Each week, I sit down with leading voices in business, leadership, and transformation to unpack the issues that matter most. Together, we explore fresh insights, bold ideas, and real-world stories from the people shaping how we think about change, culture, and what's possible. As a LinkedIn Top Voice myself and an expert in change and transformation, I bring a unique lens to every conversation—connecting each episode to powerful, science-backed strategies that help individuals, teams, and organizations navigate change with confidence. Whether you're leading a company, driving culture shifts, or simply looking to level up in your career or life, these episodes are designed to challenge your thinking and expand your perspective. Subscribe now to join the conversation and never miss an episode.
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80/100
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Top Voice Podcast with Michael J. López is a business podcast hosted by Michael J. López, with 79 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.
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Michael J. López hosts Top Voice Podcast with Michael J. López, a business show with 79 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #31
The Real Reason AI Pilots Stall and Where Leaders Go Wrong with Sania Khana
Aug 11, 202634 minS2
Michael talks with labor economist Sania Khan about interim findings from their joint research on AI pilots and why many are stalling. Sania shares her background from the White House, Capitol Hill, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to serving as chief economist at a unicorn AI company, and explains why leaders must consider workforce strategy as AI transforms tasks across industries. They discuss common failures such as whiplash directives, unclear “why,” token-cost surprises, data access and compliance constraints, and a bifurcated tool experience between leaders and employees. They also cover entry-level hiring slowdowns, workforce opt-outs, rising entrepreneurship, and the need to measure outcomes beyond cost savings. Key takeaways include redesigning workflows, choosing better KPIs, and involving workers early to build trust and adoption. Timestamps: 00:24 Welcome and Setup 01:10 Meet Sania Khan 03:12 AI and Jobs Outlook 06:13 Research Collaboration 08:10 Early Pilot Findings 10:21 Data Access Roadblocks 13:08 Entry Level Pipeline 15:57 Hiring Slowdown and Entrepreneurship 18:21 Measuring AI Value 23:31 AI as a Culture Mirror 27:02 Three Takeaways for Leaders 30:42 Closing Connect with Sania: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sania-khan1/ https://www.inflectionpointstrategy.co
Stop Forcing Generosity: What Nonprofits Get Wrong About the Brain with Cherian Koshy
Aug 4, 202638 minS2
Michael talks with Cherian Koshy about his book Neurogiving and how neuroscience and behavioral science explain generosity and decision-making. Koshy, a longtime nonprofit professional, says the goal isn’t to manufacture generosity but to create conditions that make giving easier, emphasizing choice architecture, identity, belonging, emotion, and trust. He explains why metrics and “the business case” often fail, describing decision “gates” such as affective reasoning, identity alignment, and the identifiable individual effect, and argues that logic comes last. They discuss how nonprofits and companies should resequence outreach to prioritize relationship and trust-building, why transactional “pitch-first” approaches backfire, and how AI-driven growth tactics can burn trust and retention. Timestamps: 00:24 Welcome 01:08 Meet Cherian Koshy 01:37 Why Neurogiving Exists 03:11 Early Fundraising Lessons 07:47 Innate Altruism Explained 13:07 Why Metrics Fail 19:33 Resequencing Trust First 25:47 AI and Trust Cliff 29:30 Key Takeaways on Generosity 35:06 Closing Connect with Cherian: https://www.cheriankoshy.com https://www.labnotes.neurogivingbook.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/
Winning with AI: The 12-Week FrameworkThat Actually Works with Charlene Li
Jul 28, 202635 minS2
