Best April Freeman Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 103: Candace Kade on her Hybrid Book Series 1:09:10

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1d ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Candace Kade joins PostConsumer Reports for a series of 2025 episodes to discuss her Hybrid books series, with the third book in her trilogy Augmented having just coming out in September. A speculative sci-fi set in a futuristic dystopia, the series centers on Urban, a young woman striving to find her identity in a world that sees her very existenc…

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193: TribalHub CTTP Program Launch 47:32

2M ago47:32

47:32

In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke Freeman sits down with Mike Day, founder and CEO of Tribal Hub. This episode explores the rapidly evolving landscape of tribal technology leadership, focusing on unique challenges and opportunities in tribal enterprises. They unveil the new Certified Tribal Technology Practitioner program, designed to cl…

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192: Return on Relationship 55:21

3M ago55:21

55:21

In this episode of "Magic in the Room," hosts Luke and Chris are joined by Sara Hardwick of Giftology to explore the concept of Return on Relationship. They discuss how investing in authentic, intentional relationships, both internally within teams and externally with clients and partners, can drive loyalty and long-term business outcomes. Sara sha…

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191: Regaining Agency in Chaotic Times 40:45

4M ago40:45

40:45

In this episode of "Magic in the Room," hosts Luke, Hannah, and Chris delve into the themes of leadership, agency, and emotional regulation amidst chaos. They discuss how leaders can maintain control and purpose when faced with unexpected challenges or disruptions, emphasizing the importance of not succumbing to emotional hijacks. The conversation …

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190: Leading Through Loss 36:13

5M ago36:13

36:13

In this episode of "Magic in the Room," hosts Hannah Bratterud, Chris Province, and Luke Freeman delve into the complexities of leadership, particularly when dealing with personal and professional challenges that aren't covered by standard policies. They discuss the importance of embracing a holistic community approach in workplaces, where personal…

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189: Looking Back and Moving Forward 42:01

6M ago42:01

42:01

Welcome to a new season of Magic In The Room! In this episode, hosts Hannah Bratterud, Chris Province, and Luke Freeman reflect on the evolution of their podcast as they enter this new season. They discuss the concept of seasons in both personal and professional contexts, emphasizing the importance of recognizing transitions and growth. The team sh…

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188: Activating Shared Values at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation with Guests Kelley Francen and April Carter 56:40

9M ago56:40

56:40

In today’s episode of Magic in the Room, Chris and Luke sit down with Kelley Francen and April Carter to discuss leadership development at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Kelley and April developed a unique program that integrates the traditional cultural teachings of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation into leadership development. The goal of this progra…

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Ep 102: Andrew Montonera on his John and Betty Stam Biography By Life or By Death 1:01:43

10M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

Andrew Montonera joins PostConsumer reports to discuss his new book By Life or By Death: The Life and Legacy of John and Betty Stam. The Stams were missionaries to China and were tragically martyred in 1934, an event which shook people around the world, partly because their infant daughter survived. Andrew has written a new history of their lives a…

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Ep 101: Peter Assad of Poems of Grace on Singing About the Already But Not Yet 1:23:37

10M ago1:23:37

1:23:37

Peter and Grace Assad make up Poems of Grace, a duo singing songs rooted in Scripture and willing to wrestle through the wilderness journeys of life. Just in time for Advent, this episode features Peter discussing their two releases from the past year Rivers to Eden and Not Here Yet. You can find out more of their story and purchase their albums an…

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Ep 100: Fernando Ortega returns for our 100th episode to discuss his new album! 1:29:51

10M ago1:29:51

1:29:51

It's celebration time! For the 100th episode of the podcast Fernando Ortega returns to discus his new album For All the Saints. We also have a thorough discussion about his book Fernando's Birds bird watching in general, what it means to be rooted to a place and home, and how he has learned to grieve loss and embrace the joys of life over the years…

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187: Wrapping up Lead a Team 42:51

11M ago42:51

42:51

To download the free guide that goes with all the Lead a Team episodes, subscribe at www.magicintheroom.com. Today we wrap up season five of Magic in the Room! This season has focused on the skills that people need when leading a team. The good news is that these skills can be learned, if we are intentional. In this episode, Hannah, Chris, and Luke…

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186: Meaningful Recognition 55:32

12M ago55:32

55:32

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at www.magicintheroom.com. People who lead teams can (and should!) develop a new set of skills. One often overlooked skill is being about to intentionally recognize people's efforts and character in a way that is meaningful. This is a skill that can be learned, it just takes some eff…

