People and Projects Podcast

PPP 526 | If AI Can Do Your Job, What Makes You Matter? with author John R. Miles

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with John R. Miles, host of the Passion Struck podcast and author of The Mattering Effect: Creating a Life of Meaning and Worth. John is a Naval Academy graduate, former Navy officer, and longtime Fortune 50 executive who built what looked lik…

PPP 525 | 39% Fired and Still Reinventing, with author John Tarnoff

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with John Tarnoff, an executive career transition coach, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Mid-Career Lab. After 35 years in Hollywood as an agent, studio executive, and film producer, John found himself starting over at 50 when his tech startu…

PPP 524 | Why More Discipline May Not Be the Answer, with 100 Days of Rejection expert Jia Jiang

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Jia Jiang, bestselling author of Rejection Proof and creator of the 100 Days of Rejection experiment, about his new book, Easy Discipline. Growing up in Beijing, Jia was taught the value of chi ku, or "eating bitterness," the idea that th…

PPP 523 | The New PMP® Exam: What Project Leaders Need to Know Now, with PMI VP Kelly Heuer

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Kelly Heuer, Vice President of Learning at PMI, where she leads global learning strategy across professional standards, training, certification, and career-long development. Kelly takes us behind the scenes of the updated PMP® exam an…

PPP 522 | Are You Removing the Wrong Friction?, with Maggie Sass and Ross Blankenship

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Dr. Maggie Sass and Dr. Ross Blankenship, consulting psychologists and authors of Friction: How Tension, Emotion and Change Reveal Better Leaders. Project managers are trained to remove blockers, and much of the time that's exactly ri…

PPP 521 | Neuroscience-Based Principles to Resolve Conflicts, with Dr. Jeremy Pollack

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Dr. Jeremy Pollack, a social-organizational psychologist and founder of Pollack Peacebuilding Systems, author of Wired for Peace: Using 7 Neuroscience-Based Principles to Resolve Conflicts. Jeremy looks at conflict through the lens of…

PPP 520 | Are Smarter AI Tools Making Us Less Capable?, with LEGO® Serious Play® co-creator Johan Roos

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Johan Roos, professor and executive advisor at Hult International Business School, Executive Director of the Peter Drucker Society Europe, and co-inventor of the LEGO® Serious Play® method. Johan is the author of Human Magic: Leading…

PPP 519 | Overcoming the Inner Propaganda That Sabotages Projects and Teams, with Owen Fitzpatrick

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Owen Fitzpatrick, a psychologist, speaker, and author of Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds through Turbulent Times. Owen has spent close to 30 years studying how beliefs form and change, interviewing people everywhere from No…

PPP 518 | Why Better AI Prompts Aren't Enough for Better Decisions, with author Cheryl Strauss Einhorn

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, founder and CEO of the decision sciences company Decisive and author of The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI. Cheryl has spent decades helping people make better decisions, and her message here is a sim…

PPP 517 | The Hidden Costs of Avoiding Difficult Conversations (And What To Do Instead), with Gustavo Razzetti

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Gustavo Razzetti, culture consultant and author of Forward Talk. Gustavo makes a case that surprises a lot of leaders: fear is only part of why people stay quiet at work. The bigger driver is what he calls the pointlessness paradox, t…

PPP 516 | Becoming the Project Manager, with Stuart Taylor

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes back his friend Stuart Taylor, a PMO leader and PMI PMO Awards judge, author of Becoming the Project Manager. Most of us didn't grow up dreaming of leading projects. We drifted into the role, and then discovered it's far less about plans an…

PPP 515 | The Dangerous Drift Away from What Matters Most, with author Tom Rath

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Tom Rath, one of the most respected researchers on wellbeing and human potential, author of What's the Point? Turning Your Purpose Into a Superpower. Tom argues that we can be incredibly busy while slowly drifting away from what matte…

PPP 514 | Never Settling for Less: Why You're Leaving Value on the Table, with Attia Qureshi

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Attia Qureshi, a coach and negotiation expert who is co-author, with John Richardson, of Never Settle. There's no shortage of great negotiation advice out there, yet in real conversations with real stakes and real emotions, that advic…

PPP 513 | Thriving in an Age of AI: What Most Leaders Are Getting Wrong About the Future, with Fred Marshall

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Fred Marshall, entrepreneur, founder of Quantum Learning, and author of Thrive: The Antidote to Future Shock. Fred introduces his Super Eight, eight interconnected areas of life that shape our ability to adapt, lead, and grow in a wor…

