Ladies and gentlemen, business leaders and business weirdos, Episode 200 of Biz-Souls is live!
That’s right — two hundred glorious, caffeine-fueled conversations where Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler have tried (and sometimes failed spectacularly) to act professional which is today’s topic. Performative Professionalism — or as we like to call it, “business casual with bedhead.”
Picture this: two co-hosts who look like they just rolled out of a hammock, debating why what you say, how you stand, and whether your socks match actually matter in the workplace.
Their takeaways?
• Be yourself (preferably sober).
• Build trust (unless trust went out with fax machines).
• And Rona? Be of legal age. Always. (We checked. She passed.)
In a world full of AI-generated buzzwords and faux-authentic LinkedIn posts, your most valuable asset is the real you.
Grab your inner child (just don’t let them near Rona because she’s still recovering from the last rodeo), burn your imposter syndrome at a Viking funeral, and stop displaying Dunning-Kruger pontifications at family reunions.
Remember: if respect is your destination, transparency is your best co-pilot — though Jeffrey insists you don’t impersonate Daniel Stern as Phil Berquist from City Slickers in the boardroom.
Seriously. Don’t be that transparent.
In the meantime, listen, share, comment, and subscribe to Biz-Souls.
Below are a few standout episodes of past Biz-Souls:
• Episode 139: Play for Better Living!
o Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EOyx44QYvEkrzE6Fg6fA8
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdUd8cU1JXg
• Episode 127 — Tickled About Piccles! with Chris Bent
o Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1m0lrAjU0EoA0YpWqq9n9K
o YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQNREqXwV8k
• Episode 125 — How to Retrain Your Brain
o Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Sl8zVZB6Jx5DMHg8lN9aH
o YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA4P9HvbKVI
• Episode 137 — Just Say No! Maybe.
o Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5O9pVnMLtrVRHfSrkE3dZn
o YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ffpbkA2n8
• Episode 136 — Mature Gnome with Ego
o Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SrTBRzWZ9MbhycJw5Nkwv
o YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl6sKzNUWTo
Hardly ever — well, nearly never before — have we ventured into the mysterious world of behind-the-scenes shots of Jeffrey watching Rona. Wait — no, she doesn’t, because we thought her camera was recording.
Jeffrey, ever the visionary, stayed with the wide-angle shot while Rona delivered straight to the camera that wasn’t running.
In any case, THIS episode is about Networking. Our never-quit, never-surrender hosts cover everything from the golden moments to the gloriously awkward, all in eleven minutes flat.
From staking out the most strategic position in the room to how to convey respect without tripping on your own name badge, we’ve got you covered with memorable tips that might actually work in real life.
So, join us, listen in, pass it on, and jump on the bandwagon with Biz-Souls! Because networking may not always be working… but we sure are!
Other Biz-Souls Episodes you may enjoy:
• Episode 158: Return to Office or Not!
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFA1Dgw7P3Y
• Navigating the Political Asphalt Jungle with Martin Williams
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5sn2rTNGoE
• Episode 192: Interruptions, Bots & Kaizen
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dp1FhUokYE
• From Playful Purpose to Engagement Excellence (Julie Trell)
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm9SoBNnK1M
• Episode 167: From Ikigai to AI — Surviving the Modern Madness
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq1W_EExVfU
• The Beauty, Beguile, and Business of Writing with Jonny Thomson
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3VnyboVtgI
• Episode 168: She's Not Clowning Around! Take the Stage, the Lead…
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjVU4Is7L0Q
• Official Biz-Souls YouTube channel & playlist:
o https://www.youtube.com/@biz-souls3926
Strap on your jingle bells and loosen those ugly sweaters — Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler have crash-landed into your holiday spirit like two mistletoe misfits on a mission!
In this delightfully absurd episode, these Festive Facilitators of Fun brave the wilds of workplace joy. (Side note: Jeffrey’s face looks like someone asked him to smile for a selfie he didn’t approve — yet somehow it adds to the holiday charm.)
They unwrap the power of micro-joy moments like mischievous elves on candy cane crack — sprinkling insights about coworkers, leadership expectations, and yes… dogs (because of course they agree on dogs). Between stockings of helpful tips and heaping spoonfuls of glorious hypocrisy, they hunt down the joy killers lurking in office cubicles everywhere.
This episode is lovingly dedicated to Roscoe, Rona’s legendary four-legged companion who has bounced onward to the great dog park in the sky. We feel the feels — and we play through them.
So, pour some eggnog, crank up the laughter, and subscribe for more Biz-Souls antics — because who needs another round of MASH reruns when you’ve got this level of holiday hijinks?
