Best Toyota Production System Podcasts (2025)

WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the new headquarter building is much different than the old headquarters, the Glass House, that had a top-down style with many offices and cubicles.

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Research shows those who don't buckle up are more likely to die in crash 1:01

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21m ago1:01

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports a new study shows people who don't wear seatbelts are more likely to die in a crash.

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Mistake of the Week: The 531 Patients Who Weren’t Dead Yet 3:40

1h ago3:40

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In this week’s Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban tells the story of a Maine hospital system that accidentally mailed condolence letters to 531 very-much-alive patients. The cause? A computer glitch — and a few missing fail-safes. Mark explores what this bizarre mix-up reveals about system design, automation, and trust in healthcare. Beyond the absur…

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GM doesn't want suppliers to rely on China for materials, other items 1:03

5d ago1:03

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says General Motors has dropped a bombshell on suppliers telling them not to source anything from China.

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Fred Noe of Jim Beam: Leadership Lessons on Mistakes, Innovation, and Long-Term Thinking 15:17

4h ago15:17

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The blog post In this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads and reflects on his post “Fred Noe of Jim Beam: Leadership Lessons on Mistakes, Innovation, and Long-Term Thinking.” What can a seventh-generation master distiller teach us about leadership, experimentation, and learning from mistakes? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Drawing on two i…

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Legacy specs hindering Detroit automakers 1:04

6d ago1:04

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says the Big Three should burn their legacy specs because they are leaving them tangled in red tape.

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'The Extinction of Experience' with Dr Christine Rosen 51:22

3h ago51:22

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In this thought-provoking episode of The Evolving Leader, hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk with Dr Christine Rosen, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of The Extinction of Experience. The conversation examines how our growing dependence on technology is subtly reshaping what it means to be human, thinning our atte…

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From Firefighting to Flow: Darren Walsh on Lean Leadership Routines that Sustain Results 52:57

25m ago52:57

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My guest for Episode #539 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Darren Walsh, author of Making Lean and Continuous Improvement Work: A Leader’s Guide to Increasing Consistency and Getting Significantly More Done in Less Time. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Darren is the Director and Leadership Coach at Making Lean Work Ltd and holds…

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The Biggest Lean Six Sigma Myth: "Lean Is Just About Speed" 8:03

2h ago8:03

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The blog post In this episode of the Lean Blog Audio podcast, Mark Graban reads and reflects on one of his classic posts: “The Biggest Lean Six Sigma Myth: ‘Lean Is Just About Speed.’” Far too often, consultants and trainers claim that “Lean is for speed” while “Six Sigma is for quality.” Mark calls out this false dichotomy and explains why both Le…

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Automakers make billions from service parts 1:06

1h ago1:06

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports big automakers are leaving some money on the table when it comes to car, truck and SUV repairs. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

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I’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in Tokyo 12:38

2h ago12:38

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The blog post In this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads his reflection, “I’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in Tokyo.” Join Mark as he shares a rare dining experience at the legendary Sukiyabashi Jiro — the Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurant made famous by Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Beyond the extraordinary craftsman…

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BONUS EPISODE - "Innovate Into The Unknown" with Atif Rafiq 15:03

1h ago15:03

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In this bonus episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Scott Allender and Arjun Sahdev talk to Atif Rafiq, the first Chief Digital Officer in Fortune 500 history and former senior executive at McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM Resorts. Now CEO and co-founder of Ritual, an AI-powered workflow platform, Atif shares how leaders can build decision-mak…

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Fear and Futility: Two Barriers to Improvement (and How Leaders Can Remove Them) 7:57

8h ago7:57

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The blog post In this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban explores two silent killers of improvement—fear and futility—and how leaders can dismantle both to unleash the full potential of their teams. Drawing from his book Lean Hospitals and more recent research by organizational psychologist Ethan Burris, Mark explains how fear (“What will happen …

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'Leading From The Heart' with Mark Crowley 51:36

17h ago51:36

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In this latest episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, Jean Gomes is joined by Mark Crowley, author of Lead from the Heart, to explore how emotion, belonging, and authentic care are redefining leadership for the modern world. Mark shares his remarkable personal journey, from an upbringing shaped by trauma to a career built on leading through compas…

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Leadership, Laughter, and Lean: How a CEO’s Shaved Head Symbolized $7 Million in Improvement 5:11

2d ago5:11

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The blog post In this episode of the Lean Blog Audio podcast, Mark Graban shares a story that perfectly captures the human side of Lean leadership—how a CEO’s shaved head became a powerful symbol of trust, empowerment, and respect for people. At IU Health Goshen Hospital, Lean wasn’t just a set of tools; it was a cultural transformation. Starting i…

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PDCA or CAPDo aka In-SPIRE-ing Lean 31:50

4d ago31:50

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Send us a text Another episode for Team #tril to get their teeth into and they get underway with some subsciber questions, one of which with a 'divine' theme which leads them to exploring the statement that Lean can be applied anywhere and everywhere. Alan brings a recent experience of 5S/6S and even 7S, and asks if this is necessary or just over-c…

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Ghosts, Zombies, and Frankenstein Processes: A Lean Halloween Reflection 6:48

