Best David Fearon and Peter Vaill Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 298: Episode 281 - Human Intelligence Thrives in Her Company (Jessica Rich) 33:21

22d ago33:21

33:21

"High Tech. Human Touch" is a logo of Walker Group led by co-CEO Jessica Rich. Dave knows human intelligence thrives there, even as they know and apply AI, because Walker Group is a registered Benefit Corporation and the first Perpetual Purpose Trust-Owned Company in Connecticut. They promise their practitioners a stable foundation for a long caree…

1
Episode 297: Episode 280 - Exploring the Physics of Socially Enacted Practices 1:14:08

2M ago1:14:08

1:14:08

Dave, Jr., and I had another conversation to discuss more dimensions of how information and practice in social behavior is not abstract but rooted in the real dynamics of physics, even at the quantum level. Explored this time are how enacted living systems are expressed by Constructor Theory, Assembly Theory, and Indivisible Stochastic Processes…

1
Episode 296: Episode 279 - Leading is Making and Offering Meaning (John Varney) 53:00

2M ago53:00

53:00

Dave meets a contemporary who thinks alike about the nature of leading as practice. John Varney founded the Centre for Management Creativity and High Trenhouse and the author of Leadership as Meaning. Enjoy his wisdom and lovely English accent.

1
Episode 295: Episode 278 - We Each Have an Origin Story Informing our Practices (Kim Byas) 44:31

2M ago44:31

44:31

Dave becomes acquainted with Dr. Kim Byas, who, among his several current endeavors, including Vice President of Community Engagement and Impact at The Center for Health Affairs, is a member of the Conscious Leadership Guild. In the course of this conversation, Kim introduces the concept of the origin story. Each of us has one, yet to inform and gr…

1
Episode 294: Episode 277 - Spirit at Work Guides Her Doctoral Practice (Kyndra Frazier) 36:44

3M ago36:44

36:44

Dave introduces Kyndra Frazier, a doctoral student studying Organization Development and Change at Bowling Green University. She is well into her career as a pastor, social worker, and consultant and aims to become a chief spiritual officer in a progressive company.

1
Episode 293: Episode 276 - Her Genealogy Practice Grows with Her 37:17

3M ago37:17

37:17

Dave discovered that his versatile friend from 'way back' practices genealogy as an avocation. Barbara MacDonald Saabye, a fellow graduate of the Portland, Maine Deering High School Class of 1961, tells how searching for her grandfather's records captivated her interest in researching other family lineages. Forty years later, she uses Family Search…

1
Episode 292: Episode 275 - Two Practices Merge to Form a New Firm (Pam Potanka and John Kelly) 47:12

3M ago47:12

47:12

Dave reconnects with his former student, Pam Potanka, to learn she is joining her former colleague, John Kelly, to blend their advanced managerial leadership practices to create a custom recruitment and development firm Arise Results Business Services.

1
Episode 291: Episode 274 - Offer the Predicate. Their is little choice otherwise (Tom Casey) 1:06:07

4M ago1:06:07

1:06:07

Dave reconnects with Discussion Partner Collaborative Managing Principal Tom Casey to learn what his research tells senior leaders they are facing ahead in our time's raging Practice white waters. Vicarious trauma and Predicate are the two factors they have under discussion for leader development.

1
Episode 290: Episode 273 - Dave and Dad on Relevance Realization in Practice 1:06:41

4M ago1:06:41

1:06:41

Dave adds to our deep dive for the closest look so far at the socially-enacted nature of Practice, the ideas of philosopher and cognitive scientist John Vernaecke.; Relevance Realization in particular.

