Michael Pellegrino is the Founder of Resilient Minds On The Front Lines, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building resiliency and mental wellness across first responders, schools, and corporate communities nationwide.

• You spent 25 years in law enforcement—what experiences led you to create Resilient Minds On Front Lines?
• You often say, "When you change your mind, you change your life." What does that really mean in moments of stress or crisis?
• Can you explain "Mental CPR: Catch, Pause, Reframe" and how someone can actually use it in real time?
• You've worked with first responders, schools, and corporations—what are you seeing as the biggest challenge people are facing today when it comes to mental wellness?
• For someone listening right now who feels overwhelmed or stuck, what's one small shift they can make today to start turning things around?

Michael Pellegrino is the Founder of Resilient Minds On The Front Lines, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building resiliency and mental wellness across first responders, schools, and corporate communities nationwide. After a distinguished 25-year career in law enforcement—where he received multiple honors, including the Carnegie Medal of Honor—Michael now travels the country as a speaker, author of Crisis = Opportunity, and advocate for proactive mental wellness training.

Through his work, Michael equips individuals and organizations with practical, real-time tools to navigate stress, build stronger connections, and perform at their best under pressure. His message is simple yet powerful: When you change your mind, you change your life.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Myke Wilder has lived his life between two languages, French and English. During a 28-year career in corporate communications, Myke worked in Employee Relations, SAP Change Management, and R&D Reporting; always in both languages.

• What is the biggest problem that faces managers who are leading teams of workers who speak English as a second language?
• How can that problem be solved?
• Why is this a problem? What is the fallout for businesses?
• What is the biggest roadblock managers face when attempting to improve communications with L2 English speakers?
• How has working with a hearing disability informed your work with multilingual teams?

Myke has lived his life between two languages, French and English. During a 28-year career in corporate communications, Myke worked in Employee Relations, SAP Change Management, and R&D Reporting; always in both languages. In 2013, Myke became a Business ESL Teacher, amassing 9,000 hours of coaching managers and entrepreneurs around the world. That experience, plus his corporate experience, 40 years working with a hearing disability, and his lifetime of working in his second language himself, has given Myke insight into the challenges second language speaking workers face every day, and how first language speakers can and should support them. That insight was the genesis for Myke's TEDx Talk and is now the basis for his Multilingual Mindset Training program. When not working, Myke is an avid cyclist and storyteller.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Reed Nyffeler is a lifelong entrepreneur and founder of multiple successful companies, including Signal, a leading security services franchisor. Over the past 17 years, he has helped more than 500 individuals achieve business ownership and has generated over $330 million in revenue.

• How can someone discover their true purpose in business and life?
• What are the first steps to becoming a successful business owner?
• How do you develop leadership skills that actually drive results?
• What separates those who succeed in entrepreneurship from those who don't?
• How can young entrepreneurs create meaningful impact early in their journey?

Reed Nyffeler is a lifelong entrepreneur and founder of multiple successful companies, including Signal, a leading security services franchisor. Over the past 17 years, he has helped more than 500 individuals achieve business ownership and has generated over $330 million in revenue. Reed is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders and helping them discover their purpose, build businesses, and create lasting impact.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Stephanie Bacon, PhD, is an organizational consultant, speaker, and researcher specializing in adult social and emotional competence, nervous system regulation, and human-centered leadership. She works with leaders who care deeply about performance, culture, and impact—and who recognize that strategy alone does not create alignment.

• You talk about "human capacity" as the missing piece in organizational performance. What do you mean by that?
• You describe your work as "Embodied SEL." How is that different from traditional emotional intelligence or leadership training?
• What are the hidden costs organizations pay when adult social and emotional competence is low?
• What is the difference between having a motivation problem and a capacity problem?

Stephanie Bacon, PhD, is an organizational consultant, speaker, and researcher specializing in adult social and emotional competence, nervous system regulation, and human-centered leadership. She works with leaders who care deeply about performance, culture, and impact—and who recognize that strategy alone does not create alignment.

Execution depends on the emotional, relational, and physiological capacity of the people carrying out the work. Stephanie's expertise sits at the intersection of research, applied nervous system science, group dynamics, and lived leadership experience.