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185: Corrective Action 49:54

1y ago49:54

49:54

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com What do we do when people's behavior or performance are not aligned with the values and commitments of an organization? Corrective action is one tool for helping team members know when they are not meeting expectations and what steps they need to take to perform…

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184: Feedback & Engagement 47:51

1y ago47:51

47:51

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com Giving and receiving feedback is critical to individual and team success, yet for many people feedback can feel threatening or unwelcome. In this episode of Magic in the Room, Hannah, Luke, and Chris discuss how to give feedback that is helpful and leads to high…

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183: Performance Development 49:50

1y ago49:50

49:50

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com Every leader wants their team to perform at a high level, but this does not happen by accident. On today’s episode of Magic in the Room Hannah, Chris, and Luke talk about performance development, which includes one-on-ones, development plans, training, and anyth…

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182: Navigating Conflict 45:31

1+ y ago45:31

45:31

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com In today’s Magic in the Room episode, Hannah, Luke, and Chris continue our series on the skills leaders need to build effective teams. Conflict is inevitable, so leaders must learn to navigate it effectively. The first step is to change how we think about confli…

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181: A New Approach to Gifting with guest John Ruhlin 40:08

1+ y ago40:08

40:08

Gifts are often used to build relationships in business, whether with clients, customers, or employees. But what if we have been doing gifting all wrong? In today’s episode of Magic in the Room, Chris and guest John Ruhlin discuss a new way to think about gifting. The bottom line is that gifts can be used to build long-lasting relationships, but no…

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180: Effective Communication 45:24

1+ y ago45:24

45:24

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com This week, on Magic in the Room, we discuss the next skill for leading teams: Effective communication. Often, leaders think they have communicated something by sending an email or mentioning it in a meeting, but the message has yet to be received. Join Hannah, C…

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179: Commitments and Accountability 39:48

1+ y ago39:48

39:48

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com. Today, we continue our series on the skills needed to lead a team. We started with building trust in episode 178. In this Magic in the Room episode, Hannah, Chris, and Luke discuss a new skill: creating an environment of commitment and accountability. The core …

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178: Building Trust 39:01

1+ y ago39:01

39:01

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com In today's episode of Magic in the Room, we continue our series on leading a team with the foundational skill leaders must have: the ability to build trust. It may sound cliche, but trust is the foundation of a high-performing team. In fact, Luke and Hannah argu…

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177: Lead a Team 43:11

1+ y ago43:11

43:11

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at www.magicintheroom.com Welcome to Season 5 of Magic in the Room! In this episode, Hannah, Chris, and Luke introduce the topic we will focus on this year: Lead a Team. Everyone’s leadership journey starts with leading themselves, which was the topic of Season 4 of Magic in the Room…

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: Book Eaters discusses the Barnes and Noble 2022 Book of the Year 51:28

1+ y ago51:28

51:28

In the final episode of season four of Book Eaters Podcast April and Michele drink classic gin martinis and discuss the Barnes and Noble Book of the Year. Will April's love of cooking affect how she feels about the book? Will Michele ever pronounce the main character's name correctly? Join them as they digest this story where a home-cooked meal bec…

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Never Lie by Frieda McFadden: Book Eaters Podcast discusses the Amazon Chart Topper 49:09

1+ y ago49:09

49:09

Michele and April dive deep into the Amazon charts and come up with Never Lie by Frieda McFadden. Discussion around unreliable narrators and the contract between readers and authors is discussed. Is it okay for an author to purposefully lead a reader astray, or must they never lie? The drink in this episode is a Negroni with a bloody twist. Pour a …

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Ep 99: Christmas Traditions with April McClure Stewart 37:33

1+ y ago37:33

37:33

Reverend April McClure Stewart join PostConsumer Reports for the 99th episode, which also happens to be our annual Christmas episode! It's the last show of the year and the last show before we put together something special for the 100th episode. April is a Disciples of Christ pastor and has served in various leadership positions over the years. Bu…

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Ep 98: Wally Brath on Connexion a Jazz Psalter 1:23:19

2y ago1:23:19

1:23:19

Musician, composer, and professor Wally Brath joins the podcast to discuss his new album Connexion a Jazz Psalter. The album consists of nine compositions which set the words of the Psalms to music and along with Brath features the lead vocals of Nikki Lerner and the bass of John Patitucci. You can stream the album everywhere or purchase it on Band…

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176: One Year of Intentional Leadership 37:22

