The Learning + Performance Podcast

25 - John Sigmon on Nature for Learning, Intuition, and Leadership

In this episode, I talk with John W. Sigmon [https://www.johnsigmon.com/], a Master Certified Coach (ICF), leadership activist, and author of Wild Leadership, about what nature can teach us about learning, decision-making, performance, and leadership. John shares how growing up in nature shaped his view of learning and life—and how returning to it later helped him find balance, clarity, and purpose. We explore what happens when we treat nature as both teacher and mirror, and how reconnecting with it helps us reconnect with our own instincts and intuition. It’s a conversation about slowing down to move forward, learning to trust the inner compass, and finding alignment between how we live, lead, and learn. About the Guest John W. Sigmon, MCC is a Master Certified Coach, leadership activist, and author who helps leaders harness intuition and authenticity to drive meaningful impact. As CEO of Sigmon Leadership Solutions, John partners with global leaders and organizations to develop future-ready leadership rooted in mindfulness, courage, and compassion. He also serves as Program Director for The Conference Board’s Senior HR Executives Councils, and as an adjunct professor and advisory board member at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Connect with John: * 🌐 Website:⁠ johnsigmon.com⁠ [https://www.johnsigmon.com/] * 💼 LinkedIn:⁠ linkedin.com/in/johnwsigmon⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwsigmon/] * 📺 YouTube:⁠ @wildleadership [https://www.youtube.com/@wildleadership] Key Topics & Insights * * A fuller definition of performance as the integration of efficiency, effectiveness, and fulfillment. * Curiosity as the engine of learning and the idea of letting questions guide exploration. * The connection between nature and learning, and how growing up outdoors shaped John’s sense of wonder and resilience. * Nature as a teacher, offering clarity, calm, creativity, and perspective. * Themes from Wild Leadership and the lessons nature provides about growth, change, and interdependence. * Adaptability and natural cycles as models for resilience, recovery, and renewal. * How modern life disconnects us from nature through constant busyness and artificial environments. * Intuition as a trainable skill, grounded in experience, reflection, and pattern recognition. * Testing and calibrating intuition through journaling, feedback, and small experiments. * Using natural metaphors in coaching to unlock insight and shift perspective. * The power of coaching in nature for reducing mental chatter and opening new awareness. * Two essential questions for intentional leadership: What is your intention? What impact do you want to have? * Simple daily practices to reconnect with nature and reset the mind. * A three-step noticing process—What do you notice? What are you wondering? What does it remind you of? * The importance of honoring values and seeking clarity in work and leadership. Mentions and Additional Resources: * * Wild Leadership [https://www.johnsigmon.com/wild-leadership⁠] – John W. Sigmon * * Letting Questions Be Your Guide (MBE Framework) [https://learnlabdev.wpengine.com/letting-questions-be-your-guide/⁠] * Shinrin Yoku / Forest Bathing research [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580555/⁠] * * Mindset: The New Psychology of Success [https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322] – Carol Dweck * * The Power of Intuition [https://hbr.org/2003/08/the-power-of-intuition] – Gary Klein, Harvard Business Review * Shinrin Yoku: The Art and Science of Forest Bathing [https://www.amazon.com/Shinrin-Yoku-Science-Forest-Bathing-Nature/dp/052555985X] – Dr. Qing Li * The Learning-Performance Connection [https://hbr.org/2019/10/learning-is-a-leaders-most-important-skill] – Harvard Business Review * Brené Brown on “Clear is Kind, Unclear is Unkind” [https://brenebrown.com/podcast/clear-is-kind-unclear-is-unkind/] * The Biophilia Hypothesis [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02752/full] – research on humans’ innate affinity with nature * Adaptive Leadership Framework [https://hbr.org/2009/07/the-practice-of-adaptive-leadership] – Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky Transcript & Show Notes * Transcript [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xkg7OybAJAdD7uV6WdA26dDbiMpEy4IC/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108348729446168542690&rtpof=true&sd=true] * Show Notes [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WXg6ZulapFarDvHx0aKSst96eUA8uts9itGOdopNWeo/edit?usp=sharing] Connect with Pat Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design. Connect with me here and let's start making a difference in your learning and performance today: * Website: patrickjhealy.com [https://patrickjhealy.com/] * Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com [pat@patrickjhealy.com] * LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/]

