When I started the Culture and Leadership Connections Podcast, I felt called to bring diverse voices from different industries and professionals around the world to the world so we could all benefit from their experiences and wisdom. Today as I take the microphone for the last time, I thought listeners might want to know a few of our stats and milestones.

Over the past 7 years, we have published 154 episodes featuring 132 interviews, and 22 solo episodes. That's 1,540 hours of work and 133,672 words in show note blogs, at a cost of $800-$1000 per month.

Most downloaded interview episodes:

Ashif Mawji – Leading From Behind, Even If You Know The Answers!

Lewis Cardinal – It’s All About Relationships

Teresa Spinelli – One Big Human Family

Laurika Booysen – I Am Because You Are

Most downloaded Insights solo episodes:

Decoding Procrastination

Anxiety is not an Emotion

Most downloaded Spirit of Work solo episodes:

How the Soul Relates to Work

Using the Virtues Sequence to Solve Workplace Problems

I have loved interviewing our podcast guests, many of whom told me their interview experience was “cathartic” and “helped them understand themselves and their work journeys more clearly” or was “a more personal and insightful experience than any other podcast interview they had experienced.”

In response I will say that I am proud to have brought so many beautiful and unique stories to the internet sound waves. These interviews are a legacy and will continue to be available on our website and on all podcast directories.

It was also a joy to create the solo episodes although they involved lots more soul searching and research than I expected. It made me realize how much courage it takes for solo podcast hosts to put themselves out in public and increased my admiration for my colleague’s work!

These 154 episodes were created by me, Mike Kurlander who was our amazing audio engineer, the wonderful Malvika Kathpal and Bea Mugure on the show notes and our outstanding Berna Guadiz who created all the images, website uploads and social media images.

I would like to leave you with two recent testimonials:

Kasper Christiansen wrote: The Culture and Leadership Connections Podcast is a great listen! Marie Gervais provides expert insights and actionable advice on leadership and cultural diversity, making it invaluable for fostering inclusive and effective workplaces.

Michal Spiegelman said: Marie's deep perspective on various topics, especially spirituality, truly enriches the content. The way she seamlessly connects broader subjects to workplace dynamics is both enlightening and practical. This podcast has given me a new appreciation for the cultural influences that shape leadership and communication within diverse professional environments.

In closing, Culture and Leadership Connections has been a labour of love, and I certainly hope the many stories and insights will bring intangible benefits to thousands of listeners for years to come.

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Bio:
Marisol Solarte-Erlacher is a trauma expert, resilience consultant, and licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations foster thriving cultures. She hosts the award-nominated Resilience and Resistance podcast, featuring resilient leaders from marginalized communities. Named one of Colorado's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, Marisol specializes in creating psychologically safe workplaces that enhance engagement and performance. Her culturally responsive approach makes her a sought-after speaker and consultant for non-profits, corporations, and public service organizations nationwide.

Links:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marisol-solarte-erlacher
Website: https://www.marisolerlacher.com/

Episode Highlights:
In this episode, Marisol shares her journey from her multicultural upbringing to becoming a leader in creating psychologically safe workplaces. With powerful insights that stem from her personal resilience path, she highlights the importance of storytelling, cultural identity, and finding joy amidst adversity.

Childhood Memories:
Growing up with young parents, Marisol matured alongside them, becoming highly responsible from an early age. Though her parents created moments of joy, she often felt more like a little adult. Observing intergenerational trauma, interpersonal violence, and alcoholism in her family shaped her understanding of relationships and coping mechanisms. At 11, Marisol survived sexual assault, a defining event in her adolescence. During this time, she read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, realizing that resilience was possible. This book gave her hope and reinforced her belief in the power of stories to heal and transform.

Cultural Influences:
Marisol’s cultural identity shapes her values, relationships, and approach to life. She learned that family extends beyond biological ties, fostering deep loyalty to those who support her.

Her strong work ethic comes from witnessing her parents’ dedication, a trait she links to the immigrant experience. Though she now prioritizes balance, her drive remains rooted in these lessons.

She also embraces the joy in her culture, recognizing how her family celebrated life even in hardship. This understanding deepened when she visited Colombia at 16, where she experienced resilience and joy first-hand.

Influential Groups:
Marisol grew up Catholic but transitioned to evangelicalism in her teens, seeking belonging and certainty after trauma. This shift led her to seminary in Denver, a transformative experience that ultimately guided her toward a different spiritual path focused on personal growth.

During seminary, she joined the Circle of Latina Leadership, which shaped her leadership skills and personal development. Though her spirituality has evolved, her search for belonging continues to influence her journey and work today.

Personality and Temperament:
As a child, Marisol was introspective and often engaged in solitary activities. Being an only child for seven years, she navigated a complex environment on her own, shaping her personality.

As the eldest daughter in a Latinx family, she naturally took on a parent-like role, becoming highly responsible. This led her to a profession where others seek her guidance. She values her reflective and soulful nature, traits she believes are innate.

What Brings Out the Best in Marisol?
For Marisol, being authentic in her work as a therapist is both important and challenging. She strives to be fully herself despite power dynamics and the complexities of client expectations.

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Bio:
Dan Barker is an award-winning leadership expert and Senior HR Business Partner with 20 years of experience, specializing in MBTI, Gallup Strengths, and Change Management. He founded IDA Leadership Lab to drive organizational growth through workshops and chairs the Bonneville Youth Development Coalition, focusing on youth and community development. A member of the Bad River Band of the Ojibwe, Dan advocates for indigenous rights and cultural preservation, enriching his work as a leadership consultant and speaker.

Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-barker-mhrm-79719340/
Website: https://idaleadershiplab.com/

Quote: "True empathy comes from that ability to put yourself in someone's shoes, not for me to just be able to tell you I understand what it's like."

Episode Highlights:
Dan shares his unique journey from growing up in Northern Wisconsin and dealing with cultural transitions to becoming a leading figure in leadership development and community advocacy. He highlights the importance of preserving his Native American roots as a member of the Bad River Band of the Ojibwe and integrating those values into his leadership practices. His focus on empathy, progression, and blending diverse cultures and heritages offers invaluable insights for fostering inclusive environments.

Childhood Incidents:
Dan, a naturally aggressive child, joined football in seventh grade but quit due to the sport's physical demands. His dad encouraged him to view the challenge as a chance for growth. As an adult, Dan recalls the difficulty of moving from Idaho Falls to Boise during junior high, transitioning from a close-knit community to a larger, unfamiliar school, which left him feeling isolated during a critical period.

Influential Groups:
Having grown up in Idaho, the religious-based culture influenced Dan’s view of culture and drew him closer to his indigenous culture. It also opened him up to realizing there's an outsider factor.

Cultural Influence:
Dan reflects on his family’s heritage, emphasizing the importance of both the Kadat and Balange lines. His great-grandmother grew up near the Bad River Reservation on Lake Superior, maintaining a strong Indigenous connection. Dan’s mother humorously notes that her grandmother, fluent in Ojibwe, didn’t pass it down, possibly due to using it for private conversations among her siblings.

Dan married someone from a different culture, and blending their backgrounds was initially challenging. Over time, they successfully merged their cultures, creating unique family traditions and identities.

Temperament and Personality:
Dan believes that over the years, his empathy and compassion have evolved. He believes that when he was young, he lacked the social awareness to help him develop these two qualities.

Cultural Epiphanies:
Dan remembers joining Cub Scouts, which was organized by the LDS Church. Meetings were held at homes or churches, often including prayers. At one event, his father noticed Dan folding his arms during prayer, an LDS practice, and corrected him, explaining their family prayed differently. As a child, Dan saw this as a division between "us and them," but as an adult, he understands it reflected cultural differences—his family attended church, just not the LDS Church.

Soapbox Moment:
Dan’s principle is always to leave a place better than you found it. He believes if we do that, it sits well with our environmental factors and how we orient ourselves in the various work that we do and also with our families. He also encourages us to give back to our communities.

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Bio:
Andrea Bailey Brown, born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, transitioned from teaching to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur. She is a multi-unit Jiffy Lube franchise owner, generating over $30 million in revenue, and the founder and CEO of Bailey Brown Franchise Agency and Bailey Brown Business Consulting.

With an MBA from Royal Roads University, where she received the Entrepreneur in Residence Award, Andrea leverages her expertise and passion for franchising to empower entrepreneurs to build wealth through business ownership. Her success in a predominantly male industry reflects her resilience, determination, and leadership.

Links:

• Website: https://andreabaileybrown.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileybrownconsulting/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreabaileybrown/

Quotes:

• “Sometimes, the ideas that you have about how to live, the region that you live in will affect how you execute on certain beliefs that you have.”

Episode Highlights:
Andrea Bailey Brown shares her journey of resilience and success in a male-dominated industry, emphasizing the importance of treating oneself like a "luxury brand" through self-worth and high standards. Drawing from her experiences of moving from Jamaica to Canada, she highlights how cultural transitions shaped her values and aspirations.

Andrea’s story goes beyond entrepreneurship, inspiring others to step out of their comfort zones, embrace individuality, and pursue their dreams. Her insights offer valuable lessons on building wealth, resilience, and personal growth.

Childhood Memories:
Andrea reflected on her mother’s sacrifice of leaving Jamaica to work as a nanny in Canada, which enabled their family to move there. During this time, Andrea and her siblings lived with their strict but loving aunt, Sister Joyce, who instilled values like resilience, high standards, and proper English lessons that shaped Andrea’s philosophy of treating oneself like a luxury brand.

Grateful for her mother’s and aunt’s impact, Andrea plans to express her appreciation. Moving to Canada as a teenager and starting high school in Grade 11 was pivotal, as she discovered her intelligence and unique gifts, excelling in advanced French and German classes.

Influential Groups:
Andrea grew up in a Seventh-day Adventist family, where church attendance and dietary restrictions were emphasized. Moving to Edmonton highlighted how regional factors influence religious practices.

Her time at the University of Saint-Jean was transformative. A summer job led to her winning the Miss Black Alberta pageant, pushing her out of her comfort zone.

Personality and Temperament:
From a young age, Andrea was a risk-taker who knew what she wanted in life and wasn’t willing to settle for less. For instance, she confidently declared she wouldn’t follow societal expectations of women in her community. Over time, she developed greater courage and learned to trust in herself.

Cultural Epiphanies:
Andrea’s move to Canada brought cultural adjustments. She recalls witnessing behaviors like a young girl disrespecting her parents, something unthinkable in her culture. Adapting to a new environment revealed her shyness and required her to adjust to differences in fashion, language, and lifestyle.

Soapbox Moment:
The Bailey Brown Franchise Agency empowers aspiring entrepreneurs by guiding them toward wealth-building through franchise ownership.

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Redefining success and overcoming burnout.

Bio:
Dr. Eric Recker is a dentist, husband, father, keynote speaker, Elite Success Coach, author, pilot, mountain climber, and former triathlete. He is committed to helping people become their best selves and learning to #WINtheNOW.

Links

• Website: https://ericrecker.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-recker-583849278/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.recker.1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docrecker/

Episode Highlights:
Raised in Pella, Iowa, Dr. Eric shares how early rejection and adversity shaped his drive. His struggles with burnout led him to reassess his life, highlighting the importance of relationships, self-care, and finding joy in the journey. He emphasizes resilience, purpose, and gratitude.

Quotes:

• "I believe that our journeys don't happen by accident. Our journeys happen so that we can help other people on their journeys."
• "I think if you never have any rejection, then you are just building up to this horrific experience when you get your first rejection."

Childhood Incidents:
As a child, Dr. Eric was repeatedly rejected from kickball games, shaping his belief in inadequacy and fueling a relentless drive for success. This eventually led to burnout, nearly making him sell his dental practice. He reflects on how words spoken in childhood have lasting effects.

At an eighth grade party, dressed with confidence, he faced five consecutive rejections while asking girls out, ultimately learning the importance of resilience.

Influential Groups:
Faith has been a cornerstone of Dr. Eric’s life, reinforcing that he is never alone. Family traditions, such as Sunday afternoons at a lake, created cherished memories.

As a triathlete, he valued deep connections within his training group. His professional growth continued through the Academy of General Dentistry, where he built strong relationships.

His mission work in India, Guatemala, and The Bahamas, along with climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, reinforced his commitment to serving others and being part of something larger than himself.

Personality and Temperament:
A naturally curious child, Dr. Eric developed anxiety tied to school and rejection. He dreaded Mondays, a feeling he calls the "Sunday scaries."

Joining his father’s dental practice provided career stability but also immediate pressure, contributing to burnout. Initially believing hard work was the solution, he later learned the value of self-care, relationships, and gratitude. He now finds meaning in guiding others from chaos to hope.

