If you’ve ever thought, “You know what this podcast needs?” More accounting.” Congratulations, this episode is your Siberian Gulag. (Don’t you really wish it was more cowbell!)

Rona does her very best to make this a fun episode. Still, everyone suffers just a little.

This is the perfect podcast episode if you’ve ever said, “I should understand finance…” and then immediately open Hulu instead.

On this thrilling installment of Biz-Souls, Rona Lewis bravely admits accounting is not her thing, while Jeffrey Handler enthusiastically proves… it is absolutely his thing.

Together, they tackle:

• The five drawers of accounting (no, not underwear… unfortunately).

• Why QuickBooks makes entrepreneurs question their life choices?

• The difference between accounting and finance. Spoiler alert: one records your pain, the other analyzes it!

• And the magical world of ROI, where everyone pretends they know what they’re talking about.

You’ll also learn:

• Why might accountants secretly enjoy confusing you?

• How “assets = liabilities + equity” became a personality test.

• And how to get 100% ROI by doing absolutely nothing (finally, a strategy we can all commit to).

Meanwhile, Rona’s eyes glaze over in real time, Jeffrey builds a metaphor about a filing cabinet that somehow becomes the entire financial system, and you’ll walk away knowing just enough to be dangerous at dinner parties and in boardrooms.

Or at least enough to say “GAAP” confidently and hope no one asks follow-ups.

This episode proves one thing: Accounting isn’t hard… it’s just loved by people who enjoy watching others suffer.

So, share the pain, and follow and subscribe for a regular dose of pain only tickling usually generates. And sent Jeffrey a note if you’d like to see him develop more programs for your educational needs.

Here are other Biz-Souls episodes … ones without numbers:

Episode: Grace Under Fire (our 2nd most popular episode to date)

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QZkzexampleBizSouls

Episode: How To Retrain Your Brain

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QZkzexampleBizSouls

Episode: Play Games for Better Business!

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QZkzexampleBizSouls

This is the perfect podcast for anyone who’s ever tried to have a rational discussion and had it turned into a verbal explosion.

In this episode of Biz-Souls, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler dive headfirst into moral framing that confounding when a simple conversation turns into good versus evil, us versus them, and “you’re wrong and I’m morally superior.” Critical thinking disappears in a single breath.

From storytelling wisdom inspired by Annette Simmons to timeless insights from Aristotle – you know, the guy from all ancient Greece, and a more recent oldie, Don Miguel Ruiz.

Meanwhile, social media (cough Mark Zuckerberg) might be pouring gasoline on the fire - because nothing says “healthy discourse” like algorithms designed to keep you outrage-scrolling at 2 a.m.

But don’t worry, this isn’t just a rant-fest, Rona and Jeffrey supply real tools too:

• Keep your cool when conversations heat up

• Ask smarter questions instead of launching verbal grenades

• Reframe arguments without losing your mind

• And, brace yourself, how to listen better

If you’ve ever wanted to win an argument without destroying a relationship or at least understand why Uncle Bob went off the rails at Thanksgiving, this episode is your playbook.

Or maybe you just want to listen to discover how our Biz-Souls duo manages to stay funny on such a serious subject.

Listen now. Think better. Argue smarter. And maybe… just maybe… don’t grab the serrated bread knife.

Then follow, subscribe, and share for even more fun in the future.

#BizSouls #MoralFraming #Leadership #CommunicationSkills #CriticalThinking #Storytelling

Other Biz-Souls Episodes:

Episode 169: Positive, Normative, and Positively Normative Thinking (VERY CLOSE to moral framing)

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5O9pVnMLtrVRHfSrkE3dZn

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Episode 125: How to Retrain Your Brain

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Sl8zVZB6Jx5DMHg8lN9aH

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA4P9HvbKVI

Episode 137: Just Say No! Maybe…

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5O9pVnMLtrVRHfSrkE3dZn

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ffpbkA2n8

Episode 164: Managers Not Okay and Melting in the Middle

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SrTBRzWZ9MbhycJw5Nkwv

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl6sKzNUWTo

Episode 173: Play and Profit (Story + perception framing)

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Episode 167: From Ikigai to AI (meaning-making + narrative framing)

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQNREqXwV8k

This is the perfect podcast to follow Episode 215: Grace Under Fire… because apparently, grace only gets you so far when you can’t agree on the definition of basic words.

