Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Jonathan Thorpe—a former Navy pilot turned leadership educator—to unpack one of the most vital ingredients of effective teams: psychological safety.

From the boardroom to the break room, we explore what makes conversations feel safe, why trust must precede truth-telling, and how safety and accountability must work together—not in opposition—for change to truly take hold.

Jonathan also shares his six-step dialogue framework and reminds us that not all resistance is resistance—sometimes, it’s just people needing time to process.

Whether you lead teams through change or support those who do, this episode will leave you with both practical tools and fresh perspective.

I am grateful to have Jonathan chating with me today.

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An Acxiom podcast where we discuss marketing made better, bringing you real...

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In our last episode, we explored Leverage Points — how small, well-placed actions can shift entire systems. We talked about where change managers should be scanning for influence — not just solving problems, but shifting the conditions that create them.

Today, we pivot to a model that pairs beautifully with that: Map vs. Territory.

But first — if you’re just joining us, a quick reminder of what this mini-series is all about.
A mental model is a way of seeing — a thinking framework that helps us interpret complexity, make better decisions, and lead change more thoughtfully.

And just like any map, the clearer our model, the more confidently we can move through uncertainty.

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation.

Today, I’m joined by Bronwyn Penhaligon — a strategic psychotherapist who helps people and teams get unstuck by tackling the emotional loops and environmental triggers that hold them back. In this conversation, we unpack burnout — how it’s different from stress, why it’s rising, and what both leaders and individuals can do to stop normalising overwhelm. We also explore the deep connection between mindset, environment, and change readiness.

And then — we zoom out. We talk about the psychological impact of artificial intelligence. Not just what it does, but how it’s quietly reshaping how we think, connect, reflect — even how we relate to ourselves.

So whether you’re managing change, leading a team, or just navigating your own mental patterns — this episode has something for you.

I am grateful to have Bronwyn chatting with me today.

About Bronwyn

Okay, it’s time to stop.

Stop telling yourself you'll start next week. Stop lying awake every night stressing about your problems. Stop drinking your way through a bottle bitching to your friends...

Just stop.

Let's face it, all the 'new year, new me' mantras and goal setting sessions won't change anything if you don't change your behaviour.

So...
- If you’re struggling to regulate your emotions
- Sick of overthinking and stressing yourself out
- Tired of procrastinating and faffing through your day
- And you're ready to start doing better…

Then we need to talk.

I'm a Strategic Psychotherapist and I'm here to move you from where you are now, to where you want to be - as fast as possible.

I help people not just 'feel' better, but be more effective in life; to actually 'be' better. I work 1:1 with people ready to get out of their heads, with teams keen to optimise their performance, and with companies who are in need of a fresh voice to talk about the elephant in the room.

- visit www.penhaligons.com.au
- book an initial consult
- or DM me here

Day one or one day. You choose.

Contacts

Bronwyn’s Profile

linkedin.com/in/bronwyn-penhaligon-32977313

Website

penhaligons.com.au (Company)

Send us a text

An Acxiom podcast where we discuss marketing made better, bringing you real...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

Follow me on LinkedIn

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode of Mental Models for Managing Change, we explore Leverage Points — a systems thinking model that helps change leaders identify the small, high-impact interventions that can shift entire systems.

Popularised by Donella Meadows, Leverage Points reveal why some efforts lead to deep transformation, while others barely make a dent. Ali Juma unpacks this model through a real-world example from Toyota’s production system and shares five places where change managers can look for untapped leverage.

If you are tired of pushing hard with little traction, this episode will help you focus your energy where it counts most.

Send us a text

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation.

In this episode, I am joined by the insightful and bold Amy Yackowski—founder of Painted Porch Strategies and a passionate advocate for building shift-ready teams and leaders.

Together, we dive into the critical, often overlooked period before change officially begins—a space Amy calls Phase Zero. Long before the project plan kicks in, before kickoff meetings and comms plans, Phase Zero is where emotional readiness, mindset, and organisational truth-telling take shape. It is the terrain where insight is gathered, assumptions are surfaced, and success—or struggle—starts to take root.

We explore why skipping Phase Zero can derail even well-planned change, how to navigate time constraints, and how AI tools like Copilot can surface early insights. Amy also shares how Stoic thinking shapes her work and why change must be personalised—not one-size-fits-all.

Whether you are a project lead, a change advisor, or just navigating another wave of workplace evolution, this episode offers a fresh lens and some very practical tools to help you start smart—right from Phase Zero.

I am grateful to have Amy chatting with me today.

About Amy

"Oh, Shift". It lands on the steps of your business and with your teams every day, challenging you to adapt.

