Making Waves at C-Level

About Making Waves at C-Level

Successful executives cannot always play it safe. They make waves. This podcast explores the gap between potential and results in business. This is a show for people who seek career success. If you desire motivation, ideas, inspiration, and the chance to learn from people who are living their dreams, then “Making Waves at C-Level” (Formerly “Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do”) should be added to your subscribed “must hear” podcasts. This show was designed to help people get “unstuck” in their careers and are seeking ideas around leadership. Each episode brings you the successful stories of business leaders who have created their own success. Creating the right team, hiring skilled talent, managing other leaders, goal setting, mentorship, mastermind groups, mindset, marketing, sales, millionaires, career path, peak performance, thinking bigger, networking, enthusiasm, re-invention, leveling up, and financial planning are just some of the topics that are covered each week. Thom Singer is an executive search consultant. He is the author of 12 books and has been the featured speaker at over 1000 business and association events. Join him on this journey and become part of the “Making Waves” community. #CEO #leaders #leadership #entrepreneurs #business #biztips

Publisher

Thom Singer

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Sept 2014

Latest episode

26 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

24 of 783 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   26 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Connection and The People Side of Business. Human Interaction (H.I.) in an AI-Driven Word

   Human Connection Speaker Thom Singer, CSP, explores the vital role of human interaction in an AI-driven world, offering insights for building sustainable relationships and careers.

2. 

   14 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Real Magic of a Conference Happens Between Sessions

   In this episode of Making Waves at C-Level, Thom Singer takes on a topic that clearly struck a nerve: conferences are too packed with content and not designed with enough room for actual human connection. After a LinkedIn post on this subject drew far more attention than usual, along with comments, shares, and direct messages from people who both agreed and disagreed, Thom decided to dig deeper into why this issue matters so much right now. Thom argues that many events are still built around an outdated assumption, that the more sessions you cram into a conference, the more value attendees will feel they received. But in reality, back to back breakouts and overloaded agendas often leave people exhausted, distracted, and less likely to engage. He shares an example of a recent conference with nonstop 50 minute sessions and only 10 minutes between them, a schedule that may have looked efficient on paper but left little time for reflection, conversation, or the spontaneous interactions that make in person events memorable. A central point in the episode is that people no longer attend conferences just to get information. In a world shaped by the internet, social media, podcasts, and AI, content is everywhere. What people cannot get from a screen is the energy of being in the room, the spark of an unexpected conversation, or the trust that begins to form when people share ideas face to face. Thom believes that is the real value of conferences now, not just the presentations, but the conversations that happen because of them. He also pushes back on the idea that open space at events does not work because introverts need everything to be structured. Thom notes that introverts are often excellent at making meaningful connections when they choose to engage. At the same time, he is not calling for chaos or the elimination of speakers. Instead, he makes the case for more intentional event design, where planners create white space and speakers help set a tone that encourages people to talk, connect, and stay present with one another. Thom explains that simply leaving time on the schedule is not enough. If attendees spend that extra time staring at their phones, the opportunity is wasted. Conferences need to be designed as experiences where connection is part of the culture. That means creating an atmosphere where people feel invited to engage, where speakers reinforce the value of interaction, and where attendees are encouraged to treat the event as more than a series of sessions. The conversation also points toward a bigger shift. Thom predicts that while AI will remain a dominant topic on conference agendas, the next major theme across industries will be human interaction, trust, personal brand, and connection. What used to be dismissed as soft skills is quickly becoming essential. His message is clear: in an AI driven world, the events that stand out will be the ones that make room for people to actually engage with each other. This episode is a call to meeting planners, speakers, and organizational leaders to stop thinking only about content density and start thinking about experience design. The best conferences are not the ones with the most sessions. They are the ones where people leave feeling like they learned something, met someone important, and were part of something real Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3. 

   24 Mar 2026

   Human Interaction (H.I.) is NOT a Soft-Skill. It is a business strategy.

   In this episode of "Making Waves at C-Level," Thom Singer again takes his latest blog post and turns it over to AI to create an episode. These episodes are getting more attention than his self-talk episodes. The content is all Thom Singer's belief about Human Interaction. In this article, Thom Singer argues that human interaction is a vital strategic asset rather than a secondary soft skill in an increasingly automated economy. While artificial intelligence excels at data processing and efficiency, it cannot replicate the trust, empathy, and authenticity required to sustain long-term business relationships. Singer suggests that as digital noise increases, the ability to foster genuine connections becomes a primary competitive advantage for leaders and organizations. He warns that over-reliance on technology has created a human deficit, making interpersonal proficiency more valuable for innovation and client loyalty. Ultimately, the text asserts that professional success in the future will belong to those who balance technological tools with the irreplaceable power of human presence. Thom Singer is a professional keynote speaker who talks about why connections are a strategy for greater success. This topic is becoming a leading topic for 2026 and 2027 conferences.... and Thom Singer has been speaking about this since 2005 when his first book was released. Is it ironic that someone who talks about human interaction would use AI to create this episode of the podcast? He is not looking to go back to the typewriter. Singer embraces tech and thinks we all should be playing with the tools. But AI tools are NOT a human connection. The winners in this will be the ones who use both.... heavy use of tech for efficiency, and the ability to connect to others and build trust and relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside a recent episode

Connection and The People Side of Business. Human Interaction (H.I.) in an AI-Driven Word

Published 26 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] So in a world where everyone has the same AI tools, it's those connections or how you are going to stand out. So remember this. A contact is someone who has your email address. A connection is someone who says your name in the right room at the right moment. Relationships like that don't happen by accident. They have to be built and cultivated. So I'm challenging you to choose people at work in your industry, in your community, in your faith community, in your family. It's not about if AI is going to change the way the world runs. It already has. The question is, are you going to be the type of person that people know like and trust? […]

Who has been a guest on Making Waves at C-Level

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Eliz Greene
• Chris Bussing
• Rick Harris
• [Guest Name]
• Kamala Harris

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

257 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100

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

Quality

82

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

67

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