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

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

What makes someone an authority in their field? According to Henry DeVries, it isn't simply expertise. It's the ability to share that expertise in a way people remember.In this episode, Mike sits down with Henry DeVries, CEO of Indie Books International, bestselling author, ghostwriter, publisher, and storytelling expert who has helped hundreds of business leaders transform their knowledge into books that build credibility, influence, and business growth.Together they explore why every successful book begins with the reader rather than the author, how powerful stories create lasting impact, why leaders shape culture through the stories they tell, and what separates books people finish from books they forget.Whether you're thinking about writing a book, growing your business, or becoming a more effective communicator, this conversation offers practical ideas you can apply immediately.In this episode:Why authority begins with serving a specific audienceThe biggest mistake first-time authors makeHow storytelling strengthens leadership and cultureThe eight story frameworks that make ideas memorableWhy stories often outlast facts and dataHow a book can create new opportunities for your businessEpisode Resources:Connect with Henry DeVriesIndie Books International

Leadership leaves an impact long after a conversation ends.This week, Mike is joined by Lynae Schemenauer, an Executive Leader, wellness strategist, and founder of Healthy Living with Lynae. With 27 years of leadership experience in law enforcement and extensive expertise in clinical nutrition, mindset, and holistic wellness, she brings a unique perspective on what it takes to sustain high performance in demanding environments.Drawing from a career that has included major crimes, homicide, professional standards, and leadership roles across policing, Lynae explains why the people leading us often have a greater influence on our wellbeing than the work itself. Together, Mike and Lynae discuss why treating everyone the same isn't always effective leadership, how leaders influence team culture through their own habits, and why organizations that invest in wellbeing create stronger performance over time.Whether you lead a team, own a business, or want to build healthier ways of working, this conversation offers practical ideas you can apply immediately.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why leadership can have a lasting impact on wellbeing• How healthy leaders influence healthy teams• The connection between wellness and organizational performance• Why consistency matters more than one-off wellness initiatives• Practical ways leaders can support healthier workplaces

Every day we share information online without thinking twice. Photos, locations, event registrations, fitness apps, school schedules, and social media posts can all reveal more than we intend.This week, Mike is joined by security risk consultant Paige Hunter to explore how publicly available information can create unexpected vulnerabilities for individuals, families, and organizations. Drawing from her work in threat assessment, executive protection, critical infrastructure, and reputational risk, Paige explains how bad actors gather information, how organizations assess potential threats, and the practical steps anyone can take to better protect their privacy.Whether you're leading an organization, raising a family, or simply thinking more intentionally about your digital footprint, this conversation offers practical ideas you can put into practice right away.In this episode, you'll learn:Why "privacy first" is a practical mindset for everyday lifeHow publicly available information can create security risksThe surprising digital habits that reveal more than people realizeSimple ways to strengthen your online privacyHow organizations assess and mitigate security threatsWhy executives, business owners, and parents all benefit from thinking differently about privacyPractical steps to reduce your digital footprint without disconnecting from technologyIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who would find it valuable.Episode Resources:Connect with Paige Hunter on InstagramViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up