Game Changers with Molly Fletcher is our podcast designed to help you maximize your influence and unleash your potential. Each episode, we take you behind the scenes with peak performers to learn what makes them tick and discover how you can apply their lessons to your life. Join Molly each week to hear from her special guests— top athletes and coaches, transformative CEOs, brilliant thought leaders, and entrepreneurs and trailblazers from around the world. Subscribe now on iTunes or Google Play.

Recent Episodes

Dan Heath

Episode 38- Dan Heath on How To Create Powerful Moments for our Customers and Employees

Moments have the power to awaken us, elevate us, and change us, yet many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck. In his new book, The Power of Moments, Dan Heath teaches us how we can create more magical moments in our lives. On this episode, we talk about how unlocking the power of moments can transform everything—from customer service to employee experience to our families. Moments matter, and we have the power to create them.

Follow Dan: Website

“Most great experiences are mostly forgettable and occasionally remarkable.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • His process for writing (1:55)
  • The idea behind Dan’s book, The Power of Moments (2:56)
  • How the Magic Castle Hotel figured out the power of moments (4:09)
  • The power of smaller moments (9:36)
  • Four ingredients of powerful positive moments: elevation, insight, pride, connection (13:20)
  • Improving the employee experience through creating moments (15:40)
  • The story of Joshy the Giraffe’s “vacation” at The Ritz-Carlton (19:38)
  • How to flip pit moments into peak moments (22:44)
  • Purpose is more important than passion (26:38)
  • How leaders can create moments that instill purpose (29:06)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Dabo Swinney, Clemson Footballl

Episode 37- Dabo Swinney on Leading from the Heart

With his infectious energy and unbridled enthusiasm, Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney has everyone taking notice of the Tigers. Under his leadership, Clemson won the national championship in 2016 and has appeared in the College Football Playoffs three consecutive years. On this episode, Dabo shares his inside-out approach to leadership, the defining moments in his own journey, and how he’s built a team culture rooted in love, discipline and service.

Follow Dabo: Twitter | Website

“Bloom where you are planted.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • Dabo’s leadership philosophy (1:15)
  • Core philosophy: “Serve their heart, not their talent.” (2:10)
  • Inside-out leadership approach (3:20)
  • The power of how you live between moments (5:23)
  • A defining moment in Dabo’s life (6:50)
  • Walking on the football team at Alabama (10:55)
  • Enjoying the daily journey and having a “windshield mentality” (12:46)
  • Prepare for your opportunity (13:58)
  • “Bloom where you’re planted.” (16:27)
  • Taking over the Clemson football program as interim head coach in 2008 (19:41)
  • How Dabo builds great relationships with his players (25:47)
  • “Water the bamboo.” (30:57)
  • Being disciplined about the little things: “Do common things in an uncommon way.” (33:12)
  • “Bring your own guts- BYOG.” (35:55)
  • From falling short in 2015 to becoming national champions in 2016 (39:35)
  • The game winning drive in the 2016 national championship to win the game with one second on the clock (43:22)
  • Failure doesn’t have to define you; failure develops you (45:19)
  • Dabo’s approach to goal setting (47:52)
  • Finding your authentic leadership style (50:20)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Patty McCord, Netflix

Episode 36- Patty McCord on How Netflix Built A Culture of Freedom and Responsibility

As the chief talent officer of Netflix, Patty McCord helped create the company’s famous “culture deck”—a 124-page document that went viral and has been shared over 20 million times. Sheryl Sandberg called it “the most important document to ever come out of the Valley.” In her new book, Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, Patty teaches how to build high-performance cultures. Great teams are not created with incentives, procedures, and perks, she says. The best thing leaders can do is get rid of the cumbersome systems for managing people. On this episode, we talk about the biggest mistakes HR leaders make, the truth about what motivates employees, and how to practice radical honesty in the workplace.

Follow Patty: Twitter | Website

“Every day, look at something you do that you’ve always done and ask yourself… why?”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • The big idea behind Patty’s book Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility (1:45)
  • The defining moment at Netflix that changed the way Patty viewed traditional HR (2:41)
  • How leadership changes when you strip away processes and structure (6:45)
  • The difference between a strategy and a plan (7:44)
  • The story behind how Netflix’s culture deck went viral (9:06)
  • How the Netflix culture deck changed the way Netflix hires talent (10:39)
  • Why turnover isn’t a problem and the decision to make Netflix a company that was great to be from (12:52)
  • Why Patty hates the terms “empowerment” and “engagement” (14:21)
  • The problem with anonymous employee feedback surveys (16:30)
  • What organizations get wrong when it comes to motivating employees (18:41)
  • Re-thinking annual performance reviews (20:49)
  • Why meetings are an effective forum for providing feedback (23:11)
  • Incorporating 360 feedback sessions and the start-stop-continue exercise (24:25)
  • Patty’s advice on how to approach hiring talent (28:21)
  • The one question HR leaders should always ask (32:36)
  • What keeps companies from adapting and evolving (36:20)
  • Build a sports team, not a family (48:18) 

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Patrick Lencioni

Episode 35- Patrick Lencioni on The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team

Passionate about creating great teams, Patrick Lencioni helps leaders and organizations improve teamwork, clarity and engagement. The founder and president of The Table Group, Patrick is the author of 11 books which have sold over 5 million copies. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fortune and Inc., and the Wall Street Journal called him “one of the most in demand speakers in America.” On this episode, Patrick talks about the five dysfunctions that inhibit teams from reaching their potential. Learn how to build trust, embrace healthy conflict, commit to a goal, hold each other accountable, and get results.

