Best Jacob Dyer Podcasts (2025)

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181. Lincoln Park Zoo 57:16

Play Pause

1d ago57:16

57:16

Zoos are fine if you don't think about them too much. And almost none of them have thousands of corpses beneath them! This is the story of the Lincoln Park Zoo. Come for the ghosts, stay for puma content, the New Yerk Yerkies, this podcast makes you horny, a little wander down the fairy path, more chained animals please, lessons from Jurassic Park,…

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180. The Ghost of Jacob's Island 36:15

8d ago36:15

36:15

They can't all be winners. This is the story of the ghost of Jacob's Island. Come for the ghost, stay for pudding out the fire, a little bit quieter every day, the worst color for water, the Hindu Exorcist, Is This a Train?, and a subset of American congresspeople. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_London https://en.wikipedia.org…

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179. Dyer Lane 48:09

19d ago48:09

48:09

Patrick gets pretty excited about the sexy witches in this one, you're going to really like it! This is the story of Dyer Lane. Come for the ghosts, stay for a national conversation about parades, the half plus seven rule, classic America stuff, a disappearance of women, don’t let my pigs see me like this, tractor violence, and the coven-tractor-de…

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178. Fort William Henry 37:00

26d ago37:00

37:00

Men will build so many forts in the same exact location rather than go to therapy. This is the story of Fort William Henry. Come for the ghosts, stay for the biggest turkeys, no grazi, we hate this stuff, chip-on-the-shoulder piracy, permanent squid, a bastion you could eat off of, little French feet, and a girthy chub. Sources: https://en.wikipedi…

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177. Forepaugh's Restaurant 41:33

1M ago41:33

41:33

Land O' Lakes? More like Land O' Hot Takes, amiright? (Please forget everything you hear in this episode.) This is the story of Forepaugh's Restaurant. Come for the ghosts, stay for bad bears, chicken pox party soccer team, foreplay of the animal kingdom, every dry good vendor's dream, the few privileges left to white males, a different John Hammon…

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176. Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo Hotel: Part 2 52:36

2M ago52:36

52:36

I'll tell ya, this is a LOT of Bugsy content, I sure hope the payoff is worth it! This is part two of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Come for the ghost, stay for bowling math, the newest Executive Member at Costco, a little tugboat action, the full all-star team, let’s see him get out of this one, get it out of your mouth, the wo…

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175. Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo Hotel: Part 1 56:18

2M ago56:18

56:18

We're pretty sure there are no slurs in this episode, but in case we're wrong, we want to issue a blanket apology from Patrick, who is solely at fault. This is the first part of the story of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo Hotel. Come for the ghost, stay for a volume problem, big sad men, commuting for gangs, Michael Shannon's sweaty suit, the plot t…

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174. 2025 Halloween Spooktacular: Two Haunts and a Flaunt 46:17

2M ago46:17

46:17

Ding dong. Who's there? It's Patrick, dressed as Clayton, owner and proprietor of Is This a Ghost? the Podcast the Movie. And you know what that means. This is the 2025 Halloween Spooktacular: Two Haunts and a Flaunt. Come for the ghosts, stay for semen of male cow, nope nope nope nope nope, your skin is so pale, re-Mary, let's poll some babies, i'…

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173. Franklin Castle 1:01:05

2M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

To be clear, this is not the story of the Punisher. This is the story of Franklin Castle. Come for the ghosts, stay for a blue line freak out, a tough time for Hanses. Germans love a purebred, everyone's in the consumption business, the good diabetes, spiraling into the stairwell, balance your witches, and evil Dairy Queen. Sources: Haunted Frankli…

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172. The Ma Barker House 1:01:58

2M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Anytime you can use a gator as a landmark, you know you've made some poor life decisions. And that those decisions involve Florida. This is the story of the Ma Barker House. Come for the ghosts, stay for horse magic, Trope-a-Dope 2, tentacles like to make themselves known, C. Roy die in the street, the Ohio of the western side of Chicago, the most …

