15 Minutes With

Nisha posted one video poking fun at how the military renames basic exercises, went to sleep, and woke up viral. Not everyone in the comments came kindly. Twenty years of service, four kids, and a husband who keeps asking her who she is outside the uniform. We talk about the first day of internet fame, the health wake-up call at 28 that turned her into a personal trainer, a first marriage she calls a good meal prepared wrong, the red flags she now teaches her daughters, and a few rounds of Things That Are Not My Business, But I Have to Know. Follow Nisha: @Fit_Goddess87. 15 Minutes With is part of the WRKdefined Podcast Network, recorded at Studio 11 in Nashville, TN.

Kayla is bringing unhinged honesty, zero filter, and all the questions you're too scared to ask...a data scientist by day, influencer by night! Lee sits down with the internet bestie — known online as @baddiewithabelly — to talk about building a viral following by minding everybody's business, the manager who brought social media screenshots to a 1:1, her first Black church experience, why plot is an art form, hot mic confessions, unacceptable ways to die, death row meals, and whether either of them would play hero on a hijacked plane. It's fun, unhinged, hilarious, and 100% authentic — Kayla Edwards style. "15 Minutes With Unplugged" is the summer series of 15 Minutes With — real conversations with the unique, the gigster and the delightfully atypical people who get a little joy out of doing the extra thing.

One season. A lineup of unforgettable voices. And a finale built to celebrate every single one of them. Here's what we're getting into: The moments we loved. The bloopers and pure craziness that made us laugh. And the real behind-the-scenes of what it actually took to pull this whole thing off. Nakisha Hicks, Nick MatthewsNicole Ortiz FleischmannDaniel KadebaDesiree Goldey, Ceci Blomberg, Angela ShawJulia Arpag, Jasmine Anderson, Samantha Bell, Anthony P. Howard, General Smith, Zeeshan Khan, Kumari Williams, Tim Stein, Tim Stein, Amiee Sadler, Rose BrowneSonya Thompson, Andrea Mata, Ph.D., Jordan Jones, Byrd Bagget We're closing this season out the only way we know how: together, and at full volume.

Byrd Baggett hopes his whole life can be summed up in one sentence: "He lived a life that inspired hope in others." After this conversation, you'll believe he's done exactly that. It's easy to be impressed by the résumé, an All-American athlete, author of 15 books, a speaker who's influenced thousands of leaders. But none of that was the most memorable part of this conversation. This one pulls back the curtain on the human underneath the accomplishments, because the people who change us rarely do it from a stage. They do it across a table, in a hallway, in the moments they aren't trying to be impressive, just honest. Who he is: Byrd is an All-American athlete, the author of 15 books, and a speaker who has influenced thousands of leaders. But the titles aren't the point, what he hopes to be remembered for is the hope he's left in other people. What he does: He writes, speaks, and leads, but more than that, he shows up for the conversations that actually matter, the ones about being human. What he believes: That the most important conversations aren't about success, they're about humanity. About the moments that break us, shape us, and teach us how to hope again. How he works: Across the table, not from the stage. Byrd connects in the honest, unguarded moments, talking openly about forgiveness, fathers, regret, and the weight people carry that no résumé will ever reveal. In this episode: Why the people who change us rarely do it from a stage Honest conversation about forgiveness, fathers, and regret The weight people carry that no résumé will ever reveal What it means to live a life that inspires hope in others New episodes of 15 Minutes With drop weekly. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

The bravest thing most of us will ever do is refuse to abandon ourselves in order to be accepted. Jordan Jones is living that out loud. It's easy to see someone in their role and assume they always had it figured out. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey: leaving public health, looking honestly at the next ten years, and choosing not to let the work turn him into someone he doesn't recognize. Jordan names something a lot of us feel and rarely say out loud, that people can sense when you're performing, and they can feel it when you're real. Who he is: Jordan is a Project and Engagement Manager at Workday who left public health to get here. He didn't follow a straight line, he made a deliberate choice about who he wanted to be over the next ten years. What he does: He leads projects and engagements at Workday, and on the side runs a food page, Meals by Jordan, on Instagram. What he believes: That you have to belong to yourself first, and that the bravest thing you can do is refuse to abandon yourself just to be accepted. How he works: By staying real instead of armoring up. Jordan brings his whole self to the work, trusting that people can feel the difference between performance and authenticity. In this episode: Why belonging to yourself has to come first Leaving public health and choosing the next ten years on purpose Why people can always sense when you're performing The pull to armor up, and the courage not to New episodes of 15 Minutes With drop weekly. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

