The Simplifiers

07/30/2025

🧠 Last week, I gathered some of the most brilliant folks I know in Austin for a brainstorm session and let me tell you… They didn’t disappoint!

💡Great ideas shared, big potential ahead - My network continues to shine and shine and shine ✨BRIGHT!✨

06/17/2025

😬 Massive layoffs are the worst.
But rebuilding your company culture after one? Even harder.

So what do you do when morale is in the gutter and trust is at an all-time low?
🎙️ Daniel Stokes has answers.

He shares what leaders need to know (and DO) right after layoffs…
✔ How to rebuild trust and psychological safety
✔ How to communicate transparently, without causing panic
✔ What culture work actually looks like post-layoff
✔ How to keep your best people from walking out the door next

💥 It’s not just about free snacks or ping-pong tables—it’s about creating a workplace people want to stay in.

If your team is hurting or trying to heal, this one’s for you.
Listen here 👇
🎧 https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/386-how-to-rebuild-company-culture-after-a-massive-layoff---with-daniel-stokes-all-star
What’s one thing you’ve seen a leader do right after a layoff?
Drop it in the comments.
Let’s build a playbook together.

Raise your hand if you’ve been through a layoff. Keep your hand raised if you kept your job through it and are faced with the reality of attempting to rebuild the company culture after a massive layoff. You are what people call a “survivor” and my goodness, that’s a lot of pressure on your s...

06/04/2025

🧘‍♀️ About to give a big presentation and feeling jittery? Anxious? Maybe overthinking every little thing?

Take a pause.
This one’s for you:
🎧 A Guided Visualization to Calm Your Nerves
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/b156-how-to-calm-your-nerves-guided-visualization

When your heart’s racing, palms are sweaty, and your brain’s spiraling…
…you need a reset.

Not a productivity hack.
Not another to-do list.
Just a quiet moment to come back to yourself.

✨ In less than 15 minutes, I’ll guide you through:
▶️ Regulating your breath
▶️ Releasing the tension
▶️ Grounding your thoughts
▶️ Creating calm (that actually sticks)

Put your headphones on. Find a quiet spot. Let’s begin.
🌿 And remember: you're not broken, you're just overloaded.

💬 Have a favorite spot where you listen to guided visualizations? Share below—I’d love to hear.

04/02/2025

🧠 Feeling mentally cluttered lately?
😵‍💫 Overthinking, overwhelmed, and over everything?
Let’s fix that.
✨ It’s time to spring clean your mind. ✨
(And no, this isn’t just another productivity hack.)
This week on The Simplifiers Podcast, you’ll get a free guided visualization designed to help you:
🧹 Clear mental cobwebs
📦 Organize your thoughts
🧘‍♀️ Feel grounded and calm in just 12 minutes
Whether you’re leading a team, or just trying to get through your week without snapping at your inbox... this one's for you.
💥 Pro Tip: Grab your headphones and give yourself a few quiet minutes. You’ll thank yourself afterward.
🎧 Listen now:
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/b153-how-to-spring-clean-your-mind-guided-visualization
✨ This is your sign to pause, reset, and get clear on what really matters. ✨

10/08/2024

🚨 NEW EPISODE: Want to stand out on LinkedIn? 🚨

LinkedIn can be overwhelming, but here’s the secret: you can make yourself shine with the right strategy!

In today’s episode of The Simplifiers Podcast, we talk with LinkedIn expert Haley ONeill on what it really takes to rise above the noise.

💡 Key Takeaways:
👉 Optimize Your Profile: The small tweaks that make a big difference (spoiler: your headline matters more than you think!)
👉 Engage Authentically: How to build real relationships—no spammy connection requests!
👉 Content is King: Tips on creating posts that actually get noticed and drive engagement.
👉 Consistency: Why showing up regularly is non-negotiable if you want to stand out.

Ready to up your LinkedIn game? Haley’s sharing her best advice so you can start making LinkedIn work for you, not the other way around.

🎧 LISTEN NOW:
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/360-how-to-stand-out-on-linkedin---with-haley-oneill

09/19/2024

Thank you Association for Talent Development - ATD Dallas for inviting me to speak at the Southwest Learning Summit (SWLS) this year!

Presenting to a full house, lots of positive feedback from the audience, and everyone was raising hands, asking questions, sharing ideas, and being totally engaged in my session all about...

✨ AI for L&D: The Future of Work is NOW ✨

🏆 That's my kind of audience!

Thank you to Mary Anne Davis, Dana Devlin, and the entire planning committee for the conference... It was my absolute pleasure to take part in this conference for talent developers!

09/10/2024

🤔 Q: How well do you handle conversations where you TOTALLY disagree with the other person?

😱 TRUTH 💣: Actually, disagreeing can (potentially) lead to better understanding and stronger relationships… when done respectfully.

So, let’s talk about that.

✨ Here's how to respectfully disagree and build stronger connections ✨

Our special guest Justin Jones-Fosu revealed:
↪ The art of active listening... and why it’s the foundation of respectful disagreement.
↪ How to express your viewpoint... without triggering defensiveness or escalation.
↪ Finding common ground... even when you don’t see eye-to-eye.
↪ Why disagreements can spark growth... in both personal and professional relationships.
↪ Conflict resolution strategies... that transform disagreements into opportunities for collaboration.

