Compassionate Accountability Podcast

In this episode of the Compassionate Accountability® Podcast, your host Nate Regier sits down with Erin McDaniel, Communications Director for the City of Newton, to explore a decade-long transformation inside local government.
Erin stepped into a role shaped by deep distrust, political divisiveness, and open antagonism between elected officials and city staff. Conflict wasn't just operational, it was emotional, personal, and costly. What followed became a powerful real-world example of how Compassionate Accountability can transform culture, rebuild trust, and restore healthy leadership.
This conversation goes beyond theory. It's a story of lived experience, difficult moments, and lasting change.
 
In this episode, you'll discover:
• Why leaders are often perceived as "the problem" before trust is established • How unresolved conflict quietly erodes culture and performance • The turning point that made transformation possible • How compassion and accountability work together to rebuild trust • What it means to lead with openness while maintaining clear standards • Practical insights for navigating conflict in politically and emotionally charged environments
 
Rapid-fire reflections include:
• One truth about conflict that many leaders overlook • What trust actually requires to grow and sustain • The mindset shift that made lasting change possible
 
If you're a leader, communicator, HR professional, or public servant navigating pressure, politics, or complex people dynamics, this episode offers both validation and a practical path forward.
Conflict is inevitable. Drama is optional.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Compassionate Accountability Framework Learn more about the model transforming leadership, communication, and workplace culture: https://www.next-element.com/compassionate-accountability 
Next Element Consulting Explore training, certification, and organisational transformation programmes: https://www.next-element.com
Compassionate Accountability Certification Programme For leaders, coaches, and organisations wanting to implement the model: https://www.next-element.com/certification 
About Nate Regier Speaker, author, and creator of Compassionate Accountability: https://www.next-element.com/about-nate-regier 
City of Newton, Kansas Learn more about Erin McDaniel and the organisation featured in this transformation story: https://www.newtonkansas.com
Connect with Erin McDaniel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinlmcdaniel/ 
Watch the full video version of this episode https://youtu.be/f8f9S29Hbf4?si=TK3aUzeRaOefCnrJ
 
The Compassionate Accountability Podcast is produced in partnership with Flo Right Business Solutions.

In this final episode of the podcast before beginning his research sabbatical, your host Dr. Nathan Reiger welcomes high-performing teams expert and scholar Amy Edmondson. She is a Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School, author, and pioneer in the role of psychological safety in high performing teams. This conversation explores the science of failure and insights from Amy's new book Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, including the empowering components of compassion, vulnerability, and intelligent failure. 
 
Key Takeaways:
[3:05] What piqued Amy's interest in the topic of failure? 
[4:15] The three main kinds of failure. 
[6:12] What role does psychological safety play in failing well? 
[9:56] Compassionate accountability is essential in conflict. 
[11:32] The relationship between trust and conflict. 
[12:02] Compassion mindset is essential in failing well. 
[15:55] High performing teams don't always make more errors, but they report them quickly. 
[17:55] What makes a failure intelligent? 
[21:36] Failure is an option, not trying is not an option. 
[22:44] Why should we acknowledge vulnerability to self and others?  
[28:03] Amy's favorite visuals and tales of failure from Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well. 
[32:45] The potential role of AI in the face of complex failure. 
[36:48] Amy's response to massive failure, such as plane crashes. 
[38:30] Amy is a coping role model for failing well. 
 
Mentioned in this episode:
The Compassion Mindset
Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results, Nate Regier
Visit Next-Element
 
Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well by Amy Edmonson 
Amy Edmondson on LinkedIn
 
The Compassionate Accountability Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.

Dr. Nathan Regier, your host, welcomes returning podcast guest Massimo Backus, a distinguished executive coach and leadership development consultant. He is the host of the Leadership Mind podcast and a documentary filmmaker who captures the essence of the human experience and an empathetic and holistic approach to leadership. 
 
In today's conversation, Massimo shares wisdom from his new book Human First, Leader Second: How Self Compassion Outperforms Self Criticism, underscores the importance of loving ourselves first, and offers insights into today's leadership. 
 
Key Takeaways:
[2:15] Massimo's book started off as a dream and became a reality because the message matters. 
[4:21] What surprised Massimo most about the book writing process? 
[5:45] The main message of Human First, Leader Second: How Self Compassion Outperforms Self Criticism is that our humanness is what connects us all together. 
[8:04] Massimo's journey is living proof of the humanness of the life journey and the importance of self-compassion. 
[11:31] How Massimo designed the book and how he hopes it will be used.
[14:08] Research suggests you will be more successful if you practice self-compassion. 
[15:05] The unique perspective on self-compassion that Massimo wants to shine a brighter light on. 
[16:36] WIMPS are well-intentioned, misinformed protectors that we have to learn to live with. 
[18:35] The three steps that are an on-ramp into the practice of self-compassion. 
[19:40] Without accountability, there is no self-compassion. 
[20:35] Massimo unpacks the importance of awareness, acceptance and accountability. 
[22:02] Feelings are for feeling, and feelings are just data points. 
[24:05] Action items that will lead to accountability. 
[26:06] Massimo explains how to feel feelings without losing control. 
[28:25] Emotions are a language that we all need to learn to speak with fluency. 
[29:28] Massimo's word model covers awareness, acceptance and accountability. 
[32:05] Becoming comfortable in your own skin is about more than just acting authentically. 
[34:24] Massimo's Declaration captures the key lessons from his book. 
[37:57] Massimo's invitation to pause and ask yourself how to employ self-compassion.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
The Compassion Mindset
Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results, Nate Regier
Visit Next-Element
On Compassion Podcast Episode 037: Self-compassion: The Key to Effective Leadership with Massimo Backus 
Human First, Leader Second: How Self Compassion Outperforms Self Criticism, Massimo Backus 
Massimo Backus on LinkedIn
 
The Compassionate Accountability Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions. 
 
