Mission 501: The Podcast

Episode 12: My First Book: The Story Behind Learning Unleashed

In mission-driven work, people are the greatest resource. The ones who know how to grow, and who help others grow. In this episode, Dr. Aldrich introduces his first boo

Episode 11: AI in Human Services feat. Justin Blumhorst

🤖 AI is everywhere, but what does it actually mean for the people and organizations doing human services work? In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Dr. Aldrich

Episode 10: Compliance to Curiosity: Collaborative Conversation Takeaways

🎙️In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Ryan reflects on key insights from the first Mission 501 Collaborative Conversation, Compliance to Curiosity. Drawing on pe

Season 2 Trailer: The Podcast Returns

After a year away from the microphone, Mission 501: The Podcast is back. In this short trailer, Dr. Aldrich reintroduces the show, shares the completion of his Doctor o

Episode 9: What's the Big Deal With the Big Five?

In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Ryan explores the Big Five personality traits — what they are, why they matter, and how understanding them can strengthen non

Episode 8: Setting Growth Goals That Stick

Setting goals is easy — sticking to them is the hard part. In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Ryan explores how growth-focused goals can create lasting motivati

Episode 7: Goal Model Overview: SMART Goals | OKRs | HARD Goals

Setting the right kinds of goals can make or break success—especially in mission-driven work. In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Ryan breaks down three major go

Episode 0: Welcome to Mission 501: The Podcast!

Welcome to Mission 501: The Podcast — where psychology meets work, with a nonprofit twist! In this short intro episode, Ryan shares what the show is all about, what inspi

Episode 6: How Goals Work: Unlocking Motivation with Goal Setting Theory

In this episode, Ryan dives into Locke and Latham's Goal Setting Theory—what makes goals work, and why "just do it" just doesn't cut it. Whether you're managing teams or

Episode 5: Teamwork Takes Time: Navigating Tuckman's Stages of Group Development Model

Tuckman's Stages of Group Development Model—forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning—might sound like corporate buzzwords, but it's a powerful way to unders

Episode 4: When Consensus Hurts: Understanding Groupthink

In this episode, Ryan breaks down the concept of Groupthink—what it is, how it creeps into decision-making, and why even smart teams can fall into its trap. From history

Episode 3: Herzberg's Two-Factor (Motivation-Hygiene) Theory of Motivation

This episode is all about motivation! Ryan discusses Herzberg's (1959) Two-Factor, or Motivation-Hygiene, Theory of Motivation. This theory may be aging, but it's still v

Episode 2: Training and Motivation: What Works Best for Nonprofits?

Ryan explains a training domain model for nonprofit organizations to adopt. The 4-stage model is explained, and each stage is linked to motivation. Which stages are the m

Episode 1: Pilot feat. Timothy James Consulting

The first official episode of the Mission 501 Podcast! Guest Tim Blonsky from Timothy James Consulting and I discuss workforce development, apprenticeships, and their imp