Other Biz-Souls Episodes You Might Love:
Episode 197 – Business Wisdom with a Side of Chuckles with Kevin Hubschmann
https://biz-souls.com/episode197 Apple Podcasts
Episode 195 – AI: Turning Customer Service into Customer Suffering
https://biz-souls.com/episode195 Apple Podcasts
Episode 194 – Hope This Episode Finds You Well (It Won’t): Passive Aggression & Management Skills
https://biz-souls.com/episode194 Apple Podcasts
Episode 190 – Elephants, Riders, and Calculators (with Rich Batchelor)
https://biz-souls.com/episode190 Apple Podcasts
Episode 189 – Threadbare Culture: When the Corporate Soul Starts to Fray
https://biz-souls.com/episode189 Apple Podcasts
Episode 123 – The Power of Humor in Learning & Development
https://biz-souls.com/episode123 (via the Listen Now page) BizSouls
Who says you can’t have fun at work anymore? Not your hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler, and certainly not Kevin Hubschmann—the guy who literally sells laughter as a service. That’s right: he turned comedy into corporate wellness before it was cool.
Kevin set out to be a police officer. But then Georgetown University happened and somewhere between marketing classes and open-mic nights, he realized the only thing he wanted to arrest was boredom at work. And if paying off college loans with comedy seems absurd… well, that’s basically Kevin’s business model.
‘Feedback equals failure!’, right? Or is it ‘Failure equals feedback!’ No matter, it all leads to applause, giggles, and comedy. Forget “HR Required Training” — Kevin brings song, improv, and those mysterious messages tucked under seats for engagement. No, they aren’t packages from Poughkeepsie.
With a doctor for a dad and nurse for a mom, Kevin grew up where ER meets SNL—medical chaos and comedy gold, served bedside-style.
Dive into the subtle (but hilarious) difference between:
Stand-up comedy – where you bomb alone on stage.
Improv – where an entire team bombs together (but earns bonus points for trying).
Want psychological safety at work? Kevin literally wrote the playbook on it — patching serious development with belly laughs and “yes-and” mindsets that make every meeting feel like Whose Line Is It Anyway? (minus the cattiness… mostly).
So, go ahead, like, subscribe, share with a friend… maybe you’ll be our one-millionth subscriber and win… bragging rights?
Bonus fact: Did you know the average human heart beats about 3 billion times in a lifetime? If Kevin had a dollar for every laugh he’s created… he’d still probably be paying off college loans.
Laughing isn’t just fun — it’s a strategy of Laughing in Development.
Biz-Souls is the business podcast with heart, soul… and humor, hosted by Rona Lewis & Jeffrey Hansler. Here are some other episodes:
Episode 195 – AI: Turning Customer Service into Customer Suffering
https://biz-souls.com/episode195
Episode 194 – Hope This Episode Finds You Well (It Won’t): Passive Aggression & Management Skills
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode194
Episode 193 – White Labels, Wild Speculation & Where Jeffrey Shops
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode193
Episode 192 – Interruptions, Bots & Kaizen
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode192
Episode 191 – When the Going Gets Tough…
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode191
Episode 190 – Elephants, Riders, and Calculators (with Rich Batchelor)
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode190
Episode 189 – Threadbare Culture: When the Corporate Soul Starts to Fray
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode189
Episode 188 – Scratch Glass and Climb Walls – Guest Success Edition!
https://open.spotify.com/episode188
Episode 185 – Trust Us (No, really… Trust Us)
https://open.spotify.com/episode185
Official Biz-Souls episode page (full archive):
https://biz-souls.com/episodes/BizSouls
Apple Podcasts page (latest episodes & links): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biz-souls/id1617532413
Biz-Souls on YouTube (video versions available):
http://www.youtube.com/@biz-souls3926
I do believe in Porn, I do believe in Porn, I do believe in Porn…
Well Toto, buckle up—this definitely ain’t Kansas anymore.
This week, our dynamic duo—Rona “Clickbait Queen” Lewis and Jeffrey “Incognito Mode” Hansler—bravely unzip the truth behind Sam Altman’s other big venture: Letting ChatGPT dip its perfectly sanitized toes into the world of porn. (Not his personal journey—calm down, Karen.)
With all the coyness of Mary Pickford and the earnest heroism of Dudley Do-Right—and somehow the time-traveling, windswept, bodice-heaving energy of Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour on Mackinac Island—our hosts take you on a wholesome-but-spicy stroll through:
• 30 years of digital disruption courtesy of the porn industry
• Why porn has always been the early adopter nobody wants to give credit to
• How AI may (or may not) be the next big… thing.
And yes—a few true confessions because you can’t discuss porn without at least one awkward overshare.
Porn has been around forever—longer than the internet, longer than Hollywood, and definitely longer than Jeffrey can pretend he doesn’t know what “buffering” means.
So, join the fearless pair as they carefully, respectfully, delicately guide you down the hallway of porn and AI. With minimal fluffing. Truly minimal.
(Production wouldn’t approve the budget for full fluffing.)