Even the people who help others heal are still doing the work themselves. This is the most vulnerable conversation we've ever had on camera. It's easy to see a clinical psychologist and author and assume she has it all figured out. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real story, how tragedy turned to triumph in Andrea's life and in Lee's, and what it actually takes to keep showing up for your kids and yourself in the middle of it. Who she is: Andrea Mata, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, the founder of BrightSpot Families, and the author of The No. 2 Parenting Book. She's spent her career in the trenches of family life, and like everyone, she's still doing her own work too. What she does: She helps parents build stronger bonds with their children, protect their own mental health, and find clarity in the daily chaos no parenting class ever fully prepares you for. What she believes: That even the people who help others heal are still healing themselves, and that there's strength, not shame, in naming that out loud. How she works: With honesty and hard-won clarity. Andrea meets parents where they actually are, turning her own experience of tragedy and recovery into a path others can follow. In this episode: What actually matters in raising kids today How tragedy turned to triumph in Andrea's life and Lee's Why even the people who help others heal are still doing the work Protecting your own mental health in the middle of family chaos A powerful close to a powerful month. This one closes out Mental Health Month with a voice every parent and every survivor of tragedy needs to hear.

She's a licensed therapist and an Army veteran who knows firsthand what it means to serve, to struggle, and to heal. It's easy to see a therapist and assume their understanding comes only from training. This conversation pulls back the curtain on a perspective most clinicians simply can't replicate, one that sits at the intersection of clinical expertise and lived experience. Rose talks about what veterans actually need from mental health care, how trauma shows up long after the uniform comes off, and why healing is never linear. Who she is: Rose is a licensed therapist and a U.S. Army veteran. Her path gives her something rare, an understanding of service and struggle from the inside, not just the textbook. What she does: She provides mental health care grounded in both clinical training and lived military experience, with a particular focus on veterans. What she believes: That the work of healing is never linear, and that veterans need care from people who actually understand what they carry. How she works: From the intersection of expertise and experience. Rose meets people honestly and without pretense, in a way only someone who's served and healed can. In this episode: What veterans actually need from mental health care How trauma shows up long after the uniform comes off Why healing is never linear The perspective that comes from serving and surviving

Leadership is easy when the stakes are low. Sonya Thompson built her career proving what it looks like when they're not. It's easy to see a president of an organization and assume the title tells the story. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to lead when the margin for error is thin and the meaning of the work is everything. As President of Compass Connections, Sonya leads an organization devoted to caring for some of the most vulnerable populations in the country, demanding operational excellence and deep humanity in equal measure. Who she is: Sonya is the President of Compass Connections, leading an organization that cares for some of the most vulnerable people in the country. She leads where the stakes are highest and the room for error is smallest. What she does: She runs a mission-driven organization at scale, delivering operational excellence and deep humanity at the same time, every single day. What she believes: That service has to be more than a slogan stitched onto a wall, and that the best leaders show up for the people the world too often overlooks. She calls the people doing this work the "Superhero Generation." How she works: By holding excellence and humanity together. Sonya leads at scale without losing sight of the individual people the mission exists to serve. In this episode: Why leadership is easy when the stakes are low, and what changes when they're not What it takes to lead a mission-driven organization at scale Why service has to be more than a slogan on a wall The story behind the "Superhero Generation" New episodes of 15 Minutes With drop weekly. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

