What's hindering your leadership growth? Cut Culture is the podcast for leaders ready to move beyond always doing "more" to a culture of fruitfulness. Hosted by Rev. Herman Armstrong, we explore the theology of the blade: why the best leaders don't just add; they prune.
Through the lens of Kathairo (the art of cleansing for growth), we tackle racial unity, cultural conflict, and the soul of the leader. If you’re tired of the noise and ready for precision, this is your toolkit.
Make the cut that matters. Stay sharp, keep growing. Learn more at CutCulture.life
In this episode of Cut Culture, we tackle a hard truth: "accidental" racism in corporate advertising is a myth. We break down the recent controversies involving a Target children's costume and deeply offensive imagery in two Converse ad campaigns. We dismantle the PR excuse of an "oversight." These aren't rogue tweets; they are multimillion-dollar campaigns that passed through dozens of layers of corporate approval, revealing a severe lack of diversity and a culture of complicity in the boardroom.
Join the Cut Culture Coaching circle at https://www.cutculture.life/
Subscribe to the Cut Culture Newsletter here https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7462699158119034880 (https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7462699158119034880)
24 Aug 2026
Why Is Black Excellence Such A Threat?
The tragic passing of Professor Jason Arday—just days after an intense public campaign forced his resignation as Cambridge University’s youngest Black professor—lays bare a devastating truth: representation without protection is a trap.
In this episode of Cut Culture, we unpack the invisible tax placed on Black high-achievers in legacy institutions and challenge organizational decision-makers to move beyond symbolic diversity.
Learn more about our coaching and training at CutCulture.life
Key Topics Covered:
The Pedestal Trap: Why Black success triggers systemic hyper-vigilance and the continuous re-auditing of credentials.
Grace vs. Scrutiny: How legacy spaces grant white peers institutional grace while weaponizing human error against leaders of color.
PR vs. Protection: The structural failure of institutions that parade diversity for brand value without building internal safeguards against bad-faith attacks.
The Executive Audit: Direct diagnostic questions every board member, director, and leader must ask themselves to genuinely protect Black talent.
Resources & Links:
Read the full article on the Cut Culture Newsletter (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-black-excellence-so-threatening-herman-armstrong-gayic)
Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please rate 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help amplify these critical conversations.
29 Jul 2026
Growing Together Part 2
Part 2 of this message from Ephesians 4:1-16. What is the link between leadership and unity in our systems? This message breaks down the countercultural unity God's people are called to and the leader's role in promoting that unity.
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See more resources on faith, culture, and leadership at cutculture.life
14 Jul 2026
Growing Together Part 1
What is the link between leadership and unity in our systems? Part 1 of this message from Ephesians 4:1-16 breaks down the countercultural unity God's people are called to and the leader's role in promoting that unity.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7462699158119034880
See more resources on faith, culture, and leadership at cutculture.life
25 Jun 2026
Culture Flows From The Top
Why do so many organizations try to fix a toxic or stagnant culture from the bottom up? They launch a new frontline initiative, update the employee handbook, or hire diverse mid-level staff—all while the boardroom remains completely untouched.
In this episode of Cut Culture, we are calling out the ultimate leadership illusion: trying to graft a healthy branch onto a rotting trunk. Inspired by the Kathairo Leadership Collective, we dive deep into why true, lasting organizational transformation must start at the absolute highest levels—with the Board, the Executive Director, the Pastor, and the CEO.
Peter Drucker famously said, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." But the hard truth we have to face today is that an organization will never rise above the emotional, spiritual, or cultural maturity level of its leaders. If your senior executive team refuses to do the agonizing, heavy lifting of building genuine trust and sharing power among themselves, your organizational culture is hitting a hard ceiling.
Article: Culture Flows From The Top: https://kathairo.com/2025/06/10/culture-flows-from-the-top/
Learn more about The Kathairo Leadership Collective: cutculture.life
16 Jun 2026
Juneteenth: Freedom Restored
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On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver life-changing news: the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two and a half years prior. The enslaved people there were legally free, but they were still living in functional bondage simply because the message hadn't reached them and wrongful authorities remained unsubdued.
Fast forward to today. Why are so many of our teams, organizations, and communities still choosing to live like captives to a highly polarizing cultural playbook?
In this episode of Cut Culture, we dive into why the historical reality of Juneteenth carries a profound lesson for modern leadership. We address the heavy toll of modern culture wars, media echo chambers, and the misinformation driving toxic division. More importantly, we unpack the leader’s responsibility to step into the gap as a "messenger of freedom" to restore truth and unity to the system.
Kathairo Leadership Collective and Healthy Leader Assessment -> cutculture.life
Articles: Three Attitudes for Reconciliation https://kathairo.com/2025/04/01/dont-let-go-attitudes-for-reconciliation/
Why We Recognize Black Excellence https://kathairo.com/2025/11/21/why-we-recognize-black-excellence/
5 Jun 2026
George Floyd Is Not A Joke
Why would a comedian find it appropriate to make "I can't breathe" a punchline at a Netflix roast event? The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in 2020 rightfully sparked international outrage. Sadly, another incident took place recently as Yves Sakila, a Congolese-born man living in Ireland, was killed by police in manner that has Irish citizens calling it their "George Floyd moment." This episode explores why human dignity is no laughing matter and how leaders, as shapers of culture, can skillfully respond when tragedy is mocked via racist humor.
Learn more about the podcast and the Kathairo Leadership Collective at cutculture.life
Download our Healthy Leader Assessment: https://kathairo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/is-your-team-stuck-kathairo.com_.pdf
Herman's recommendations for books to read on race and culture: https://kathairo.com/2024/02/27/recommendation-caste/
25 May 2026
Our Vote is Our Voice
How is it legal in 2026 for state legislatures to dilute Black and Brown representation? The recent SCOTUS decision on the Voting Rights Act is a reversion to an time where suppressing votes on the basis of race is legal. How should cultural leaders respond?
Red the article "Our Vote is Our Voice" here https://kathairo.com/2026/05/09/our-vote-is-our-voice/
Learn more about the Kathairo Leadership Collective at https://www.cutculture.life/
18 May 2026
How To Talk About Race (Without Losing Your Mind!)
Why does the room suddenly lose all its oxygen the moment race comes up in a staff meeting?
In this episode of Cut Culture, host Rev. Herman Armstrong picks up the shears to tackle the conversation most leaders are terrified to have. We dig into the "Sucker Conversations" draining your team's energy—from the reactionary Outrage Loop to the passive denial of "not seeing color."
Backed by sobering modern data on the wealth and workplace gap, this episode reveals how to apply Kathairo to cleanse your dialogue. Discover the three precision cuts your organization needs to move past political bickering and build a team that serves as an agent of true healing:
The Cut to History (Understanding the roots)
The Cut to Current Events (Acknowledging the present weight)
The Cut to Truth & Justice (Aligning with the Vinedresser's heart)
Stop holding your breath. It’s time to stop fearing the blade and start trusting the growth.
Stay sharp. Keep growing.
Links & Resources:
Ready to equip your team with true, data-driven frameworks for cross-cultural mastery? Head over to cutculture.life to access our full resource library and join the Kathairo Leadership Collective.
18 May 2026
What is Cut Culture?
Thanks for listening to the first episode of Cut Culture! Herman Armstrong shares his story of learning the hard way what happens when teams try to do culturally unifying work externally without developing a healthy internal culture.
From nonprofits, corporate, ministry, or education - building internal trust is the foundation of all dynamic teams. And that work begins with healthy and self-aware leadership.
Find more resources and blog posts at www.cutculture.life
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