The Perkins Platform

In this episode, Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig joins me for a candid conversation about the real costs of changemaking in leadership. We explore the emotional toll, professional isolation, and personal challenges that often accompany the work of pushing for equity and transformation. Drawing from his own experiences as a scholar, advocate, and education leader, Dr. Heilig reflects on what it means to lead with conviction when the work ...

In this episode, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum reflects on her journey in higher education, from her early career as a professor and author to her leadership as president of Spelman College. A nationally recognized authority on race relations and identity, she is the bestselling author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, a groundbreaking book that has shaped national conversations for decades. Dr. Tatum als...

In this episode, Dr. David Creswell, Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, shares insights from his research on stress and the role of mindfulness in promoting resilience and well-being. Drawing on studies that link mindfulness training to reductions in stress-related inflammation, improvements in emotional regulation, and greater cognitive flexibility, Dr. Creswell explains how these practices can help leaders man...

This episode features a conversation with Salman Chowdhury, a student who was recently admitted to Harvard and took the time to chat in the middle of his orientation week. He reflects on the critical role his parents played in supporting his journey, the discipline and daily practices that helped him stay focused, and the unexpected ways technology shaped his preparation and opportunities (and it's not what you think). Salman ...

Jack Barsky, former KGB undercover agent, IT executive and bestselling author, joins us to share the leadership lessons he gained through years in intelligence and a lifetime of observing people. Born Albrecht Dittrich in East Germany, Jack was recruited by the KGB after graduating summa cum laude in chemistry and was sent to the United States as an undercover agent. A decade later he severed ties with the KGB and later cooperated ...

Dr. Kentaro Fujita, a leading expert on motivation, self-regulation, and decision-making, joins us to talk about the science behind willpower. He is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Decision Sciences Collaborative at The Ohio State University, and earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard and his PhD in Psychology from NYU. His research explores why some people are better than others at resisting short-term temptation...

Jay Heinrichs, the New York Times bestselling author of Thank You for Arguing and Aristotle’s Guide to Self-Persuasion, has spent his career helping organizations from NASA to leading universities understand how to use the art and science of persuasion. He is joining us to explore how the timeless techniques of rhetoric can change the way we communicate, influence, and even the way we think about ourselves. In this episode, we talk...

Renowned psychologist and NYU professor Joshua Aronson, PhD, joins us to explore how research on stress, mindfulness, and mindset can transform how we learn and thrive. As director of NYU’s Mindful Education Lab, Joshua leads a team dedicated to helping students, teachers, and schools flourish under pressure. Known for his pioneering work on stereotype threat and Growth Mindset, his research has shaped education policy, influenced ...

Award-winning Executive Vice President of Communications and Change Management, educator, and globally recognized DEI leader, Amira Barger joins us to discuss her upcoming book, The Price of Nice: Why Comfort Keeps Us Stuck—And 4 Actions for Real Change (out October 28, 2025). In it, she explores how “niceness” can perpetuate inequity and keep us stuck in surface-level comfort and shares four practical steps to help us create real,...

Christian Ortiz, also known as ZacaTechO, is an Afro-Indigenous, neurodivergent visionary whose work fuses ancestral knowledge with transformative technology, and he’s joining us to talk about his groundbreaking project Justice A.I. As the founder, CEO, and developer behind Justice A.I. and the Decolonial Intelligence Algorithmic (DIA) Framework, Christian has created a model that directly confronts and resolves AI bias at its root...

Dr. Pamela Buchanan, a veteran ER physician with over 20 years of experience, joins us to share her personal journey through burnout and work fatigue as a frontline medical professional. Having worked in high-stress environments including during the height of the pandemic, she brings raw insight into the emotional toll of the job and what recovery truly looks like. As the founder of Strong Medicine STL, she now dedicates her work t...

Paul W.M. Fedak, MD PhD, is a cardiac surgeon, scientist, and writer who brings both clinical expertise and emotional depth to the world of modern medicine. Known for his thought-provoking work at the intersection of identity, excellence, and healing, Paul joins us to share his experiences through burnout and professional fatigue. As a leading voice in academic medicine and innovation, Paul has become an advocate for shifting the c...

Principal and global sustainability leader Geoff Tuff and U.S. sustainability practice lead Steven Goldbach join us to share their best leadership practices and why rethinking the rules is often the most powerful move a leader can make. We will dive into Detonate, the bold first book in their bestselling leadership trilogy, and uncover ideas that echo throughout Provoke and their highly anticipated new release, Hone.

Geoff Tuff is a...

Chief Executive Officer of Aetna Better Health of New York, a CVS Health company, Kevin Nelson joins us to discuss healthcare and leadership. With over 30 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Kevin has dedicated his career to advancing health equity and expanding access for underserved communities. Before leading ABHNY, he held senior roles at organizations like the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and Hudson Health Plan, where he com...

Impact investor, educator, and author James Rhee joins us to discuss his new book, Red Helicopter: A Parable for Our Times, a deeply personal and thought-provoking exploration of leadership, trust, and the power of choosing kindness. Best known for his transformative work as CEO of Ashley Stewart, James turned a struggling fashion brand into a thriving business by centering humanity, dignity, and long-term value. In this episode, h...

Two visionary leaders join us for this special episode on reshaping how we think about rest, resilience, and racial equity in professional spaces. Ngozi Cadmus and Ruth Abban—co-creators of The Black Woman’s Rest Revolution—share vital insights into the lived experiences of Black women in the workplace and the radical importance of rest as a form of resistance and healing.

Ngozi Cadmus is a TEDx speaker, psychotherapist, and the fou...

Seasoned Salesforce strategist, thought leader, and Chief Growth Officer at Cloud Giants (a Salesforce consulting firm), Gay Thorne joins us to share her insights on customer experience and business development. With a strong background in customer relationship management (CRM) optimization, she has been instrumental in helping organizations maximize their Salesforce investments. Gay is also a prominent voice in the Salesforce comm...

Licensed psychologist, author, and educator based in Washington, DC, Dr. Samantha Sweeney joins us to share her work and discuss anxiety in children and some of the potential causes behind its rise. Dr. Sweeney has a private practice on Capitol Hill, where she supports children, families, and adults. She holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Maryland and a psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania. H...