She wears a lot of hats, and wears them all with purpose. Amiee Sadler leads with heart and rigor, and refuses to compromise on either. It's easy to see a long résumé and assume the doors all opened easily. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey behind an Executive Director, licensed clinical therapist, Rule 31 Mediator, and 40 Under 40 honoree who has stewarded millions in grant funding, trained rooms of 1,500, and shaped the strategic future of more than 50 nonprofits across Middle Tennessee. Who she is: Amiee Sadler, LMSW, CNP, is Executive Director of Miriam's Promise, a licensed clinical therapist, a Rule 31 Mediator, a Nashville Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, and a two-time Lipscomb University alum. What she does: She leads mission-driven nonprofit work, stewarding major grant funding and shaping the strategic future of dozens of organizations across Middle Tennessee. What she believes: In trauma-informed care, and that leadership doesn't have to choose between people and performance. You can lead with both heart and rigor. How she works: By refusing the false choice. Amiee pairs deep clinical insight with strategic discipline, delivering on mission and results at the same time. In this episode: The real journey behind a multi-hat nonprofit leader What trauma-informed care actually requires Leading with both heart and rigor, never just one Mission-driven leadership that won't compromise on people or performance

The full episode dropped this week, but this moment was too good to leave on the cutting room floor. In this bonus cut, Tim Stein goes deeper on what it really means to lead with a people-first mindset when the stakes are high and the work is personal. It's the kind of insight you don't get from a job description or a leadership book. It comes from the field, the boardroom, and the lived experience of someone who has been knocked down and gotten back up more than once. Short clip. Big takeaway. Watch the full conversation in episode #43, then come back for more new episodes of 15 Minutes With every week. Subscribe so you never miss a moment.

Walk-on to scholarship athlete. Through injuries and addiction that would have ended most careers. Tim Stein turned that grit into the C-suite. It's easy to see a CHRO and assume the climb was clean. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey, from walk-on to scholarship athlete at the University of Pittsburgh, fighting through injuries and addiction that would have shattered most people's faith. That same grit carried Tim from sales floors into HR leadership at DICK'S Sporting Goods and now American Addiction Centers, where he serves as Chief Human Resources Officer. Who he is: Tim is the Chief Human Resources Officer at American Addiction Centers. He didn't take a smooth path, he fought through injury and addiction, going from college walk-on to the C-suite on grit alone. What he does: He leads people through complex transformations and builds people-first culture in a multi-site healthcare environment. What he believes: In teamwork, accountability, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence, and that supporting mental health and recovery belongs at the center of the workplace, not the margins. How he works: From lived experience. Tim brings recovery, resilience, and a people-first conviction to leading culture where the work is personal. In this episode: The real journey from college walk-on to CHRO Fighting through injury and addiction without losing faith Building people-first culture across a multi-site healthcare environment What it really takes to support mental health and recovery at work New episodes of 15 Minutes With drop weekly. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

Her passion didn't start in HR. It wasn't born from a job description or shaped by a title. It was forged in community. The belief came first. The career followed. It's easy to see a talent strategist and assume the title came first. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey, more than two decades of helping organizations build spaces where people feel truly seen, valued, and free to be who they are. For Kumari, that passion was forged in community and in the intentional work of raising two sons, deciding every day to be purposeful about the world she's helping build for them. Who she is: Kumari is a talent strategist, thought leader, and by every account a genuinely good human. Her path didn't start with a title, it started with belief, forged in community and in motherhood. What she does: For over two decades she's helped organizations build spaces where people feel truly seen, genuinely valued, and free to be who they are. What she believes: That belonging isn't a perk, it's the point, and that nobody should have to choose between being themselves and belonging where they work. How she works: With purpose that came before the paycheck. Kumari leads from conviction first, building the kind of world she wants for her sons into every organization she touches. In this episode: Why the belief came first and the career followed Building spaces where people feel truly seen and valued How community and motherhood shaped her leadership What it means to lead as a genuinely good human

