.png)
The Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay Johnson
Welcome to The Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behavior with Jay Johnson — the podcast where behavioral science meets the day-to-day challenges of leadership and talent development.
Each week, Jay Johnson, behavioral architect, two-time TEDx speaker, and corporate trainer, brings you bold conversations and tactical insights to help organizations develop better managers, improve communication, and shape workplace behavior that drives results.
Whether you're an emerging leader, a C-suite executive, an operations manager, or an individual seeking growth, this show delivers behavior-based strategies that stick. Jay and experts in the field come together to share a behind-the-scenes look at the tools that build high-performing teams, reduce burnout, and foster cultures of accountability and trust.
From leadership development and management coaching to behavioral intelligence and culture transformation, you'll walk away with actionable tools to improve your people, processes, and performance.
This isn’t theory. This is real-world behavior, transformed. Welcome to the Forge.
Episodes
57 episodes
Wiring the Brain for Leadership Excellence with Dr. Conor Hogan
Dr. Conor Hogan takes us on a fascinating journey through the neural pathways of effective leadership in this mind-expanding conversation. Drawing from his unique background—from coaching sports as a teenager to working with special needs child...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 55
•
41:50
.png)
Humanizing HR: Leadership for Everyone with Mandee Bowsmith
Leadership doesn't require a fancy title, an MBA, or a corner office. What it does demand is authenticity, communication, and genuine care for the people you work with. This transformative perspective forms the heart of my conversation with Man...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 54
•
41:22
Rewire Your Mind: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behaviors with Dr. Albert Bramante
Ever wonder why some people consistently sabotage their own success? In this eye-opening conversation with psychologist Dr. Albert Bramante, author of "Rise Above the Script," we dive deep into the hidden mental patterns that keep talented peop...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 53
•
41:12
From Broadway to Boardroom: Finding Your Authentic Voice with Jay Harris
What happens when a Broadway performer turns his theatrical training toward helping professionals find their authentic voice? In this captivating conversation with Jay Harris, we explore the powerful intersection of performing arts and professi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 52
•
45:44
Leading Through Uncertainty with Peter Willis and Gareth Morgan
What separates a true crisis from everyday challenges, and how can leaders effectively navigate through unprecedented disruption? In this eye-opening conversation, Peter Willis and Gareth Morgan—authors of "Becoming Good at Crises: A Field Guid...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 51
•
1:01:07
Beyond the Self: Creating Waves of Positivity in Work and Life with Jon Sabes
Take a deep dive into the philosophy that transforms daily habits into lifelong success with serial entrepreneur Jon Sabes. This conversation uncovers the power of "small, consistent efforts made upstream that lead to significant downstream eff...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 50
•
41:13
Independence in Learning - Fourth of July Special
What makes a training program truly effective? The answer might be simpler than we think: independence. When learners feel ownership over their development journey, engagement and results skyrocket.In this special Fourth of July solo epi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 49
•
10:25
The Power of We: Building Connection in Corporate Culture with Kyle McDowell
Have you ever achieved success but felt empty inside? Kyle McDowell's journey from corporate executive to leadership visionary offers a roadmap for anyone feeling disconnected in their professional life.After spending decades climbing t...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 48
•
51:57
Transforming Learning Through AI-Powered Job Shadows with Frank Fusco
Ever watched someone masterfully perform a task and thought, "I wish I could understand exactly what they're doing and why"? In today's episode of The Talent Forge, we explore the revolutionary approach Silicon Society is taking to transform wo...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 47
•
43:56
Clarity, Communication, and Co-Pilots: The New Skills for an AI-Powered Workplace with Fahed Bizzari
The AI revolution is reshaping how we work, learn, and create—yet 81% of professionals feel anxious about this transformation. Why? Many have been avoiding the inevitable, creating what Fahed Bizzari calls "heads in the sand" that are now being...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 46
•
52:27
Beyond Training: The Art of Speaking Leadership's Language with Traci Austin
Why does executive leadership often fail to see the value in talent development initiatives? Traci Austin of Elevated Talent Consulting reveals the critical disconnect between HR professionals and the C-suite that's creating frustration on both...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 45
•
41:32