PPP 512 | Science-Based Principles to Lead Change That Sticks, with Julia Dhar and Kristy Ellmer

PPP 511 | How Great Leaders See Differently, with Cornelia Choe

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Cornelia Choe, leadership advisor and founder of global CEO peer groups, author of The Panoramic Leader: How Great Leaders See Differently, co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith. Cornelia's core idea is that the "mental maps" we form ea…

PPP 510 | The Word Great Leaders Keep Using (And Most Leaders Avoid), with Marcus Buckingham

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes back Marcus Buckingham, bestselling author and researcher, to discuss his new book, Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business. For 25 years, Marcus studied the most productive teams, loyal customers, and effective l…

PPP 509 | Stop Letting Great Ideas Slip Away: A System for Leadership Recall, with author Steve Kahle

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes back Steve Kahle, entrepreneur, executive, and fractional CIO, author of Leadership Recall: Harness Insights. Accelerate Innovation. LEAD WITH AUTHORITY. Steve first joined the podcast in episode 184 to discuss email overload. This time, th…

PPP 508 | Why Where You Work May Matter More Than How You Work. The Indoor Epidemic, with Dr. John La Puma

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Dr. John La Puma, a board-certified internal medicine physician, professionally trained chef, regenerative organic farmer, and two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Indoor Epidemic. Did you know most of us spend about 93% of our…

PPP 507 | Why Smart Teams Still Fail, with Stephen Shapiro

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Stephen Shapiro, innovation expert and author of You're Not Playing With a Full Deck: Why the People Who Drive You Crazy Are Your Unfair Advantage. Stephen's journey starts with a costly failure: a $30 million innovation project at Accent…

PPP 506 | Stop Optimizing Meetings. Start Reducing Them, with Rebecca Hinds

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Rebecca Hinds, organizational behavior researcher and author of Your Best Meeting Ever. Rebecca brings a behavioral science lens to one of the most persistent pain points in modern work: meetings that multiply, linger, and drain rather than…

PPP 505 | You've Got This: A Practical Way to Lead When You're Not Sure, with Ashley Herd

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Ashley Herd, HR and legal leader turned management coach, and author of The Manager Method. Ashley has led HR and legal teams at organizations like McKinsey and Yum Brands, and she brings a refreshingly real-talk approach to the challenge…

PPP 504 | How Leaders Can Reduce Stress Without Lowering the Bar, with Amy Leneker

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Amy Leneker, leadership coach, joy strategist, and author of Cheers to Monday. Amy's journey began with a burnout so severe that her doctor put her on medical leave. It took 10 words on a medical form to change everything: "What are your…

PPP 503 | How to Facilitate Meetings That Actually Lead to Decisions, with Evan Unger

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Evan Unger, a consultant and trainer who has spent more than 30 years helping leaders facilitate collaborative decision making across projects, programs, and organizations around the world. Evan's work focuses on helping groups move f…

PPP 502 | When Process Is Not Enough: The Human Side of Project Leadership, with Brett Harned

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Brett Harned, founder of the Digital PM Community and the Digital PM Summit, and author of Project Management for Humans: Helping People Get Things Done. Brett has spent years coaching project leaders and helping organizations rethink wha…

PPP 501 | Hope Is Not a Strategy… Or Is It?, with author Jen Fisher

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Jen Fisher, author of Hope Is the Strategy: The Underrated Skill That Transforms Work, Leadership, and Wellbeing. In project management circles, we often hear the phrase "hope is not a strategy." Jen challenges that assumption, arguing that…

PPP 500 | When AI Becomes a Digital Colleague: What Leaders Need to Know, with former Google DeepMind Futurist Steve Brown

Summary Welcome to our 500th episode! To celebrate this milestone, Andy talks with Steve Brown, AI futurist, keynote speaker, and author of The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation. Steve brings a rare perspective shaped by years…

PPP 499 | How Much of Success Is Luck or Something Else, with Wharton's Judd Kessler

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Wharton economist Judd Kessler, author of Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want. If you have ever looked at someone else's career success and thought, "They just got lucky," this conversation will giv…

PPP 498 | Have Better Conversations: Small Moves That Save Projects and Relationships, with Joe Ferraro

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Joe Ferraro, host of the One Percent Better podcast and a coach who helps leaders have stronger conversations when the stakes are high. If you lead projects, you know how quickly a meeting, a status update, or a feedback moment can either…

PPP 497 | A Practical System for Navigating Chaos, with author Richard Carson

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Richard Carson, author of The Book of Change. If you feel like you barely finish one change before the next one hits, this conversation is for you. Richard shares his deeply researched and battle-tested framework called People Sustained O…

