Townsend Institute Podcast Series

Is there really a fundamental disconnect between today’s employers and the newest generation of workers, or is there something else going on?

While headlines often label Gen Z as unprofessional or uncommitted, the reality is far more nuanced. Today’s young professionals are the most entrepreneurial generation yet—they aren't looking to slack off; they are looking for meaning, mentorship, and a new kind of workplace connection.

In this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert sit down with Dr. Kellie Playter—Associate Professor at Concordia’s School of Business and Economics and an expert in organizational leadership. Dr. Playter shares her research on the Classroom to Career transition, offering a blueprint for both the leaders hiring Gen Z and the students looking to land their dream roles.

You’ll discover:
• The Warm Lead Strategy: Why dropping 50 resumes into online portals isn't working and how to leverage weak ties for a real breakthrough.
The Hybrid Sweet Spot: Why Gen Z actually wants to be in the office and how to balance flexibility with the connection they crave.
• AI as a Career Enhancer: Practical tips for using AI to optimize your resume without being replaced by it.
• Soft Skills as Job Security: Why emotional intelligence and critical thinking remain the most valuable "evergreen" trends in any industry.
• The Onboarding Adjustment: How employers can use mentorship and clear communication channels to drastically improve retention.
• Whether you are a supervisor struggling to onboard new talent or a student gearing up for your first internship, this conversation provides the relational and practical tools to help the next generation of leaders thrive.

Perfect for: Hiring managers, HR professionals, Gen Z job seekers, and parents helping their children navigate the transition to adulthood.

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The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from!

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Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

From the Gridiron to the Job Site: Mastering the Mental Game of Performance.

Whether you are an elite athlete, a student facing a high-stakes exam, or a crane operator managing a multi-million dollar lift, the cognitive signature of stress is the same. Why, then, do we focus so much on physical conditioning while leaving our mental state to chance?

In this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert sit down with Dr. Braxton Shaw, a Concordia alum and researcher in Construction Performance Psychology (CPP). Dr. Shaw reveals his groundbreaking research on transference, demonstrating how the Psychological Skills Training (PST) used by world-class performers can be applied to academics, medicine, and high-risk industries.

You’ll discover:
The Four Pillars of PST: How to master goal setting, stress management, self-talk, and visualization to achieve a flow state.
The Transference Breakthrough: Why the mental tools used on the football field are the exact same skills needed for academic and professional success.
Proactive vs. Reactive Mental Health: A look at how Construction Performance Psychology is tackling the mental health crisis in high-risk industries.
The "And One" Breath: A practical, neuroscience-backed technique to reset your stress baseline instantly.
Dr. Shaw’s Five Life Essentials: Why you must question everything, stack your life with positivity, and never flinch in the face of a challenge.
Stop reacting to stress and start conditioning for peak performance. This conversation provides the blueprint for anyone looking to bridge the gap between potential and polished performance.

Perfect for: Student-athletes, construction industry leaders, educators, and anyone seeking to optimize their mental health and performance under pressure.
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The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from!

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Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

Is Your Culture Thriving or Just Surviving? The Six Essentials for Workplace Health.

On this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert welcome back Jon Kidwell, leadership coach, Townsend Institute adjunct instructor, and CEO of Leadwell Plus. Together, they dive into a research-backed blueprint for moving beyond organizational striving toward vigorous growth.

Jon introduces his Six Essentials for a Thriving Workplace Culture: Achievement, Significance, Clarity, Health, Growth, and Belonging. He reveals how these relational nutrients transform teams from checking boxes to finding deep meaning in their work.

You’ll discover:
The Ever-Decaying Nature of Clarity: Why communication is the hardest essential to maintain and how to do less, more often.
The Two Ditches of Health: How to balance organizational responsibility with personal boundaries to prevent burnout.
The Power of Belonging: Why feeling seen, heard, and valued is the primary driver of team retention.
The Unifying Initiative: How focusing on one laser-targeted goal can ripple across your entire life and career.
Leadwell Plus: A look at the real-time tool helping leaders move from guessing to knowing the health of their people.

Whether you are leading a global corporation or a local non-profit, this conversation provides the practical nutrients needed to build a high-performing, healthy, and sustainable team.

Perfect for: Executives, HR professionals, managers, and anyone looking to improve their organizational culture or personal leadership habits.
Links:
LeadwellPlus
Six Thrive Essentials diagram

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The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from!

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Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

Three years, three guests, one question: What wisdom will grab YOUR neurological highlighter?

On this special anniversary episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert, joined by Dr. John Townsend, celebrate THREE YEARS of transformative conversations by revisiting three evergreen episodes that have resonated deeply with listeners. They take a walk down memory lane to explore timeless insights from accomplished leaders and thinkers and reflect on how these conversations continue to shape lives and organizations. With excerpts from conversations with Bob Goff on presence and undistracted living, Dr. Michelle Fleming on burnout, and Anthony Flynn on limitations as advantages, you don’t want to miss this one!

You'll rediscover:
The power of presence: how filtering out "junk mail" in conversations strengthens relationships
How evergreen wisdom from accomplished leaders transcends time and remains relevant
The importance of blocking out noise to truly connect with others
Why the neurological highlighter matters: identifying the one insight that grabs you and applying it this week
Practical takeaways from three years of TIPS conversations that listeners can implement immediately
Whether you're a longtime listener revisiting favorite moments or new to the podcast, this anniversary special offers a curated collection of insights designed to inspire, challenge, and transform your leadership journey.

Perfect for: Anyone seeking timeless leadership wisdom, relationship-building strategies, and practical tools for personal and professional growth.

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The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from!

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Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

What If the Secret to Leadership Is Getting Out of Yourself?

On this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert - along with Dr. John Townsend - welcome Greg Campbell, executive coach, author of The Surprising Power of the Coil, and longtime friend and advisor to Dr. Townsend. Together they explore how authentic relationships transform both leaders and organizations.

Drawing from decades in asset management, real estate, and organizational leadership, Greg reveals how the principle of "the coil,” which is intentionally assembling valuable threads of personal relationships over time, unlocks genuine connection.

You'll discover:
Why servant leadership begins with getting out of yourself and genuinely listening to others
The coil principle: how shared experiences and authentic interest create lasting, meaningful relationships
Why vulnerability is the greatest leadership attribute—and how it strengthens, not weakens, your influence
The power of "both/and" thinking: balancing profit with people, confidence with character, connection with competence
Practical listening techniques: observing tone, body language, and context—even on Zoom
Whether you're a leader seeking to transform culture, a professional building meaningful relationships, or anyone wanting to live with greater purpose and impact, this conversation offers a blueprint for authentic leadership rooted in service.

Perfect for: Organizational leaders, executives, coaches, faith-based professionals, anyone seeking to build healthier cultures and deeper relationships.

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The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from!

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Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.