#412 Mark Bayer: From Ivory Tower to Power Play — Helping PhDs Get Heard (and Hired) — Part Two
You’ve got the credentials, the data, and the ideas. But how do you make people actually care?In Part Two, Mark unpacks his 11 Keys to Translating Complexity (complexitymadeclear.com) —an actionable framework to help scientists communicate clearly, concisely, and with impact. He explains why it’s not about dumbing down your message but lifting it up so others can meet it. From the science of metaphor to the neuroscience of attention, Mark arms PhDs with tools to shift from overlooked to influential—without losing their intellectual edge.This episode is your field guide to getting heard, hired, and respected beyond the ivory tower.Key Highlights of Our Interview:The 11 Keys That Cut Through“People aren’t persuaded by volume. They’re moved by clarity.”Why precision—and not more PowerPoint slides—is your best communication strategy.Neuroscience for Nerds (And Everyone Else)“Our brains reward novelty. That’s why metaphor works better than math in a pitch.”How attention works, and what science communicators can learn from it.PhDs Speak Another Language—Here’s How to Translate“You’re crossing cultures. Treat it like that.”Why business communication isn’t just a tone shift—it’s a worldview shift.Connection Before Communication“Until someone trusts you, they won’t hear you.”The hidden role of empathy in making technical ideas land.AI Has Data. You Have Voice.“AI can’t tell a story it hasn’t seen. You can.”Why human communication still matters more than ever in a post-ChatGPT world._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Mark Bayer
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.18 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>170,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#411 Mark Bayer: From Ivory Tower to Power Play — Helping PhDs Get Heard (and Hired) — Part One
Before founding Bayer Strategic Consulting, Mark Bayer led communications on Capitol Hill for nearly two decades—helping politicians cut through noise, make arguments stick, and win support under pressure. These days, he brings that hard-earned clarity to a new crowd: scientists, researchers, and PhDs who need to get their message across in rooms that don’t speak science.In Part One, Mark unpacks why so many highly educated experts still struggle to connect—and why messaging isn’t about making things simpler, but sharper. He shares stories from Congress, contrasts the cultures of academia and advocacy, and reveals the single most important mindset shift for researchers who want to be heard.Key Highlights of Our Interview:First Day in Politics, First Misunderstanding“I thought ‘R&D’ meant research and development. It meant Republicans and Democrats.”What getting thrown into the deep end of political culture taught him about insider language.The 8% Reality Check“Only 8% of PhDs stay in academia. But the training assumes 100% will.”Why the pipeline is broken—and who’s getting left behind.From Data Dump to Message Discipline“Academics want to show the depth of their knowledge. But the real skill is answering the question in front of you.”How political strategy flips the communication playbook.Beauty Doesn’t Equal Buy-In“You can build something beautiful. But if it doesn’t solve a stakeholder’s problem, it won’t land.”Why relevance trumps brilliance.You’ve Got 10 Seconds“Start with the point. Don’t make them dig for it.”Why headlines—not history lessons—open doors.Communication as a Career Lever“This isn’t soft stuff. It’s the stuff that gets you hired.”How learning to communicate is learning to lead._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Mark Bayer
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.18 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>170,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#410 Sande Golgart: Climbing the Wrong Mountain — Part Two
After decades of chasing external wins, Sande Golgart decided to stop running. In Part Two, he shares the uncomfortable, intentional work of stepping back—what it took to unplug from achievement addiction and start redesigning a life that fits from the inside out.This isn’t a story about reinvention through ambition. It’s a blueprint for growth through subtraction: less noise, more clarity; fewer roles, deeper connection; no hustle, just truth. From mending his marriage to redefining success, Sande opens up about what he calls “Life Peels”—and why letting go is the new way up.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Listening Over Learning“I wasn’t trying to fix anything. I just got quiet and listened.”**Sande explains how stepping back from self-optimization gave him the clarity he had missed for years.The Life Peels Method“David was always in the marble. Michelangelo just removed what wasn’t him.”**He introduces his philosophy of growth by subtraction—peeling away the excess to uncover what truly fits.When Growth Isn’t More“I’ve had enough of strategy decks and hero stories. I want to feel ease in my own skin.”**Why he redefined ambition not as stacking wins but as feeling aligned, grounded, and whole.Relearning Partnership“When the noise died down, we both realized we’d never had stillness before.”**How the transition to an empty nest revealed unspoken gaps in his marriage—and led to new connection.Letting Life Lead“I used to control everything. Now I just pay attention—and things unfold better than I planned.”**What happened when he stopped pushing for outcomes and started trusting the process._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Sande Golgart