Follow Patrick: Twitter | Website

“Without trust, you can’t have good conflict.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • Dysfunction #1: The absence of vulnerability-based trust (2:15)
  • Two simple exercises that can change trust dynamics on a team (3:00)
  • An example of how the personal histories exercise can help build trust (4:18)
  • Dysfunction #2: The fear of conflict (7:00)
  • Tactics to have tough conversations (9:08)
  • Dysfunction #3: Lack of commitment (11:37)
  • How to get different ideas on the table (14:06)
  • Dysfunction #4: Avoidance of accountability (16:22)
  • The difference between commitment and consensus (14:40)
  • How to create accountability inside of a team (18:33)
  • The team effectiveness exercise to improve accountability (19:56)
  • Dysfunction #5: Inattention to results (24:52)
  • How to create clear thematic goals (26:45)
  • Tips to have effective meetings (28:05)
  • The biggest mistake leaders make (29:27)
  • The three traits of an ideal team player: hungry, humble and smart (31:24)
  • Resources and upcoming events (34:19) 

 

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Jimmie Johnson NASCAR

Episode 34- Jimmie Johnson on How to Sustain Success: Lessons from a NASCAR Champ

When you see No. 48 ripping around the track with Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel, chances are he’s headed for Victory Lane. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Jimmie shares the all-time record with racing legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt and is one of the most accomplished professional athletes in sports today. Forbes named him The Most Influential Athlete and ESPN Magazine recently named him No. 4 on their Dominant 20, highlighting the most dominant 20 athletes of the last two decades. On this episode, Jimmie takes us behind the wheel to tell the story of how a kid from California shook up the racing world. We talk about the keys to his sustained success, the team behind him, and what fuels him on his drive for a record-shattering 8th title.

Follow Jimmie: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

“It wasn’t about stats or winning or championships. I fell in love with the experience. “

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • The keys to Jimmie Johnson’s consistent success in NASCAR (1:46)
  • How a NASCAR team is structured (2:51)
  • How he’s assumed a leadership role with his younger teammates (4:20)
  • The biggest influence on his racing career (5:18)
  • How Jeff Gordon served as a mentor early in his career (5:43)
  • The story of how he got discovered (6:55)
  • On competing for a record 8th NASCAR title (9:58)
  • What he’s learned from failure (11:40)
  • How he recovers from adversity (13:16)
  • On fitness as a competitive advantage (14:14)
  • How he has evolved as a driver over the years (17:00)
  • Work-life balance (18:00)
  • The lessons his kids have learned from watching him compete (21:10)
  • What it’s like behind the wheel on race day (22:30)
  • Taking on a mentorship role on the Hendricks team (24:15)
  • The Jimmie Johnson Foundation (25:47)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Joshua Medcalf

Episode 33- Joshua Medcalf on How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great

After asking the question, “What would I do if money didn’t matter?” Joshua Medcalf dropped out of his Masters program at Duke University, turned down scholarships to law school, and moved across the country to live and serve at a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles. From there, he went on to found Train to be CLUTCH, a consultancy whose mission is a heart-first approach to leadership, life skills and mental training. He’s the author of five books, including the bestseller Chop Wood Carry Water. On this episode, Joshua shares the difference between being goal-driven vs. mission driven, the true meaning of mental toughness, and what happens when we confuse what we do with who we are.

Follow Joshua: Twitter | Instagram | Website

“What does the world need? What am I passionate about? What am I really good at?”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • What inspired Joshua’s journey (1:56)
  • What does the world need? What am I passionate about? What am I really good at? (5:50)
  • Joshua’s mental training work with sports teams (7:34)
  • The problem with arbitrary outcome-based goals (9:33)
  • His definition of true mental toughness (10:36)
  • The difference between mission driven and goal driven (11:10)
  • What you do vs. who you are (13:18)
  • How to fall in love with the process (16:12)
  • A story from Chop Wood Carry Water (19:02)
  • The difference between positive self-talk vs. beneficial and constructive thinking (27:28)
  • The importance of showing up consistently for others (32:56)
  • A new scorecard exercise (35:15)
  • The three things that women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance does that drive North Carolina’s success (39:52)
  • The biggest influences in Joshua’s life (50:30)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Jenn Lim

Episode 32- Jenn Lim on Delivering Happiness at Work

Jenn Lim is on a mission to change the way people think about work. She is the CEO and Chief Happiness Officer of Delivering Happiness, a company that she and Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh co-created to inspire passion and purpose in workplaces for a happier world. On this episode, Jenn talks about the science behind happiness, the four components that drive happiness at work, and the reasons why happiness really is good for business.

