The Well-led Podcast

BONUS! Welcome to the club! Introducing the Informed Readers podcast.

📚 Big opinions. Awesome books. And one shared belief: Reading makes us better leaders.

Here at the comfy chairs, I've been collaborating with Stephanie Lemek with The Wounded Workforce to launch a new podcast called Informed Readers—for people who love to talk about books and think about how stories shape the way we lead, learn, and live.

In our first episode, we cover a lot of ground:

✔ Childhood favorites that still hold up

✔ What’s on our to-be-read piles (sci-fi! sociology!)

✔ The role of fiction in building trauma-informed workplaces

✔ And yes… a little trash talk about a popular bestseller.

If you like swapping book recs, making meaning from stories, or laughing about the books you wanted to love, you’ll want to tune in.

🎧 Episode 1 is out now: Listen to the full episode here.

📖 What’s the last book that made you think differently?

#InformedReaders #Leadership #TraumaInformedWorkplaces

In this comfyHQ episode, we tackle three critical leadership challenges:

Through practical advice and personal anecdotes, Kate shares insights on how to communicate effectively, set realistic expectations, and create a sustainable work environment. Learn how to spot early signs of burnout, reduce stress by addressing its root causes, and lead with empathy to foster resilience in your team. Tune in for actionable tips that will help you lead through uncertainty and drive meaningful change.

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Landscape of thought: A conversation about critical thinking.

In this episode, Kate welcomes Amelia Menk Brown, founder and CEO of Knowzy (formerly MyCited), for a thoughtful conversation about critical thinking, metacognition, and inclusive leadership. Together, they explore what it means to lead with intention—not by directing, but by cultivating communities where diverse perspectives and deep thinking thrive.

Amelia reflects on her liberal arts foundation and startup journey, making a clear case for the value of slowing down, thinking deeply, and embracing difference. From challenging the fast-knowing bias of corporate culture to making space for neurodiversity, this conversation is a compelling call to build teams that think critically together.

Whether you're leading a company or developing others to lead, this episode offers practical insights—and a reminder that good thinking is not a solo act.

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

In this comfyHQ episode, we’re answering two questions that hit close to home for many leaders:

Kate challenges the idea that these are opposing demands—and offers practical ways to rethink your time, your role, and your definition of high performance. From the 70-20-10 model of learning to a simple strengths-based audit, this episode offers clear, compassionate strategies to help you lead with more intention and less overwhelm.

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Continue to be curious: A conversation about lifelong learning.

In this special episode of the comfy chairs, Kate sits down with someone who shaped her own learning journey—her mother.

With nearly three decades of experience leading a church education program, Kate’s mom brings a rich perspective to this conversation about growth, vocation, and the quiet power of community. Together, they reflect on how curiosity, empathy, and endurance show up in leadership—and why learning is always, at its core, relational. If you’ve ever wondered how our personal lives shape our professional selves (and vice versa), this one is worth a listen.

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

Balancing empathy and authority. Modeling accountability without harshness. These are questions that come up often in leadership conversations—and they point to something deeper: mindset.

In this episode, I’m exploring the relationship between power and empathy, the process of accountability as a shared practice, and how small shifts in mindset can shape the way leaders show up every day. This is an episode about reflection, relationships, and the quiet choices that make leadership work.

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Beyond the obvious: A conversation about questions.

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate talks with leadership development consultant Amber Johnson, PhD, about the power of questions in leadership and everyday conversations. Amber shares how the best leaders don’t just have answers—they ask better questions. From sparking “uncommon insight” to building emotional safety, they explore how questions shift dynamics, foster deeper connection, and strengthen teams. Amber also offers practical examples, like her list of 50 alternatives to "How are you?"—designed to make conversations more human, more helpful, and more honest.

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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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

These notes contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org, a site dedicated to supporting independent bookstores. As an affiliate, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

In this comfyHQ episode of the comfy chairs, we’re talking about what it really takes to build strong, adaptable teams—starting with two foundational leadership questions:

We explore the mindsets, habits, and frameworks that help leaders grow alongside their teams—and show up with steadiness, curiosity, and compassion, even when things feel uncertain. If you’re leading in the middle of change or helping others stretch into something new, this one’s for you.

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📚Books mentioned in today’s episode:

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

These notes contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org, a site dedicated to supporting independent bookstores. As an affiliate, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Experiment with me: A conversation about human-centric teams.

What does it mean to lead in a truly human-centric way—and what gets in our way when we try?

In this episode, Kate is joined by Rachel Anderson, owner of Pivot Studies, a fractional CMO, and leadership coach who invites us to experiment with a different kind of leadership—one rooted in curiosity, courage, and care. Together, they unpack the tension leaders often feel between meeting organizational goals and tending to the well-being of their people.

Rachel shares her definition of human-centric leadership: prioritizing the growth and development of individuals while still delivering results. She offers pragmatic examples, from crafting meaningful team values to rethinking the way we structure time off. Kate and Rachel explore why self-awareness is the bedrock of leadership, why metrics need human interpretation, and why small, people-first decisions ripple outward in powerful ways.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s room for kindness in strategic planning—or how to create a team culture that says “I’ve got you”—this episode is for you.

Listen in and explore:

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

www.one23ltd.com

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

These notes contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org, a site dedicated to supporting independent bookstores. As an affiliate, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

In this comfyHQ episode, we’re looking at three everyday leadership challenges: when your team over-relies on you, when you don’t have the answers, and how to make it safe for people to ask questions. These moments are common—and fixable. We explore practical ways to shift patterns, build trust, and lead with clarity, even in uncertainty.

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay