In the wake of the 2026 Winter Olympics, what can we learn from elite performers beyond the medals?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen speaks with Patrick “Packy” Mader, a retired teacher, author, and interviewer of Olympians and athletes.

Packy shares the patterns he’s seen across high performers, including perseverance, humility, discipline, and a strong commitment to giving back. He also reflects on how early life experiences and a love of the game shape long-term success.

You don’t have to compete at the highest level to live at one.

That’s the core idea behind this conversation and a reminder that these principles apply to leadership, work, and everyday life.

#OlympicAthletes #PeakPerformance

What does it mean to treat AI as a team member?

In this Fast 15 episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen speaks with Trissential’s Robert Wallace about a new mindset for working with artificial intelligence.

Rather than viewing AI as a simple question-and-answer tool, Robert explains how organizations can integrate AI into teams by giving it specific roles, personas, and context. From acting as a coach during interviews to challenging assumptions in meetings, AI can help teams think differently and improve decision-making.

The conversation also explores how AI learns through feedback, why organizations should “trust but verify” AI outputs, and how leaders can help teams adopt AI more effectively.

#AI #FutureOfWork #Teamwork

What does it truly take to compete at the Olympic Games?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen sits down with John Benton, 2010 U.S. Olympic curler, to explore the mindset, preparation, and resilience required to perform on the world stage.

John shares what the Olympic experience is really like - from the adrenaline and media spotlight to the grind of preparation and the importance of team chemistry. He explains why consistency matters more than one great performance and how athletes manage pressure when the entire world is watching.

This conversation offers powerful lessons for leaders, teams, and anyone striving to improve 1% every day.

#PeakPerformance #OlympicMindset #Leadership #USAOlympics #OlympicCurling #Olympics

What do Hollywood thrillers, the FBI, and leadership development have in common?

In this episode of the 1% Better Podcast, host Craig Thielen sits down with Zad Vecsey, CEO of ALEAS Simulations and a longtime collaborator of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the creator of Flow. Together, they explore how flow state psychology shows up in real-world leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the future of learning.

Zad shares how flow theory moved from academic research into business, immersive simulations, and even Hollywood-style interactive films — revealing what leaders actually do when the stakes are high. The conversation spans leadership development, experiential learning, decision-making under stress, and why performance can’t be forced — only enabled.

This episode is especially relevant for leaders, coaches, and organizations thinking differently about how people learn, grow, and perform in an increasingly complex world.

#LeadershipDevelopment #FlowState #FutureOfWork

In this episode, Craig Thielen flips roles as guest while Paul Batz (Author, CEO and Founder of Good Leadership) hosts a deep dive into three years of inspiring conversations.

Discover the top themes that emerged - purpose, mindset, and community, and hear powerful stories of perseverance, growth, and authentic leadership.

Craig shares lessons learned from over 50 episodes and previews what’s next for Season 4, including new formats and platforms.
🎧 Tune in for insights on leadership, personal growth, and why being 1% better every day matters.

Keywords: leadership podcast, growth mindset, personal development, purpose-driven, community building, perseverance, authentic leadership, season recap, 1% Better Podcast

How do you truly engage people - whether it’s students, teams, or entire organizations? In this Fast 15 episode of 1% Better, Craig Thielen talks with Chad Harlander, Director of the REACH Program, about the power of authentic relationships and culture.

Chad shares:

• Why you have just 26 seconds to make a lasting impression
• How vulnerability and presence build trust
• Why creating a safe, supportive culture drives engagement at scale
• Practical tips for applying these lessons in business and education

🎧 Listen now and learn how genuine connection can transform engagement.

#Leadership #Engagement #CultureMatters #1PercentBetter #REACHProgram #football #Authenticity

What if your greatest pain became your greatest catalyst? In this episode of 1% Better, Craig Thielen talks with Brian Bogert, speaker, coach, and host of Flipping the Lid podcast, about his incredible journey from losing his arm at age seven to building a life of impact and freedom.

Brian shares:

✅ How vulnerability and authenticity unlock true human connection
✅ Why emotional pain often hides behind physical pain✅ The difference between knowledge and wisdom—and why surrender matters✅ How choice creates freedom and new possibilities

🎧 Listen now to learn how Brian turned trauma into a mission to impact a billion lives.

#Leadership #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #MindsetMatters #FlippingTheLid

In this Fast 15 episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Craig Thielen sits down with technology veteran Brian Zielinski to unpack the real meaning of Digital Engineering and why it’s more than just writing code. In under 15 minutes (well with this episode 18 minutes), you’ll learn how Human Centered AI, Intelligent Automation, and modern delivery practices can help organizations move faster, reduce tech debt, and deliver continuous value.

Brian shares insights on:

• The difference between software engineering and digital engineering
• Why speed of value delivery is now a competitive advantage
• How AI and automation accelerate (not replace) human creativity
• Practical steps to start improving today

If you want to make your team and organization 1% better every day, this episode is your quick guide to smarter, faster, and more efficient digital transformation.

Learn more about Human Centered AI
Check out the Digital Engineering Healthcheck
Read Brian's blog, Designing for Humans - The Future of Digital Engineering in an AI World
Connect with Brian Zielinski on LinkedIn
Connect with Craig Thielen on LinkedIn

🎧 Listen now and start your improvement journey!