Podcast — 12 Geniuses

Leadership, Privacy & Cybersecurity with Thom Hartmann

In this episode, host Don MacPherson and author and radio host Thom Hartmann discuss how the removal of privacy has been a tool of autocratic governments to control citizens throughout history. In countries around the world, privacy continues to be taken away from people through new technologies. That threatens innovation, liberty, and democracy. An absence of privacy and the failure to protect sensitive data heightens the vulnerability to cyber attacks at the national level and cyber theft at the corporate level. Thom and Don end their discussion with why leaders in corporate and government positions need to be aware of the challenges that an absence of privacy creates and advice for how to respond in order to restore privacy to everyday employees and citizens.

Leading Through Loss with Maj Lauren Serrano

In this episode, Maj Lauren Serrano shares the tragic story of a Marine who took his own life while under her command. We candidly discuss mental health, how she led the more than 200 other Marines under her command through the loss, and how she managed herself through that difficult period of her life.

Most importantly, Maj Serrano provides advice for other leaders who may have a team member or colleague struggling with mental health challenges. Over the last two years, so many people in leadership positions have had to deal with unexpected loss and mental health concerns among members of their teams.Mental health issues are not to be ignored whether they are our own issues or issues with members of our team. Please seek professional help if you or someone on your team is having suicidal thoughts. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255. In the UK, the Samaritans hotline can be reached at: 116 123.

Creating a Leadership Driven Culture with Ray Kelly

In this episode, leadership expert Ray Kelly and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss the five-levels of leadership. A level-five leader mobilizes a group of people around a common cause to drive a result consistently and develops other leaders who can do the same. This is the key to creating a leadership driven culture. Ray provides advice for how leaders can ascend from levels one, two, and three to levels four and five. They also talk about the importance of leaders continually developing themselves and others, why creating a sense of belonging is critical to effective team performance, how values enable employee engagement, and why high-potential employees need to constantly be challenged or they will leave for other opportunities.

Five Technologies CEOs Need to Understand with Trond Undheim

Futurist Trond Undheim and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss five technologies - Artificial Intelligence, synthetic biology, robotics, blockchain, and 3D printing - and how the combination of these technologies will change every aspect of our lives. Their conversation provides advice for how CEOs, mid-level leaders, and public servants can take advantage of the disruptive nature of these technologies and how leaders can help their people stay relevant by providing continuous education, training, and learning opportunities. The conversation concludes with Trond’s thoughts on brain-machine interfaces, the metaverse, and humanity’s next evolution.

China's Global Leadership with Paul Haenle

In this episode, Paul Haenle and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson talk about the rise of China as a global economic and military superpower. They discuss President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power and future as China’s leader. They also talk about the past, present and future of US/China relations, China’s challenges, and their “no limits” agreement with Russia that was signed days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

How Leaders Build Exceptional Teams with Dr. Vanessa Druskat

In this episode, Dr. Druskat and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss building great work cultures and how leaders can influence the creation of high-performance teams. They talk about the importance of creating and collaborating team norms, how those norms should be governed, the importance of building a sense of belonging, and why hiring the best, most experienced people is not the solution to creating a superior-performing team.

Dealing with Toxic Leadership with Dr. Mitchell Kusy

In this episode, Dr. Mitchell Kusy and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson talk about what toxic leadership is, how your organization can avoid hiring a toxic leader, the importance of creating a healthy culture, and what leaders can do to combat the Great Resignation. Join us as we discuss the topic of toxic leadership and how to navigate it.

The Purposeful Leader with Richard Leider

In this episode, best-selling author Richard Leider and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss the health and performance benefits of finding your purpose, how leaders can help their people identify their purpose, and how rallying people around a common purpose is a key to a high-performing organization.

The Power of Regret with Daniel Pink

Best-selling author Daniel Pink and host Don MacPherson discuss how people can overcome their own regrets and how it can be used to improve performance. They also talk about how leaders can use regret as a teaching tool and motivator, along with the merits of asking about regret in a job interview.

Climate Change’s Mass Migration with David Houle

In this episode, David Houle joins Don once again to discuss the aspects and implications of climate change in detail, specifically around the idea of strategic retreat.