Tweetables:
"The idea for this book hit me over the head and I just couldn't let it go." #oncompassion
 
"Self-compassion is the practice that allows us to accept our humanity." #oncompassion
 
"We don't need to control or be perfect all the time. That's actually getting in our way." 
#oncompassion
 
"When we're internally resourced by self-compassion, we don't need validation from others." #oncompassion
 
"I can be the author of my story, rather than the victim of it." #oncompassion

Dr. Nathan Regier, your host, welcomes the most trusted authorities on trust and leadership, Stephen M.R. Covey and David Kasperson. In today's conversation, they discuss their new book Trust & Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others and explore the intersection between their work and compassionate accountability.
 
Key Takeaways:
[1:20] Dr. Nate introduces Stephen M. R. Covey.
[2:07] Dr. Nate presents David Kasperson.  
[3:30] How did Stephen conclude that the world of work has changed, but our leadership style hasn't?
[5:28] What does it mean leaders can create conditions where people can flourish?
[6:30] David and Stephen discuss three leadership styles: authoritarian command and control, enlightened command and control, and trust and inspire leadership.
[9:43] What is different now than 20 years ago regarding what motivates people?
[13:02] Stephen and David address the five fundamental beliefs and behaviors of Trust and Inspire Leadership.
[13:43] The most important belief is to realize the greatness inside every person.
[16:03] Stephen and David discuss the importance of vulnerability in leadership.
[21:13]  Dr. Nate dives deep into the concept of coping role models.
[23:21] Stephen and David talk about the power of modeling.
[25:22] David explains the difference between being trustworthy and trusting. 
[31:35] Stephen highlights the importance of starting with trust. 
[33:03] How do trust and inspire leaders approach conflict?
[35:56] David discusses the heart, head, and hands in leadership.
[38:55] Stephen shares how people are inspired.
[40:48] How did Stephen and David become more challenged to upgrade their mindset in leadership behaviors?
[46:16] Stephen shares his mantra, "My passion is your potential."
[47:12] Stephen addressed the alignment between the concepts of trust and inspire and compassionate accountability. 
[50:29] David discusses the importance of holding someone accountable.
[51:30] What next step would David and Stephen like people to take after listening to this podcast?
 
Mentioned in this episode:
The Compassion Mindset
Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results, Nate Regier
Visit Next-Element
 
Trust & Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others,  Stephen M.R. Coveyand David Kasperson 
 
Tweetables:
"9 out of 10 organizations still have a "command and control" leadership style" #oncompassion
 
"People are 14 times more likely to be engaged when they trust their leader."  #oncompassion
 
"You cannot mandate creativity; you have to be inspired."  #oncompassion
 
"People don't want to be managed; people want to be led, trusted, and inspired." #oncompassion
 
"The job of a leader is to try to unleash people's potential." #oncompassion
 
"Leaders first model the behavior and make it safe for others to follow." #oncompassion

Dr. Nathan Regier, your host, welcomes Dr. David Horsager, CEO of the Trust Edge Leadership Institute and inventor of the Enterprise Trust Index. He is also the director of a global study, The Trust Outlook, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author, and a senior fellow at Indiana Wesleyan University.
David not only has a unique perspective on trust but also defines, measures, and teaches it through a practical, relevant, and actionable framework. Listen to this episode to discover why David defines trust as a strategic asset.
Key Takeaways:
[3:31] How did David get into the field of trust?
[5:57] Why is trust so important?
[8:00] David shares why he defines trust as a currency for strong relationships.
[9:17] How is trust built?
[10:59] David discusses The Eight Pillar Framework for building trust.
[13:13] Has David seen individual differences in how trust is experienced?
[16:23] David explains the effective use of the pillars of trust, using Dr. Nate's recent experience on a delayed flight.
[18:53] Dr. Nate emphasizes the importance of building connections and achieving results simultaneously.
[19:34] David shares his view on the relationship between trust and conflict.
[22:39] David discusses the Trust Annual Report and his latest findings.
[25:01] David talks about his book, Trust Matters More Than Ever.
[27:57] What is happening with trust during elections?
[32:20] David emphasizes what everyone should know about trust.
[35:59] Input equals output.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Compassion Mindset
Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results, Nate Regier
Visit Next-Element
 
The Trust Edge, Dr. David Horsager
Trust Matters More Than Ever, Dr. David Horsager
 
Tweetables:
"Leaders prioritizing trust create thriving environments, where innovation and collaboration flourish."  #oncompassion
 
"Lack of trust is an organization's biggest expense."  #oncompassion
 
"In conflict, you can increase trust faster than almost any other time in how you deal with it." #oncompassion