Second City Works presents "Getting to Yes, And"

Kelly goes across the pond to speak to educator Daisy Christodoulou, whose provocative books on education take aim at a lack of teacher autonomy, fact-based curricula, and the misuse of technology in the classroom. “You cannot unscramble knowledge and skills.” “Modern technology can’t do the memorizing for us.” “Good readers are those who tend to […]

Acclaimed journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis joins Kelly to talk about his new book “You’ve Changed: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation.” “Any identity is a kind of performance.” “Humans are broken meaning-making machines.”  “There’s no freedom without the perception of change.” 

Kelly welcomes Leidy Klotz back to the podcast, where they last talked about his book, “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less.” He has a new book, “In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive.” “Our inner and outer worlds are inseparable.” “Many books tell us how […]

Kelly talks with Erik LeDrew, a photojournalist and US Army veteran who transitioned from the chaos of combat to the chaos of filmmaking. He wrote and co-directed “Alex vs. ARod” for HBO, a fantastic documentary that looks at the life and career of baseball great Alex Rodriguez.  “Once you do something like join the US […]

Kelly sits down with Jake Braun, who has worked at the intersection of politics, national security, and foreign policy for over two decades and was appointed to prominent roles in the Obama and Biden administrations. He wrote the book “Democracy in Danger,” and he has a new book, “Fentanyl: Fighting the Mass Poisoning of America […]

Kelly connects with Dr. Khameer Kidia, a writer, physician, and anthropologist at Harvard Medical School and University of Zimbabwe. A Rhodes Scholar and 2023 New American Fellow, Dr. Kidia has worked on global mental health research practice, and advocacy for the last decade. He has a new book, “Empire of Madness: A Physician’s Case for […]

Kelly speaks with Erin McGoff, an award-winning filmmaker and content creator – known as the “internet’s big sister” through her AdviceWithErin branding. She received a Pulitzer Fellowship in 2017 and was named a Forbes 30 under 30 recipient in 2025. She has a new book: “The Secret Language of Work: Hyper-Helpful Scripts for Every Situation.” […]

Kelly connects with Julia Minson, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School. She is a behavioral scientist with extensive research experience in conflict, communication, negotiations, and decision-making. She has a new book: “How to Disagree Better.” 

Kelly talks to Joe Pine, an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and management advisor to Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial start-ups alike. He is a co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP, a thinking studio dedicated to helping businesses conceive and design new ways to add value to their economic offerings. He is the co-author of the best-seller “The Experience […]

Kelly spends time with Jane Marie Chen, a globally recognized entrepreneur, inventor, speaker, and leadership coach. She is the co-founder of Embrace, which developed an infant incubator that has helped to save over a million babies. Jane has been a TED fellow and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. She has a new memoir, “Like […]

Kelly talks to Jenny Raymond from the Harnish Foundation and Julie Dumais Osborne from The Second City Training Center to talk about a new partnership that offers free improv-based leadership training for girls in grades 3 through 8 in Chicago called Funny Girls. The best part: IT’S FREE! For more information or to sign up […]

Kelly welcomes futurist Bob Johansen back to the podcast to discuss his book “Navigating the Age of Chaos.” Bob introduces us to the term BANI, which describes the world we live in now: Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible. Spoiler alert – improvisation is a skill one needs to navigate this world. “In the mid-2010’s, everything […]

Kelly talks to Harvard professor Leslie John, whose research into self-disclosure provides a rich source of insights into how we can better build relationships, foster connection, and lead a more purposeful life when we are willing to be vulnerable and share details of our lives with others. “If in doubt, transparency is the safer bet.”  […]

In this engaging conversation, Kelly connects with Paul Eastwick to discuss his new book, ‘Bonded by Evolution,’ exploring misconceptions about love and connection. He critiques the outdated ‘Evo script’ that shapes our understanding of attraction and relationships, emphasizing the impact of modern dating practices. Eastwick highlights the fluidity of attraction, the importance of close relationships, […]

Journalist Kate Murphy has a compelling conversation with Kelly about her new book “Why We Click: The Emerging Science of Interpersonal Synchrony.” In this conversation, Kelly and Kate find a direct line between improvisational training and the kind of synchrony that leads to better relationships, more effective teams and the superpowers that flow from human […]

In this conversation, Kelly welcomes best-selling author Daniel Coyle back to the podcast. His new book, “Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy and Fulfillment,” emphasizes the significance of meaningful moments in life, particularly in fostering relationships and collaboration. He discusses how these moments often occur during ritual-like pauses where individuals reflect on their purpose […]

Kelly talks to former Obama White House EPA official Judith Enck, whose new book is called  “The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late.”  “Don’t microwave food in plastic.”  “Plastics are on track to surpass coal emissions in the United States.”  “Get rid of all black plastic in your kitchen.”

