UNBOXING OD: Exploring the Work Behind the Work

Episode 39: The Myth of Best Practices in Organizational Development

“Best practices” sound reassuring. Someone has already figured it out. There’s a model to follow, a process to replicate, and a little less uncertainty to deal with. But

Episode 38: Who Owns Organizational Development? The Clarity Crisis of OD

Organizational Development touches leadership, culture, strategy, change, learning, engagement, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness. Somewhere along the

Episode 37: Is Organizational Development Too Polite to Create Real Change?

Organizational Development was built to challenge systems, surface truth, and help organizations evolve. So why does so much OD work feel safe? In this episode of Unboxi

Episode 36: Creating Joyful Workplaces - Curiosity, Learning, and Growth with Yolanda Fraction

Sometimes, the path into Organizational Development begins with a single moment. A moment where someone recognizes potential and opens the door to something more. In thi

Episode 35: Strategy, Systems, and Succession - Inside STL-ODN's Growth Story

What happens when Organizational Development Professionals apply their own principles to their own organization?  In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits do

Episode 34: Making Change Human Again - A Conversation with Dr. Jason Guttadauria

What actually happens after the survey closes, the insights are delivered, and the change initiative officially “launches”? In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pears

Episode 33: The Recruitment System is Broken - Now What?

Applying for a job shouldn’t feel like shouting into a void. Yet for many candidates today, the recruitment process is defined by silence, redundancy, rigid requirements,

Episode 32: The OD Perspective on Wellness - A Conversation with Dr. Katina Sawyer

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-founder of Workr Beeing, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Ell

Episode 31: Pop Culture, Real Lessons - Teaching Leadership with Dr. Sy Islam

In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Sy Islam - Co-Founder and Vice President of Consulting at Talent Metrics, and Associate Professor

Episode 30: Hustling With Heart - Jenn Stevens on Presence, Ownership, and Developing Leaders from Any Seat

In this episode of Unboxing OD, I sit down with Jenn Stevens, an Organizational Development leader whose path into this work is anything but conventional. From firefighte

Episode 29: Strategic Clarity, Leadership, and AI - Marcus Dudley on Modern Leadership in the Digital Age

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Marcus Dudley, leadership and organizational consultant, executive coach, professor, and CEO of Mammoth Leade

Episode 28: The Invisible Medal - Leading with a Higher Purpose with Chris Richie

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Colonel Chris Ritchie, retired United States Marine Corps officer and Director of Human Resource Developmen

Episode 27: Unspoken Truths, Quiet Legacies - Five Reflections on Work and Self

This episode of Unboxing OD is something different. Instead of frameworks or methodologies, Kenneth offers a deeply personal reflection told in five movements -- explorin

Episode 26: The Inner Work of Leadership - A Conversation with Poor Bear Chalepah

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Poor Bear Chalepah, consultant, visionary leader, and soon-to-be PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psycholog

Episode 25: OD Burnout Is Real - Protecting Your Capacity in the Work That Holds So Much

In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson steps into a conversation that many OD practitioners feel but rarely name -- burnout. Not the surface-level fatigue t

Episode 24: Change by Design - A Conversation with Melissa Donegan

In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Melissa Donegan - an experienced leader across federal agencies, healthcare, education, and tech - to

Episode 23: Inclusion, Community, & Compassion - Alex Ochoa & The Work of Becoming

In this special in-person episode of Unboxing OD, Alex Ochoa shares what it means to show up - fully, boldly, and unapologetically - in a profession where you don’t alway

Episode 22: When the Diagnosis Hurts - Telling the Truth in OD

In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson takes us into one of the most delicate and defining aspects of organizational development - what happens when your fi

Episode 21: Navigating the Transition from L&D to OD with Bethany Rios, MPH

In this guest episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Bethany Rios, Organizational Development Manager and L&D professional, for a candid conversation

Episode 20: The Silent Partner - Power in Organizations

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth explores the powerful presence of organizational power dynamics and the influence they carry in shaping culture, conversations, an