6d ago6:48

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The blog post Halloween might be about ghosts, zombies, and monsters -- but those same creatures sometimes show up in our organizations all year long. They lurk in old processes, mindless routines, and fear-based management habits. Here's how to spot the spooky stuff in your systems -- and how Lean thinking helps us drive the fear out of improvemen…

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Classic cars are exempt from auto tariffs 1:06

16d ago1:06

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports imported classic cars are exempt from the tariffs imposed by President Trump. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Leader Standard Work Is About Behavior, Not Just Your Calendar 13:12

14d ago13:12

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The blog post Too many organizations treat Leader Standard Work (LSW) as a scheduling tool — a calendar filled with Gemba walks, meetings, and routines. But Lean leadership isn’t about how you plan your time — it’s about how you show up. In this episode, Mark reads and reflects on his LeanBlog.org article, “Leader Standard Work Is About Behavior, N…

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‘Exploring Imagination’ with Adam Zeman 48:48

8d ago48:48

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In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to neurologist and author Adam Zeman about his latest book The Shape of Things Unseen. Together they explore how imagination helps us step outside the here and now, recall the past, and anticipate the future, and why this ability matters more than ever in a world sh…

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How to Cut Through Workplace Chaos: Nelson Repenning on Lean, Flow & Dynamic Work Design 56:10

8d ago56:10

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My guest for Episode #538 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Nelson Repenning, Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center and co-creator of Dynamic Work Design. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Nelson describes himself as an "organizational engineer," helping leaders redesign the routines and decisions that determine how work re…

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One of the greatest auto developments of all time 1:02

14d ago1:02

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Tesla came up with over the air updates, or OTAs, and doesn't get enough credit for it.

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Coaching vs. Berating: Lessons from Football for Better Leadership 5:52

9d ago5:52

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In this episode, I revisit a classic post—Coaching vs. Berating: Lessons from Football for Better Leadership. ⁠The blog post⁠ With Brian Kelly recently fired as LSU’s head coach, it’s worth contrasting his sideline outbursts with the calmer, teaching-oriented approach of Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald. Years ago, Kelly’s tirades at Notre Dame raised…

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Looking Back: Katie Anderson & Isao Yoshino on Learning, Leadership, and Mistakes 39:35

17d ago39:35

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We’re going back to Episode 30 from January 2021, featuring Katie Anderson — author of Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn — and Isao Yoshino, the longtime Toyota leader whose career and lessons inspired her book. Episode page with video, transcript, and more It was such a privilege to talk with them then, and even more meaningful now, because I rec…

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Will Chrysler go back to being Chrysler? 1:02

25d ago1:02

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the former CEO of Stellantis says you shouldn't be surprised if the automaker is broken up, and Chrysler ends up with American ownership. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

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Stellantis to use Niron magnets 1:06

25d ago1:06

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports Stellantis has a new work-around to get magnets for new vehicles and EVs.

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Auto tariffs top $10.6 billion 1:02

25d ago1:02

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports the price of tariffs for automakers has increased to more than $10.6 billion and automakers are likely to raise prices. Consumers will ultimately pay for tariffs.(Photo: Getty Images)

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Automakers should treat talent acquisition like the supply chain 1:02

20d ago1:02

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports automakers have no clue where they will get workers needed to make new vehicles in the future.

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Easing specifications could help domestic automakers 1:09

26d ago1:09

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy reports automakers should throw out their legacy specifications if they want to catch up with the Chinese.

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Building Excellence Through Quality and Psychological Safety -- ASQ Cincinnati 2025 Preview 15:22

17d ago15:22

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In this special bonus episode of Lean Blog Interviews, Mark Graban is joined by C.J. Kaufman, Education Chair for the ASQ Cincinnati Section, to preview the ASQ Southwest Ohio 2025 Conference, themed “Excellence Through Quality.” Episode page with transcript, video, and more Taking place Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Mason, Ohio, the event brings …

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An important question for automakers: Stay in China or no? 1:00

28d ago1:00

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WWJ auto analyst John McElroy says some experts are saying GM and Ford should get out of China. But others are saying don't do it.

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From the Wrong Business to the Right Voice: Emily Aborn on Finding Purpose Through Mistakes 42:03

17d ago42:03

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My guest for Episode #328 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Emily Aborn, a small business copywriter, speaker, and host of the Small Business Casual podcast. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Emily helps entrepreneurs bring clarity, creativity, and authenticity to their marketing. Before finding her true calling, she owned a brick-a…

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Lean You Wouldn't Do? aka Red Flags & Frogs in Wells 31:18

23d ago31:18

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Send us a text John returns to the fold from his hiatus. Team #tril revisit a previous episode with some real world examples of where potentially doing too much lean has had some 'interesting' consequences! They also challenge their values and beliefs when it comes work. Find out what work the boys have declined and why, plus what are the red flags…

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Plan, Do, Check, Act… or Plan, Do, Cover Your A**? Leadership Makes the Difference 8:16

1M ago8:16

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The blog post In this solo episode, I explore the contrast between two powerful management cycles — PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) and its dysfunctional cousin, PDCYA (Plan, Do, Cover Your A**). Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s PDCA framework was meant to bring the scientific method into management — to help teams learn, experiment, and improve. But in too man…