Flourishing Leaders Podcast

What happens when leaders see character not as a buzzword, but as the invisible architecture of how they show up every day?In this episode of the Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and co-host Jason Viyar sit down with Dr. Jillian Coppley, President and Chief Products, Programs, and Services Officer at the VIA Institute on Character. Drawing on her experience leading the reinvention of Mayerson Academy, spearheading VIA’s Workplaces at Their Best initiative, and learning from some of the brightest hearts and minds in the science of character, Jillian offers a deeply hopeful — and practical — vision of what leadership can be.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Jillian defines a flourishing leader and why she sees leadership as both an opportunity and a responsibility to be a change agent.Why she thinks of character as the “invisible architecture” that aligns what we think, feel, say, and do — and how that coherence builds trust.The story behind her reflective series “10 Years, 10 Lessons,” and why she describes it as a gratitude-filled love letter to the people who have shaped her.What inclusive, strengths-based cultures look like in practice, and what VIA has learned from years of working with organizations around the world.How strengths-spotting can transform teams — especially when people’s strengths look very different from our own.Why small, daily behaviors (not grand gestures) are the real engine of culture change and flourishing at work.How character strengths like courage, prudence, social intelligence, and compassion may become even more important in an age of AI and constant disruption.The profound leadership wisdom behind Chris Peterson’s reminder that “other people matter — and they can’t read your mind.”Whether you’re leading an organization, a classroom, a team, or simply your own life, this conversation will help you see how character science can become a practical roadmap for leadership, well-being, and human flourishing.Take the VIA Character Strengths Survey and learn your own strengths: viacharacter.orgLearn more about Workplaces at Their Best and VIA’s programs: viacharacter.org (Workplace section)Connect with Dr. Jillian Coppley on LinkedIn to read her  “10 Years, 10 Lessons” reflections and more on character and leadership.You can watch Season Two of Standing Up Strong, on YouTube. Standing Up Strong is a podcast series hosted by Jillian exploring character strengths and upstanding in partnership with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

Exploring how science, sport, and virtue unite to help leaders strengthen character and flourish through daily, deliberate practice.What if building character was as deliberate as building muscle?In this energizing conversation, Dr. Scott Parsons sits down with Dr. Corey Crossan Stevens, Research and Teaching Fellow at the Oxford Character Project and co-founder of Virtuosity — a mobile app that turns virtue development into daily practice.Drawing from her background in exercise science and elite athletics, Corey shares how her journey from NCAA Division I golfer to character researcher reshaped her understanding of excellence, well-being, and human performance. Together, they explore:🏅 How competitive sport revealed the difference between striving for excellence and striving for perfection 📱 How Virtuosity’s “Character Gym” helps users build habits of virtue anytime, anywhere 🎓 The 7 Strategies for Character Development from the Oxford Character Project 💡 Why true leadership requires both competence and character 🌍 And how technology can democratize flourishing worldwideCorey’s story is a powerful reminder that flourishing leadership requires daily, deliberate practice — and that character, like fitness, grows stronger the more we train it.Learn more about the incredible Virtuosity App at virtuositycharacter.ca.Learn more about the important work of the Oxford Character Project by visiting their website at oxfordcharacter.org.Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

What if our current ways of measuring “well-being” are quietly undermining the very idea of human flourishing?In this thought-provoking episode of the Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons sits down with Dr. Eri Mountbatten-O’Malley — Senior Lecturer in Education at Bath Spa University and author of Human Flourishing: A Conceptual Analysis — to explore what flourishing really means, why it has a moral core, and how misunderstandings of this powerful concept can lead to serious ethical and policy problems. Drawing on his philosophical work and years of experience in education, social policy, and inclusion, Eri invites us to look beyond simplistic “feel-good” approaches to wellbeing and towards a richer, more responsible vision of flourishing that considers agency, personal growth, meaning, and our deep responsibilities to others and the planet. Scott and Eri also dive into Eri’s notion of full-spectrum flourishing — a way of seeing flourishing that stretches from the individual to communities, ecosystems, and future generations — and his practical efforts to democratize flourishing through Flourish Cafe, a world-café style process that helps ordinary people co-create their own visions of what it means to live well together.Along the way, Scott and Eri explore:What makes a flourishing leader — and why exploitation is incompatible with genuine flourishingHow perfectionism and narrow measurement can distort flourishing research and policyThe ethical risks of using “well-being” and “happiness” as policy tools without conceptual clarityFull-spectrum flourishing and the idea that “I flourish because we flourish”Wonder as an essential, often neglected ingredient of flourishing and intergenerational connectionHow Flourish Cafe creates spaces for voice, connection, and co-created visions of flourishingThe emerging Global Flourishing Goals and how flourishing might re-shape or challenge the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals paradigmWhether you’re a leader, educator, policymaker, or simply someone who cares about what a good life really is, this episode will stretch your thinking and invite you to re-examine your own assumptions about flourishing. You can connect with Eri on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