Stephanie understands what happens to decision-making, collaboration, and innovation when people are overwhelmed, fragmented, or operating in chronic stress. And she understands how to help teams rebuild the internal conditions required for clarity, coherence, and sustainable performance.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. Katrina Burrus is a catalyst in transforming brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives whom people actually want to follow. She also helps leaders to fast-track high-potential talents to the C-Suite and coaches CEOs of multinationals through their most high-stakes moments of change.

• Do Brilliant Jerks have high EQ?
• What are their reasons for reacting in a destructive way with others?
• Do you find Brilliant Jerks in families?
• Can you see clues that a child might become a Brilliant Jerk?
• In your TEDxMakati, you said that Brilliant Jerks aren't villains but have a damaged framework of connection. What do you mean by this?
• Can Brilliant Jerks transform into inspiring leaders?
• In summary, what solution do you propose, and how do you get them to engage?
• For sustainable change in the Brilliant Jerks, what is important to remember?

What do you do when your most valuable executive is also your most difficult one? You call Dr. Katrina Burrus. As CEO of Excellent Executive Coaching LLC, Dr. Burrus transforms brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives people actually want to follow, fast-tracking high-potential talent to the C-suite and coaching multinational CEOs through their most high-stakes moments of change.

She is the author of Managing Brilliant Jerks and Global Leadership, and a keynote speaker whose work has been embraced by Nestlé, Novartis, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations. She has spoken across Mexico, India, Kazakhstan, and Russia. As a founding board member of the International Coaching Federation in Switzerland, she helped define the standards of executive coaching before most of the business world knew the field existed.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. Katrina Burrus is a catalyst in transforming brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives whom people actually want to follow. She also helps leaders to fast-track high-potential talents to the C-Suite and coaches CEOs of multinationals through their most high-stakes moments of change.

• How do you define a Brilliant Jerk or a toxic leader?
• What are the consequences of having a Brilliant Jerk in a company?
• How common do we find Brilliant Jerks in companies?
• What is the cost to the company of having a Brilliant Jerk leading a company?
• How do Brilliant Jerks behave?
• Do you behave as a Brilliant Jerk?
• What is the difference between a demanding boss and a Brilliant Jerk?

What do you do when your most valuable executive is also your most difficult one? You call Dr. Katrina Burrus. As CEO of Excellent Executive Coaching LLC, Dr. Burrus transforms brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives people actually want to follow, fast-tracking high-potential talent to the C-suite and coaching multinational CEOs through their most high-stakes moments of change.

She is the author of Managing Brilliant Jerks and Global Leadership, and a keynote speaker whose work has been embraced by Nestlé, Novartis, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations. She has spoken across Mexico, India, Kazakhstan, and Russia. As a founding board member of the International Coaching Federation in Switzerland, she helped define the standards of executive coaching before most of the business world knew the field existed.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

As the visionary leader of Quantum Connections, Jonathan spearheads Quantum Connections' strategy to support its mission to bring the power of dialogue to workplaces and individuals while expanding the organization's global influence.

• What are performance metrics missing?
• What is most important to retain employees today in a environment where 70% if employees are disengaged from the company they work for?
• What is missing when you only use compensation, perks, or flexibility as retention tools?
• How can you scale and strengthen relationships?
• What role does connection play in periods of uncertainty?

As the visionary leader of Quantum Connections, Jonathan spearheads Quantum Connections' strategy to support its mission to bring the power of dialogue to workplaces and individuals while expanding the organization's global influence. Under his guidance, Quantum Connections seamlessly integrates the Safe Conversations Dialogue Methodology with the dedication of its practitioners, significantly enhancing the company's impact and reach.

Jonathan's expertise spans three distinct career paths—naval aviation, corporate training, and academia—providing him with a wealth of insights into adult learning. His diverse experiences have honed his understanding of optimal learning patterns, effective leadership strategies, and the importance of nurturing curiosity in students for enduring impact

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Pamela Steele, PhD, is an educational psychologist, certified mediator, and conflict resolution trainer who helps people communicate effectively and define practical, realistic ways to meet challenges head-on.