- Market Shifts
- Economic Shifts
- Technology Shifts
- Strategic/Operational Shifts
- Culture Shifts
- Priority Shifts
- People Shifts
- Leadership Shifts

😧 Are you taken by surprise, stepping in it, and making a mess?
😎 Or are you able to spot, solve, and pivot with confidence?

When these shifts hit your plan - and change is not just desired, but demanded - how ready is your team to navigate with clarity and purpose to make it happen?

⛔ Part of the 70%+ of organizations struggling with transformation realization and adoption?
🔮 Struggle with designing future-focused solutions before the next shift happens (vs. recreating what you already do or have)?
🔥 Battling team burnout, misalignment, low ownership, and miscommunication?

Then partner with 'the Porch'. Growth-minded businesses work with us to create a P.A.T.H. for success that reduces risk, increases engagement, and achieves innovative transformation.

With 20 years of expertise in operational optimization and team dynamics, backed by certifications in Emotional Intelligence and Change Management, the Painted Porch team uses Stoic principles and operational best practices to:

- Analyze your processes, culture, and communication 🚥
- Map out your change journey 🗺️
- Build resilient, shift-ready teams that make your growth strategies stick

Contacts

linkedin.com/in/ayackowski

paintedporchstrategies.com (Company)

Send us a text

An Acxiom podcast where we discuss marketing made better, bringing you real...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

Follow me on LinkedIn

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode, we explore one of the most practical and empowering models in the change toolkit: the Circle of Control, Influence, and Concern.

When faced with uncertainty or disruption, where we place our attention can make or break our impact. This timeless mental model helps us distinguish between what we can control, what we can influence, and what we should consciously let go of.

You’ll discover:

• How to apply this model in personal and organizational change
• Common traps that drain energy and focus
• Practical strategies to expand your circle of influence
• Why mindset and boundaries are critical in times of flux

This episode is an invitation to pause, refocus, and lead from a place of clarity and agency.

Send us a text

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation.

In today’s episode, we explore a powerful way of thinking and working that helps people navigate complexity, solve tough problems, and grow through structured learning — the Improvement Kata.

My guest is Tracy Defoe — a lifelong adult educator, Kata coach, and passionate advocate for deliberate, reflective learning at work. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Tracy shares her deep insights into how the Kata practice — inspired by Toyota’s continuous improvement approach — helps individuals and teams move forward, even when the way ahead is unclear.

We unpack what the Kata actually is, how it works, and why it's far more than a business tool — it's a mindset shift. We also touch on the role of psychological safety, the difference between goals and challenges, and how leaders can become coaches who build capability, not just compliance.

If you’re curious about how to embed continuous improvement in a way that feels human, sustainable, and empowering — this one is for you.

I am grateful to have Tracy chatting with me today.

About Tracy

Aims to make you smarter about learning.

Adult Education professional specializing in learning at work. Interested in culture change, supporting peer-leadership, informal learning, multiple literacies and communication in diverse settings.
Experienced in designing and implementing innovative learning at work programs.

Humble Lean Practitioner interested in combining my interests in Lean with Adult Learning and Culture Change. Student of the Kata, Coach and Learner.

Improvement and Coaching Kata learner and coach. Volunteer Host of the Cascadia Kata Dojo Community Call - a 30 minute weekly zoom meeting for Kata Coaches From British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.

Specialties: Customized solutions, embedding lean or essential skills in content training, facilitation of improvements or supporting leaders in improving their facilitation, communicating with the workforce, re-framing change as learning challenge, training design and delivery, implementation and evaluation.
Facilitating meetings and retreats for clients, strategic planning, realizing a mission and vision to a Challenge, and a daily improvement plan.
Plain Language and Clear Design.

Contact

Tracy’s Profile

linkedin.com/in/tracydefoe

Website

thelearningfactor.ca (Company)

Email

td@thelearningfactor.ca

Send us a text

An Acxiom podcast where we discuss marketing made better, bringing you real...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

Follow me on LinkedIn

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode of Mental Models for Managing Change, we explore a mental model that helps us cut through complexity and focus our energy where it really counts: The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule.

Named after economist Vilfredo Pareto, this model reveals a powerful pattern — that a small percentage of inputs often lead to the majority of outcomes. In change work, that means identifying the vital few actions, stakeholders, or conversations that drive the biggest impact.

If you have ever felt spread too thin, overwhelmed by competing priorities, or stuck in busywork that goes nowhere, this episode is for you.

Learn how to spot the 20% that truly matters, make better decisions with limited time, and shift from doing more… to doing what matters most.

Listen now to discover how the Pareto Principle can bring clarity, focus, and traction to your next change effort.

Send us a text

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

Follow me on LinkedIn