What if the most powerful lever for culture change isn’t policy or perks—but dignity?When leaders treat dignity as non-negotiable (and know the difference between dignity and respect), conflict de-escalates, trust returns, and people bring their best. In this episode, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar chat with Harvard’s Dr. Donna Hicks, international conflict facilitator and author of Dignity and Leading with Dignity, shares a clear, practical roadmap for building teams and institutions where everybody truly matters.In this conversation, you’ll learn:The crucial distinction: dignity (inherent worth) vs respect (earned) and why it transforms how you lead and resolve conflict.How empathy, story, and acknowledgment repair moral injuries and rebuild trust.Donna’s Ten Elements of Dignity—what they look like in everyday leadership (identity, recognition, acknowledgment, inclusion, safety, fairness/equity, independence, understanding, benefit of the doubt, accountability).How to apologize well (intention vs impact), invite feedback on your blind spots, and create psychological safety.Why Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s charge—no one can take your dignity—is both liberating and practical for leaders.Timestamps00:00 Welcome & Donna’s definition of a flourishing leader05:30 The “human dimension” of conflict—from Harvard to high-stakes diplomacy14:40 Dignity ≠ respect; restoring empathy when it vanishes24:10 The Ten Elements of Dignity in everyday leadership36:30 Apology, accountability, and rebuilding trust44:45 Psychological safety and culture change52:20 “No one can take your dignity”—Tutu’s charge56:30 Final takeaways & next stepsAbout our guest Donna Hicks, PhD is an Associate at Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs; former Deputy Director of the Program on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution; and author of Dignity and Leading with Dignity. She has facilitated dialogues in conflicts across the Middle East, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, and Syria, and co-facilitated the BBC series Facing the Truth with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.Resources mentionedDignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict — Donna HicksLeading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People — Donna HicksBBC’s Facing the Truth (with Archbishop Desmond Tutu)If this episode resonates Share it with a leader navigating conflict or culture change, and subscribe for future conversations on character, practical wisdom, and flourishing at work and in your relationships.Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

What if flourishing leadership isn’t something we achieve, but something we practice — moment by moment — through intention, vulnerability, and wisdom?In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Scott Parsons sits down with Dr. Kimara Ellefson — National Director of Strategy & Partnerships at the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Health — and explores how leaders can cultivate flourishing across healthcare systems by first cultivating it within themselves.Together they explore:• Flourishing leadership as knowing who we are — and who we’re becoming • Why leaders must “nourish their own souls” before caring for others • Character, caring, and practical wisdom as foundations for thriving cultures • Emotional intelligence, relational influence, and the courage to pause • Feminist relational theory and the power of community in leadership • Ecosystem-wide flourishing — moving beyond burnout and learned helplessness • The role of reflection, intentional habits, and shared humanity in healthcare • How small “pauses” create space for practical wisdom and better decisions • Why our leaders may impact our health as much as — or more than — our doctorsKimara brings extraordinary clarity and compassion to leadership in healthcare — inviting us to rethink how we support healers, cultivate culture, and build systems where everyone can flourish.This episode is for leaders in medicine, organizational development, education — and anyone who believes that leadership is, at its heart, a relational and moral act.Learn more about the important work of the KNN by visiting The Kern National Network for Flourishing in Health. Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

