This episode is a powerful wake-up call for leaders who sense something is “off” in their organizations but can’t quite name it. Dr. Diane Dye reveals how hidden people risks quietly stall innovation—and how joy, psychological safety, and human-centered leadership turn risk into opportunity.

What You’ll Hear:

1. Why all organizational risk is people risk—and why legal-first thinking keeps leaders reactive
2. How leaders can replace blame and punishment with learning, mastery, and growth
3. The simple phrase that instantly creates psychological safety: “Help me understand”
4. How unaddressed human issues quietly become innovation, retention, and revenue risks
5. What “joy space” is—and why joyful workplaces outperform fearful ones
6. How leaders can build cohorts that fuel resilience, creativity, and sustainable leadership

(Bonus: Office Space references included—TPS reports not required.)

Resources Mentioned on This Episode

People Risk Consulting – Strategic support for CEOs addressing hidden people risks

Creating Critical Opportunity Workbook – A practical framework for turning problems into progress

Weekly Master Class (Mondays) – Live leadership and risk conversations with Dr. Diane Dye

Dissertation: Organizational Risk, Psychological Safety & Leadership (USC Library, under Barbara Diane Hanson) Episode 10

Website: PeopleRiskConsulting.com | DrDianeDye.com

Gentle Mic-Drop Moment 🎤

When leaders create joy instead of fear, people stop covering mistakes… and start creating solutions. Turns out, laughter isn’t a distraction—it’s a risk-management strategy.

Featured Guest: Dr. Diane Dye

Dr. Diane Dye, founder of People Risk Consulting, author of the Creating Critical Opportunity workbook, helps CEOs eliminate the hidden people risks that stall transformation. With a doctorate in Organizational Change & Leadership and a Masters in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, she blends research-backed frameworks with pop-culture storytelling to tackle CEO isolation, build psychological safety, and turn critical challenges into breakthrough opportunities.

Connect with Dr. Diane:

Website: https://peopleriskconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdianedye

Meet the Host: Malcolm Grissom

Malcolm Grissom, affectionately known as "The Stand-up C.E.O.," is a team-building and employee engagement expert. Malcolm, an award-winning actor, comedian, International speaker, and best-selling author, masterfully blends humor, improv, and business acumen to enhance team dynamics and profitability. As a certified laughter leader, he leverages the power of positive psychology and his social work background to create engaging, results-driven experiences. Whether...

This episode is a refreshing reminder that leadership doesn’t have to be rigid to be effective. Jesper Maquindang shares how joy, play, and human connection transform workplace culture, energize teams, and help leaders move beyond command-and-control into authentic influence Episode 9.

What You’ll Hear:

1. Why joy and laughter are not “nice-to-haves,” but leadership essentials
2. How play creates connection, trust, and long-term employee engagement
3. The shift from command-and-control leadership to human-centered leadership
4. Why leaders who ignore joy risk burnout, disengagement, and silent quitting
5. How understanding different work styles strengthens communication and teamwork
6. A powerful reframing of work: Are your 80,000–90,000 working hours filled with stress… or joy? Episode 9

Resources Mentioned on This Episode

- Leadership Conversations with Jesper – Jesper’s LinkedIn Live podcast on leadership, growth, and development Episode 9

- Phamaly Consulting – Leadership development, team building, and workplace culture support Episode 9

- Leadership & Work-Style Assessments – Including DiSC and other personality-based tools for improving communication Episode 9

- Related Episode: Malcolm on Leadership Conversations with Jesper (play, laughter, and applied improv in leadership) Episode 9

Closing Thought (because this episode deserves one):

Leadership isn’t about tightening the reins—it’s about lightening the room. When leaders make space for joy, people don’t just work harder… they care more.

Featured Guest: Jessper Maquindang

Jessper Maquindang is a Speaker and Leadership Development Consultant who helps leaders build high-performing teams. As a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), he partners with business owners to strengthen leadership and culture so the business can grow without the founder feeling trapped in burnout and overwhelm. Through his frameworks, assessments, and leadership systems, Jessper turns overwhelmed teams into empowered leaders, unlocking clarity, performance, and sustainable growth. At the heart of his approach is a simple belief: people perform best when they feel connected. Jessper brings a grounded sense of joy and curiosity into deep conversations about leadership, creating space for insight and meaningful change.

Connect with Jessper:

Website: https://www.famileadconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmaquindang

Unlock Your Time & Boost Team Performance with the Delegation & Productivity Checklist A practical tool for team leaders to pinpoint where delegation is breaking down, reduce bottlenecks, and reclaim time. Learn how to identify low-value tasks, eliminate decision bottlenecks, and assess your delegation effectiveness so your team can take ownership while you focus more on high-impact leadership. Get the free checklist:

This episode is a heartfelt, hope-filled conversation about reclaiming education as a family-centered experience. Christina and Herb Heyavert share how joy, laughter, and empowered parenting can transform learning—and strengthen family bonds for life.

