D Town Chats – Episode 3

Title: Building a People-First Culture with HR Leader Leah Joy

Hosts:
Jason Palasota & Stephen Short
Guest:
Leah Joy, HR Executive at a Fortune 500 Company

Episode Summary

In this insightful and lively episode, Jason and Stephen are joined by longtime friend and HR powerhouse Leah Joy to discuss how to create strong, inclusive, people-first workplace cultures. With a background in education and years of experience leading HR in corporate America, Leah shares strategies for enhancing employee engagement, navigating terminations, and aligning leadership values with everyday behavior.

The trio dives deep into the duality of employee and employer perspectives, bringing practical tips, personal stories, and a touch of humor to often-taboo topics like layoffs, corporate toxicity, and “quiet quitting.”

Topics Covered

* What real employee engagement looks like today (virtual & in-person ideas)

* The salary vs. culture debate: What really keeps people at companies?

* How to build trust and foster communication between teams

* Coaching managers to align leadership styles with company values

* Handling conflict, burnout, and performance issues fairly

* Open-door policies: Meaningful or meaningless?

* Termination stories and how to do them with compassion and professionalism

* What makes a competitive compensation package for today’s workforce?

Key Takeaways

* Engagement is personal: Food, fun, and time away from work are still effective — but culture must be tailored to the team size and remote dynamics.

* Communication is everything: But it must be effective, not just frequent. Tailor delivery to the person receiving it.

* Toxicity often starts with silence: Managers who fail to address issues create distrust and inefficiency.

* Performance management ≠ punishment: It's about partnership, expectations, and clear feedback loops.

* Every day is a job interview: For both employees and leaders.

Resources & Mentions

* Gallup research on employee engagement

* Personality tests for team insight (DISC, Enneagram, etc.)

* Crumbl Cookies, Tiff’s Treats (for remote team engagement!)

* “Up in the Air” (George Clooney movie on terminations)

* The Avett Brothers lyric: “Decide who you want to be, and go be it.”

Listen Now

Catch this episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube.

Want to be on the show?
Email us at: dtownchats@gmail.com
DM us on Instagram: @dtownchats

🎥 In this inspiring interview, Dr. Rajan Kohli — a seasoned family medicine physician with over 20 years of experience — shares his transformative journey in healthcare. From his early education in India to a life-changing accident that reshaped his approach to patient care, Dr. Kohli explains how he blends traditional medicine with holistic practices to treat not just symptoms but the root causes of illness.At Lakewood Primary Care and Wellness in Dallas, Dr. Kohli focuses on whole-body health, offering services like dietary optimization, bioidentical hormone therapy, and weight loss programs. Trained in anti-aging medicine, he utilizes cutting-edge treatments including peptide therapies, all while building strong, lasting relationships with his patients. ✨ **Highlights:** - Dr. Kohli’s shift from aspiring lawyer to compassionate physician - How a serious injury deepened his empathy and patient-first philosophy - The integration of holistic health strategies with modern medical technology - Insights into hormone optimization and sustainable health practices - The critical role of lifestyle factors like diet and exercise in long-term wellness Dr. Kohli’s story is a powerful example of how personal experience, innovation, and genuine care can come together to redefine healthcare for the better. 🌿🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on healthcare innovation, holistic wellness, and patient-centered practices!#HolisticHealth #FamilyMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCare #IntegrativeMedicine #LakewoodPrimaryCare

🎙️ D-Town Chats - Episode 1: Introduction & Dallas Perspectives

Hosts: Jason Palasota & Stephen Short

🚀 In This Episode:
Welcome to the first episode of D-Town Chats! Get to know your hosts as they share their backgrounds, passions, and future plans for the podcast. Topics include fitness, travel, community involvement, and much more!

📝 Episode Breakdown

🔹 Meet Your Hosts

• Why we started D-Town Chats

• The meaning behind the name

🔹 About Jason & Stephen

• Stephen: CPA, investment banking, travel & sports enthusiast

• Jason: Founder of Clinitiative Health Research, musician, boating & fitness fan

🔹 Hobbies & Interests

• Stephen: Surfing, snowboarding, Oktoberfest in Munich 🍻

• Jason: DJing, jazz clubs in Dallas 🎷 (The Balcony Club, Sambuca)

🔹 Health & Fitness

• Stephen: Balanced nutrition, macro-balancing, GMOs

• Jason: "Bean Diet" experiment inspired by The 4-Hour Body

🔹 Community Involvement

• The Full Moon Club – Monthly networking group

• Music in Hospitals – Bringing live music to long-term care patients 🎸

🔹 Future Podcast Plans

• Guest lineup: Chefs, comedians, attorneys, doctors & more!

• Fun segments: Movie trivia, deep dives into Dallas nightlife, food & events

😆 Sign-Off: Help us come up with a signature outro!

📩 Want to be a guest? Email us at dtownchats@gmail.com

📲 Connect with Us
📌 TikTok: @dtownchats
📌 Instagram: @dtownchats
📌 Email: dtownchats@gmail.com

🔥 Stay tuned for more episodes of D-Town Chats! 🔥