After a seismic career and life shift, Todd Vande Hei reemerged with a revolutionary take on health. In this powerful conversation, Todd opens up about losing everything during the 2008 economic collapse and how that dark season became the unlikely foundation of his life’s work—building Stark, a human optimization company for elite professionals.

Todd discusses the health challenges that plagued him for decades: seizures, chronic migraines, joint pain, and a state of perpetual burnout fueled by overachievement and hyper-vigilance. These challenges prompted him to reject fragmented healthcare and build a team-based, metrics-driven model inspired by business strategy. He explains how viewing the body like a company—complete with KPIs, quarterly goals, and aligned functional teams—can transform even the busiest executive’s approach to wellness.

You'll gain practical strategies for reclaiming your health, including how to implement “walking meetings,” protein-first nutrition, strength and mobility routines, and advanced sleep hygiene. Todd also unpacks why most high achievers resist lifestyle changes—and how to design wellness tactics that blend into real life without requiring more time.

Michelle and Todd explore what it means to evolve from grinding effort into wisdom-based leadership, and how emotional health is essential for long-term performance. For leaders stuck on the hamster wheel, this episode is an invitation to rethink success—and embrace health as a strategic advantage.

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply trying to regain balance, Todd’s story and science-backed advice will resonate deeply and inspire immediate action.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Todd VandeHei
02:15 From Carpet Industry to Health Transformation
05:20 Starting Stark During Personal Crisis
08:45 Health Breakdown: Seizures, Migraines, Chronic Issues
13:00 Frustrations with Traditional Healthcare
15:30 Creating a Holistic Health Team
19:00 Type A Burnout and Hyper-Vigilance
23:15 Turning Health into a Measurable Strategy
26:00 Walking Meetings & Leveraging Tech
28:30 Weekly Routine: Strength, Cardio, Mobility
31:00 Mobility Training & Permanent Gains
33:00 The 3 Health Shifts: Sleep, Walk, Protein
35:00 Final Advice for Executives on Reclaiming Health

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Hearts On Fire

Michael Bungay Stanier doesn’t just write books—he starts movements. In this energizing conversation with Michelle, the celebrated author of The Coaching Habit and How to Work with Almost Anyone shares the seismic shifts that changed how we lead, connect, and collaborate at work.

Together, they discuss how effective leadership is moving away from advice-giving toward deeper connection, and why asking the right questions upfront can make or break a relationship. Michael explains the origin of his latest book—sparked from a “failed” manuscript and refined into a transformative guide—and details the five questions that form what he calls a “Keystone Conversation.” From stories of co-authoring challenges to funny missteps in innovation consulting, Michael blends humor, vulnerability, and wisdom in a way that only he can and listeners will learn how understanding each other’s best, preferences, and past patterns can elevate a project from stressful to successful.

Michelle also shares her own leadership practices—like her "connection walks" and reflections from co-writing her new book with Marshall Goldsmith. They unpack how small shifts in how we begin working relationships can result in massive gains in trust, productivity, and joy. Whether you're leading a team, co-authoring a book, or collaborating on a project, this episode offers rich, immediately applicable takeaways for working better—with just about anyone.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Michael Bungay Stanier
02:30 Michael’s journey from Oxford to bestselling author
07:50 From innovation consultant to self-published success
10:25 The Coaching Habit and shifting away from advice-giving
13:00 Why connection is the foundation of leadership
15:10 The origin of How to Work with Almost Anyone
18:45 The Keystone Conversation: five essential questions
23:40 Designing relationships, not just doing the work
27:10 Vulnerability, repair, and preventing misalignment
30:00 Upcoming seismic shift: improving how change happens
32:30 Final thoughts and thank you

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Hearts On Fire

What’s your next move? Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer joins this week’s episode of The Seismic Shift to help mid-career professionals, especially women, become more intentional about their career paths. In today’s conversation with Michelle, Cynthia shares her journey from corporate leadership to executive coaching, highlighting some key shifts in the modern workplace.

Drawing from over 30 years in corporate leadership, Cynthia walks us through her insights on overcoming workplace biases, advocating for oneself, and creating opportunities for advancement. Together Cynthia and Michelle emphasize the power of connection, energy management, and setting boundaries to ensure women actively shape their professional futures rather than waiting to be noticed.

Towards the end of their conversation Cynthia also introduces the concept of "zeal"—bringing energy and intentionality to personal and professional growth. If you’re ready to stop waiting and start actively shaping your career, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you move forward with confidence.

Check out Cynthia’s book—Now, Near, Next here: https://www.amazon.com/Now-Near-Next-Professional-Serendipity/dp/1637558937.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The Power of Intentionality
02:08 Cynthia’s Journey from Corporate Leadership to Coaching
06:09 The Hidden Risks of Remote Work for Women
10:10 Why Intentional Connection is Crucial
16:38 Energy Management and Finding Your Strengths
19:56 The Importance of Self-Advocacy
24:08 Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing Yourself
31:27 Three Steps to Advance Your Career

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Hearts On Fire