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A Continuous Improvement gabfest where Tracy O’Rourke and Elisabeth Swan share what’s new in the world of Lean Six Sigma.
Episodes
Jun 3, 2025
Jun 3, 2025
54 min
Today’s spotlight shines on none other than Gwendolyn Galsworth—author, trailblazer, and the reigning doyenne of the visual workplace. In our feature interview, Gwendolyn shares powerful insights into how visual thinking transforms not just operations, but entire cultures. Get ready for sharp wisdom, strong convictions, and a dash of storytelling flair.
📚 Then, in a special Book Buzz/Q&A mashup, we turn the spotlight back on her writing—diving into a handful of her standout articles and books to explore one key question: What have we learned from Gwendolyn Galsworth?
Spoiler alert: A lot.
- 00:00 - Intro
- 01:24 - What's on the Menu?
- 02:03 - Book Buzz / Q&A
- Book Buzz: The Visual Workplace
- Q&A: What have we learned from Gwendolyn Galsworth?
- 16:04 - Featured Guest
- 53:07 - Upcoming Events
Resources:
- New! Picture Yourself a Leader as an audiobook!
- Multiple-award-winning book, Picture Yourself A Leader
- 5S Baby!, Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/BFfALBcMrxM
- Apple Podcasts
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Apr 29, 2025
Apr 29, 2025
49 min
It's Episode 111 highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with best-selling author John Guaspari–about his latest book, If Engagement the Why, then Respect Is the How. We quizzed John on how an aerospace engineer ended up writing what could be a how-to guide for the Lean tenet: “Respect for People.” For Hot Apps, we’ll explore an offering from your local library that’s free and worth thousands, and for today’s Q&A, we ask, “Do traditional hierarchies make it harder to foster true respect between leaders and employees?”
Let’s explore why respect isn’t just nice to have—it’s how the world actually works—when it works.
- 00:00 - Intro
- 01:27 - What's on the Menu?
- 02:20 - Hot Apps
- 11:39 - Q&A
- "Do traditional hierarchies make it harder to foster true respect between leaders and employees?"
- 20:11 - Featured Guest
- 48:30 - Upcoming Events
Resources:
-
New! Picture Yourself a Leader as an audiobook!
-
Multiple-award-winning book, Picture Yourself A Leader
- 5S Baby!, Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Ready or not, here we come!
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/wkibL5SHn34
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Apr 7, 2025
Apr 7, 2025
48 min
It's Episode 110, and the highlight is our interview with April Thomas, who has drawn on her clinical healthcare background to incorporate the stages of grief into change management. We’ll delve into how they intersect with and help drive Operational Excellence. For our Book Buzz, we’re revisiting the classic book Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. The cover has the iconic light switch–and we’ve learned the hard way that change does not happen at the flip of a switch. For Q&A, we asked, what are the most common change management obstacles you see continuous improvement professionals running into? Change, grief, and progress!
- 00:00 - Intro
- 01:35 - What's on the Menu?
- 02:29 - Book Buzz
- 15:26 - Q&A
- "What are the most common change management obstacles you see continuous improvement professionals running into?"
- 20:35 - Featured Guest
- 45:53 - Upcoming Events
Resources:
-
New! Picture Yourself a Leader as an audiobook!
-
Multiple-award-winning book, Picture Yourself A Leader
- 5S Baby!, Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Ready or not, here we come!
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/wkibL5SHn34
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Apr 6, 2025
Apr 6, 2025
50 min
It's Episode 109, and the highlight is Elisabeth & Tracy's interview with Dan Zigmond, ordained Buddhist Priest, tech professional, and author of The Buddha’s Office. He’s seen his share of offices, so he’s in the best position to describe how mindfulness alleviates workplace suffering. For Book Buzz, we’ll cover a guide that lays out the steps to designing fully transformative workshops. It shakes up the notion that experiential workshops are the pinnacle. And then for Q&A, we asked, when does describing a feeling mask blame, judgment, or criticism?
We’re taking a deep dive into the emotional underpinnings of modern work life. Although we may not discuss emotions in the workplace, we ignore them at our peril. Let’s get mindful!
- 00:00 - Intro
- 01:28 - What's on the Menu?
- 02:27 - Book Buzz
- 13:40 - Q&A
- "When does describing a feeling mask blame, judgment, or criticism?"
- 20:06 - Featured Guest
- 47:58 - Upcoming Events
Resources:
- Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"
- "5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Ready or not, here we come!
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/u628h_nLgN4
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Feb 14, 2025
Feb 14, 2025
38 min
It's Episode 108, and the highlight is Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Kate Parmelee. She's the Deputy City Manager for Strategic Initiatives & Innovation, and she's transforming the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida into a model for problem solving. Cities around the country are taking notes from her and her crackerjack team. For Hot Apps, we delve into a grade-school skillset paired with an automated teacher—get ready for A+ work. And for Q&A, we asked, do you have a habit of reflection, and if you do, how do you make use of it?
Ready or not, here we come!
- 00:00 - Intro
- 01:22 - What's on the Menu?
- 02:05 - Hot Apps
- 07:14 - Q&A
-
Do you have a habit of reflection, and, if you do, how do you make use of it?