2y ago37:22

37:22

Today, we are wrapping up our season on Intentional Leadership. We believe everyone is a leader because they can notice something that could be better choose how to change things for the better and act to make the change. This simple idea has much depth, and we have spent the last year talking about it! In this episode, Chris, Hannah, and Luke wrap…

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Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver: Book Eaters Podcast discusses the Nobel Prize Winning Novel for Fiction 1:01:35

2y ago1:01:35

1:01:35

In this episode, April and Michele discuss Demon Copperhead the Nobel Prize Winning Novel for Fiction written by Barbara Kingsolver. Pour a Rusty Nail and join them as they discuss what butters their bread about this book based on the classic Charles Dickens Novel, David Copperfield. Is this the coming-of-age story that finally wins Michele over? W…

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175: Hope: The Antidote to Nihilism 47:28

2y ago47:28

47:28

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com The rise of nihilism, the rejection of all moral principles, or the belief that life is meaningless can be challenging to discuss. However, if we are going to be Intentional Leaders, we must be willing to notice changes in the world around us. The good news is t…

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Ep 97: Christmas With Emily Hunter McGowin 1:05:26

2y ago1:05:26

1:05:26

It's time for another Christmas episode! Dr. Emily Hunter McGowin is here to discuss her new book Christmas: The Season of Life and Light. The conversation ranges from the joy and challenges surrounding the holiday, to reclaiming old traditions even while developing new ones, to a lightning round of Emily's Christmas favorites. Her book is out now …

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174: Building Hope with Guest Dr. Chan Hellman 1:01:54

2y ago1:01:54

1:01:54

Dowload the free guide for this eipisode at www.magicintheroom.com. Today, we continue our series on hope by replaying one of our favorite episodes, which lays the foundation for much of our thinking. Hope may seem intangible, but leaders can intentionally nurture hope in the people around them. In this episode, Chris, Hannah, and special guest Dr.…

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173: Hope 52:29

2y ago52:29

52:29

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com. Today, we start the final series in our season on Intentional Leadership by diving into the topic of hope. Hope is not just wishful thinking; instead, hope is the belief that the future will be better and you have the power to make it so. This requires three th…

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172: Practicing Wellbeing with Guest Nicole Casey 55:58

2y ago55:58

55:58

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com Today we continue our conversation about well being and self-care with Nicole Casey. In this episode, Luke, Hannah, and Nicole talk about why being intentional about our well being matters and how to overcome some obstacles to taking care of ourselves. Credits: …

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Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka: Book Eaters Podcast discuss the Edgar Award-Winning Novel 1:00:49

2y ago1:00:49

1:00:49

In this April led episode the Book Eaters discuss the Edgar award-winning novel Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka. April and Michele imbibe the classic cocktail Suffering Bastard as they discuss what butters their bread about the New York Times Best Crime Novel of the Year. No book is perfect so they will also discuss what they didn't like abo…

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171: Redefining Self-Care with Guest Nicole Casey 51:02

2y ago51:02

51:02

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com Today's episode of Magic in the Room focuses on well being. Luke, Hannah, and guest Nicole Casey dive into the idea of self-care. We discuss the misconceptions around self-care and give some practical tips that anyone can use to be more connected to what they ne…

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170: Elevating the Heart of the Company with Guest Ben Scholl 34:31

2y ago34:31

34:31

In today’s episode of Magic in the Room, Chris and guest Ben Scholl talk about how leaders can cultivate a vibrant and sustainable brand by helping team members thrive. Ben and Chris take on this topic through the lens of the hotel industry, but the three principles are the same in every context: create clear paths to growth, involve everyone in pr…

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169: Using Flow State to Care for Your Team's Wellbeing 44:44

2y ago44:44

44:44

In our ongoing series about wellbeing, we want to turn to how leaders can care for the wellbeing of their team while keeping performance high. In this replay episode of Magic in the Room, Luke, Hannah, and Chris discuss how Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's concept of Flow State allows leaders to match the level of challenge to the team's ability. Research…

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168: Resilience and Wellbeing with Guest Lorca Smetana 59:23

2y ago59:23

59:23

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com. In this episode of Magic in the Room, Hannah and Luke visit Lorca Smetana’s Montana farm to discuss the connection between resilience and wellbeing. Lorca is an expert in building holistic resiliency skills, helping parents and professionals in high-stress or t…

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Book Eaters Podcast discusses the USA Today's Best Selling Novel It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover 42:36

