Comfy Chairs

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 in...

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 critica...

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 ...

We're making another visit to the comfy chairs archive with this episode, where Kate is joined by a very special guest, her husband, Nate.

Kate and Nate explore the practical considerations of high-reliability organizations and what we can all learn from a balanced approach to excellence and understanding.

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: htt...

You own it: A conversation about career growth.

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Jamie Chambron, Chief Coach at the Career Agility System, to talk about what it really means to own your career. From portfolio careers to personal branding, Kate and Jamie unpack how professionals can approach their work with intention and curiosity—especially in a changing, unpredictable market.

They explore the co-creat...

Join us for a trip in the Way-back Machine! We're headed to where and when it all started for the comfy chairs. Enjoy this “Tuesday Time Capsule” replay of Episode One: Please don’t take away my superhero cape!

Kate's colleague and friend, Angela Wale, joined her for the inaugural recording to talk about some timeless leadership topics. Whether you want to learn more about responsibility, delegation, accountability, imposter syndro...

Tiny conversations: A conversation about workplace gossip.

Workplace gossip has a reputation problem — but what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong?

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Rebecca Taylor, co-founder of SkillCycle and host of HR Confessions, to explore the nuance behind “tiny conversations.” They define gossip, unpack its role in shaping culture, and discuss how leaders can use it as a powe...

Enjoy this rerun of "What, why, how: A comfyHQ Q&A"

In this bite-sized episode of the comfy chairs, we’re diving into two essential leadership questions:

How can you delegate effectively without micromanaging?

What’s the best approach to giving constructive feedback?

Join me as we break down common misconceptions about micromanagement, explore how clarity is the key to delegation, and discover the “what, why, how” of delivering imp...

Seek understanding: A conversation about questions and learning.

Questions can unlock more than answers ever will.

In this conversation, Amber Johnson, PhD, joins Kate to explore the power of great questions in leadership and learning. They talk about curiosity, empathy, and why a playful mindset matters just as much as a strategic one.

• Connect with Amber on LinkedIn
• Learn more about her business
• Subscribe to her Substack
• Find her on...

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is often described as the “soft side” of leadership — but in practice, it’s the lever that turns leadership effort into real influence.

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson unpacks the four dimensions of EQ: self-awareness, self-management, awareness of others, and relationship management. Along the way, she shares why empathy is the through line connecting them all.

From giving feedback to na...

Part of being human: A conversation about vulnerability and bias.

Bias isn’t always intentional—it’s often unconscious, shaped by survival instincts and reinforced by daily habits. In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with leadership coach and licensed clinical social worker Sarah Harris to explore how bias influences workplace culture, decision-making, and team dynamics.

From confirmation bias to the “prove it...

In this comfyHQ installment of the comfy chairs podcast, Kate explores two core leadership questions:

1. How can I manage my insecurities while projecting confidence? We walk through practical steps for naming, containing, and balancing your insecurities with a clear-eyed view of your strengths. This isn’t about false bravado — it’s about cultivating honest self-awareness and healthy confidence.
2. What qualities do all successful lead...

In this episode of the comfy chairs, I sit down with Thom Dennis to talk about leadership mindsets and what it means to “rewild” corporate culture.

Thom shares stories from his eclectic journey and how each stage has shaped his perspective on leadership. Together, we explore why mindset matters as much as action, the balance of masculine and feminine energies in leadership, and how trust, presence, and autonomy can transform organiz...

In this comfyHQ episode of the comfy chairs,we tackle two common leadership struggles: how to set boundaries without seeming unavailable, and what to do when you catch yourself avoiding a tough conversation. With practical examples and reflective insights, Kate shows how both challenges come down to the same leadership essentials—clarity, care, and courage.

👉🏻 Have a question for comfyHQ? Share your questions.

👉🏻 Subscribe to the...

We’re taking our first-ever Summer hiatus here at the comfy chairs! We’ll be back with all-new episodes on September 2nd. Until then, we've curated a few of our shorter, comfyHQ episodes for you to revisit and enjoy.

So, this week, here's "make sense of things," where we provide answers to help you harness the power of stories as leadership tools and provide practical strategies for navigating ambiguity with confidence, clarity, and...

We’re taking our first-ever Summer hiatus here at the comfy chairs! We’ll be back with all-new episodes on September 2nd. Until then, we've curated a few of our shorter, comfyHQ episodes for you to revisit and enjoy.

So, this week, here's "hold this mindset," where we answer questions about balancing empathy and authority, and modeling accountability without harshness.

👉🏻 Have a question for comfyHQ? Share your questions.

👉🏻 Subs...

Your most impactful self: A conversation about identifying blind spots.

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Benah Parker, PhD, a social psychologist and executive coach, to explore the power of intentional identity in leadership. Together, they delve into the importance of self-awareness and how blind spots can derail leadership effectiveness. Bena shares her five-step Strategic Identity Shift framework,...

In this comfyHQ episode of the comfy chairs, Kate tackles three everyday leadership questions with her signature blend of clarity, candor, and care.

→ How do I help my team members grow when there’s no clear promotion path?

→ How can I get better at listening instead of jumping in with solutions?

→ What’s one simple way to encourage more ownership from my team?

These questions reveal deeper truths about how leaders define their roles...

What happens when you stop hiring for experience and start hiring for strengths?

In this episode of the comfy chairs, I talk with Dr. Mike Neal, optometrist and founder of Build My Team, about the moment he realized traditional hiring wasn’t working—and what he built instead. Drawing inspiration from Disney and the Ritz-Carlton, Mike created a system that helps small businesses (especially medical practices) hire better, faster, and...