Follow Jenn: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

“What would we do with our lives if money didn’t matter?”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • The definition of happiness (1:39)
  • The happiness ROI- why happiness at work matters (3:56)
  • The importance of employee lifetime value (ELTV) (6:02)
  • The happiness framework—a sense of control, a sense of progress, a sense of connectedness (10:36)
  • Getting alignment on values, behaviors and purpose (14:43)
  • Defining vision and meaning at work (16:00)
  • How a down time in Jenn’s life led her to stumble upon positive psychology (17:40)
  • What will we do with our lives if money didn’t matter? (20:02)
  • The happiness heartbeat exercise (22:00)
  • Case Study: the government of Dubai (24:35)
  • Case Study: Northwell Health’s culture of care (26:25)
  • Advice for when you are unhappy at work (29:10)
  • Jenn’s favorite resources (33:02)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Daniel Pink- WHEN

Episode 31- Daniel Pink on The Science of Perfect Timing

Timing is everything. So why don’t we pay more attention to the “when” decisions in our lives? New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink shares the research and surprising takeaways from his new book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing.

  • When is the best time to hold a meeting?
  • Should I take a break?
  • When should I go to the gym?
  • Is now the best time to start a new project?

Dan answers all these questions and more, revealing how we can systematically make better, smarter decisions about our time.

Follow Dan: Twitter | Facebook | Website

“We think timing is an art; timing is a science.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • What’s the big idea? (1:50)
  • What do we know about timing? The surprising research behind timing. (2:54)
  • How taking breaks actually increases productivity (4:01)
  • The stages of the day: peak, trough, recovery (7:21)
  • When is the best time to work out? (8:44)
  • The fresh start effect—when we should start certain types of behavior change (12:30)
  • How knowing your chronotype (lark, owl, third bird) will help you determine when you should do things (15:40)
  • How to determine your chronotype (17:04)
  • How to do the right work at the right time in a 9 to 5 environment (24:00)
  • Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? (25:17)
  • Why you should take a lunch break (25:49)
  • Advice for improving your productivity based on your chronotype (28:23)
  • The best time to schedule meetings (30:55)
  • The relationship between energy levels and timing (32:58)
  • Dan’s approach to the writing process (34:32)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating or review!

Chris Barez Brown

Episode 30- Chris Baréz-Brown on Unleashing Your Creative Potential

Wake up! Did you know that more than 80% of our waking time is spent on autopilot? Creativity and innovation guru Chris Baréz-Brown is here to help you break free from this trap. He’s helped brands like Nike, Coca-Cola and Sony unleash their creative potential, and now he’s bringing his magic to us with his new book, WAKE UP! On this episode, Chris will inspire you to escape autopilot and embrace a more conscious, creative and joyful life.

Follow Chris: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

“Focus on what counts and not what shouts loudest.”

Click To Tweet

 

Show Notes

  • How leaders and organizations can foster creativity (2:30)
  • His creative awakening (4:08)
  • The connection between consciousness and creativity (5:16)
  • What is autopilot? (8:37)
  • The negative effects of autopilot (11:03)
  • The negative and positive impact of habits (11:58)
  • The Notice What You Notice exercise (13:33)
  • Viewing the world through the eyes of a child (16:24)
  • Doing is addictive (17:50)
  • Saying yes to the things that you would ordinarily say no to (19:53)
  • Re-evaluating your relationship with technology and eliminating digital distractions (25:09)
  • Building in white space to your schedule (30:06)
  • Your one big thing (32:48)
  • The balance between thinking and feeling (39:17)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!

Ginger Hardage, Southwest Airlines

Episode 29- Ginger Hardage on How Southwest Airlines Built A Legendary Company Culture

As former SVP of Culture & Communications for Southwest Airlines, Ginger Hardage spent 25 years championing the values at the heart of Southwest’s legendary culture. Her new brand, Unstoppable Cultures, is on a mission to help organizations create and sustain cultures of enduring greatness. On this episode, Ginger shares the core values behind “The Southwest Way,” and breaks down how you can build a healthy, strong culture in your own organization.

Follow Ginger: Twitter | Instagram | Website

“Make sure your purpose feels like an old pair of shoes.”  

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

  • The core values at the heart of Southwest Airlines
  • Why culture matters and how to empower employees to take ownership (4:05)
  • How Southwest Airlines recruits, hires and retains talent (6:02)
  • Hire tough so you can manage easy (8:52)
  • Threading company values throughout the employee experience (10:40)
  • “The Southwest Way” in action and the value of storytelling (13:40)
  • Southwest CEO Gary Kelly has a unique approach to connecting with employees (16:15)
  • Advice on how to change your company’s culture (20:14)
  • Ginger’s favorite books on company culture (24:25)
  • The biggest culture killers that create a toxic workplace culture (25:27)
  • The mission behind her new brand, Unstoppable Cultures (29:28)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review!