1
Episode 289: Episode 272 - Dave and Dad Bring Complexity into the Picture 49:41

6M ago49:41

49:41

Dave Jr. and his dad resume their exploration of social enaction and Practice by delving into Ralph Stacey's theories on complex responsive processes. Reading Stacey's books caused Dave to make a major revision to his doctoral dissertation, Social Enactoin: How TalkinInteraction Constitutes Social Organization.…

1
Episode 288: Change is Afoot 5:10

7M ago5:10

5:10

I am at an entirely different point in my life as a recent widower. Talk about change! Accordingly, I am shifting my attention to practitioners who make our daily lives livable, many of whom are paid by the hour. Yet, they shine and see their role and work as a personal practice. I will both podcast conversations with them and create short videos t…

1
Episode 287: Episode 14 - (Reprised) Practice is a Central Organizing Principle 54:31

7M ago54:31

54:31

I move past 12 and 13 to reprise this Episode 14 as the last one before I resume new podcasting. Peter gives us the "why" of our and your attention to Practice. It organizes what we think about our Practice, and Practice organizes us! Asked, "Who are you?', we tend to answer with what we do (Practice). Asked, "What do you love doing?" we may respon…

1
Episode 286: Episode 11 (Reprised) Is the sole purpose of leading change? Peter Vaill says so 40:51

7M ago40:51

40:51

Change makes the leader, and leading makes the change. Peter and Dave, co-authors of On Practice as a Way of Being, talk about leading as a dynamic practice available to anyone, at any moment, to make change happen

1
Episode 285: Episode 10 (Reprised) All of Us Have Practices of Something 37:08

8M ago37:08

37:08

Peter and Dave continue their conversation probing the developmental nature of Practice. Episode 10 was recorded in 2019 as they collaborated on what became Peter's last book - On Practice as a Way of Being. People find something we have the energy to do, and we are driven to do it better each time.

1
Episode 284: Episode 9 (Reprised) Increasingly, Consistenly Produce Intended Results 42:01

8M ago42:01

42:01

Dave and Peter deepened their thinking about practice, introduced in their digital book On Practice as a Way of Being. Over time, intended results teach practitioners what works and why. The payoff is increasing performance levels. If you stick with it, it sticks with you.

1
Episode 283: Episode 8 (Reprised) Digitizing Your Practices is Inevitable 49:51

8M ago49:51

49:51

Peter and Dave recorded in 2021. Peter predicted that digitizing our work and its context was accelerating. Today, Artificial Intelligence applications abound. Their book On Practice as a Way of Being is one of the first digital-only, interactive books. They went all in on this trend. Here is a preview.…

1
Episode 282: Episode 7 (Reprised) - We Practice in a Socio-Technical Swirl 39:06

8M ago39:06

39:06

Dave and Peter examine their conjecture in On Practice as a Way of Being, that there is a dynamic interflow of social and technical conditions. Four years later, AI technologies are mimicking human-social behaviors. Practice seeks the optimum experience of both.

1
Episode 281: Episode 6 (Reprise) - Peter and Dave Talk About 'Learning in the Mess". 33:47

9M ago33:47

33:47

This episode was initially recorded in late 2019, just as COVID invaded our lives and livelihoods. Then and now, it is a question of our desire and ability to learn as beginners. Change is changing. Can we keep up?

1
Episode 280: Episode 5 (Reprise) - Peter and Dave's Points of View on the Practitioner POV 39:49

9M ago39:49

39:49

Among the 32 Conjectures on why your practice matters in On Practice as a Way of Being is how Practice is perceptual and perspectival. What the person sees in moments of doing is what is acted upon (no matter what observers like Vaill and Fearon think is real). Listen to them form their points of view on points of view back in 2019.…

1
Episode 279: Episode 4 (Reprise) Peter and Dave Continue to Probe the Nature of Practice 41:36

9M ago41:36

41:36

The essence of Practice cannot be fully described through lists or agreements in this conversation. It is ultimately defined by each individual practitioner and so much more. Peter and Dave exchange ideas freely and formalize these ideas in their book On Practice as a Way of Being.

