Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership
Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy
Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Kata, & Continuous Improvement
- 29 minutes 12 secondsGA 624 | The Pause, Consider, Act Framework with Ashley Herd
This week’s guest is Ashley Herd. Ron and Ashley discussed Ashley’s Pause, Consider, Act Framework, the concept of a career quilt, micromanagement, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Ashley’s background (3:36)
- Her favorite quote (5:08)
- About the Pause Consider Act framework (9:53)
- Why “Pause” is the most difficult (13:04)
- The PDCA framework (15:04)
- What a “career quilt” is (15:42)
- Her advice for young professionals (18:15)
- Ashley’s thoughts on micromanagement (20:49)
- About her “Great Minds Overthink Alike” sign (25:19)
- Ashley’s final words of wisdom (26:56)
Podcast Resources
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What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on the Pause, Consider, Act Framework?
19 March 2026, 10:00 am - 23 minutes 29 secondsGA 623 | The Power of Entropy with Adam Lawrence
This week’s guest is Adam Lawrence. Ron and Adam discussed Adam’s Wheel of Sustainability, the importance of continuously improving, what his Sustainability System assessment is trying to solve, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The quote Adam likes (2:41)
- His background (3:32)
- The Wheel of Sustainability (4:22)
- Why he created the system (6:48)
- A case study of how Adam has seen it work (7:33)
- The importance of continuously improving (9:20)
- What Adam’s assessment is trying to solve (12:16)
- The feedback he’s gotten (17:29)
- Adam’s challenge for our listeners (21:29)
Podcast Resources
- Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
- Adam’s Past Gemba Academy Podcast Episodes
- The Wheel of Sustainability
- Get Your Sustainability Score
- Adam on LinkedIn
- Adam’s Website
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Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on the Wheel of Sustainability?
12 March 2026, 10:00 am - 26 minutes 41 secondsGA 622 | The State of AI with Steven Remsen
This week’s guest is Steven Remsen. Ron and Steven discussed Steven’s time at Intel, how to make change “stick” at a large organization, what Steven sees organizations struggling with, the current state of AI, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The quote that inspires Steven (1:57)
- Steven’s background (3:03)
- What he saw at Intel (6:42)
- The certification factory (9:15)
- Some of the changes they made (11:01)
- Making things “stick” across a large organization (16:38)
- What’s next for Steven and what organizations are struggling with (19:30)
- The state of AI (21:57)
Podcast Resources
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What Do You Think?
What do YOU think it takes to make a change “stick” at an organization?
5 March 2026, 10:00 am - 35 minutes 59 secondsGA 621 | The Five Habits of Hope with Dr. Julia Garcia
This week’s guest is Dr. Julia Garcia. Ron and Julia discussed Julia’s book, “The Five Habits of Hope,” the power of resilience, the role hope plays in problem-solving, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The quote Julia likes (3:59)
- Why she wrote her book (6:21)
- The power of resilience (7:40)
- Whether hope is a choice or a habit (9:10)
- Why it’s a good alternative to grit and struggle (10:51)
- Julia’s words of encouragement (15:01)
- The five habits of hope (17:30)
- How hope plays a role in problem-solving (31:34)
- Julia’s final words of wisdom (34:52)
Podcast Resources
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Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
Which habit of hope stands out to you?
26 February 2026, 10:00 am - 38 minutes 44 secondsGA 620 | Is Your Lean Operating System Talking or Singing? with Royden Johnson
This week’s guest is Royden Johnson. Ron and Royden discussed the concept of a lean operating system talking versus singing, the different phases of the operating system, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The quote Royden likes (2:49)
- Royden’s background (4:08)
- Whether your lean operating system is talking or singing (12:53)
- Phase 1: Stabilize (16:27)
- Phase 2: Standardization (22:57)
- Phase 3: Continuous Improvement (28:44)
- A summary of the operating system (30:43)
- Royden’s final words of wisdom (35:48)
Podcast Resources
- Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
- GA 524 | Connection Before Correction
- Royden on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on the three phases?