He spent 16 years building systems for global organizations. But the real configuration that matters is the one you do on yourself. It's easy to see an HR technologist and assume the path was always clear. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey, what it actually feels like to step outside your comfort zone when the stakes are enterprise-wide and global, and why the best systems aren't just built for today but for a future you haven't imagined yet. Who he is: Zeeshan is an HR technologist turned skills revolution architect. He didn't arrive here overnight, he spent 16 years building systems for global organizations before betting on himself. What he does: He architects the skills revolution, building systems that help global organizations prepare for a future that doesn't look like today. What he believes: That the most important configuration is the one you do on yourself, and that building people and building systems are equally meaningful work. How he works: By designing for what's next, not just what's now. Zeeshan steps outside the comfort zone at enterprise scale and builds for a future others haven't pictured yet. In this episode: Why the most important system you configure is yourself What stepping outside your comfort zone feels like at global scale Why the best systems are built for a future you can't yet see Betting on yourself when you're afraid to

A call to serve never expires. It just changes uniforms. Major General Matt Smith spent 32 years proving it. It's easy to see two stars and assume you know the whole story. This conversation pulls back the curtain and goes beyond the rank, into the journey of a leader who served more than 32 years in the military, spent time in investment banking, and decided his greatest deployment might still be ahead of him. We explore what drove him to serve and why he's now building something entirely new for the people who served alongside him. Who he is: Major General Matt Smith (Ret.) is a two-star general turned graduate program architect. He didn't arrive here on a straight path, he served more than 32 years in uniform and moved through investment banking before his next call to serve. What he does: He's building a first-of-its-kind business program that gives veterans a bridge between the life they served and the life they've earned. What he believes: That purpose doesn't retire when you do, and that a call to serve never truly expires. Veterans' greatest experience shouldn't get lost in translation. How he works: By turning service into the next mission. The general is building the bridge no one ever handed veterans, channeling decades of leadership into helping others cross it. In this episode: Why a call to serve never expires, it just changes uniforms The journey across 32 years of service and a turn in investment banking Building a first-of-its-kind business program for veterans Why purpose doesn't retire when you do

Real talk, real strategy, real results. Anthony P. Howard, aka #datHRguy, is on a mission to make HR professionals more confident and more marketable, one certification at a time. It's easy to see a founder and CEO and assume he just arrived there. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey, 20+ years of progressive HR leadership across global organizations that led Anthony to build HR Certified and become one of the most passionate voices in the space. Who he is: Anthony is the Founder and CEO of HR Certified, a Forbes Coaches Council contributor, and a leader known to many as #datHRguy. He earned that voice across 20+ years of progressive HR leadership in global organizations. What he does: He helps HR professionals increase their confidence and marketability through access, certification, and career development. What he believes: That access and certification change careers, and that every HR professional deserves the confidence and credentials to compete. How he works: With real talk, real strategy, and real results. Anthony cuts through the noise to give HR pros practical paths forward, not platitudes. In this episode: The 20+ year journey to founding HR Certified Why certification is really about access and career development How to increase your confidence and marketability in HR The "real talk" philosophy behind #datHRguy

A girl from rural South Georgia decided that limited resources don't mean limited results. Then she proved it. It's easy to see an enterprise strategist and assume the doors were always open. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey, from rural South Georgia to reshaping operations at one of the nation's largest financial institutions. Samantha shares why her colleagues stopped calling her Samantha and started calling her Coach Sam, and what it really costs to build a legacy while building everyone else up around you. Who she is: Samantha is an accountant turned enterprise strategist and community coach. She didn't start with every advantage, she came up from rural South Georgia and refused to let where she started cap where she'd go. What she does: She reshapes operations at one of the nation's largest financial institutions while coaching and building up the people around her, the work that earned her the name Coach Sam. What she believes: That limited resources don't mean limited results, and that strategy without heart is just a spreadsheet. Real impact requires both. How she works: By building legacy and people at the same time. Samantha pairs enterprise strategy with genuine coaching, lifting others as she rises. In this episode: Why limited resources don't mean limited results The real journey from rural South Georgia to enterprise strategy How Samantha became "Coach Sam" Why strategy without heart is just a spreadsheet

