

The Indigo Podcast
Ben Baran and Chris Everett
Take control of your life, business, and career once and for all. The Indigo Podcast offers raw, unfiltered, and science-based talk about flourishing in life. Join CEOs, executives, and regular folks in learning how to build a better future at work and beyond. Check out this top ranked podcast! For more information, visit www.indigotogether.com.
Our approach is evidence based and our conversation is quirky. In every episode, we:
1. Promote the flourishing of people and organizations.
2. Bridge the gap between social science and management practice.
3. Provide an antidote or counterpoint to the ever-increasing overly simplistic, reductionist approaches to work and life.
4. Feed the curiosity of people who want to make the world a better place through work.
5. Inspire listeners to become lifelong learners and bold difference-makers.
Our approach is evidence based and our conversation is quirky. In every episode, we:
1. Promote the flourishing of people and organizations.
2. Bridge the gap between social science and management practice.
3. Provide an antidote or counterpoint to the ever-increasing overly simplistic, reductionist approaches to work and life.
4. Feed the curiosity of people who want to make the world a better place through work.
5. Inspire listeners to become lifelong learners and bold difference-makers.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 3, 2020 • 45min
Managers as Coaches: Great Idea or Total Numbskullery?
What is coaching and should managers be coaches? We explore this and related topics in this episode; specifically: Coaching as a critical part of performance management Coaches in the workplace--and managers as part of that How organizations can promote coaching behavior Links and More Steelman, L. A., & Wolfeld, L. (2018). The manager as coach: The role of feedback orientation. Journal of Business and Psychology, 33(1), 41-53. Click here Joo, B. K. B., Sushko, J. S., & McLean, G. N. (2012). Multiple faces of coaching: Manager-as-coach, executive coaching, and formal mentoring. Organization Development Journal, 30(1). Click here

Sep 1, 2020 • 1h 9min
Mike Richardson on Agility Before, During, and After COVID
Learn about the five roles of everyday agile leaders and turning your conversation flow to cash flow with Mike Richardson, who specializes in the agility challenges of CEOs and executives running small to medium sized enterprises. He shares insights at the intersection of his agility experiences in three worlds. In the real-world, he started his career working as a Petroleum Engineer on offshore oil and gas drilling rigs with Shell International and now studies other everyday agile leaders in the real world: fighter pilots, Navy Seals, Fire Fighters and others. In the business world, via an MBA at London Business School, he went into the Aerospace industry and ended up running the Aerospace Division of a British public company, Spirent plc. In the advisory world, for nearly 20 years as an author, keynote speaker, facilitator, coach and board member, including 15 years as a CEO peer group chair and speaker with Vistage Worldwide. Links More about upcoming webinars with Mike: https://mikerichardson.live/webinars-1 Related episode--Flourishing in a VUCA World: Agile, Agility, and Why It Matters: https://indigopodcast.libsyn.com/flourishing-in-a-vuca-world

Aug 27, 2020 • 48min
Well I Never! Dealing with Slackers in Groups
Have you ever had to work in a group that had a member or two who just weren't pulling their weight? It happens--all the time. And it's terrible, for both people and organizations! These slackers in teams are doing what's called "social loafing," and in this episode we discuss: What is social loafing What we know about it and what does it do to groups and teams How to prevent social loafing Show Notes and Links Karau, S. J., & Williams, K. D. (1993). Social loafing: A meta-analytic review and theoretical integration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(4), 681. https://www1.psych.purdue.edu/~willia55/392F-%2706/KarauWilliamsMetaAnalysisJPSP.pdf Simms A, Nichols T. Social loafing: A review of the literature. Journal of Management Policy and Practice. 2014;15(1):58-67. Related podcast: Make it RAIN! Money as a Motivator: https://www.indigotogether.com/indigopodcast/make-it-rain-money-as-a-motivator

Aug 25, 2020 • 1h 19min
Mike Dovilla on Careers in Public Service and Making a Difference
In the realm of public service, the Honorable Mike Dovilla has done it all: elected official, congressional staffer, presidential appointee, military officer, and more. In this episode, we explore why public service is worth pursuing as a career, what shapes and forms public service might take, and advice for those of any age or state looking to get into public service. We also explore important aspects of history and context that shape U.S. government, society, and our involvement in it. Show Notes The Grindstone Institute: https://thegrindstoneinstitute.com/ Mike Dovilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldovilla The USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation: https://www.usscleveland.org/ The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse: https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-American-Adult-Coming-Crisis/dp/1250114403 U.S. government jobs: https://www.usajobs.gov

