The Coca-Cola Compassion Lab
Katherine Twells
This podcast offers insight on the importance of leadership and connection as we build a new future together. The Compassion Lab is a program inside The Coca-Cola Company where we explore ways to be more emotionally agile, resilient, and adaptive. The podcast originated from a 9-year program called the Coca-Cola Leadership Summit and contains the original content from those speakers and interviews. Our guests range from executive to authors and thought leaders on how we can come together to create a better world. Compassion is about seeking to understand and realize that in our connection we experience and feel many of the same things. We are more alike then different and in finding our common ground we can make greater progress. Our conversations speak to business and life in general as we seek to increase our awareness, understanding and contribution to the greater whole that we all participate in. Our leaders discuss how their own journey and development has a ripple effect that impacts the culture of their organizations. We also explore ways to cultivate well-being so that we can thrive regardless of the changes around us. This content is relevant to anyone seeking wisdom on how live a more connected and compassionate life.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 1min
The Illusion Of Reality With Mentalist David Gerard
The mind is one extraordinary organ. The power of perception is not only limited to our ability to think and comprehend. At its deepest level, it also shapes our very own reality. Katherine Twells takes a deep dive into this topic with magician and mentalist David Gerard. He discusses how magic and mentalism intersect to unleash the power of the human spirit, which leads to deeper human connection and unlocks personal creativity. David also emphasizes how he keeps his audience focused and engaged in his performances by being fully present and mastering the art of directing attention. This episode reveals how magic, mind, and reality can come together to give birth to a purposeful life and a courageous version of yourself.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Coca-Cola CMO Leadership Summit Podcast community today:cokecmosummit.comFacebookTwitter
Sep 18, 2025 • 50min
Exploring The Secret Mind With Bonnie Buckner
If we want to move forward in life in the most meaningful ways possible, we must tap into our intuitive self and go beyond the tangible possibilities. Katherine Twells explores how to dive into your secret mind and the world of dreaming with creative dreamwork expert Bonnie Buckner. She explains how dreaming and imagery can lead to intense transformational experiences in your personal and professional lives. Bonnie also talks about the power of dreams to reinvigorate your creative self, escape the dullness of your daily routine, and greatly enhance your waking state. This eye-opening conversation is for anyone who wants to make sense of their dreams and use them to live a purposeful life.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Coca-Cola CMO Leadership Summit Podcast community today:cokecmosummit.comFacebookTwitter
Aug 27, 2025 • 42min
The Human Symphony: Futurist Heather E. McGowan On Belonging, Optimism, And The Emerging Human Era
Discover a powerful path to human flourishing in a rapidly changing world. Speaker and author Heather E. McGowan, known for her expertise in the future of work, dives into why optimism is essential. She explains how to combat the loneliness epidemic by transforming transactions into interactions. Heather also discusses vital shifts in leadership. These shifts prioritize collective intelligence and human values. She shares insights from her books, The Adaptation Advantage and The Empathy Advantage. Heather offers guidance on navigating today's dynamic business landscape.
