**Mindfulness, Happiness & the Death of Command-and-Control Leadership — with Kirsten McKenna**
Let’s get one thing straight: miserable employees don’t build great companies. And no one thrives under a barking, ego-driven boss in a power suit yelling orders like it’s still 1985.
In this energizing and eye-opening episode, Dr. John chats with corporate badass-turned-entrepreneur Kirsten McKenna about why *happiness, mindfulness, and meaning* aren’t just feel-good buzzwords — they’re the new non-negotiables for leadership and business success.
We dive into:
– Why happiness *matters* in the workplace (hint: unhappy people don’t innovate)
– How a raging inner critic screws with your performance — and what to do about it
– The science of mindfulness and how it sharpens leadership, empathy, and grit
– Why the old-school “command-and-follow” leadership model is dead in the water
– How realistic optimism helps fend off burnout and build resilience
– What happens when you help employees go from miserable (-5) to thriving (+5)
– How the negativity bias hijacks your brain — and how to stop feeding it
– The practical power of curiosity, calm, and clarity in today’s chaotic business world
**About Kirsten McKenna:**
Kirsten is a former corporate exec turned double entrepreneur, leadership coach, and author of *Lead Well: How to Show Up Consistently Well in Leadership and Life*. She runs two purpose-driven businesses — *Cortex Consulting* and *Winefulness* — both designed to spark curiosity, well-being, and authentic leadership. She’s got degrees in psychology, education, and health — and she knows how to translate science into results.
📘 *Lead Well*: [Find it on Amazon]
📲 Follow Kirsten:
– [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenmckenna/)
– [Instagram @cortex_consulting](https://www.instagram.com/cortex_consulting/)
– [Instagram @winefulness_aus](https://www.instagram.com/winefulness_aus)
– [Twitter](https://twitter.com/CortexCon)
**Tagline worth remembering:**
*Harness the mind. Shape the brain. Strengthen your business.*
If you like what you’ve heard, support us by subscribing, leaving reviews on Apple podcasts. Every review helps to get the message out! Please share the podcast with friends and colleagues.
Wanna Go Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole? Here’s Where to Stalk Us (Respectfully):
👔 For Dr. John’s work helping execs and high performers stop silently imploding:
👉 [GuideToSelf.com](https://GuideToSelf.com)
💔 Curious about the couples counseling magic John’s doing with the amazing Joree Rose, LMFT
👉 [LoveIsntEnough.net](https://LoveIsntEnough.net)
(*Spoiler: Love isn’t enough, but skills, self-awareness, and maybe a glass of wine are.*)
🎙️ For all things caveman evolution, podcast-style:
👉 [TheEvolvedCaveman.com](https://TheEvolvedCaveman.com)
💃 For Joree’s powerhouse work helping women ditch burnout, find joy, and stop dating emotionally unavailable man-children:
👉 [JoreeRose.com](https://JoreeRose.com)
Follow Dr. John on social media…
📸 **Instagram:** [@TheEvolvedCaveman](http://instagram.com/@TheEvolvedCaveman)
👥 **Facebook:** [Anger.Management.Expert](http://facebook.com/Anger.Management.Expert)
🐦 **Twitter/X:** [@JohnSchin](http://x.com/JohnSchin)
💼 **LinkedIn:** [Dr. John Schinnerer](http://linkedin.com/in/DrJohnSchinnerer)
—
Follow, click, explore, evolve. Or don’t. But your emotional health might suffer and your relationships could end in flames. No pressure. 🔥
#corporateculture #corporateleadership #leadership #ceomindset #mindfulness #positivepsychology #mangement #commandandconquer #negativitybias #employeeengagement #employeemotivation
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