The Mike Method

What if some of the moments you'd rather forget are actually the stories that could help you connect most powerfully with others?In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins is joined by Judy Carter, pioneering comedian, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and internationally recognized expert in using humour and personal stories to connect with an audience. From performing stand-up and appearing on more than 100 television shows to writing The New Comedy Bible and The Message of You, Judy has spent decades studying what makes people laugh, listen, and remember.Judy shares why the "messes" in our lives often contain our most meaningful messages and how leaders can turn difficult, imperfect, and unexpected experiences into stories that create connection.She breaks down the three stories every leader should have ready: a personal heart story, the origin story of their organization or career, and a client success story. She also explains why the strongest stories don't position the leader as the hero, but instead help the audience recognize something of themselves in the experience.Mike and Judy also explore the mechanics of humour. Judy introduces simple comedy formulas, including "small, small, big," and explains why surprise and contrast are at the heart of making people laugh. She shares practical ways leaders can use humour without becoming comedians, from opening a presentation with a shared experience to paying attention to what's happening in the room before stepping on stage.They also discuss vulnerability, why sharing failure can change how others perceive a leader, how to remove unnecessary details from a story, and why a speaker's biggest competition for attention may be the phone in someone's hand.In this episode:• How to turn a personal "mess" into a meaningful message• The three stories every leader should know how to tell• Why vulnerability can strengthen connection and trust• How to tell a client success story without making yourself the hero• Judy's "small, small, big" comedy formula• Why surprise and contrast make humour work• How to create connection early in a presentation• Why good storytelling requires knowing which details to leave out• How humour can make leadership communication more engaging and memorable• Why reading the room matters before you begin speakingEpisode Resources:• The New Comedy Bible• The Message of You• Judy Carter's website• Judy's Instagram

What if play wasn't the opposite of work, but one of the most underused tools leaders have for building connection, trust, creativity, and engagement?In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins is joined by Kristi Herold, founder and CEO of JAM and author of It Pays to Play: How Play Improves Business Culture.Kristi has built her career around a simple idea: we don't have to leave play behind when we grow up. When leaders create opportunities for people to laugh, connect, celebrate, and have fun together, they can strengthen the relationships that help teams work better together.Mike and Kristi explore why friendships at work matter, how play can support retention and collaboration, and why the relationships people build beyond their job descriptions can make it easier to work across functions and solve problems together.Kristi also shares practical ways JAM brings play into everyday work, from shout-out channels and playful onboarding traditions to meeting rituals, team sports, core value awards, and their daily huddle.They also discuss:• Why play and meaningful work aren't mutually exclusive• The connection between friendship, belonging, and engagement at work• How leaders can make recognition more memorable• Why social wellness deserves a place alongside other workplace wellbeing initiatives• How play can strengthen relationships across teams and functions• Why trust can create more space for creativity and new ideas• Simple ways to make meetings more engaging• How playful traditions can become part of organizational culture• Why taking your business seriously doesn't require taking yourself seriouslyKristi's challenge to leaders is simple: make room for play. Not as a distraction from the work, but as another way to strengthen the relationships that help people do great work together.Episode Resources:Connect with Kristi LinkedIn / Website / InstagramIt Pays to Play by Kristi Herold JAM Group: https://jamgroup.com/ 

What if the real challenge with remote work isn't where people work, but how teams connect, communicate, and build trust when they aren't sharing the same physical space?In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Katherine Robinette, founder and president of Keystone and Raven. With more than 30 years of experience as a speaker, consultant, and facilitator, Katherine helps leaders understand what is happening beneath the surface of their organizations and address the friction that can get in the way of progress.Mike and Katherine explore why remote and hybrid work can work well when leaders are intentional about the norms that support it. They discuss the social interactions teams can miss in virtual environments, why difficult conversations often need more than an email or Slack message, and how curiosity can help leaders understand before responding.They also explore the role of one-on-ones as a space for attunement rather than accountability, why employees should have ownership over those conversations, and how leaders can support people without needing to know every detail of their work.Katherine closes the conversation with four dimensions she believes can help leaders navigate today's changing work environment: mindset, method, metrics, and mood.In this episode:Why remote work requires intentional social normsHow leaders can build stronger human connection virtuallyWhy the meeting can start before the agenda doesChoosing the right communication channel when emotion or conflict is involvedHow better questions can prevent misunderstandings from escalatingWhy curiosity matters when leaders disagreeThe difference between alignment and attunementHow to make one-on-ones more useful for employeesWhy leaders don't need to know every detail of their team's workKatherine's four dimensions of leadership: mindset, method, metrics, and moodEpisode Resources:Katherine: Website / LinkedIn Katherine's Blog Shed the Armor: https://keystoneandraven.com/blog

