The Marcel Podcast

If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your managers and people flourish, there are two ways to do it: 

Join my growing Substack community for $8.00/month. 

https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/subscribe 

Book a call with me to explore partnership opportunities.https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 

Episode recap  

Marcel explores relational presence—the ability to make people feel seen, heard, and valued through focused attention. He explains that strong leaders listen before acting, ask clarifying questions, and stay emotionally available rather than rushing to fix problems. As AI and digital communication grow, these human relational skills will become even more important for building connection, trust, and healthy workplaces. Do you have relational intelligence? Find out by listening to this short solo episode with a globally respected leadership authority.

 

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, workshops, and offsite retreats

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 and the people they lead flourish as human beings.

 

Timeline:

00:00 The Communication Paradox at Work
01:01 What Relational Presence Actually Means
02:36 Why Available Doesn't Equal Present
03:27 The Sally One-on-One
04:50 Principle One: Attention Before Action
06:00 Principle Two: Emotional Availability
07:44 What Business Schools Get Wrong
08:20 Relational Intelligence in the Age of AI
09:00 The One-Conversation Challenge
09:37 Human Flourishing and Full Attention
11:04 Substack and Closing

 

About the Show: 

 

The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 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.  Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors:   If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/

 

Connect/follow Marcel on: 

 

Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/    

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

Episode recap 

 

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 my latest conversation on The Marcel Podcast, I sat down with author, keynote speaker, and executive coach Bruce Mayhew to explore what it really means to become an inspired leader. Bruce’s own journey—from a quiet, introverted kid who often felt unnoticed to a trusted leadership advisor—shaped much of our conversation. We explored some very practical leadership questions: 

How do you balance care and accountability? 

What does it take to build trust and transparency on a team? 

How can leaders create a strong microculture, even when the larger organizational culture isn’t ideal? 

How can leaders better understand the goals and aspirations of the people they lead? 

One message stood out: Leaders don’t have to wait for the organization to create a great culture. They can begin creating one within their own team.

 

Bio:

Bruce Mayhew is a corporate trainer, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of The Path of an Inspired Leader. His leadership combines emotional intelligence with strategic vision, blending human-centered and forward-thinking approaches. Featured on major Canadian media, his insights appear in Fast Company, HuffPost, and The Globe & Mail. He lives in Ontario, Canada.

 

Timestamp:

[00:00:03] – Welcome and Introduction to Inspired Leadership

[00:02:22] – Bruce’s Canadian Roots and Warming Up the Conversation

[00:02:48] – From Quiet Introvert to Finding a Voice

[00:05:09] – Discovering Human Skills at McDonald’s

[00:08:26] – Curiosity, Growth Mindset, and Loving New Ideas

[00:10:57] – Why Bruce Wrote The Path of an Inspired Leader

[00:14:09] – What Is an Inspired Leader?

[00:19:42] – Accountability as a Two‑Way Street

[00:20:35] – Microculture: Culture at the Ground Level

[00:24:48] – Transforming a Broken Team Culture

[00:30:28] – Knowing People’s Stories and Career Goals

[00:35:41] – Time‑Machine Advice to His Younger Self

[00:36:43] – Book Recommendations for Leaders

 

 

About the Show: 

The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 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. 

 

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

 

Connect with Bruce Mayhew: 

 

Website - https://brucemayhewconsulting.com/  

Book: https://brucemayhewconsulting.com/book  

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucemayhewconsulting/  

 

Connect with Marcel Schwantes: 

 

Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/    

X: https://x.com/MarcelSchwantes  

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

Episode recap 

 

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, Marcel talks with Jay Abbasi about resilience, conscious leadership, and navigating pressure. Jay shares lessons from Tesla, introduces his resilience formula of energy, space, and choice, and explains how leaders can handle conflict, empower others, and focus on what they can control.

 

Bio:

 

Jay Abbasi is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and coach specializing in mindfulness, resilience, and leadership development. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies and coached leaders from Google, Amazon, and Wells Fargo, combining corporate experience with deep psychological insights. His practical strategies help individuals and teams thrive under pressure.

 

Timestamp:

 

[00:00:04] – Reintroducing the Marcel Podcast and Guest Jay Abbasi 

[00:02:02] – From Burnout in Finance to a Wake-Up Call 

[00:03:49] – SolarCity, Tesla, and Learning Adaptability Under Pressure 

[00:06:00] – Inside Tesla: Chaos, Change, and Emotional Leadership Stories 

[00:09:09] – The Roller Coaster of Entrepreneurship and Trusting Intuition 

[00:16:48] – The Resilience Formula: Energy + Space + Choice 

[00:19:14] – EPAs: Energy-Producing Activities for Body, Mind, and Connection 

[00:22:23] – Creating Space: Boundaries, Mindfulness, and “Mind FREENESS” 

[00:30:00] – What Is Conscious Leadership? 

[00:32:17] – Be the Captain, Not the Hero 

[00:34:04] – How AI Fits into Human-Centered Leadership 

[00:36:31] – Navigating Conflict with Curiosity and Psychological Safety 

[00:45:37] – Letting Go of Control and Owning Your Power of Choice 

 

About the Show: 

The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 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. 

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

 

Connect with Jay Abbasi:

Website - https://jayabbasi.me/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast

 

Follow Marcel:

Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/    

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

Episode recap:

 

On August 26, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, I’m teaching a live Leadership Trust Workshop. Registration is open now. Go to the link below and reserve your place. Seats are limited. Register here: 

https://www.frombosstoleader.co/trusted-leader-workshop 

 

In this solo episode of The Marcel Podcast, Marcel challenges leaders to rethink workplaces built primarily for output and efficiency—especially in the age of AI—and instead design environments where people can genuinely flourish. Marcel closes with an invitation to his upcoming Leadership Trust Workshop for leaders who want stronger relationships, greater ownership, and healthier teams. Register here: 

https://www.frombosstoleader.co/trusted-leader-workshop 

 

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, workshops, and offsite retreats 

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 and the people they lead flourish as human beings.

 

Timestamp:

0:00 – Welcome back, summer in Chattanooga, and invitation to connect on LinkedIn, X, and Substack

0:40 – Calling out the cliché “people are our greatest asset” vs. what the data really shows

1:10 – The real problem: workplaces optimized for output, not human flourishing (especially with AI)

1:45 – Are your people just surviving work or actually growing as human beings because of it?

2:10 – The fear-based belief that focusing on people will hurt performance

2:40 – Human-centered leaders: why putting people first drives better business outcomes

3:10 – The future winners: companies where people feel valued and challenged to become better humans

3:40 – Designing work differently: respect, dignity, and empowerment vs. transactional environments

4:10 – Human-centered conviction: every person matters, even when they’re not in the room

4:30 – Practical Step 1: Three questions to ask in your next leadership meeting

5:00 – Practical Step 2: Replacing control with trust plus clear expectations and accountability

5:35 – Showing up as a leader: intention, authenticity, and telling the truth (good, bad, and ugly)

6:00 – Practical Step 3: Defining what “great work” and “a good job” actually mean for your people

6:35 – Bigger vision: workplaces where people grow, heal, and become better versions of themselves

7:05 – The beauty of trust and why Marcel is committed to building flourishing workplaces

7:30 – Invitation: Live Leadership Trust Workshop – August 26, 12:00 p.m. Eastern on Zoom

8:05 – What you’ll get: diagnose breakdowns, learn trust-building behaviors, and leave with a 30‑day action plan 

 

 

About the Show: 

 

The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 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. 

 

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors:  

 

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

 

Follow Marcel:

 

Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/    

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

Join Marcel for a live Leadership Trust Workshop on August 26 at 12:00 noon Eastern. Register here: https://www.frombosstoleader.co/trusted-leader-workshop

 

Episode recap:

Many leaders believe trust must be earned. But if you’re the leader, waiting for your people to go first may be exactly what’s weakening your culture. 

In this solo episode, Marcel Schwantes explains why trust begins when leaders take the first step. Drawing from his book, Humane Leadership, and the research, he explores three foundations of leadership trust—credibility, empathy, and consistency—and shares practical ways to strengthen each one.  

 

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

 

Timeline:

 

00:00 – Welcome & why trust is the foundation of effective leadership  

00:40 – Blunt truth: If your people don’t trust you, nothing else will stick  

01:25 – Compliance vs. commitment: why “doing what they’re told” isn’t real trust  

02:05 – Do your people feel safe telling you the truth and making honest mistakes?  

02:55 – Disrupting the belief that “trust must be earned”: why leaders go first  

03:40 – How mistrust acts as a hidden tax on speed, innovation, and collaboration  

04:35 – Making trust operational: how it changes ownership, decision-making, and purpose  

05:26 – Pillar 1: Credibility – telling the truth about reality, not pretending to know it all  

06:05 – Why small, broken commitments (not big betrayals) quietly erode trust  

07:00 – Humility as a credibility builder: “I got that wrong” as a strength  

07:40 – A weekly question: What commitment have I made that someone is still waiting for me to keep?  

08:25 – Pillar 2: Empathy – assuming positive intent and leading with curiosity, not suspicion  

09:10 – Shifting from judgment to curiosity: “Help me understand what happened from your point of view”  

10:00 – Listening beneath the words: pressures, needs, and the human impact of decisions  

10:35 – Story: A VP takes responsibility for lack of support and transforms the room  

10:58 – Pillar 3: Consistency – being “predictably human” so people feel safe around you  

11:30 – How mood‑driven leadership makes teams manage your emotions instead of their work  

12:05 – Values under pressure: respect, honesty, and accountability when things get hard  

12:45 – How patterns of kept promises and honest conversations compound into culture  

13:30 – The 3‑part self‑check for any 1:1, team meeting, or tough conversation  

13:50 – Question 1: What would credibility require from me here?  

14:20 – Question 2: What would empathy require from me here?  

14:45 – Question 3: What would consistency require from me here?  

15:15 – You don’t need a new personality—just a repeatable practice around trust  

16:00 – Invitation: Live Leadership Trust Workshop – August 26, 12:00 p.m. Eastern  

16:40 – What you’ll get: deeper dive into the three pillars + 30‑day action plan  

17:10 – Closing: When better humans lead, teams, organizations, and communities flourish

 

 

About the Show: 

 

The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 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. 

 

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors:  

 

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

 

Follow Marcel:

 

Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/    

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/