Connected Culture with Dr. Jamie Shapiro

About Connected Culture with Dr. Jamie Shapiro

You want an ambitious career and a life you actually want to live. You want to build teams that thrive without burning yourself out leading them. Connected Culture is the podcast for you. Each week, organizational psychologist and CEO coach Dr. Jamie Shapiro brings you research-backed conversations on leading with vitality, building healthier team cultures, and designing a career with the capacity to hold a real life around it. New episodes weekly.

Publisher

Dr. Jamie Shapiro

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 May 2026

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   You're Hiding the One Thing Your Team Actually Needs

   Is there a version of you that never shows up at work? In this episode, organizational psychologist and CEO coach Dr. Jamie Shapiro shares how she hid her "rave girl" side during her corporate years, and why the part of you you're hiding is probably the part your team needs to see most. She explains what hiding costs you, where to start if you're not sure who you are at the core, and how to be more open at work without oversharing. You'll learn: — The two questions people are asking about you every day — Why hiding who you are at work drains your energy — Why people want to know you, not just your title — Where to start when you don't know who you are at the core — Why we see vulnerability as weakness in ourselves but as courage in others — What "vulnerability with boundaries" looks like at work SHOW NOTES (00:00) The version of you that you don't let out at work (00:42) Jamie's story: the OG rave kid in a business suit (03:01) Why people want to know you, not your title ( 04:30) "What if I don't know who I am?" (06:05) The beautiful mess effect (07:32) Vulnerability with boundaries (08:07) The CEO who lost touch with why he started (09:45) One small act of courage to try today ABOUT THE HOST Dr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Jamie is the bestselling author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures, introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast. Learn more and download the free core values worksheet at connectedec.com (http://connectedec.com/). If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

2. 

   25 Sept 2026

   Why Your Stress Is Spreading to Everyone Around You

   Your team isn't just hearing your words. They're picking up on your state. In this episode, organizational psychologist and CEO coach Dr. Jamie Shapiro explains why composure is one of the most misunderstood traits in leadership, and why a panicked leader creates a panicked team. She shares how to stay steady under pressure without faking it, and why calm leaders are often mistaken for leaders who don't care. If you've ever felt rattled inside while your team looked to you for direction, this episode is for you. You'll learn: — Why composure isn't the absence of feeling — How fear spreads through a team, just like turbulence on a plane — How to stay composed and still be honest about how you feel — The one breath that can calm your body and your mind — The composure spectrum and which side you tend to overdo — Why faking calm drains your energy (surface acting vs. deep acting) — A simple check to do before your next high-pressure meeting SHOW NOTES (00:00) The leadership trait nobody talks about (01:32) Why fear on a plane spreads to every passenger (03:22) "I don't want to be inauthentic" (03:50) Use your breath to get out of an amygdala hijack (04:59) Composure means naming the turbulence, not ignoring it (05:58) Where are you on the composure spectrum? (07:54) The CFO who thought his COO wasn't worried (10:17) Why faking calm creates an energy leak (11:24) What to do before your next high-pressure meeting ABOUT THE HOST Dr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Jamie is the bestselling author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures, introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast. Learn more at connectedec.com (http://connectedec.com/). If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

3. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Why Hard Work Isn't What's Burning You Out (Fortune 1000 CEO Study)

   You don't burn out from hard work. You burn out from hidden leaks in your energy, and most leaders never notice them until they're running on empty. In this episode, organizational psychologist and CEO coach Dr. Jamie Shapiro shares what she uncovered after interviewing Fortune 1000 CEOs and asking the one question almost no one asks them: how's your energy? She breaks down the three quiet drains that lead to burnout, why the answer is focusing on vitality instead of just avoiding burnout, and the single small step that starts bringing your energy back. If you've been treating busy like a badge of honor, this one will change how you think about it. You'll learn: — Why burnout comes from energy leaks, not from working hard — Why 65% of CEOs said other people's mindsets drained them — The number one factor 100% of CEOs said builds their energy — The one small step method for rebuilding your energy SHOW NOTES (00:00) The energy question no one asks CEOs (00:26) The CEO who stopped drinking water to skip bathroom breaks (01:46) Drain #1: unproductive, "me vs. we" mindsets (the 65% stat) (02:38) Drain #2: fixed mindsets and resistance to change (03:03) Drain #3: isolation at the top(03:40) Burnout vs. vitality, redefined (06:22) PERMA plus four: the pathways to well being (06:47) The #1 vitality factor: relationships (08:17) Why physical health fuels your energy (09:40) Where to start when you don't know where to start (12:04) Why busy is not a badge of honor ABOUT THE HOST Dr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Jamie is the bestselling author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures, introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast. Learn more at connectedec.com (http://connectedec.com/). If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

4. 