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Culture Is a Practice: Chris Dyer on Leading with Clarity, Speed, and Trust 41:40

3M ago41:40

41:40

What if company culture wasn’t just a set of values on the wall—but a daily operating system? In this episode of Catalysts, Jacob Ratliff sits down with Chris Dyer—globally recognized leadership speaker, best-selling author, and remote work pioneer—to break down what high-performance culture actually looks like in practice. Chris has been named a T…

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171. Rolling Hills Asylum 47:34

3M ago47:34

47:34

It's time for a brand new segment: Trope-a-Dope! It's a fun way to see if Patrick's been paying attention to the many tropes we've uncovered over the last 170 episodes. The answer...may surprise you. (But it probably won't.) This is the story of the Rolling Hills Asylum. Come for the ghosts, stay for the secret about peyote, Boy Meets Afterworld, t…

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Speak the Language of Power: Ash Seddeek on Executive Presence and Strategic Influence 27:48

3M ago27:48

27:48

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170. The Ghosts of Harpers Ferry 1:00:42

3M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Do you like boats? Of course you like boats. Do you like George Washington? Or course you like George Washington. Do you like West Virginia? Oh no we've lost you. This is the story of Harpers Ferry. Come for the ghosts, stay for the soupciest soupçon, I'm not an idiot, the Florida gooch, cursive is so in these days, make us sound so smart Jeremy, s…

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From Cost Center to Business Driver: Andrew Scivally on Rebranding L&D for Impact 32:30

3M ago32:30

32:30

If your learning team is still seen as a cost center, this episode will change how you show up. Jacob sits down with Andrew Scivally, CEO of ELB Learning, to explore why L&D’s credibility is suffering—and what it takes to reposition the function as a performance-driven strategic partner. Andrew has worked with Fortune 100s, led L&D at JPMorgan Chas…

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169. Stede Bonnet and his Pirate Crew 42:03

3M ago42:03

42:03

If there's one thing Patrick loves, it's ship episodes. Looooooves ship episodes. Looooooooooooooooooves ship episodes! This is the story of Stede Bonnet and his Pirate Crew. Come for the ghosts, stay for oo much horse, margarita girlies, ocean doesn't have to be lonely, gotta stop licking the boat, this is basically how Moby Dick opens, I'm sticky…

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168. Robert Schumann, Music Ghost 53:52

3M ago53:52

53:52

This one's basically a ghost story. Okay? This is the story of Robert Schumann. Come for the ghost, stay for this is how brain worms happen, the Zapruder film of my phone, if Don Music can do it..., I was hoping there'd be electro therapy, oh my god the stamina, way behind on my tertiary syphilis, no Ouija boards in Germany, and why would Ernie giv…

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167. The Nathanael Greene Homestead 47:52

4M ago47:52

47:52

Heads up, Revolutionary War dorks! We're heading to the state that makes Patrick angriest to tell the tale of some nerd with a limp. LFG. This is the story of the Nathanel Greene Homestead. Come for the ghost, stay for we do not tell the Dobby story, I'm getting a tattoo of it, Voltaire Jr. and Lady Voltaire, gotta be chlamydia, we need an equipmen…

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166. Blackbird Hill 49:40

4M ago49:40

49:40

Listen, we're going to get to the ghost, but have you heard this story about cell phones? This is the story of Blackbird Hill. Come for the ghost, stay for we should cherish our elderly, a French accent that just gets better, he found such fortune, I fell in love with a volleyball, infidelity for dinner, and men be stabbin', Sources: https://lewis-…

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165. Nell Cropsey 45:17

4M ago45:17

45:17

Listen, friends. Sometimes life finds a way. And sometimes life gets away. And when life gets away, that's when ChatGPT has your back to pick up the slack. Buckle up, this one's different. This is the story of Nell Cropsey. Come for the ghost, stay for everyone's into something, a podcast about innovation, the Savannah of the North, the John Henry …