In this engaging conversation, Kelly Leonard speaks with the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde about her experiences as a leader, the nature of courage, and the lessons learned through parenting, grief, and improvisation. They explore the importance of speaking truth to power, the challenges of navigating loss, and the role of risk in personal growth. Budde emphasizes […]

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Anne-Laure LaCunff discusses her book ‘Tiny Experiments’ and explores the themes of curiosity, purpose, and personal growth. She shares her own awakening experience that led her to question her life choices and emphasizes the importance of embracing imperfection and experimentation. The discussion also delves into the dangers of having a […]

In this podcast episode, Kelly interviews Juan Bendana, a speaker and author of ‘Confident by Choice.’ They discuss the impact of early experiences on self-esteem, the importance of building a relationship with fear and discomfort, and how confidence is shaped by our experiences rather than innate traits. Juan shares insights on the confidence cycle, the […]

Kelly connects with Tony Wagner, senior research fellow at the Learning Policy Institute and former codirector of Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Change Leadership Group. They discuss his latest book – co-written with Ulrik Juul Christensen: “Mastery: Why Deeper Learning is Essential in an Age of Distraction.”  “Practice is an essential element of mastery learning.”  […]

Kelly talks to legendary screenwriter John August (“Big Fish,” “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory,” who co-hosts the “Scriptnotes” podcast with Craig Mazin (“Chernobyl,” “The Last of Us.”). They have a new book: “Scriptnotes: A Book About Screenwriting and Things That Are interesting to Screenwriters.”  “Be passionate in agreement. Be dispassionate in disagreement.”  “As writers, we […]

Kelly talks to Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Workshop, Louis Henry Mitchell who has written the book: “Qreative Evolution: The Intimate Practice of Creative Fulfillment Through Guided Self-Education.”   “Creativity is not limited to one type of creation.”  “You don’t decide your purpose in life; you discover it.”  “Confidence can be lost if it […]

Kelly welcomes Harvard professor Ranjay Gulati back to the podcast to discuss his new book, “How to Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage.”   “Courage is a learned behavior, not an innate one.”  “Heroes seldom act alone.”  “Sometimes, frankly, we take confidence too far.” 

Kelly connects with longtime film critic Nick Digilio to talk about his new book “40 Years, 40 Films.” They discuss growing up in Chicago, falling in love with movies, and Nick’s start at WGN Radio on the Roy Leonard Show. Then they dig into some of Nick’s favorite movies, such as Albert Brooks’ “Lost in […]

In this engaging conversation, Goldie Chan, a brand and storytelling expert, discusses the nuances of introversion, personal branding, and the dynamics between introverts and extroverts. She shares insights from her new book, ‘Personal Branding for Introverts,’ and emphasizes the importance of networking, small talk, and setting expectations in professional environments. Goldie also draws parallels between […]

Kelly talks to Venezuelan-born, Chicago-based photographer Daniel Moreno about his new book of photographs of Chicago’s legendary Holiday Train.  “To me, the Holiday Train is more than a seasonal spectacle; it’s a train of light.” “I’ve felt the collective joy of strangers momentarily united by a shared sense of awe.”  “In the end, the train doesn’t […]

In this conversation, Kelly Leonard interviews Bastion Bergmann, co-founder and COO of Solston, about the significance of play in human experience and its implications for business strategy, particularly in gaming. They discuss how gaming can serve as a powerful tool for engagement and marketing, illustrated by Burberry’s innovative approach to integrating their brand into a […]

Kelly welcomes Caroline Stokes back to the podcast to discuss her new book “Aftershock to 2030: A CEO’s Guide to Reinvention in the Age of AI, Climate and Societal Collapse.” “This book is about reprogramming the nervous system of leadership.”  “Technology offers both promise and paradox.”  “Virtue signaling has become a form of social currency.” 

In this episode, Kelly Leonard interviews James Kimmel Jr., a clinical professor and author, about his book ‘The Science of Revenge.’ They explore the neuroscience behind revenge, its addictive nature, and how it manifests in real-life scenarios. Kimmel shares compelling stories, including those of mass violence, and discusses the role of mental illness in revenge-seeking […]

Margaret Andrews leads a popular class at Harvard University that she has turned into the book: “Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding.” “Leadership is ultimately about relationships.”  “Each new level of leadership requires a new level of us.”  “Leadership is, in many ways, a creative act.”

Kelly has a powerful conversation with longtime friend and Second City colleague Tania Richard, whose new book “Black Girl from a White Suburb” looks at race, a life in theatre, loss and finding resilience along the way. “People think actors are good liars. We aren’t.” “We believe what we need to get by.”  “There is no other […]

Kelly connects with longtime BBDO CEO Andrew Robertson to talk about his new book: “The Creative Shift: How to Power Up Your Organization by Making Space for New Ideas.”  “Every new idea represents a risk.”  “Creativity happens in leaps, not steps.”  “All great ideas sound great – in retrospect.” 

