Contagious Culture

#151 | Known > Best: The Real Reason Great Businesses Stay Invisible W/ Yanna Williams

Known > Best is a hard truth for leaders who pride themselves on excellence: you can be the best in the room and still lose, because the market doesn’t reward what’s best, it rewards what’s trusted, clear, and visible.
In this episode, I sit down with Kalyanna Williams (“Yanna”) to unpack why so many great businesses stay invisible, even when the product is strong, the mission is real, and the results are undeniable. We talk about the hidden “visibility blocks” that keep founders playing small (perfectionism, fear of being misunderstood, waiting for the right time, overbuilding behind the scenes) and the mindset shift required to move from quiet excellence to public impact.
You’ll hear how to stop confusing “being busy” with “being known,” and how to build credibility without turning into a content machine. Yanna breaks down what visibility actually is (and what it isn’t), how to communicate your value in a way people instantly get, and why consistency beats intensity every time. If you’ve ever thought, “Once I perfect it, then I’ll promote it,” this conversation will help you flip that script.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why “best” is not a strategy—and “known” is a multiplier
The difference between attention, authority, and trust (and which one drives revenue)
How to make your message simpler, sharper, and easier to repeat
What to post and say when you feel stuck, skeptical, or tired of “marketing”
A practical approach to visibility that still feels ethical, human, and aligned
If you’re building something meaningful and you’re ready for people to actually find it, talk about it, and choose it, this episode is your push to get out of the shadows and into the spotlight with conviction.
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# 150 | Growth Alliance, Nonprofit Leadership, and the Gaps No One Talks About

In this power session, Kyle King and Dr. Daniel Freeman dive into the real state of nonprofit leadership, where it’s falling short, why growth is stalling, and what leaders must do differently to scale impact. They unpack the philosophy behind the Growth Alliance and challenge leaders to rethink capacity, accountability, and what effective leadership actually requires today.
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# 149 | Why We’re Building the Contagious Culture Conference

In this power session, Kyle King and Dr. Daniel Freeman—co-founders of the Contagious Culture Conference, pull back the curtain on why this conference exists, what problem it’s solving, and what attendees can expect from the experience. This episode is all about vision, urgency, and building something that actually moves leaders from inspiration to execution.
Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference
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🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers
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#148 | How to Build Belonging That Lasts: Community Engagement in Schools W/ Sarah Sooklal

What if we stopped treating community as a “nice-to-have”… and started building it like the foundation it really is?
In this episode, Kyle sits down with Sarah Sooklal, Director of Community Engagement at Cannon School, to talk about the real work behind thriving school communities, where parents, alumni, grandparents, board members, and friends don’t just show up… they feel seen, heard, and valued.
Sarah shares how her journey from the classroom (and the art room) shaped her empathetic, creative approach to engagement, and why community building isn’t just an outcome of good work—it’s the heartbeat of meaningful advancement.
You’ll learn:
How to turn events into relationships (not just attendance)
The difference between participation and belonging
How to navigate difficult stakeholder moments with trust and calm leadership
What strong volunteer and alumni engagement systems actually look like
Why storytelling and stewardship are the bridge between connection and long-term support
Whether you lead a school, nonprofit, or community-driven organization, this conversation will give you both inspiration and practical strategies to build community that lasts.
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Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference
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#147 | From Mission to Money: How Nonprofits Build Predictable Revenue Without Chasing Donors

Most nonprofit leaders are exhausted from bouncing between events, grants, and last-minute appeals just to keep the lights on. If fundraising feels unpredictable, reactive, and overly dependent on hustle, this webinar is for you. In this session, Kyle King and Dan Freeman will show why a great mission alone does not create sustainable funding and what actually does.
You’ll learn the three core systems high-performing nonprofits use to generate consistent revenue, how to diagnose what’s really broken in your current fundraising approach, and how to transform everyday conversations and relationships into repeatable, reliable support. This is not theory. You will walk away with clear, actionable takeaways for building structure, replacing chaos with consistency, and moving from one-time donations to long-term partnerships. And if you’re ready to stop learning and start executing, you’ll also see how leaders are implementing these systems inside a focused 12-week cohort through Growth Alliance, where the real work happens.
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Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference
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#146 | How People-Driven Leadership Prevents Burnout and Builds Contagious Culture W/ Adam Timm

Burnout doesn’t start with workload, it starts with leadership blind spots. Under the Headset takes leaders behind the scenes of everyday decision-making, conversations, and pressures that shape how people actually experience work. This session explores how people-driven leadership, grounded in clarity, empathy, and consistency, can dramatically reduce burnout while building a culture where individuals feel seen, supported, and inspired to give their best.
Drawing from real-world leadership moments, organizational case studies, and proven culture frameworks, participants will learn how to recognize early burnout signals, shift from transactional management to human-centered leadership, and create systems that sustain energy, trust, and performance. Leaders will leave with practical tools to strengthen relationships, align teams around purpose, and build a contagious culture that doesn’t just survive challenges, but grows stronger because of them.
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#145 | Train Your Energy or Go Negative: How Leaders Build Culture From the Inside Out W/ Sara Schaeffer

Culture doesn’t start in meetings, mission statements, or strategy decks.It starts in you.
In this episode, we unpack a hard truth most leaders avoid: if you don’t intentionally train your energy, it will default to negative and your culture will follow.
Every room you walk into feels something.Every decision you make carries emotional weight.Every reaction teaches people what’s acceptable.
We explore how leaders unknowingly shape culture through their internal state, not just their external actions and why energy management is one of the most overlooked leadership skills in schools, nonprofits, and organizations.
You’ll learn how to recognize when your energy is leaking, how negativity quietly spreads through teams, and how disciplined leaders build contagious culture by doing the inner work first.
This episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being intentional. Because the culture you want on the outside can’t exist if it’s not being practiced on the inside.
If you lead people, this conversation will challenge you, ground you, and call you higher.
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Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
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📞 Schedule Your Call Here
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#144 | Stop Calling It Burnout: The Systems Behind Disengagement w/ Dr. Michelle Singh

Burnout is often the symptom, not the root cause.
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michelle Singh for a powerful reframe that challenges how leaders talk about burnout and disengagement. Instead of blaming individuals for being “overwhelmed” or “unmotivated,” we unpack the systems, structures, and leadership behaviors that quietly create disengagement long before people check out.
Dr. Singh shares research-backed insights on how unclear roles, misaligned expectations, constant urgency, and lack of psychological safety drain energy and commitment, especially in mission-driven organizations. More importantly, we explore what leaders can actually change to rebuild trust, focus, and sustainable performance.
If you’re tired of surface-level wellness conversations and ready to address what’s really driving disengagement, this episode will push you to stop treating burnout as a personal issue—and start fixing the systems that cause it.
🌍 Community Invitation + Access to Resources: https://connectwithmichelle.com
🫱🏿‍🫲🏻 Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lctelearning
📺 Subscribe to Michelle's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lctelearning
📝 Explore Michelle's Thought Leadership: https://michelle-singh.mykajabi.com/thoughtleadership
🔴 Wath Michelle's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b9WJvn3T0c
🌐 Learn More About Michelle’s Work: https://lctelearning.com
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Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
Subscribe to Apple Podcasts
📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers
👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance 
👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King