Michael interviews keynote speaker and seven-time author Charlene Li about her new book and 12-week program focused on leading AI through leadership and strategy rather than technology explanations. Li and co-author Katia Welsh outline a playbook that starts with existing business strategy and builds an AI roadmap to create value over a rolling 18-month horizon, updating quarterly while keeping strategy “in ink” and tactics “in pencil.” They discuss why organizations overthink AI strategy but under-execute, the need to make AI use safe and expected, provide time to practice, and have leaders model usage to reduce stigma. Li describes leaders’ “AI hesitation gap” between FOMO and fear, emphasizes AI fluency through practice, and frames value creation as engagement, productivity, and reinvention supported by governance and coordinated enterprise efforts. Timestamps: 00:24 Welcome 01:30 Book Focus Leading AI 02:48 Why a Strategic Playbook 04:10 No AI Strategy Needed 06:32 Rolling 18 Month Roadmap 09:17 Why Execution Stalls 11:56 Employee Fears and Trust 13:52 Leadership FOMO vs FOGI 16:58 Build AI Fluency Fast 19:13 Tools Access and Practicality 22:17 Training AI With Context 24:08 12 Week Sprint Foundations 27:09 Efficiency to Reinvention 30:22 Three Key Takeaways 32:11 Career Inflection Point Story 33:48 Closing Connect with Charlene: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneli/ https://charleneli.com
From Homeless to Founder: How Crisis Becomes Your Competitive Advantage with Shawn Gregoire
Jul 21, 202636 minS2
On the Top Voice podcast Shawn Gregoire shares his journey from homelessness in Houston after dropping out of Rutgers to finding stability through 14.5 years in the Air Force, teaching himself coding in 2021, and later completing an executive MBA at Brown University and IE Business School. After leaving the service in 2023, moving to the DC area, and taking a Department of the Navy role, Shawn is laid off during probationary employee cuts when veterans are no longer exempt, prompting him to found Capstone Tech. He explains how his company builds products to support people navigating a fragmented workforce—starting nonprofits, switching industries, or launching businesses—and how experiences in South Africa shaped his focus on expanding access to opportunity. Shawn discusses redefining security as doing meaningful work while prioritizing family and health. Timestamps: 00:24 Welcome 01:16 Shawn Background Overview 02:54 Early Life and Loss 04:20 Homeless in Houston 06:30 Mindset in Survival Mode 09:31 Federal Layoff Shock 12:15 Turning Layoff Into Purpose 14:31 What Capstone Tech Builds 16:11 South Africa Entrepreneur Lesson 22:37 Leadership Through Vulnerability 25:05 Redefining Security and Family 28:35 Advice for Big Leaps 32:24 Closing Connect with Shawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-gregoire/ https://capstoneworkforce.com https://www.capstonetech.co
What 400+ CEO Interviews Reveal About Sustainable High Performance with Ehsan Etezad
Jul 14, 202624 minS2
Michael interviews Ehsan Ehtesad, organizational psychologist and co-founder/CEO of Mia Science, about building healthy, high-performance teams by focusing on recharging rather than constant intensity. Drawing on nearly 400 interviews with CEOs, surgeons, and champions, Ehsan contrasts time management with energy management and argues that effective recovery comes from doing the opposite of what drains you at work. They discuss sustaining excellence as a marathon, resting along the way, using rhythms of focus and recovery, and leaders’ responsibility to create supportive cultures where people can communicate low energy without judgment. Ehsan shares metaphors about charging batteries and leaders as thermostats, and recommends writing a personal recharging plan on good days for use on bad days. Timestamps: 00:24 Welcome 01:12 Meet Ehsan Ehtesad 02:18 Why Workplaces Matter 04:01 400 Interviews Insights 05:34 Energy Over Time 06:46 Opposite Recharge Rule 08:57 Redefining Productivity 09:50 Marathon Pace and Cycles 12:30 Rest on the Way 14:16 Team Energy Language 17:53 Support Not Judgment 23:51 Rituals and Thermostat 28:53 Intentional Culture Systems 30:22 Personal Recharge Plan 32:13 Funeral Message Question 34:11 Where to Follow Ehsan 35:07 Closing Connect with Ehsan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehsanetezad/ https://ehsanetezad.com https://www.youtube.com/@EhsanEtezad https://www.instagram.com/ehsanetezad/ https://x.com/EhsanEtezad Michael's National Workforce Study on Change Management: https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/research
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