This episode is a recording from a fireside chat with Christian Brown and Christopher Lafayette for GatherVerse Men's Summit 2026. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Leading Well Podcast Series, Christian sits down with global HR leader Sarita Donaldson for a thoughtful conversation on what it really means to build workplaces that feel good and work better. Together, they explore the idea of leadership sustainability and why long-term performance should never come at the expense of well-being, alignment, trust, or organizational health. 

This conversation dives into the tension between performance and people, the hidden cost of burnout, and the blind spots many leaders miss when trying to support their teams. Sarita shares insights from nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of HR, leadership, change management, and organizational strategy, offering practical wisdom on boundaries, belonging, decision-making, and what it looks like to move from reactive leadership to wellness by design.

In this episode of the Leading Well Podcast Series, Christian sits down with Genipha Almonor, Senior Data Analyst at Comcast and Lead of YPN (Young Professionals Network).

Their conversation explores the power of community, the role of ERGs, and why wellness and leadership go hand in hand. Together, they discuss how intentional spaces of support can strengthen people, shape culture, and influence the way leaders show up for those they serve. 

This episode was recorded at Inspiredu, a Comcast Lift Zone in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Connect with Gen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geniphaalmonor/

Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamchristianbrown/

In this episode of The Leading Well Podcast by Blimish, host Christian Brown sits down with Josiah Owens, a Learning & Development leader and VP at the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Greater Atlanta Chapter.. 

Together, they explore what it really means to steward people's gifts with intention, curiosity, and care. From his beginnings in video production to leading talent development in the nuclear industry, Josiah shares a refreshing perspective on how growth, feedback, and collaboration fuel both individual fulfillment and business success.

💡 Topics include:

• How to develop people in the flow of work without burning them out

• Why curiosity and trust are the foundation of leadership

• The link between AI, emotional intelligence, and the future of L&D

• Building metrics that connect people development to business growth

• How feedback and community sustain well-being in high-stakes environments

🔗 Listen, reflect, and share your biggest takeaway in the comments below.

Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamchristianbrown

Connect with Josiah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahcowens/

In this episode of The Leading Well Podcast by Blimish, host Christian Brown sits down with Josiah Owens, a Learning & Development leader and VP at the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Greater Atlanta Chapter..

Together, they explore what it really means to steward people's gifts with intention, curiosity, and care. From his beginnings in video production to leading talent development in the nuclear industry, Josiah shares a refreshing perspective on how growth, feedback, and collaboration fuel both individual fulfillment and business success.

💡 Topics include:

• How to develop people in the flow of work without burning them out

• Why curiosity and trust are the foundation of leadership

• The link between AI, emotional intelligence, and the future of L&D

• Building metrics that connect people development to business growth

• How feedback and community sustain well-being in high-stakes environments

🔗 Listen, reflect, and share your biggest takeaway in the comments below.

Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamchristianbrown

Connect with Josiah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahcowens/

In this episode, Christian sits down with Skip Maloney, Chief Human Resources Officer at InterDigital, for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture change, and the evolving role of HR.

From his early dreams as a professional baseball player to leading high-growth tech teams, Skip shares wisdom on how to build organizations where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to perform at their best.

💡 What We Cover in This Episode:

• Skip's journey from sports to executive HR leadership

• Why culture is built on accountability, values, and trust

• How to create psychological safety that empowers people to speak up

• The role of neurodivergence and how Skip uses AI tools to manage dyslexia and ADHD

• How HR can become a marketing powerhouse by selling purpose and belonging

• Why companies that embrace AI and feedback win — and how to get started

Burnout doesn't always look like exhaustion. Sometimes, it manifests as irritability, withdrawal, or even overperformance.

In this episode of the Leading Well Podcast Series, host Christian Brown speaks with Dr. Kimberly Grocher — psychotherapist, executive coach, and yoga/meditation teacher — about how leaders can better support mental health in the workplace.

You'll learn:

• The difference between stress and burnout.

• Why empathy is a leadership superpower.

• Practical ways to create psychologically safe environments.

• How mental health impacts retention and performance.

#LeadingWell #MentalHealthAtWork #BurnoutPrevention #PsychologicalSafety

What does it really mean to be human first and a resource second?

In this powerful episode of the Leading Well Podcast, Christian Brown sits down with Jasen Hayes, "The Concierge of HR," for an honest conversation about leadership, culture, and how to create workplaces where people actually thrive.

Together, they explore:

• The story behind Jasen's personal brand, The Concierge of HR

• Why letting go of ego is the first step toward true leadership growth 

• How AI is reshaping employee experience (and why we must keep the human touch)

• The three priorities Jasen would choose if he could rebuild employee experience from scratch

• Practical ways to promote mental health, psychological safety, and connection at work

• Why mentorship and service are the secret weapons for personal and professional growth

🎧 Listen now to learn how to lead with empathy, build better workplaces, and challenge yourself to start fresh — every single day. #hrleadership #wellness #workplacewellness

What happens when HR stops being the "rules police" and becomes a true partner in growth?

In this episode of the Leading Well Podcast, we sit down with Mitch Douglass, Managing Partner at Waterloo Human Capital Management, to explore how trust, retention, and wellbeing intersect to shape healthier workplaces.

Mitch shares how he turned fear of HR into trust, using small, human-centered actions like coffee chats and pizza lunches to spark massive cultural change. Within just one month, promotions soared, employees felt seen, and trust became the foundation for retention and resilience.

💡 What you'll learn in this episode:

• How to transform HR into a trusted partner (not a threat)

• Why trust and psychological safety unlock performance

• The small rituals that build connection, clarity, and belonging

• How values and wellbeing drive retention in today's workplace

How do you measure employee well-being and turn it into real business impact? 🌱

In this episode of the Leading Well Podcast Series, Christian Brown sits down with Kibibi Springs, VP of Workplace Experience at Hightower and IO Psychologist, to explore what it takes to create workplaces where people feel safe, included, and resilient.

Kibibi shares his personal journey from marketing and entrepreneurship to organizational psychology, offering practical insights into:

• Using surveys and feedback tools to track employee well-being and team effectiveness

• Building inclusive teams through small, intentional habits • Managing technology to empower employees instead of overwhelming them

• Lessons from navigating career transitions, entrepreneurship, and the COVID-19 era

• The critical role of psychological safety in high-performing teams 

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About Leading Well Podcast: The Leading Well Podcast by Blimish brings together HR leaders, executives, and workplace wellness experts to explore how to build cultures where people feel good and perform better. #Leadership