What You’ll Hear:

- Why joy and laughter open the brain for deeper learning—and why pressure shuts it down

- How empowering parents (not systems) leads to happier, more successful kids

- The surprising benefits of play, movement, and delayed formal education, especially for boys

- Kristina’s powerful story of leaving the public school system to truly serve families

- How homeschooling and traditional schooling can work—when families lead with values

- Why strong education choices today help prevent family disconnection tomorrow (Warning: You may find yourself nodding vigorously… possibly while laughing.)

Resources Mentioned on This Episode

Free Gift: Education at Home in 10 Simple Steps – A practical guide to help parents confidently explore educational options

Website: VibrantFamilyEducation.com – Programs, support, and resources for empowered families Podcast: Bringing Education Home – Ongoing conversations about education, family, and lifelong learning

Final Thought (because we can’t help ourselves):

Education doesn’t need to feel like a pressure cooker with a pop quiz attached. When learning is rooted in connection, play, and laughter, kids don’t just succeed—they thrive.

Featured Guest: Kristina & Herb Heagh-Avritt

Kristina and Herbert have been partners in life for 34 years, raising two boys and blending her 27-year teaching career with his business and entrepreneurial expertise. Together, they founded Vibrant Family Education and the Bringing Education Home podcast to help families reimagine learning, strengthen relationships, and raise happy, healthy, successful children—building better communities and a better world, one family at a time.

Find us at https://www.vibrantfamilyeducation.com and https://bringingeducationhome.com

Follow Kristina and Herbert :

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.heaghavritt

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-heagh-avritt

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6632664253430731

Meet the Host: Malcolm Grissom

Malcolm Grissom, affectionately known as "The Stand-up C.E.O.," is a team-building and employee engagement expert. Malcolm, an award-winning actor, comedian, International speaker, and best-selling author, masterfully blends humor, improv, and business acumen to enhance team dynamics and profitability. As a certified laughter leader, he leverages the power of positive psychology and his social work background to create engaging, results-driven experiences. Whether inspiring executives, strengthening teams, or energizing audiences, Malcolm’s unique approach fosters connection, creativity, and success. His ability to transform corporate culture with humor and insight makes him a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Follow Malcolm:

Website:

This episode is a heartfelt, laughter-filled conversation about courage, presence, and choosing freedom over fear—one brave moment at a time. Malcolm Grissom, The Stand-Up C.E.O.™, and visionary guide Carolyn Cooper explore how laughter, improv, and conscious choice help us step out of fear and into a life of meaning, joy, and authentic connection.

What You’ll Hear:

1. Why presence is power—and how being in the moment dissolves fear
2. Carolyn's powerful metaphor of “the key of courage” and how to use it in real life
3. How laughter creates vulnerability, safety, and deeper human connection
4. The surprising link between applied improv, trust, and personal freedom
5. A breakdown of Carolyn's AIM HIGH System and why presence is the game-changer
6. How creating safe spaces (like improv and laughter) trains courage for everyday life

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

1. 21-Day Above the Line Living – Carolyn Cooper’s free guided experience (audio + journaling)
2. The AIM HIGH System – Activating Your Inspired Mindset
3. Love Inspired Leadership Podcast – Hosted by Carolyn Cooper

Featured Guest: Carolyn Cooper

Carolyn Cooper is a seasoned guide for high-capacity women whose outer success no longer matches their inner truth. Over four decades, she has walked beside leaders, healers, and visionaries who are done performing and ready to come home to who they really are. She created the AIM High Method, a three-phase journey of Truth, Transmutation, and Transmission that helps women release self-abandonment, regulate their leadership, and redesign life and business around their Authentic Identity—so peace, purpose, and impact can expand without costing them their soul.

Connect with Carolyn:

Website: https://www.theinspiredconnection.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredconnectioninc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredBusinessDevelopment

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inspiredbusinessdevelopment/

Meet the Host: Malcolm Grissom

Malcolm Grissom, affectionately known as "The Stand-up C.E.O.," is a team-building and employee engagement expert. Malcolm, an award-winning actor, comedian, International speaker, and best-selling author, masterfully blends humor, improv, and business acumen to enhance team dynamics and profitability. As a certified laughter leader, he leverages the power of positive psychology and his social work background to create engaging, results-driven experiences. Whether inspiring executives, strengthening teams, or energizing audiences, Malcolm’s unique approach fosters connection,...

This episode is a heartfelt exploration of how laughter, presence, and deep connection help us navigate grief, trauma, and life’s heaviest moments. Together with soul-centered counselor Jennifer Nagel, we uncover how safety, authenticity, and healing begin—not by fixing ourselves—but by coming home to who we already are.

What You’ll Hear:

- Why laughter isn’t avoidance—it’s a bridge through pain and into presence

- How the Satir Model helps people heal from the inside out (and why the problem isn’t the problem)

- The difference between authentic laughter and “performance laughter” (yes, we’ve all done it)

- How psychological safety is created through shared humanity, tears, and joy

- A breathtaking story of collective healing that proves connection transcends culture and language

- Why laughter, play, and compassion are essential tools for nervous system regulation and resilience

Resources Mentioned on This Episode

Jennifer Nagel’s work & counseling practice: jennifernagelcounseling.com

Jennifer’s podcast: Magic in the Muck: A Soul’s Compass for Change

Meet the Host: Malcolm Grissom

Malcolm Grissom, affectionately known as "The Stand-up C.E.O.," is a team-building and employee engagement expert. Malcolm, an award-winning actor, comedian, International speaker, and best-selling author, masterfully blends humor, improv, and business acumen to enhance team dynamics and profitability. As a certified laughter leader, he leverages the power of positive psychology and his social work background to create engaging, results-driven experiences. Whether inspiring executives, strengthening teams, or energizing audiences, Malcolm’s unique approach fosters connection, creativity, and success. His ability to transform corporate culture with humor and insight makes him a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Follow Malcolm:

Website: malcolmgrissom.com

Facebook: facebook.com/malcolmgrissom

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/malcolmgrissom

Stressed, stuck, or leading on autopilot? It’s not a motivation problem—it’s a connection problem. Malcolm’s weekly virtual improv classes boost engagement, collaboration, and retention—all while having fun. Register now for a complimentary month: https://malcolmgrissom.thrivecart.com/everyday-encores/

We are proud to have The Lighten Up Project on the *High Vibe Podcast Network .* Grab your free gift from Malcolm in our Our High Vibe Gift Vault.

Love this show, check out the other shows on the High Vibe Podcast Network.

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🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you.

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This episode is a joyful reminder that it’s never too late to begin again. At 84 years young, comedian Sandra Risser proves that laughter, play, and curiosity are not just survival tools—they’re the secret to staying vibrant, relevant, and fully alive right now.

What You’ll Hear:

- Why laughter is a lifelong performance enhancer (not just a coping tool)

- How Sandra reinvented herself—and her voice—later in life

- The healing power of comedy for the brain, body, and spirit

- What performing on America’s Got Talent was really like at 84

- Why fun, not fear, is the best reason to keep creating

- How staying playful helps build resilience, friendships, and longevity

Resources Mentioned on This Episode

- Sandra Risser’s stand-up journey and live performances

- Reflections on America’s Got Talent and creative courage

- Related episodes of The Lighten Up Project on laughter, aging, and resilience

✨ Takeaway: You’re not too old. You’re not too late. You’re just getting warmed up.

Featured Guest: Sandra Risser

As a 25 year veteran of comedy Sandra is funny, sexy (for her age) & irreverent. Audiences of all ages love her tales of growing up in the golden age of sex, drugs & rock 'n roll. She features & headlines at clubs, casinos and other venues around the USA and performs one woman shows at festivals. On Season 20 of America’s Got Talent she received a “yes” from all 4 of the judges. Sandra took first place in the Funniest Comedian in the Valley competition and second place in the World Series of Comedy in Little Rock AK. She featured for national headlines Rocky LaPorte and Kris Kattan. You can hear her on Sirius XM

Meet the Host: Malcolm Grissom

Malcolm Grissom, affectionately known as "The Stand-up C.E.O.," is a team-building and employee engagement expert. Malcolm, an award-winning actor, comedian, International speaker, and best-selling author, masterfully blends humor, improv, and business acumen to enhance team dynamics and profitability. As a certified laughter leader, he leverages the power of positive psychology and his social work background to create engaging, results-driven experiences. Whether inspiring executives, strengthening teams, or energizing audiences, Malcolm’s unique approach fosters connection, creativity, and success. His ability to transform corporate culture with humor and insight makes him a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Follow Malcolm:

Website: malcolmgrissom.com

Facebook: facebook.com/malcolmgrissom

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/malcolmgrissom

Stressed, stuck, or leading on autopilot? It’s not a motivation problem—it’s a connection problem. Malcolm’s weekly virtual improv classes boost engagement, collaboration, and retention—all while having fun. Register now for a complimentary month: https://malcolmgrissom.thrivecart.com/everyday-encores/

We are proud to have The Lighten Up Project on the *High Vibe Podcast Network .* Grab your free gift from Malcolm in our Our High Vibe Gift Vault.