Whether you’re speaking to a thousand people from a stage or one person across a table, how you communicate shapes what people remember.In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Stefano Cossalter, a seven-time public speaking champion, keynote speaker, trainer, master hypnotist, NLP master practitioner, and certified coach. Stefano has won more speaking competitions than anyone in the 90-plus-year history of Toastmasters in BC, but becoming a confident speaker was anything but automatic for him.Stefano shares how he went from freezing in conversations and avoiding networking to building a career around public speaking and helping others become more effective communicators.Mike and Stefano explore why public speaking is ultimately a leadership skill, how storytelling helps create connection and influence, and why humour is something people can learn and practise. Stefano also breaks down his simple four-part framework for telling a compelling story and explains why preparation gives speakers more freedom to be present when it matters.They also discuss how to personalize a presentation for an audience, why useful feedback can make such a difference, and how preparation can help speakers respond when things don’t go according to plan.In this episode:Why public speaking matters far beyond the stageStefano’s journey from avoiding public speaking to becoming a seven-time speaking championHow communication skills can be developed through practiceA four-part framework for telling more compelling storiesHow vulnerability can help create connectionWhy humour often comes from disrupting expectationsPractical ways to bring levity into a presentationHow to ask for feedback that helps you improveWhy connecting with an audience can begin before you take the stageThe difference between personalizing and completely rebuilding a presentationWhy strong communicators prepare instead of relying on their ability to wing itHow preparation helps you adapt when things don’t go according to planWhether you regularly speak from a stage, lead meetings, present ideas, or simply want to communicate more effectively, this conversation offers practical ways to become a more prepared, connected, and memorable communicator.Episode Resources:Connect with Stefano: LinkedIn / WebsiteStefano TEDx talk

What deserves your best energy today?Antonio Zivanovic has built his life around that question. An entrepreneur, tech founder, and one of Canada’s leading insurance advisors, Antonio has spent years developing practical systems that help him manage multiple businesses, family life, health, and the commitments that matter most to him.In this conversation, Mike and Antonio explore why managing energy can matter more than trying to fit more into the day. They discuss the hidden cost of saying yes, the microhabits that compound over time, and why high performance often depends on the systems and support we create around ourselves.Antonio shares how he has built household and business systems to protect time and energy, from food preparation and family support to routines that reduce the number of decisions competing for his attention. Mike also shares how he tracks his end-of-day energy and plans recovery between demanding conversations so that work does not receive all of his capacity.They also discuss deliberate practice, the role of recovery, and why the habits that support performance are usually built one at a time.A practical conversation about being more intentional with your energy, your commitments, and what receives your best attention.Episode Resources:Connect with Antonioelektrafi

AI is changing more than how work gets done. It's changing how businesses create value.In this episode, Mike is joined by Mike McIsaac, Chartered Professional Accountant, entrepreneur, and trusted advisor with more than 25 years of experience helping businesses navigate valuation, acquisitions, corporate structure, taxation, and growth.Together they explore how AI is influencing business valuation, why expertise has become even more valuable in an AI-enabled workplace, and how leaders can use these tools to help their teams learn faster and focus on higher-value work.They also discuss practical AI tools they're using every day, the importance of active listening in a world of automation, and the leadership lessons they wish they'd learned earlier, from surrounding yourself with the right people to investing in continuous learning.In this episode:Why AI is beginning to influence business valuationsHow productivity and efficiency create long-term valueWhy expertise still matters in an AI-enabled worldHelping teams ask better questions and learn more quicklyThe balance between automation and active listeningAI tools that are changing daily workflowsLeadership lessons on learning, relationships, and growthEpisode Resources:Connect with Mike McIsaacThe Road Less Stupid by Keith CunninghamWho Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy