Comfy Chairs

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
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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.

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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...

In this comfyHQ installment, Kate tackles three leadership questions that share a common root: self-awareness.

She shares best practices for time management that actually work, rethinks the idea of “work-life balance” through the lens of needs and priorities, and offers a grounded approach to self-advocacy that doesn’t veer into self-serving.

• What are the best practices for time management as a leader?

• What are tips or ...

Show up as trustworthy: A conversation about trust.

🪑🪑 Celebrating two years of big conversations from the comfy chairs.

What makes a leader trustworthy?

In this special anniversary episode of the comfy chairs, Kate and Angela revisit one of the most foundational—and often most fragile—elements of effective leadership: trust.

Together, they unpack how trust shapes team dynamics, leadership credibility, and even business outcomes....

In this episode of comfyHQ, Kate tackles three leadership questions that share a common root: self-awareness. She shares best practices for time management that actually work, rethinks the idea of “work-life balance” through the lens of needs and priorities, and offers a grounded approach to self-advocacy that doesn’t veer into self-serving.

• What are the best practices for time management as a leader?
• What are tips or suggestions...

Everyone owns it. A conversation for leaders about workplace culture.

What makes a workplace feel supportive—and what happens when it doesn’t?

In this episode, clinical social worker and Connect Counseling founder Sarah Harris joins Kate to talk about how culture isn’t just something you talk about; it’s something you live. They explore how communication, physical space, and policies shape the way employees experience their work—and ...

In this episode of comfyHQ, we answer two leadership questions that many managers quietly struggle with:

• How do leaders cultivate trust and credibility with their teams?
• How do I handle a team member who has great skills but a bad attitude?

Kate shares practical strategies to lead with consistency, communicate with clarity, and address behavioral issues without falling into the trap of vague “attitude” conversations. From per...

Early and well-structured: A conversation about confrontation.

In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate is joined by her father, Charlie, a seasoned leader with experience in higher education, the military, and church governance. Together, they unpack the often-misunderstood relationship between confrontation and leadership. Their conversation explores how direct and kind communication can strengthen teams, prevent unnecessary conf...

In this episode of comfyHQ, Kate tackles two key questions about modern leadership:

1. What role does mentorship play in leadership development?
2. How do you lead a remote or hybrid team effectively?

From structured mentoring programs to managing remote employees with clarity and care, Kate offers practical strategies for leaders who want to build trust, encourage learning, and lead well, no matter where their team is sitting. If ...

Continuously developed: A conversation about student leadership.

Rereleased on July 1, 2025, with corrected audio.

Kate is joined by Emily Barnett, former teacher and current Campaign Development Manager with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to talk about preparing the next generation of leaders. Their conversation explores the importance of developing student leadership, the value of flexibility and dependability, and why invest...