Podcast
The Mindset Game® Podcast
Hosted by Vered Kogan · EN
What if the greatest game you'll ever play is the one within your own mind?
Hosted by Vered Kogan, keynote speaker, executive coach, and Certified Change Management Professional, The Mindset Game® Podcast explores how to rewire your thinking, regulate emotions, and create the inner alignment that drives outer success.
Through thought-provoking conversations with world-renowned experts in psychology, leadership, and personal growth, Vered shares evidence-based tools and practical strategies to help you get unstuck, build resilience, lead with clarity, and create lasting transformation in your work and life.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
252 The Psychology of Pushback: Interview with Julie Whitten
Feb 1400:34:53Tap to summarizeChange rarely fails because the strategy is wrong. More often, it slows or stalls because the human side of change is underestimated. In Episode 252 of The Mindset Game podcast, Vered Kogan speaks with Julie Whitten, a seasoned change leader, about the psychology of pushback and what helps change move forward. Drawing on more than two decades of experience supporting large-scale transformations across complex industries, Julie explains why resistance is a natural part of change and what leaders can learn by paying attention to it. Together, they explore how leaders can reduce friction, build trust, and create momentum by focusing on how change is experienced. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why pushback often reflects uncertainty or care, not opposition How urgency and pressure can unintentionally slow adoption What helps people feel clearer and more willing to engage To learn more about Julie's work, visit juliewhittenconsulting.com or find her on LinkedIn. To subscribe to The Mindset Game podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.
Transcribe →251 Leveraging Awkward Moments for Success and Connection: Interview with Henna Pryor
Jan 3000:34:27Tap to summarizeAwkward moments are often treated as something to avoid. But what if they are actually a doorway to growth, connection, and influence? In Episode 251 of The Mindset Game podcast, Vered Kogan sits down with Henna Pryor, workplace performance expert, keynote speaker, and author of Good Awkward, to explore why awkwardness is not a weakness to eliminate, but a skill leaders can develop. Drawing on her research and real-world experience, Henna shares practical insights including: Why awkward moments are often signals of growth rather than failure How the stories we tell ourselves after awkward interactions shape future behavior How to improve your "comeback rate" and recover more quickly from social discomfort To connect with Henna or learn more about her work, visit hennapryor.com or find her on LinkedIn. To subscribe to The Mindset Game podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.
Transcribe →250 Navigating Life's Paradoxes with Both/And Thinking: Interview with Wendy Smith
Jan 1700:43:17Tap to summarizeEvery major decision in an organization sits inside a web of competing demands. Leaders are often pulled between stability and change, structure and flexibility, and clarity and complexity. When leaders learn to work with these tensions instead of treating them as problems, they open up more creative, resilient, and human ways of leading. In Episode 250 of The Mindset Game podcast, Wendy Smith, thought leader at Harvard Business Publishing and co-author of Both And Thinking, explores how leaders can navigate paradox and make better decisions in complex environments. Drawing on her research and experience studying how organizations handle competing priorities, she shares practical insights including: How to move beyond either-or thinking toward more expansive both-and solutions Why opposing demands are not problems to eliminate but realities to manage How leaders can build the emotional and relational capacity to hold tension well To connect with Wendy or learn more about her work, visit wendykmsmith.com or find her on LinkedIn. To subscribe to The Mindset Game podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.
Transcribe →249 How to Lead Change in Uncertain Times: Interview with Kate DeGon
Jan 300:36:46Tap to summarizeEvery organizational change is also a personal one. It affects how people work, how they see themselves, what they feel confident about, and what feels uncertain. When leaders understand this, they can better support their teams through the transition. In Episode 249 of The Mindset Game podcast, change management expert Kate DeGon, Founder and CEO of ChangeSync, shares what it takes to effectively lead change and how leaders can create conditions that make change feel safer, clearer, and more sustainable for the people involved. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience guiding Fortune 500 companies through major transformations, she offers valuable insights including: How change champions can help people feel informed, included, and supported Why transparency matters even when leaders don't yet have all the answers How to prevent change fatigue and support people through transitions To connect with Kate or learn more about her work and upcoming events, visit changesync.com or find her on LinkedIn. To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.
