The Fosgail Mindset
The Fosgail Mindset is a podcast for leaders who resonate with the experiences of librarians and educators—especially those navigating change, limited resources, and the work of keeping communities engaged and thriving. Each episode offers an article‑length reflection—also available on the Fosgail blog—read aloud and gently expanded in audio form, so you can engage with the same ideas in whichever format fits your day. Grounded in the Fosgail Mindset—the awareness, attitudes, and actions that support sustainable ways of working—this show sits at the intersection of three themes: - Attendant Leadership theory and practice - Future‑focused integrated planning - Sustainable, values‑aligned ways of working Hosted by coach and consultant Myka Kennedy Stephens, The Fosgail Mindset creates a calm, reflective space to think about how you lead from where you are, how you plan for the future, and how you care for yourself and your community in the midst of change. New episodes draw from Fosgail’s writing, client work, and conversations in the Fosgail Community to offer thoughtful insight, gentle challenge, and practical questions you can carry into your week.
Episodes
In this second episode of Season 2 of The Fosgail Mindset, Myka Kennedy Stephens builds on Attendant Leadership by turning toward its relational core. Using a story from her early years as a seminary librarian tasked with “right‑sizing” a 200,000‑volume theological library, she explores how even seemingly technical projects are deeply relational—touching staff, students, alumni, institutional leaders, the collection itself, the env...
In this Season 2 opener of The Fosgail Mindset, Myka Kennedy Stephens names how control‑focused, top‑down leadership is eroding trust and fragmenting community in libraries, higher education, and other mission‑driven institutions. Drawing on a recent committee meeting and wider political patterns, she connects today’s leadership dysfunc...
In this special extended episode, host Myka Kennedy Stephens sits down with Jessica Zairo to explore how embracing the value of sharing can positively impact communities. Drawing heavily on Jessica's experiences with open-source software support and development, particularly with the Koha integrated library system, this conversation highlights the power of collaboration, reciprocal giving, and community building in the library worl...
In this episode of The Fosgail Mindset, host Myka Kennedy Stephens explores the nuanced role of **sharing** as a leadership virtue. Drawing from life experience, organizational theory, and research, Myka challenges both the old command-and-control mindset and the pitfalls of excessive, boundary-less sharing. Discover why the real answer lies in **collaborative leadership**, a balanced approach where intentional communication, clear...
In this episode of The Fosgail Mindset, host Myka Kennedy Stephens sits down with Neil Mackinnon, a seasoned leadership and executive coach whose journey from professional musician to creative industry leader offers a wealth of inspiration. Neil discusses powerful lessons from his transformative 12 years at London’s Southbank Centre. Together, Myka and Neil unpack what genuine creativity means in practice; not just as a spark of in...
Have you ever wondered how to engage elected representatives to advocate for a cause you feel passionately about? In this special extended episode of The Fosgail Mindset, Myka Kennedy Stephens sits down with author and non-partisan activist Cynthia Changyit Levin to explore how advocacy can unlock personal and collective potential, even amid uncertainty and political polarization. Cynthia shares her journey from new mom to seasoned...
This episode explores the nuanced relationship between potential, possibility, and purpose, and how understanding these concepts can empower individuals and organizations—especially in libraries, theological education, and higher education—to cultivate professional wellbeing and inspire positive change.
Quote of the Episode: “Potential is, full stop. And potential will always be there no matter which choices we're presented with an...
In this extended episode, Kelly Campbell and I have a conversation about the Leadership Development for Theological Librarians program that we co-facilitate. This has been a unique opportunity for theological librarians to grow in self-awareness and connect with other librarians in a 10-month cohort experience that combines mentoring workshops, 1:1 executive coaching, and an in-person retreat experience in Atlanta. Funding for the ...
In this episode, I share a personal story that illustrates how disruptive changes—invited or not—can become catalysts for growth and self-discovery. Reflecting on both the challenges and unexpected gifts of disruption, listeners are invited to consider how experiences of disruption can help us to clarify our priorities, anchor ourselves in the present, and transform chaos into creative opportunity.
Read the companion blog post: htt...
Discover how embracing an attitude of intentionality can transform your responses to chaos and uncertainty. In this episode, I reflect on how to shift from a state of reactivity and stress to a state of response-driven action.
Hosted by Myka Kennedy Stephens. Recorded April 9, 2025 with Descript.
Read the companion blog post: https://www.fosgail.org/blog/2025/04/09/2025-04-09_starting-with-intentionality/
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