The Behaviorist

Emotionally Intelligent Teams with Abby Rivera

In this episode of The Behaviorist, Sarah Colantonio sits down with Abby Rivera, Principal of Wickersham Elementary School, to explore what emotionally intelligent teams actually look like in practice.Drawing on decades of research and Abby's firsthand leadership experience, Sarah and Abby examine how self-awareness, trust, active listening, vulnerability, and proactive problem-solving shape high-performing teams. From fostering psychological safety to building optimism during challenging seasons, Abby shares candid stories about cultivating a workplace culture that feels more like a family—one where people hold each other accountable, support one another, and stay focused on a shared vision.Whether you lead a school, nonprofit, business, or community organization, this episode offers actionable insights into creating a team culture where people can thrive together and navigate uncertainty with resilience.
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To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Building an Ownership Culture: with Salena Coachman and Aimée Deraco

In this episode of The Behaviorist, guest host Salena Coachman sits down with Aimée Deraco, President and CEO of Brubaker, to explore what it truly means to build a culture of ownership. As the leader of a 100% employee-owned company, Aimée shares how trust, transparency, accountability, and genuine care for others create workplaces where people feel invested in both organizational success and one another.
 
To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).~ ~ ~To learn more about Brubaker, visit https://www.brubakerinc.com and follow them on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

When the Leader Checks Out: The Withdrawal Causing Quiet Calamity

Join Sarah and Kedren to explore the phenomenon of leaders withdrawing due to a perceived and persistent  lack of agency and efficacy.  This withdrawal is hitting the world-changers hard.  Leaders who have been fueled by hope and the pursuit of ideals often motivate themselves and others through the conviction that together, they could be positive change agents.  When circumstances align to prevent progress, how do leaders hold the tension, stay engaged, and continue to inspire others?  Sarah and Kedren discuss critical leadership skills necessary for this moment in history, including learning how to hold the tension, stay in the middle, accept what is, be realistically optimistic, and persist.  Negative Capability mindsets and behaviors are more important than ever when the seemingly rational adaptation is to check out, give up, stop pushing, and withdraw.  Leaders can 'quiet quit' too, with the potential of derailing movements, teams, and companies.  Work Wisdom is always grateful to Merete Wedell-Wedellsborg for her insightful contributions to our field, but never more thankful than for her very timely March 2026 HBR article that illuminates the widespread phenomenon of leaders losing agency and its subsequent implications for their leadership.
To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

What AI Can't Do (and Why It Matters) — The Behaviorist: Unplugged

AI can write your emails, simulate empathy, and automate nearly anything — but can it build a community? Can it forgive? Can it truly lead?
In this episode of The Behaviorist: Unplugged, Kedren Crosby sits down with Work Wisdom Director of Communications, Hunter Smith, for a wide-ranging conversation about what artificial intelligence simply cannot do — and why that matters more than ever for today's leaders and organizations.
TIMESTAMPS0:00 — Intro 0:30 — What AI Isn’t Good At 4:05 — How AI Could Change Leadership 7:55 — On Building Community 12:05 — How WW Approaches AI 14:25 — Anthropic, OpenAI, and the Pentagon 18:25 — AI in Communications 24:30 — Growth Is In the Struggle 27:30 — Work Wisdom’s AI-Free Substack 29:40 — Seal of Originality? 31:23 — AI & the Future of Management
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To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Compassionate Disagreement — The Behaviorist: Unplugged

Lately, it seems as if the concept of “common ground” has vanished from the culture. More and more people are falling into the trap of “hating” the other side. But, what if we told you it doesn’t always have to be this way?
In the latest episode of The Behaviorist: Unplugged, Kedren sits down with Todd Snovel for a lively discussion around how to hold compassion for those with whom you disagree. From various listening techniques to the role compassion plays in building connection with others, this episode dives into the different ways we can re-discover common ground and build connection with others—even when you’re on opposite sides of an argument. #WorkWisdom
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To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

The Debate Around Remote Work — The Behaviorist: Unplugged

Welcome to The Behaviorist: Unplugged! In this brand new spin-off of The Behaviorist podcast, the Work Wisdom team will sit down for an informal conversation about whatever topics have been on their minds lately. In our very first episode, Kedren and Sarah sat down for a chat about two articles (linked below) that they read in the July-August issue of Harvard Business Review. Is remote work a road to nowhere? How can you create a truly satisfying life? Listen in to hear their thoughts and commentary. #WorkWisdom
Harvard Business Review - Hybrid Still Isn’t Working: https://hbr.org/2025/07/hybrid-still-isnt-working
Harvard Business Review - How the Busiest People Find Joy: https://hbr.org/2025/07/how-the-busiest-people-find-joy
TIMESTAMPS
Intro - 0:00 - 3:09 Facilitating Virtual Meetings - 3:10 - 8:19 The Problem with Individual KPIs - 8:20 - 11:41 Office Hospitality & Intrinsic Motivation - 11:42 - 15:12 Creating a Satisfying Life - 15:13 - 17:26 Final Thoughts - 17:27 - 18:41
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To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Cultivating Confidence with Salena Coachman

In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Kedren Crosby is joined by Salena Coachman, VP of Talent Sustainability & Acquisition at Armstrong World Industries, for a thoughtful conversation on self-confidence as a practice—not a personality trait. Together, they explore what confidence really is, how it’s built over time, and why inner authority, decisiveness, and values alignment are essential to modern leadership. Drawing from personal stories and leadership experience, they discuss executive presence, cultivating cultures of confidence, and practical habits that sustain confidence through uncertainty and change.
To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Loss Aversion

In this episode of The Behaviorist, host Dylan Ehlert and guest Joey McMonagle, Chief Business Development Officer at Atomic Design, explore how loss aversion influences our decisions—often keeping us from taking the risks that lead to growth, innovation, and fulfillment. Together, they unpack why our brains are wired to avoid loss, how that bias shows up in leadership and organizational culture, and practical ways to reframe risk, cultivate a growth mindset, and lead with courage.
To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Enneagram Instincts with Liz Orr

Join Liz Orr and Sarah Colantonio as they dig into a lesser-known aspect of the Enneagram types: the Instincts. Since instincts originate from an unconscious place, having an understanding of our default and what they look like can help us navigate conflict and lead more effectively.
To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).

Journaling with The Reset

In this episode of The Behaviorist, we're introducing The Reset, a simple yet powerful self-coaching method designed by Work Wisdom to help you reframe your perspective, recenter your mind, and reality-test your current challenges. Whether you're facing change, working through adversity, or both, this tool is here to support your growth.
You'll hear the origin story of the Reset methodology, along with two guided experiences: use it during your commute with Maria Hoover’s calming voice helping you return to peace, or incorporate it into your journaling practice with Todd Snovel’s reflective guidance toward clarity and hope.
To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (@workwisdom).