—a listener favorite about three things leaders wrestle with all the time: feedback, the leadership/management divide, and the workplace words we toss around without checking for shared meaning.

In this rerun, we explore:

If you’re navigating end-of-year reviews or gearing up for planning season, this episode offers a practical reset: clearer language, steadier leadership, and a healthier way to think about feedback.

Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

In this special update, Kate shares an important announcement about the future of the podcast. Beginning in January 2026, the comfy chairs will officially become The Well-Led Podcast—a show dedicated to helping leaders stay grounded, self-aware, and effective in the moments where professionalism meets imperfection.

Kate walks through what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and why now is the right time to transition into a more intentional, structured model. She also introduces the new monthly and quarterly format, a year-long leadership curriculum, and an expanded set of voices and conversations.

Plus: exciting news about the show joining the WRKdefined Podcast Network in 2026.

Pull Them Close: A Conversation about Grief

As we move into the holiday season—a time that can amplify both joy and tenderness—we’re revisiting one of our most meaningful conversations on the comfy chairs. In this encore episode, host Kate Johnson welcomes Justin Clifford, CEO of Bereave, for a heartfelt exploration of how workplaces can better support employees navigating grief and loss.

Together, Kate and Justin unpack the critical role of compassionate bereavement practices—especially during a season when grief can feel sharper, and the need for understanding grows. Justin shares actionable insights for managers and leaders, from building empathy through intentional training to crafting inclusive policies that honor the diverse realities of modern families.

This revisit also highlights the transformative power of vulnerability in leadership. Justin underscores the importance of modeling self-care and creating spaces where employees feel seen and supported through life’s hardest seasons. He offers tools and resources to help organizations build cultures of care—reminding us that supporting grief at work isn’t simply about resilience; it’s about honoring our shared humanity.

Additional resources mentioned during our conversation:

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

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Inviting Input: A conversation about co-creating the workplace.

In this conversation, Kate sits down with Patrick Farran, PhD—co-founder and CEO of Ad Lucem Group—to explore the leadership practices that help teams move from compliance to genuine engagement. Patrick introduces appreciative inquiry as a strengths-based discipline built on better questions: ones that draw out what’s already working and create the conditions for more of it.

Together, Kate and Patrick unpack why purpose matters so deeply in leadership (and what happens when leaders drift away from it), how co-creation honors human dignity, and why people support what they help build. They swap practical examples—from job crafting to “input windows” during times of change—and name the tension leaders often feel between offering clarity and inviting shared ownership.

Patrick also offers a preview of his forthcoming book, The Intentional Executive, including the research behind it and the frameworks leaders can use to practice purpose-driven, strengths-aligned leadership.

Additional resources and researchers mentioned during our conversation:

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

We're making another visit to the comfy chairs archive with this episode, where Kate is joined by a very special guest, her husband, Nate.

Kate and Nate explore the practical considerations of high-reliability organizations and what we can all learn from a balanced approach to excellence and understanding.

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

You own it: A conversation about career growth.

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Jamie Chambron, Chief Coach at the Career Agility System, to talk about what it really means to own your career. From portfolio careers to personal branding, Kate and Jamie unpack how professionals can approach their work with intention and curiosity—especially in a changing, unpredictable market.

They explore the co-created nature of employment, the role of values in decision-making, and why assessments like StrengthsFinder and DISC can help you understand your unique value. Whether you’re just starting out, deeply tenured, or in the middle of a career pivot, this conversation is a practical, empowering reminder: your career is an investment, not an inheritance.

Listen if you’re curious about:

Connect with Jaime on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Career Agility System™️.

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Join us for a trip in the Way-back Machine! We're headed to where and when it all started for the comfy chairs. Enjoy this “Tuesday Time Capsule” replay of Episode One: Please don’t take away my superhero cape!

Kate's colleague and friend, Angela Wale, joined her for the inaugural recording to talk about some timeless leadership topics. Whether you want to learn more about responsibility, delegation, accountability, imposter syndrome, or compassion, this episode has it all.

Have a listen and then consider taking one of the following little actions to enhance your leadership practice:

Have a question for comfyHQ? Share your questions.

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Tiny conversations: A conversation about workplace gossip.

Workplace gossip has a reputation problem — but what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong?

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Rebecca Taylor, co-founder of SkillCycle and host of HR Confessions, to explore the nuance behind “tiny conversations.” They define gossip, unpack its role in shaping culture, and discuss how leaders can use it as a powerful source of insight rather than just a source of frustration.

Together, they look at how power, proximity, and trust influence what people say behind closed doors — and how leaders can respond with empathy, not ego.

Books and other resources we mentioned:

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

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