Aspire to Inspire Podcast

Welcome to the Aspire to Inspire Podcast!

When inspiration comes from the top, the whole company will benefit. 

In each episode of the Aspire to Inspire podcast, we dig deeper into real-world stories and actionable insights to help founders and executives inspire change. We explore the challenges and triumphs of leaders who have learned to leverage communications expertly.

Join us as we probe the minds of successful CXOs to hear how they use communication to inspire people, drive transformation, and create business impact. Discover how you can ignite transformation within your own company.

Aspire to Inspire Podcast

Latest episodes

Designing with Your Ears: Julian Treasure on Listening, Leadership & Leveraging Sound

Designing with Your Ears: Julian Treasure on Listening, Leadership & Leveraging Sound

52m 7s

How is the most powerful leadership skill also the most neglected — contributing to disengagement costing organizations an estimated 8.8 trillion dollars a year?

In this compelling episode of the Aspire to Inspire Podcast, globally renowned speaker and TED Talk legend Julian Treasure joins host Lottie Bazley to unpack the invisible influence of sound on our work, behavior, and communication. From the neuroscience of noise to the business cost of disengagement, Julian explains why failing to really listen could be your organization’s most expensive mistake.

Julian shares insights from his new book Sound Affects and explains how sound shapes our...

 What AI Gets Wrong: Miri Rodriguez on Designing Ethical AI for Women

What AI Gets Wrong: Miri Rodriguez on Designing Ethical AI for Women

52m 11s

Join Emma Fischer, Content Marketing Manager at Staffbase, as she sits down with Miri Rodriguez—CEO of Empressa AI, award-winning storyteller, and Microsoft veteran—for a moving conversation about ethical AI, women’s voices, and the power of storytelling. In this deeply personal and visionary episode, Miri breaks down how Empressa is challenging the norms of generative AI by sourcing real insights from women around the world—including returning value to them through royalties and representation.

From emotional honesty in tech to rewriting your origin story as a path to personal power, Miri shares practical frameworks, vulnerable experiences, and bold calls to action for...

From Obama's White House to Your Workplace: Terry Szuplat on Authentic Communication

From Obama's White House to Your Workplace: Terry Szuplat on Authentic Communication

50m 13s

In this episode of the Aspire to Inspire Podcast, host Lottie Bazley sits down with Terry Szuplat, former senior speechwriter to President Barack Obama and bestselling author of Say It Well. They dive into the power of storytelling, the emotional impact of authenticity, and why every person—regardless of title—has a story worth telling.

Terry shares behind-the-scenes White House moments, practical communication tools, and insight on writing speeches that move people—not just inform them. Whether you’re delivering a keynote, a wedding toast, or an internal company update, Terry believes that every one of us has a story worth telling. This episode...

Think Faster, Talk Smarter: Matt Abrahams on Mastering High-Stakes Communication

Think Faster, Talk Smarter: Matt Abrahams on Mastering High-Stakes Communication

37m 41s

What do TED speakers, UN officials, and CEOs have in common? When they need to speak with clarity and confidence under pressure, they call Matt Abrahams.

In this episode of the Aspire to Inspire Podcast, Matt Abrahams—Stanford lecturer, author, and host of Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast—joins host Athena Koutsonikolas to share practical insights into spontaneous speaking. From managing anxiety to answering difficult questions with confidence, Matt offers science-backed strategies and personal techniques to help anyone sound—and feel—more self-assured in high-pressure moments.
Whether you struggle with small talk, want to command a room, or just need to stop blanking...