Leadership Untangled: Recent Episodes
Austin Council
This is the official home to Dr. Austin Council's "Leadership Untangled" podcast series for the classes he teaches at Virginia Tech. This podcast series explores different topics related to leadership, social change and how those intersect with life as a college student and beyond.
Greta Harris is the President & CEO of the Better Housing Coalition, a nonprofit community development corporation based in Richmond, Virginia. Greta also serves on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. In this episode, Greta shares the leadership lessons she's learned over the years in community organizing and community development. We also highlight the critical topics of diversity and inclusion, servant leadership, values, having a shared vision, and leading with integrity.
In this powerful episode of Leadership Untangled I speak with Dr. Najla Mouchrek, who is the Program Director for Interfaith Leadership and Holistic Development at Virginia Tech. Najla and I discuss the importance of engaging in dialogue about our faith worldview and how doing this can lead to authentic relationship building and common action to solve the world's most pressing issues.
In this episode I dive deep into what service learning is and what it means for leadership and social change. Joining me in this episode is Catherine Cotrupi, who serves as the Assistant Director of Student Engagement at VT Engage: The Center for Leadership and Service Learning.
In this episode of Leadership Untangled I interview Virginia Tech's own Dr. Katrina Powell. Dr. Powell is the founding director of the Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies, is Professor of Rhetoric and Writing in the Department of English. She also serves as Director of the Center for Rhetoric in Society at Virginia Tech where faculty and graduate students "investigate language use through rhetorical and narrative analysis to understand significant social problems.” This phenomenal conversation includes a host of topics including storytelling, oral histories and how these practices intersect with leadership and social change.
In this incredible episode I virtually "sat down" with the Virginia Tech Director of Student Conduct, Ennis McCrery. Ennis and I discuss leadership, ethics, decision-making and what all this means for college students today.
Join me in listening to this fantastic episode I recorded with one of my heroes, Dr. Ed Osborne. Dr. Osborne is a Professor in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department at the University of Florida. During this podcast episode of Leadership Untangled we discuss the power of building resilience and leading with a growth mindset in the challenging times we live.
In this episode I dive into what being an active citizen means with my friend and colleague Meghan Kuhn! Meghan is the Director of VT Engage: The Center for Leadership and Service at Virginia Tech.
In this episode I explore one of the group values of the Social Change Model, controversy with civility, with Dr. Jennifer Lawrence. Dr. Lawrence is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Politics & Policy in the Department of Political Science at Virginia Tech. She provides some fascinating insights into what "controversy" actually means, how civility can sometimes be dangerous, and how we can use our willingness to interrogate to have difficult conversations.
The man...the myth...the legend...Jon Dain! In this episode I untangle facilitation and leadership with one of my all-time favorite professors. We discuss what effective facilitation looks like (in-person and virtually), barriers to success, and the different hats a facilitator wears!
In this episode I discuss diversity, inclusion and what it means for leadership and social change with one of my closest friends and colleagues, Lauren Oliver, who is an Assistant Director for Resident Life and Residential Colleges at Virginia Tech.
In this episode I talk with my colleague Dr. Gabby McCollum, who is the Assistant Director of Operations and Risk Management for Recreational Sports at Virginia Tech. We discuss a variety of topics related to peer leadership including the importance of understanding what campus resources are and how students can utilize them, as well as the importance of personal wellness during the current pandemic.
In this episode I untangle the concept of emotional intelligence and what it means for leadership with my good friend and colleague Dr. Sky Georges, who works as an Assistant Professor and Leadership Specialist at Tennessee State University!
In this episode I do a deep dive on what social change is with my friend and colleague Dr. C.L. Bohannon. Dr. Bohannon serves as an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, is the newly appointed Associate Director of the School of Architecture and Design, and serves as the Faculty Principal of the Leadership and Social Change Residential College here at Virginia Tech.
In this episode we untangle two "buzz words" in leadership today: systems thinking and wicked problems. I am joined by my friend and colleague Dr. Caitlin Bletscher who is a Scholarly Assistant Professor at Washington State University. Caitlin and I discuss a variety of issues including racism, COVID-19 and the many other systems we live in, how they are intertwined with one another, and what we as change agents (leaders!) can do to fix and dismantle them!
In this episode I interview Dr. Curt Friedel, Associate Professor in the Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education Department and Director of the Center for Cooperative Problem Solving at Virginia Tech about the KAI, otherwise known as Kirton Adaption-Innovation Theory. We discuss how the KAI Inventory can help us better understand our problem solving style and how that can have a profound effect on leadership!
In this episode I untangle how to engage in difficult, "Crucial Conversations" with my friend and colleague Dr. Megan Seibel, who is a certified Crucial Conversations facilitator and Director of VALOR (Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results).
In this episode I discuss the importance of values in leadership and how it connects to congruence within the social change model with my dear friend and colleague Dr. Doug Paxton, who is a Professor and the Co-Director of the Leadership Center at St. Mary's College of California.
In this episode I interview my dear friends and colleagues Drs. Bertrhude albert and Priscilla Zelaya, co-founders of P4H Global, a non-profit organization dedicated to redefining aid. The work these two amazing individuals do is the essence of social change. While you are listening, keep in mind how the concepts we have been learning about with respect to the Social Change Model can be applied to Dr. Albert and Dr. Zelaya's vision for Haiti, Nicaragua, and beyond.
In this episode I chat with my former PhD advisor, mentor, and friend Dr. Matthew Sowcik who is an Assistant Professor of Leadership Development at my alma mater, the University of Florida. We discuss how--despite its misconceptions--humility is a powerful force in leadership and influences how we can be a catalyst for change for ourselves, our relationships, and the communities we live.
In this episode I discuss the power of mentoring with Rex Waters, Virginia Tech's Associate Director for Undergraduate Programs and First Year Experiences. As you listen, reflect on ways in which you can engage in the mentoring process, either as a mentor or a mentee!
I co-authored a textbook chapter in a recent book titled Ethical Leadership: A Primer. In doing so I was connected with Dr. Robert McManus, Professor of Leadership and Communication at the McDonough Center of Leadership and Communication Studies at Marietta College. Rob is an ethical genius. I love the conversation we had about why it is important to developing an ethical framework for leadership in the everyday world.