24 - Jim Young on Beating Burnout and Achieving Sustainable Performance

Episode Overview Burnout isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a chronic condition that can drain energy, cloud purpose, and leave us feeling isolated or ashamed. In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I speak with Jim Young, Director of Organizational Development at Keiter Corporation and author of Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout. After hitting burnout himself in 2018 and stepping away from corporate life, Jim went on a journey of recovery, reinvention, and reconnection. Today, he helps individuals and organizations pursue sustainable performance — balancing short-term demands with long-term health and purpose. Together, we explore what burnout really is, why it happens, and what it takes to recover and thrive. About The Guest Jim Young is the Director of Organizational Development at Keiter Corporation in Western Massachusetts. He previously built a career in IT leadership and project management before experiencing burnout in 2018, which led him into coaching, writing, speaking, and teaching others about sustainable performance. Jim is also the author of Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout and a trained improv comedian. Connect with Jim: * Website: ⁠thecenteredcoach.com⁠ [http://thecenteredcoach.com/] * LinkedIn: ⁠Jim Young [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecenteredcoach/]⁠ * Book: Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout (⁠Amazon⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/Expansive-Intimacy-Tough-Guys-Burnout/dp/1956072076]) Key Topics & Insights * Performance, Learning, and Purpose — Jim’s view of high performance as doing work you love, that you’re good at, and that serves something larger than yourself. * What burnout really is — not momentary tiredness, but a chronic condition involving loss of purpose, confusion, isolation, comparison, and shame. * Common myths about burnout — why throwing the term around too loosely can downplay its seriousness. * Root causes — including isolation, unrealistic social ideals, and cultural pressure to always achieve more. * Identity and masculinity — how socialized expectations of men as “providers” and “tough guys” contribute to burnout. * Pillars of recovery — therapy, recovery programs, intimacy, support groups, community, and service. * Balancing resources and demands — the shift from reactive to creative modes when we’re resourced enough to meet life’s challenges. * Boundaries and balance in practice — Jim’s decision to step back from a stressful executive role into organizational development work that better aligns with his strengths. * Leadership lessons — how distributed leadership and autonomy help organizations sustain high performance. * Improv wisdom — why acceptance, presence, and partnership on stage — and in life — can lead to better outcomes. Resources Mentioned: * Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout by Jim Young (Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Expansive-Intimacy-Tough-Guys-Burnout/dp/1956072076]) * The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748]) * 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman (Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/4000-Weeks-Management-Mortals-English/dp/0374159122]) * Fried: The Burnout Podcast with Kate Donovan (Podcast [https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/]) * Research on burnout: Christina Maslach & Michael Leiter’s work on the Maslach Burnout Inventory [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslach_Burnout_Inventory] * Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg (CNVC [https://www.cnvc.org/learn/what-is-nvc]) Transcript & Show Notes * Transcript [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P1K0fkX_ZvPUevpsVnQSkNQm6YR4Y63ddDyGNOT2Px0/edit?usp=sharing] * Show Notes [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LgWpyalbK6xsEANvFuZkeLJZaaDkWA_82xxyAMbvNcY/edit?usp=sharing] Connect with Pat Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design. Connect with me here and let's start making a difference in your learning and performance today: * Website: patrickjhealy.com [https://patrickjhealy.com/] * Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com [pat@patrickjhealy.com] * LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/]

