What's actually draining your bottom line? In this host episode, Cristina and Alex take a hard look at what happens when businesses forget the humans behind the numbers. From layoffs that quietly destroy institutional knowledge, to spreadsheets designed to tell whatever story someone needs them to tell, to AI-generated data points that are simply made up — the episode makes a compelling case that the leaks most organizations ignore are the ones costing them the most.

The conversation moves from diagnosis to direction: what does it actually look like to lead with the human experience at the center? Cristina and Alex explore how qualitative measures like cross-team collaboration, trust, and psychological safety show up on the bottom line in ways a P&L statement will never capture — and why investing in humans isn't a soft choice, but the highest-ROI decision a leader can make.

What does a peer-reviewed study on aging have to do with your workplace culture — and what does any of it have to do with a dog coding a video game? In this episode of Uncover the Human, hosts Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore are joined by returning guest Chuck DeVries, a self-described "explorer in the land of whimsy," for a wide-ranging conversation that connects cutting-edge science to everyday leadership. They dive into new research showing that toxic relationships don't just feel bad — they literally accelerate aging at the DNA level, with "hasslers" in your personal and professional life acting as biological risk multipliers. The conversation explores how this plays out on teams, in organizations, and even in our own nervous systems, and what leaders can actually do about it.

From there, the trio turns to AI — its promise, its risks, and the very human questions it forces us to confront. Chuck offers a grounded, nuanced take on how companies should think about integrating AI without hollowing out the human value that makes businesses worth building in the first place. He draws unexpected parallels between AI disruption and the discovery of fire, challenges the idea of universal basic income as a band-aid solution, and makes a compelling case for keeping the customer — not the algorithm — at the center of every decision. And just when you think it can't get any more interesting, the conversation ends with a dog who coded a playable video game using Claude. Seriously.

Links:

Chuck Chats: https://www.youtube.com/@ChuckChatChannel

Studies mentioned:

Dog builds video game : https://www.calebleak.com/posts/dog-game/

Negative social ties as emerging risk factors dor accelerate aging, inflammation, and multimorbidity: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2515331123.

What if the conflict you've been avoiding is costing you more than the conversation itself? In this episode of Uncover the Human, hosts Alex Cullimore and Cristina Amigoni dig into why conflict feels so loaded — and why that fear is often worse than the conflict itself. From the tendency to weight negative experiences more heavily than positive ones, to the hidden costs of saying "yes" when you mean "no," they unpack the psychology behind avoidance and challenge listeners to flip the script: instead of asking "what happens if I speak up?", ask "what happens if I don't?"

Drawing on real stories — including Cristina's memorable moment of telling her boss's boss "no" at 10 p.m. and watching jaws drop — the episode makes the case that conflict isn't something that happens to us, but a muscle we can learn to use. The more we build a "data bucket" of conversations that didn't go as badly as feared, the easier it becomes to step into the next one. Whether you're conflict-avoidant or just looking for tools to navigate hard conversations more skillfully, this episode offers a grounded, relatable starting point.

In this episode of Uncover the Human, hosts Alex Cullimore and Cristina Amigoni sit down with Peter Georgariou, CEO of Karmadharma — a B-corp agency in Canada blending strategy, marketing, and people and culture work. Peter shares the winding path that led him to build a company grounded in his core belief that putting good into the world and helping people find their own path are the highest callings in business. From weekly gratitude check-ins with his team to resisting the pressure of vanity KPIs, Peter makes a compelling case that the "soft" stuff — presence, compassion, vulnerability — is actually the hardest and most important work any leader can do.

The conversation digs into why the best consultants and coaches ask better questions rather than offer ready-made answers, why human connection can't be measured on a dashboard, and how radical transparency from a leader can be the most liberating gift a team receives. Whether you're a founder wrestling with self-doubt, a people leader trying to justify culture investments, or just someone curious about living more authentically, this episode is a refreshingly honest and energizing reminder that the messiness of humanity is where all the good stuff happens.

What separates a true leader from someone who simply holds a title? According to Cristina and Alex, it often comes down to one underrated skill: listening. In this episode, they unpack why listening is the foundation of effective leadership — from building psychological safety to making better decisions — and introduce their LAVA framework (Listen, Acknowledge, Validate, Ask open-ended questions) as a practical tool for creating space where people can actually show up and contribute their best.

But this conversation goes deeper than workplace dynamics. Cristina and Alex explore how listening starts with self-awareness — the ability to hear your own internal dialogue honestly — and how that inner work ripples outward into every relationship you lead. They get real about the difference between a leader and what they call a "person of title" (yes, the acronym is intentional), why confidence looks like silence more often than speech, and how curiosity can completely transform a hard conversation — whether it's in the boardroom or at the kitchen table. Equal parts insightful and laugh-out-loud funny, this episode is a reminder that the most powerful thing you can do in any room is stop talking and start listening.

In this lively and insightful episode of Uncover the Human, Lyn Wineman brings her signature energy, humor, and wisdom to a conversation about branding, joy, and what it really means to connect with people. From playful props and unicorn headbands to deep reflections on business growth, Lyn shares how KidGlov’s own rebrand mirrors the evolution many leaders and organizations face: growing from founder-driven identity into something bigger, clearer, and more intentional. Along the way, the conversation explores how branding is less about flashy visuals and more about understanding who you are, what makes you different, and how to communicate that in a way people can truly relate to.

What makes this episode especially compelling is the way it ties marketing, leadership, and humanity together. Lyn talks about the power of empathy over data, why audiences need to feel seen, and how joy at work can unlock better performance, creativity, and connection. It’s a thoughtful, funny, and energizing conversation for anyone curious about authentic branding, meaningful work, and the human side of business.

In this energizing episode of Uncover the Human, Sharon Holmes shares practical, heartfelt wisdom for anyone navigating leadership, career growth, or change. From stepping into management for the first time to finding your voice in rooms where you feel overlooked, Sharon offers actionable advice on building trust, leading former peers, creating meaningful one-on-ones, and taking ownership of your own development. Her perspective is both deeply human and immediately useful, blending real-world leadership experience with refreshing honesty about setbacks, resilience, and what it means to grow through uncertainty.

This conversation is especially compelling for emerging leaders, ambitious individual contributors, and anyone who has ever felt muted at work. Sharon brings warmth, energy, and sharp insight to topics like sponsorship, feedback, authenticity, and using tools like AI to support—not replace—the human side of leadership. It’s the kind of episode that leaves you with pages of notes, a few mindset shifts, and a stronger belief that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating the space for people to thrive.

In this raw and unfiltered host episode of Uncover the Human, Cristina and Alex tackle a topic that feels impossible to ignore right now: accountability. From corporations to governments to everyday workplaces, they explore the growing sense that power often goes unchecked—and that the people paying the price are the ones with the least of it. With their signature blend of candor, frustration, and humor, they question why we continue to accept systems where loyalty is demanded but rarely reciprocated, where values are posted on walls but not modeled at the top, and where “it didn’t happen to me” becomes an excuse for silence.

But this isn’t just a vent session. It’s a challenge. Cristina and Alex dig into what history teaches us about collective action, why transparency is a powerful (and often overlooked) lever of change, and how even small acts—sharing information, speaking up, making a plan—can create momentum. If you’ve ever felt the quiet weight of “this doesn’t feel right” at work, or wondered whether accountability is even possible in today’s systems, this episode will validate that discomfort and push you to ask: What’s the 1% I can do?