Listen First Podcast

About Listen First Podcast

Sustaining growth, deepening connections, and driving development. This audiocast is designed for those ready to take action. It builds on the skills you learned in Chapman Foundation classes and inspires you to apply them. Each episode provides tools for listening, building trust, and intentional leadership. You'll hear alumni success stories and gain insights from CFCC facilitators. Every episode offers clear actions, direct challenges, and actionable takeaways to drive progress, with lessons that build upon one another. Prepare for lasting growth, impact, and results. https://www.chapmancommunities.org/

Publisher

Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities

Category

education · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Apr 2018

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

156 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   019-Caring Workplace Journey: Capital Credit Union

   Strong cultures don't happen by accident. "Lasting culture change happens when leadership teams develop a shared understanding of the culture that they want to create and take collective ownership for building it." -Dr. Misty Janks, Chapman Foundation CEO & Organizational Psychologist The Stories Behind the Data | Capital Credit Union's Caring Workplace Journey In Episode 015 of Beyond The Class, we explored survey data and measurable outcomes from Capital Credit Union's partnership in the Chapman Foundation's Caring Workplace Program. In this episode, we go beyond the numbers to hear directly from the leaders bringing that work to life every day. Joined by Erin Wojkiewicz, Assistant Vice President of Talent Development & Financial Education, and Tammy Williams, Chief Experience Officer, we explore how the Caring Workplace strategies helped uplift existing programs, create a shared language for more than 500 team members, and support Capital Credit Union's vision of becoming a "Leading with Heart" Caring Workplace. Erin and Tammy share how the Caring Workplace Program provided a framework to connect and uplift efforts already underway, from engagement surveys and onboarding to learning, recognition, and employee development. Most importantly, they share the stories behind the data and the human impact they've witnessed through stronger relationships, more courageous conversations, and a culture where people can thrive. RELATED RESOURCES Learn more about the Caring Workplace program - https://chapmancommunities.org/caring-workplace-program/ Explore Chapman Foundation classes - https://chapmancommunities.org/learn-to-connect/ Continue your journey by listening to the Replay & Retool episodes 010, 011, 013, and 014. CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview 04:00 - What "Leading with Heart" Means at Capital Credit Union 07:05 - The Culture Strategies Creating Impact 10:07 - Employee Voice, Feedback, and Leadership Roadshows 13:01 - Appreciation Practices and Meaningful Recognition 17:41 - Bringing Foundational Classes to More Than 500 Team Members 20:22 - Onboarding Culture and Living the Values 22:30 - Building a Culture of Learning 24:02 - Engagement Data and the Stories Behind the Numbers 27:54 - How the Chapman Foundation Partnership Supports Capital Credit Union 31:05 - The Way We Lead Impacts the Way People Live 34:59 - What's Next in the Caring Workplace Journey 36:14 - Closing Reflections KEY TAKEAWAYS Through the Caring Workplace program, culture grows and sustains when organizations intentionally connect existing programs to a shared vision and strategy. Chapman Foundation classes can help create a common language that strengthens relationships at work, at home, and throughout the community. The most powerful measure of culture isn't just the data. It's the stories, experiences, and lives impacted along the way. LEVEL UP OPPORTUNITY As you listen, consider which of the six Caring Workplace culture strategies is most developed in your organization and which one presents the greatest opportunity for growth. What intentional action could you take this week to strengthen trust, appreciation, accountability, meaningful work, intentional connection, or learning?

2. 