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.18 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>170,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#409 Sande Golgart: Climbing the Wrong Mountain — Part One
Before he became a coach and founder, Sande Golgart was addicted to acceleration. He said yes to every challenge, thrived in high-stakes boardrooms, and made a name for himself as a relentless performer. But behind the energy and accolades, something didn’t sit right.In Part One, Sande retraces his early life as a dunk contest champion, his rise through the corporate ranks, and the moment he realized the game he was winning wasn’t one he wanted to keep playing. What started as hustle became habit. What looked like progress felt like pressure. And what came next was a reckoning.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Playing to Win—Even in a Suit“I approached sales the same way I approached dunk contests: high energy, no fear, go all in.”How a competitive spirit helped Sande rise fast—but also masked the cost.Yes Man Syndrome“I never said no. I didn’t even know what no sounded like.”Why overcommitment isn’t ambition—it’s avoidance in disguise.Movement as a Mask“As long as I kept moving, I didn’t have to think. Stillness scared the hell out of me.”When action becomes a coping mechanism, not a strategy.The Wrong Summit“You keep pushing for the top, then get there and realize… it’s not your mountain.”Sande explains the disorienting moment that sparked his pivot.Forgotten Self“I knew my job title. I knew my revenue targets. But I couldn’t tell you what I liked.”How busyness blurred his sense of identity—and what came next._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Sande Golgart
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.18 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>170,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#408 Jodi Silverman: When the Kids Grow Up, But You’re Just Getting Started — Part Two
Jodi Silverman never expected reinvention to arrive between carpools and client meetings. But once her kids left and the hustle paused, she realized success had masked something deeper: restlessness. In Part 2, Jodi shares the emotional (and practical) shift from parenting full-time to rediscovering your own interests. She walks us through her signature DARE Method and dishes out real talk on marriage, identity, and why your kids aren’t your best friends (even if you really, really like them).This isn’t just an episode about empty nests. It’s about refilling your own life—on your own terms.Key Highlights of Our Interview:“You’re always their mom—but not always their problem-solver.”Letting go means shifting from fixer to coach, giving your adult kids space—and yourself permission to grow.Best Friend? Nope. Mom Forever.“They have friends. What they need is a parent who actually knows when to walk away.”Jodi explains why clinging to closeness can backfire—and how healthy detachment brings deeper connection.The Real Empty Nest Challenges“It’s not just missing them. It’s not knowing who you are without them.”It’s not about quiet halls—it’s about a loud identity crisis. Jodi breaks down the emotional vacuum no one warns you about.The DARE Method“Decide. Awaken. Reimagine. Experience.”Jodi’s four-step formula to reclaim your identity—starting with a brain dump, not a five-year plan.Rediscovering You“What did you used to like—before you were someone’s plus one?”She urges listeners to list lost joys, try without judgment, and welcome failure as a doorway to rediscovery.Day Swaps, Not Date Nights“Plan a day around what lights them up. You’ll learn more than any heart-to-heart.”From partners to adult children, this method rebuilds connection through shared experiences and mutual curiosity._______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jodi Silverman
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.18 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>170,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
What’s Stopping You from Outgrowing Yourself?
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.
Chief Change Officer isn’t just another podcast. It ranks in the Top 3% globally, hit #1 in Careers (US), and cracked the Top 10 in Business (US)—because it offers what others don’t: expansive human intelligence, shared by the world’s most extraordinary thinkers and doers.
This is the space for transformation gurus, bold hearts, black sheep, and unsung visionaries. We go beyond digitized tips and AI-smooth talk. Here, you get real, time-tested, experience-driven wisdom—the kind that blends logic and love, art and science, hindsight and foresight.
For me, this show marks career transition #18. Across 17 transitions, I’ve been mentored by global changemakers who helped me emerge stronger and freer. Now, I’m passing that power forward—through raw, unfiltered conversations with extraordinary people across cultures, industries, and identities.
If you’re a growth progressive, a black horse, a visionary underdog, or someone boldly rewriting the rules—you’re already one of us. Because you are the Chief Change Officer.
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A better you is already unfolding.
130,000+ followers are outgrowing.
Join them on LinkedIn, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube @chiefchangeofficer.
Ireland