Welcome to Biz-Souls Episode 216, where Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler do what all great business leaders do…debate, disagree, double down—and then invite you to decide who’s right (with pizza on the line, no less).

This episode has everything:

A philosophical showdown over empathy versus sympathy (spoiler: no one leaves unscathed), and real-world leadership dilemmas that prove business decisions aren’t just spreadsheets, they’re human.

Jeffrey brings the “I’ve trained leaders on this for years” energy while Rona brings the “I will absolutely challenge that” energy. Together, they bring… confusion, conviction, and comedy.

Along the way, things escalate from: “Let’s define empathy…” to “You have it backwards...” to “We probably should’ve looked this up first...” to “Jane, you ignorant…” (Yes, it goes there.

Thankfully, no turtles were harmed in the making of this episode… although several were mentioned.

And beneath the laughs is a seriously relevant conversation:

• How do leaders make tough calls without becoming cold and robotic?

• Where’s the line between caring and carrying too much?

• And is it possible to lead with heart without losing your head?

If Episode 215 was about keeping your cool under pressure, Episode 216 is about what happens when the pressure turns into a full-blown semantic sparring match.

So… who’s right? Team Rona or team Jeffrey?

Or are you just here for the occasional cats and the chaos?

Tune in, weigh in, and maybe, just maybe, learn something about leadership, language, and why you should always Google definitions before you hit record.

Biz-Souls: where business gets real… and occasionally ridiculous.

What do scuba diving, courtroom drama, Facebook comment sections, and losing your cool in a meeting all have in common?

Absolutely everything—according to Biz-Souls, the business podcast with an edge (and just enough sarcasm to keep you honest).

This week, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler tackle the fine art of not losing your mind when everyone else already has.

Because let’s face it, in today’s world, staying calm in business meetings is basically an Olympic sport… and most people are competing in the “Emotional Outburst” category.

Inside This Episode:

• Why being “authentic” doesn’t mean calling your coworker an idiot (even if they earned it)

• How losing your cool can cost you credibility and money.

• The surprising lesson expert witnesses know: the calmer you are, the more powerful you become

• The secret formula to handle conflict without turning into a human flamethrower.

Jeffrey shares a moment where keeping his composure paid off big…

…and another where not doing so cost him. (Spoiler: emotions are expensive.)

Rona, meanwhile, openly admits she’d be a terrible poker player—because her face broadcasts feelings like it’s Times Square.

The Big Idea: Grace under fire isn’t about being emotionless. It’s about choosing your response instead of letting your reaction choose you.

Bonus Takeaway: If you can’t stay calm at work… Start practicing at home.

Nothing builds emotional discipline faster than: Family arguments, traffic jams, and someone cutting you in line at Starbucks.

Why Listen? Because business isn’t just strategy and spreadsheets, it’s people, pressure, and the occasional urge to scream into a void. And if you can master grace under fire, you don’t just survive business… you win it.

Listen now to Biz-Souls with Jeffrey Hansler & Rona Lewis. Where business meets brains, heart… and just enough humor to keep you sane.

Listen, like, follow, share, and subscribe. You’ll be glad you did.

And who’s Grace?

What do gym shoes, Olympic athletes, and getting your to-do list under control have in common?

According to Rona Lewis, quite a lot.

In this episode of Biz-Souls, Rona arrives fresh from yet another workout (seriously… does she ever sit down?) and shares the secret behind the productivity levels that have friends—and her long-suffering podcast partner Jeffrey Hansler—comparing her to the Ever-Ready Bunny. Jeffrey admits he gets tired just hearing about everything she’s accomplished before noon. By 10 a.m., Rona has exercised, written something, planned three projects, and possibly reorganized a small nation.

The culprit behind this superhuman output? An athlete’s mindset.

Working from an article in Fast Company, Rona explains how high performers use a “non-negotiable” mindset—turning important actions into automatic habits instead of daily debates. No internal arguments. No procrastination. No “maybe later.” Just decide once and do it.

In other words: stop negotiating with your to-do list like it’s a labor union.