PPP 496 | How to Deliver Faster with Less Stress. In the Trenches with Norman Patnode

Summary In this In the Trenches episode, Andy talks with Norman Patnode, Principal at ProChain Solutions, about what it really takes to deliver projects faster and more predictably. With a background in aerospace engineering, the Air Force, and decades of consulting, Norman brin…

PPP 495 | Your Layoff Survival Playbook: Lessons from The Layoff Journey, with Steve Jaffe

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Steve Jaffe, author of The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery. Steve has been laid off four times over the course of his career, and those experiences shaped a thoughtful, practical framework for navigating the emotional and prof…

PPP 494 | How to Stay Poised When Everything Starts to Slip, with author Andrew Wittman

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Andrew Wittman, former Marine, police officer, federal agent, and leadership coach, about his new book Inner Armor: Perpetual Resilience. If you lead projects and teams, you already know pressure is coming. The real question is what y…

PPP 493 | How to Future-Prep Your PM Career with AI Tools and Critical Skills, with Olivia Montgomery

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Olivia Montgomery, Associate Principal Analyst at Capterra and a PMP. They discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping project management tools, skills, and expectations. Olivia brings a rare perspective, combining hands-on experienc…

PPP 492 | The Hidden Costs of Hybrid Teams, with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh, co-authors of In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work. In a world still grappling with virtual work, Peter and Ranya challenge us to take a fresh look at the workplace. Not just where…

PPP 491 | What a Children's Book Can Teach Leaders About Fear, with former news anchor Lynn Smith

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Lynn Smith, former NBC News, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News anchor, executive communication coach, and author of Just Keep Going. Lynn is best known for helping Fortune 500 leaders turn pressure into presence, but her newest book takes an u…

PPP 490 | Why Psychology Might Be Hurting Your Team, with Barry Wolfe

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Barry Wolfe, author of It's All In Your Head: Why Psychology Doesn't Help Your Workforce Deliver Value - And What Can. Barry is a seasoned HR executive and business leader who has built a reputation as one of the rare "HR guys who actuall…

PPP 489 | Blindspots That Derail Project Managers and How To See Them, with author Marty Dubin

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Martin Dubin, psychologist, former CEO, executive coach, and author of Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader. Marty brings a rare combination of clinical insight and real-world leadership experience to a topic that…

PPP 488 | How to Be a Less Terrible Boss, with Joel Hilchey

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Joel Hilchey, speaker, facilitator, and author of The 6½ Habits of Highly Defective Bosses. Joel brings humor, honesty, and a refreshing amount of grace to a topic many leaders quietly struggle with: becoming a boss without training, prep…

PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with comedian and corporate emcee Adam Christing, author of The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead. If you have ever hesitated to use humor at work because you were unsure it would land, or worried it might backfire,…

PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Katie Best, leadership coach and author of The Ten Toughest Leadership Problems and How to Solve Them. Drawing on years of coaching leaders across industries, Katie shares practical insights that help you tackle high-stakes leadership…

PPP 485 | What Project Teams Can Learn From Sketch Comedy, with author John Krewson

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with John Krewson, co-author of Pitch, Sketch, Launch: A Sketch Comedy Approach to Product Development. John's journey spans software development, acting, and even a stint with Saturday Night Live. He now leads Sketch Development, where he hel…

PPP 484 | Coping with Digital Overwhelm Without Logging Off, with author Craig Mattson

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Craig Mattson, professor of communication and author of Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work. Rather than encouraging digital detoxing or escaping technology, Craig offers a refreshing way to understand and navigate…

PPP 483 | The Future of PMOs, AI's Impact, and Leadership Lessons with Amireh Amirmazaheri

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Amireh Amirmazaheri, CEO of PMO Solutions and a leading voice in the global PMO community. From growing up in Iran during a time of war to building a respected consultancy in Australia, Amireh shares how resilience and curiosity shaped he…

PPP 482 | The PM Readiness Iron Triangle and How It Can Transform Your Career, with Kayla Quijas

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Kayla Quijas, founder of Kayla Q Career Coaching. Kayla's journey from cake decorator to Senior Project Manager at a global law firm is anything but conventional, and it's that transformation that fuels her work helping others break into…

PPP 481 | Why Great Managers Add Zero Value and Why That is Good News, with author Matthew Ley

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Matt Ley about his new book Manage Your Gaps: Reclaiming the Awesomeness of Management. Matt challenges the myths and misunderstandings around management, explaining why clarity between contributors, managers, and leaders is key to organi…