Episode 128 – Insuring HR Is Taken Care of With Innovative Approaches
• https://biz-souls.com/ep128
Episode 127 – Tickled About Piccles! A Unique Way of Connecting Communities
• https://biz-souls.com/ep127
Episode 193 – White Labeling: Where Costco and Trader Joe’s Get Kinky
• https://biz-souls.com/ep193
Episode 195 – AI Pissing People Off (Jeffrey’s Revenge Episode)
• https://biz-souls.com/ep195
Episode 182 – For Love and Money: Romance in the Workplace (Still safer than discussing porn.)
• https://biz-souls.com/ep182
Like, subscribe, follow, rate, review, tattoo “Biz-Souls” on your lower back—whatever feels right. Just don’t make ChatGPT write your fanfic. It gets ideas.
This week, our delightful hosts, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler, dive headfirst into the digital swamp where customer service goes to die—the brave new world of AI systems that somehow manage to be both “revolutionary” and “spectacularly useless.” Jeffrey kicks things off with his favorite pastime: complaining about his bank. AI locks down his decades-old DBA account over a minor hiccup and the humans refused to do anything but repeat, like stereotypical parrots, “Open a new account.”
Customer service without thinking… how futuristic.
And of course, no one is monitoring any of this. Companies keep installing AI like it’s a magic wand, then shockingly forget to ask customers the obvious: “How badly did our bot piss you off today?” Meanwhile, executives keep making decisions with all the originality of Hollywood—copy, paste, reboot, and pretend it’s innovation.
Rona and Jeffrey point out that maybe, just maybe, leaders should dust off those Toyota and Deming principles and actually check whether the multimillion-dollar AI they bought is helping… or lighting their customer experience on fire.
By the end, we’ve got frogs, frustrated humans, clueless systems, and CEOs hoping no one notices the chaos. So, tune in to Episode 195, where Biz-Souls explores the heart, soul, and sheer absurdity of business in an AI world that still can’t transfer you to a human without an existential crisis.
And since you’re in town, check out some other Biz-Souls episodes:
• Episode 192 – Toyota Principles & the Deming Follow-Up http://biz-souls.com/episode192
• Episode 127 – Tickled About Piccles! A Unique Way of Connecting Communities
• http://biz-souls.com/episode127
• Episode 173 – Imagination and Its Importance to Business http://biz-souls.com/episode173
• Episode 178 – Mature Gnome with Ego: Building Humor into Tough Business Moments http://biz-souls.com/episode178
• Episode 184 – Proactive Communication for Positive Results http://biz-souls.com/episode184
• Episode 190 – Deming’s 14 Principles (Part 1) http://biz-souls.com/episode190
Like, Subscribe, Review—Show Us the Love!
If you enjoyed this episode’s mix of sarcasm, storytelling, and AI-induced trauma, hit that subscribe button, leave a review, and share Biz-Souls with the humans in your life (the AI already knows where to find us). Every rating helps us reach more listeners who need a shot of Biz-Souls.
“...but it's WOMEN who are the source... the only power. Nature, birth, rebirth. Cliché? Cliché... sure... but true.” —Devilish Daryl Van Horne, The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
If that isn’t the perfect opener for an episode drowning—no, baptized—in clichés, then what is?
Our dubious duo, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler, have decided to take a magnifying glass (and possibly a flamethrower) to the passive-aggressive email clichés that haunt every inbox like ghosts of middle-management past.
You know the ones:
• “Per my last email…” (Translation: CAN YOU READ?)
• “Just circling back…” (Translation: Why haven’t you done the thing I want?)
• “As we discussed…” (Translation: I’m about to gaslight you.)
• “Hope this finds you well!” (Translation: I don’t actually care how this finds you. I just want something.)
And because it’s Biz-Souls, the chaos doesn’t stop there. Rona again masterminds the torment. She suggests the topic. She creates the test. She grades Jeffrey. And Jeffrey, bless his interrupt-happy heart, tries to pass. Does he?
Miraculously, yes. With Rona’s incredibly generous, curve-destroying, participation-award-level B.
Recommended Biz-Souls Episodes:
Perfect for listeners who want to revisit the “classic era” of Biz-Souls—before Jeffrey apologized less and Rona rolled her eyes more.
• Episode 101 — “Leadership Schmleadership”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode101
• Episode 103 — “Trust Falls & Other Corporate Hazing Rituals”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode103
• Episode 107 — “Communication: Because Telepathy Still Isn’t Working”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode107
• Episode 111 — “Stop Using Buzzwords (Synergy Not Included)”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode111
• Episode 115 — “Do We Really Need Another Meeting?”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode115
• Episode 118 — “Feedback or Vague Insults?”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episode118
Once again, our hosts open the floor (and their inboxes) to you, dear listeners:
What mindless business clichés, expressions, corporate poet-speak, and office-approved arrogance have you endured?
Send them in. Share your cringe. Help the world heal, one recycled phrase at a time.
Because if we can’t stop clichés…At least we can mock them.
Our dutiful duo, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler, have returned with yet another episode of Biz-Souls — and yes, they did deliver a podcast. Did they do enough research? Ehhh… let’s just say “research-ish.”
Today they bravely explore the mysterious, misunderstood, and occasionally mislabeled practice of white labeling. Mislabeled, get it? Okay, an inside joke.
Naturally, Trader Joe’s and Costco roll into the conversation like celebrity guests. Why? Because those are the only places Jeffrey shops. Is he a creature of habit? A minimalist? A retail monk? Or is he simply like every other adrenaline-pumped shopper who treats Costco like a competitive sport?
Let’s be honest — when Jeffrey shops, samples become a strategy, not a snack.
Back to white labeling.
This episode is Rona’s brainchild — because of course she's always hunting for a bargain that still lets her feel fancy. But do our hosts actually know the behind-the-scenes secrets of the white-labeling world? Or are they merely… speculating with confidence?
(We’ll let you guess.)
This is where you, our brilliant, resourceful, significantly-more-informed-than-Jeffrey listeners, come in.
If you actually know how white labeling works…
If you’ve been behind the curtain…
If you’ve slapped a brand name onto something that was definitely made somewhere else…
Tell them!
Please. For the love of all things private-labeled, help fill in the gaps.
Because the only thing more mysterious than white labeling…
…is why Jeffrey still hasn’t bought anything that isn’t bulk-sized.
Other Episodes you might find worth a listen:
• Episode 190 – Rich Batchelor & Culture Change
Because white labeling is basically “culture change, but for products.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode190
• Episode 191 – When the Going Gets Tough…
Featuring leadership wobbling, uncertainty, and more confident-sounding speculation — a perfect thematic cousin.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode191
• Episode 192 – Toyota’s 14 Principles (Jeffrey’s ADHD Edition)
You just KNOW white labeling would’ve shown up as Principle #15 if Toyota thought of it.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode192
• Episode 176 – Judge Daren Margolin on Positive Leadership
Because leaders everywhere slap their “brand” on things — sometimes successfully.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode176
• Episode 177 – Margie Zable Fisher on PR Magic
Perfect for understanding why white labels need shiny stories.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode177
• Episode 180 – Besting AI With Soul
Because AI could probably explain white labeling better than Jeffrey. But should it?
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode180
• Episode 139 – Play for Better Living with Laura Haver
White labeling is basically playtime for grown-up companies — so this one fits.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode139
• Episode 128 – Tobias Kennedy on HR Innovations
If HR can get innovative, your product labels can too.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode128
• Episode 125 – Kelley Raleigh & Retraining Your Brain
A fantastic tie-in, especially for anyone trying to mentally process what white labeling really is.
http://www.biz-souls.com/episode125
Our determined duo, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler, are at it again. This week on Biz-Souls, they rev their engines for a follow-up to last week’s dive into the W. Edwards Deming 14 Principles, this time zooming in on several of Toyota’s 14 management principles (yes, that means we’re going lean — and yes, Jeffrey may interrupt again because ADHD + excitement = chaos with a mission).
While Jeffrey’s ADHD provides some interesting anticidents (we’ll get to that), we need to clarify three things before you press play:
1. His awareness of his new self-improvement plan — to be a better listener and not interrupt others because of his excitement (or fear of *not remembering the point he’s dying to make) — is good. Yes, he did interrupt several times before he shared his new project.
2. Jeffrey does a great deal of skim-reading and doesn’t always remember the exact figures or the context of the figures. Example: his quote about bot postings “smudged” some of the details — which according to Statista is 50 % of all internet traffic is non-human and 37 % are bad bots. Don’t ask which report he actually read.
3. Which brings us to his comment about Panasonic’s CEO’s 100-year plan – it was a 2015 update shared by participants from Panasonic in one of his programs — not the 1995 date he put during the podcast. Devil is in the details… or at least in the earshot of our Biz-Souls duo in their quest to bring to light better ways for organizations to grow and thrive.
Tune in for laughter, real talk, lean wisdom, and yes — a little organizational mis-adventure. Because in stressful times, efficient and effective organizations aren’t just nice to have — they’re survival tools. Rona and Jeffrey bring you the soul of business… with a twist of Toyota.
To make the most of this week’s Toyota-principles topic, these earlier Biz-Souls episodes are:
Episode 190 – “When the Going Gets Tough…” (Deming 14 Principles)
https://www.biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-190-when-the-going-gets-tough
Episode 161 – “Consensus? All in Favor of Failing — Say Aye!”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-161-consensus-all-in-favor-of-failing
Episode 177 – “Biz-Souls with Margie Zable Fisher”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-177-margie-zable-fisher
Episode 127 – “Tickled about Piccles! A Unique Way of Connecting Communities”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-127-tickled-about-piccles
Episode 128 – “Insuring HR is Taken Care of with Innovative Approaches”
https://www.biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-128-insuring-hr-is-taken-care-of
Our popular podcast peeps, Rona Lewis & Jeffrey Hansler, are back at it with the sagely insight (and occasional stumbles) you didn’t know you needed.
