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PODCAST

Culture Architects™

David J. Friedman

Most leaders know that a strong culture is a foundation for building a great organization, but great cultures don"t just happen on their own. Rather, they"re designed and built systematically, brick by brick. Each week, join David J. Friedman, the best-selling author of Culture by Design, as he speaks with extraordinary leaders, from all walks of life, and they share their biggest successes, failures, and lessons learned on their culture journeys. If you"re searching for the best insights on

business management

All Episodes

58:52

60. Building a Culture of Ownership w/ Kerry Siggins

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/10/05

What does it really mean to think and act like an owner?In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman sits down with Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge, a 100% employee-owned manufacturing company in Durango, Colorado. Kerry shares how her own leadership journey, including rebuilding her life after addiction, shaped the way she thinks about ownership, trust, accountability, and culture.David and Kerry explore how StoneAge grew from a 30-person company into an organization of roughly 250

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63:10

59. Saving Humanity from Business as Usual w/ Chris Yard

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/09/14

What if business could be both people-first and performance-driven?In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman sits down with Chris Yard, co-owner of Mercury Wire Products, a family-owned custom cable manufacturer based in Spencer, Massachusetts. Chris shares how his early experiences outside the family business helped shape his belief that many organizations unintentionally build systems that drain energy from good people.David and Chris explore Mercury Wire’s “True North

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57:51

58. From Soldier to Culture Architect w/ Logan Nance

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/08/24

Most guests on Culture Architects come to culture from the top of an organization. Logan Nance came to it first from the inside of one of the most intentional cultures there is: the military.In this episode, guest host Dustin Campbell sits down with Logan Nance, a member of the CultureWise sales team whose journey with the company began long before he ever worked there. Logan shares how his path from a small town in Kentucky to serving in Afghanistan shaped the way he thinks about leadership, trust,

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54:51

57. The Culture Behind the Numbers w/ Chris Powell

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/08/03

In a business built around claims, revenue, and operational precision, Chris Powell believes culture still has to start with people.In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman speaks with Chris Powell, CEO of Prosperity Behavioral Health, a revenue cycle management company serving behavioral health clinics. Chris shares how his career in healthcare technology and leadership shaped his belief that even in highly numbers-driven environments, culture cannot be treated as an

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58:02

56. Giving Employees Their Brains Back w/ Ron Lovett

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/07/13

What happens when a leader decides to give employees their brains back?In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman reconnects with entrepreneur, author, and fellow culture builder Ron Lovett. Ron is the founder of Source Security, the author of *Outrageous Empowerment* and *Scaling Culture*, and the founder of VIDA Living, a community-oriented affordable housing company based in Canada.David and Ron explore Ron’s unconventional approach to building decentralized organizations with fewer

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41:49

55. How Conversational Debt Sabotages Your Company’s...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/06/22

What happens when talented people and great ideas are trapped inside a culture that does not allow them to thrive?In this episode of Culture Architects, David J. Friedman speaks with Gustavo Razzetti, CEO of Fearless Culture and author of Forward Talk: The Bold New Method for Getting Teams Unstuck. Gustavo shares how his career in advertising, innovation, and organizational leadership led him to recognize that many companies do not suffer from a lack of talent or ideas. They lack the cultural

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67:00

54. How a Private Boys School Cultivates Virtues and...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/05/11

In this episode of Culture Architects, David interviews Tyler Casertano, the head of Haverford School, about cultivating culture and values in education. Tyler shares his journey from teaching in Guatemala to leading a top boys' school, focusing on operationalizing 24 core virtues. They discuss the challenges of day schools, the importance of family partnerships, and fostering diversity. Tyler emphasizes the role of virtues like courage and respect in shaping character and the significance of

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60:53

53. The Power of The Collaborative Way: Transforming...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/04/20

In this episode, David sits down with Lloyd Ficket from the "The Collaborative Way", a framework for enhancing workplace relationships. In this conversation, Lloyd shares insights on how changing the way we relate can lead to better teamwork and innovation. He outlines five practices that help embed values into daily interactions and shares stories of organizations that have benefited from these approaches. This conversation is ideal for anyone interested in fostering a more collaborative and

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54:42

52. Understanding the Dimensions of Trust w/ Dennis &...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/03/30

In this episode of the Culture Architects podcast, we explore the science and practicalities of trust-building with researchers and authors Drs. Dennis and Michelle Reina. Learn about the three dimensions of trust—character, communication, and capability—and how simple, deliberate behaviors can enhance teamwork and reduce friction. This episode offers practical strategies for rebuilding trust and highlights its importance in both professional and personal settings.

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60:06

51. Moving People, Not Just Furniture: Larry O’Toole...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/03/09

In this episode of Culture Architects, David Friedman interviews Larry O'Toole, founder of Gentle Giant Moving Company. They discuss Larry's journey from engineer to entrepreneur, the unique culture he has built within his company, and the importance of hiring the right people. Larry shares insights on creating a positive customer experience, establishing core values, and the challenges of the moving industry. He emphasizes the significance of empathy in customer service and the need for

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48:14

50. From Shopping Centers to Strong Teams: How Andy...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/02/16

In this episode of the Culture Architects podcast, David Friedman interviews Andy Wiener, CEO of RockStep Capital, who shares his journey from running a family retail business to establishing a successful real estate investment company. Central to RockStep Capital's operations is a strong emphasis on company culture, encapsulated in the 'RockStep Way,' a set of 26 behaviors that guide employee actions and decision-making. Andy discusses the evolution of his vision for the company, the importance of

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58:09

49. Culture as a Competitive Advantage in Private...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/01/26

In this episode of the Culture Architects podcast, David Friedman speaks with Lane Wiggers and Don Charlton from Argosy Private Equity about the critical role of company culture in private equity investments. They discuss how Argosy differentiates itself by prioritizing culture as a competitive advantage, the challenges of changing company culture, and the importance of assessing cultural fit during acquisitions. The conversation also covers measuring the impact of culture on business success, the

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52:41

48. From Biotech to Climate Action: Building Culture...

Culture Architects™ ·

2026/01/05

In this episode of Culture Architects, David Friedman interviews Brian Cali, a molecular biologist turned entrepreneur and investor. Brian shares his journey from a young science enthusiast to co-founding Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, emphasizing the importance of relationships, culture, and collaboration in building successful companies. As Ironwood grew, Brian navigated the challenges of maintaining a healthy company culture and adapting to organizational complexity. After a successful career in

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29:57

47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo...

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/12/15

Part Two opens with the case for representation—why teams that reflect the communities they serve make better decisions—and explores the outsized role of language in building trust, shared meaning, and belonging. Leo closes with practical guidance leaders can use to translate inclusive intent into everyday behaviors.

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30:51

47. Designing Cultures Where Everyone Thrives w/ Leo...

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/12/08

Leo Sanders demystifies DEI by defining it in plain terms, grounding it in civil-rights practice, and connecting it to performance: attract broader talent, retain it, and remove barriers so people can thrive. He addresses the common backlash by showing how critics often reduce DEI to one tactic, and he offers a pragmatic approach—universal design and phased improvements—to make progress without breaking budgets.

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27:21

46. Aligning Values, Beliefs, and Behaviors to Drive...

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/11/24

Part Two picks up with the leader’s job of clarity and a practical discussion of value types (core vs. permission-to-play, aspirational, accidental) and how language choices either create dissonance or drive behavior. Ann and David explore how to translate purpose and values into daily practice—so culture lives in what people actually experience, not just what’s printed on the wall.

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31:25

46. Aligning Values, Beliefs, and Behaviors to Drive...

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/11/17

Ann Melinger, CEO of bink, joins David to chart the shift from “engagement” to culture—and why experiences, not perks, reveal who you really are under pressure. Ann introduces bink’s culture compass (values, behaviors, beliefs/mission/vision, experiences) and makes the case for leadership alignment, manager enablement, and writing behaviors instead of aspirational “we” statements.

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25:47

Episode 45 | Part Two: John Bollman

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/11/03

Part Two picks up with John Bollman’s answer about Pella’s six culture accelerators and the link between culture and performance. John shares how Pella’s intentional focus on leadership development, recruiting for fit, and integrating acquisitions has helped the company outperform its industry for years. He also reflects on lessons learned throughout his career — and why he believes the greatest gift a leader can give is a culture where people can thrive.

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25:48

Episode 45 | Part One: John Bollman

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/10/27

John Bollman, CHRO at Pella Corporation, joins David for a conversation about how leadership and culture shape a company’s long-term success. In Part One, John traces his career from law to HR, the early lessons he learned at Whirlpool, and how Pella set out to define a culture anchored in caring, learning, and results. The episode ends just as David asks about the connection between culture and results — a question John answers in Part Two.

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34:27

Episode 44 | Part Two: Nathan Hall

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/10/13

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