Nonprofit teams. City governments. Unionizing workplaces. Pet pics in the team Slack thread. No matter the setting, one thing is certain: conflict is going to show up.

But what if conflict isn’t the problem—it’s the way we relate to it that matters?

In this episode, Tim Cynova is joined by facilitators, coaches, and organizational practitioners Navida Nuraney and Camille Dumond to explore the Lewis Method of Deep Democracy, a practical and surprisingly playful framework for navigating disagreement, surfacing unspoken truths, and building real relational capacity in teams.

We explore what makes Deep Democracy distinct from traditional facilitation approaches, why it matters more than ever in today’s complex workplaces, and how even seemingly small tensions—like whether your team’s Slack channel should be for logistics or life updates—can benefit from the tools and mindset Deep Democracy offers.

And in true WSS style, we don’t just talk about the framework—we try it out! Together, Tim, Navida, and Camille take the “Debate Tool” for a spin, exploring the polarity between “Just do the job” and “Bring your whole(ish) self to work.” Spoiler: You might agree with both.

• 03:55 Understanding the Lewis Method of Deep Democracy
• 05:47 Practical Tools for Navigating Conflict
• 10:30 Personal Experiences with Deep Democracy
• 17:07 Applying Deep Democracy in Organizations
• 20:41 The Importance of Addressing Conflict Now
• 23:50 Exploring the Debate Tool
• 24:34 Exploring the Polarity of Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
• 29:58 Debating the “Just Do the Job” Perspective
• 33:16 Balancing Both Sides: Insights and Reflections
• 37:03 Practical Applications and Tools for Conflict Resolution
• 41:00 Upcoming Opportunities

• Lewis Deep Democracy
• Waterline Co-op
• Role Theory Companion: Applying Deep Democracy ($16 CAD) Camille Dumond's book exploring the secret sauce behind the method; includes a number of leadership applications.
• International Association of Process Oriented Psychology
• Work Won’t Love You Back by Sarah Jaffe

ABOUT CAMILLE DUMOND

Camille (she/they) is a settler of Indo-Caribbean and French-Irish descent living on unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. Her practice is as a somatic therapist, conflict and group facilitator. With over 20 years experience facilitating change processes, she brings depth psychology, social movement analysis, and embodied spirituality to organizational change. This allows her to support a sense of center and even playfulness in complex, emergent situations. Camille co-founded the Refugee Livelihood Lab with Nada Elmasry to amplify the impact and transformational influence of racialized leaders with lived experience of forced displacement and migration. She is principal at Dignity Facilitation.

ABOUT

In this episode, host Tim Cynova is joined by E. Andrew Taylor—professor, researcher, consultant, board chair, and longtime colleague—to explore the messy, meaningful, and often misunderstood world of nonprofit boards. Together, they take a fresh look at what boards are really for, why bylaws matter more than most people realize, and how values-based governance can meet the challenges of an unpredictable world.

Dispelling common myths, Andrew reframes the governing board as a servant leader to the public it represents. The conversation spans recent high-profile governance stories at institutions like OpenAI and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the importance of stress-testing bylaws, and the unique hurdles boards face in today’s rapidly shifting environment.

Spoiler Alert: Instead of seeing risk as threat, this episode invites us to (re)imagine governance as a space for resilience, creativity, and collective leadership.

Whether you’re curious about joining your first nonprofit board, navigating one as an executive, or rethinking governance structures in your own organization, this conversation will spark fresh thinking about how boards can evolve to meet the moment.

Highlights:

• 01:11 Current Issues in Nonprofit Governance
• 06:01 The Role and Challenges of Nonprofit Boards
• 07:36 Understanding Nonprofit Organizations
• 17:22 The Importance of Bylaws
• 21:13 Revising Bylaws for Modern Governance
• 21:35 The Concept of Minimum Viable Everything
• 22:32 Using AI for Policy Development
• 24:57 The Role of the Board in Nonprofits
• 25:37 Bridging the Gap Between Board and Staff
• 29:32 Navigating Risk and Collaboration
• 35:45 The Importance of Collective Action

• ArtsManaged Field Guide, E. Andrew Taylor’s online "textbook"
• ArtsManaged Field Notes, E. Andrew Taylor’s weekly newsletter, which includes a page dedicated to governance-relevant posts
• “Trump has purged the Kennedy Center’s board, which in turn made him its chair – why does that matter?” by E. Andrew Taylor published in The Conversation
• “OpenAI and Nonprofit-Money Collaborations” by Gene Takagi via NEO Law Group
• “Facing Trump threat, Corporation for Public Broadcasting amends bylaws to protect directors from removal” by Austin Fuller

ABOUT E. ANDREW TAYLOR

Andrew Taylor thinks (a bit too much) about organizational structure, strategy, and management practice in the nonprofit arts. An Associate Professor and Director of Arts Management at American University, he also consults for cultural, educational, and support organizations throughout North America. Andrew is past president of the Association of Arts Administration Educators, board chair for Fractured Atlas, consulting editor...

In this episode of the Work Shouldn’t Suck podcast, host Tim Cynova is joined by Chantel Cohen—licensed therapist, executive coach, and founder of CWC Coaching and Therapy—for a powerful conversation at the intersection of career and mental wellness.

Chantel works with entrepreneurs and corporate leaders to help them navigate the messy, magical overlap of identity, leadership, stress, relationships, and purpose. Through coaching and therapy, she supports individuals and teams in showing up more fully—for themselves, for each other, and for the work they believe in.

We explore:

• Why founders and professionals benefit from support beyond the workplace
• The role of relationships in shaping how we lead and live
• What couples therapy can teach us about co-leadership and team dynamics
• How to stay grounded when facing burnout, job transitions, or identity detachment from work
• Why it’s worth asking: “What is this all for?”—and how that question can change your relationship to career, purpose, and community

Whether you’re curious about how to navigate big career shifts, wondering why work feels lonelier than it used to, or looking for ways to lead with more compassion and clarity, this episode offers both practical tools and soulful reminders.

🎧 Listen in for stories, strategies, and truth-telling about the emotional labor of leadership—and the joy and fun that can come from not doing it alone.

Highlights

• Chantel's Journey and Approach to Coaching (01:17)
• Understanding and Managing Mental Wellness (02:39)
• The Importance of Relationships and Support Systems (06:03)
• Work, Identity, and Values (10:05)
• Staying Grounded and Finding Meaning (19:20)
• Balancing Personal and Professional Dynamics (23:18)
• Conclusion and Final Thoughts (25:02)

ABOUT CHANTEL COHEN

Chantel Cohen is a therapist, life coach, and executive communications coach dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and groups in their journeys of self-improvement, career advancement, and relationship enhancement. She specializes in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and created the Become One Again™ Method to address every aspect of a client’s life, including their mental wellness, their career or business, and their significant relationships both personally and professionally.

After earning her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, Chantel worked as a program specialist for individuals with psychiatric and physical challenges. She then moved to New York City, where she earned a Master’s degree and Coaching Certification in Executive Coaching and Counseling from Columbia University. At St. Luke’s Hospital in New York, Chantel focused on counseling young adults facing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and ADHD.

In 2011, Chantel founded CWC Coaching & Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia, where she and her team provide mental health services with a business coaching lens. While her clients are from all walks of life, she works extensively with couples in relationship distress, individuals managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression, and those seeking career transitions or professional growth. Her compassionate approach and use of tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the DISC help clients gain self-awareness and improve their communication skills.

Chantel particularly works with business leaders in individual sessions or larger groups in corporate settings. Her roster of clients includes Google, Coca-Cola, Lenovo, Coursera, Village...