In a world of tariffs, politics, inflation—and a new day that refuses to act like yesterday—short-term decisions made from fear or greed usually crash and burn. So, what’s the alternative?
Dive in as Rona and Jeffrey take head-first action… err, make a run at head-first action… into change. They’ll brave the fast-moving pace, fumbling redundancies, dropping “Captain Obvious” comments, and even tossing in a super-brief explanation of Management by Objectives (MBO) because it kinda fit the theme.
Also: enter the ghost of W. Edwards Deming (well, exit, since he died) — his 14 principles live on. And yes, we included them below (thank you, OpenAI 2025).
Now that you know them, will you use them? That’s the question. Because as our dynamic duo points out—so many leaders who know better still make culture-destroying, short-term moves.
Tune in. Laugh. Learn. Share the wisdom with someone who needs it. Subscribe, like, share—and spread the good news from these wacky wizards of words, Rona & Jeffrey.
Take some other episodes out for a spell:
• Episode 188: “Scratch Glass and Climb Walls – Guest Success Edition!” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biz-souls/id1617532413?i=100064xxxx
• Episode 187: “HR Plays with Change Management” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biz-souls/id1617532413?i=100064yyyy
• Episode 184: “Casting Confidence — The Oscar-Winning Role of You with Dr. Albert Bramante” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biz-souls/id1617532413?i=100064zzzz
And as promised, W. Edwards Deming’s 14 Principles of Management (also known as the 14 Points for Management) first introduced in his 1982 book, ‘Out of the Crisis’:
1. Create constancy of purpose.
2. Adopt the new philosophy.
3. Cease dependence on inspection.
4. End the practice of awarding business on price tag alone.
5. Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service.
6. Institute training on the job.
7. Institute leadership.
8. Drive out fear.
9. Break down barriers between departments.
10. Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the workforce.
11. Eliminate numerical quotas and management by objectives.
12. Remove barriers that rob people of pride in workmanship.
13. Institute a vigorous program of education and self-improvement.
14. Put everybody in the company to work to accomplish the transformation.
Y'all come back now, ya hear?
Episode 190 of the Biz-Souls Podcast is officially live, and it’s a wild ride into the world of change, culture—and yes—lots of math.
If you can tolerate failure, get giddy about statistics, and secretly dream in regression equations … well, you’re in for a treat.
Just kidding about the math and statistics.
Meet our guest: Rich Batchelor. He started as a stats-and-mathematics whisperer, gravitated into training, and now is a full-blown culture-change and play instigator. A die-hard member of the Association of Change Management Professionals since its infancy in 2011, Rich has held a host of leadership roles—and since 2023, he’s been the president.
If change were a sports team, Rich would be the veteran quarterback calling audible after audible!
In this episode, Rich joins our dynamic duo—Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler—to share stories that blend:
• The transition from training to consulting (via his firms Capillary Consulting and Capillary Learning)
• The move from cold, hard math (think: calculators and adding machines) to warm, vibrant culture-shifts
• His introduction of the brilliant concept by Jeremy Dean—the “Elephants & Riders” metaphor (elephant = emotion, rider = rational mind) as a lens for organizational change.
• Tips and tricks for changing an organization’s culture and operations: what works, what doesn’t, and what I promise you will laugh at.
Why you’ll want to tune in:
• Because if you’ve ever felt uneasy about failure (hello! we’ve all been there), Rich gives you the roadmap for how to embrace it—and make it productive.
• Because if stats and numbers get your heart racing, he shows how they’re the starting point, not the finish line.
• Because if you’re stuck trying to change culture in your org and feel like you’re pushing a boulder uphill, Rich helps you swap the boulder for a sled (so you can ride down the hill instead).
• Because we take a break from studio polish (thanks to Adobe Premiere vs. Jeffrey Hansler timing issues) and embrace the real: this one’s built entirely on Zoom footage.
Ready to ditch your adding machine for a moment, lean back, and get inspired?
Here are the links for Rich Batchelor and the ACMP (Association of Change Management Professionals:
• Capillary Consulting: https://www.capillaryconsulting.com
• Capillary Learning: https://www.capillarylearning.com
• Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) global site: https://www.acmpglobal.org
Other Biz-Souls Episodes Related to Culture, Change & Play
• Episode 182: “Level Up Leadership with Dr. Drew Davidson”: Explores leadership through gaming and play. https://biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-182-level-up-leadership-with-dr-drew-davidson
• Episode 186: “L&D Eats Its Own: When Training Goes Too Far”: Examines how learning cultures can self-sabotage. https://biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-186-ld-eats-its-own
• Episode 199: “Threadbare Culture: When the Corporate Soul Starts to Fray”: A deep-yet-humorous look at cultural erosion. https://biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-199-threadbare-culture
• Episode 139: “Play for Better Living! Why Play Makes Every Life Better” with Laura Haver: Discusses the science of play in business and life. https://biz-souls.com/episodes/episode-139-play-for-better-living
Listen, like, learn, save, share, and follow for more magical and meaningful insights into the soul of business and the people who make it happen!
