Say It Skillfully®

230 Say It Skillfully® – Sandy Ogg - A Curveball Journey to Leading with Impact

In episode 230 of Say It Skillfully®, Molly welcomes back Sandy Ogg, CEO of Curve Sports and founder of CEO.works, for an inspiring conversation about baseball, leadership, and creating opportunity for others. Sandy shares how sports shaped his life from childhood through college, teaching lessons in teamwork, perspective, resilience, and character. He also reflects on how that lifelong connection to baseball evolved into a larger mission: helping underserved young athletes access pathways to education, growth, and opportunity. From stories of youth teams and scholar athletes to reflections on leadership, privilege, AI, and the uniquely human skills that cannot be replaced, Sandy offers a powerful reminder that success is not just about winning games — it’s about helping others discover what is possible. A heartfelt conversation on purpose, impact, and using the gifts we’ve been given to give back. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Sandy Ogg’s Leadership and Baseball Journey 02:41 Where Sandy’s Love of Baseball Began 04:22 Baseball, Family, and the Coast Guard Academy 06:42 Lessons from Youth Sports and His Father 08:08 Learning Context Beyond Winning 11:16 Coaches, Leadership, and Team Development 13:43 Recognizing an Uneven Playing Field 16:18 Building a Team with Access and Opportunity 17:49 Scholar Athletes, Grades, and College Jerseys 20:33 Life Lessons Beyond the Field 22:05 The Parent-Coach-Athlete Triangle 24:40 Defining What Winning Really Means 26:06 Gratitude, College Jerseys, and a Doorstep Moment 27:59 Realizing the Gift Was Also for Him 30:16 Giving Back to the Sport That Gave So Much 30:50 Curve Sports Foundation and Scaling Impact 33:29 How Others Can Help Young Scholar Athletes 34:35 Scholar Athletes as a National Treasure 36:24 AI, Human Skills, and What Cannot Be Replaced 38:14 Personal Side: Trumpet, Introversion, and Creative Tinkering 42:16 Favorite Food and Childhood Memories 42:59 Top Takeaway: Learn What AI Can’t Replace 45:04 Reflecting on the Conversation 46:24 Molly’s Closing Reflection

229 Say It Skillfully OUR VOICES - Lynden Archer, Closed Doors Provide Direction

In Episode 229 of the Say It Skillfully® podcast, Molly welcomes chemical engineer, researcher, and Cornell University professor Lynden Archer. A leader in the field of biomaterials and sustainable energy innovation, Lynden shares insights from his groundbreaking work developing environmentally responsible materials that could transform industries ranging from plastics to batteries. In this inspiring conversation, Lynden reflects on the pivotal role of mentors in his life and how he found his way from growing up in Guyana to graduate school and a distinguished academic career. He shares the experiences and influences that helped shape his path and the lessons he learned along the way about perseverance, curiosity, and staying open to opportunity. Filled with insights on innovation, leadership, and scientific discovery, this episode offers listeners a compelling look at finding your north star and how bold thinking and collaboration can drive meaningful change.

228 Say It Skillfully® – Jason Reid: Purpose, Passion & Youth Mental Health

In Episode 228 of the Say It Skillfully® podcast, Molly welcomes back storyteller, entrepreneur, and founder of Tell My Story, Jason Reid. After the tragic loss of his 14-year-old son Ryan to suicide in 2018, Jason transformed unimaginable grief into a mission to help families better understand youth mental health and create spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and supported. In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Jason shares the inspiration behind his new film Shift: Do What Moves You, which highlights how purpose, passion, and personal interests can help young people rise above depression and anxiety. The discussion explores the importance of creating safe conversations around mental health, the role of parents in supporting their children’s emotional wellbeing, and why having a hobby or passion outside of work or school can be life-changing. Jason also reflects on personal growth, the power of curiosity, and why learning about emerging technologies like AI is essential in a rapidly changing world. From parenting insights to leadership lessons, this episode is filled with practical wisdom for anyone seeking to live more intentionally and help others do the same. Jason’s message is both hopeful and practical: finding what moves you—and encouraging others to do the same—can create profound change in both individual lives and communities. Chapters 00:00 Introduction – Molly welcomes Jason Reid 01:04 Jason on intentional living and personal growth 03:55 Why lifelong learning matters in a rapidly changing world 04:50 Jason’s focus on understanding AI and future technologies 06:09 Navigating political division and understanding different perspectives 08:44 Why everyone should start learning about AI now 09:01 Podcast recommendations for understanding AI 10:39 The origin of Tell My Story after the loss of Jason’s son Ryan 12:40 How parents can start conversations about mental health with kids 15:47 The importance of asking direct questions about suicide 18:52 Why medication alone doesn’t solve mental health struggles 20:20 The inspiration behind the film Shift: Do What Moves You 21:48 Why everyone needs a passion or purpose beyond work 24:32 Jason on hobbies, creativity, and trying new things 26:50 Expanding your life through curiosity and interests 30:05 Finding your aptitudes and creative outlets 32:35 Helping kids discover hobbies and passions 35:14 Self-care and support for adults struggling with mental health 37:06 Therapy, support networks, and unexpected help from AI 39:00 Jason’s advice for aspiring filmmakers and creators 40:57 The impact of Jason’s work and films 41:55 What Jason is most proud of as a leader 43:31 Jason’s final advice: Find what excites you in life 44:16 Closing thoughts and takeaway on AI and the future