2y ago42:36

42:36

Michele and April finally agree on a book. Do they love or hate the best selling novel IT Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover? In this episode, Book Eaters podcast talks about the former USA Today best-selling list and the author who made many marks upon it. Pour yourself a Cape Cod and listen in as they discover if everything is better in Boston or if …

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Ep 96: Author Katherine Briggs on her novel The Eternity Gate 1:09:30

2y ago1:09:30

1:09:30

Katherine Briggs joins the podcast to discuss her new novel The Eternity Gate, a fantasy novel about a handmaiden named Seyo who has a key that will unlock the fate of her kingdom. Along with discussing the novel, this conversation goes into Katherine's writing process and her thoughts on the pressure that writers face in today's publishing industr…

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167: Practices for Wellbeing 52:48

2y ago52:48

52:48

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com Every time we get on an airplane, we hear, “Put on your oxygen mask first.” This is good advice, even if we are not in an airplane emergency! In this Magic in the Room episode, Hannah, Luke, and Chris discuss wellbeing in the next part of our Intentional Leaders…

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Ep. 95: Austin Freeman on his book Tolkien Dogmatics 1:06:10

2y ago1:06:10

1:06:10

Author and professor Austin Freeman joins episode 95 to discuss his book Tolkien Dogmatics, a theological reading of J.R.R. Tolkien's works. Dr. Freeman is a professor at Houston Christian University where he teaches on theology, literature, and apologetics and has also contributed to other books on theological approaches to science fiction and fan…

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166: Your Unique Contribution: The Fundamentals of Service 38:05

2y ago38:05

38:05

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com Today on Magic in the Room, we wrap up our series on discovering your unique contribution, which is the intersection of the needs of your community and your strengths, values, and experience. In many organizations, there is a need for some form of service, so un…

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165: Your Unique Contribution: Making HR More Human with Guest Kari Gras 58:50

2y ago58:50

58:50

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com What does it take for HR functions to be more focused on supporting people than being the principal's office? In this episode of Magic in the Room, Hannah and Luke sit down with Kari Gras to talk about how she has learned to make HR more human. This is not an ea…

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Ep 94: Rachel Wilhelm on Singing The Words of Jeremiah 1:09:04

2y ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Rachel Wilhelm joins the podcast again to discuss her new album Jeremiah, a collection of song adapted from the words of the prophet Jeremiah. Like with previous episodes this interview is also a kind of deep dive "radio special" for the album featuring excerpts of the song and the background behind them. Rachel previously appeared on the podcast d…

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164: Your Unique Contribution: Courageously Finding your Contribution with Guest Karen Lum 1:07:54

2y ago1:07:54

1:07:54

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com In today’s episode of Magic in the Room, we continue our series on finding your unique contribution, which is the intersection of your strengths and values with the needs of your community. Karen Lum joins Hannah and Luke to discuss how leaders can discover thei…

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163: Your Unique Contribution: Understanding How to Apply Your Strengths and Values 56:47

2y ago56:47

56:47

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com In the Magic in the Room episode, we continue our series on Intentional Leadership by asking: “How do I contribute to the organization I am part of in a way that is unique to who I am?” Luke, Hannah, and Chris discuss how to understand the business model of your…

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Babel by R.F. Kuang: Book Eaters Discusses the Nebula Award Winner for Best Novel 2023 1:04:37

2y ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Michele and April discuss what butters their bread about Babel: Or, The Necessity of Violence An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators Revolution by R.F Kuang. They discover the minty freshness of a Stinger classic cocktail and delve deep into conversation about pronunciation and their love of language. Join them as they decide if they agree wit…

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162: Love in the Workplace with Guest Renée Smith 1:03:44

2y ago1:03:44

1:03:44

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com Renée Smith champions a more loving and human workplace. Love is not a word we often use when talking about work. However, Renée believes love is critical to creating workplaces that allow people to solve the biggest problems we face. In this episode of Magic in…

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161: Survival Strategies: Four Steps for Handling Stress 46:05

2y ago46:05

46:05

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com This week on Magic in the Room, we continue discussing managing stress. One approach to managing stress is to use the Four Cs: calm, contain, care, and cope. The Four Cs framework originates in trauma-informed care in the medical practice, but we apply it in thi…

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160: Survival Strategies: Belonging’s Critical Role in Transition from Military to Civilian Life with Guest Sara McNamara 38:57

2y ago38:57

38:57

To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe at magicintheroom.com. Today we continue our series on survival strategies and how we handle stress. Guest Sara McNamara works to help military men and women move from military to civilian life, which is very stressful. One key to making that transition successful is if there is a se…