• How did you get from where you started professionally to where you are today?
• What inspired you to write your book?
• What personality characteristics do you believe have supported your growth and survival, given all the losses you've experienced?
• What do you hope people will take away from reading your book or hearing this interview?

Pamela Steele, PhD, is an educational psychologist, certified mediator, and conflict resolution trainer who helps people communicate effectively and define practical, realistic ways to meet challenges head-on. She has held executive leadership roles in four industries: Education, Financial, Media, and Healthcare.

Pamela is the Managing Partner of Navigate Grief, through which she has supported clients through end-of-life discussions and decision-making and facilitated workshops on Living Deeply, Dying Well.

Dr. Steele is the author of Nights of Hunger: A Cocktail of Grief, Dreams and Dating for Old-Ass Women.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Brit Nicole found herself leaving an abusive marriage with nothing. No money. No backup plan. Just herself, my dog, and the belief that she could build something — anything — from scratch.

• Tell me what challenges you have confronted and how, despite it you created a thriving business?
• What does "being happy without an agenda" mean to you?
• What are the similarities and differences between overcoming an abusive husband and being betrayed in business?
• How do you overcome people who project their own fears onto you because it's not something they would do?

Brit Nicole found herself leaving an abusive marriage with nothing. No money. No backup plan. Just herself, my dog, and the belief that she could build something — anything — from scratch. Brit remembers sitting in the quiet of that season, no clients, no certainty, just a journal full of prayers and the fire to figure it out. She told herself right then that she wasn't going to spend her life building someone else's dream. If she was capable of working that hard for the wrong people, she was going to work that hard for herself. Brit identified a market gap that nobody else saw in the early 2010s. Digital marketing wasn't even on the radar in her city, so she flew to New York to learn directly from established agencies. She returned with knowledge that didn't exist locally, secured a loan with her dad's help, and installed digital TVs throughout town and the mall. Brit built, scaled and sold that by the age of 22. Brit is interested in helping women create what they actually want.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Tiffany Jones is a Greenville, SC native who grew up in a culture where mental illness was stigmatized and often silenced. After almost 20 years of hiding and suffering quietly, Tiffany was determined to find real answers.

• Where does your interest in mental health come from?
• What do you mean when you say you have to be with the right people?
• What are the signs of a person being depression?
• What are the different types of shame, and how to overcome them?
• What happens if someone with depression self-medicates?

Tiffany Jones is a Greenville, SC native who grew up in a culture where mental illness was stigmatized and often silenced. After almost 20 years of hiding and suffering quietly, Tiffany was determined to find real answers. Through this journey, she discovered not only her own healing but a renewed purpose. She became an author and public speaker to further share her message of hope. Today, Tiffany is committed to helping others access the understanding, tools, and resources they need to build healthier, more resilient lives.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Helen Malinowski, LICSW, SEP, is the founder of the Somatic Integration Institute and the Catalyst Collective. She is passionate about supporting clinicians in building sustainable, nourishing practices that prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

• Why are so many experienced clinicians burning out, even when they love their work—and what can be done to prevent it?
• How does somatic regulation transform both clinical effectiveness and practitioner wellbeing?
• What makes community support essential—not optional—for sustaining a long-term clinical career?
• How can clinicians grow their practice without sacrificing themselves in the process?
• What are the biggest myths clinicians believe about burnout, and what actually keeps practitioners resourced for decades?

Helen Malinowski, LICSW, SEP, is the founder of the Somatic Integration Institute and the Catalyst Collective. She is passionate about supporting clinicians in building sustainable, nourishing practices that prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. Through the Catalyst Collective, she creates transformational community spaces where established practitioners can grow their impact while staying deeply resourced and connected. Helen believes clinicians deserve to thrive, not just survive. She works with practitioners who are ready to invest in their growth while also honoring their need for support and sustainability. Through somatic approaches and deep community connection, she helps clinicians build practices that sustain them for the long haul.

When she's not working with clients or leading cohorts, you'll find Helen running, hiking, at the beach with her dog, or connecting with friends over good conversation. As a mother navigating the beautiful complexity of family life, she understands firsthand the importance of building work that nourishes rather than depletes.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.