Collaboratory: exploring the power of teams

Our final episode for this season features Jesse Pudles, CEO and founder of SpotCorp Events, who brings his background in theater and storytelling to the world of team-building. Discover how improvisation, authenticity, and playful design can break down silos, boost team resilience, and make sure every voice is heard.https://www.spotcorpevents.com/We will take a break to take stock, reflect and see what we will do next with Collaboratory. If you have any feedback, please reach out to [email protected] Thanks for listening!

Discover how humpback whales master teamwork in this episode of Collaboratory. Dr. Natalie Mastick, aquatic science expert, shares insights from her research on whale collaboration—especially their incredible bubble-net feeding. Learn what these ocean giants reveal about communication, trust, and shared goals, and how their strategies can inspire stronger teams in work and life.

Tom Watkin is a business leader, facilitator, and advocate for using Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) to enhance teamwork and leadership skills. With extensive experience managing teams across industries and continents, Tom brings a unique perspective on the parallels between collaborative storytelling in D&D and real-world team dynamics. Through his blog Dungeons and Dragons at Work, he explores how roleplaying games can foster creativity, problem-solving, and stronger connections within teams, making him an expert in blending fun with professional growth. https://dndatwork.com/about/ 

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Heather Campbell, an ant biologist with a deep passion for social insects, particularly ants. As the co-author of Ants: A Visual Guide, Dr. Campbell has extensively studied the intricate social structures and collaborative behaviors of ants. Dr. Campbell holds a PhD in ecological entomology from the University of Reading and is a lecturer in entomology at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, UK.Ants: A Visual Guide - https://tinyurl.com/yp9xrdseWhat Ants can Teach Us About Working Together - https://tinyurl.com/b8apndwh 

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Wagner D’Annuzzo, a consultant and former leader in shaping the future of work at IBM and Prudential Financial. Wagner shares why “clarity creates capacity,” how autonomous teams thrive through fluidity, and why leadership is a mindset every team member should embrace. This conversation is packed with insights to help your team align, innovate, and achieve awesome results.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wagnerdenuzzo/Leading to Succeed: Essential Skills for the New Workplace: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Succeed-Essential-Skills-Workplace/dp/1632261421

Today’s guest is Kate Schnippering, Sailor & Multimedia Futurist, Former IDEO Exec Design Director, Product Leader, and Creative Technologist. We chat about her sailing trips across the Atlantic, dividing up tasks on a sailboat, decision-making in challenging situations and how to use a sextant! 

Today's guest is Shaun Mader. He is a team effectiveness coach and partner at TGN Consulting, where he focuses on workforce mobilization to help organizations thrive through periods of significant change.

Today’s guest is Caitlyn Meagher, she is an Actor, and Co-Artistic Director of ⁠Paul⁠ here in New York City. We dive into the world of acting, discussing everything from preparing a play for opening night to encouraging audiences to feel rather than think. I mention Claire Hughes Johnson and her book Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building. We also discuss the different stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, and performing. You can read more about this here.

Today’s guest is Nikita Singareddy, Co-founder and CEO of a 6-person startup, Fortuna Health, 'the TurboTax for Medicaid.' We chat about how Fortuna Health was formed, the interview process, when people are at their “spikiest”, the values of Fortuna Health, and so much more!  In the episode, I mention the astronaut who went to the international space station - Chris Hadfield - and how he led a team working through many issues. I read about this in David Burkus’ book: Best Team Ever!