P.S. The “Cinematic Fail”
In the epic blockbuster battle of Jeffrey Hansler vs. Adobe Premiere, our hero fought valiantly… and lost. Adobe won the war of sound syncs, leaving this entire episode stitched lovingly from pure Zoom footage. No studio cameras - just some basic editing and raw Biz-Soul energy.
Take that, Penbridge College! (Yes, that’s a Mummy reference — we know.)
Well, well… it seems our Biz-Souls dueling duo, Rona and Jeffrey, are back at it again—taking a different perspective on business, life, and the bizarre intersections between the two.
Dysmorphic: (adjective):
1. Characterized by malformation or abnormality in body structure.
2. A mental health condition where people obsess over perceived—often imaginary—flaws in appearance.
3. The exact word Jeffrey used to describe corporate culture gone sideways.
Rona wants everyone to know—loudly—that this topic was entirely Jeffrey’s idea and that this episode might be “lightweight” in the business-analysis department.
Jeffrey, however, defends it like it’s a Harvard Business Review case study. In his mind, this is how the soul of a business becomes corrupted—through the tiny, nearly invisible artifacts of everyday culture. Think micro-moments of dysfunction, gossip, or ego that slip in like drops of dirt into a clean glass of water. Suddenly, that “refreshing culture” looks a little murky.
So, tune in as Rona and Jeffrey take a mild and enjoyable field trip to the Oceanside Museum of Art’s “Fabulous Fabric” show - curated by the ever-fabulous Kate Stern (one of Rona’s many, many friends). It’s culture, business, art, and just a little bit of neurosis… the Biz-Souls way.
Need some positive drops today? Then listen, like, follow, and share this episode with someone who needs a little soul cleansing. (Sometimes a drop of clarity is all we need.)
If You Liked This Episode, You’ll Love:
• Ep. 139 – Play for Better Living! with Laura Haver
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EOyx44QYvEkrzE6Fg6fA8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdUd8cU1JXg
• Ep. 127 – Tickled About Piccles! with Chris Bent
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1m0lrAjU0EoA0YpWqq9n9K
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQNREqXwV8k
• Ep. 125 – How to Retrain Your Brain with Kelley Raleigh
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Sl8zVZB6Jx5DMHg8lN9aH
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA4P9HvbKVI
• **Ep. 137 – Just Say No! Maybe. **
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5O9pVnMLtrVRHfSrkE3dZn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ffpbkA2n8
• **Ep. 136 – Mature Gnome with Ego **
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SrTBRzWZ9MbhycJw5Nkwv
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl6sKzNUWTo
Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler are bursting with pride in this celebration episode—because when Biz-Souls guests win, we all win!
In this week’s conversation, our dynamic duo catches you up on the latest triumphs from some of their favorite past guests.
• Jonny Thompson (Episode 181 – “Talking with Jonny Thompson”) is gaining serious traction with his thought-provoking Philosopher Posts that are inspiring followers around the globe.
• Hamish Wright (Episode 134 – “Real Fake Show—Blurring Reality for Fun and Meaning”) is leveling-up production on The Real Fake Show—and reality may never look the same again.
• Francesca Gino, from Episode 152 – “Mind Games and Morality”, is back in the spotlight, as Rona and Jeffrey discuss a colleague’s podcast digging into her ongoing story with Harvard.
• Leigh Wood, part of the hilarious duo from Episode 160 – “He’s a 10, But …”, also gets a quick update—proof that play and charm never go out of style.
Seems every guest who’s graced the Biz-Souls mic is rocketing toward even greater success—and that’s exactly the kind of energy Rona and Jeffrey love to share.
So, tune in, laugh a little, learn heaps, and maybe soak up that winning mojo yourself.
Like, Follow, Share, and Subscribe—because when our guests shine, so do you.
And in the immortal words of late-night legend Ron Sweed, “The Ghoul”: “Stay sick, turn blue, scratch glass, climb walls, do it while you can … but most importantly of all—don’t get caught!”
It’s the Rona Show!
No, seriously — it’s another electrifying episode of Biz-Souls with the unstoppable dynamic duo Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler!
Fresh off her presentation at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Nebraska Conference, Rona dives into how HR leaders are embracing play to power up change management. Meanwhile, Jeffrey (ever the skeptical realist) wonders if HR is really ready to roll the dice on risk and innovation.
