Many people have been catalysts for you in your life and work. And, you are a catalyst for others. How we lead and the culture we create sends ripples to others.

In an era where employee engagement has reached a ten-year low and trust in leadership remains a rare commodity, how do we move beyond simply "surviving" our workplace environments? Most organizations operate like thermometers—merely reacting to the stress, chaos, and temperature of the room. But what if you possessed the power to set the temperature yourself?

In the Season 10 episode 2 of The Thermostat Podcast, Jason V Barger explores the transformative concept of the catalyst. A catalyst is more than just a leader; it is a person or an experience that stimulates progress and propels a culture toward its highest potential.

Drawing from a powerful story of grace under pressure at a post-9/11 airport security line, Jason illustrates how the ripple effect of our individual thoughts and actions can shift the energy of an entire team.

This episode provides a masterclass in:

• The Power of the Ripple Effect: Understanding how your emotional intelligence (EQ) acts as the "pebble" dropped into your organization's pond.

• Smart Leadership: The fascinating connection between modern thermostat technology—specifically the "catalyst" add-on—and our own need for "intelligent control" in our personal development.

• Intentional Culture Shaping: Why the best corporate cultures don't happen by accident, but are co-created by leaders committed to being catalysts for change.

• Navigating Low Engagement: Practical ways to bring hope, trust, and stability to leadership in teams when the world feels most volatile.

As Jason reflects on his journey as an author and speaker, he reminds us that we cannot create the "future version" of ourselves without honoring the catalysts that came before us. Whether you are a CEO, a manager, or an individual contributor, you have the opportunity to calibrate your thermostat and breathe good oxygen back into your environment.

Questions to ponder from this episode:

1. Who has been a catalyst for you in your life and your work?

2. In what ways would you like to be a catalyst for others in the year ahead?

3. What catalysts are needed to shape the culture you want on your team right now?

Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others!

For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/you-are-a-catalyst/

Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

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As a new year begins, Jason reminds us all that our canvas is blank. Who do we want to BE in the year ahead and what cultures do we want to create?

Set the Temperature of Your Leadership and Corporate Culture.

In a world of constant disruption, high-performing teams don't just happen by accident—they are led by design. Welcome to The Thermostat with Jason V. Barger, the podcast dedicated to helping you step back, breathe in "good oxygen," and calibrate the temperature of your life, your leadership, and your organization.

Hosted by Jason V. Barger—globally celebrated author, consultant, and keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies—this show is an essential resource for elite executives, entrepreneurs, and team leaders who recognize that corporate culture is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Rather than just reacting to the "weather" around them, true leaders act as thermostats—intentionally setting the climate for innovation, accountability, and engagement. Through solo insights and interviews with world-class thought leaders, Jason unpacks the mindsets required to thrive in today's complex business landscape.

Each episode is a strategic "micro-break" designed to help you move beyond the "doing" of your daily task list and into the "being" of an impactful leader. Key themes include:

• Corporate Culture Strategy: How to move vision from a daydream to a created reality.

• Leadership in Teams: Master the E.A.T. framework (Empathy, Reciprocal Accountability, and Trust).

• Emotional Intelligence: Developing the self-awareness and regulation needed to lead through change.

• Servant Leadership: Flipping the pyramid to empower your people and drive sustainable results.

• Mindset Calibration: Practical tools to stay grounded and inspired, no matter the external environment.

Jason V. Barger is a sought-after motivational keynote speaker and leadership consultant known for his work with some of the world's most recognizable brands. He is the author of several celebrated books, including Thermostat Cultures and ReMember, and is committed to breathing oxygen into organizations to help them set the temperature they desire.

Are you ready to calibrate? Subscribe today and become an ambassador for the culture you want to create.

Learn more and connect with Jason at JasonVBarger.com

Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others!

For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/new-year-your-canvas-is-blank/

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

Make Your 2025 Effective!
Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com

Like or Follow Jason 👍
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/
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Jason celebrates the last year of the podcast and highlights the themes and conversations that resonated with so many people across teams and cultures.