Love this show, check out the other shows on the High Vibe Podcast...

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t have to be heavy. Fatina “Tina” Mays shares how laughter, self-talk, and courage helped her move from merely existing to fully living—and how you can do the same, starting today.

What You’ll Hear:

- Why laughter is not optional—it’s essential for emotional survival

- The difference between living and existing (and why it matters)

- How self-talk becomes a lifeline during burnout, fear, and discouragement

- Tina’s journey out of a long-term unhealthy environment and into joy

- Why laughter is light—and how light changes families, workplaces, and lives

- A simple daily practice to help you “live lightly” no matter what you’re facing

Resources Mentioned on This Episode

1. Slaay Queenz Boutique (upcoming launch)
2. Reflections on laughter, leadership, and emotional resilience
3. Related episodes of The Lighten Up Project exploring laughter as medicine

✨ Remember: healing doesn’t have to be heavy—sometimes, it starts with a smile.

About the Guest:

Fatina “Tina” Mays is a dynamic leader, mental-health professional, and entrepreneur who believes laughter is not optional—it’s essential. With a background in mental health and years of experience supporting individuals, families, and teams, Fatina brings a deeply human approach to leadership rooted in resilience, self-awareness, and hope. Her personal journey—from surviving a long-term unhealthy marriage to rediscovering joy, identity, and purpose—fuels her passion for helping others move from merely living to truly existing.

A firm advocate for self-talk, emotional responsibility, and healthy spontaneity, Fatina teaches that laughter is light, medicine, and a powerful tool for breaking cycles of fear, burnout, and isolation. She is also the founder of Slaay Queenz Boutique, an empowerment-focused fashion brand, and an emerging author currently developing a book designed to challenge, heal, and uplift future queens and kings. Fatina leads with compassion, faith, and the unwavering belief that life is meant to be enjoyed—out loud.

Meet the Host: Malcolm Grissom

Malcolm Grissom, affectionately known as "The Stand-up C.E.O.," is a team-building and employee engagement expert. Malcolm, an award-winning actor, comedian, International speaker, and best-selling author, masterfully blends humor, improv, and business acumen to enhance team dynamics and profitability. As a certified laughter leader, he leverages the power of positive psychology and his social work background to create engaging, results-driven experiences. Whether inspiring executives, strengthening teams, or energizing audiences, Malcolm’s unique approach fosters connection, creativity, and success. His ability to transform corporate culture with humor and insight makes him a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Follow Malcolm:

Website: malcolmgrissom.com

Facebook: facebook.com/malcolmgrissom

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/malcolmgrissom

Stressed, stuck, or leading on autopilot? It’s not a motivation problem—it’s a connection problem. Malcolm’s weekly virtual improv classes boost engagement, collaboration, and retention—all while having fun. Register now...

Hope isn’t passive—it moves, even when you feel stuck. In this episode of The Lighten Up Project, Malcolm Grissom shares a deeply personal story of resilience, reminding us that hope is an active choice made one small step at a time. Through laughter, imagination, mindfulness, and courage, this episode reframes setbacks as momentum and proves that every step forward—no matter how small—is a victory.

What You’ll Hear:

1. Hope is active and requires movement, even when the step feels small or uncertain.
2. Laughter, play, and imagination reduce stress and create the mental space needed for hope to grow.
3. Your past may shape you, but it is your present choices that define who you are becoming.
4. Every step forward—slow, awkward, or imperfect—is still a victory.
5. Practices like affirmations, mindfulness, and taking risks steadily build resilience over time.

Meet the Host: Malcolm Grissom

Malcolm Grissom, affectionately known as "The Stand-up C.E.O.," is a team-building and employee engagement expert. Malcolm, an award-winning actor, comedian, International speaker, and best-selling author, masterfully blends humor, improv, and business acumen to enhance team dynamics and profitability. As a certified laughter leader, he leverages the power of positive psychology and his social work background to create engaging, results-driven experiences. Whether inspiring executives, strengthening teams, or energizing audiences, Malcolm’s unique approach fosters connection, creativity, and success. His ability to transform corporate culture with humor and insight makes him a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Follow Malcolm:

Website: malcolmgrissom.com

Facebook: facebook.com/malcolmgrissom

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/malcolmgrissom

Share the Love

✨ If this episode lit something up in you… tag us on Instagram @HighVibeLeaders and let us know your biggest takeaway!

🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you.

🔊 Listen & Subscribe

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🎧 High Vibe Podcast Network