Aug 8, 2025 • 49min
From Pain To Power With Alec Kassin
Alec Kassin’s cycling career was cut short by his ruptured spinal disc. Despite his struggle with chronic pain, he did not let his diagnosis define his life. He joins Katherine Twells to share how he reframed his thinking around pain through his powerful mind-body connection. Now a chronic pain coach, he explains how mindfulness, visualizations, and trauma-informed care can help you achieve your biggest comeback and enjoy a pain-free life. Alec also talks about the right way to handle our inner critic to boost self-esteem and treat ourselves with more compassion, joy, and gratefulness.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Coca-Cola CMO Leadership Summit Podcast community today:cokecmosummit.comFacebookTwitter
Jul 28, 2025 • 58min
The Quest For Conscious Leadership With Ron Hill
For a leader to become truly effective, they must learn how to quiet the external noise and do the inner work. Katherine Twells talks all about conscious leadership with Ron Hill, co-founder of the Conscious Leaders Quest. He shares how they guide leaders in a journey within themselves to fully understand their purpose, unlock collective wisdom, and achieve inner peace. Ron also explains why leaders at the intersection of mind, body, and business are the ones who can build flourishing teams and create thriving businesses amid today’s chaotic and highly competitive world.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Coca-Cola CMO Leadership Summit Podcast community today:cokecmosummit.comFacebookTwitter
Jun 23, 2025 • 59min
The Alchemy Of Adversity - Transforming Trauma Into Triumph With John Tsilimparis
Grief transforms into art, and pain finds its voice: Join Katherine Twells as she explores the depths of emotional resilience with therapist, musician, and composer John Tsilimparis. Discover "inspiration exposure" and how it empowers us to rewrite our stories of loss, as John reveals his own journey from tragedy to transformation in his book, "The Magic in the Tragic." Dive into a conversation that unlocks the secrets to embracing sorrow, finding beauty amidst suffering, and accessing a higher self to craft emotional resilience and deeper connection.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Coca-Cola CMO Leadership Summit Podcast community today:cokecmosummit.comFacebookTwitter
Jun 16, 2025 • 51min
From Darkness To Light: A Journey Of Global Vision Restoration
Being blind in itself is already a challenging impediment – how much more if you are a visually impaired person living in a low-resource community? Ophthalmologist Dr. Hunter Cherwek is on a journey of global vision restoration, eliminating avoidable blindness in underserved areas around the world. Joining Katherine Twells, this visionary leader shares how he changes lives through cutting-edge telemedicine and modern technological innovations through their non-profit organization, Orbis International. Dr. Hunter also highlights the power of creating genuine connections and building communities to make the world a better place – one restored eyesight at a time.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Coca-Cola CMO Leadership Summit Podcast community today:cokecmosummit.comFacebookTwitter
Dec 9, 2024 • 56min
Creating A Beautiful Business: Designing Meaningful Work And Connection With Steven Morris
A beautiful business is more than just a profitable venture. It's a harmonious blend of passion, purpose, and positive impact. In this episode, Katherine Twells is joined by Steven Morris, a creative visionary who explores how to foster a beautiful business by cultivating self-awareness, clarity in leadership, and meaningful connections within the workplace. Drawing from his diverse background in design, psychology, and fine art, Steven reveals how leaders can create environments where teams thrive, flow, and experience transcendent moments of connection. Steven shows how these practices can transform business into a space of creativity, connection, and lasting impact.
Nov 22, 2024 • 1h 4min
Celebrating Every Note With Singer-Songwriter Peter Katz
Celebrating every note of your life is about finding the music in everyday moments, savoring the harmonies of joy, the rhythms of challenge, and the melodies of love. In this episode, singer-songwriter Peter Katz shares with Katherine Twells his journey from childhood happiness to the upheaval of his parents' separation. Peter reflects on how shifting from a path in engineering to music saved his spirit, sharing personal stories of surviving on his own at 16 and discovering his true passion for songwriting. This episode celebrates overcoming trauma, resilience, and the power of creative expression, reminding us to follow our hearts and celebrate every note along the way.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Coca-Cola CMO Leadership Summit Podcast community today:cokecmosummit.comFacebookTwitter
Sep 23, 2024 • 1h 2min
A Path To Peace With Henry Shukman
To become who you truly are, you must first find stillness. In this episode, Katherine Twells sits down with Henry Shukman—award-winning writer, poet, and Zen teacher—who shares his profound journey from suffering to peace. Henry opens up about his early life marked by challenges, the transformative power of meditation, and how finding moments of stillness can reconnect us to our essential love for life. We explore his latest book Original Love, uncover the role of community in spiritual growth, and discuss how mindfulness can help us navigate life’s obstacles with greater clarity and compassion. Ready to step into your authentic self? Tune in and find your path to peace.