Kelly talks to Muriel Wilkins, host of the award-winning Harvard Business Review podcast, Coaching Real Leaders. Her latest book is called “Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential.”  “Lasting change comes from within.”  “I want to be clear that coaching is not a substitute for therapy.”  “Our reluctance to engage in self-reflection […]

Kelly celebrates the release of Anne Libera’s new book on comedy, “Funnier.” They talk in front of a live audience at The Second City.  “Don’t waste your time following gurus.” “We need to value risk.” “True irony is deeper than simple opposition. It is opposition mixed with justice of a sort.”

Kelly welcomes Richard Thaler, the 2017 recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, to the podcast along with his co-author, Professor Alex Imas, to talk about their updated version of Thaler’s seminal book “The Winner’s Curse.” “Rationality is an assumption in economics, not a demonstrated fact.”  “People are not thinking enough about what […]

Kelly welcomes the always provocative Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic back to the podcast to talk about his new book: “Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity is Overrated (and What to Do Instead).” “By all means, keep it real – just don’t make everyone else suffer for it.” “Everybody loves change until they have to do it themselves.”  “Most of us […]

Kelly connects with Berkely Professor Toby Stuart to discuss his fascinating new book, “Annointed: The Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World.”  “Many of us resent where we sit in the food chain.”  “Status begets status.”  “Luck is enshrined in social hierarchies.” 

Kelly welcomes the always-inspiring Morgan Housel back to the podcast to discuss his new book, “The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life.” “All behavior makes sense with enough information.” “Be careful judging how other people spend their money.”  “The best measure of wealth is what you have minus what you want.” 

Kelly welcomes Professor Colin Fisher back to the podcast to discuss his new book, “The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups.” “We’re living in an age of unprecedented individualism.”  “Groups that look outward adapt faster to an ever-changing world.” “Tolerated deviants can’t dissent on every issue.”

Kelly talks to Maryellen MacDonald, a cognitive scientist with a focus on psycholinguistics, the study of how we comprehend, produce, and learn languages. Her new book is called, “More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World.” “Both researchers and the popular media don’t talk much about talking.”  “Talking doesn’t just let us communicate. It […]

Kelly talks to Martin Dubin, a clinical psychologist, serial entrepreneur, business coach, and adviser to C-suite executives and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, about his new book: “Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader.” “Things go well until they don’t.”  “We are not as self-aware as we believe.”  “Your identity is the least fixed […]

Kelly talks to educator Maya Smart about her new book “Reading for Our Lives: The Urgency of Early Literacy and the Action Plan to Help Your Child.” “Alarms ring; they don’t teach. And often when an alarm rings for too long, we tune it out.”  “Spoken words are the precursor of all precursors to reading.”  “Praise the […]

Kelly digs in with author Keir Graff, who has written a new book about a legendary building in the Windy City, “Chicago’s Fine Arts Building: Music, Magic and Murder.”  “All passes – Art alone endures.” “You’ll feel as you’ve just stepped out of a time machine.”  “Let the building haunt you; it’s a place where you can feel […]

Kelly talks with psychologist Dr. Adam Dorsay about how connection is our path to a happy and meaningful life. Adam’s latest book is Super Psyched: Unleash the Power of the 4 Types of Connection and Live the Life You Love. “Connection is vital for life.”  “Our brains are wired for fear.”  “Time is our most nonrenewable […]

Kelly welcomes Shannon Watts back to the podcast. The founder of Moms Demand Action has a new book: “Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age.”   “Happiness is a temporary state, not a life goal.”  “Women’s desires are hijacked by their obligations.”  “Your fire starts where […]

Kelly talks to Gary Noesner, a legendary agent who changed the way hostage negotiation was taught and implemented at the FBI. His book is “Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator” “Before we can influence others we must first listen and understand.”  “Listening is the cheapest concession we can ever make.”  “Managing a […]

Kelly connects with James Cordova, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Clark University. His new book is “The Mindful Path to Intimacy: Cultivating a Deeper Connection with Your Partner.”   “Attention is the most basic form of love.”  “Vulnerability is not for the faint of heart.”  “Deep listening is a radically selfless act.” 

Kelly connects with Telle Whitney, who has logged decades in Silicon Valley’s tech industry. She has a new book: “Rebooting Tech Culture: How to Ignite Innovation and Build Organizations Where Everyone Can Thrive.”  “Culture change is not a comfortable topic.”  “Creativity and collaboration are the foundations of innovation.”  “Failure is one of our greatest teachers.” 

Kelly has a fascinating conversation with psychologist and professor Caroline Fleck to discuss her new book “Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life.”  “Fear is a liar.”  “You don’t encourage good behavior by convincing someone they’re bad.”  “Taking about shame takes courage.”