   3 Sept 2026

   I Studied Company Culture for 25 Years. Only 5 Things Matter.

   Your team is quietly asking you two questions every single day: do you care about me, and can I trust you? In this episode, organizational psychologist and CEO coach Dr. Jamie Shapiro explains why the answers to those two questions are the real starting point for a high performing culture, not the perks most leaders reach for. She shares why high-trust environments give people 106% more energy, why Gallup found that a best friend at work is one of the most engaging things at work, and why taking time to build connection speeds up performance instead of eroding it. From there she lays out her full 5 C's model and why connection is the factor that amplifies all the others. If your team looks fine on paper but feels flat, start here. You'll learn: — The two questions every employee is silently asking about your culture — Why high trust changes energy, stress, and engagement, including 106% more energy — Why building connection speeds up performance rather than slowing it down — What candid communication, idea meritocracy, and psychological safety unlock — Why "culture is defined by the worst behaviors you allow" — The 5 C's: Connection, Candid Communication, Clarity, Collaboration, and Contribution SHOW NOTES (00:00) Why pizza parties never move engagement (00:34) The 5 factors that explain 80% of your culture (02:08) The two questions your team asks every day (02:58) Why high trust means 106% more energy (05:43) Candid communication starts with care (10:13) Clarity and the dog park problem (13:00) Collaboration: your peers are your first team (16:20) Contribution: making work matter (20:37) Where to start: build more connection ABOUT THE HOST Dr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up (for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Jamie is the bestselling author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures, introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast). Learn more at connectedec.com If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

5. 

   2 Jul 2026

   2 Psychologists Reveal the #1 Thing That Predicts a Good Life (ft. Stewart Donaldson)

   What actually predicts a good life? Not IQ. In this episode of Connected Culture, organizational psychologist and CEO coach Dr. Jamie Shapiro sits down with her mentor, Dr. Stewart Donaldson, one of the founding figures in positive organizational psychology. They walk through PERMA+4 — the nine building blocks of flourishing that now hold up across about 12 countries — and why relationships consistently land among the top one or two drivers of a good life.They also get into why a single leader who isn't oriented toward these principles can devastate an entire culture, and how the energy a leader brings can now be measured in any organization. YOU'LL LEARN Why credible science of wellbeing has to start with strong measurement— The original five building blocks Martin Seligman identified— The "plus four" that rounded out the model: physical health, mindset, environment, and perceived economic security— Why relationships consistently land in the top one or two drivers of flourishing— What the "ripple effect" is, and why one leader sets the tone for an entire culture— How positive psychology emerged from a field that spent 80–90% of its focus on problems and deficits— Why a leader's energy — the kind they give or drain — can now be studied in any workplace ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Stewart I. Donaldson is one of the founding figures in positive organizational psychology, whose work has helped shape what the field understands about wellbeing and human flourishing. He is the acting director of the School of Community and Global Health (SCGH), a distinguished university professor, president of the Claremont Flourishing Center, executive director of the university's Claremont Evaluation Center (CEC), and executive director of The Evaluators' Institute (TEI). Trained in organizational psychology, statistics, and evaluation science, he brought rigorous measurement to a field many of his peers once dismissed — and helped build the evidence base behind PERMA+4, work that has since been translated and tested across roughly 12 countries. Deeply committed to improving lives through research, evaluation, and education, he continues to bridge science and practice alongside Dr. Shapiro through the Love Lab and Love Center, and mentors the next generation of researchers through the dissertations he advises. ABOUT THE HOST Dr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC, where she coaches CEOs and executives at Fortune 500 companies. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. A New York Times bestselling author, Jamie also writes on leadership and wellbeing for Psychology Today and Forbes. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Her book Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures — which introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast — distill that mission into practice. Learn more at connectedec.com If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

6. 

