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Iron and Empathy

Iron and Empathy

Written by: Drew Moldenhauer
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About this listen

Iron and Empathy is a thought-provoking podcast hosted by educator and leadership strategist Drew Moldenhauer, exploring what it truly takes to build resilient teams, sustain peak performance, and lead with both strength and emotional intelligence in today’s demanding world.

Each episode brings together voices from business, education, public safety, creative industries, and culture to unpack the real forces behind high-performing teams—psychological safety, trust, discipline, empathy, and the courage to evolve. From executives and educators to artists, athletes, and performers, Drew sits down with people who have felt pressure firsthand and found ways to grow stronger without losing themselves.

2026 Drew Moldenhauer
Economics
Episodes
  • The Power of Team Resilience
    Jan 5 2026

    In this episode of Iron and Empathy, host Drew Moldenhauer speaks with Kat Perkins, a talented musician and motivational speaker. They discuss the importance of building resilient teams in high-stakes environments, the journey of pursuing dreams fearlessly, and the significance of psychological safety in performance.

    Kat shares her experiences from her early days in North Dakota to her time on The Voice, emphasizing the challenges and triumphs in the music industry. The conversation highlights the balance between high standards and empathy, the impact of financial pressures, and the role of effective leadership in fostering a supportive team dynamic.

    Reach out to Drew and sign-up for newsletters and podcast updates at Blue-Ethos. Kat Perkins can be reached at KatPerkinsMusic.com


    Takeaways:

    • Building strong teams requires grit, discipline, and empathy.
    • Fearlessness is about moving through discomfort to achieve goals.
    • Psychological safety allows for open communication and risk-taking.
    • High-performing teams thrive on trust and support.
    • Financial pressures can strain creative teams and impact performance.
    • Leadership clarity and role definition enhance team dynamics.
    • Empathy is crucial for maintaining team morale and performance.
    • Being open to change fosters personal and professional growth.
    • Crafting and gardening are effective coping mechanisms for stress.
    • Success is a journey of learning from failures and being open-minded.

    Keywords:

    team building, resilience, psychological safety, music industry, performance, leadership, fearlessness, personal growth, Kat Perkins, The Voice

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    57 mins
  • The Balance of Strength and Compassion
    Jan 5 2026

    In this inaugural episode of Iron and Empathy, host Drew Moldenhauer introduces the podcast's mission to explore the dynamics of building resilient teams in high-stakes environments. The conversation emphasizes the balance between strength and compassion, highlighting the importance of psychological safety, emotional regulation, and effective communication within teams.

    Drew shares insights from his extensive background in public safety and education, setting the stage for future discussions with various leaders and professionals on topics such as leadership under pressure and the essence of resilience.

    Reach out to Drew and sign-up for newsletters and podcast updates at Blue-Ethos.

    Takeaways

    • The podcast focuses on building strong, resilient teams.
    • Psychological safety is crucial for open communication.
    • Leaders must model calm and empathy for their teams.
    • Strong teams balance discipline with compassion.
    • Caring for team members enhances performance.
    • Real-life experiences will be shared in future episodes.
    • The podcast aims to help people perform better under pressure.
    • Open door policies must be backed by genuine engagement.
    • Resilience is a key theme in high-stakes environments.
    • Conversations will be practical and grounded in reality.

    Keywords

    psychological safety, high stakes teamwork, leadership, resilience, communication, empathy, team dynamics, public safety, emotional regulation, accountability

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    6 mins
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