Second City Works presents "Getting to Yes, And"

Kelly talks to Venezuelan-born, Chicago-based photographer Daniel Moreno about his new book of photographs of Chicago’s legendary Holiday Train.  https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7852900/7852900_2025-12-11-020100.64kmono.mp3 “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 just bring light to the city, it makes winter feel a little less harsh.” Recent Posts Second City Works presents “Getting to Yes, And” Daniel Moreno – ‘Chicago’s Holiday Train’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Bastian Bergmann – ‘Gaming is Serious Business’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Caroline Stokes – A Call for Radical Collaboration .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} James Kimmel, Jr – ‘The Science of Revenge’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Margaret Andrews – ‘Lessons in Leadership’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more

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 video game. The discussion also covers the creative development process in gaming, the importance of understanding the audience, and the cultural impact of gaming in relation to sports. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7849500/7849500_2025-12-09-160600.64kmono.mp3 “Video games are the consumer touchpoint of the twenty-first century.”  “Don’t copy and paste old playbooks.”  “When people play, their masks come off.”  Recent Posts Second City Works presents “Getting to Yes, And” Daniel Moreno – ‘Chicago’s Holiday Train’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Bastian Bergmann – ‘Gaming is Serious Business’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Caroline Stokes – A Call for Radical Collaboration .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} James Kimmel, Jr – ‘The Science of Revenge’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Margaret Andrews – ‘Lessons in Leadership’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more

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.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7837879/7837879_2025-12-02-020819.64kmono.mp3 “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.”  Recent Posts Second City Works presents “Getting to Yes, And” Daniel Moreno – ‘Chicago’s Holiday Train’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Bastian Bergmann – ‘Gaming is Serious Business’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Caroline Stokes – A Call for Radical Collaboration .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} James Kimmel, Jr – ‘The Science of Revenge’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Margaret Andrews – ‘Lessons in Leadership’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more

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 behavior. The conversation also delves into the healing power of forgiveness and the societal implications of revenge in the age of social media. Kimmel emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing revenge as a mental health issue, advocating for forgiveness as a means to break the cycle of violence and promote healing. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7830059/7830059_2025-11-25-043959.64kmono.mp3 “Revenge is a kind of addiction.” “Forgiveness stops pain.” “This can get better and it will.” Recent Posts Second City Works presents “Getting to Yes, And” Daniel Moreno – ‘Chicago’s Holiday Train’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Bastian Bergmann – ‘Gaming is Serious Business’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Caroline Stokes – A Call for Radical Collaboration .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} James Kimmel, Jr – ‘The Science of Revenge’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Margaret Andrews – ‘Lessons in Leadership’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more

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.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7818568/7818568_2025-11-18-032408.64kmono.mp3 “Leadership is ultimately about relationships.”  “Each new level of leadership requires a new level of us.”  “Leadership is, in many ways, a creative act.” Recent Posts Second City Works presents “Getting to Yes, And” Daniel Moreno – ‘Chicago’s Holiday Train’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Bastian Bergmann – ‘Gaming is Serious Business’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Caroline Stokes – A Call for Radical Collaboration .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} James Kimmel, Jr – ‘The Science of Revenge’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Margaret Andrews – ‘Lessons in Leadership’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more

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. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7808377/7808377_2025-11-11-050917.64kmono.mp3 “People think actors are good liars. We aren’t.” “We believe what we need to get by.”  “There is no other feeling like holding for applause.”  Recent Posts Second City Works presents “Getting to Yes, And” Daniel Moreno – ‘Chicago’s Holiday Train’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Bastian Bergmann – ‘Gaming is Serious Business’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Caroline Stokes – A Call for Radical Collaboration .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} James Kimmel, Jr – ‘The Science of Revenge’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Margaret Andrews – ‘Lessons in Leadership’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more

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.”  https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7797861/7797861_2025-11-04-171601.64kmono.mp3 “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.”  https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7781617/7781617_2025-10-27-031317.64kmono.mp3 “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 is often also rooted in fear.” 

Anne Libera, Director of Comedy Studies at The Second City, shares insights from her new book, 'Funnier.' She emphasizes the importance of analyzing comedy for growth and the idea that comedy is a craft that can be taught. Libera defines five key components of comedy and discusses the universal appeal of character-driven humor. She also highlights the ethics of comedy and the need for comedians to develop their unique voice while considering audience sensitivity. Plus, her personal journey of humor amid family hardship adds a heartfelt touch.

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.” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7776933/7776933_2025-10-23-033133.64kmono.mp3 “Rationality is an assumption in economics, not a demonstrated fact.”  “People are not thinking enough about what everyone else is thinking.”  “Roughly speaking, losses hurt us about twice as much as gains.” Recent Posts Second City Works presents “Getting to Yes, And” Daniel Moreno – ‘Chicago’s Holiday Train’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Bastian Bergmann – ‘Gaming is Serious Business’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Caroline Stokes – A Call for Radical Collaboration .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} James Kimmel, Jr – ‘The Science of Revenge’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Margaret Andrews – ‘Lessons in Leadership’ .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more