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The Experimental Leader

Melanie Parish and Mel Rutherford
Leadership
Diversity and Inclusion
Vulnerability In Leadership
Empathy In Leadership
Kind Leadership
Mental Health
Organizational Culture
Professional Development
Inclusivity
Collaboration
Health Care Content Creation
Transgender Representation
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Operational Excellence
Podcasting
Coaching
Transgender Leadership
Contextual Leadership
Authenticity
Radical Inclusivity

Are you a business owner, executive, leader, team leader, aspiring future leader, leadership junkie, a scientist, a design thinker, or simply the leader of your own life? If you are, then you are a leader, and as such, you should be experimenting!

Welcome to The Experimental Leader, a podcast where we tackle the ways leaders are experimenting in their own work. Hosted by Melanie Parish and Dr. Me... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes161Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for The Experimental Leader

Latest Episodes

Welcome to Skill Up, the newest segment of The Experimental Leader Podcast, where Melanie Parish and Mel Rutherford break down practical leadership skills that help leaders grow, develop teams, and create lasting impact.

In this episode, Skill Up: D... more

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In this episode of The Experimental Leader Podcast, Melanie Parish and Mel Rutherford are joined by Jacob Chase, CEO of Infin, for a strategic exploration of leadership, accountability, and the future of human performance.

The discussion examines ho... more

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What makes people truly engaged at work? In this episode of The Experimental Leader, Dr. Roz Cohen joins the conversation to explore the power of connection, belonging, and human-centred leadership in today’s workplace.

As an inclusion strategist an... more

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Burnout is not the cost of leadership. It is a signal.

In this episode of The Experimental Leader, we explore a more sustainable way to lead by moving beyond either or thinking and learning how to manage competing priorities more effectively.

This ... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Torben Noerby
Leadership expert, CEO of People & Performances, and author of The Contextual Leader.
People & Performances
Episode: Leading in Context: Dr. Torben Noerby on Adaptive Leadership
Charlotte Otter
Author, speaker, and podcast host with experience in leading global communication teams.
Episode: Reputation, Resilience, and New Leaders with Charlotte Otter
Colonel Bree Fram
An astronautical engineer and one of the highest-ranking out transgender officers in the U.S. military.
U.S. Space Force
Episode: Transcending Limits: Leadership, Identity, and Advocacy in Uniform with Col. Bree Fram
Frankie Berkoben
An executive coach and ADHD coach with a background in engineering consulting.
Independent Coach
Episode: Executive Functioning and Leadership Clarity with Frankie Berkoben
Dr. Liz Cavallaro
An executive coach, adult development scholar, and leadership development practitioner.
US Naval War College
Episode: Authentic Leadership: LGBTQ+ Insights on Inclusivity and Impact with Dr. Liz Cavallaro
Leah Kedar
Master-certified coach and recipient of the Prism Award, teaches in the coaching program
Episode: ICF Week 2025: Coaching Experiments with Leah Kedar & Robin Goodbary
Robin Goodbary
Master-certified coach focused on business and leadership with over 30 years of experience as a marketer and trainer
Episode: ICF Week 2025: Coaching Experiments with Leah Kedar & Robin Goodbary
Tara Landes
Operational excellence expert and influence trainer
Bell Rocks Management Training Programs
Episode: Unlocking Operational Excellence with Tara Landes
Jaime Mann
A busy mother of three and partner in a commercial construction company with 15+ years of leadership experience.
The Amaryllis Project
Episode: Leadership Through Connection with Jaime Mann

Hosts

Melanie Parish
Co-host of The Experimental Leader podcast and a master certified coach who focuses on problem-solving, constraints management, and operations.
Dr. Mel Rutherford
Co-host of The Experimental Leader podcast and McMaster University's first transgender department chair, with a background in psychology and leadership research.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Great Team

    It was so refreshing to talk about leadership with Melanie and Mel! I look forward to listening to it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dr.l.carol
    United States2 months ago
  • Exploring Leadership with Authenticity and Care

    I had the pleasure of being a guest on Melanie's podcast and was truly impressed by her unique perspective on leadership, which I had already admired in her book. Melanie's authenticity and care for every business relationship she creates are evident in every episode. Together, we experimented with exploring the power of narratives in leadership, which was a fascinating and enriching experience. We are so lucky to have this podcast as a resource to reinvent who we are as leaders. Highly recommen... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Guillaume Wiatr
    United States2 years ago
  • What a fantastic podcast!

