The Rhythm of Leadership with Gerald J. Leonard

Guest: Gerald J. Leonard – Productivity Strategist, Professional Bassist, Author

Overview:

In this enlightening episode of Authorities Unplugged, Dr. Allen Lycka sits down with Gerald J. Leonard, a unique voice in leadership and productivity. As a professional bassist and CEO of Principles of Execution, Gerald shares how music, neuroscience, and intentional practice can transform both workplace culture and personal success.

Early Influences and the Power of Practice:

Gerald traces his passion for excellence back to his upbringing, music training, and his core belief in deliberate practice. He shares three key lessons from band life: practice deliberately, surround yourself with a strong team, and work with coaches who’ve lived the journey—not just read about it.

Music Meets Business:

Gerald illustrates how musical principles—like performance under pressure and audience engagement—translate into effective leadership and organizational change. One standout example: how “salting the oats” can turn resistance into buy-in by showing people personal benefits in new systems.

Flow and Focus with the Pomodoro Technique:

To navigate today’s distracting world, Gerald champions deep work through time-blocking and structured breaks. He emphasizes aligning work rhythms with natural cognitive cycles, helping teams produce more while avoiding burnout.

Culture Is the Bass:

Inspired by a transformational workshop, Gerald coined “Culture Is the Bass” to emphasize the foundational role of culture in business. He shares seven elements that make culture thrive—from vision and values to execution and environment—framing them like the groove in a great song.

The Role of Leadership and Social Networks:

Gerald warns of a common blind spot in organizational change: neglecting the social influencers within a company. Success often hinges not on the org chart, but on those with relational influence—the unseen bassline of the workplace.

Living a Fantastic Life:

For Gerald, music and productivity aren’t separate lanes—they’re who he is. By starting each day with gratitude, spiritual reflection, and movement, he builds resilience and clarity. It’s a philosophy he brings to life in both business and community.

Recognition and Final Thoughts:

Gerald is honored with the 2025 Trailblazer in Agile Project Management Award from the IOFP, recognizing his contributions to team-based, agile thinking. He reflects on what he’s proud of, the power of masterminds, and why leading by example is the most vital leadership trait of all.

Connect with Gerald:

Website: www.GeraldJLeonard.com

Podcast: Productivity Smarts

Gerald J. Leonard is a distinguished author, productivity strategist, and professional bassist who seamlessly integrates the disciplines of music and business to foster high-performing teams and cultures. As the CEO and founder of both the Leonard Productivity Intelligence Institute and Turnberry Premiere, he offers over 25 years of expertise in strategic project portfolio management, IT governance, and organizational transformation. geraldjleonard.com+6salesfuel.com+6porchlightbooks.com+6

Connect with Gerald J. Leonard:

• 🌐 Website: geraldjleonard.com
• 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/geraldjleonard
• 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/geraldjleonard
• 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/geraldjleonard
• 🎧 Podcast: Productivity Smarts
• 📚 Goodreads: Gerald Leonard

Navigating Grief with Heidi Dunstan

In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Heidi Dunstan, a renowned grief advocate, educator, and speaker. Named "Grief Advocate of the Year" by the IOFP, Heidi shares her personal story, her passion for supporting grievers, and her mission to transform the conversation around grief.

The Journey into Grief Advocacy

Heidi's journey began after the unexpected loss of her husband in 2018. She realized how unprepared society is to handle grief and how isolating it can be. Drawing from her personal experiences, she dedicated herself to educating others about grief, teaching them how to support those in pain with compassion and understanding. “Grief is love,” Heidi explains, emphasizing that the depth of grief reflects the depth of love shared.

Debunking Myths About Grief

A common challenge Heidi addresses is the misconceptions surrounding grief. People often try to relate by sharing their own experiences—divorce, a grandparent’s passing—when these comparisons may unintentionally minimize the mourner’s pain. Heidi teaches that offering empathy without judgment and simply being present is far more impactful than attempting to “fix” grief.

A Story of Transformation

Heidi recounts a poignant story of a woman grappling with the sudden loss of her mother. Through guided conversations, she helped the woman navigate her emotions, showing her that grief isn’t about moving on—it’s about moving through the pain while honoring love. Heidi likens grief to carrying a boulder that eventually becomes a rock in her pocket—always present but easier to carry.

The Role of Community and Connection

Dr. Lycka and Heidi discuss how connections, like those formed through the IOFP, provide crucial support. Heidi values the opportunity to collaborate with professionals across industries, facilitating introductions that spark meaningful projects. She acknowledges that the pandemic has magnified grief worldwide, yet grief extends beyond death to encompass all forms of loss and change.

