Podcast
People. Process. Progress.
Hosted by Kevin Pannell, PMP, CSM, Prosci · EN
Helping leaders and teams move through change with practical leadership, disciplined execution, and steady progress.
Every organization, every career, and every life follows a rhythm.
Ideas become opportunities. Opportunities become priorities. Priorities become plans. Plans become action. Action becomes progress. Progress becomes experience. Those experiences shape what comes next.
The People, Process, Progress podcast explores that journey.
Hosted by Kevin Pannell, Director of an IT Project Management Office, former healthcare PMO leader, U.S. Navy veteran, emergency management professional, and author, each episode helps leaders navigate change with practical leadership, disciplined execution, and purposeful progress.
Drawing on experience leading enterprise portfolios, responding to disasters, serving in healthcare, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and building resilient teams, the conversations connect leadership principles with real-world application.
Throughout the year, the podcast follows the natural rhythm of organizational leadership and portfolio management:
• January–March: Discovery & Demand
• April–June: Planning & Prioritization
• July–August: Execution & Governance
• September–October: Go Live & Operational Readiness
• November: Portfolio Performance & Lessons Learned
• December: Continuous Improvement & Planning Ahead
Every episode is viewed through three lenses:
▸ People: Leading with empathy, building trust, developing teams, and strengthening partnerships.
▸ Process: Applying practical leadership, portfolio management, governance, and execution practices that help organizations succeed.
▸ Progress: Learning, improving, measuring outcomes, and moving forward, personally and professionally.
Whether you're a CIO, PMO leader, project manager, executive, first responder, or someone navigating change in your own career or life, you'll find practical conversations designed to help you lead well, execute with discipline, and keep moving forward.
44episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why DRiVE Still Matters in Leadership
Jan 1600:05:52Tap to summarizeThis short bridge episode, Why DRiVE Still Matters in Leadership, revisits key leadership lessons from Drive by Daniel Pink. The focus is on why autonomy, mastery, and purpose continue to shape motivation, engagement, and performance in modern organizations, especially in complex and remote environments. This episode also connects recent reflections with an upcoming conversation with Jennifer Prevette, Founder and Owner of The Burg Box.Episode Highlights:Autonomy without trust leads to isolationMastery stalls when growth paths are unclearPurpose fades when communication declinesRemote work amplifies existing leadership gapsMotivation often declines before performance does
Transcribe →7 Books to Start 2026 Strong
Jan 100:10:12Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I share seven books I read, or returned to, in 2025 that helped me stay disciplined, grounded, and clear-headed heading into 2026.These aren’t trend-driven recommendations. They’re books focused on hardship, meaning, faith, resilience, and personal responsibility. Some pushed me physically, others reshaped how I think about suffering and connection. All of them helped me show up better in my life and leadership.Books Discussed in This EpisodeThe Stability EquationDiscipline Equals Freedom Field ManualThe Wim Hof MethodWhat Doesn’t Kill UsMan’s Search for MeaningLost ConnectionsThe Amplified BibleRead the full post and resources:https://peopleprocessprogress.com/2026/01/01/7-books-to-start-2026-strong/Own your mind.Move your body.Anchor your spirit.
Transcribe →What 2025 Taught Me and How I’m Setting Up 2026
Dec 2100:04:03Tap to summarizeAs of the end of 2025, What 2025 Taught Me and How I’m Setting Up 2026, People, Process, Progress has reached listeners and viewers around the world.The audio podcast has generated approximately 78,000 total listens across 324 episodes and has been heard in 138 countries. Across the full catalog, the show maintains an average episode engagement of over 80%, meaning most listeners who start an episode stay with it. That matters because it signals relevance and trust, not just reach.On YouTube, content across the channel has generated over 848,000 total views, reaching viewers in 128 countries.The data reinforces a clear direction moving forward. Episodes built around clear problems, practical frameworks, and lived experience consistently resonate more deeply than generic motivation or surface-level commentary.In 2026, the show will move into a steady rotation, alternating between short, structured solo episodes and conversations with leaders and business owners from the New River Valley who are quietly building, serving, and leading in their communities.Same values. Clearer focus. More grounded conversations.Godspeed y'all.
Transcribe →Faith Lived Through Discipline, Structure, and Service
Dec 1900:04:21Tap to summarizeIn this Faith in Action Friday episode, Faith Lived Through Discipline, Structure, and Service, I reflect on my recent conversation with Adam, a police officer, jiu jitsu black belt, and gym owner. His story highlights how faith is often lived out through consistent action, structure, and service, not loud words or perfect belief.Faith doesn’t always show up as certainty or comfort. Sometimes it shows up as discipline, restraint, and choosing to do the right thing when it would be easier to shut down.We explore Psalm 34:19 and what it really means to walk through hardship without becoming hardened by it. This episode is about resilience, accountability, and faith expressed through daily choices.Key Themes:Faith lived through action, not slogansDiscipline as a form of faithPsalm 34:19 and realistic resilienceStructure, service, and consistency Call to Action: Listen to the full interview with Adam and share this episode with someone who needs structure more than motivation.
Transcribe →Five Benefits of Family Time Off | S4 Ep20
Mar 18, 202500:10:40Tap to summarizeWelcome back to People, Process, Progress podcast. Today, on Five Benefits of Family Time Off, I'm diving into something I believe is essential for well-being and something that often gets pushed down the priority list amidst our busy schedules: family vacations.The benefits:Stress reductionFamily bonding and connectionEnhanced problem-solving skillsPositive impact on physical healthCreating memories togetherGodspeed.
Transcribe →A Historical Look at Information Manipulation in US Politics | S4Ep19
Mar 4, 202500:18:15Tap to summarizeEpisode Objectives:Historical overview of political manipulation tactics used throughout America’s historyFive key examples of manipulation spanning different erasSix actionable strategies for navigating today's complex political landscapeGodspeed y'all.
Transcribe →The People, Process, & Progress of Public Health | S4Ep18
Feb 23, 202500:12:30Tap to summarizeIn this episode, The People, Process, & Progress of Public Health, I talk about what public health is, why it matters, and why it's crucial to protect it from political whiplash, ensuring that the critical work of keeping communities healthy continues regardless of who's in office.
Transcribe →How Technical Should Project Managers Really Be? | S4Ep17
Feb 7, 202500:15:49Tap to summarizeHello everyone and welcome back to The People, Process, & Progress Podcast, I’m your host Kevin Pannell. On today’s episode, How Technical Should Project Managers Really Be? | S4Ep17 I’m speaking to Project Managers, aspiring PMs, team leads, and anyone involved in software or technical projects. My goal is to talk through the optimal level of technical understanding for project managers, emphasizing the value of technical literacy without overstepping into solution design, and balancing tactical involvement with strategic oversight.
Transcribe →Five Focus Areas for Project Managers in 2025 | S4Ep16
Feb 5, 202500:16:52Tap to summarizeAs a Project Manager I'm always seeking new knowledge, skills, and abilities to help me empower my team members and project partners. In Five Focus Areas for Project Managers in 2025, I'm sharing focus areas I will be diving deeper into and that I've gotten questions about from my teams and the internet.
Transcribe →How we Should Reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency | S4Ep15
Jan 27, 202500:17:22Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, How we Should Reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency, I’ll examine the critical role of FEMA in disaster relief and explore strategies to improving its effectivenessHow we can improve FEMA:Thorough After-Action Report/Improvement Plans (AAR/IPs)Direct engagement with FEMA employees and the publicStreamline Local and State assistance processesEnhance pre-disaster collaboration at all levelsGodspeed y'al
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