23 - Tom Brush on Needs Assessment for Learning and Performance Improvement

We all want to believe we’re tackling the right problems in our work — but too often, we skip straight to solutions without understanding what’s really going on. In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Tom Brush, Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University Bloomington, to explore why needs assessment is the overlooked key to effective performance improvement. With decades of experience teaching and conducting needs assessments across K–12, higher education, the military, and grant-funded projects, Tom blends academic expertise with real-world know-how. Together, we unpack the difference between needs assessment and needs analysis, why training isn’t always the answer, and how to approach performance problems with an open, systematic, and evidence-based mindset. You’ll hear practical steps for conducting an assessment (even on a tight budget), stories that illustrate why rushing to solutions can backfire, and advice for making the case for analysis to leaders who just want to “get on with it.” Whether you’re a designer, educator, leader, or consultant, this episode will help you stop wasting time on the wrong fixes and start solving the problems that really matter. About the Guest Dr. Tom Brush is a Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University Bloomington. Over the past two decades, he has trained hundreds of master’s and doctoral students in instructional design, needs assessment, and program evaluation, while leading research on inquiry-based learning, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. Tom has authored more than 70 publications and served as PI, co-PI, or evaluator on numerous projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the Google Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His work spans K–12, higher education, the military, and large-scale educational initiatives. * Faculty Profile: education.indiana.edu/about/directory/faculty/brush-thomas.html [https://education.indiana.edu/about/directory/faculty/brush-thomas.html] * Email: tbrush@iu.edu [tbrush@iu.edu] Key Topics Covered * What a “need” really is * The difference between needs assessment and needs analysis. * The two types of needs assessments: general vs. training. * Why training is not always the right solution to a performance problem. * How to approach assessments with an open, unbiased mind. * A systematic process for identifying problems, collecting data, and prioritizing causes. * The role of both people-related and environment-related factors in performance. * How to present findings when they’re politically sensitive or unpopular. * Common mistakes to avoid (bias, rushing, skipping the process entirely). * How to start small with minimum viable data collection. Tools and Practices Mentioned * Analyzing Performance Problems — Robert Mager & Peter Pipe (Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Analyzing-Performance-Problems-Really-Wanna-How/dp/1879618176]) * A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment — Sleezer, Russ-Eft, Gupta (Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Assessment-American-Training-Development/dp/1118457897]) * Cathy Moore’s Action Mapping (Blog [https://blog.cathy-moore.com/action-mapping-a-visual-approach-to-training-design/]) * David Wile (1996), “Why Doers Do” (PDF [https://ocw.metu.edu.tr/file.php/118/Week8/Wile_Why_Doers_Do.pdf]) * Applied Behavior Analysis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_behavior_analysis] (ABA) * Inquiry-based learning [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquiry-based_learning] approaches Detailed Show Notes and Transcript * Full Show Notes [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z5dQaeWt_dAgMsplr3BTxLMMRNnQZtzz7eVpPAbJPhM/edit?usp=sharing] * Transcript [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jhLcMD3TmbFZl8ETDFISEOVqI4M5Hlc4/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108348729446168542690&rtpof=true&sd=true] 🎧 Related Episodes * Alaina Szlachta on Harnessing Data Learning and Performance Improvement (Episode 17 [https://www.patrickjhealy.com/podcast/episode/1adc7a4c/17-alaina-szlachta-on-harnessing-data-to-improve-learning-and-performance]) * Heidi Kirby on Making L&D More Strategic (Episode 11) [https://www.patrickjhealy.com/podcast/episode/3d25b81b/11-heidi-kirby-on-making-landd-more-strategic] Connect with Pat Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design. * Website: patrickjhealy.com [https://patrickjhealy.com/] * Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com * LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/]

22 - Charles "Evan" Smith on Self-Awareness for Learning, Performance, and Change

🌟 Episode Synopsis We all like to believe we’re self-aware—but what if we’re not as clear-eyed as we think? In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I sit down with Charles Evan Smith [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cesmith/] (known to most as Evan), a seasoned coach, consultant, and change architect, to explore why self-awareness is the hidden foundation for personal and organizational transformation. With more than 25 years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations, Evan brings a rare blend of systems thinking, neuroscience, and deep empathy to his work. Together, we discuss why self-awareness is so rare (spoiler: 90% of people think they have it, but only 10% actually do), how blind spots can derail performance, and what leaders can do to foster change from the inside out. You’ll hear stories of organizational turnarounds, powerful coaching questions like "And what else?", and research that shows how behavior monitoring can spark real growth. Whether you’re a leader, coach, or simply someone striving to grow, this episode is packed with insights and practical tools to help you raise your own self-awareness and make meaningful change. 👤 About the Guest Charles Evan Smith is a coach, consultant, and facilitator with more than two decades of experience helping individuals, teams, and organizations navigate meaningful change. As the founder of Metamorphosis Management Group [https://www.metamg.com/], Evan partners with leaders to translate self-awareness into measurable business results and lasting personal growth. He also works with Box of Crayons [https://boxofcrayons.com/] to deliver curiosity-led leadership programs and with Empactful Advisors [https://www.empactfuladvisors.com/] to align leadership, culture, and performance. Certified in tools like the Leadership Circle Profile [https://leadershipcircle.com/leadership-assessment-tools/leadership-circle-profile/] and ICF Team Coaching [https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/team-coaching], Evan brings a unique combination of systems thinking, behavior change theory, and deep empathy for the human side of work. * Website: metaMG.com [https://www.metamg.com/] * LinkedIn: Charles Evan Smith [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cesmith/] 🧠 Key Topics Covered * What self-awareness is and why it’s the foundation for personal and organizational change * The surprising gap between perceived and actual self-awareness * How leaders can model “learning out loud” to energize change * The neuroscience of habits and why patterns are hard to change * Tools and practices for cultivating self-awareness, from feedback loops to habit trackers * Common barriers to self-awareness and why it’s often dismissed as a soft skill * Practical ways to deepen your own self-awareness and apply it to learning and performance 🛠️ Tools and Practices Mentioned * The Coaching Habit [https://boxofcrayons.com/the-coaching-habit-book/] by Michael Bungay Stanier * Leadership Circle 360  [https://leadershipcircle.com/leadership-assessment-tools/leadership-circle-profile/] * RallyBright Team Assessment [https://www.rallybright.com/] * Habit tracking and journaling * Morning intention-setting practices 📝 Detailed Show Notes and Transcript * Check out the full recap with show notes here [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EIHhbvmvJqpk6ZwqNeJSnw_Uk_6wSFDkvGV8xAvpdlo/edit?usp=sharing] * Read the full transcript here [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K24ckOY6eyw1VLGgY0GD-qmfxRxW-rLx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108348729446168542690&rtpof=true&sd=true] 📚 Learn More – Further Resources * Insight by Tasha Eurich [https://www.insight-book.com/] * Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman [https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Matter-More-Than/dp/055338371X] * The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier [https://boxofcrayons.com/the-coaching-habit-book/] * What You Don’t Know About Making Decisions (HBR) [https://hbr.org/2001/09/what-you-dont-know-about-making-decisions] by David Garvin * Amy Edmondson on Psychological Safety [https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54851] * Hawthorne Effect [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_effect] 🎧 Related Episodes * Jon Walker [https://www.patrickjhealy.com/podcast/episode/247d0bc4/21-jon-walker-on-self-compassion-for-learning-performance-and-joy] on Self-Compassion for Learning, Performance, and Joy (#21) * Nicole L’Etoile [https://www.patrickjhealy.com/podcast/episode/1f5add85/20-nicole-letoile-on-designing-more-accessible-and-inclusive-learning-experiences] on Accessibility and Inclusive Design (#20) * Amy Edmondson [https://www.patrickjhealy.com/podcast/episode/489ac9b1/9-amy-edmondson-on-team-learning-and-performance] on Psychological Safety in Teams (#9) 📬 Connect with Pat Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I (Pat Healy) help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design. * Website: patrickjhealy.com [https://patrickjhealy.com/] * Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com * LinkedIn: Patrick Healy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/] Connect with me and let’s explore how we can improve your learning and performance today!