Aug 18, 2020 • 1h 9min
Bill Gentry on Careers, Networking, Political Skill, and Leadership
Bill Gentry is the author of the best-selling book, Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders. In this episode, our conversation covers getting to know Bill, his tips on career development, and information for first-time leaders. Why should we listen to Bill? He is a leadership researcher, trainer, speaker, author, and industrial-organizational psychologist with a specialty of helping new and aspiring leaders. He's currently the Assistant Vice President of Career and Professional Development at High Point University. Before that, he was a senior research scientist, trainer, and director at the Center for Creative Leadership, a top-ranked global provider of executive education and leadership development. Bill is an accomplished researcher with more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. He's been featured in more than 50 internet and news outlets (such as Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, CNN.com, Harvard Business Review, Chief Learning Officer, and more). Show Notes Bill Gentry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamagentryphd/ High Point University: http://www.highpoint.edu/ Be The Boss Everyone Wants To Work For:: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Boss-Everyone-Wants-Work/dp/1626566259 Bill Gentry's website: https://williamgentryleads.com/

Aug 11, 2020 • 1h 13min
Todd Dewett on Education, Authenticity, and Leadership
Today, we have guest, Todd Dewett, on the show. Todd grew up in Memphis. He started a career as a consultant, but got an academic itch and earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior at Texas A&M. He became a professor, quickly rose the ranks through tenure and promotion all the way to full professor, won all the teaching and research awards, and after 10 highly successful years in academia… he left. Fast forward to today, Todd is a professional speaker. He's given more than 1,000 speeches, including TEDx, endless corporate events and conferences, military groups, religious organizations, and many nonprofits; he's talked live in numerous countries to over 100,000 people, Inc. Magazine named him a Top 100 Leadership Speaker, and he was hired by the National Speakers Association to teach professional speakers how to deliver killer keynote speeches. Todd is the author of numerous articles and books, including Show Your Ink: Stories About Leadership and Life.

Aug 4, 2020 • 1h 5min
Steven Rogelberg on Fixing Bad Meetings and More
We're thrilled to have Steven Rogelberg on our show. Steven has authored more than 100 publications addressing issues such as team effectiveness, leadership, engagement, health and employee well-being, meetings at work, and organizational research methods. He has been seen in the media via CBS, TEDx, The Washington Post, etc. He is also a professor and the Editor of The Journal of Business and Psychology. Today, we will discuss what drives Steven, his evidence-based take on improving meetings, and his latest book, "The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance." Links to check out: The Surprising Science of Meetings: https://www.amazon.com/Surprising-Science-Meetings-Lead-Performance/dp/0190689218/ The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology: www.siop.org www.stevenrogelberg.com

Jul 27, 2020 • 1h
Can You Say What You Want and Keep Your Job?
In this episode we explore: What the heck can anyone say anymore How to be an effective social deviant How to curate a healthy conversation and culture at work Show Notes Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They're Afraid to Share: https://www.cato.org/publications/survey-reports/poll-62-americans-say-they-have-political-views-theyre-afraid-share The Overton Window: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window Morrison, E. W., & Milliken, F. J. (2000). Organizational silence: A barrier to change and development in a pluralistic world. Academy of Management Review, 25(4), 706-725. https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amr.2000.3707697 Episode on difficult conversations:https://indigopodcast.libsyn.com/difficult Episode on managing emotions: https://indigopodcast.libsyn.com/chimp-draft

Jul 21, 2020 • 1h 18min
Enrica Ruggs on Race, Organizations, and the Role of Leaders
Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Enrica Ruggs, Assistant Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis. We discuss the racism landscape, racism and organizations, and making progress and the role of leadership against racism. If you want to know a little more about Enrica, her work focuses on the manifestation of subtle forms of discrimination and mistreatment toward employees with stigmatized identities, the outcomes of these behaviors, and strategies that individuals and organizations can engage in to combat and reduce discrimination. Her research has been published in premier academic outlets such as Journal of Applied Psychology and Journal of Management.

Jul 14, 2020 • 57min
Networking: Love It or Leave It?
Networking ... some people love it and some people don't. Everyone says it's valuable. Today we discuss: Networking defined and some forms that it takes Research on networking and its outcomes Practical steps for enhancing your career--and your current job Final note about networking during COVID-19 Show Notes Wolff, H. G., & Moser, K. (2009). Effects of networking on career success: A longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(1), 196. https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2009-00697-007 Hargadon, A., & Sutton, R. I. (1997). Technology brokering and innovation in a product development firm. Administrative Science Quarterly, 716-749. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2393655?seq=1 Ingram, P., & Morris, M. W. (2007). Do people mix at mixers? Structure, homophily, and the "life of the party". Administrative Science Quarterly, 52(4), 558-585. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2189/asqu.52.4.558 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3157260 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3157260