The most effective HR leaders don't just manage metrics. They develop people. Jasmine Anderson-Wright is proof. It's easy to see a Global VP of HR and assume she took the obvious route. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real, unconventional journey, from accounting to human resources, from a published author at 16 to a leader recognized as a Woman to Know in HR. Jasmine shares the lessons that fueled 500% sales growth at T-Mobile and how she scaled a company's headcount by 200% while improving engagement and cutting attrition. Who she is: Jasmine is a Global Vice President of Human Resources, recognized as a Woman to Know in HR, and a published author since age 16. She didn't take a straight line here, she came up through accounting and built something unconventional. What she does: She leads global HR and people operations, scaling organizations while keeping engagement, belonging, and talent development at the center. What she believes: That the most effective HR leaders focus on developing people, not just managing metrics. Culture and belonging are the real drivers, not the dashboard. How she works: With a storyteller's perspective on culture. Jasmine builds the kind of organizations where headcount and engagement rise together, balancing business performance with being human. In this episode: The unconventional path from accounting to global HR leadership How people development drove 500% sales growth and a 200% headcount scale Why the best HR leaders look past metrics to people Bringing a storyteller's lens to culture and belonging

She doesn't just match candidates with companies. She matches purpose with potential. It's easy to see a CEO and founder and assume she just arrived there. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey, from admissions recruiter in Rochester to leading a tech recruitment firm in Atlanta. Julia talks about what it takes to be the number one performer in your company and why she believes hiring is about creating culture, not checking boxes. Who she is: Julia is the CEO and founder of Aligned Recruitment Co., a recruiter of A-players, and a self-proclaimed "living the dream" mom of two. She didn't land at the top by accident, she built it from admissions recruiter to firm leader. What she does: She builds teams that don't just fill seats but drive performance, matching the right people with the right companies in tech recruitment. What she believes: That hiring is about creating culture, not checking boxes. The real work is matching purpose with potential, not just filling a role. How she works: By aligning A-players with companies where they'll actually thrive. Julia navigates the tension between speed and quality and finds the people who genuinely move the needle. In this episode: The real journey from admissions recruiter to tech recruitment CEO Why hiring is about creating culture, not checking boxes What it takes to be the number one performer in your company How to find people who actually move the needle

She doesn't just want to make leaders better. She wants to help us be better humans. It's easy to see a lifelong HR leader and assume the path was always clear. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey of a native Austinite who built her career from the inside out. We explore her path to leadership, her love for her community, and why she believes HR must be the example setters. Who she is: Angela L. Shaw, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, is an SVP of Talent, a native Austinite, and a lifelong HR leader. She didn't arrive here by chance, she built it over a full career rooted in her community. What she does: She leads talent at the senior level, building leaders and better workplaces while helping people navigate their own paths in HR. What she believes: That HR must set the example, and that leadership can be both brave and kind. The goal isn't just better leaders, it's better humans. How she works: From the inside out. Angela leads with roots and community at the center, modeling the kind of brave, kind leadership she wants others to carry forward. In this episode: What it really looks like to lead from the inside out Why HR has to be the example setters How leadership can be both brave and kind Building roots, building leaders, and building better workplaces

What happens when you stop "renting" consultant brainpower and start building real in-house capability? Ceci Blomberg has the playbook. It's easy to see a co-founder and assume she just arrived there. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey, from a hashtag (#WellBuiltWorkday) to a fast-growing content engine, a scaling team, and a Workday playbook designed to last instead of collapsing at the first change request. People often wonder what drives leaders to evolve and become, and that's exactly what we explore with Ceci. Who she is: Ceci is the co-founder of Well Built Solutions and one of the Workday ecosystem's most trusted educators and architects. She didn't land that reputation overnight, she built it, turning a hashtag into a movement. What she does: She helps organizations stop renting consultant brainpower and start building real in-house Workday capability, with a playbook designed to outlast any single go-live. What she believes: That you should build something that lasts, not something that collapses at the first change request. Real capability lives inside your team, not on a consultant's invoice. How she works: As a builder and architect in her own right. Ceci scales teams, creates content that educates the whole ecosystem, and designs for durability over quick fixes. In this episode: Why you should stop renting consultant brainpower and build in-house How a hashtag (#WellBuiltWorkday) became a fast-growing content engine What it takes to build a Workday playbook that lasts What really drives leaders to evolve and become