The Marcel Podcast

If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02  

 

Today’s guest is award-winning social psychologist Dr. Ron Friedman, author of Superteams. After surveying thousands of teams, Friedman found that the most successful teams aren’t the ones that collaborate most, get along best, or put in the longest hours. What really sets them apart is the way they manage their energy and attention, bring out the best in one another, and keep improving over time. 

 

Bio:

 

Ron Friedman, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist who helps leaders build high-performing teams. He is the bestselling author of The Best Place to Work and Decoding Greatness. His new book, Superteams, reveals what the best teams do differently. Ron delivers keynotes, workshops, and executive advisory to senior leaders around the world.

 

Timestamps:

 

[00:00] High Performing Teams And Introducing Dr Ron Friedman [02:45] Ron’s Background From Professor To Corporate Pollster [04:00] What Sparked The Research Behind Super Teams [05:15] How The Study Worked And Three Strengths Of Super Teams [08:26] Do We Work Best In The Office Remote Or Hybrid [10:21] The One Workplace Perk That Predicts High Performance [13:03] Why Leaders Overlook Quiet Focus And Single Tasking [14:49] How Personal Productivity Hacks Hurt Team Performance [16:09] Useless Meetings And How Super Teams Avoid Them [18:33] Look Forward Look Backward Stay Present For Better Days [21:41] How Super Teams Structure Their Time Proactively [22:03] The Three Ingredients Of Trust At Work [24:52] Beating Burnout By Cutting Meaningless Work And Using Off Hours Well [26:55] Why Most Feedback Fails And How To Focus On The Future [29:56] Conflict Disagreement And Using Pre Mortems To Improve Decisions [32:47] Turning A Struggling Leadership Group Into A True Team [35:53] The Biggest Misconception About High Performance And Long Hours [39:03] How Super Teams Use AI Without Fear And Share Prompts [40:55] Where To Find Ron And How To Bring Super Teams Practices To Your Organization 

 

About the Show: 

 

The Marcel Podcast (previously the Love in Action podcast) is ranked in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed to 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. 

 

Free tool:  

 

Discover how much employee turnover may be truly costing your organization. Get your free employee turnover cost calculator here: https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/  

  

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors:  

 

If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/

f you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02  

 

Today’s guest is award-winning social psychologist Dr. Ron Friedman, author of Superteams. After surveying thousands of teams, Friedman found 

that the most successful teams aren’t the ones that collaborate most, get along best, or put in the longest hours. What really sets them apart is the way they manage their energy and attention, bring out the best in one another, and keep improving over time. 

 

Bio:

 

Ron Friedman, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist who helps leaders build high-performing teams. He is the bestselling author of The Best Place to Work and Decoding Greatness. His new book, Superteams, reveals what the best teams do differently. Ron delivers keynotes, workshops, and executive advisory to senior leaders around the world.

 

Timestamps:

 

[00:00] High Performing Teams And Introducing Dr Ron Friedman [02:45] Ron’s Background From Professor To Corporate Pollster [04:00] What Sparked The Research Behind Super Teams [05:15] How The Study Worked And Three Strengths Of Super Teams [08:26] Do We Work Best In The Office Remote Or Hybrid [10:21] The One Workplace Perk That Predicts High Performance [13:03] Why Leaders Overlook Quiet Focus And Single Tasking [14:49] How Personal Productivity Hacks Hurt Team Performance [16:09] Useless Meetings And How Super Teams Avoid Them [18:33] Look Forward Look Backward Stay Present For Better Days [21:41] How Super Teams Structure Their Time Proactively [22:03] The Three Ingredients Of Trust At Work [24:52] Beating Burnout By Cutting Meaningless Work And Using Off Hours Well [26:55] Why Most Feedback Fails And How To Focus On The Future [29:56] Conflict Disagreement And Using Pre Mortems To Improve Decisions [32:47] Turning A Struggling Leadership Group Into A True Team [35:53] The Biggest Misconception About High Performance And Long Hours [39:03] How Super Teams Use AI Without Fear And Share Prompts [40:55] Where To Find Ron And How To Bring Super Teams Practices To Your Organization 

 

About the Show: 

 

The Marcel Podcast (previously the Love in Action podcast) is ranked in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed to 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. 