   18 Aug 2026

   018-Six Ways to Build Lasting Trust on Your Team

   Psychological safety is one of the most talked-about concepts in leadership today. But what happens when growth, change, and pressure begin to test the trust organizations have worked so hard to build? In this episode of Beyond the Class, Chapman Foundation Chief Program Officer Katie Trotter explores a common misconception: psychological safety is not a cultural perk or a leadership personality trait. It is a strategic capability that must be intentionally built, reinforced, and practiced over time. Throughout the conversation, Katie highlights how trust becomes sustainable when leadership behaviors, team norms, and organizational systems work together to create environments where people feel safe contributing, learning, challenging ideas, and growing. Six Strategies That Help Trust Hold: Shared Language Creates Predictability Trust Is Built Through Consistent Leader Behavior Clear Expectations Reduce Unnecessary Fear Feedback Normalized as a Skill Recognition Signals Belonging Systems Reinforce What Matters LEVEL UP OPPORTUNITY Before your next team meeting, ask: "What is one thing we might be hesitant to talk about that would help us move forward?" Then: Listen without interrupting Thank the person for raising it Stay curious before becoming corrective Small moments of curiosity and openness can send powerful signals that honest input is welcome and valued. RELATED RESOURCES BLOG: Trust That Holds - https://www.chapmancommunities.org/blog-trust-that-holds/ WEBSITE: Caring Workplace Program - https://chapmancommunities.org/caring-workplace-program/ AUDIOCAST: 006-Rebuilding Trust When You've Messed Up - https://www.chapmancommunities.org/btc-006/ CHAPTER MARKERS 1 - 00:00 – Why Psychological Safety Matters More Than Ever 2 - 01:56 – Psychological Safety Is a Strategic Capability 3 - 03:43 – Strategy #1: Shared Language Creates Predictability 4 - 06:06 – Strategy #2: Trust Is Built Through Consistent Leader Behavior 5 - 07:08 – Strategy #3: Clear Expectations Reduce Unnecessary Fear 6 - 08:17 – Strategy #4: Feedback Normalized as a Skill 7 - 09:48 – Strategy #5: Recognition Signals Belonging 8 - 13:09 – Strategy #6: Systems Reinforce What Matters 9 - 14:06 – What Psychological Safety Looks Like in Practice & Misconceptions 10 - 17:15 – Level Up Opportunity: Asking the Question No One Wants to Ask KEY TAKEAWAYS Psychological safety is built through consistent practices, not programs. Trust grows through consistency, not charisma. Clear expectations reduce uncertainty and improve performance. Feedback and recognition help people feel valued and supported. Systems reinforce the behaviors and values that shape culture. Psychological safety supports honest conversations, learning, and growth.

3. 

   21 Jul 2026

   017-Three Habits That Build Better Teams: Listen, Be Real, Recognize

   What if what looks like a performance problem is actually a relationship problem? In this episode of Beyond the Class, Heather McDermott, Senior Director of Learning Innovation at the Chapman Foundation, explores a growing challenge facing organizations today: declining trust, rising stress, and disengaged employees. While many leaders focus on improving results through policies, processes, or accountability measures, Heather argues that performance is often shaped by something deeper - the environment leaders create every day. Drawing on her experience in organizational culture design and leadership development, Heather reframes performance as an outcome of human experience. Rather than focusing on large-scale initiatives, Heather highlights three everyday leadership behaviors and provides examples that impact culture and results. Three Human-Centered Leadership Behaviors That Improve Performance: Listen with presence and curiosity Model thoughtful vulnerability Recognize contributions intentionally Throughout the conversation, Heather emphasizes that human-centered leadership is a deliberate choice leaders make through daily actions and interactions. These small moments accumulate over time, shaping workplace culture, employee engagement, and organizational performance. LEVEL UP OPPORTUNITY Choose one of the three leadership behaviors and focus on it intentionally this week. At the end of each day, ask yourself: Did I truly listen? Did I create space for openness? Did I meaningfully recognize someone's contribution? Small, consistent changes can significantly strengthen trust, psychological safety, and performance over time. RELATED RESOURCES BLOG: The Leadership Conditions That Shape Performance - https://chapmancommunities.org/the-leadership-conditions-that-shape-performance/ WEBSITE: Caring Workplaces – https://chapmancommunities.org/caring-workplace-program/ AUDIOCAST: 006-Rebuilding Trust: How To Be a Good Leader Even When You Mess Up – https://www.chapmancommunities.org/btc-006/ CHAPTER MARKERS 1 - 00:00 – The Leadership Challenge: Stress, trust, and disengagement 2 - 02:24 – Performance or Environment? Reframing the real problem 3 - 05:22 – Why Organizations Overlook Human-Centered Leadership 4 - 07:41 – Behavior #1: Listening with Presence and Intention 5 - 13:10 – Behavior #2: Modeling Vulnerability Without Oversharing 6 - 16:49 – A Personal Leadership Lesson on Authenticity 7 - 20:31 – Behavior #3: Recognizing Contributions Meaningfully 8 - 24:41 – Small Choices, Big Impact: Culture by Design 9 - 27:05 – Level Up Opportunity: Choose One Leadership Behavior KEY TAKEAWAYS Performance challenges are often symptoms of environmental and relational issues rather than talent or effort problems. Human-centered leadership is a strategic advantage that accelerates engagement, trust, and results. Listening, vulnerability, and recognition help people feel heard, valued, and motivated to perform at their best. Culture is shaped by the daily choices leaders make in ordinary moments. When people feel respected, understood, and trusted, stronger performance naturally follows.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

54

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

81

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