Cultural Epiphanies:
One stressful Monday, his colleague had an accident, leaving Dr. Eric alone with a full schedule. Unexpected support arrived, his mentor as his first patient and his associate showing up unprompted. This experience reinforced the profound value of relationships and support systems.

Soapbox Moment:
Dr. Eric urges people to live with hope. His website offers resources like "Refueling Hacks" with 50 self-care strategies and a seven-day Knockback Burnout Challenge. For personalized coaching, he welcomes conversations with those seeking growth.

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Bio:
Rick Yvanovich is an accountant, techie, author, speaker, and CEO, CFO, and coach. A highly accomplished business coach, he helps companies and individuals achieve outstanding success through actionable strategies. As a serial entrepreneur, Rick has built a multimillion-dollar company serving clients in 80 countries, including Fortune 500 firms.

In Vietnam, Rick is a prominent figure and long-serving expat, involved in various organizations. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, he addresses topics like talent, technology, and digital transformation. Combining his coaching passion, certifications, and business expertise, Rick empowers others to reach exceptional milestones

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickyvanovich/
• Website: https://www.rickyvanovich.com/

Quotes:
"We all have the potential to be architects of change."

"We’re not just participants in this ever-changing world; we’re architects shaping the course of our own lives, careers, and the world around us."

Episode Highlights:
Rick shares invaluable insights on how to thrive amidst digital distractions by balancing technological advancements with interpersonal skill development. His reflections on navigating cultural differences from the UK and Switzerland to Vietnam highlight the complexities and growth stemming from living abroad. Through his resilience and experiences as an expat, Rick offers a unique perspective on the importance of community and continuous learning, as well as overcoming cultural dissonances in diverse settings.

Childhood Incidents:
Rick faced challenges during his teens, failing to achieve university-required grades and working in a supermarket instead. This experience fuelled his drive to succeed. Earlier in school, he disliked being overlooked due to his last name, which placed him at the end of alphabetical lists.

Influential Groups:
Rick has actively participated in various networking and business groups, promoting his accounting designation in Vietnam and building strong ties within the accounting community. While in the oil industry, he connected with its specialized network. He also co-founded the British Business Group in Vietnam, where he has contributed for over 20 years, serving on its board and playing a key role in its growth and influence in the business community.

Personality and Temperament:
Rick values independence and enjoys entertaining himself, finding contentment in his own company. He describes himself as introverted, noting that he recharges through solitude rather than social interaction, which can be draining. Nowadays, Rick enjoys being with others as long as he isn’t in charge of the gathering.

Cultural Epiphanies:
In Vietnam's early days, Rick observed the country's underdevelopment and admired the resilience and optimism of its people, who thrived despite earning very little compared to wealthier nations. This contrasted with the UK, where complaints about minor issues were common. As an expat with a multinational company, Rick experienced a stark cultural divide, enjoying a luxurious lifestyle of housing, cars, and maids, which sharply contrasted with locals' modest living conditions.

Soapbox Moment:
Rick's book, "Business as Unusual: How to Thrive in the New Renaissance," offers tools to develop mindset, habits, and purpose, aligning internal goals with external success. It includes assessments and exercises to help readers choose effective strategies for personal growth.

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Bio:
Michelle Robinson is Sahtu Dene with a weekly podcast, Native Calgarian, founded in 2018, and a monthly public Indigenous book club established in 2016. She is a mother, public speaker, and advocate for Indigenous Peoples and Truth and Reconciliation, working with governments and community groups.

Links:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nativecalgarian
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@native_calgarian?_t=8YpwkB838QI&_r=1
• Mastodon: https://ohai.social/@nativeCalgarian
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@nativecalgarianpodcast

Quotes:
"The moment you think you understand something is the moment you meet a new person that explains it in a different way that makes you reconsider how you look at it."

Episode Highlights:
Michelle opens with a land acknowledgment and reflects on her dual heritage—her father’s Mayflower lineage and her mother’s Indigenous roots. She shares personal challenges with systemic racism and neurodiversity while advocating for truth and reconciliation. Through her podcast and community work, she encourages others to embrace diverse perspectives and honor lost Indigenous voices.

Childhood Experiences:
Michelle identifies as Sahtu Dene with Canadian status as Yellowknife’s Dene First Nation. Her heritage blends her mother’s Indigenous roots and her father’s settler lineage. Her maternal grandmother endured residential school, while her parents’ marriage brought together diverse cultural influences.