Transcribe →248 How to Be Radically Present: Interview with Joy Lubek
Dec 1900:40:23Tap to summarizeMany leaders move through their days in constant motion — responding, deciding, fixing, and moving on to the next thing. Radical presence offers a different way. It is the practice of being fully with another person while staying calm and grounded within yourself. Joy Lubeck, our guest in this episode of The Mindset Game® podcast, embodies and teaches this approach. Joy is the founder of Lead Fully and a presence-based coach trained in the Time to Think approach, developed by Nancy Kline. In this episode, Joy explains how to be present and shares powerful ideas that reshape everyday conversations: Why radical presence helps people access their best thinking How slowing down conversations can actually accelerate alignment and results Simple ways leaders can practice radical presence in meetings and daily interactions To learn more about Joy and her work, visit https://lead-fully.com. To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.
Transcribe →247 Using "Pre-suasion" to influence others: Interview with Dr. Robert Cialdini
Dec 500:47:38Tap to summarizeMany leaders focus on what to say, but overlook something even more powerful. Before words are spoken, the mind is already forming impressions and preparing its response. The moments before communication begins is where influence truly starts. Dr. Robert Cialdini, our guest in Episode 247 of The Mindset Game® podcast, is the world's leading authority on ethical persuasion and author of two best-selling books, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion and Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade. His research shows that people do not just respond to messages — they respond to the cues, emotions and expectations already in play before a message arrives. In this episode, Dr. Cialdini reveals powerful principles that amplify influence: Why most persuasion fails before the message is ever delivered A single word that increases collaboration and buy-in The counterintuitive way leaders build trust and credibility faster How subtle cues shape creativity, openness and decision-making To learn more about Dr. Robert Cialdini and programs offered through The Cialdini Institute, visit cialdini.com. To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.
Transcribe →246 Why Connection Matters at Work: Interview with Morag Barrett
Nov 2200:43:25Tap to summarizeMany organizations invest heavily in systems, strategies, and tools—yet overlook the one factor that most powerfully determines performance: the quality of relationships at work. When connection is missing, even the best plans struggle. When connection is strong, challenges become easier to navigate, trust grows, and teams flourish. Morag Barrett, founder and CEO of SkyTeam, has spent more than two decades helping over 15,000 leaders across 20 countries transform workplace relationships into a strategic asset. She is the bestselling author of Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships and You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work, and was recently recognized among the Top 50 Leadership and Management Experts in 2025. In Episode 246 of The Mindset Game® Podcast, Morag shares: How loneliness and disconnection show up silently in organizations, eroding engagement, trust, and performance What it means to lead with an Ally Mindset, and how generosity, curiosity, courage, and accountability can transform culture The business case for friendship at work—and why belonging isn't a "nice-to-have," but a driver of results To learn more about Morag Barrett and her work with SkyTeam, visit skyeteam.com or connect with her on LinkedIn. To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, visit https://apple.co/3oAnR8I.
Transcribe →245 From Conflict to Connection: Interview with Ivo Brughmans
Nov 700:50:12Tap to summarizeIn a world increasingly defined by opposing views—political, organizational, and even personal—many of us find ourselves struggling to bridge divides. Whether it's tension on a team, differing values within a family, or conflicting perspectives in society, polarization can quietly erode trust and connection. As a philosopher, political scientist, and management consultant with more than 25 years of global experience, Ivo Brughmans has spent much of his career helping leaders and organizations navigate these divides. The author of Paradoxical Leadership: Making Complexity an Advantage and the forthcoming Depolarization: A Paradoxical Approach for Society and Organizations, Ivo draws from years of research and practical experience to show how we can turn polarization into deeper understanding. As our guest in Episode 245 of The Mindset Game® podcast, Ivo shares: The key distinction between conflict and polarization—and why polarization often stems from identity rather than issues How to recognize the hidden emotional and psychological layers that drive division in teams, communities, and within ourselves Practical ways to depolarize conversations through curiosity, empathy, and self-reflection, even when opinions clash How leaders can reduce polarization by fostering psychological safety, authenticity, and a shared sense of purpose Why true unity doesn't mean agreement—but mutual recognition and respect for differing perspectives To learn more about Ivo Brughmans and his work on paradoxical leadership and depolarization, visit https://paradoxical-leadership.com. To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, visit https://apple.co/3oAnR8I.