PPP 480 | What If You Managed Your Life Like a Project? Insights from Coach Tony Weaver

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Coach Tony Weaver, author of Project Manage Your Life: Your Blueprint for Achieving Any Goal — One Step at a Time. After decades of leading complex IT, marketing, and transformation projects, Tony turned his project management skills inward…

PPP 479 | The AI Skills You Need to Stay Relevant, with Matt Mong

Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Matt Mong, a leader at PlanAutomate, a company focused on bringing intelligent automation to the world of project management. With AI dominating headlines, Matt joins the podcast to explore what's real, what's hype, and what project manag…

PPP 478 | Today Was Fun: Why Great Teams Don't Dread Monday, with author Bree Groff

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Bree Groff, transformation consultant, speaker, and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously). Bree challenges the idea that work must be draining to be valuable, offering a refreshing and practical vision for how leaders can…

PPP 477 | Are You Being Too Nice? When Helping Actually Hurts, with author Jess Baker

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Jess Baker, business psychologist and author of The Super-Helper Syndrome: A Survival Guide for Compassionate People. Jess helps leaders, project managers, and anyone who tends to take on too much work avoid burnout, preserve self-worth,…

PPP 476 | This One Idea Could Radically Change How You Lead, with author Jim Ferrell

Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Jim Ferrell, author of You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life and Leadership. Andy has long been a big fan of Jim's work with The Arbinger Institute, authoring Leadership and Self-Deception and The Anatomy of Peace. In this con…

PPP 475 | If Work Feels Like an Episode of The Office, This Is for You, with Don Kieffer and Nelson Repenning

Summary Have you ever wrapped up your workday thinking, "I've been busy all day, but I'm not sure I actually made anything better"? If so, you're not alone, and today's guests are here to help you break that cycle. In this episode, Andy talks with Don Kieffer and Nelson Repennin…

PPP 474 | A Candid Conversation with Stuart Taylor: LinkedIn, Careers, and AI

Summary In this candid live-stream conversation, Andy chats with content creator and project leader Stuart Taylor, the mind behind the Influential PMO platform and the Stuart Taylor Project YouTube channel. They dig into the difference between influencers and thought leaders, ho…

PPP 473 | Beyond the Hype: The Science of Impactful Leadership, with Jeffrey Hull & Margaret Moore

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Jeffrey Hull and Margaret Moore, co-authors of The Science of Leadership: Nine Ways to Expand Your Impact. Drawing from over 50 years of leadership research and tens of thousands of studies, Jeff and Meg offer an accessible roadmap for lead…

PPP 472 | Why Lean Matters--and What You Need to Know, with Toyota Veteran Mark Reich

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Mark Reich, a former Toyota leader and current Chief Engineer for Strategy at the Lean Enterprise Institute. Mark is the author of Managing on Purpose. If you've ever tried to improve your team but felt like your strategy was stuck in a sli…

PPP 471 | How to Handle Everyday Negotiations Like a Pro, with Dr. Mike Clayton

Summary When you hear the word negotiation, what comes to mind? A boardroom showdown? A salary discussion? In this episode, Andy welcomes back Dr. Mike Clayton, author of How to Negotiate: Practical and Proven Skills to Help You Strike Better Deals to unpack the truth about nego…

PPP 470 | When Your Default Is Duct Tape: Rethinking How We Lead and Live, with Jon Harper

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Jon Harper, author of Rebuild! Don't Repair: Why Fixing Things Doesn't Fix Things in Life. Jon shares from his personal and professional journey about the courage it takes to stop settling for temporary fixes and instead do the deeper, more…

PPP 469 | Four Simple Shifts To Unleash Your Team (and Avoid Your Mount Stupid Moment), with author Phil Wilson

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with leadership coach Phil Wilson, author of The Leader-Shift Playbook: 4 Simple Changes to Score Big and Unleash Your Team's Potential. Phil shares his own "Mount Stupid" moment, when he realized the biggest obstacle to his team's success was…

PPP 468 | How to Lead When You're Suddenly In Charge. What To Do in the First 45 Days, with Executive Coach James Turk

Summary When you're promoted into management, the shift can feel like you're suddenly in charge, but with very little guidance. In this episode, Andy chats with executive coach and author James Turk about his insightful book The Giving Game: A Manager's Playbook for the First Ye…

PPP 467 | This Is What No One Tells You About Becoming a Boss, with author Sabina Nawaz

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Sabina Nawaz, global CEO coach and former Microsoft executive, about her new book You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need. With authenticity and insight, Sabina shares what no one tells you about stepping into m…