Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Mark Graban
578 episodes
5 days ago
Since 2006, the Lean Blog Interviews podcast has featured in-depth, candid conversations with leaders, thinkers, and doers in the world of Lean and continuous improvement. Hosted by Mark Graban—author, consultant, and longtime Lean practitioner—the show explores how Lean principles are being applied across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and more.
What sets this podcast apart? We go beyond tools and buzzwords. Our guests share real-world stories of success, struggle, learning, and leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned Lean veteran or just getting started, you’ll gain practical insights and fresh perspectives that you can take back to your own organization.
Topics include:
Lean as a management system and cultural transformation—not just a toolbox
Continuous improvement and problem-solving, at every level
Leadership behaviors that support real change
Psychological safety as a foundation for improvement
Lessons from the Toyota Production System, Lean Startup, and beyond
Candid stories about mistakes—and what we learn from them
We don’t talk much about “Lean Six Sigma” here. But if you believe improvement is about people first—this podcast is for you.
Many episodes feature a special focus on Lean in healthcare, reflecting Mark’s deep work in that field. Hear from leaders working to improve patient safety, reduce waste, and build cultures of respect and learning.
Find all episodes and show notes at www.LeanCast.org.
Learn more about Mark and his work at www.LeanBlog.org.
Questions or feedback? Email mark@leanblog.org
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Since 2006, the Lean Blog Interviews podcast has featured in-depth, candid conversations with leaders, thinkers, and doers in the world of Lean and continuous improvement. Hosted by Mark Graban—author, consultant, and longtime Lean practitioner—the show explores how Lean principles are being applied across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and more.
What sets this podcast apart? We go beyond tools and buzzwords. Our guests share real-world stories of success, struggle, learning, and leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned Lean veteran or just getting started, you’ll gain practical insights and fresh perspectives that you can take back to your own organization.
Topics include:
Lean as a management system and cultural transformation—not just a toolbox
Continuous improvement and problem-solving, at every level
Leadership behaviors that support real change
Psychological safety as a foundation for improvement
Lessons from the Toyota Production System, Lean Startup, and beyond
Candid stories about mistakes—and what we learn from them
We don’t talk much about “Lean Six Sigma” here. But if you believe improvement is about people first—this podcast is for you.
Many episodes feature a special focus on Lean in healthcare, reflecting Mark’s deep work in that field. Hear from leaders working to improve patient safety, reduce waste, and build cultures of respect and learning.
Find all episodes and show notes at www.LeanCast.org.
Learn more about Mark and his work at www.LeanBlog.org.
Questions or feedback? Email mark@leanblog.org
Why Caring Cultures Matter in Lean (with Caroline Greenlee & Chris Butterworth)
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
51 minutes
3 months ago
Why Caring Cultures Matter in Lean (with Caroline Greenlee & Chris Butterworth)
Caring cultures are not a “soft” add-on to Lean—they are foundational to sustainable continuous improvement. In this episode, Mark Graban speaks with Caroline Greenlee and Chris Butterworth, co-authors of Why Care, about why psychological safety, respect for people, and wellbeing are essential for performance that lasts.
The conversation explores how caring leadership enables people to speak up, learn from mistakes, and fully engage in problem solving. Drawing on research, real-world experience, and Shingo-aligned thinking, Caroline and Chris explain why thriving individuals are the starting point for thriving teams and organizations.
This episode is a must-listen for leaders, Lean practitioners, and improvement professionals who want to move beyond tools and build cultures where people—and improvement—can truly flourish.
They discuss why caring cultures are not a “soft” add-on to Lean, but a prerequisite for sustainable continuous improvement. The conversation explores how psychological safety, respect for people, and wellbeing shape leadership behavior, team dynamics, and organizational performance.
Topics include:
Why Lean fails when culture and wellbeing are ignored
How psychological safety enables people to speak up and solve problems
The role of leaders in creating respectful, high-performing cultures
Connections between caring, trust, and long-term improvement results
This episode is especially relevant for leaders, coaches, and practitioners who want Lean to last—without fear, blame, or burnout.
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond
Since 2006, the Lean Blog Interviews podcast has featured in-depth, candid conversations with leaders, thinkers, and doers in the world of Lean and continuous improvement. Hosted by Mark Graban—author, consultant, and longtime Lean practitioner—the show explores how Lean principles are being applied across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and more.
What sets this podcast apart? We go beyond tools and buzzwords. Our guests share real-world stories of success, struggle, learning, and leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned Lean veteran or just getting started, you’ll gain practical insights and fresh perspectives that you can take back to your own organization.
Topics include:
Lean as a management system and cultural transformation—not just a toolbox
Continuous improvement and problem-solving, at every level
Leadership behaviors that support real change
Psychological safety as a foundation for improvement
Lessons from the Toyota Production System, Lean Startup, and beyond
Candid stories about mistakes—and what we learn from them
We don’t talk much about “Lean Six Sigma” here. But if you believe improvement is about people first—this podcast is for you.
Many episodes feature a special focus on Lean in healthcare, reflecting Mark’s deep work in that field. Hear from leaders working to improve patient safety, reduce waste, and build cultures of respect and learning.
Find all episodes and show notes at www.LeanCast.org.
Learn more about Mark and his work at www.LeanBlog.org.
Questions or feedback? Email mark@leanblog.org
