Ben Watson of Kinship Bread centers his work on two values: honesty and accountability. He names them plainly. They shape the decisions he makes and the way he moves through his craft. He describes w…

Ben Watson of Kinshi…

Ben Watson of Kinship Bread centers his work on two values: honesty and accountability. He names them plainly. They shape the decisions he makes and the way he moves through his craft. He describes working with his hands as an exchange — a give-and-receive energy that feels built into the process itself. He keeps things simple. He uses ingredients he trusts. He pays attention. He sources with intention. When he talks about feeding people, there’s an awareness in him that people are taking something he made into their lives, and he wants that bread to be as healthy as possible. When I ask…

I’ve known Brian Briggs, co-owner of Revo Physiotherapy and Sports Performance, for a few years now. Every time we talk, I’m reminded how rare it is to find someone in healthcare who is both hones…

I’ve known Brian B…

I’ve known Brian Briggs, co-owner of Revo Physiotherapy and Sports Performance, for a few years now. Every time we talk, I’m reminded how rare it is to find someone in healthcare who is both honest and unfiltered in a way that truly helps people. When I asked Brian about his values, he said honesty and integrity, and he meant them in the real sense — the kind that shape how someone treats their clients, their staff, their family, and the decisions they make when no one is watching. It’s not polished. It’s not strategic. It’s simply who he is. In the rehab world, clear answers can…

When you sit down with Josh Crane, the founder of Coffee Ride, the phrase “do good” keeps resurfacing—not as a slogan, but as a lived philosophy. It’s both his compass and his contradiction. …

When you sit down wi…

When you sit down with Josh Crane, the founder of Coffee Ride, the phrase “do good” keeps resurfacing—not as a slogan, but as a lived philosophy. It’s both his compass and his contradiction. Raised in Wisconsin, Josh absorbed “do good” the way others absorb gravity—it’s just how things work. But when he brought that principle to business, he discovered its edges. What does “doing good” really mean when every decision—supplier, delivery route, staffing choice—has a ripple effect? For Josh, the answer isn’t static. It’s an ongoing act of discernment. He’s analytic…

When I sit with John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, I’m reminded what grounded, values-based leadership looks like in real time. John starts where so few do — with integrity and …

When I sit with John…

When I sit with John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, I’m reminded what grounded, values-based leadership looks like in real time. John starts where so few do — with integrity and empathy as his operating system. For him, integrity isn’t just moral fiber; it’s the ability to understand the human condition, to listen before leading, and to build trust across every divide — to trust, and to verify. There’s a natural alignment between John and the Chamber itself; his personal values mirror the organization’s mission to advance both business success and community well…

When you step into Jade Mountain Health, you don’t just walk into an acupuncture clinic—you feel a presence. Andrew Maloney, longtime acupuncturist and Boulder native, has built more than a practi…

When you step into J…

When you step into Jade Mountain Health, you don’t just walk into an acupuncture clinic—you feel a presence. Andrew Maloney, longtime acupuncturist and Boulder native, has built more than a practice. He’s created a living, breathing community of healing spaces. Andrew lives by two core values: compassion and adaptability. You feel the compassion immediately. His big heart fills the room, and it’s no accident that this drew him into Chinese medicine in the first place. Andrew’s early life was shaped by loss. As a child, he faced more death and grief than most people see in a lifetime…

Libby Alexander is more than a business owner—she is a leader who built a community around clothing, connection, and compassion. With her sister, Jennifer Wilshire, she runs Common Threads consignme…

Libby Alexander is m…

Libby Alexander is more than a business owner—she is a leader who built a community around clothing, connection, and compassion. With her sister, Jennifer Wilshire, she runs Common Threads consignment shops—one in Denver and one in Boulder. But for Libby, it’s never just been about clothing. It’s been about creating a space where people feel seen, respected, and part of something bigger than themselves. From the beginning, compassion has been at the center of Common Threads. Shopping for women’s clothing can be daunting—there’s only one of each item, and every shopper comes in w…

Aikido is a martial art unlike any other. Where most styles are built on strikes, blocks, and domination, aikido turns conflict into harmony. It teaches us that the way to meet force is not with great…

Aikido is a martial …

Aikido is a martial art unlike any other. Where most styles are built on strikes, blocks, and domination, aikido turns conflict into harmony. It teaches us that the way to meet force is not with greater force, but with presence, awareness, and redirection. At its core, aikido carries a radical truth: peace is stronger than violence, compassion is wiser than control, and the way we move with others reveals the way we move with life itself. This truth beats at the heart of One Dojo in Boulder, guided by Abel Villacorta. When I sat with Abel in conversation, I was moved not only by the streng…

For 30 years, Sandra Kirschner has walked alongside children and families, not as someone who has “arrived” but as a fellow traveler on the journey to becoming fully human. Her work is grounded in…

For 30 years, Sandra…

For 30 years, Sandra Kirschner has walked alongside children and families, not as someone who has “arrived” but as a fellow traveler on the journey to becoming fully human. Her work is grounded in two wide-angle values: the commitment to becoming fully human herself and supporting others in doing the same, and bringing more love into the world. In her classroom, that love looks like kneeling down to meet a child at eye level to truly hear their story, creating rituals that help children feel seen and safe, and guiding parents through difficult moments with empathy rather than judgme…

Your body is the early warning system that keeps you aligned, steady, and effective. As I always say, if you are looking to motivate, influence, or inspire—then you are a leader. Leadership isn’t…