Rona fires back with stories from the front lines — where bold HR executives are redefining engagement, trust, and productivity one playful move at a time.
She drops quick-hit tips any executive can use to connect with employees, boost morale, and create cultures committed to evolve.
Want to build trust with your team? Rona’s got a one-sentence strategy that could change everything.
So, grab a seat, take a 12-minute break, and join our dynamic duo for another dose of practical wisdom, laughter, and just the right amount of professional mischief.
If you believe leadership doesn’t have to be boring — like, share, follow, and subscribe!
Because growth should be fun, learning should be lifelong, and the Biz-Souls crew will always keep it real.
Want More Episodes Like This?
Try these listener favorites:
• “Slay the Villain of Culture Stagnation” with Stephanie Angelo — how to keep your organization thriving.
• “How to Retrain Your Brain” with Kelley Raleigh — neuroscience meets performance.
• “Play Games for Better Business!” with Alex Suchman — when play meets productivity.
• “Just Say No! Maybe.” — navigating communication and boundaries at work.
• “L&D Eats Its Own” — a sharp look at respect and dysfunction in Learning & Development.
Rodney Dangerfield made a career out of one line: “I don’t get no respect.”
Turns out he wasn’t just talking about his in-laws—he was predicting the Learning and Development industry (L&D).
This week, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler put on their Dangerfield bow ties and salute the man who knew a thing or two about being underappreciated. Why? Because L&D seems to be working overtime to chew up its own subject matter experts and spit them out like last week’s donuts from the training room.
Jeffrey shares two recent examples of L&D “leadership” (quotation marks intentional) that scream: We don’t need no stinkin’ expertise! Spoiler: it’s not pretty.
Rona offers a cautionary tale to executives everywhere: keep this up, and the L&D industry might just end up with less loyalty than employees had in the 80s after pension plans got the corporate shredder treatment.
It’s quick, it’s biting, and it’s designed to make every executive (especially L&D ones) think twice before disrespecting the people who make them look good.
And speaking of disrespect: Jeffrey’s battle with Adobe Premiere continues. Current score: Adobe 2, Jeffrey 0. (Rich Bachelor, if you’re listening, he swears your Change Management episode will make it to daylight. Maybe. Eventually. If Adobe allows it.)
So hit play, follow, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that respect isn’t just for Rodney—it’s for everyone in L&D too.
If you like this one, check out these connected episodes:
• Episode 128: Insuring HR is Taken Care of With Innovative Approaches – with Tobias Kennedy (because HR and L&D need to stop fighting like siblings on a road trip).
• Episode 125: How to Retrain Your Brain – with Kelley Raleigh (respect starts with retraining how leaders think about people).
• Episode 139: Play for Better Living! Why Play Makes Every Life Better – with Laura Haver (because respect also means letting people breathe and laugh).
• Episode 177: PR Done Right: The Cabernet Club – with Margie Zable Fisher (where communication and respect collide).
• Episode 182: Game-Based Learning with Soul – with Dr. Drew Davidson (proof that respecting expertise actually pays off).
This week on Biz-Souls, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler tackle the slippery, elusive, and occasionally imaginary concept of trust. (Yes, that thing your boss keeps talking about while “listening” only long enough to weaponize your words later.)
It all starts with Jeffrey surviving a “conversation” with a manager—translation: a slow-motion train wreck requiring Olympic-level emotional intelligence. Pair that with Rona dropping an article about the collapse of workplace trust and - boom! - you’ve got yourself a podcast episode that asks all the uncomfortable questions no HR handbook will ever answer.
Along the way, they manage to:
• Roast generational divides (because apparently Millennials ruined trust… and toast).
• Debate autonomy and authenticity without using the word synergy even once.
• Skewer sales and sales management (spoiler: they don’t trust you either).
• Differentiate between active listening and “listening for ammo” (hello, manager!)
• Name-drop Toastmasters while wondering if anyone actually trusts a table topic.
Tie it all together with Rona’s Pillars of Play, because even trust issues deserve recess.
And - full disclosure - they also chat about their episode with change management expert Richard Bachelor as if it already exists. Technically, it should. Unfortunately, Jeffrey’s epic battle with Adobe Premiere and his new camera settings has delayed things. (Adobe 1, Jeffrey 0.) Richard, if you’re listening - Jeffrey swears he’ll wrestle Premiere into submission and publish your episode next week. Promise. Pinky swear. Scout’s honor.
So, listen now, subscribe, and share this episode with anyone who still believes in trust.
Or… wait a week, listen to Richard’s episode first, then come back and see what trust looks like in the wild. Either way, you’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you might even trust us by the end.
On this 184th episode of Biz-Souls, hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler roll out the red carpet for Dr. Albert Bramante — psychology professor, certified hypnotist, AI educator, and talent agent. With more than 20 years of guiding Broadway actors, mentoring students, and coaching creators, Albert knows that the toughest role you’ll ever play… is being your authentic self.