What does flourishing leadership look like when the mission is to serve those who’ve sacrificed for us all?In this deeply moving conversation, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar sit down with Kate McCauley, President and CEO of Wounded Warriors Family Support — one of America’s most respected veterans’ organizations.Kate shares her remarkable journey from Nebraska real estate agent to national nonprofit leader — a story of humility, purpose, and fierce dedication to those who have borne the battle. Together, they explore:The evolution of Wounded Warriors Family Support from basement beginnings to a four-star national charityHow compassion, accountability, and transparency became the foundation of its cultureThe life-changing impact of programs like Mobility is Freedom and the upcoming Jason Dunham HouseThe emotional toll and profound meaning of serving veterans and their familiesHow purpose and well-being intertwine in leadership that healsKate’s story is a testament to grace under pressure and purpose in service — a reminder that leadership rooted in empathy can change lives.🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

What happens when wellbeing becomes the heart of education — not an add-on, but a way of life? In this uplifting episode, Justin Robinson — Co-founder of The Wellbeing Distillery and former Director of the Institute of Positive Education at Geelong Grammar School — joins Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar for an inspiring exploration of leadership, wellbeing, and human flourishing.Together they trace the story of how positive psychology and positive education transformed one of the world’s leading schools — and how those same ideas continue to ripple outward through teachers, parents, and leaders worldwide.Justin shares the origin of The Wellbeing Distillery, a venture that “distills the science” of wellbeing into everyday practice, and his new reflective project, My Manifesto, helping individuals and teams clarify purpose and live with alignment.He also introduces the Wellbeing Operating System — a practical, whole-school framework that integrates leaders, educators, students, and families into a shared culture of care and contribution.This episode is a masterclass in hope, humility, and human connection — a reminder that flourishing begins not with perfection, but with the courage to grow together.Guest: Justin Robinson — Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne, global board member and treasurer of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN), co-founder of The Wellbeing Distillery, and co-author of My Manifesto.Learn more about Justin’s incredible work at The Wellbeing Distillery. Learn more about the important work of IPEN by visiting The International Positive Education Network. To embark on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, visit My Manifesto. Resources from the Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum (PEEC), which was developed at Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia, are available  through the Institute of Positive Education.  Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

How can leaders turn polarization into possibility — and help people come together to write a hopeful, flourishing future? In this inspiring episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons is joined by Brandyn Keating, CEO and Co-Founder of YOUnify, an organization working to reduce political polarization and cultural divisions of all kinds and accelerate progress on humanity’s shared challenges.A civic innovator, political strategist, and contributing author in the Oxford University Press book Leadership for Flourishing, Brandyn shares her journey from leading presidential campaigns to pioneering the Global Flourishing Goals — a vision for human and planetary thriving that connects leadership, policy, and community transformation.Together, Scott and Brandyn explore:What it means to be a flourishing leaderHow energy management and well-being sustain effective leadershipThe origins and purpose of YOUnifyHow the Global Flourishing Goals can align people, policy, and purposeThe Write the Future campaign — and how you can get involvedTune in to discover practical tools for aligning energy, purpose, and collaboration across differences — and learn how to be part of the movement toward a more flourishing world. 🌎💡 Join the conversation and help build a flourishing future at YOUnify.org and on social media @WeAreYoUnify. ✨To connect with the Write the Future campaign, email them at writehefuture@younify.org.Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

Dr. Michael Lamb, F.M. Kirby Foundation Chair of Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, dives into what it means to be a flourishing leader. He discusses the importance of hope as a vital virtue in times of division. Michael highlights how humanities can transform leadership education, and he explores Iris Murdoch’s idea of art as a means to transcend self-centeredness. The conversation also unveils seven strategies for fostering virtue and the impact of the Educating Character Initiative connecting numerous individuals and institutions.

What happens when one of the world’s leading strategy scholars turns her attention to character? In this fascinating conversation, Professor Mary Crossan—Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Strategic Leadership at Ivey Business School—joins Dr. Scott Parsons to explore why character is the essential foundation of flourishing leadership.Mary shares the story of how the global financial crisis shifted her focus toward character, the challenges of integrating virtues into organizations, and why character is the missing link in building psychological safety, shaping culture, and driving strategy.They discuss the interplay of virtues like justice and forgiveness, the daily choices that define us, and Mary’s latest projects—including a children’s book on character co-authored with her daughter for her grandson.This is a deep and inspiring episode that connects cutting-edge research with practical wisdom for leaders at every level.Topics include:Why character matters more than ever in organizationsHow character shapes psychological safety and cultureJustice, forgiveness, and virtue ethics in leadershipMary’s obituary exercise and living fully nowThe “Character Eats Culture for Breakfast” frameworkWriting a children’s book on characterThank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.