

The Long and The Short Of It
Peter Shepherd & Jen Waldman
A weekly podcast for curious people ready to explore the art and science of being human from every possible angle: macro, micro, Australian, American, tall, short and everything in between.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 28, 2025 • 19min
370. Collegial
Explore the fine line between collegiality and constructive challenge in team dynamics. Jen and Pete dissect how excessive niceness can stifle honest feedback and limit effectiveness. Discover the power of shared goals to enable productive debates and meaningful revisions. They also highlight coaching techniques and the importance of challenging conversations to foster improvement. Tune in as they share insights on breaking down barriers to feedback and recalibrating communication for better collaboration.

Oct 21, 2025 • 19min
369. The OK Plateau
Jen and Pete explore the concept of the OK Plateau, where skill development stagnates due to automaticity. They discuss pushing beyond comfort zones to enhance skills and share tools for incremental improvement. Through examples like memory training and strength coaching, they reveal how micro adjustments can lead to elite performance. Listeners are encouraged to self-audit their skills and consider the trade-offs between being 'good enough' and striving for excellence. The importance of coaching in nudging clients off plateaus is also highlighted.

Oct 14, 2025 • 19min
368. Kicking Cans
This week, Jen confronts a metaphorical can that she's been kicking down the road for several months, and she and Pete noodle on where else these cans might show up in our lives.Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about:How might we name and tackle certain decisions or projects that we've been delaying?What effect does fear of other people's opinions have on our actions?Why might lessening the amount of cans you're kicking actually lead to more success?To hear all episodes and read full transcripts, visit The Long and The Short Of It website: https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/.You can subscribe to our Box O’ Goodies here (https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/) and receive a weekly email full of book and podcast recommendations, quotes, videos, and other interesting things that Jen and Pete are noodling on. To get in touch, send an email to: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.

Oct 7, 2025 • 16min
367. Tool Kits
This week, Pete and Jen dive in to the idea of auditing your leadership tool kit, to help you solve problems and become more efficient.Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about:What are some tactics you might use to evaluate and assess your various skill sets?Why is it important to borrow ideas, questions, and tools from other leaders?How might we become more aware of our tool kits, so that we can reuse the tools we have in difficult conversations?To hear all episodes and read full transcripts, visit The Long and The Short Of It website: https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/.You can subscribe to our Box O’ Goodies here (https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/) and receive a weekly email full of book and podcast recommendations, quotes, videos, and other interesting things that Jen and Pete are noodling on. To get in touch, send an email to: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Learn more about Pete's work here (https://humanperiscope.com/) and Jen's work here (https://jenwaldman.com/).

Sep 30, 2025 • 16min
366. Momentum Mindset
This week, Jen and Pete noodle on a topic that they were both surprised to have never recorded an episode on: momentum.Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about:What is momentum mindset?How might we turn an ending into a beginning?Why is it important to not sit around and wait for motivation or inspiration?To hear all episodes and read full transcripts, visit The Long and The Short Of It website: https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/.You can subscribe to our Box O’ Goodies here (https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/) and receive a weekly email full of book and podcast recommendations, quotes, videos, and other interesting things that Jen and Pete are noodling on. To get in touch, send an email to: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Learn more about Pete's work here (https://humanperiscope.com/) and Jen's work here (https://jenwaldman.com/).

Sep 23, 2025 • 19min
365. Value Add AI
Jen and Pete dive into the transformative role of AI in 2025. They explore how AI can serve clients better, framing it through a service-first lens. Practical examples abound, from leveraging AI for meeting summaries to enhancing accountability. The duo also tackles the complexities of trust in AI, highlighting how transparency can foster relationships. Plus, they discuss AI's potential as an inclusive leadership coach. The conversation is packed with insights on using AI generously for others!

Sep 16, 2025 • 20min
364. Into the Woods
Jen shares insights from a week in the woods where she directed a unique creative project. They explore the importance of having a clear agenda and constraints for effective work. Collaboration emerges as a vital component in the creative process. The duo discusses innovative tactics for sharing works-in-progress, emphasizing transparency and the value of feedback from both collaborators and audiences. Ultimately, it’s a journey into embracing imperfection and fostering creativity in partnership.

Sep 9, 2025 • 17min
363. Curious Leader
After being taken by surprise by a question in a workshop, Pete noodles with Jen on what it looks like to show up as the opposite of a curious leader, and how we might return to a more curious state.Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about:What does it mean to be curious? What tactics might we utilize to spur curiosity?How might you rely on your team, to give you feedback about when you are at your best and worst?To hear all episodes and read full transcripts, visit The Long and The Short Of It website: https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/.You can subscribe to our Box O’ Goodies here (https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/) and receive a weekly email full of book and podcast recommendations, quotes, videos, and other interesting things that Jen and Pete are noodling on. To get in touch, send an email to: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Learn more about Pete's work here (https://humanperiscope.com/) and Jen's work here (https://jenwaldman.com/).

Sep 2, 2025 • 18min
362. Running 2025
In their annual tradition, Jen talks to Pete about ways in which running (or not running) has taught her about life.Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about:How might we decide whether or not to take action on something that is hard or painful?What opportunities might arise from saying no to something?Why is it important to revisit the reasons behind our practices and routines?To hear all episodes and read full transcripts, visit The Long and The Short Of It website: https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/.You can subscribe to our Box O’ Goodies here (https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/) and receive a weekly email full of book and podcast recommendations, quotes, videos, and other interesting things that Jen and Pete are noodling on. To get in touch, send an email to: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Learn more about Pete's work here (https://humanperiscope.com/) and Jen's work here (https://jenwaldman.com/).

Aug 26, 2025 • 20min
361. Making Friends
Jen and Pete dive into the complexities of making new friends as adults. They explore creative strategies to forge connections, highlighting the importance of lifting friendships beyond superficial interactions. The duo reflects on navigating adult relationships, sharing personal anecdotes that emphasize the need for intentionality. They'll also challenge listeners to engage in friend-making activities, all while pondering the significance of human connections in our increasingly digital world. Get ready to rethink how you connect!