💥 Remember… This stuff takes grace, empathy, lots of practice, and a mindset of being willing to understand the other side, no matter what their beliefs are.

It doesn’t mean you have to agree with them… but it is KEY to help them feel heard and understood.

(PS> I wonder if we'll see this at tonight's Harris + Trump presidential debate??)

➡ My special guest today is Justin Jones-Fosu, and he’s simplifying how to respectfully disagree and come out stronger on the other side.

Here’s how.
.
.
💡 How to Respectfully Disagree, featuring Justin Jones-Fosu
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/357-how-to-respectfully-disagree---with-justin-jones-fosu

🚨 PPS> Have you noticed? We’ve shifted gears over at The Simplifiers Podcast, now focusing on the way we work and simplifying it down. Excited to share these insights, especially on how to navigate disagreements with respect!

09/05/2024

🏆 🎉 Woohoo! MIT graduate over here!!

I’m happy to share that I’ve completed the following executive course from the MIT Sloan School of Management:

✨ Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy ✨

---------
So pleased to be able to pass along what I've learned throughout this year, via speaking engagements with Dallas HR, the Indeed AI workshop for job seekers, SHRM at UT Dallas...

Also, catch me at one of these upcoming conferences:

➵ ATD Dallas - SWLS Summit - Tues, Sept 17th
REGISTER: https://tddallas.org/SWLS
and
➵ The HRSouthwest Conference - Sun, Oct 13 - Wed, Oct 16th
REGISTER: https://www.hrsouthwest.com

Hope to see you at one or both of these workshops, where I'll be simplifying down ChatGPT and how AI could transform your role in the coming months.

09/03/2024

(originally aired in April 2022)

🧠 Q: How do you choose what’s right for you when faced with a tough decision?
If you’re feeling uncertain or overwhelmed 😬... then have a listen. This all-star episode might be just what you need.
Today’s episode of The Simplifiers Podcast is a guided visualization designed to help you confidently make the right choice and move forward with clarity.
👂 Here's how to get started:
1️⃣ Find a quiet spot
2️⃣ Close your eyes
3️⃣ Listen to this episode
4️⃣ Tune into your inner wisdom and trust your gut
✨ What’s a guided visualization? ✨
You’ll listen to my voice, focus on your breathing, and explore different outcomes to uncover what feels right for you. It’s a powerful way to make decisions aligned with your true self.
Guided Visualization >>
🎧 LISTEN HERE:
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/b145-how-to-choose-whats-right-for-you-guided-visualization---all-star

08/27/2024

🤔 Some say... Cybersecurity is only an IT problem.
😱 NOPE! In the age of AI, cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility.
So, let’s talk about that.
✨ Here's how to be cybersecurity smart to AI threats ✨
Our special guest Richard Hollis shared:
↪ What Hackers Want More Than Anything Else: It all boils downs to 3 things.
↪ The New Face of Threats: How AI is changing the landscape of cybersecurity.
↪ Proactive Protection: Key steps to safeguard your data and systems against AI-driven attacks.
↪ Employee Awareness: Why training your team on cybersecurity basics is more critical than ever.
↪ Future-Proofing Your Organization: Strategies to stay ahead of emerging AI threats.
💥 And guess what... you need to put your plan in place **BEFORE** you get hacked. So listen to this episode straight away!
➡ My special guest today is cybersecurity expert RICHARD HOLLIS, and he’s breaking down how to be cybersecurity smart in the face of AI threats.
Here’s how.
💡 How to Be Cybersecurity Smart to AI Threats, featuring Richard Hollis
LISTEN: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/356-how-to-be-cybersecurity-smart-to-ai-threats---with-richard-hollis
🚨 PS> Have you noticed? We’ve shifted gears over at The Simplifiers Podcast, now focusing on the way we work and simplifying it down. Excited to share these insights, especially on how AI is reshaping the future of cybersecurity!

08/20/2024

🤔 Real talk time: Is your career where you want it to be? On a scale of 1-10, are you satisfied with where you are now and where you are headed?
🚘 If things have veered off course, let’s talk about it!
✨ Here's how to leverage your network for career mobility ✨
Our special guest Susan Collins revealed:
↪ The importance of nurturing your network... even when you're not looking for a job.
↪ How to identify key connections... who can open doors to new opportunities.
↪ Strategies for networking effectively... without feeling transactional.
↪ How to build meaningful relationships... that lead to career growth.
↪ Tips for leveraging LinkedIn... to connect with industry leaders and peers.
(psst, "Career Mobility" = the ability to grow, advance, and pivot in your career through the power of connections.)
💥 Remember, networking serves both parties… Be genuine, and look for ways to add value to others in your network.
➡ My special guest today is Susan Collins, and she’s breaking down the strategies you need to leverage your network for career mobility.
Here’s how.
💡 How to Leverage Your Network to Drive Career Mobility, featuring Susan Collins
https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/355-how-to-leverage-your-network-to-drive-career-mobility---with-susan-collins
🚨 PS> Have you noticed? We’ve shifted gears over at The Simplifiers Podcast, now focusing on the way we work and simplifying it down. Excited to share these insights, especially on how networking can transform your career!

08/19/2024

⏰LAST CHANCE! Make sure to vote☑️for my SXSW 2025 talk - Voting ends at 11:59pm tonight!
VOTE HERE:

PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.