Looking ahead: The comfy chairs becomes The Well-Led Podcast

In this final episode of the year, Kate returns with a clear, simple update about the show’s evolution. On January 6th, the comfy chairs will officially relaunch as The Well-Led Podcast, beginning a year-long journey focused on the four essential domains of leadership: Demonstrating Care, Providing Support, Leading with Grace, and Staying Focused on Action.

Kate revisits what’s changing, what remains steady, and why this new structure matters. Listeners will hear about the monthly theme model, the “Notes on Leading Well” format, and the practical tools that will anchor each week. She also previews January’s theme—vulnerability—and how it sets the tone for leading well in the months ahead.

This episode closes the chapter on one season of the podcast and gently opens the door to what’s next. It’s a moment of gratitude, clarity, and optimism for leaders who want to step into the new year with intention.

Culture Keepers: A conversation about managing versus leading.

In this conversation, Kate sits down with Layci Nelson, founder of the Transcend Leadership Collective, to explore a deceptively simple question with big implications: What’s the real difference between managing and leading?

Together, they unpack why effective leadership isn’t about choosing one or the other—it’s about integrating both. Layci emphasizes that leaders need fluency in two domains: the operational competence that keeps work moving and the visionary clarity that keeps people aligned and inspired.

They dig into the value of understanding project management basics, paying attention to the details that shape team experience, and staying close enough to the work to remove friction meaningfully. Layci also shares a compelling story of a CEO who transformed his leadership approach by reconnecting with his employees—ultimately improving alignment, engagement, and satisfaction across the organization.

The conversation also returns to core values: how they anchor decision-making, guide behavior, and keep leaders steady when things speed up, slow down, or veer unexpectedly.

• Connect with Layci on LinkedIn
• Learn more about her business
• Listen to the Confessions of a Terrible Leader podcast

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Revisit & enjoy: Early, direct, and well-structured conversations

As we near the end of the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most practical and personal conversations we’ve shared on the comfy chairs. In this rerun, Kate sits down with her dad, Charlie—a leader with decades of experience in higher education, the military, and church governance—to talk about why early, direct, and kind confrontation is one of the most underrated leadership skills.

This episode explores:

• Why confrontation isn’t the same as conflict—and why waiting almost always makes things worse
• How leaders can prevent conflict by addressing issues early and with clarity
• The role of feedback, decision-making, and lifelong learning in building healthy teams
• Why love—phileo, connection, shared purpose—is at the heart of great leadership

If you’re avoiding a hard conversation (or carrying one into the new year), this episode is a steady reminder that clarity and kindness aren’t opposites—they’re partners.

Additional resources mentioned during our conversation:

• The Fearless Organization, by Amy Edmondson
• The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni
• The Sum of All Fears, by Tom Clancy

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Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Revisit & enjoy: Making sense of leadership, management, and the feedback we’d rather avoid

As we wind down the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most downloaded comfyHQ episodes—a listener favorite about three things leaders wrestle with all the time: feedback, the leadership/management divide, and the workplace words we toss around without checking for shared meaning.

In this rerun, we explore:

• How to respond to feedback you don’t agree with (and why “thank you” is still the best first move)
• Why separating “leadership” from “management” can limit our growth, and what changes when we see them as two sides of the same role
• Six Big Idea words—mission, vision, culture, and more—that shape how we work, but often mean different things to different people

If you’re navigating end-of-year reviews or gearing up for planning season, this episode offers a practical reset: clearer language, steadier leadership, and a healthier way to think about feedback.

Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

In this special update, Kate shares an important announcement about the future of the podcast. Beginning in January 2026, the comfy chairs will officially become The Well-Led Podcast—a show dedicated to helping leaders stay grounded, self-aware, and effective in the moments where professionalism meets imperfection.

Kate walks through what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and why now is the right time to transition into a more intentional, structured model. She also introduces the new monthly and quarterly format, a year-long leadership curriculum, and an expanded set of voices and conversations.

Plus: exciting news about the show joining the WRKdefined Podcast Network in 2026.

Pull Them Close: A Conversation about Grief

As we move into the holiday season—a time that can amplify both joy and tenderness—we’re revisiting one of our most meaningful conversations on the comfy chairs. In this encore episode, host Kate Johnson welcomes Justin Clifford, CEO of Bereave, for a heartfelt exploration of how workplaces can better support employees navigating grief and loss.

Together, Kate and Justin unpack the critical role of compassionate bereavement practices—especially during a season when grief can feel sharper, and the need for understanding grows. Justin shares actionable insights for managers and leaders, from building empathy through intentional training to crafting inclusive policies that honor the diverse realities of modern families.

This revisit also highlights the transformative power of vulnerability in leadership. Justin underscores the importance of modeling self-care and creating spaces where employees feel seen and supported through life’s hardest seasons. He offers tools and resources to help organizations build cultures of care—reminding us that supporting grief at work isn’t simply about resilience; it’s about honoring our shared humanity.

• Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinclifford2/
• Learn more about Bereave: https://www.bereave.io/

Additional resources mentioned during our conversation:

• Liesel Mertes, empathy coaching: https://www.lieselmertes.com/
• A single platform for practical support resources and tools: https://www.supportnow.org/
• Family support for estate and other matters after the death of a loved one: https://www.full-circlecare.com/
• Supporting employees after the loss of a child: https://www.hopeworkshere.com/
• Employee leave management platform: https://www.cocoon.com/

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

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Inviting Input: A conversation about co-creating the workplace.

In this conversation, Kate sits down with Patrick Farran, PhD—co-founder and CEO of Ad Lucem Group—to explore the leadership practices that help teams move from compliance to genuine engagement. Patrick introduces appreciative inquiry as a strengths-based discipline built on better questions: ones that draw out what’s already working and create the conditions for more of it.

Together, Kate and Patrick unpack why purpose matters so deeply in leadership (and what happens when leaders drift away from it), how co-creation honors human dignity, and why people support what they help build. They swap practical examples—from job crafting to “input windows” during times of change—and name the tension leaders often feel between offering clarity and inviting shared ownership.

Patrick also offers a preview of his forthcoming book, The Intentional Executive, including the research behind it and the frameworks leaders can use to practice purpose-driven, strengths-aligned leadership.

• Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn
• Learn more about his business
• Check out early information about The Intentional Executive

Additional resources and researchers mentioned during our conversation:

• Dr. Marjolein Lips-Wiersma
• Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski
• Dr. Amy Edmondson
• Dr. Viktor Frankl

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

www.one23ltd.com

https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/

Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay