A packed résumé, external validation, and a full scoreboard do not always add up to a satisfying life. Michelle Johnston welcomes Laura Gassner Otting for a lively, deeply honest conversation about the gap between achievement and fulfillment, and why so many accomplished people still feel empty after checking every box. Michelle and Laura explore how early definitions of success get planted, why they are so hard to outgrow, and what it takes to recalibrate once you realize the path you are on no longer fits. Laura shares her own story of heading toward law school, recognizing almost immediately that it was the wrong path, and making a bold pivot that eventually led her to the Clinton White House and the creation of AmeriCorps. The story becomes a larger lesson in permission: permission to change, permission to admit you were wrong, and permission to redefine success at every stage of life. Sharp, funny, and full of substance, this episode is a reminder that success without alignment can feel empty, but success rooted in self-knowledge, purpose, and real relationships can become something much more powerful.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome to The Seismic Shift
00:35 Laura Gassner Otting on why success can feel empty
02:17 Chasing goals that are not really yours
04:44 From the what to the who
06:08 Social comparison and redefining success
07:00 What truly motivates people at work
09:02 Law school, Bill Clinton, and a life-changing pivot
11:47 Curiosity, reinvention, and pursuing a PhD
15:02 From interesting work to rigorous research
17:31 What Laura’s data reveals about leadership
19:03 Why people leave when they do not feel seen
20:09 Money, meaning, and what really matters
21:54 Shared vision and the science of change
23:51 The power of inspiration at work
26:09 Carolyn’s story and redefining ambition
29:11 What leaders must do differently now
29:31 Laura’s top three leadership takeaways
30:11 Closing reflections on success and service

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Dennis Lauscha carries one of the most demanding leadership portfolios in sports—President and CEO of the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, and a wide network of Gayle Benson companies. Sitting down at the Saints training facility, Michelle Johnston and Dennis unpack what’s changing fastest in the NFL and NBA—and what leaders can learn from it. Dennis breaks down a major business reality fans don’t always see: how the shutdown of regional sports broadcast partners forced teams to rethink distribution, marketing, and the entire way games reach the public. The Saints and Pelicans responded by moving deeper into content creation and direct-to-consumer offerings—expanding visibility across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle, and reframing what “small market” even means. He and Michelle tackle the real tension leaders feel: calendars that don’t match values, the pressure professional sports can put on families, and the manager’s responsibility to set clear expectations and coach performance with honesty and respect.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 A capital gap across the Gulf South
00:36 Inside Dennis Lauscha’s role leading Saints, Pelicans, and Benson companies
01:41 The seismic shift: regional sports networks disappear
03:10 Becoming a content company: broadcasts, radio, and direct-to-consumer
05:52 Connection at scale: listening systems and “number one” fan experience
07:34 Kaizen in action: making every voice speak up in meetings
09:23 Psychological safety: bring the problem and a solution
11:42 Beyond Gen Z labels: explain the “why” and set people up to win
14:51 One life, one calendar: leadership pressure and work-family balance
18:39 Why the Benson Leadership Academy exists
22:37 Leader vs. manager: art + science
25:28 Loyalty and trust as a talent strategy
26:42 The “it factor,” DEI, and widening the talent pipeline
30:06 Dennis’ career path: Loyola, CPA, and the Saints audit that changed everything
37:42 Leadership under Gayle Benson and the “double/triple bottom line”
42:45 Advice for breaking into pro sports: commitment, growth, and opportunity
44:35 Closing and thanks

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Tim Williamson—founder and CEO of NewCo—maps the seismic shift he’s watching unfold: AI accelerating change while humans decide whether to lean in or lock down. He and Dr. Michelle K. Johnston trace how New Orleans’ superpower—real connection—can become a competitive advantage in the next innovation cycle. Tim unpacks why most new ideas die at the “Thanksgiving table,” how supportive ecosystems keep curiosity alive, and why rhythms and rituals are more than fun—they’re civic glue that helps communities recover from shocks. The conversation lands on a bold vision: AI freeing time, humans reconnecting, and creativity surging into a new renaissance.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome + meet Tim Williamson and NewCo
01:35 The seismic shift: AI, fear, excitement, and disruption cycles
03:43 “AI is connection” and getting off the scary cliff
04:08 Why new ideas need a safe community to survive
06:49 The “Thanksgiving table” where ideas go to die
08:15 New Orleans as a front-porch city built for connection
10:02 What NewCo is and why it’s a home base for new ideas
12:46 AI that helps leaders connect people at scale
16:07 Connection dinners: designing belonging on purpose
20:01 Why connection drives trust, innovation, and performance
20:52 Rhythms and rituals: the civic cadence that holds a city together
26:19 Katrina lessons: how rituals helped New Orleans come back
29:44 AI frees time—what if it triggers a creative renaissance?
33:13 Closing: calendar, connection, and choosing deeper humanity

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/