Albert shares his knowledge about the challenges facing actors and how his talents as an agent support an actor’s success. Here are a few of the areas he focuses on with actors:
• Casting Confidence — Proven psychological strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and step into the spotlight with presence and poise.
• Rewriting Your Mental Script — How hypnosis and NLP can help you ditch self-sabotaging lines and improvise a better performance in life and work.
• AI as Your Creative Co-Star — Smart ways to use ChatGPT and other AI tools to boost productivity and creativity—without losing your unique voice.
• Encore Moments — Lessons from Broadway to business on building clarity, resilience, and confidence in any role you take on.
With Albert’s insights (and plenty of laughs from Rona and Jeffrey), this episode shines a spotlight on how psychology, performance, and tech combine to create a standing-ovation life.
Listen, follow, and share with your friends on your path to success.
PS - Speaking of success or lack of, Biz-Souls wasn’t published last week because of technical difficulties with Adobe Premiere. With all their resources, Jeffrey is surprised they don’t have an AI analysis tool for what made the program criminally slow for editing. Is this the first stage of failure for Adobe’s Premiere Pro?
So, after a week off, let’s see if Biz-Souls can do another streak of 183 episodes in the future.
Stop data being harvested and start sharing your story.
Grab your coffee (or goat latte, if you're fancy) and settle in—Biz Souls is back, and this time we're diving headfirst into the brave new world of AI with the one and only William Welser.
Forget robot overlords—and believe William when he says, “Believe me, large language modules aka AI, do not understand you!” AI might be a shiny tool, but it’s not in the right hands yet.
In this episode, hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler wander the story-scapes of data: what we’re tracking now, what we should be tracking, and how we can regain control.
Welser dissects the tech driven chaos and hands you a blueprint: your personal story is your new wealth. He riffs on his upcoming book, “The Story Economy: How Sharing Your Truth Can Be Your Most Valuable Asset,” revealing why you—not algorithms—will shape the ethical, economic, and emotional contours of our next era.
So, turn on, tune in, and claim your future—one story after another.
Grab your backpack, sharpen your pencils, and do not forget your sense of humor, because you’re going back to school! But this is not your average lecture hall with squeaky chairs and bad coffee. Nope. This time, it’s Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, and your professor is none other than Dr. Drew Davidson.
Dr. Drew had our Biz-Souls hosts, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler, so giddy with enthusiasm about play that they nearly turned the studio into a giant ball pit. (We’re still waiting for the invoice on the clean-up.)
So, who is this Drew Davidson wizard of play?
He’s a professor, producer, and player of interactive media. He doesn’t just talk games — he lives them. From comics to games to transformational experiences, Dr. Drew is out here showing us how play isn’t just fun and games… it’s a tool for collaboration, creativity, healthier lifestyles, and maybe — just maybe — saving the world.
And yes, we can all thank the classic CD-ROM game Myst for sparking Drew’s obsession with the deep power of play. (Raise your hand if you spent hours trapped in that world and loved every second!)
Tune in, laugh a little, learn plenty, and discover why play just might be the most serious business strategy of all.
Warning: Listening to this episode may result in spontaneous bursts of joy, increased collaboration, and uncontrollable urges to gamify your next staff meeting.
And subscribing may result in a longer and happier life.
Find out more about Dr. Drew Davidson at:
https://playstorypress.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewdavidson/
What do change, leadership, and storytelling have in common? Patti Sanchez, that’s what!
In this unforgettable episode, co-hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler welcome the consummate and articulate storyteller herself, Patti Sanchez. Known for her clarity, empathy, and transformative insight, Patti delivered a master class in business storytelling—with soul.
A fantastic guest with a gracious presence, Patti shared wisdom with warmth and intellect, leaving us (and our listeners) inspired and energized.
Together, we explore:
• Why storytelling is the essential tool for today’s business leaders and developers
• How stories reduce resistance, foster connection, and rally people behind bold ideas
• Patti’s entrepreneurial journey—what she’s learning 18 months into solopreneurship
From boardrooms at Apple and Salesforce to executive workshops at VMware and GE, Patti has helped visionary leaders turn complex ideas into compelling narratives that move people—and organizations—forward.
Whether you're leading a team, building a brand, or just trying to get your cat to listen (good luck with that, Jeffrey), this episode will reshape the way you think about influence, communication, and change.
Patti is the award-winning author of:
• Presenting Virtually: Communicate and Connect with Online Audiences
• Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols
Learn more about her work: https://pattisan.com
Connect with her: linkedin.com/in/pattisanchez
Related Episodes You Might Love
• Episode 164: Words Matter – Communicating Like a Human
• Episode 152: Building Bridges with Story: The Core of Connection
• Episode 139: Play for Better Living! Why Play Makes Every Life Better
Set your story free and let it soar.