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For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/cheers-to-2025/

Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

Make Your 2025 Effective!
Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com

Like or Follow Jason 👍
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/
X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

In the midst of the holiday season, Jason shares his wishlist for himself and all of his listeners as we bring one year to an end and shift our sights ahead.

Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others!

For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/wishlists-for-all/

Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

Make Your 2025 Effective!
Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com

Like or Follow Jason 👍
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/
X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

Jason reflects on his own observations on some of the high-level findings from the recent Harvard Global Leadership Development Study and what opportunities exist for the future.

Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others!

For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/harvard-leadership-study/

Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

Make Your 2025 Effective!
Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com

Like or Follow Jason 👍
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/
X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

Conversations stimulate progress when we talk with people and not at them. The best team cultures develop healthy ways they communicate together to stimulate progress.

Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others!

For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/conversations-currency-for-change/

Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

Make Your 2025 Effective!
Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com

Like or Follow Jason 👍
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/
X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

The best team cultures realize that recruiting isn't transactional. It's transformational and impacted by how we lead, serve and compete as a team.

Episode Summary: Is "transformational recruiting" dead in the age of the Transfer Portal and NIL? In this episode, Jason sits down with college basketball legend and CBS Sports analyst Clark Kellogg to dismantle the idea that leadership has become purely transactional. They explore why culture remains the ultimate competitive advantage for any team—whether on the court or in the corporate boardroom. Clark shares his personal philosophy on being a "faithful presence" amidst chaos, the rise of servant leadership in modern coaching, and how to maintain deep human connection in a fast-paced world. Tune in for a masterclass on stewardship, influence, and building teams that last.

Key Takeaways & Timestamps:

• [00:05:26] Beyond the Analyst Desk: Clark reveals the side of him most fans don't see—including his "silly" side and his obsession with order and details.

• [00:07:48] The "Faithful Presence" Philosophy: Clark breaks down his personal definition of success: being a faithful presence of the "fruit of the spirit" (patience, kindness, self-control) in every room he enters, from the airport to the studio.

• [00:13:20] Servant Leadership Defined: Why the most effective leaders today aren't "top-of-the-pyramid" authoritarians, but influencers who focus on moving their people "up and forward."

• [00:19:00] Examples of Excellence: A look at modern coaching cultures that win by putting people first, featuring insights on Ryan Day (Ohio State), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), and Shaka Smart (Marquette).

• [00:22:54] The Great Debate: Transactional vs. Transformational: Jason and Clark push back on the narrative that recruiting is now solely transactional. They discuss why high-performers still choose culture and development over a quick paycheck.

• [00:30:28] The Gonzaga Case Study: How a commitment to culture transformed a small school in Spokane into a national powerhouse and 4x'd the university's budget.

• [00:36:31] The Power of Connection: Clark discusses his current passion for connecting good people to good causes through his work with the Columbus Foundation.

Quotable Moments:

• "Leadership really is influence... committed to the responsibility you have to elevate and serve those entrusted to your care."

• "Culture is your greatest competitive advantage."

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Clark Kellogg, CBS Sports Analyst & Columbus Foundation Governing Committee

• Thermostat Cultures by Jason V. Barger

• The Columbus Foundation

Connect with Jason: Visit JasonVBarger.com for more resources on developing leaders and setting the temperature of your team's culture.

Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others!

For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/transformational-recruiting-clark-kellogg/

Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

Make Your 2025 Effective!
Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com

Like or Follow Jason 👍
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/
X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger

Gratitude shifts our mindset, which shifts our actions and interactions. What does it look like to take time to shift the mindsets within our cultures to gratitude?

Please rate and review the podcast to help amplify these messages to others!

For full show notes visit https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/gratitude-shifts-cultures/

Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVBarger

Make Your 2025 Effective!
Book Jason with your team at https://www.jasonvbarger.com

Like or Follow Jason 👍
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbarger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvbarger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvbarger/
X: https://x.com/JasonvBarger