1
Episode 278: Episode 3 (Reprise) - Peter Vaill and Dave Fearon Clarifying the Nature of Practice 34:42

9M ago34:42

34:42

While collaborating on the final draft of On Practice as a Way of Being, Peter and Dave recorded conversations similar to those in the book to originate the Practice? Podcast. There are 32 conjectures about the complex, yet personal, nature of Pratice. Myths and assumptions are pondered in this episode.…

1
Episode 277: Episode 2 (reprised) Peter Vaill and Dave - Conversation at the Origin of On Practice 36:21

10M ago36:21

36:21

Peter Vaill invited Dave to help him complete what was likely to be Peter's last book, On Practice as a Way of Being. In the Summer of 2019, Dave learned how to produce a podcast to capture the idea-rich conversations he was having with Peter. To us, and you, Practice is personal.

1
Episode 276: Episode 271 - He Frees Compassion from Hardened Male Minds (Sean Harvey) 46:12

10M ago46:12

46:12

Chief Compassion Officer Sean Harvey's work with men in the most challenging roles and situations elicits a string of 'wows' from Dave. The author of Warrior Compassion: Unleashing the Healing Power of Men, Sean, offers hope that new systems and structures are emerging that favor our spirits in all endeavors.…

1
Episode 275: Episode 270 - He Catches Telling Signs in the Ever-shifting Context for Leading (Tom Casey) 42:33

10M ago42:33

42:33

Tom Casey and his firm, Discussion Partners Collaborative, constantly cast questions to various leaders to catch the emerging trends shaping the context for leading their organizations. Dave and Tom discuss the yield from the cast of this question. What do you find reprehensible in a leader? Clue. #1 is hypocrisy.…

1
Episode 274: Episode 269 - Problem Solving at the Nexus Corporate Operations (Greg Balicki) 41:12

11M ago41:12

41:12

Corporate business operations are where multiple practices converge, with daily outcomes predicted and not. Dave's former student, Senior Vice President Greg Balicki, works at the nexus of Voya's converging business problems and opportunities to lead problem-solving projects addressing both.

1
Episode 273: Episode 268 -She Makes Space for Us to Do the Changing (Lisa Lloyd) 37:14

11M ago37:14

37:14

People find the need and space to change by experiencing Lisa Lloyd's "bespoke support" designs. Dave enjoys this conversation with a fellow podcaster. Lisa is Beyond the Water Cooler. He agrees with her theme: "It's time for change."

1
Episode 272: Episode 267 - His Busines is the People Who Are the Business HR Huntsman) 33:43

11M ago33:43

33:43

Dave talks with business growth specialist HR Huntsman and makes the pleasant discovery that The Leaders EDGE is his client company's people - all of them - working in a complex social system that his consulting makes lastingly real.

1
Episode 271: Episode 266 - She Revels in the Ambiguity of the Digital Future (ElisaTuijnder) 53:48

11M ago53:48

53:48

Listening to Happiness at Work podcaster and agile leadership consultant Elisa Tuijnder is strangely encouraging. She is not hashing over the past (like Dave does). She is tossing digital breadcrumbs ahead of time for us to follow into the future.

1
Episode 270: Episode 265 - He Guides Business Owners Onward Into the Unknown (Scott Beebe) 41:12

12M ago41:12

41:12

Dave was intrigued by a business consultant about the founder of My Business on Purpose, Scott Beebe's logo - Liberating Owners from Chaos. These days, who doesn't need a coach who believes we can handle the yet-to-be-known future? Scott's 100+ business clients know the value of a steady guide.

1
Episode 269: Episode 264 - His Practice is Media Magic (Alexander Liteplo) 44:54

12M ago44:54

44:54

Dave met an actual AI content creator, Alex Liteplo, a practice for all our futures. Dave is trying out one of Alex's AI-generated clips to feature podcast episodes with his son Dave, Jr. The images correspond to Dave's words as in a dance. Magic!

1
Episode 268: Episode 263 - What Are You Discovering About AI? (Dave, Jr & Dave, Sr) 1:09:23

12M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

Social Enaction thinker Dave Fearon helps his dad Dave Fearon overcome his reluctance to accept AI as an inevitable presence in our practice lives.