 

Free tool:  

 

Discover how much employee turnover may be truly costing your organization. Get your free employee turnover cost calculator here: https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/  

  

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors:  

 

If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/

If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02

 

In this episode of The Marcel Podcast, Marcel talks with Dusty Holcomb, founder and CEO of The Arcqus Group, about leadership in the age of AI. Dusty shares why leaders must not let AI distract them from the fundamentals: clear outcomes, self-leadership, accountability, and communication that keeps people connected to the work that matters.

 

Bio:

Dusty Holcomb is CEO of Arcqus Group, a keynote speaker, an executive advisor, and a catalyst for growth-focused executives.

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome back & podcast rebrand 

02:05 – Meet Dusty Holcomb & The Arcqus Group 

04:57 – Dusty's leadership journey and early influences 

08:26 – The leadership lesson that changed everything 

10:41 – Leaving corporate to launch Arcqus 

12:30 – Leading in the age of AI 

14:05 – Advice for first-time CEOs 

15:49 – Why reflection is a leadership superpower 

16:37 – Blind Spot #1: Lack of clarity 

20:31 – Blind Spot #2: Chasing AI tools instead of outcomes 

22:10 – Five questions every team member should answer 

23:58 – From mercenaries to missionaries 

25:03 – Why self-leadership comes first 

29:56 – Two simple self-leadership practices 

32:51 – Redefining accountability 

36:10 – Why great leaders repeat themselves 

40:31 – Living your organization's values 

40:57 – A leadership habit that builds trust 

43:40 – Leadership fundamentals in the AI era 

45:46 – Give yourself grace and space to think 

47:20 – Dusty's free leadership resource 

48:21 – Where to connect with Dusty 

49:22 – Final thoughts & closing 

 

 

About the Show: 

 

The Marcel Podcast (previously the Love in Action podcast) is ranked in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed to 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. 

 

Free tool:  

 

Discover how much employee turnover may be truly costing your organization. Get your free employee turnover cost calculator here: https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/  

  

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors:  

 

If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/

If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02  

 

 

In this solo episode of The Marcel Podcast, I unpack one of the biggest profit leaks hiding in plain sight: employee turnover. Most leaders know turnover is costly but underestimate its true financial toll. I explain why turnover isn't just an HR issue but often a leadership problem caused by poor management, limited growth, and toxic workplace cultures that drive away good people. This episode helps leaders see team turnover differently and shows that reducing it begins with better leadership. 

Don't guess what turnover is costing your organization. Download my free Employee Turnover Cost Calculator using the link below and discover the real financial impact of employee turnover in your business: 

https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/  

 

 

Bio:

Marcel Schwantes is a leadership coach, speaker, author, and advocate for more humane workplaces. Marcel’s work includes: 

Leadership coaching 

Leadership development courses 

Keynote speaking and workshops 

Executive roundtables and culture strategy sessions 

 

Marcel is the author of Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss. Whether coaching a CEO or training a leadership team, Marcel’s #1 goal is the same: To help leaders become the kind of people others want to follow. 

 

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & why human flourishing matters in business 

0:25 – How leaders feel turnover (quiet teams, lost employees, stressed managers) 

1:20 – The hidden costs of turnover (recruiting, onboarding, training, lost productivity)

2:20 – Emotional and physical “tax” on the people who stay 

3:00 – Why leaders underestimate turnover (looking at the wrong scoreboard) 

3:40 – Turnover as a leadership problem, not just a market problem 

4:20 – Real reasons people leave (micromanagement, overwork, lack of growth/support) 

5:10 – The “look in the mirror” question: What is turnover really costing you? 

6:14 – Retention, engagement, and leadership development as business strategies

6:40 – Introducing the free “What’s Turnover Really Costing You?” calculator 

7:20 – Closing: Helping organizations and people flourish

 

 

About the Show: 

The Marcel Podcast (previously the Love in Action podcast) is ranked in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed to 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. 

 

 

Free tool:  

Discover how much employee turnover may be truly costing your organization. Get your free employee turnover cost calculator here: https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/  

  

 

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors:  

If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/

If you are a champion for human-centered leadership and workplaces, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnerships. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02  

In this episode of The Marcel Podcast, Marcel talks with Keith Kurlander, a psychotherapist, entrepreneur, and author, about psychedelic therapy's potential to transform mental health treatment. Keith shares his personal journey into mental health, explains why traditional methods often fail to address core issues, and discusses the science, history, and clinical use of psychedelics. They cover trauma, depression, PTSD, the benefits and limits of psychedelics, and emphasize the importance of guidance, preparation, and integration for lasting healing. It's a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion on a key development in mental health care.

 

Bio:

 

Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC, is a licensed psychotherapist, coach, speaker, and author, recognized as a leader in mental health, trauma, and human potential. He co-founded the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, training over 10,000 clinicians in innovative treatments. As co-author of Psychedelic Therapy and a speaker, Keith combines clinical expertise and clarity to help people understand themselves and their potential.

 

Quotes:

 

“We need new tools, and we need them fast, because we have a global mental health crisis.” 

“Psychedelic therapy is a clinical experience. It has structure around it to produce the highest probability that you're going to have a healing experience.” 

“Any problem inside ourselves is likely solvable. The problems we create are likely healable—you just have to commit to finding the answer, and you likely will if you're really committed.” 

 

Takeaways:

 

Recognize that trauma is a process in the body—a nervous system stuck in a chronic threat response—not simply an event, and consider where that pattern may be showing up in your own life. 

Seek a licensed mental health professional who is also trained in psychedelic therapy rather than navigating these powerful medicines on your own, especially if you have a mental health condition. 

Prioritize integration after any psychedelic experience so insights become lasting behavior change instead of fading into just a cool memory. 

Resist making impulsive, life-altering decisions in the days immediately following a breakthrough insight—give big realizations time to settle. 

Approach microdosing claims with healthy skepticism; the evidence so far is largely anecdotal, and it reflects a fundamentally different philosophy of use. 

 

Timestamps: 

[00:00] Welcome to the 300th Episode and the Marcel Podcast Rebrand 

[02:00] Today's Topic: Psychedelics and Mental Health 

[04:00] Introducing Keith Kurlander 

[05:20] What's Your Story? Keith's Turning Point at 19 

[07:52] A Values Crisis and a New Calling 

[10:49] The Big Idea Behind Psychedelic Therapy 

[12:36] What Trauma Really Is 

[16:11] The History and Evolution of Psychedelics 

[21:01] Schedule One and the Stigma 

[23:07] What Happens During a Psilocybin Experience 

[25:11] Does Psychedelic Therapy Work for Everyone? 

[27:48] The Risks of Going It Alone 

[32:05] What a Guided Journey Looks Like 

[33:47] Ego Dissolution and Dosing Sessions 

[35:32] Integration and Its Pitfalls 

[37:42] Understanding MDMA 

[39:25] Reframing Psychedelics in 2026 

[40:42] The Truth About Microdosing 

[42:27] Final Thoughts and Keith's Biggest Hope 

 

Conclusion: 

Real healing asks us to look beneath our symptoms to the trauma that drives them—and to be open to new tools when the old ones fall short. Psychedelic therapy isn't a shortcut or a cure-all; it's a structured, clinical approach that works best with skilled guidance, honest preparation, and committed integration afterward. The difference between a transformative experience and a harmful one often comes down to context, support, and intention. As research accelerates and access expands, staying curious—while keeping a healthy dose of skepticism—may be the wisest posture of all. The problems we carry inside ourselves are likely healable, but only for those willing to commit to the work. 

Links/Resources: 

Book: https://psychiatryinstitute.com/book/ 

Website: https://keithkurlander.com/ 

Integrative Psychiatry Institute: https://psychiatryinstitute.com/