    Every conversation is so interesting, I am enjoying the diverse topics and the questions that Melanie and Mel asks of their guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    donna_wallace
    Australia2 years ago
  • Great POV

    It was so refreshing to talk about leadership with Melanie! Her “experimental” take on the subject was a great fit for my SASSy framework! Loved being on this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dr.l.carol
    United States4 years ago
  • Refreshing approach to the leadership conversation!

    It was extremely refreshing to communicate about experimental approaches to leadership! It is inevitable that we must take necessary risks, learn from mistakes and experiment our way into growing as leaders. Melanie makes this journey psychologically safe by framing it as experimental. Thanks for holding the space for us to explore, learn and grow together!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scrappy Kimberly
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are described as insightful, with diverse perspectives and useful, implementable strategies.
Listeners praise the host's authentic, thoughtful interviewing style and practical leadership takeaways.
The show is seen as a reliable resource for leaders who like to experiment and learn through conversation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#180
Spain/Business/Management

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Transcending Limits: Leadership, Identity, and Advocacy in Uniform with Col. Bree Fram
Q: What's it like to try to weave together your identity as somebody who serves in the military with your queer and trans identity?
It's a challenge to balance societal perceptions and expectations, necessitating pragmatism while promoting inclusion and opportunity for all qualified individuals.
Transcending Limits: Leadership, Identity, and Advocacy in Uniform with Col. Bree Fram
Q: In a nutshell, what are the superpowers that queer leaders have?
Queer leaders develop outward-focused leadership that emphasizes inclusion and the development of others, utilizing challenges faced to build leadership skills.
Authentic Leadership: LGBTQ+ Insights on Inclusivity and Impact with Dr. Liz Cavallaro
Q: What should a trans person in leadership keep in mind on a day to day basis?
Trans leaders should leverage their ability to bring multiple perspectives into complex leadership environments and own their unique skill sets developed through their experiences.
Executive Functioning and Leadership Clarity with Frankie Berkoben
Q: Where can people find you?
Frankie shared that she is on LinkedIn and her website, frankieberkoben.com.
Executive Functioning and Leadership Clarity with Frankie Berkoben
Q: What are you thinking about in your leadership these days?
Mel shared that he's been reflecting on his experience as department chair and the importance of understanding different personality types in hiring.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Experimental Leader

What is The Experimental Leader about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A leadership podcast that leans into experimentation, practical problem-solving, and real-world stories from people steering organizations through change. Episodes frequently cover leadership styles, adaptive approaches, reputation and inclusion, and practical techniques for improving collaboration, communication, and decision-making. Noteworthy is the focus on authentic, data-informed experimentation, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership—paired with expert guests from coaching, operations, and military backgrounds that enrich the conversation with diverse perspectives. The show is likely to appeal to executives, coaches, and aspiring leaders who want actionable ideas they can test in their own teams and organizations.

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How many listeners does The Experimental Leader get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Experimental Leader have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Experimental Leader?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Experimental Leader:

1. Thinking in English
2. Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson
3. HBS Managing the Future of Work

How many episodes of The Experimental Leader are there?

The Experimental Leader launched 6 years ago and published 161 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Experimental Leader?

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What guests have appeared on The Experimental Leader?

Recent guests on The Experimental Leader include:

1. Dr. Torben Noerby
2. Charlotte Otter
3. Colonel Bree Fram
4. Frankie Berkoben
5. Dr. Liz Cavallaro
6. Leah Kedar
7. Robin Goodbary
8. Tara Landes

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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