What does it take to truly “do life together” at work? Shawn and Sarah sit down with Amber Karabegovic, Manager of Evans Experience at Evans Transportation, to explore how intentionality, empathy, and structure drive people-first culture.

Amber shares how her team turns core values into living language, empowers culture captains across office locations, and keeps remote employees engaged and connected. From walking pods to laminated vision statements, Amber brings both strategic and heartfelt ideas to the table. If you’re ready to move beyond surface-level engagement and create culture with fuel, fire and foundation, this conversation is your roadmap.

What if the key to leading across 850+ locations isn’t control, but clarity? In this episode, Shawn and AJ talk with Kurt Gengenbacher of ATI Physical Therapy to unpack how values, leadership, and alignment come to life inside a sprawling, people-first organization. From rolling out new values across 900 leaders, to redefining strategic planning through the lens of polarity management, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for anyone looking to scale culture without losing soul. If you’re wrestling with how to support leaders, create alignment, and drive development at scale, without burning people out, this conversation is for you.

What if the key to a thriving workplace isn’t another perk, but a person who meets you where you are? In this episode, Shawn and Sarah sit down with Amber Van Allen, Wellness Administrator at the City of Green Bay. With nearly two decades in health and wellness, Amber reveals how meaningful relationships, empathy, and a clear sense of purpose can transform employee wellbeing. From Green Bay’s signature Health 1265 program to on-the-ground strategies for connection, resiliency, and burnout prevention, Amber shares how she’s building trust across departments, one conversation at a time. Whether she’s walking alongside the mayor or coaching a new hire through the city’s wellness platform, Amber shows what it really means to bring work to life and life to work.

What if your company’s core beliefs were the pulse of every decision, meeting and leadership moment? Shawn and AJ talk with Dan Burnett, Director of Talent Development at QPS Employment Group, to explore how beliefs can transform a company from the inside out. From shifting leadership meetings into real-time development labs to building a culture where feedback and celebration are rooted in trust, Dan reveals how QPS “sets the bar” for people-first growth. As an employee-owned company, QPS puts transparency, family spirit, and high-touch communication at the heart of everything they do. If you’re looking to infuse more intention into leadership development, communication and team culture, this episode is your playbook.

How do you scale culture without losing what makes it special? As Chief People Officer at St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, Kelsey shares how she went from managing spreadsheets to shaping culture across a fast-growing, mission-driven school system. This episode dives into how Aug Prep builds leaders from within, prioritizes people-first strategy, and keeps values like courage and love at the center of everything. From hiring with intention to scaling across campuses, Kelsey offers real-world insight for anyone leading in a high-growth, purpose-filled environment.

What happens when “Enjoy Life” isn’t just a tagline, but the heartbeat of an entire senior living culture? Shawn and Sarah sit down with Kristin Ferge and Gia Mattioli-Tolfa of Capri Communities to explore how compassion, culture, and creativity are transforming the senior living experience.

From empathy-fueled hiring and thoughtful onboarding to surprise moments of gratitude, Kristin and Gia share how Capri puts people first, residents and staff alike. You’ll hear about their “Four for Five” schedule that’s rewriting the rules of retention, how a stack of CARES cards is powering culture from the ground up and why a t-shirt at a symposium can symbolize something much bigger.

Whether you’re leading people, navigating change or just love stories that celebrate connection, this one’s packed with meaningful moments, unexpected insights and a whole lot of heart.

In this episode, Shawn and Sarah sit down with the dynamic duo Lori Richards and Cass Bergemann from Mueller Communications, where culture isn’t just talked about, it’s lived every day.

If Mueller had a theme song, Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” accurately represents the organization’s energy and momentum, and this humanscape conversation delves into how it all comes together. Lori and Cass share how their team brings humanity to the workplace through their Cultural Canvas, values like “clear is kind,” and the powerful demonstration of celebrating parenthood. You’ll hear how mentorship, feedback and fun come together to build a truly people-first culture.

This conversation is a masterclass in making work more human.

In this episode, we explore how two dynamic leaders – Peggy Williams‑Smith, President & CEO of VISIT Milwaukee and Christina Cooper, VP of Human Resources – have harnessed their own experiences to forge more inclusive, high‑performing teams. Drawing on Peggy’s hospitality‑industry insights and Christina’s HR expertise, they unpack practical strategies that create environments where every voice is heard and valued. Their conversation highlights real‑world approaches to building unity through uniqueness and reimagining team development as an ongoing, purpose‑driven process. If a visit to Milwaukee isn’t on your bucket list, it will be after this episode!

Ever wonder how a company makes 3 million pizzas a week and stays a Great Place to Work? In this episode, Shawn and Sarah chat with Wendy Bushell, Chief People Officer at Palermo’s, about the secret sauce behind their people-first culture. From visual training for a workforce speaking 8 languages to personalized learning paths and daily free pizza, Wendy shares how passion, innovation and purpose fuel Palermo’s. Get ready for a flavorful convo on leadership, culture and making work feel like family.

What if we treated mental health like a broken arm—something real, urgent, and worth taking care of? In this episode, Shawn chats with Julie Preder from Mental Health America Lakeshore about why mental health is health. They dive into why real conversations matter more than surveys, how workplaces can be way better at supporting people (spoiler: it starts with listening), and why connection is the real secret sauce for thriving teams. Tune in for a fresh take on culture, compassion and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued.