Podcast
10,000 Swamp Leaders
Hosted by Rick Torseth · EN
10,000 Swamp Leaders is a podcast that wades into muddy Swamp in search of people who have built social impact movements.The world needs 10,000 more people in the next five years who are willing to lead on issues like climate change, income inequality, peace building, and gender equality. If you are one of these people, you have found a home. Rick Torseth and his guests will unpack lessons learned, why small wins matter more than breakthroughs and how failure is our wisest teacher. We continue to confuse leading with authority. Leading is not a role or a position. It begins when you raise your hand and intervene in a heated environment that matters to you. Our conversations will dig into what is at stake when the heat is high and the only way forward is wadding into swampy conditions. These are human stories that don’t always have hero endings. We want to understand how these leaders’ lives are turning out differently because they chose to lead. What are the rewards for all this exposure and risk? Each episode will be a little different, as each guest will be different. Hit subscribe so you can prepare to lead.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
085_Tracy Roberts: Art of Stroke
Apr 2200:33:19Tap to summarizeTracy Roberts visits the Swamp and shares her story of building her graphic design business. There are lessons here for all of us about the work required to build a successful business. But this is just the beginning of her story. What came next was Tracy’s biggest life challenge. With candor, resolve and determination she reminds us to take nothing for granted. Enjoy the “Art of Stroke.” Tracy’s Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/art_of_stroke/ https://www.michaeljfox.org/ https://www.parkinson.org/ Thanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →084_Dave Cooper: The Map That Wasn't
Mar 2800:43:39Tap to summarizeDave Cooper returns to the Swamp to explore his Substack post “The Map That Wasn’t.” Dave's post caught my attention because he explores the real challenges the United States government faces as a result of going to war with Iran. Dave is uniquely qualified to comment on this topic. He brings over 20 years of service as a US Navy Seal that is followed up with two Master’s Degrees that focus on complexity theory and complex, adaptive systems. How he sees and speaks to the unfolding conflict offers a perspective most of us do not have. He then offers some ideas and moves that each of us could use to more effectively address the complex challenges we face in our lives and work. Dave’s LinksThe Map That Wasn’t Substack March 16, 2026The Leader Is Not The Engine Substack March 25, 2026Dave’s First Podcast Visit to the Swamp May 9, 2022Dave’s Medium PageContact DaveThanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →083_ Janet Hawkes: Mastering Culture Change Inside UK Government
Jan 2300:44:01Tap to summarizeJanet Hawkes comes to the Swamp to share her insights and experiences from leading for 18 years inside Kent County Council in the United Kingdom. Leading inside Kent taught Jan the art and craft of navigating a political culture while providing services to the citizens of Kent. She managed significant culture change processes and programs. She speaks directly to what she learned from mistakes, how to develop future leaders and the importance of listening and responding to frontline staff. We end with Jan discussing her own personal and professional transition from Kent County Council to private life. Jan’s LinksLinkedInThanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →082_Mau Espinosa: Let It Happen
Dec 400:44:33Tap to summarizeMau Espinosa joins me in the swamp to discuss his point of view on leadership and how he helps others through his “LET” approach to leadership development. Mau has travelled a challenging road to arrive at this moment. He is candid about his journey, how he learned from his mistakes and what he believes it takes to become a resilient leader of people and teams. Mau shares his Logic, Emotion, and Tactics approach to development and how it can work for all of us. Mau’s story of mistakes made, lessons learned, building resilience and finally achievement.Mau’s LinksLinkedInMau’s WebsiteG20Mau’s BookMau’s Instagram Thanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →Episode 081_Ryan van der Marel: Change Happens One Conversation at a Time
Oct 3000:43:38Tap to summarizeRyan van der Marel comes to the swamp and brings his wisdom and experience facilitating group conversations for deeper understanding and shared meaning. He shares how he coaches, nudges and holds the space so that groups and teams get to the heart of their aspirations, address their blockages and produce new pathways for collective impact. Anyone who facilitates groups will come away with a few new moves that support group work. Links:Ryan’s Website https://ryanvandermarel.com North Shore Nomads blog: https://nomadsmoto.wordpress.comRadical Candor: https://www.radicalcandor.com/15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: https://conscious.is/15-commitmentsNonviolent (compassionate) communication: https://www.cnvc.org/Ryan’s Contact Information: info@ryanvandermarel.comThanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →080_Eula Rohan: Collaborative Change with Equine assistance
Aug 2000:45:36Tap to summarizeEula Rohan visits the Swamp and shares how she walks alongside Australia's First Nation communities as they build cross sector leadership capacity. Eula is practicing the “harder craft” of large group facilitation processes that address layers of social complexity, difficult historical challenges and present day aspirations for healthy communities. Eula has a long history of training large horses. She understands that building a trusting relationship with an 800kg horse is similar to building trust with large groups of human beings. She tells us how that works.Eula’s LinksLinkedInWhat an 800kg Horse Taught Me About Power Dynamics Deep Collaboration | Platform CEuropean Association for Horse Assisted Education.Thanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →078_Runa Sabore: Designing a New Frame of Society Through Architecture.
Jul 3000:38:19Tap to summarizeRuna Sabore was raised in a commune. She has carried the communal lessons of caring for community into her work helping design buildings that support how people can live well in the “age of aging.” Runa talks about the potential of “universal design” to keep people living at home and how she has learned to connect silos that form the basis for healthier communities. Runa's LinksNORD Architects Healthy AgeingExplore Healthy AgeingThanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →079_Kelly Indira Buis: The Craft of Facilitation and Adaptation
Jul 3000:53:42Tap to summarizeKelly Indira Buis comes to the Swamp to discuss the craft of group facilitation. Kelly is the founder of The Adaptation Company in The Hague, Netherlands. The work of facilitating groups of human beings is challenging. There are often multiple agendas and outcomes that need to be navigated for useful outcomes. Then there is the importance of getting all voices and ideas into the room and understood. Kelly has developed a clear process with four elements that help guide groups to outcomes they seek that lead to more helpful actions. I suggest you also check Kelly out on LinkedIn using the link below. She has mastered the craft of using the LinkedIn platform for sharing ideas, resources and her point of view. Kelly’s LinksThe Adaptation CompanyLinkedINLinkedIn postThanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →077_Paolo Quattrone: The Wonder of Accounting and the Society of Jesus
Jul 1700:43:42Tap to summarizePaolo Quattrone comes to the Swamp and brings his love of accounting as basis for better judgment and decision making. He also re-introduces us to The Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Paolo makes the case that in a globalized world, increasing technology and our faster life-pace are leading to more uncertainty and a misalignment of our purpose. In our conversation, Paolo provides a fresh orientation to using accounting principles to support deeper diagnosis and wiser decisions. Paolo also suggests that there is much to learn from the Jesuit’s exploration of the world. Their willingness to step into uncertainty and leverage their curiosity is a timely reminder to us that learning to go slow often produces better results. Paolo’s LinksPaulo’s websitesUniversity of Manchester Jesuits in the BoardroomMaieutic IndexThanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
Transcribe →076_ Graeme Findlay: Differential Voice: A Leadership Approach for Complexity
Jul 1001:00:01Tap to summarizeGraeme Findlay visits the swamp and brings his Differential Voice leadership meta-model. Graeme makes the case that to lead effectively today, a leader needs more than one voice. Graeme has us covered: his differential voice approach is based on six major ‘modes’ of leading. Take note as Graeme leads us through when and how we use these different leadership voices.Graeme’s LinksWebsiteDifferential VoiceBlogLeadership ProgrammeThanks for listening. Send me your feedbackI want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outroGreat music by Jazz NightAwesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp
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