1
Episode 267: Episode 262 - He Makes Space for Designing Conversations (Mark Bradford) 37:22

1y ago37:22

37:22

Dave returned (see Episode 257) to Relational Leadership thinker Mark Bradford to be with him in a virtual social space where designing thinking has plenty of room to bloom. And, for Dave, it did.

1
Episode 266: Episode 261 - Classical Music Is His Learning Sound Track (Paul Crick) 43:02

1y ago43:02

43:02

Dave and Paul Crick, Founder of Elevate Partnership, exchange insights into the marvelous mysteries of humans' behavior in leading, composing, and performing in concert. While you will not hear classical music in the background, it is the analogy to leading playing in their thoughts.

1
Episode 265: Episode 260 - Softball then, now, and forever (Hannah Cooper) 31:12

1y ago31:12

31:12

Dave noticed that his former student Hannah Cooper, now a business analyst, was still the softball enthusiast he knew nearly ten years ago. Her practice evolved from player to coach to founder/trainer of Cooper Clinics. Hannah's vision is that girls and young women will develop in spirit, mind, and body with a sport they can play well into adulthoo…

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Episode 264: Episode 259 - He Studies the Sound of Silence (Freek Sanders) 52:14

1y ago52:14

52:14

Freek Sanders, from the Netherlands, is an action researcher, poet, and certified executive coach, among other things. Dave finds his current focus on the role of silence in leadership discourse interesting. However, this episode is not 30 minutes of silence. Rather, it suggests that we could all benefit from more moments of peaceful quiet.…

1
Episode 263: Episode 258 - He Helps Us See the Unseen (Leader) - Martin Gutmann 52:50

1y ago52:50

52:50

Dave was attracted to the evocative title of Historian/Business Professor Martin Gutmann's new book - The Unseen Leader. This led to a rousing conversation and the promise to keep on learning with each other. Seeing is believing in the depth of leadership.

1
Episode 262: Episode 257 - His Practice Goes to the (Aikido) Mat (Mark Bradford) 37:22

1y ago37:22

37:22

Dave always looks for thinkers who can contribute a different perspective to leading and developing our leadership and collaborative design practices. Dave had to reach all the way out from Connecticut to New Zealand, but he found BeWeDo founder, Aikido-inspired Mark Bradford fits this bill and so much more.…

1
Episode 261: Episode 256 - Information Happens as We Practice (Dave, Jr & Dad) 1:06:49

1y ago1:06:49

1:06:49

Son Dave Fearon continues informing me about the hidden 'goings on' as we humans create and use information in conversation, laying out the path for practice. The typed letters are not information until you read and give them meaning.

1
Episode 260: Episode 255 - He Brings Out the Best (yet) in Us (Tenneson Woolf) 38:30

1y ago38:30

38:30

Poet, coach, group process facilitator, and refreshingly kind person, Tenneson Woolf and Dave 'speak' in close harmony (singing is out of the question for Dave). They share ways, each in his way, gauges success as moments when guiding people releases untapped potential to solve and to soar.

1
Episode 259: Episode 254 - Teaching Becomes Her and Her College (Kathy Lund Dean) 45:00

1y ago45:00

45:00

Dave and Kathy Lund Dean were recognized in subsequent years with the Management & Organizational Behavior Teaching Society's David L. Bradford Award for a lifetime of leadership focusing on teaching and learning. Years of creative accomplishments 'become' the person as a way of being. Kathy's unique role as The Board of Trustees Distinguished Chai…

1
Episode 258: Episode 253 - His Practice Earns Him Peanuts (Cornelius Uliano) 41:13

1y ago41:13

41:13

Cornelius (Niel) Uliano tells Dave he was inspired to become a filmmaker in the eighth grade. And so he has! He left Newington, Connecticut, to attend film school four years later. Today, he is the Co-producer and writer of The Peanuts Movie. And, on to other Peanuts movies for Apple+... Well, listen, and Niel will tell his story. And to think he g…