19 February 2026, 10:00 am - 30 minutes 50 secondsGA 619 | Don’t Walk By a Mess with Chad Bareither
This week’s guest is Chad Bareither. Ron and Chad discussed making culture changes in the workplace, powerful aspects of Japanese culture, the importance of cleaning up, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The quote Chad likes (3:06)
- His background (4:29)
- Chad’s thoughts on culture change (6:37)
- An anecdote about Japan (10:08)
- A powerful anecdote about a manufacturing plant (16:29)
- Examples of companies that are doing things well (17:56)
- Chad’s final words of wisdom (27:59)
Podcast Resources
- Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
- GA 498 | The Power of Improving Less
- GA 556 | What a Successful Lean Transformation Looks Like
- Chad on LinkedIn
- Bareither Group
Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy
Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever tried to implement cultural changes at your organization?
12 February 2026, 10:00 am - 36 minutes 2 secondsGA 618 | MORE Is Better with Kathy Miller
This week’s guest is Kathy Miller. Ron and Kathy discussed manufacturing, Kathy’s new book “MORE Is Better,” optimism, psychological safety, and the art of making high-quality connections. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Kathy’s favorite quote (2:41)
- Her background (3:01)
- What motivates Kathy to write books (5:14)
- What “more” refers to (6:57)
- The concept of optimism (10:33)
- What psychological safety (15:46)
- Advice for dealing with a difficult leader (21:55)
- High-quality connections and their impact on performance (28:08)
- Personality types and leadership (30:04)
- Using the MORE Mentor AI agent (33:49)
Podcast Resources
- Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
- GA 417 | Steel Toes and Stilettos with Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels
- MORE Is Better
- Kathy’s Website
Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy
Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
How do you define psychological safety?
5 February 2026, 10:00 am - 34 minutes 9 secondsGA 617 | What Alignment Looks Like with Hanna Bauer
This week’s guest is Hanna Bauer. Ron and Hanna discussed the role of emotional intelligence in success, balancing empathy and accountability, navigating love languages, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The quote Hanna likes (2:38)
- Her background (3:17)
- The impact of cultural factors (6:03)
- The role of emotional intelligence in success (11:23)
- Explaining emotional intelligence (15:58)
- What alignment looks like (18:16)
- Balancing empathy and accountability (22:34)
- Hanna’s thoughts on love languages (26:22)
- Taking small, bite-sized steps (30:29)
Podcast Resources
Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy
Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
What does alignment look like to you?
29 January 2026, 10:00 am - 25 minutes 56 secondsGA 616 | Teaching Lean with Noah Waech
This week’s guest is Noah Waech. Ron and Noah discussed Noah’s experiences teaching lean, what happens when things don’t go as planned, Value Stream Mapping, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The quote Noah likes (3:14)
- His background (5:05)
- An anecdote from when Noah was asked to teach about lean (7:22)
- What Noah enjoys most about teaching others (10:44)
- A time when things didn’t go as planned (13:20)
- Noah’s passion for Value Stream Mapping (21:13)
- His final words of wisdom (24:23)
Podcast Resources
Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy
Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
Do you have any experience teaching lean?
22 January 2026, 10:00 am - 46 minutes 20 secondsGA 615 | Radical Product Thinking with Radhika Dutt
This week’s guest is Radhika Dutt. Ron and Radhika discussed OKRs, Toyota Kata, the target mentality, the OHLA puzzle framework, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Radhika’s favorite quote (3:13)
- Her background (4:26)
- What OKR stands for (6:46)
- What happens when you set goals and targets (7:47)
- The Toyota Kata framework (10:20)
- About the target mentality (23:46)
- How goals make us feel (26:37)
- About the OHLA puzzle framework (33:56)
- Measuring people (38:53)
- Her final words of wisdom (43:35)
Podcast Resources
Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy
Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on OKRs?
15 January 2026, 10:00 am - 30 minutes 21 secondsGA 614 | Getting Lean to Stick with Joel Hugghins
This week’s guest is Joel Hugghins. Ron and Joel discussed dealing with CAVE people, intellectual property, getting lean to stick, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- The proverb and quote Joel likes (3:11)
- His background (4:25)
- Impediments to getting lean to stick (6:34)
- Keeping things in balance (8:05)
- Why things are getting worse (11:28)
- Joel’s approach to CAVE people (21:23)
- The role of intellectual property (22:54)
- Examples of companies that are doing this well (26:22)
- What gives Joel hope (28:09)
Podcast Resources
Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy
Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here.
What Do You Think?
What obstacles have you faced in terms of getting lean to stick?
8 January 2026, 10:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App