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Leading Through Disruption: Rahul Karan Sharma on Human-Centered Transformation 36:18

4M ago36:18

36:18

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Rahul Karan Sharma—organizational development consultant, fractional CLO, and Forbes Coaches Council member—to explore what it really takes to lead through change that matters. Rahul has spent 20+ years helping companies navigate post-merger integration, cultural alignment, and leadership acceleration. …

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164. The Hellfire Caves 1:07:00

4M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Welcome to Season 2! This season is going to be stranger, sexier, and way more innovative. Don't be surprised if Patrick starts showing up to the tapings nude. It's just the kind of thing we need to juice the ratings and avoid a sophomore slump. This is the story of the Hellfire Caves. Come for the ghosts, stay for Old Yeller 2: Lost in the Jungle,…

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Designing with Intention: Ron Price on the Power of Experiential E-Learning 38:49

4M ago38:49

38:49

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Ron Price, Chief Learning Officer at Yukon Learning—Articulate’s official training partner for over 17 years. Ron brings a rare blend of deep instructional design expertise and hands-on development experience, helping organizations turn good ideas into great learning experiences. Together, we explore: W…

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Human-First in the Age of AI: Arika Pierce Williams on Rebranding Leadership for a New Era 34:27

5M ago34:27

34:27

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Arika Pierce Williams, CEO and Founder of Piercing Strategies, to talk about what it really means to lead in the AI era—without losing what makes us human. Arika isn’t just rethinking leadership—she’s rebranding it. Through her Human-First Leadership™ framework, she’s helping organizations develop leade…

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Unlocking Modern Work: Mark Cruth on Curiosity, Collaboration, and Making Change Stick 40:35

5M ago40:35

40:35

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Mark Cruth, Principal Modern Work Coach at Atlassian, to explore what it really takes to create effective, energized, and high-performing teams in today’s complex world of work. Mark is a keynote speaker, collaboration coach, and one of the leading voices in the future of teamwork—internally at Atlassia…

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ITAG OOO - Infernal Canyons Prologue 13:31

5M ago13:31

13:31

Hello, you've reached the offices of Is This a Ghost? The guys are on vacation right now and will return with brand new episodes soon. In the meantime, please enjoy this sneak peek of a brand new upcoming horror podcast from Smithshow Media called Infernal Canyons, written by Clayton Smith and Dave Bloom. Subscribe to Infernal Canyons on Spotify or…

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Better at Being Human: DavidLee Richardson on Leadership, Credibility, and the Power of Empathy 33:36

5M ago33:36

33:36

In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by DavidLee Richardson, Head of Organizational Leadership Development at Harris & Harris. David brings a grounded, deeply human approach to developing leaders—focusing on trust, credibility, and connection as the foundation for high-impact leadership. We explore: Why employee engagement data should drive lea…

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163. Empire Mine 41:04

5M ago41:04

41:04

The British are so strange, aren't they? But they do make good mining eqipment. But this isn't a story about a British mine, even though a British Empire Mine would be a pretty fun name, 'cause of history. No, this is about an American mine. Is this the worst episode description intro yet? This is the story of the Empire Mine. Come for the ghosts, …

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Designing Smarter, Leading Better: Andrew O’Malley on AI, Emotion, and the Future of L&D 30:47

5M ago30:47

30:47

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Andrew O’Malley, instructional designer and learning strategist, to talk about how L&D is evolving—and what it takes to stay ahead. From experimenting with AI to designing emotionally intelligent learning experiences, Andrew is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in training and development. We ex…

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162. Mary and the Mysterious Men of Rockwood Mansion 34:47

6M ago34:47

34:47

Must be nice to go on vacation, PATRICK. (But seriously, thanks for bringing your mic. Clayton did not have a backup plan.) This is the story of Mary and the Mysterious Men of Rockwood Mansion. Come for the ghosts, stay for Hot Doug moves on Patrick's wife, one, two, three, etc., but you have to deal with the Amish, the appearance does not scream l…

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L&D as a Change Catalyst: Cole Bastion on Leading L&D as a Strategic Engine 38:40

6M ago38:40

38:40

In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Cole Bastion, Senior Director of Learning and Culture at HOA Brands, where he's helped reduce management turnover by 10% and transformed L&D into a powerful driver of enterprise-wide change. We dive deep into how Cole positions his team not as order-takers—but as change makers. Key topics we cover: Why L&…

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161. John Wilkes Booth and the Samuel Mudd House 50:02

6M ago50:02

50:02

Johnny B. Bad is back as a guest star at the Mudd House in Maryland, and as usual, he's up to his old shenanigans -- goin' all HAM on presidents and order. Anyway. How's your day going? This is the story of the Samuel Mudd House. Come for the ghosts, stay for gas station bananas, give Megan a call, positive connotations of mud, fully clothed Abraha…

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Making Learning Stick: David Grad on the Science, Strategy, and Business Case for Live Training That Delivers 34:11

6M ago34:11

34:11

David Grad was once leading creative teams at MTV. Now, he’s solving one of the toughest problems in learning and development: how to make live training actually stick. In this episode of Catalysts, David shares the origin story behind elevator9, the learning tech company he co-founded to ensure live training drives measurable, lasting impact. Draw…

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A Quick Note 0:54

6M ago0:54

0:54

This week's new episode on the McRaven House is for Ghost+ members only, and if you want to give it a listen, start your 7-day free trial at isthisaghost.supercast.com! We'll see you back here next week with a brand new episode for all!

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From Cost Center to Catalyst: Dr. Keith Keating on Redefining the Value of L&D 33:09

6M ago33:09

33:09

In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of Hidden Value: How to Reveal the Impact of Organizational Learning. Keith is a powerhouse in the world of learning strategy—a practitioner-scholar who believes L&D shouldn’t just defend its worth, but amplify its impact. We…

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160. Waverly Hills Sanatorium 46:12

6M ago46:12

46:12

If we had a nickel for every ghost that was made from tuberculosis, gosh, we wouldn't have to podcast ever again. Anyway, here are a few more dollars for the kitty! This is the story of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Come for the ghosts, stay for zero IT interns, basement brothers, are you gonna do more sedition?, I was guessing pope, a tuberculosis…

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The Future of Work Is Human: Danielle Wallace on AI, Empathy, and Effective Learning 35:22

6M ago35:22

35:22

In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist at Beyond the Sky and host of You in 2042: The Future of Work. With a background in marketing and leadership roles at companies like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, Danielle brings a uniquely human—and deeply practical—lens to some of the biggest shifts happening …

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159. The Ghost of Hank Williams 59:21

6M ago59:21

59:21

All my rowdy poltergeists are coming over tonight! And that's where Hank Jr. got his famous line. Wow, the family tree just unspools and unspools, and suddenly there's nothing left but an old guitar on a sad barroom floor. What were we talking about? This is the story of Hank Williams. Come for the ghost, stay for flip him like a piggy bank, coquin…

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From Tension to Transformation: Janet Harvey on Coaching, Culture, and Leading with Wholeness 36:31

6M ago36:31

36:31

What if the real key to innovation isn’t speed, strategy, or structure—but the ability to sit with discomfort long enough to transform it? In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Janet Harvey, CEO of inviteCHANGE, former global president of the International Coaching Federation, and one of the most influential voices in coaching and leadershi…

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Think Like a Marketer, Lead Like an L&D Pro: Bianca Baumann on Learner-Centric Strategy and Visibility 31:38

7M ago31:38

31:38

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Bianca Baumann, award-winning strategist, international speaker, and author of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro. With over 15 years in the field, Bianca brings a rare blend of creativity, empathy, and business alignment to the way organizations approach learning. We talk about the mindset sh…

