In this After the Chaos bonus episode, Kandice and Angela discuss the insights gained from their conversation with Foster Mobley, Ed.D., focusing on the importance of authenticity, transparency, and honoring in leadership within the healthcare industry. They emphasize the need for leaders to model positive behaviors, assume positive intent, and foster trust among team members to create a collaborative and effective work environment. The discussion highlights the challenges faced in healthcare leadership and emphasizes the importance of genuine connections in improving organizational culture and patient care.

Episode Chapter Guide:
00:00 Introduction to Leadership Insights
02:01 Authenticity in Leadership
05:02 The Concept of Honoring in Leadership
09:46 Building Trust and Positive Intent
14:01 The Joy of Authentic Collaboration

In this episode of Success in Chaos, Angela Adams and Kandice Garcia Tomkins engage with Dr. Foster Mobley, a seasoned leader in healthcare. They explore the essence of authentic leadership, the importance of self-awareness, and the challenges leaders face in chaotic environments. Dr. Mobley emphasizes the need for leaders to connect deeply with their teams, cut through the noise, and embrace change, especially in the context of AI's growing influence in healthcare. The conversation also highlights the significance of honoring oneself and others in leadership roles, and the continuous journey of self-discovery and growth.

Episode chapter guide:
06:13 Foster Mobley's Journey in Healthcare Leadership
11:24 The Essence of Authentic Leadership
13:39 Leading in Chaos: Insights from Experience
16:33 The Importance of Connection in Leadership
18:29 The Importance of People in Leadership
21:42 The Concept of Honoring in Relationships
24:54 Navigating Leadership Styles
27:51 The Role of AI in Leadership
32:55 Leadership Lessons from Experience

Foster's book recommendations:
Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You: Brad Stulberg
How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen: David Brooks
Lead with Your Heart . . . Lessons from a Life with Horses: Allan J. Hamilton MD
Leadersh*t: Rethinking the True Path to Great Leading: Foster Mobley, Ed.D.

And check out Foster's Podcast "Step Wise: Conversations with Inspiring Leaders"

In this episode of After the Chaos, Kandice and Angela discuss their conversation with Blair Childs, focusing on the macro and micro levels of healthcare, the implications of rural healthcare funding, and the challenges and opportunities presented by recent policy changes. They emphasize the importance of understanding the details of healthcare reforms and the need for proactive engagement from healthcare professionals to navigate the evolving landscape effectively.

Episode chapter guide:

02:35 Understanding Macro and Micro Perspectives in Healthcare

05:19 The Impact of Rural Healthcare Funding

08:39 Navigating Change in Healthcare Systems

Policy veteran Blair Childs, CEO of Childs and Associates, joins hosts Angela Adams, RN, and Kandice Garcia Tomkins, RN to make sense of D.C.’s latest “big beautiful bill” and the forces reshaping U.S. healthcare. Blair distills three defining shifts—market-based total-cost accountability, fixing perverse fee-for-service incentives, and true consumerism via interoperable data—and explains what leaders should do now. The conversation dives into the Rural Transformation Fund timeline, why to engage state Medicaid offices immediately, and how accelerating value-based care can reduce chaos and improve outcomes.

Episode chapter guide:

01:42 Meet Blair Childs: A Healthcare Policy Expert

05:38 Blair's Journey in Healthcare Policy

10:46 Transitioning to a Market-Based Healthcare System

16:45 Understanding the Big Beautiful Bill

23:19 The Future of Rural Healthcare

28:08 Accelerating Value-Based Care

To access the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, visit congress.gov.

In this "After the Chaos" episode, Angela and Kandice reflect on their conversation with Melonie Lagalante, FACHE—a powerhouse leader driving community-focused transformation at St. Tammany Health System. From her ability to fast-track the implementation of innovation to her deeply rooted leadership philosophy, Melonie exemplifies what it means to lead with urgency, purpose, and humility. Angela and Kandice discuss how Melonie’s commitment to decentralizing decision-making and empowering teams fuels a culture of trust, action, and long-term retention. They also reflect on the evolving role of hospitals as community anchors and how Melonie's team models excellence in both care and collaboration.

Episode chapter guide:
04:34 Melonie's Leadership Journey
11:52 Community-Centric Healthcare Success
17:50 Navigating Healthcare Challenges
22:29 Building a Culture of Innovation
29:31 Leadership Insights and Advice

Melonie Lagalante, FACHE, shares how St. Tammany Health System turned rapid change into lasting progress. From post-COVID workforce recovery to high-reliability care and homegrown talent pipelines, she reveals how culture, community, and mission-driven leadership fuel innovation. This episode serves as a playbook for leaders navigating staffing challenges, operational pressures, and transformation, all while maintaining a focus on what matters most: people.

Episode chapter guide:
04:34 Melonie's Leadership Journey
11:52 Community-Centric Healthcare Success
17:50 Navigating Healthcare Challenges
22:29 Building a Culture of Innovation
29:31 Leadership Insights and Advice

Melonie's Reading List

• Hardwiring Excellence: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, Making a Difference - Quint Studer
• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts - Brené Brown

In this "After the Chaos" episode, Kandice and Angela unpack their conversation with healthcare innovator Kara Trott. They delve into Kara's strategic approach to navigating and solving the complexities of healthcare through rigorous data analysis, patient-centric storytelling, and empathy-driven solutions. Kandice and Angela discuss Kara's visionary foresight, emphasizing the importance of slowing down to fully understand problems before rushing to solutions, and discuss her remarkable ability to stay relevant in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. This conversation is a must-listen for leaders seeking actionable insights on sustaining innovation and effective leadership in healthcare.

Angela and Kandice welcome healthcare innovator Kara Trott, founder and former CEO of Quantum Health. In this inspiring episode, Kara shares insights from her incredible journey of transforming consumer healthcare navigation into a billion-dollar business.

Kara’s new book, No One Alone: Humanizing Healthcare as an Outsider, explores how empathy, consumer-centric approaches, and strategic innovation can profoundly impact healthcare. Listen in to discover how embracing the consumer experience, leveraging outsider perspectives, and building mission-driven companies can effectively disrupt the chaos of healthcare.

You can click here to purchase your copy of No One Alone!

Episode chapter guide:

03:12 A Journey from Law to Healthcare

05:16 The Motivation Behind Writing 'No One Alone'

08:38 Foundations of Quantum Health: Data and Patient Journey

09:37 Understanding Consumer Behavior in Healthcare

20:24 Navigating the Chaos of Healthcare

23:18 Keys to Success in a Chaotic Environment