Team Building Podcast

In this heartfelt and energetic season finale, host Rich Rinninsland celebrates a season dedicated to understanding what makes a connected workplace truly thrive. Through big ideas, brilliant guests, and real human stories, this episode looks back at how teams build stronger workplace connections, communicate better, and create environments where people feel seen, supported, and valued.

In this episode, host Rich talks with Nancy Ho, a life strategist and executive coach, about the real key to personal fulfillment in your job—achieving true work-life integration. Nancy shares how leaders can move beyond the outdated idea of “work-life balance” and instead create harmony between their professional success and personal well-being.

In this episode, Patrick Short, founder of ComedySportz Portland and lifelong improviser, shows how humor at work can do more than just make people laugh. From his start in the 1980s comedy scene to teaching Apple engineers how to “think like improvisers,” Patrick shares how the principles of improv and workplace humor help teams build trust, spark creativity, and stay connected — even when things don’t go as planned.

What do lumber and fighting hunger have in common? In this episode, Steve Popper reveals how a 28-year career in the wholesale lumber industry unexpectedly led him to launch Meals of Hope, an organization that has now packed over 115 million meals.

In this episode, we dive into the world of collaborative play with Markus Rüse, the mastermind behind our popular corporate team building game Beat the Box. Markus shares his journey from loving games as a child to creating large-scale cooperative games for adults that bring teams together in unexpected and exciting ways. We explore what is collaborative play, why it works so well in team settings, and how it helps employees communicate, strategize, and solve problems together. Plus, we discuss some of the best collaborative games for boosting engagement and collaboration, whether in the office or at virtual events. If you’re looking for ways to energize your team and foster a culture of connection, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

In this insightful TeamBonding Podcast episode with Dr. Jessica Stern, learn how to turn workplace conflicts into opportunities for growth. Dr. Stern breaks down the real reasons behind workplace tensions (hint: it’s usually poor communication and different attachment styles, not just personality clashes). And explains how to build a supportive environment through practical strategies like regular feedback sessions, proactive check-ins, and empathy-building techniques. Dr. Stern shares research-backed methods for developing both emotional and cognitive empathy, plus simple tactics like using exercise breaks to manage workplace stress and building stronger professional networks. Whether you’re managing difficult team dynamics or navigating tricky office relationships yourself, this episode delivers actionable insights for cultivating a supportive work environment where everyone can succeed.

In this powerful episode, Mitesh Kapadia shares his journey from Wall Street to wellness, offering a fresh perspective on being present in both leadership and life. He explains how shifting from constant striving to learning how to be in the present can lead to deeper fulfillment, stronger connections, and even greater productivity. Through real stories and practical insights, Mitesh shows what it means to be present in the workplace and how leaders can inspire others simply by choosing to be in the present themselves.

In this episode, generational researcher Meghan Grace explains the benefits of leading a multi-generational team and dives into what it really takes to lead a cross-generational workforce. She shares why Gen Z shows up to work with a serious, informed mindset shaped by economic challenges, rising education costs, and a desire to avoid the struggles millennials faced.

In this episode of Team Building Saves the World, host Rich is joined by Russell Harvey as they discuss how to help employees thrive in a VUCA world—one that is Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. Specializing in the VUCA framework, Harvey explained how VUCA leadership relies on resilience, or “Mojo,” built through purpose, confidence, adaptability, support, and energy.

Krystle Starr, a performer and two-time LEGO Masters champion, shares powerful real life examples of teamwork that highlight the profound teamwork impact on achieving success. Drawing from her intense experience working together as a team with partner Michelle on LEGO Masters, she emphasizes the importance of respecting different working styles and maintaining open communication when working with others toward a common goal. Krystle explains how initial conflicts evolved into mutual respect and a strong partnership, illustrating that effective teamwork requires empathy, flexibility, and a shared focus on the broader perspective. Through creative play—such as LEGO therapy and her new game Cardio Quest—she demonstrates how fun and innovative activities can strengthen collaboration, trust, and communication, reinforcing the vital role teamwork impacts both personal growth and professional team building.

In this episode, Melissa Richards dives into the essential connection between leadership and trust, sharing how leaders can create more resilient and effective teams through empathy, communication, and consistency. Drawing from her extensive background in higher education and her book, The 30-60-90 Day Handbook, Melissa explains how leaders build trust by focusing on three fundamentals: building trust, earning credibility, and demonstrating commitment. She outlines practical steps for building trust as a leader, from active listening and transparency to fostering psychological safety in creative teams. Melissa also explores the role of emotional intelligence and crisis communication in strengthening trust in leadership, showing that effective leadership starts with being genuinely people-centered. This episode offers real-world strategies for anyone seeking to understand how leaders build trust and lead with impact.

In this episode, Hall of Fame speaker Tyler Hayden shares practical strategies on how to accommodate different learning styles in the workplace using his Multiple Intelligence Quotient (MIQ) framework. He explains how recognizing and designing for employee learning styles—including kinesthetic, interpersonal, and linguistic—can enhance engagement, reduce absenteeism, and align team activities with business goals. By tailoring experiences to the different types of learning styles, organizations can create more effective, measurable, and meaningful development opportunities. Hayden highlights the importance of understanding learning styles in the workplace to foster continuous team learning and stronger performance.