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158. Six Flags Over Texas 48:58

7M ago48:58

48:58

Hey, folks! Clayton here. Listen, I completely forgot I had a weekly podcast that I've been doing for the last 3+ years and didn't prepare any notes for this one. That is what we call in the podcast industry a whoopsie. What I can tell you is that this episode is born from my and Patrick's recently lived experience. What I can also tell you is the …

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From Cost Center to Growth Engine: Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer @ Docebo 41:42

7M ago41:42

41:42

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer at Docebo, to explore the future of learning and development in a world reshaped by AI, transformation, and trust. Brandon is a globally recognized L&D leader and the author of Learning in the Age of Immediacy and L&D’s Playbook for the Digital Age. He’s led learni…

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Designing for Change: Sean Bengry on Trust, Tech, and Transformation 41:09

7M ago41:09

41:09

What does real transformation look like in learning and development—and how do we design for it in a world defined by disruption? In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Sean Bengry, Chief Learning Officer at Sablethorn Consulting and a global leader in educational innovation, to explore the intersection of human-centered design, technology, …

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157. The Fighting Sullivans 51:14

7M ago51:14

51:14

This isn't about a group of Irishmen, it's another nautical adventure! Get ready. This is the story of the SS The Sullivans. Come for the ghosts, stay for Annebelle on the lam, a whole lotta aliteration, blessedly unencumbered brothers, cornfield kisses, jacked hotdogs, no more siblings on ships, and paying Matt Damon by the second. Sources: https:…

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Connection is a Business Strategy with WSJ Bestselling Author Steven Van Cohen 37:31

7M ago37:31

37:31

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Steven Van Cohen—global leadership consultant, executive coach, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Connectable. Dubbed “The Leadership Whisperer,” Steven helps companies reduce isolation, improve well-being, and foster true belonging in the workplace. We explore what it really takes to build …

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From Order-Taker to Strategic Partner: Megan Dillon from Q-Centrix on the Future of L&D 30:56

7M ago30:56

30:56

In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Megan Dillon, Director of Learning and Development at Q-Centrix. Megan leads with clarity and heart, aligning workforce development with business strategy and building systems that create real behavior change—not just training events. We explore how L&D is evolving from content creation to business enable…

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156. SS Great Britain 1:05:26

7M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

You like big boats and you cannot lie. So here's another one. You're welcome. This is the story of the SS Great Britain. Come for the ghosts, stay for Patrick mouth kisses cat, an interview with John Wilkes Booth, it's just a necrodrumicon, even for English food this is the grossest, big broad gauge guy, a cow not just for sex and stuff, and Cletus…

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From Fixer to Connector: Patty Miller on Leading with Curiosity and Clarity 29:22

7M ago29:22

29:22

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Patty Miller, a senior HR executive with over 24 years of experience helping leaders navigate complex people challenges across North America. Patty is known for her sharp insights, unshakable integrity, and powerful frameworks like the Core Values Index and Vitality Pulse Review that bring clarity to me…

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Beyond the Buzzword: Nick Day from Roundtable Learning on Making XR a True Learning Strategy 27:20

7M ago27:20

27:20

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Nick Day, a learning leader at Roundtable Learning, where he designs immersive, tech-driven learning solutions for enterprise clients—including over 50 Fortune 500 companies. Nick shares why XR (extended reality) is more than a buzzword—and how it can deliver measurable impact when paired with the right…

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155. SS Ourang Medan 45:01

7M ago45:01

45:01

What is The Netherlands? Why is it a singular plural? Why don't they speak Netherlandish? Should the country be called Dut? It makes you think. It really makes you think. This is the story of the SS Ourang Medan. Come for the ghosts, stay for Schrödinger's box of pope, their whole deal is no wires, it's booty time, does it explain why the chains ar…