Raised by her father’s white family, Michelle faced anti-Indigenous bias but found support from an uncle who stood up for Indigenous people. She now fosters pride in her heritage and teaches her daughter about their culture through positive experiences, such as beading and learning from elders.

Influential Groups:
Michelle overcame a challenging upbringing in a racist environment and now focuses on anti-racism and reclaiming her Indigenous identity. She supports the TRC report, the MMIWG2S (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit and Gender Diverse) inquiry, and the National Indigenous Economic Strategy, advocating for systemic solutions. She emphasizes honoring Indigenous families, improving birthing experiences, and remembering lives lost to colonial policies.

Personality and Temperaments:
Recently diagnosed with ADHD, Michelle reflects on her outspoken nature and commitment to justice. She values humility and listening to diverse perspectives as part of her healing journey. She highlights treaty obligations and equity as foundations for building partnerships between Indigenous and settler communities.

Cultural Epiphanies:
Michelle recounts her traumatic birthing experience, shaped by systemic racism and harmful stereotypes tied to her Indian Act status card. This experience underscores the inequities Indigenous women face in healthcare, reflecting broader systemic issues.

What Brings Out the Best in Michelle?
Michelle finds purpose in honoring future generations and her ancestors, including her grandmother and her mother. She is grateful for the privilege of advocacy and aims to leave a positive legacy for her daughter and her community.

Soapbox Moment:
Michelle encourages engaging with diverse voices through books, podcasts, and documentaries to broaden perspectives. She highlights the richness of marginalized communities beyond trauma, pointing to their contributions to music, science, and fiction.

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Bio: Marni Battista is an entrepreneur, author, transformational life design specialist, podcast host, and radical truth seeker. Her honest, relatable, and down-to-earth podcast and writing offer pearls of wisdom that inspire laughter, insights, and life-changing stories of triumph and love. Marni’s mission is to help women harness the courage to stop letting life live them and start living a life beyond their wildest dreams.

Her work has been featured in the LA Times, The New Yorker, The Dr. Phil Show, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, and Home and Family TV. Marni’s upcoming book, Your Radical Living Challenge: 7 Questions for a Meaningful Life, will be released by Hay House in early 2025.

Contact Information:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnibattista/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeCheckYourself
• Website: https://marnibattista.com

Episode Highlights:
Marni Battista always aspired to be a teacher, and in her unique way, she became one—as a coach. She has dedicated her life to empowering women to redefine success and live fully.

Childhood Experiences:
Marni grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in a close-knit Jewish community of 40 families. Her father’s international business career brought global visitors to their town. At 10, she joined a French-American exchange program, which included skiing near the Swiss Alps. This experience boosted her confidence and adventurous spirit, shaping her future. In high school, when homecoming conflicted with the Jewish high holidays, Marni resisted her mother’s suggestion to address the issue with the school board, fearing it would highlight her minority status. This experience deepened her sense of belonging, a value she carries into adulthood.

Influential Communities:
When Marni decided to design her life, she initially planned to pursue an MFA in writing. After consulting mentors and writers, she opted to "create her own MFA." She built her skills through writing communities, courses, and a structured book club. This self-designed path solidified her identity as an author and her commitment to the literary world.

Temperament and Personality:
Marni inherited her love of storytelling from her father, who captivated audiences with his humor and wisdom. He also taught her the value of listening and genuine curiosity. This skill became Marni’s superpower in marketing, relationships, and coaching. Though not a traditional teacher, Marni uses her expertise to create impactful curricula and share her passion for storytelling through workshops, videos, and interviews.

Cultural Epiphanies:
As a young mom in her children’s private school PTA, Marni encountered a community that felt misaligned with her values. After recommending a quirky, intelligent friend for a leadership role, Marni faced backlash from others who deemed her friend unsuitable. Rather than compromise her principles, Marni stood by her friend and distanced herself from the group. Though isolating, this decision clarified her values and inspired her to seek new communities aligned with her integrity.

What Brings Out the Best in Marni?
Marni thrives in spaces filled with connection, integrity, responsibility, and active engagement. She loves being outdoors, playing for the joy of it, and exploring new experiences—like her first fantasy football league.

Soapbox Moment:
Marni challenges us to live life on our terms. She empowers individuals to define success without being confined by societal expectations.

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