   25 Jun 2026

   A CEO and a Psychologist Reveal the AI Truth That Could Save Your Career (ft. AJ Kumar)

   Most remote teams aren't struggling because of the distance. They're struggling because no one built the foundation that makes distance workable.In this episode, Jamie Shapiro sits down with  @AJisNotYourGuru  (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCWGpcPRgbfMqkJDG56LAyCg), founder and content strategist known as "the influencer of influencers," to talk about what actually holds virtual teams together, why so many leaders are framing AI the wrong way, and why human connection is still the one thing no technology can replace.You'll learn:— Why icebreaker questions feel empty and what connecting questions actually sound like— How fear of being obsolete is shutting down AI adoption before it starts— Why people resist technology when they don't feel like they matter at work— What the virtual coffee practice is and how it builds real relationships across distance— Why hybrid work fails when it's treated as a scheduling fix instead of a culture commitment— What organizational justice means and how unfair hybrid policies quietly erode trust— Why culture has to be measured, not just felt, and how the 5 C's model makes that possibleSHOW NOTES(00:00) Why clicking "join" is not the same as connecting(02:00) What connecting questions actually sound like(04:00) Building a foundation of care as the base of team performance(07:07) Fear of being obsolete and why leaders need to change the AI conversation(10:30) What AI will actually free us up to do(14:00) Why hybrid work is being done halfway in most organizations(18:00) Organizational justice and why exceptions in hybrid policy damage trust(22:00) How large organizations keep culture alive across thousands of people(26:00) The 5 C's model and why culture needs a roadmap, not just good intentionsABOUT THE HOSTDr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Jamie is the bestselling author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures, introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast.Learn more at connectedec.comIf this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

7. 

   19 Jun 2026

   Why Smart Entrepreneurs Keep Creating Unsafe Teams (with Dr. Jessica Diaz)

   Two organizational psychologists walk into a podcast… and your team will never be the same.Dr. Jamie Shapiro (organizational psychologist & CEO coach) sits down with her longtime colleague and friend Dr. Jessica Diaz, employee experience researcher, former educator, and self-proclaimed "Root Cause Queen" — for a conversation that bridges cutting-edge psychology research and the real, messy challenges leaders face every day.From psychological safety to mindset shifts, from parenting teenagers to diagnosing broken teams, this episode is packed with frameworks you can actually use.Timestamps0:00 — Introduction: How Jamie & Jessica met (stats class, PhD school, and a private message)2:24 — The difference between a high-performing team and groupthink — and why "we all get along" is a red flag4:21 — Healthy conflict vs. toxic positivity: the distinction every leader needs to understand4:50 — Social identity theory: why psychological safety doesn't feel the same for everyone on your team5:38 — Why averages in employee data hide the truth — and what to measure instead8:51 — "Statistics is not math — it's storytelling": why qualitative data is non-negotiable9:31 — The #1 insight from years of research: organizational psychology is too identity-agnostic11:46 — The problem is never the problem: root cause analysis and the Knowledge / Skill / Mindset framework13:04 — "It just comes back more expensive": why acting fast without diagnosing costs you more15:12 — How to shift someone's mindset as a coach or leader16:17 — Building psychological safety through the body: stress arousal, hypervigilance, and nervous system signals19:33 — Why modeling vulnerability is the most underrated leadership tool20:43 — The oldest mistake in organizational psychology — and why we're still making it 50 years later22:33 — Leaders have less at stake than they think — the responsibility of holding power23:17 — Two psychologist moms: when the theory doesn't transfer to your own kids24:57 — Self-Determination Theory in real life: relatedness, competence, and autonomy (especially for teenagers)28:19 — Autonomy at work: how the best organizations create it without chaosIf this conversation sparked something for you, I'd love for you to subscribe to Connected Culture so you never miss an episode. And if you have a leader in your life who needs to hear this — share it with them. That's how we build better cultures, one conversation at a time.

8. 