Your body is the ear…

Your body is the early warning system that keeps you aligned, steady, and effective. As I always say, if you are looking to motivate, influence, or inspire—then you are a leader. Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about the way you show up in your work, your family, and your community. It’s the end of summer. The kids are back in school. My calendar is filling up again. I told myself: This is it. Time to buckle down, get organized, and really get things done. But underneath, I can feel the edge of fatigue. And I know this: drama and burnout are really arguments with time. Drama was…

At the 30,000-foot view, every leader says they want more time for what matters. Yet most are bleeding hours every day in drama. Drama, as defined by Dr. Stephen Karpman’s Drama Triangle, isn’t j…

At the 30,000-foot v…

At the 30,000-foot view, every leader says they want more time for what matters. Yet most are bleeding hours every day in drama. Drama, as defined by Dr. Stephen Karpman’s Drama Triangle, isn’t just loud arguments or office politics — it’s any reactive pattern that pulls you into one of three roles: Victim – “I can’t believe this is happening to me.” Rescuer – “I’ll fix this for everyone.” Persecutor – “This is all their fault.” These roles are ego-driven — which simply means they’re led by the part of you focused on self-protectio…

A model for community-supported agriculture, hands-on education, and land stewardship rooted in connection, service, and soil. At the foot of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado, something deeply human …

A model for communit…

A model for community-supported agriculture, hands-on education, and land stewardship rooted in connection, service, and soil. At the foot of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado, something deeply human is growing. Dharma’s Garden is a living, breathing relationship between land, people, and purpose. It’s a place where the rhythm of life slows enough to notice the soil, the seasons, and the stories that emerge when people return to what is essential. Rooted in Listening and Devotion At the heart of Dharma’s Garden are Kerry and Tim Francis, who followed a call that wasn’t part of a gr…

If you’ve ever wanted to motivate, influence, or inspire another person—consciously or not—you’re a leader in my book. You don’t need a title. You don’t need a corner office. You don’t …

If you’ve ever wan…

If you’ve ever wanted to motivate, influence, or inspire another person—consciously or not—you’re a leader in my book. You don’t need a title. You don’t need a corner office. You don’t even need to feel ready. You just need to be someone in the world who’s modeling something real. I know many people quietly avoid the word leader—as if claiming it will expose their ego or break the illusion that they have it all figured out. But leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. If you have a vision you care about—one you hope others might join you in—then you�…

Matt Kapinus is a longtime yoga teacher, guide, and community leader based in Boulder, Colorado. For nearly two decades, he has been known for his clarity, humor, and deeply human approach to teachin…

Matt Kapinus is a lo…

Matt Kapinus is a longtime yoga teacher, guide, and community leader based in Boulder, Colorado. For nearly two decades, he has been known for his clarity, humor, and deeply human approach to teaching. Through his work at Yoga Pod and beyond, he blends physical practice with grounded insight, creating spaces where people can reconnect with themselves—and each other—in a meaningful way. His teaching extends far beyond the mat, reaching into how we show up in conversation, in challenge, and in daily life. At the core of Matt Kapinus’s leadership is a commitment to truth and kindness. …

Anger Isn’t the Problem—It’s the Signal Anger doesn’t show up out of nowhere. It shows up when something deeply valued gets stepped on. A principle. A line that matters. It’s the body’s …

Anger Isn’t the Pr…

Anger Isn’t the Problem—It’s the Signal Anger doesn’t show up out of nowhere. It shows up when something deeply valued gets stepped on. A principle. A line that matters. It’s the body’s way of saying: This isn’t okay. But in most workplaces, anger is treated like a problem to manage—or worse, something to hide. There’s an unspoken rule in many professional settings: be composed, be agreeable, stay in control. But anger isn’t the opposite of control. It’s information. It shows up when something essential is at stake. It’s felt in high-stakes meetings, during performan…

Jane Seaton is an independent teacher, an artist, and a lifelong guide into the sacred territory of human creativity. Based in North Boulder, she offers programs, trainings, and one-on-one sessions th…

Jane Seaton is an in…

Jane Seaton is an independent teacher, an artist, and a lifelong guide into the sacred territory of human creativity. Based in North Boulder, she offers programs, trainings, and one-on-one sessions that help people reconnect with their inner source of wisdom through art, image, color, and creative soul expression. Her work is not only for artists—it is for anyone seeking to live a more meaningful, vital life. Her work promotes ways in which all of us can live more meaningful, vital lives. Jane Seaton is starting over—again and again. A newness keeps washing over her. In the aftermat…

The Trap of Perfectionism Somewhere along the way, we started believing we had to be perfect to be valuable. Our culture began celebrating the appearance of having it all together—the perfect brand…

The Trap of Perfecti…

The Trap of Perfectionism Somewhere along the way, we started believing we had to be perfect to be valuable. Our culture began celebrating the appearance of having it all together—the perfect brand, the flawless plan, the constant productivity. Over time, this belief crept into our businesses, our teams, and our personal lives. We confuse effort with worth. We confuse polish with power. But the truth is: perfectionism often holds us back. It keeps us chasing instead of choosing. It keeps us stressed instead of satisfied. This isn’t about blaming capitalism or ambition. It's about re…

I want to take the word ‘POWER’ back. I want to take my power back. People often flinch when I use that word—like it’s too much, too aggressive, too loaded. Maybe you feel that. Maybe you don…

I want to take the w…

I want to take the word ‘POWER’ back. I want to take my power back. People often flinch when I use that word—like it’s too much, too aggressive, too loaded. Maybe you feel that. Maybe you don’t. But if you're serious about better leadership, we need to talk about it. This isn’t about being loud or dominant. It’s about being aligned and dare I use that overused word, 'authentic'. It’s about knowing what matters and making decisions that reflect it. It’s about recognizing when you’re shrinking, overcompensating, or checking out—and why. And it’s about learning to lead w…