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The Story in Your Head

The Story in Your Head

MacklinConnection 142 Episodes Aug 12, 2026

The Story in Your Head is a podcast hosted by Ron Macklin and Deb Dendy that explores the power of narratives in shaping our lives and organizational cultures. Through conversations with guests, the show delves into self-talk and collective storytelling, offering insights for authentic connections, personal growth, and thriving workplaces. Each episode provides strategies to enhance self-awareness, build stronger relationships, inspire leadership, and foster inclusive company cultures. The podcast aims to help listeners rewrite the stories that define them individually and collectively.

Episodes

AI Can Outthink You – But It Can't Do One Thing 5-Year-Olds Do Every Day
AI Can Outthink You – But It Can't Do One Thing 5-Year-Olds Do Every Day Aug 12, 2026 0:25:06 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb continue their conversation on the difference between thinking and imagination – and why that distinction matters more than ever in the age of artificial intelligence. In the previous episode, Ron and Deb explored how children naturally begin life with imagination, curiosity, and creativity, only to enter systems that often reward right answ
Why the Right Answer Is Killing Your Company’s Creativity
Why the Right Answer Is Killing Your Company’s Creativity Jul 29, 2026 0:23:40 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb explore the difference between imagination and thinking – and why that distinction matters more than ever for leaders, teams, and organizations. Beginning with a simple observation: young children are naturally imaginative. But somewhere along the way, that imagination begins to fade. Ron and Deb ask a powerful question for anyone invested i
AI Won’t Replace You – But People Who Know How to Use It Might
AI Won’t Replace You – But People Who Know How to Use It Might Jul 15, 2026 0:29:23 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb sit down with Joey Cardella, a police officer who discovered AI while exploring what could come next beyond law enforcement. Joey describes AI as a tool that amplifies the user, sharing how he has used it to research career transitions, support real estate investing, improve business operations, build training systems, and solve everyday pro
The Leadership Skill No One Taught You – But Everyone Needs
The Leadership Skill No One Taught You – But Everyone Needs Jul 1, 2026 0:27:02 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb explore “agency” as a person’s capacity to act independently and make free choices, contrasting living as the author of your life versus being acted on by outside forces. They discuss how people throughout history have been led to believe they have no agency, and connect agency to everyday situations like feeling trapped in a job, unemployme
Students Booed AI at Graduation. Here's the Speech They Needed to Hear.
Students Booed AI at Graduation. Here's the Speech They Needed to Hear. Jun 17, 2026 0:27:11 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb ask, “What would you tell a room full of graduates entering the workforce at a time when AI seems to be changing everything?” Inspired by recent graduation ceremonies where mentions of AI were met with boos from students concerned about their futures, Ron and Deb imagine the advice they would give to graduates stepping into an uncertain worl
Why Most Companies Are Struggling with AI Adoption
Why Most Companies Are Struggling with AI Adoption Jun 3, 2026 0:26:22 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb explore one of the biggest conversations happening in business today: why are so many organizations investing heavily in AI – and still struggling to see results? The conversation moves beyond technology into the heart of leadership development, company culture, and the communication problems organizations face when transformation collides w
The Workforce Crisis That Will Reshape Company Culture Forever
The Workforce Crisis That Will Reshape Company Culture Forever May 20, 2026 0:24:45 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb explore one of the least discussed forces shaping the future of business: the collision between demographic decline and artificial intelligence. As developed nations face shrinking populations and aging workforces, organizations are being forced to rethink everything from labor strategy to company culture, workforce sustainability, and long-
How One Roofing Company Is Using AI to Outperform the Competition
How One Roofing Company Is Using AI to Outperform the Competition May 7, 2026 0:38:04 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb are joined by Julian Caldwell, Chief Information Officer at JR & Co., explore how artificial intelligence is transforming even the most traditional industries. Together they discuss how leaders in his company are shaping company culture, accelerating leadership development, and addressing communication problems that often hold organizati
When AI and Your Team Disagree: The Decision That Defines Company Culture
When AI and Your Team Disagree: The Decision That Defines Company Culture Apr 22, 2026 0:26:35 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb break down what happens when AI and your human network don’t agree, how communication problems begin to surface inside organizations, and what leadership development really looks like in a world where data and human judgment collide.Embark on a transformative journey with 'The Story in Your Head' podcast, where we delve into the power of nar
The Hidden Leadership Problem AI Is About to Make Impossible to Ignore – with Jason Beutler from RoboSource
The Hidden Leadership Problem AI Is About to Make Impossible to Ignore – with Jason Beutler from RoboSource Apr 8, 2026 0:31:23 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb are joined by Jason Beutler, founder and CEO of RoboSource, on why artificial intelligence often sparks both curiosity and apprehension. Together, they explore how to view AI as less of a threat and more as tool to unlock human potential. Jason shared powerful insights not only on AI adoption, but on how leaders must rethink company culture,
Are You Ready for How AI is Testing Your Leadership Skills?
Are You Ready for How AI is Testing Your Leadership Skills? Mar 25, 2026 0:29:56 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb explore how technological change reshapes not just productivity, but company culture, trust, and the way leaders communicate. In today’s rapidly advancing technological world, adapting to new tools like generative AI is no longer optional – it’s a defining moment for modern leadership development. As AI becomes embedded in the workplace, the
The $200M Decision: How One Leadership Stand Changed Company Culture – Lessons from Anthropic AI and OpenAI
The $200M Decision: How One Leadership Stand Changed Company Culture – Lessons from Anthropic AI and OpenAI Mar 11, 2026 0:29:13 In this episode of “The Story in Your Head,” Ron and Deb explore the ever-evolving landscape of AI in the workplace, and how recent events have highlighted the impact of taking a stand. They weave together the connection between leadership strategy, organizational culture, and the ripple effects that a leader's decisions have on employees, customers, trust, company culture, and the broader AI indu

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