227 Say It Skillfully® – Riel Erickson: Courage, Failure & Leading Where the Stakes Are High

What does it take to lead when the stakes are life-and-death, failure is inevitable, and doubt never fully disappears? In this episode of Say It Skillfully®, Molly sits down with Lieutenant Colonel Riel Erickson — one of Canada’s first female fighter pilots, senior Royal Canadian Air Force officer, instructor, and leadership mentor. Riel shares her extraordinary journey from farm life to the cockpit, revealing the internal battles behind elite performance: self-doubt, fear, identity, and resilience. She explains why embracing failure is essential to growth, how leaders create psychological safety, and what it really means to move from doing the work… to leading people… to shaping institutions. This conversation is a masterclass in grounded leadership, courage under pressure, and using humanity — not perfection — as your greatest strength. You’ll learn: • Why failure can be freeing • How to manage fear instead of eliminating it • The hidden cost of masking to fit in • What great mentors actually do • How leaders scale impact through others If you’ve ever questioned whether you belong in the room, this episode is for you. 00:00 — Introduction: Leadership Where Stakes Are High 00:01 — Riel’s Background & Breaking Barriers 02:09 — International Women’s Forum & Finding Belonging 05:57 — Early Life & Choosing the Military Path 09:17 — Culture Shock of Military Training 11:13 — Hating Pilot Training… at First 12:57 — The Freedom of Detaching Identity from Success 14:16 — “Embrace Failure” as a Life Mantra 15:18 — Discovering Love for Flying & Challenge 16:27 — Family Support & Sacrifice 19:17 — Overcoming Self-Doubt 22:29 — Managing Fear Under Pressure 26:15 — Career Path: From Pilot to Instructor to Leader 29:06 — Being the Only Woman in the Room 32:12 — Leadership & Psychological Safety 34:16 — Moving from Doing → Teaching → Leading Systems 35:32 — Work-Life Integration, Not Balance 40:07 — Mentorship That Changes Careers 44:55 — Why Mentoring Others Matters 47:10 — The Moment She Realized Her Visibility Matters

226 Say It Skillfully® – Darcy Verhun: The Power of People-First Leadership

In this episode of the Say It Skillfully Podcast, Molly sits down with Darcy Verhun — a rare kind of leader who builds companies by putting people first, not as a strategy, but as a way of being. From growing up between city life and the farm in Alberta, to becoming a management consultant for 25 years, to scaling a business to a $2B market cap, Darcy shares the values, habits, and leadership mindset that shaped his journey. Darcy also opens up about leading through culture change inside Canada Diagnostic Centres, why “smiling” became a serious leadership priority, and how small daily behaviors can transform an organization from the inside out. They close with a powerful “say it skillfully” moment: the one question Darcy asks at the end of meetings that can completely change outcomes — and create space for people to finally use their voice. If you’re a leader, coach, or someone trying to build a culture where people feel safe, seen, and motivated to grow — this one’s worth your time. Chapters 00:00 Intro: A leader who builds by putting people first 01:18 How Darcy and Molly met (Marshall Goldsmith connection) 02:39 Darcy’s upbringing: farm life, work ethic, and humility 06:12 The reading rule that became Darcy’s “superpower” 07:03 Sports, skiing, and coaching elite athletes 08:38 Why Darcy’s coaching style is built on stories 10:00 What Darcy learned early: honesty, caring for others, open home 12:13 Mentors and the professor who still challenges him today 14:17 MBA + the unexpected path into consulting 15:21 25 years in consulting: leadership, culture, and hard problems 16:13 The shift from advising to owning the mission 17:13 Purpose as a decision-making compass (“enhancing life”) 20:39 A defining leadership moment: doing the right thing, not the textbook thing 25:43 Entering healthcare: culture challenges + rebuilding trust 29:13 The “CDC” framework: Culture, Deliver Care, Operational Excellence 31:59 “Culture change doesn’t take years—it starts with me” 32:57 Why Darcy focused on smiling first (and why it matters) 35:03 The “High Five” habit: leaders connecting with their teams 37:14 Measuring what matters: Clinic Excellence Index 40:17 Daily Questions: Darcy’s personal growth habit 42:29 Investing in health to lead better (getting back on the bike) 43:37 The best meeting question: “Is there something you’re thinking or feeling you haven’t said?” 45:11 Reading, mountain biking, and being an introvert leader 46:09 The “candy cheat” for connecting with people 46:51 A surprising fun fact: loving winter driving 47:20 Regret: investing more in learning earlier 48:23 Proud moments: family + the people he’s worked with 49:06 Rapid fire: artist life, “Tarzan,” fries + ice cream 50:04 Final takeaway: be yourself and don’t be afraid 51:19 Closing quote + wrap