I'm writing a book on the science behind why we travel. In this episode, I read the last four pages of my book and share five ways that travel changes us. When we travel, there’s a sense of meaning and purpose.When we travel, w...

There’s dozens of leadership styles to try on, but choosing one off-the-rack can feel inauthentic, like putting on armor or wearing someone else’s clothes. How can you create a leadership identity that’s completely authentic? The ...

What can the Pixar movie Inside Out teach leaders about management? A lot!In this episode of "Leaders' Playground," we dive deep into the emotional landscape. A whirlwind of emotions can hit in a single day—fear, joy, sadness, ...

The other day, my husband and I were looking at the impact of a recent heat wave on the trees near our property. Some trees were doing okay, others were dying. Why? We consider access to resources, the type of tree, the amount of shade, but ult...

Join me, Irene Salter, as I reflect on a serene visit to Arima Onsen, one of Japan's oldest and most charming hot springs. I'll describe how the tranquil waters and peaceful ambiance offered a profound sense of relaxation and inspired a deep di...

Stuck in the grip of bad habits? Me too. In this episode, we dive into the challenge of altering entrenched habits, starting with my own terrible phone habits, ending with my friend who is shifting her company from a rigid, top-down culture to ...

Ready to ditch the "super-mom" cape and toss out those impossible workplace expectations? The newest episode of eaders' Playground" is here to shake things up!We're diving into the wild world of social norms and asking the big questions:...

Can anyone truly become a master, or is it a talent reserved for the naturally gifted? This episode of the Leader's Playground promises to shatter the myth that genius is inborn by drawing upon Robert Greene's book "Mastery" and the lives of ic...

Tick-tock goes the clock, echoing the relentlessly busy pace of life. From my early days as a teacher to life as a principal juggling a young family, my obsession with time management and productivity twisted my days into a chaotic, multitaskin...

Why do we endure the hassle of conferences and retreats with time away from family, expensive travel, noisy venues, and exhausting days? The allure of online professional development is strong. Yet, something magical happens at the best events ...

Why can music move you to tears, while other times you walk right by it, not noticing? Why does some art freeze you in your tracks, but other times it's just a desktop screensaver? How does beauty happen in the brain?In this episode we ...

In this episode of the Leaders' Playground, we'll examine how the craft of storytelling can inspire the art of leading. We'll begin by comparing and contrasting two dramatic arcs used by bards from Homer to Steven Spielberg: the well-trodden he...

Follow me through my day as I declutter my to-do list. In an era where adults on average make 35,000 decisions in a single day (it's true!), this episode peels back the curtain on a process you can use to not just manage your overwhelm, but fix...

Feeling overwhelmed by your to do list? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive into the ins and outs of overwhelm, its connection to burnout, how your brain handles the cognitive load, and what to do about is. From the demands-resource imba...

As I watched the dancers on stage  at a fundraiser supporting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, a profound sense of joy washed over me, contrasting with the gravity of the cause. This was a powerful reminder of dance's impac...

Ever felt pigeonholed by traditional leadership definitions? Ever looked at leaders like Steve Jobs, Abraham Lincoln, or Martin Luther King and thought, I'm not that, so how can I consider myself a leader?  In this episode, we shatter the ...

Do you ever suffer from impostor syndrome? I do. In this episode, we'll peel back the layers of self-doubt and get to know our inner critics.  There’s a voice in my head that sometimes (often) says, “Who do you think you are? You’re a frau...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Leaders' Playground -- a podcast for people who wish their work could feel more like play. In this episode, you’ll hear the origin story of how this podcast came to be and why it's called the Leader’s Pl...