Along the way, Rona and Jeffrey dive into:

• Why hesitation quietly kills productivity (and why “I’ll start tomorrow” is the most popular lie ever told)

• How athletes train their brains to focus and follow through

• Why habits beat motivation every time—because motivation likes to sleep in

• The surprising power of playfulness in getting things done

• And why Jeffrey believes Rona may secretly run on rechargeable batteries

They also wander into the Olympics, ADHD superpowers, cats that insist on being part of the podcast production team, and the universal truth that productivity always feels better after you start.

If you’ve ever spent more time thinking about your to-do list than actually doing it, this episode may give you the mindset shift you need.

Because productivity isn’t just about working harder.

It’s about training your brain like an athlete—and maybe laughing a little while you’re doing it.

Related Biz-Souls Episodes:

Episode 213 – Innovative Strategy with Melissa Dinwiddie

Why creativity and play aren’t luxuries in business—they’re strategic advantages.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fh7tS6DkYJbXxBizSouls

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Episode 212 – HR and AI: The Future of Work

What happens when artificial intelligence meets human resources—and whether the robots will eventually ask for PTO.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fh7tS6DkYJbXxBizSouls

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Episode 211 – Greg Schirmer: From Badge to Boardroom

A former police officer shares what de-escalation, negotiation, and leadership look like when the stakes are high.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Fh7tS6DkYJbXxBizSouls

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Some people take the straight road to the corporate world. Melissa Dinwiddie did not.

Her journey zig-zagged through science, arts, creativity, and what most companies politely call “that messy innovation thing we keep trying to do but somehow never quite pull off.”

Now she helps leaders make innovation stick, which, as executives know, is about as easy as nailing Jell-O to a whiteboard.

Hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler sit down with Melissa to unpack the real mechanics of innovation by getting people energized, experimenting, and (brace yourself) actually changing how they work.

Melissa blends science, humor, and a healthy disrespect for boring corporate thinking to help organizations escape the innovation hamster wheel; where everyone talks about creativity, attends a workshop, and then goes right back to doing things the same old way.

Her approach? Make innovation playful, practical, and psychologically sticky so teams don’t just nod politely in the meeting, they actually try something new on Monday morning.

And judging by the reception of her newly released book, which is currently selling like water to travelers in the Gobi Desert, people are clearly thirsty for it.

Rona and Jeffrey do what they do best: ask sharp questions, poke a little fun at corporate buzzwords, and prove once again that business insight lands better when it comes with humor.

If your organization says it wants innovation, and only creates more meetings, this episode might be exactly the shake-up your thinking needs. Because sometimes the smartest strategy is simply giving people permission to think differently.

Related Biz-Souls episodes you will enjoy:

Episode 211 – Greg Schirmer: From Badge to Boardroom – The Art of De-Escalation

https://open.spotify.com/show/6pQ5KpK6l0BizSouls

https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Episode 210 – Leadership, Change, and the Occasional Verbal Boxing Match

https://open.spotify.com/show/6pQ5KpK6l0BizSouls

https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Episode 208 – Dr. Laura Janusik: Listening – The Most Misunderstood Leadership Skill

https://open.spotify.com/show/6pQ5KpK6l0BizSouls

https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

And Like, Share, Follow, and Subscribe so you catch every episode of Biz-Souls.

Are you being manipulated right now?

Relax… the answer is probably yes, and the scary part is you might even be enjoying it.

Did you know a worm can turn a cricket into a suicidal zombie swimmer and we’re not even exaggerating.

In this wildly entertaining episode of Biz-Souls, hosts Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler dive into the strange, fascinating, and hilarious world of manipulation and cover everything from parasites hijacking rat and cricket brains (yes, zombie crickets) to everyday psychological tricks used in business, sales, leadership, and even parenting.

They unpack how manipulation isn’t always evil—it can be the secret sauce behind great leadership, positive culture, and persuasive communication. Along the way, you’ll discover:

• How a parasite convinces a rat that cat pee smells irresistible

• Why a worm can turn a cricket into a suicidal swimmer

• Why people automatically trust uniforms, titles, and big offices

• How asking questions can make someone believe your idea was actually theirs

• Tricks used by salespeople, leaders, con artists, and politicians

Rona and Jeffrey also explore:

• Machiavelli’s surprisingly brutal leadership lessons

• Samurai shadow-mirroring techniques for calming classrooms

• How smiling, handshaking, and body language are ancient survival signals

And yes… there’s discussion about guilt, Jewish mothers, and Jeffrey’s hair, because every good conversation about manipulation needs a little humor.