   28 May 2026

   Stop Having Meetings After the Meeting (If You Want A Successful Business)

   Your team isn't struggling because they lack effort, they're struggling because decisions keep piling up while everyone stays "busy." In this episode, organizational psychologist and CEO coach Jamie Shapiro breaks down decision debt, a pattern she sees constantly in high-performing teams, where meetings happen nonstop but nothing actually moves. She shares the real cost of leaving decisions unresolved and the small, practical shifts that rebuild alignment, clarity, and momentum.You'll learn:— What decision debt is and why it quietly kills team performance— How to tell the difference between motion and momentum in your organization— Why misalignment in one meeting creates fractures across entire teams— The five-minute meeting close that dramatically improves accountability— How to identify who actually owns a decision before a meeting ends— The one-way door vs. two-way door framework for smarter, faster decisions— When more data is actually hurting your decision-making, not helping itSHOW NOTES(00:00) Motion without momentum: does this sound familiar?(03:19) What decision debt is and how it builds up(04:36) The real costs: duplicative work and broken alignment(05:54) Why we keep trying to change too much at once(07:35) The five-minute meeting close that fixes alignment(08:11) The meeting after the meeting, and why it has to stop(08:36) Decision debt and leader vitality: the energy connection(12:25) One-way door vs. two-way door decisions explained(13:30) Three steps to run a real decision-making meetingABOUT THE HOSTDr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up (for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Jamie is the bestselling author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures, introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast). Learn more at connectedec.comIf this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

9. 

   22 May 2026

   Psychologist Explains Why High Performers Can Ruin a Team

   Most leaders think assembling a room full of high performers guarantees results but what actually happens is the opposite. Jamie Shapiro, organizational psychologist and CEO coach, breaks down the famous super chicken study and explains why individual talent without connection, trust, and a "we" mindset quietly destroys team performance. She unpacks the real behaviors that separate high performers from high performing teams and gives leaders a clear, practical framework for building both. If your team looks great on paper but keeps underperforming, this episode is the answer.You'll learn:— Why high performers placed together often underperform instead of thriving— What the super chicken study reveals about competitive team dynamics— The difference between an "I" mindset and a "we" mindset on teams— What a toxic rockstar looks like and how they damage culture— Why asking for help is a strength, not a burden— How removing the "busy badge" creates psychological safety on teams— The 5 C's framework: Connection, Candid Communication, Clarity, Collaboration, and ContributionSHOW NOTES(00:00) When your all-star team is still underperforming(03:09) The super chicken study explained(04:22) High performers vs. a high performing team(06:19) What a toxic rockstar actually looks like(07:07) Why asking for help builds the team(08:34) Drop the busy badge, lead with humanity(09:51) How to know if your team has a trust problem(10:32) The 5 C's of high performing teamsABOUT THE HOST Dr. Jamie Shapiro is an organizational psychologist, master-certified executive coach, and the founder and CEO of Connected EC. She holds a PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and has coached CEOs and executive teams since 1998. After experiencing executive burnout herself, she became committed to reshaping how leaders show up (for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Jamie is the bestselling author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out, and her new book, Connected Culture: The New Science for Thriving Teams and Cultures, introduces the 5Cs model that anchors this podcast).  Learn more at connectedec.com If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

10. 

    14 May 2026

    Excellence vs. Perfection: A Psychologist Explains Wabi Sabi

    Have you ever sat through a meeting where every status was green and you knew, deep down, that wasn't actually true?This isn't a communication problem. It's a perfectionism problem. In this episode, Dr. Jamie Shapiro unpacks why so many teams default to "everything's on track" when it isn't and introduces a 500-year-old Japanese philosophy that her firm has adapted into a structured team practice for moving from a fear-based culture to a learning-based one. You'll learn: — Why "this isn't a communication problem, it's a perfectionism problem"— The difference between fear-based and learning-based team cultures— What wabi sabi means and how Jamie discovered it inside a public company— Why "failure" became a four-letter word — and what to call it instead— The failure spectrum (and why most teams treat all failure the same)— Type 1 (doing) vs. Type 2 (reflecting) learning, and the one teams skip— The 6-step Wabi Sabi Practice for honest team reflection SHOW NOTES(00:00) Why "everything is green" is a red flag(01:12) Fear-based vs. learning-based culture(01:48) What is wabi sabi?(02:32) The company that banned the word "failure"(05:34) Why perfectionism kills performance(07:44) Failure is a spectrum (Amy Edmondson)(09:20) Type 1 vs. Type 2 learning(10:28) The 6-step wabi sabi practice(13:36) A note from a recovering perfectionist If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with one leader you think needs to hear it. New episodes drop weekly.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Connected Culture with Dr. Jamie Shapiro

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.