Wellbeing Ignites Welldoing

Chris Schmelzer has spent more than a decade inside some of the most complex organizational transformations in North America, first at Deloitte and ScottMadden, and now as the founder of The ChangeMindset Co. His new book, The Missing Link, offers a radical reframe of why change programs fail, not because of poor strategy or weak communication, but because of something more fundamental: organizations systematically ignore the biological reality of the human nervous system under pressure.

Chris’s central thesis is disarmingly clear. For more than a century, we have designed organizations as if humans were interchangeable units of cognition. But the brain’s primary job is prediction, not execution. When sustained change destroys predictability, the prefrontal cortex, the seat of reasoning, creativity, and empathy, goes offline. Survival circuits take over. And no communication campaign, training program, or culture initiative can reach a nervous system that is signaling danger.

The correct sequence, Chris argues, is: Regulation, then Coherence, then Mindset, then Behavior. Most organizations begin at step three or four and wonder why nothing sticks. In this episode, we go deep into the book, the biology, and what it actually looks like to lead change in a way that honors the most fundamental system we have.

Sam Valentine is the head of Employee Performance and Experience at miro, operating at the sharp edge of where people strategy meets business performance.

At Miro, he’s shaping both employee experience and building people infrastructure designed to protect revenue, accelerate decision-making, and sustain performance through transformation. His work reframes HR from a support function into a core lever of competitive advantage.

From retaining talented people through change to compressing strategic decision timelines from weeks to days using AI-powered insights, Sam brings a deeply data-driven, outcome-oriented lens to culture, performance, and leadership.

In this conversation, we unpack what it really means to build human sustainability systems that scale, how AI is reshaping people leadership, and why the future of work belongs to organizations that can connect culture directly to measurable business outcomes.

Dr. Jonathan Ellerby has spent more than three decades sitting with healers, elders, and spiritual teachers across forty cultures — and just as long translating that wisdom into something practical, accessible, and genuinely transformative for modern people.

His work spans 5-star wellness resorts and Indigenous community halls, corporate boardrooms and remote African villages. What stays constant is his conviction that spiritual practice isn't a luxury — it's a survival skill.

In this conversation, we explore what it actually means to support young people in developing inner capacity during one of the most turbulent transitions of their lives — and why the integration of ancient contemplative traditions with modern behavioural science may be exactly what we need to stop falling through the cracks and start building lives of meaning, resilience, and genuine belonging.

Shana Francesca is an ethical leadership architect, keynote speaker, and founder of Concinnate LLC whose work focuses on transforming workplaces through intentional relationships, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership.

Drawing on her lived experience as a survivor, scholar, and advocate for the neurodivergent community, Shana helps organizations reimagine leadership through the lens of curiosity, respect, and accountability. Her work demonstrates that cultures built on trust, inclusivity, and ethical leadership are not only healthier for people but also more innovative and profitable.

In this episode, we explore leadership as a relational practice, the role of psychological safety in driving innovation, and why organizations that honor diverse ways of thinking are better positioned to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Silvia Via has turned lived experience into entrepreneurial innovation. As the founder of multiple mission-led ventures—from ethically sourced coffee to fashion-forward nonprofits—she exemplifies how business can serve as a vehicle for healing, inclusion, and global impact.

This conversation explores the role of creativity, recovery, and social enterprise in advancing employee wellbeing, inclusive leadership, and purpose-driven strategy—especially relevant as companies rethink culture in the age of AI and burnout.

For executive listeners, Silvia’s work offers insight into:

• How lived experience can inform regenerative leadership
• Why employee-led social impact drives brand authenticity
• The power of storytelling, design, and wellness in building belonging

Zach Baumer has spent over a decade shaping one of the most ambitious municipal climate agendas in North America. From technical data modeling to frontline community resilience, Zach’s leadership at the City of Austin has helped bridge the gap between sustainability vision and scalable systems change.

Now Director of the newly formed Office of Climate Action & Resilience, Zach is focused on turning policy into practice—whether through multi-site solar procurements, cooling solutions for unhoused residents, or embedding financial feasibility into climate compliance frameworks.

This episode dives into what it takes to sustain long-term momentum, how climate leaders can push progress without burnout, and why resilience starts not with flashy headlines—but with human impact, local trust, and data that actually drives decisions.

Jeff Melanson is a rare kind of leader, one who has navigated the worlds of global technology, creative institutions, family enterprises, and civic systems with equal fluency. From serving as President & CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and President of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, to advising multigenerational family enterprises and partnering with one of the world’s leading real-time 3D technology platforms, Jeff’s career reflects a deep understanding of systems, stewardship, and human potential.

Across arts, business, technology, and advisory work, Jeff has consistently focused on one central question: how do organizations sustain creativity, performance, and purpose over time? In this episode, we explore leadership as an act of stewardship, the role of creativity in organizational wellbeing, and what it takes to lead complex systems with clarity, care, and long-term vision.

To explore how small, science-backed lifestyle and workplace behaviors can drive large-scale sustainability and wellbeing outcomes, Lori Myren-Manbeck—author of Mars Can Wait, clinical psychologist, and sustainability advocate—invites us to rethink how everyday decisions, at home and at work, can close the gap between corporate ESG goals and meaningful real-world impact.

This episode unpacks the behavioral psychology behind sustainable action, the urgency of climate leadership, and how inclusive wellbeing strategies can catalyze enterprise-wide transformation from the inside out.

Burnout is often framed as a workload, mindset, or motivation problem. Yet across recovery environments, workplaces, and public institutions, a deeper pattern is emerging: when people are physically depleted, emotional regulation, engagement, and belonging become biologically inaccessible.

Marie Gardiner brings seven years of applied experience working at the intersection of cellular health, recovery, and human resilience. This episode explores why physical regulation is the missing foundation beneath many wellbeing strategies—and how restoring the body’s capacity enables deeper engagement, emotional stability, and genuine belonging.

Earl Foote is not your typical tech CEO. A bass-playing adventurer, community builder, and mindset-driven entrepreneur, he has spent over two decades building Nexus IT into one of the nation’s top managed security service providers. But behind the accolades: Inc5000, Utah Fast50, and multiple “Best of State” wins, lies a deeper mission: to build a business where people thrive.

Through bold leadership, transparent culture, and a fierce belief in personal growth, Earl has cultivated a company where high performance and human wellbeing go hand in hand. In this episode, we explore how work can be both intense and uplifting, why discomfort is often the sign you’re growing, and how leaders can create space for others to succeed—even in the face of rapid technological change.