RWI Podcast
Resilient Workplace Innovations, hosted by Joy and Kellie, is a leadership and culture podcast helping organizations name and navigate the people problems that impact teams, communication, performance, and resilience. With practical, research-informed insight, each episode helps leaders build healthier workplaces, stronger teams, and less chaos.
We’re RWI.
Where leadership meets real workplace dynamics.
tune in here
"Can we talk?" shouldn't send anyone into fight-or-flight — but it does, because most feedback feels like punishment, not development. Joy and Kellie introduce the CARE model (Context, Ask Permission, Reflect Together, Execute) for feedback that actually lands — plus what to do when the conversation goes sideways anyway.
When Feedback Feels Like Failure
tune in here
Every org claims it wants innovation — then buries it in fear, red tape, and stress. Joy and Kellie break down why "safe" and "stretched" aren't opposites — they're the exact combo that sparks breakthrough thinking. Backed by Google's Project Aristotle and research from Amy Edmondson and Teresa Amabile, this episode gives leaders a real diagnostic for their team's innovation climate — and a 30-day reset to fix it.
The Innovation Equation: Creativity Under Pressure
Tune in here
Power doesn't corrupt character — it rewires your brain. This episode breaks down the "power paradox": authority sharpens executive function while quietly dimming empathy and social read, and leaders get less corrective feedback to catch it. The fix isn't willpower, it's the AWARE framework — practical tools for staying grounded, curious, and correctable at the top.
What Happens to Our Brain When We Lead? Neuroscience of Power.
TUNE IN HERE
Great point, let's revisit that" usually means: never. Joy and Kellie unpack why avoided conflict isn't peace — it's an invoice with interest, paid later in turnover, burnout, and HR calls that used to be five-minute conversations. Plus: the hard calls that shaped RWI's own growth, and why clarity beats being liked, every time.
Micromanage or Mentor? The Line Between Oversight and Trust
tune in here
Joy and Kellie wrap Season 2 with three leadership themes organizations can’t afford to ignore: AI adoption without human development, psychological safety as a performance strategy, and the growing employee engagement crisis. Fresh off WorkHuman, they unpack what these trends mean for leaders, teams, and the future of resilient workplaces.
Season 2 Wrap Up
tune in here
Your team didn't stop being honest with you — they gave up on it. Joy and Kellie get real about why "nice" is just avoidance in a nicer outfit, including a raw look at the hard conversation they had with themselves about RWI's own direction after two major government bids. If you've been rehearsing a conversation in the shower, this is your sign to stop rehearsing and start talking.
Hi. We’re RWI. And We Have Opinions About Your Leader Feedback
tune in here
Crisis leadership isn't about being invulnerable — it's about staying present without burning out. Joy and Kellie dismantle the 80-hour-week martyr myth and introduce the Crisis Leadership Sustainability Model: Rhythms, Boundaries, Connection. Learn why your own regulation is the most powerful tool you have in a crisis — and how to lead through uncertainty without losing yourself.
Leading Through Crisis Without Losing Yourself
tune in here
What if your "difficult" employee is actually your most innovative leader? Joy and Kellie flip the script on neurodivergence — from accommodation to optimization. This episode reframes ADHD, autism, and dyslexia as leadership assets hiding in plain sight, and shows how designing for neurodivergent minds builds better systems for everyone.