Transcribe →224 Master the Sales Hunter Mindset: Interview with Mark Hunter
Jan 17, 2025Tap to summarizeWhether you're a sales professional or a business owner or leader, maintaining a consistent stream of current and prospective clients is crucial for business growth and success. However, many people are uncomfortable with the sales process, often due to a fear of rejection or feeling like they are being bothersome. To overcome these feelings, it's crucial to develop a mindset that is focused on the value you bring and how you can help others achieve things they didn't think were possible – what Mark Hunter, our guest in Episode 224 of The Mindset Game® podcast, refers to as the "sales hunter" mindset. Mark's professional journey has included multiple sales and leadership roles with three Fortune 500 companies, which provided the foundation for him to create the name, "The Sales Hunter," more than 20 years ago. His career has also included consulting, speaking, and writing about sales, including his book, "A Mind for Sales: Daily Habits and Practical Strategies for Sales Success." In this week's episode, Mark shares the following: Specific techniques for overcoming feelings of hesitation or discomfort when approaching sales prospects, such as reflecting on how you've helped other clients in the past and focusing on who you can impact each day Why the questions you ask are more important than the statements you make, as well as some key questions to ask when trying to build trust and rapport with sales prospects Insights that can be beneficial for both sales leaders and the leaders of teams Tips for navigating common challenges you may encounter in the sales process, such as objections to price, cold calling, and non-responsive clients To learn more about Mark, visit https://thesaleshunter.com, look for his books, or listen to his podcasts, "The Sales Hunter" and "Sales Logic." To learn more about The Mindset Game® podcast, visit www.TheMindsetGame.com. To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, please visit https://apple.co/3oAnR8I.
Transcribe →099 How to Create Habits that Stick: Interview with Michael Balchan
Jun 18, 2022Tap to summarizeHave you ever wanted to achieve a goal or bring about a positive change in your life, but struggled to consistently take the actions needed to do so? The solution may lie in developing the right habits – but often, it can be difficult to continue following those habits after you initially create them. Michael Balchan, our guest in Episode 99 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, believes that building positive habits and sticking to them requires an understanding of how your mind works, as well as a clear sense of the identity you're seeking to adopt. A Harvard-trained behavioral economist and psychologist, Michael now serves as the Head Coach and Chief of Staff at Heroic, a public benefit corporation that uses proven, behavioral-designed technology to empower individuals to move from theory to practice to mastery and express the highest version of themselves. In this episode, Michael shares numerous insights, including the following: The importance of using celebration and positive reinforcement to help yourself continue following a good habit How to create algorithms that use your environment and willpower to reinforce the habits you're seeking to build An overview of the differences between the reptilian, mammalian, and rational parts of your brain – and simple actions to take when the rational part disengages and you feel inclined to do things that may be inconsistent with your highest self The importance of getting clear on the identity you want to have, and how that identity drives your behaviors – which, in turn, reinforce your identity In addition to helping build Heroic, Michael has partnered with his longtime mentor, Brian Johnson, to create a scientifically backed 300-day coach certification program that has trained over 11,000 individuals in over 115 countries. To learn more about Heroic, visit https://www.heroic.us, where you will find an abundance of tools and materials designed to help you become the highest and best version of yourself. To subscribe to The MINDset Game podcast, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.
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