Elevating Grief Conversations

Heidi’s visibility through media appearances, including Fox News and the NASDAQ billboard, has amplified her message. As the events and operations manager for BLU Talks (Business, Life, Universe), she helps others share their stories through collaborative books and speaking engagements at prestigious venues like Harvard, Cambridge, and UCLA. Heidi’s mission is to create spaces where grief is acknowledged and embraced.

Living a Fantastic Life

Heidi’s secret to living a fantastic life is rooted in gratitude and grace. Despite her profound losses, she finds beauty in the simple moments—sunsets in Mexico, meaningful relationships, and living life with authenticity. Her advice: “Love people where they’re at, free from judgment.” Dr. Lycka adds that taking the time to appreciate life’s moments is vital for a fulfilling existence.

Final Thoughts

Heidi encourages listeners to embrace grief as a natural response to loss and change. By offering love and grace, we can support each other through life’s most challenging moments. Dr. Lycka invites listeners to learn more about the IOFP and Heidi’s work at iofp.co and heididunstan.ca

Bio:

Heidi is a Certified Grief Educator, International Best-Selling Co-Author, and International Speaker. She has spoken at Harvard University, and Oxford University with a passion for changing the narrative on grief. She educates people about grief, and how to support others who are grieving, as she learned firsthand after losing her husband unexpectedly in 2018. Her experience with friends and loved ones saying the wrong thing or completely disappearing gave her first-hand knowledge that many people have never learned how to grieve, which often leaves grievers to grieve in isolation. Heidi is changing the narrative on grief and helping people to feel equipped to lean in and support their loved ones so we can grieve with grace together.

GUEST: AMANDA COWLRICK

Title: Healing Beyond Borders: Homeopathy, Reiki & Atua Energy with Amanda Cowlrick

Episode Summary:

In this inspiring episode of Live with Dr. Allen Lycka, New Zealand-based holistic healer Amanda Cowlrick shares her remarkable path from personal healing to professional homeopathy and Reiki practice. A dual diploma holder in acute and chronic prescribing, Amanda is also trained in atua healing, a Māori modality. Through personal stories, Amanda reveals how ancient energy systems and modern holistic methods are empowering people worldwide to reclaim their wellness.

How It All Began

Amanda’s journey into homeopathy began in her teens when a lingering wrist injury was dismissed by doctors. After finding relief through homeopathy, she committed to lifelong study, earning formal diplomas by 2018.

Acute vs. Chronic Prescribing

She explains how acute prescriptions treat short-term issues—such as colds, bruises, or minor injuries—while chronic prescriptions address long-standing issues like anxiety or depression, often over several months or more.

Navigating Skepticism

Amanda addresses the skepticism surrounding homeopathy with grace. She points to growing clinical research, like that from the Homeopathy Research Institute, and shares how even skeptics often turn to her when conventional methods fail.

Reiki & Atua Healing

Reiki, an energy healing practice from Japan, is surprisingly mainstream in New Zealand. Amanda pairs it with atua healing—a spiritual energy modality rooted in Māori culture that clears emotional blockages and restores balance across seven levels of energy.

The Power of Listening

A key distinction in Amanda’s work is time. Her 90-minute homeopathy sessions allow for deep listening, uncovering layers of physical, emotional, and even suppressed trauma that short medical visits often miss.

Post-Pandemic Wellness Shifts

COVID-19 sparked a return to natural living—gardening, whole foods, herbalism. Amanda sees a growing interest in self-healing tools like homeopathy kits and online Reiki courses, empowering families to care for themselves at home.

Advice for Newcomers

Her top tip: choose your healer wisely. Comfort and trust are crucial. Amanda even invites prospective clients to meet over coffee before booking—a testament to her client-centered approach.

A Broader Mission

Amanda’s vision is a world where natural healing is accessible and normalized. Though challenges remain, she hopes homeopathy and Reiki become standard tools in household first aid kits.

IOFP Connection & Global Reach

As a member of the International Order of Fantastic Professionals, Amanda celebrates global collaboration. Through her website, www.replenishhealing.com, she offers online homeopathy and distance Reiki sessions to clients around the world.

Closing Reflection

Living a fantastic life, Amanda says, is a journey of authenticity. The more we align with our truth and support one another, the more empowered our healing—and our lives—become.

BIO:

Amanda Cowlrick, founder of Replenish Healing, supports the holistic health of her clients through a range of modalities. Amanda is a qualified Homeopath in acute and chronic cases. Amanda is also a Reiki Master and Practitioner of Atua Healing. Amanda uses either one or a combination of these modalities to help her clients on their wellness journey. She is registered with the New Zealand Council of Homeopaths and Reiki NZ Inc.

Social Media:

Website: https://www.replenishhealing.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/Replenishhealing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/replenishhealing