Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler are bursting with pride in this celebration episode—because when Biz-Souls guests win, we all win!

In this week’s conversation, our dynamic duo catches you up on the latest triumphs from some of their favorite past guests.

• Jonny Thompson (Episode 181 – “Talking with Jonny Thompson”) is gaining serious traction with his thought-provoking Philosopher Posts that are inspiring followers around the globe.

• Hamish Wright (Episode 134 – “Real Fake Show—Blurring Reality for Fun and Meaning”) is leveling-up production on The Real Fake Show—and reality may never look the same again.

• Francesca Gino, from Episode 152 – “Mind Games and Morality”, is back in the spotlight, as Rona and Jeffrey discuss a colleague’s podcast digging into her ongoing story with Harvard.

• Leigh Wood, part of the hilarious duo from Episode 160 – “He’s a 10, But …”, also gets a quick update—proof that play and charm never go out of style.

Seems every guest who’s graced the Biz-Souls mic is rocketing toward even greater success—and that’s exactly the kind of energy Rona and Jeffrey love to share.

So, tune in, laugh a little, learn heaps, and maybe soak up that winning mojo yourself.

Like, Follow, Share, and Subscribe—because when our guests shine, so do you.

And in the immortal words of late-night legend Ron Sweed, “The Ghoul”: “Stay sick, turn blue, scratch glass, climb walls, do it while you can … but most importantly of all—don’t get caught!”

It’s the Rona Show!

No, seriously — it’s another electrifying episode of Biz-Souls with the unstoppable dynamic duo Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler!

Fresh off her presentation at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Nebraska Conference, Rona dives into how HR leaders are embracing play to power up change management. Meanwhile, Jeffrey (ever the skeptical realist) wonders if HR is really ready to roll the dice on risk and innovation.

Rona fires back with stories from the front lines — where bold HR executives are redefining engagement, trust, and productivity one playful move at a time.

She drops quick-hit tips any executive can use to connect with employees, boost morale, and create cultures committed to evolve.

Want to build trust with your team? Rona’s got a one-sentence strategy that could change everything.

So, grab a seat, take a 12-minute break, and join our dynamic duo for another dose of practical wisdom, laughter, and just the right amount of professional mischief.

If you believe leadership doesn’t have to be boring — like, share, follow, and subscribe!

Because growth should be fun, learning should be lifelong, and the Biz-Souls crew will always keep it real.

Want More Episodes Like This?

Try these listener favorites:

• “Slay the Villain of Culture Stagnation” with Stephanie Angelo — how to keep your organization thriving.

• “How to Retrain Your Brain” with Kelley Raleigh — neuroscience meets performance.

• “Play Games for Better Business!” with Alex Suchman — when play meets productivity.

• “Just Say No! Maybe.” — navigating communication and boundaries at work.

• “L&D Eats Its Own” — a sharp look at respect and dysfunction in Learning & Development.

Rodney Dangerfield made a career out of one line: “I don’t get no respect.”

Turns out he wasn’t just talking about his in-laws—he was predicting the Learning and Development industry (L&D).

This week, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler put on their Dangerfield bow ties and salute the man who knew a thing or two about being underappreciated. Why? Because L&D seems to be working overtime to chew up its own subject matter experts and spit them out like last week’s donuts from the training room.

Jeffrey shares two recent examples of L&D “leadership” (quotation marks intentional) that scream: We don’t need no stinkin’ expertise! Spoiler: it’s not pretty.

Rona offers a cautionary tale to executives everywhere: keep this up, and the L&D industry might just end up with less loyalty than employees had in the 80s after pension plans got the corporate shredder treatment.

It’s quick, it’s biting, and it’s designed to make every executive (especially L&D ones) think twice before disrespecting the people who make them look good.

And speaking of disrespect: Jeffrey’s battle with Adobe Premiere continues. Current score: Adobe 2, Jeffrey 0. (Rich Bachelor, if you’re listening, he swears your Change Management episode will make it to daylight. Maybe. Eventually. If Adobe allows it.)

So hit play, follow, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that respect isn’t just for Rodney—it’s for everyone in L&D too.

If you like this one, check out these connected episodes:

• Episode 128: Insuring HR is Taken Care of With Innovative Approaches – with Tobias Kennedy (because HR and L&D need to stop fighting like siblings on a road trip).

• Episode 125: How to Retrain Your Brain – with Kelley Raleigh (respect starts with retraining how leaders think about people).

• Episode 139: Play for Better Living! Why Play Makes Every Life Better – with Laura Haver (because respect also means letting people breathe and laugh).

• Episode 177: PR Done Right: The Cabernet Club – with Margie Zable Fisher (where communication and respect collide).

• Episode 182: Game-Based Learning with Soul – with Dr. Drew Davidson (proof that respecting expertise actually pays off).

This week on Biz-Souls, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler tackle the slippery, elusive, and occasionally imaginary concept of trust. (Yes, that thing your boss keeps talking about while “listening” only long enough to weaponize your words later.)

It all starts with Jeffrey surviving a “conversation” with a manager—translation: a slow-motion train wreck requiring Olympic-level emotional intelligence. Pair that with Rona dropping an article about the collapse of workplace trust and - boom! - you’ve got yourself a podcast episode that asks all the uncomfortable questions no HR handbook will ever answer.

Along the way, they manage to:

• Roast generational divides (because apparently Millennials ruined trust… and toast).

• Debate autonomy and authenticity without using the word synergy even once.

• Skewer sales and sales management (spoiler: they don’t trust you either).

• Differentiate between active listening and “listening for ammo” (hello, manager!)

• Name-drop Toastmasters while wondering if anyone actually trusts a table topic.

Tie it all together with Rona’s Pillars of Play, because even trust issues deserve recess.