1
Episode 257: Episode 252 - She Leads to Funding Better Lives (Robin Sharp) 39:25

1y ago39:25

39:25

Easterseals campaigns and inter-organizational collaborations happen out of the goodness of people's hearts. President & CEO of Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut, inc. Robin Sharp leads with a deep appreciation for volunteered resources whose disabled beneficiaries have a better quality of life.…

1
Episode 256: Episode 251 - Once Upon Many Times - a Storied Practice (David Hutchens) 41:07

1y ago41:07

41:07

I'll tell you a story about the sincerely practiced storyteller in this episode. David Hutchens taps into our humanity and finds the gold in real and true stories (or delightful fiction). Our stories. Our organisations' stories. Our town's stories. And he/we will live happily ever after.

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Episode 255: Episode 250 - Still Exploring for New Ways for Developing Leadership Practice (Gary Lloyd) 37:50

1y ago37:50

37:50

Leading is a skillful practice, and the founder of the Leadership Skills Lab, Gary Lloyd, never lets up on the quest for better ways. Dave realizes he has fallen behind his contemporary Gary, who is urging him to put AI (artificial intelligence) to this purpose. Well, the learning never ceases if you are majorly curious.…

1
Episode 254: Episode 249 - Dave and Dad Talk About Time and Space - Always Real as Practice Contexts. 59:38

1+ y ago59:38

59:38

We continue our series of 'Dave & Dad" learning conversations, looking closely for what happens in moments, engaging all our senses, and compelling our full consciousness. Our practices grow us forward, always landing us in a new time and place (even if the space seems to be the same as before, yet connected anew).…

1
Episode 253: Episode 248 - Talking about Today's Distressing Context for Practice (Lizy Freudmann & Tom Casey) 45:00

1+ y ago45:00

45:00

Our intentional practices have landed us amid a socio-political context of pessimism, anger, and even rage. Dave, Lizy, and Tom talk over such findings in a recent Discussion Partners Collaborative leadership sentiment survey. We still focus and do what we can to make things better.

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Episode 252: Episode 247 - Exemplary Leading - Her Research. Her Practice (Kelly Gesmundo Clarke) 40:00

1+ y ago40:00

40:00

A Bowling Green State University Doctorate in Organization Development & Change was just conferred upon this seasoned leader whose research focuses on exemplary leaders in highly disruptive settings (COVID). Dr. Kelly Gesmundo Clarke goes now where uncertainty prevails to encourage exemplary leadership practice. "You can find Dr. Gesmundo Clarke he…

1
Episode 251: Episode 246 - Yes, Even Grieving Can Be a Practice (Kathryn Kaplan) 43:38

1+ y ago43:38

43:38

Kathryn Kaplan is now a professional grief counselor. For most of her career, she was an Organization Development consultant. This is the fifth episode with Kathryn, each marking a transformational moment in her practice life. Her latest book, Dying With His Eyes Wide Open, prompts this reunion of two former Peter Vaill students. Dave ventures that…

1
Episode 250: Episode 245 - She brings Development to Each Engagement (Lisa Thomas) 38:56

1+ y ago38:56

38:56

Dave discovers a natural teaching quality in his guest Organizational Development professional, Dr. Lisa Thomas. Mutual development happens in moments when Lisa is coaching, facilitating, or instructing. Her earnest desire for the betterment of others is palpable. You will experience it in this conversation.…

1
Episode 249: Episode 244 - She Accounts for Her Practice (Kelly Harper) 31:06

1+ y ago31:06

31:06

Dave's former student, Kelly Harper, CPA, manages her fortunate way of life as an accountant who constantly leads and learns. After doing so at several global corporations, Kelly brings her team's talents to corporate customers of Deloitte.

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David Fearon And Peter Vaill Podcasts

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