Kelly connects with Tony Wagner, senior research fellow at the Learning Policy Institute and former codirector of Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Change Leadership Group. They discuss his latest book – co-written with Ulrik Juul Christensen: “Mastery: Why Deeper Learning is Essential in an Age of Distraction.”  “Practice is an essential element of mastery learning.”  […]

Kelly talks to legendary screenwriter John August (“Big Fish,” “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory,” who co-hosts the “Scriptnotes” podcast with Craig Mazin (“Chernobyl,” “The Last of Us.”). They have a new book: “Scriptnotes: A Book About Screenwriting and Things That Are interesting to Screenwriters.”  “Be passionate in agreement. Be dispassionate in disagreement.”  “As writers, we […]

Kelly talks to Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Workshop, Louis Henry Mitchell who has written the book: “Qreative Evolution: The Intimate Practice of Creative Fulfillment Through Guided Self-Education.”   “Creativity is not limited to one type of creation.”  “You don’t decide your purpose in life; you discover it.”  “Confidence can be lost if it […]

Kelly welcomes Harvard professor Ranjay Gulati back to the podcast to discuss his new book, “How to Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage.”   “Courage is a learned behavior, not an innate one.”  “Heroes seldom act alone.”  “Sometimes, frankly, we take confidence too far.” 

Kelly connects with longtime film critic Nick Digilio to talk about his new book “40 Years, 40 Films.” They discuss growing up in Chicago, falling in love with movies, and Nick’s start at WGN Radio on the Roy Leonard Show. Then they dig into some of Nick’s favorite movies, such as Albert Brooks’ “Lost in […]

In this engaging conversation, Goldie Chan, a brand and storytelling expert, discusses the nuances of introversion, personal branding, and the dynamics between introverts and extroverts. She shares insights from her new book, ‘Personal Branding for Introverts,’ and emphasizes the importance of networking, small talk, and setting expectations in professional environments. Goldie also draws parallels between […]

Kelly talks to Venezuelan-born, Chicago-based photographer Daniel Moreno about his new book of photographs of Chicago’s legendary Holiday Train.  “To me, the Holiday Train is more than a seasonal spectacle; it’s a train of light.” “I’ve felt the collective joy of strangers momentarily united by a shared sense of awe.”  “In the end, the train doesn’t […]

In this conversation, Kelly Leonard interviews Bastion Bergmann, co-founder and COO of Solston, about the significance of play in human experience and its implications for business strategy, particularly in gaming. They discuss how gaming can serve as a powerful tool for engagement and marketing, illustrated by Burberry’s innovative approach to integrating their brand into a […]

Kelly welcomes Caroline Stokes back to the podcast to discuss her new book “Aftershock to 2030: A CEO’s Guide to Reinvention in the Age of AI, Climate and Societal Collapse.” “This book is about reprogramming the nervous system of leadership.”  “Technology offers both promise and paradox.”  “Virtue signaling has become a form of social currency.” 

In this episode, Kelly Leonard interviews James Kimmel Jr., a clinical professor and author, about his book ‘The Science of Revenge.’ They explore the neuroscience behind revenge, its addictive nature, and how it manifests in real-life scenarios. Kimmel shares compelling stories, including those of mass violence, and discusses the role of mental illness in revenge-seeking […]

Margaret Andrews leads a popular class at Harvard University that she has turned into the book: “Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding.” “Leadership is ultimately about relationships.”  “Each new level of leadership requires a new level of us.”  “Leadership is, in many ways, a creative act.”

Kelly has a powerful conversation with longtime friend and Second City colleague Tania Richard, whose new book “Black Girl from a White Suburb” looks at race, a life in theatre, loss and finding resilience along the way. “People think actors are good liars. We aren’t.” “We believe what we need to get by.”  “There is no other […]

Kelly connects with longtime BBDO CEO Andrew Robertson to talk about his new book: “The Creative Shift: How to Power Up Your Organization by Making Space for New Ideas.”  “Every new idea represents a risk.”  “Creativity happens in leaps, not steps.”  “All great ideas sound great – in retrospect.” 

Kelly talks to Muriel Wilkins, host of the award-winning Harvard Business Review podcast, Coaching Real Leaders. Her latest book is called “Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential.”  “Lasting change comes from within.”  “I want to be clear that coaching is not a substitute for therapy.”  “Our reluctance to engage in self-reflection […]

Kelly celebrates the release of Anne Libera’s new book on comedy, “Funnier.” They talk in front of a live audience at The Second City.  “Don’t waste your time following gurus.” “We need to value risk.” “True irony is deeper than simple opposition. It is opposition mixed with justice of a sort.”

Kelly welcomes Richard Thaler, the 2017 recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, to the podcast along with his co-author, Professor Alex Imas, to talk about their updated version of Thaler’s seminal book “The Winner’s Curse.” “Rationality is an assumption in economics, not a demonstrated fact.”  “People are not thinking enough about what […]

Kelly welcomes the always provocative Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic back to the podcast to talk about his new book: “Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity is Overrated (and What to Do Instead).” “By all means, keep it real – just don’t make everyone else suffer for it.” “Everybody loves change until they have to do it themselves.”  “Most of us […]

Kelly connects with Berkely Professor Toby Stuart to discuss his fascinating new book, “Annointed: The Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World.”  “Many of us resent where we sit in the food chain.”  “Status begets status.”  “Luck is enshrined in social hierarchies.” 

Kelly welcomes the always-inspiring Morgan Housel back to the podcast to discuss his new book, “The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life.” “All behavior makes sense with enough information.” “Be careful judging how other people spend their money.”  “The best measure of wealth is what you have minus what you want.” 

Kelly welcomes Professor Colin Fisher back to the podcast to discuss his new book, “The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups.” “We’re living in an age of unprecedented individualism.”  “Groups that look outward adapt faster to an ever-changing world.” “Tolerated deviants can’t dissent on every issue.”