-
- 13:04 - Featured Guest
- 23:24 - Upcoming Events
Resources:
-
Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"
-
"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/qTFRqBi06D4
Find us on:
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Jan 25, 2025
Jan 25, 2025
29 min
It's Episode 107 and it's the first menu of the year! Today’s highlight is an interview with Tracy and Elisabeth! Turns out they're the fascinating authors of the soon-to-be published second edition of the Problem-Solver’s Toolkit. Can’t wait to hear what they've got to say about that. For Book Buzz - You'll hear about the book, The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin and why it’s good for coaches and problem solvers. And for Q&A, the question is, what unconscious rules do we make that hold us back?
It’s a new year! Let’s get into the things that will make it a great year!
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:26 - What's on the menu?
- 2:11 - Book Buzz
- 9:40 - Q&A
- "What do you do when leadership won't let go of the reins?"
- 17:42 -Featured Guest
- Elisabeth Swan and Tracy O'Rourke
- 27:50 - Upcoming Events
Resources:
-
Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"
-
"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/m2F_-DhdK1s
Find us on:
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Dec 16, 2024
Dec 16, 2024
53 min
Last one of the year! And Today’s highlight is our interview with Tracy Defoe the Kata Coach and Adult learning specialist about how changing a label could make the difference between resistance and acceptance of change. For our Book Buzz segment We’ll dig into a book that breaks down what your brain is up against when you try to create. And creativity is something every one of us is engaged in every day. And then for Q&A, we asked, how do you influence leadership to let go and invite others to build their skills?
It’s December–so whether your eggnog is spiked or not—and let’s get into this!
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:23 - What's on the menu?
- 2:24 - Book Buzz
- 13:37 - Q&A
- "What do you do when leadership won't let go of the reins?"
- 21:55 -Featured Guest
- 50:54 - Upcoming Events
- December Webinar: "Lean into AI: Using Artificial Intelligence to Transform Your Work" with Jessica Blake
- Video Link to Last Month's Webinar: "How to Bring PDCA to Any Industry and Win Converts!", with Jen Tankanow
Resources:
- Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"
- Lean Parody Video, "Baby Got Tools!"
- "5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/_KgkSC00pd8
Find us on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Sep 9, 2024
Sep 9, 2024
47 min
It's Episode 105 and the highlight Tracy & Elisabeth's interview with Meg Brown, Vice President of Human Resources at Cambridge Air Solution, where they’ve built an amazingly successful Lean culture by combining sheet metal with unconditional love–you know you need to know more about that. For Hot Apps we’ve got a mobile diary that helps you form a practice of reflection and adjustment. And then for Q&A, we asked, what is it that makes us constantly try to fit 10 pounds of…STUFF… in a 5 pound bag?
Come hang at the cafe while we discuss!
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:29 - What's on the menu?
- 2:18 - Hot Apps
- 10:34 - Q&A
- "Do you make plans that are over-optimistic?”
- 17:33 - Featured Guest
- 46:14 - Upcoming Events
- September Webinar: "Stop the Insanity! Unplug Your Materials Resource Planning (MRP)" with Jerry Wright
- Global Lean Summit
- Video Link to Last Month's Webinar: "Personal Hoshin Planning: Why Leave Your Future to Luck"
Resources:
- Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"
- Lean Parody Video, "Baby Got Tools!"
-
"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/Hdx0W8LOd64
Find us on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Aug 14, 2024
Aug 14, 2024
45 min
It's Episode 104 and the highlight is our interview with Paul Critchley, the President of New England Lean Consulting where we find out what’s in store at the first ever New England Lean Summit this September–there’s rumors of a DJ... For Hot Apps, we sampled a platform that could inject a stealth bit of productivity into your family’s day-to-day activities. And for Q&A, we asked, “Is there an optimal intersection of fun and productivity?” Is there ever enough fun? Can you have too much? We’ll settle that question AND have fun doing it. 😊
Sit back and enjoy!
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:20 - What's on the menu?
- 2:17 - Hot Apps
- 7:32 - Q&A
- "Is there an optimal intersection of fun and productivity?”
- 14:49 - Featured Guest
- 43:25 - Upcoming Events
Resources:
- Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"
- Lean Parody Video, "Baby Got Tools!"
-
"5S Baby!" Ms. Fix-a-Lot's latest Lean Rap Video
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/y4PI4JBaE-0
Find us on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml
Jul 15, 2024
Jul 15, 2024
39 min
It's Episode 103 and the highlight is our interview with Ahren Crickard, the Director of the Center for Operational Excellence at UC San Diego and she’ll be sharing all things Process Palooza–the yearly problem-solving festival with the highest octane MC available–a certain Tracy O’Rourke. For Hot Apps, we’ll give you our take on a conference app how good it is at networking. And then for Q&A, we pose the question, "How do you feel about getting lost. Is it a failure or an opportunity?"
Sit back and enjoy!
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:22 - What's on the menu?
- 2:02 - Hot Apps
- 8:45 - Q&A
- Lost or on an Adventure?
- 14:49 -Featured Guest
- 38:17 - Upcoming Events
- August Webinar:
- "5S Baby" Spoof Lean Rap Video Reveal Party
Resources:
- Multiple-award-winning book, "Picture Yourself A Leader"
- Lean Parody Video, "Baby Got Tools!"
Thanks for Listening!
Listen to more podcasts at JITCafe.com.
Link to the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/dnlWoRFetLg
Find us on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Podbean
- Spotify
- RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/JITCafe/feed.xml