21 - Jon Walker on Self-Compassion for Learning, Performance, and Joy

What if your inner critic is the biggest thing holding back your learning and performance? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Jon Walker [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-walker-372b3ba]—retired physician, self-compassion teacher, and founder of Modestly Mindful [https://www.modestlymindful.com/]—about why self-compassion isn't just self-care, but a powerful tool for improving our ability to learn and perform at our best. Jon and I discuss what compassion is, why it's important, and how to bring it into your work and life. Whether you’re a teacher, manager, student, or anyone navigating pressure, struggles, or setbacks, Jon makes the case for being kinder to yourself—and shows you how. 👤 About the Guest Dr. Jon Walker is a retired physician and certified mindful self-compassion teacher. He has completed training at UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center and holds credentials from the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. Through Modestly Mindful, Jon offers free courses and resources that make self-compassion accessible, practical, and powerful for everyday life. His past experience in high-stress clinical settings brings real credibility to his teaching. 🧠 Key Topics Covered: In this episode, we explore: * * What self-compassion really is (and isn’t) * * The 3 core components of self-compassion: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness * * The difference between “tender” and “fierce” self-compassion * * Cultural myths around self-compassion—especially for men * * Jon’s personal journey from burnout to renewal * * Why high performers often resist self-compassion—and need it most * * How trauma and childhood messages shape our self-talk * * A guided self-compassion break practice (starting around 46:00) * * Research on self-compassion and PTSD, healthcare, education, and more * * Tips for applying self-compassion in daily life, even in 30-second bursts * * The concept of “backdraft” and why things sometimes get harder before they get better 🧰 Tools and Practices Mentioned * Self-Compassion Break (3-step real-time practice) * Supportive Touch (ways to activate your body’s calming system) * The Question: “What do I need right now?” * Reframing the inner critic as a caring coach * The importance of practicing at “turtle speed” and customizing practices 📚 Further Resources * ⁠Center for Mindful Self-Compassion⁠ [https://centerformsc.org] – Home of the model developed by Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Chris Germer * ⁠Kristin Neff, Ph.D.⁠ [https://self-compassion.org] – Research, books, and talks * ⁠Paul Gilbert’s Compassion-Focused Therapy⁠ [https://compassionatemind.co.uk] – Especially for those with a trauma background * ⁠Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education⁠ [https://ccare.stanford.edu] 🗣️ Transcript HERE [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PsqcjPoZOJQdkxo8gWUjXgO82CAp5dWS/view?usp=sharing]