Building a movement is truly an art form; one without a single formula or method. It takes more than strategy, and a lot more than just having a great idea. When a movement starts to click, you can feel it. The cogs begin to turn themselves, then turn each other, and the whole thing starts to move as something that’s bigger than any one of its parts. In this episode, J.B. and Molly go behind the scenes of social change initiatives with Eric Waldo, president and CEO of the District of Columbia College Access Program and the former executive director of Michelle Obama's Reach Higher program.

"What's our 'why?' What's the story and how can we tell it in a way that may move people where they have been cynical or skeptical before?" - Eric Waldo

You can follow Eric Waldo on LinkedIn and learn more about his work at dccap.org.

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A recurring theme on this show is that of the rapidly changing world. Some thrive in the energy that fast-paced change can bring—new challenges, new ideas—while others feel overwhelmed or left behind. But it’s in these uncomfortable moments of change that we find real growth and transformation.

In this episode, J.B. uncovers the elements of adaptation with corporate innovator Chris Majer, founder of the Human Potential Project and author of the best-selling book, The Power to Transform: Your New Future Awaits. Listen in as Chris explains the power of  the "Popeye moment"—when we decide we can’t stay the same anymore and embrace the changes that help us adapt and thrive.

"What am I committed to and what's the story that I live in about life? And every once in a while you've got to change your story.” - Chris Majer

• Engage with Chris' work at humanpotentialproject.com, YouTube and Instagram.
• The Power to Transform: Your New Future Awaits is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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This week is election week in the United States, and power has shifted. So we're revisiting this episode with Ebele Okobi on the Dynamics of Power, originally aired on March 21, 2024. Take a listen and take good care out there.

"My interest in power is, how do I bring people with me? How do I use this power to create a more radically loving world?" - Ebele Okobi

 You can connect with Ebele on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

 Mentioned in this episode:

•  The Igbo have no king
•  2022 Venice Biennale
•  Chinedu Valentine Okobi Sabbatical Program
• The Future Plate (African & Caribbean Catering)
• Loophole of Retreat symposium

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Everyone is trying to influence something or someone to get the outcomes they want, even when we’re not actively thinking about it. As humans we’re hardwired to persuade - at work, in relationships, negotiating dinner. Influence shapes the way we move through the world. But what is it exactly? In this episode, J.B. and Molly are joined by Bess Kennedy, former corporate litigator and the Founding Executive Director of the Aspire Public Schools Foundation to explore the elements of persuasion.

"What do people want out of this work? And it can't just be my vision, it can't just be what I want. I don't want to be the tail that wags the dog." - Bess Kennedy

• Connect with Bess on LinkedIn or Instagram @bknyca.
• Apply for the Aspire Public School Board 
• See the letter from Bess' parent committee on Instagram!

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

Since the pandemic began, it seems like everyone’s favorite topic is "the future of work." But in all the talk about return to office, remote work, and Zoom fatigue, are we missing the headline here? In 2023, the number of number of independent workers in the US quadrupled to 64 million - that’s 45% of the American workforce. 

In this episode, J.B. talks with Noah Lang, founder of Stride Health, the leader of portable benefits for independent workers, to find out what's behind this trend and what it takes to build a company that meets the needs of this incredibly fast growing sector.

" Fundamentally, what's driving the independent economy is people want more flexibility...  we've just kept trying to knock down problems that people who work for themselves have to solve." - Noah Lang

Connect with Noah on LinkedIn and X, and check out stridehealth.com for open enrollment beginning November 1.

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At work, we all want to be respected, heard, and taken seriously. But for people from non-dominant groups, especially women, gaining respect is anything but straightforward. How can one be seen as competent and assertive, without being labeled as aggressive—or maybe worse, unlikeable?

In this first episode of Season 3, J.B. and Molly are joined by Dr. Alison Fragale, distinguished professor of organizational psychology and author of Likeable Badass, to discuss practical ways women, and their allies and managers, can shift perceptions of status, power, and likeability in the workplace.

"Status exists only in other people's brains... it comes from people believing that you care and that you have a capacity to deliver." - Dr. Alison Fragale

• Follow Alison on LinkedIn, Instagram or on Peloton @afbomb
• Likeable Badass is available everywhere books are sold!
• Sign up for Alison's newsletter, The Upper Hand (Behavioral Science to help Women Excel) at alisonfragale.com
  
  
  

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If it doesn't already come naturally, communicating about your work can feel uncomfortable and downright cringey. But like it or not, it's part of the job. What you need is a method and a motivator, and fortunately Courtney Kaplan returns to Upshots to be just that! In this episode, Courtney offers a structured approach to not just build cold case studies but real stories that connect with hearts and minds. You'll also gain practical tips for gathering testimonials and overcoming the discomfort of self-promotion. This episode is brimming with actionable advice to help you effectively represent yourself in any professional setting!

"Own your part of it, own the strengths of the conversations you brought to the solution, and be bold and braggy. If you have a hard time being bold and braggy, you can turn up the volume to 11 and you're still probably only hitting a five or six." - Courtney Kaplan

Free PDF guide @ https://bit.ly/upshotskaplan2

Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn or check out her courses, worksheets, and coaching offerings at iconicleadershipcoaching.com. 

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As working professionals, meetings are so ubiquitous that we just think of them as something that happen to us. We check the weather to see if it's going to rain, the stocks to see what we gained or lost, and the calendar to see how many meetings we have. But we have much more control over meetings than we might think, as hosts and even as attendees.

In this episode, we put Upshots host Micah Vono into the hot seat as J.B. Skelton takes over to learn practical steps to redefining meeting culture and getting more out of a company's most expensive investment: time.

"If you're just white-knuckling your meetings, that comes at a big personal cost of your own energy, identity, and perception." - Micah Vono

PDF cheat sheet @ https://bit.ly/upshotsmvono

Connect with Micah on LinkedIn and see his work at micahvono.com and unserious.com.

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

With a record 5.5 million businesses starting up last year alone, it's not easy for early stage companies to stand out. Fortunately, John Cantwell, a creative director who specializes in brand and copy startups, is here to share his secrets behind building a memorable and authentic brand. In this Upshots episode, John shares his approach to harnessing the core ideas of founders and key team member to create a brand that resonates deeply with both its creators and its audience.

"A brand is the sum total of everything you do, everything you make, everything you say, everything you put out into the world. And it takes a while to shape that." - John Cantwell

PDF cheat sheet @ bit.ly/upshotscantwell

Connect with John on LinkedIn, check out his work at g-w.studio, and his most recent project itsdandi.com.

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Ever had a spark of inspiration that fizzled out when you shared it? Or a great idea that was misrepresented when you weren't there? Let's face it, sometimes getting your ideas across is harder than coming up with them in the first place. In this Upshots episode, Micah is joined by fellow Unserious co-founder and host J.B. Skelton to learn how the briefing process can not only organize your thoughts but captivate leadership and drive decision-making. This simple tool can be your secret weapon for bringing big ideas to life and making sure they stick the landing.

"Most of the time that a decision gets made, you're not able to be in the room. So a solid brief really helps us focus our story and tell it story for us. It brings stakeholders along and wins sponsorship for promising ideas." - J.B. Skelton

Free PDF guide @ bit.ly/upshotsskelton1

Follow J.B. on LinkedIn and @jbskelton on Instagram.

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.