And - full disclosure - they also chat about their episode with change management expert Richard Bachelor as if it already exists. Technically, it should. Unfortunately, Jeffrey’s epic battle with Adobe Premiere and his new camera settings has delayed things. (Adobe 1, Jeffrey 0.) Richard, if you’re listening - Jeffrey swears he’ll wrestle Premiere into submission and publish your episode next week. Promise. Pinky swear. Scout’s honor.

So, listen now, subscribe, and share this episode with anyone who still believes in trust.

Or… wait a week, listen to Richard’s episode first, then come back and see what trust looks like in the wild. Either way, you’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you might even trust us by the end.

On this 184th episode of Biz-Souls, hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler roll out the red carpet for Dr. Albert Bramante — psychology professor, certified hypnotist, AI educator, and talent agent. With more than 20 years of guiding Broadway actors, mentoring students, and coaching creators, Albert knows that the toughest role you’ll ever play… is being your authentic self.

Albert shares his knowledge about the challenges facing actors and how his talents as an agent support an actor’s success. Here are a few of the areas he focuses on with actors:

• Casting Confidence — Proven psychological strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and step into the spotlight with presence and poise.

• Rewriting Your Mental Script — How hypnosis and NLP can help you ditch self-sabotaging lines and improvise a better performance in life and work.

• AI as Your Creative Co-Star — Smart ways to use ChatGPT and other AI tools to boost productivity and creativity—without losing your unique voice.

• Encore Moments — Lessons from Broadway to business on building clarity, resilience, and confidence in any role you take on.

With Albert’s insights (and plenty of laughs from Rona and Jeffrey), this episode shines a spotlight on how psychology, performance, and tech combine to create a standing-ovation life.

Listen, follow, and share with your friends on your path to success.

PS - Speaking of success or lack of, Biz-Souls wasn’t published last week because of technical difficulties with Adobe Premiere. With all their resources, Jeffrey is surprised they don’t have an AI analysis tool for what made the program criminally slow for editing. Is this the first stage of failure for Adobe’s Premiere Pro?

So, after a week off, let’s see if Biz-Souls can do another streak of 183 episodes in the future.

Stop data being harvested and start sharing your story.

Grab your coffee (or goat latte, if you're fancy) and settle in—Biz Souls is back, and this time we're diving headfirst into the brave new world of AI with the one and only William Welser.

Forget robot overlords—and believe William when he says, “Believe me, large language modules aka AI, do not understand you!” AI might be a shiny tool, but it’s not in the right hands yet.

In this episode, hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler wander the story-scapes of data: what we’re tracking now, what we should be tracking, and how we can regain control.

Welser dissects the tech driven chaos and hands you a blueprint: your personal story is your new wealth. He riffs on his upcoming book, “The Story Economy: How Sharing Your Truth Can Be Your Most Valuable Asset,” revealing why you—not algorithms—will shape the ethical, economic, and emotional contours of our next era.

So, turn on, tune in, and claim your future—one story after another.

Grab your backpack, sharpen your pencils, and do not forget your sense of humor, because you’re going back to school! But this is not your average lecture hall with squeaky chairs and bad coffee. Nope. This time, it’s Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, and your professor is none other than Dr. Drew Davidson.

Dr. Drew had our Biz-Souls hosts, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler, so giddy with enthusiasm about play that they nearly turned the studio into a giant ball pit. (We’re still waiting for the invoice on the clean-up.)

So, who is this Drew Davidson wizard of play?

He’s a professor, producer, and player of interactive media. He doesn’t just talk games — he lives them. From comics to games to transformational experiences, Dr. Drew is out here showing us how play isn’t just fun and games… it’s a tool for collaboration, creativity, healthier lifestyles, and maybe — just maybe — saving the world.

And yes, we can all thank the classic CD-ROM game Myst for sparking Drew’s obsession with the deep power of play. (Raise your hand if you spent hours trapped in that world and loved every second!)

Tune in, laugh a little, learn plenty, and discover why play just might be the most serious business strategy of all.

Warning: Listening to this episode may result in spontaneous bursts of joy, increased collaboration, and uncontrollable urges to gamify your next staff meeting.

And subscribing may result in a longer and happier life.

Find out more about Dr. Drew Davidson at:

https://playstorypress.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewdavidson/

What do change, leadership, and storytelling have in common? Patti Sanchez, that’s what!

In this unforgettable episode, co-hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler welcome the consummate and articulate storyteller herself, Patti Sanchez. Known for her clarity, empathy, and transformative insight, Patti delivered a master class in business storytelling—with soul.

A fantastic guest with a gracious presence, Patti shared wisdom with warmth and intellect, leaving us (and our listeners) inspired and energized.

Together, we explore:

• Why storytelling is the essential tool for today’s business leaders and developers

• How stories reduce resistance, foster connection, and rally people behind bold ideas

• Patti’s entrepreneurial journey—what she’s learning 18 months into solopreneurship

From boardrooms at Apple and Salesforce to executive workshops at VMware and GE, Patti has helped visionary leaders turn complex ideas into compelling narratives that move people—and organizations—forward.

Whether you're leading a team, building a brand, or just trying to get your cat to listen (good luck with that, Jeffrey), this episode will reshape the way you think about influence, communication, and change.

Patti is the award-winning author of:

• Presenting Virtually: Communicate and Connect with Online Audiences

• Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols

Learn more about her work: https://pattisan.com

Connect with her: linkedin.com/in/pattisanchez

Related Episodes You Might Love

• Episode 164: Words Matter – Communicating Like a Human

• Episode 152: Building Bridges with Story: The Core of Connection

• Episode 139: Play for Better Living! Why Play Makes Every Life Better

Set your story free and let it soar.