Climate Change: Threat & Opportunity with Andrew Winston

In this episode, Andrew Winston discusses the many facets of climate change, including how having a sustainability plan for companies is a key to attracting talent.

A Return of Faith and Loss of Hate: 9/11 Twenty Years Later

In this bonus episode of 12 Geniuses, I reflect on the day that I lost my faith in humanity. However, I also want to share the best day of my life — and the personal journey to get to the point where I became liberated from hate - and the faith returned.

Podcastdon macphersonSeptember 10, 20219/11, Faith, Humanity, fatherhood, War, Iraq War, Parenting, Family

Remembering 9/11 with Iraq War Vet John Kriesel

In the latest episode of the 12 Geniuses podcast, Iraq War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient John Kriesel explains how time and becoming a father changed his perspective on the war and why it’s vital future generations remember what happened.

Podcast, Personal Reinvention, The Futuredon macphersonSeptember 7, 2021futuring, War, Iraq War, fatherhood, Civilian Life

Doug Lennick | Emotional Intelligence & Remote Work

Doug Lennick and Don meet again to discuss the trends shaping the labor market today and the importance of understanding and embracing your employees’ values.

An Update on the Cannabis Market with Giadha A. DeCarcer

Giadha A. DeCarcer and Don meet again to talk about changes in both cannabis investments and usage, the innovations we’ve seen in how the plant can be grown and the prospects of further legalization in the U.S. and countries around the world.

disruption, The Futuredon macphersonAugust 24, 2021cannabis, Innovation, Public Opinion, Healthcare

The Shifting Power Structure at Work with Rebecca Ryan

Futurist Rebecca Ryan joins the show to talk about the future of work after the pandemic has significantly disrupted what work looks like.

Futuring, The Futuredon macphersonAugust 17, 2021futuring, Work, LIfe After COVID-19, mental illness, Workers Rights

Revisiting Addiction Recovery with Jim Geckler

Jim Geckler joined 12 Geniuses back in Season One to bravely and candidly share his personal story of addiction and recovery. This week, Jim and Don catch up to discuss how the treatment field has changed over the last three years. In that time, virtual health care has quickly become instrumental in providing treatment services. They also talk about the effect that the pandemic has had on drug and alcohol abuse, and about how you can spot the signs that someone you care about might be suffering from addiction.

Creating Opportunity During Uncertainty with Ryan Estis

In Season One of 12 Geniuses, keynote speaker Ryan Estis joined the show to discuss the challenges he faced leaving a high-paying corporate job during a recession to create his own business. During that conversation, Ryan talked about how 2019 was poised to be the most successful year of his business. The year after that, the pandemic hit, and in-person events were abruptly canceled, leaving Ryan with a new set of challenges. This week, Ryan and Don meet once again to discuss how he reinvented himself and has emerged more relevant than ever before. Listen in to hear about the ways that Ryan pivoted his business to include virtual keynotes and workshops, as well as how the pandemic changed his outlook on life and his relationships with loved ones.

Revisiting the Future of Energy with Lauren Azar

In Season One of 12 Geniuses, energy expert Lauren Azar joined the show to discuss trends in energy consumption. Those subjects included the viability of coal, where we can find long-term sources of energy and the impact of emerging technologies. Since that conversation in October 2018, there have been incredible advancements in energy production and storage. This week, Lauren and Don meet again to discuss those advancements, recent catastrophic events such as the 2021 Texas power crisis and what the current presidential administration has in store for the future of energy in the United States and abroad.

Revisiting the Way We Trust with Álvaro Marquez

In Season Three of 12 Geniuses, trust expert Álvaro Marquez joined the show. At the time, he and Don discussed the future of trust and how a disruptive global event could alter society’s concept of trust. Little did they know at the time how much trust would be compromised over the next 18 months as the Covid-19 pandemic spread throughout the world. This week, Álvaro and Don MacPherson reconvene to discuss the different approaches countries took to handle the pandemic, how those responses affected the public’s conceptualization of trust and what those societies may look like going forward. They also discuss autonomous cars and cryptocurrency with regard to trust.

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