Leading Through Change: Succession Planning at Scale with Ernesto Gómez
What happens when nearly 150 leadership positions need to be filled simultaneously due to a wave of retirements? For Ernesto Gómez, former VP of Human Capital at Grupo Alpha and CHRO at Sigma Alimentos, this wasn't a hypothetical scenario—it wa...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 44
•
50:18
Unleashing Your Inner Champion: How Mindset Drives Success with Nicky Billou
Nikky Billou takes us on an extraordinary journey from post-revolution Iran to becoming a champion for freedom and human potential. As a Christian immigrant fleeing religious persecution, Nikky's early experiences shaped his profound understand...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 43
•
28:49
The Psychology of Presence: How to Connect and Influence Through Body Language with Richard Reid
Richard Reid takes us on a fascinating journey from his classics degree and IT consulting days to his current role as a psychologist working with executives and organizations. The discussion opens with a counterintuitive insight: b...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 42
•
41:55
Bridging Cultures: How Understanding Differences Improves Business Outcomes with Sanjyot Dunung
Cultural intelligence has become the hidden competitive advantage in today's global business landscape. When your teams can navigate the subtle nuances of cross-cultural communication, everything from customer satisfaction to operational effici...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 42
•
44:48
Digital Overwhelm in the Workplace with Dr. Craig Mattson
The digital workplace isn't just changing how we work—it's fundamentally altering how we communicate, learn, and connect. After spending years interviewing dozens of Millennial and Gen Z professionals, Dr. Craig Mattson uncovered surprising pat...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 41
•
37:02
The 86% Solution: Why Accountability Partners Transform Goal Achievement with Aaron Helton
What if the leadership development initiatives you're pouring resources into aren't delivering measurable results? In this eye-opening conversation with Aaron Helton, leadership consultant and author, we uncover the science behind truly effecti...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 40
•
37:08
Beyond Visualization: The Mind-Body Connection That Changes Everything with Dominika Staniewicz
Could your brain be lying to you? What if everything you thought about motivation and training is fundamentally flawed? In this eye-opening conversation with Dominika Staniewicz, we dive deep into how neuroscience is revolutionizing corporate t...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 39
•
46:38
The Dance of Authentic Leadership: Embracing Your Whole Self at Work with Dr. Jennifer Nash
Dr. Jennifer Nash takes us on a profound journey into what it truly means to lead with humanity in today's complex workplace. Drawing from her background in piano, dance, foreign languages, and eventually the automotive industry, she shares how...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 38
•
52:53
The Elite Mindset: Transforming How Athletes and Executives Reach Their Peak with Gary Chupik
What separates truly exceptional performers from the merely talented? According to mental performance coach Gary Chupik, it's not motivation, talent, or even discipline—it's self-leadership.Drawing from his extensive work with professio...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 37
•
47:40
Strategic Storytelling: The Key to Transformational Training with Aleya Harris
How do you turn mandatory corporate training from a dreaded box-checking exercise into an engaging experience that actually changes behavior? The answer lies in strategic storytelling.In this eye-opening episode, Aleya Harris, a strateg...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 36
•
37:59
Transforming Vision into Action: Emma Rainville's Guide to Operations
Dive into an insightful conversation with Emma Rainville, dubbed the Wizard of Ops, as she shares her unparalleled wisdom on the intersection of operations and talent development. With an incredible journey from managing one of the largest HVAC...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 35
•
42:30
Crayon Revolution: How Child-Like Play Makes Better Executives with Susan Hensley
What happens when a television journalist becomes an HR executive and discovers the transformative power of crayons? Susan Hensley shares her transformative three-career act from television journalist to HR executive to art journali...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 34
•
46:44
How to Create Inclusive Spaces: A Conversation with Delphia Howze
Explore the dynamic world of inclusion with Delphia Howze in our latest episode! Delphia shares her surprising career journey from aspiring attorney to leading advocate for inclusive practices in the workplace. In a world that increasingly valu...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 33
•
39:30
From Service to Success: Understanding Veteran Workforce Challenges with Jason Anderson
Many veterans face challenges when transitioning from military service to civilian jobs. In this enlightening episode of The Talent Forge, Jason Anderson, a veteran with years of corporate experience, unpacks the complexities behind these trans...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 32
•
43:53