By the end, you’ll see that the real question isn’t whether manipulation happens, it’s who benefits from it.

If you’re going to be manipulated… it might as well be marvelous.

Related Biz-Souls Episodes:

Episode 125: How to Retrain Your Brain

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Sl8zVZB6Jx5DMHg8lN9aH

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA4P9HvbKVI

Episode 127: Tickled About Piccles! A Unique Way of Connecting Communities

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1m0lrAjU0EoA0YpWqq9n9K

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQNREqXwV8k

Episode 139: Play for Better Living! Why Play Makes Every Life Better

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EOyx44QYvEkrzE6Fg6fA8

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdUd8cU1JXg

Episode 137: Just Say No! Maybe…

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5O9pVnMLtrVRHfSrkE3dZn

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ffpbkA2n8

Episode 136: Mature Gnome with Ego

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SrTBRzWZ9MbhycJw5Nkwv

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl6sKzNUWTo

Subscribe & Join the Conversation

• Like the episode

• Subscribe to the channel

If you enjoy Biz-Souls Episode 212, you may also like:

• Simon Sinek on leadership and influence

• Adam Grant on workplace psychology

• Daniel Pink on motivation and persuasion

• Malcolm Gladwell on human behavior and decision-making

• Robert Cialdini on influence and persuasion

• Big Think conversations on psychology and neuroscience

Biz-Souls covers these same ideas with more humor, storytelling, and friendly banter between Rona and Jeffrey.

Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler sit down with retired Long Beach Police Commander Greg Schirmer, also known as ‘Fab’ by Jeffrey and his other Orange County Bucks rugby mates.

Yes. They’ve literally tackled leadership together.

Greg’s path isn’t linear - it’s cinematic. Arts student. Business thinker. Then, just before turning 30, he makes the dramatic life pivot and joins the Long Beach Police Department, fulfilling a childhood dream inspired by his father and a mentor. He builds a career navigating high-conflict rooms where emotions run hotter than Southern California asphalt in August.

And when he retired? No rocking chair. No nostalgia tour. He pivots again — into consulting, bringing real-world de-escalation, negotiation, and leadership training into boardrooms and the teams he coaches. While there are no sirens, there’s still plenty of healthy human tension to manage.

Greg teaches something most leaders desperately need: emotional fitness. Not fluffy empathy. Not buzzword “strategic” empathy. The real kind. The kind that regulates a room because you’ve regulated yourself first.

Because here’s the truth bomb from this episode:

People don’t always want to win. They want to feel heard. They want to be seen.

Whether it’s a volatile public encounter or a volatile earnings call, the principle is the same — if you’re not steady, no one around you will be either. Command presence isn’t volume. It’s regulation.

And yes, they talk rugby. Because nothing says “de-escalation expert” like 80 minutes of structured collision followed by a handshake. Rugby, like leadership, is intensity without hatred. Hit hard. Respect harder.

Greg also unpacks the shift from public service to private sector — different metrics, different language, same fundamental driver: human behavior determines outcomes. The skills that kept him safe and effective as an officer are the same ones helping executives navigate conflict without lighting metaphorical squad cars on fire.

If you care about leadership under pressure, negotiation without ego, emotional intelligence that actually works, or how to pivot careers without losing your identity, this one’s worth the click.

No sirens. No platitudes. Just hard-earned insight with a little rugby grit. And we love your grit so share, subscribe, like, and follow.

If this episode sparks something in you, here are others that continue the leadership conversation:

Episode 206: The Missing Link Between What You Mean and Deliver is Congruency

• https://open.spotify.com/show/7kQz…

• https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Episode 207: Hypocrisy Hunted Hilariously

• https://open.spotify.com/show/7kQz…

• https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Episode 208: Listen in with Dr. Laura – Or Don’t

• https://open.spotify.com/show/7kQz…

• https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast

Episode 204: The Great Exhaustion

• https://open.spotify.com/show/7kQz…

• https://www.youtube.com/@BizSoulsPodcast