What happens when clinical expertise meets creativity and calling?

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with Charlotte-based changemaker Leanna Calvin, Founder and Executive Director of Exposure Project.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker with degrees from Tuskegee University and Fordham University, Leanna has worked with youth across the country. But her proudest achievement isn’t a title, it’s impact. After years in mental health and youth development, she noticed a pattern: young people lacked exposure to career possibilities and struggled to see the value in their own uniqueness.

So she built the solution.

Exposure Project is now transforming lives across Charlotte through hands-on career exploration and character development, serving 124 students, engaging 80 families, delivering 277 hours of programming, and introducing youth to 70 career fields.

This conversation explores purpose, leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build something that changes lives.

If you care about culture, youth empowerment, and legacy-driven leadership, this one is for you.

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What does it really take to lead with confidence and build a culture where people can thrive?

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Lisa Tarkington, keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of the nonprofit Lead. Lisa has spent more than a decade helping leaders overcome self-doubt, discover their zone of genius, and create environments where people feel empowered to grow.

Lisa shares her journey from corporate communications at Dow to becoming a nationally recognized coach and speaker. Together, Kyle and Lisa explore the connection between confidence and culture, why many high performers feel stuck in the wrong “zone,” and how leaders can align their strengths, behaviors, and environment for sustainable success.

This conversation is filled with practical insights for leaders who want to stop performing leadership and start truly living it.

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In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with leadership expert Tracy Solarek to explore one of the most important and often overlooked, skills in leadership: emotional intelligence.

While many leaders focus on strategy, execution, and results, Tracy explains why the ability to understand emotions, both your own and others’, is what truly separates good leaders from great ones.

Kyle and Tracy discuss how emotional intelligence shapes team culture, improves communication, and helps leaders navigate difficult conversations with confidence and clarity. They also dive into practical ways leaders can strengthen their self-awareness, build stronger relationships with their teams, and create workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and motivated to perform at their best.

If you want to lead with greater awareness, strengthen trust with your team, and build a culture where people thrive, this conversation will give you the insights to start today.

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Building relationships in the nonprofit world is often treated like a necessary evil, awkward networking events, forced conversations, and transactional asks. But what if it didn’t have to feel that way?

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle breaks down why nonprofit relationship building doesn’t have to suck and why the most successful leaders approach it completely differently.

Instead of chasing donations or trying to “work the room,” Kyle shares how authentic connection, shared purpose, and genuine curiosity create stronger partnerships and more sustainable impact. From community leaders and donors to volunteers and board members, the most powerful nonprofit relationships are built on trust, not transactions.

You’ll learn practical ways to shift your mindset around networking, create meaningful connections that last, and build a culture where people actually want to support the work you’re doing.

If you’re tired of forced networking and ready to build relationships that truly matter, this episode is for you.

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In this powerful episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with keynote speaker, construction industry leader, and bestselling author Erika Rothenberger to talk about resilience, leadership, and what it truly means to live with audacity.

Erika’s story took a dramatic turn in 2022 when she survived a brutal assault that forced her to confront fear, vulnerability, and the fragility of life. Instead of retreating, she made the bold decision to expand. In her new book, Audacious Expansion, Erika shares how adversity can become the catalyst for growth, purpose, and leadership.

Together, Kyle and Erika explore the mindset behind her BOLD Leadership Framework, the power of meaningful connections, and why the strongest leaders choose courage over comfort. Erika also shares how community, resilience, and authenticity can transform even the most difficult moments into opportunities for impact.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that our greatest struggles often hold the potential for our greatest breakthroughs.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, underestimated, or ready for your next level, this episode will challenge you to step forward with courage and expand boldly.

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Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference

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What does it really take to become the kind of leader people choose to follow?

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King explores the difference between leadership that is assigned and leadership that is earned. Titles may give someone authority, but influence, trust, and credibility are what inspire people to truly follow.

Kyle breaks down the key behaviors that define impactful leaders, leaders who create clarity, build strong relationships, and cultivate cultures where people feel motivated to contribute their best work. He also challenges common leadership myths and explains why leadership is less about control and more about consistency, character, and connection.

If you want to grow your influence, strengthen your leadership presence, and build a culture where people feel inspired to move the mission forward, this episode will give you practical insights on how to become the leader others willingly follow.

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What if the secret to thriving at work and in life, wasn’t just strategy or skill, but courage, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the messy middle? On this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, I talk with Dr. Caroline Brookfield, veterinarian, entrepreneur, researcher, stand-up comic, and self-proclaimed “Professional Cat Herder.”

Caroline has spent nearly 30 years making high-stakes decisions in unpredictable environments, from saving animals in the ER to running businesses and speaking on global stages. She shares her personal journey of leaning into uncertainty, finding joy in failure, and cultivating creativity in herself and her teams.

In this episode, Caroline opens up about:

• Her “messy middle” moments that shaped her resilience and perspective

• How her childhood curiosities and quirks influenced her career path

• The personal habits and mindsets that help her thrive in ambiguity

• Why letting your inner “Todd” (your inner critic) take a break is key to growth

• The moments she’s laughed, failed, and learned, sometimes all at once

Whether you’re leading a team, facing uncertainty, or just trying to get through your day with your creativity intact, Caroline’s stories will inspire you to embrace your originality, trust yourself, and laugh along the way.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• The Reluctant Creative – https://lnkd.in/g-8wKrWp

• Creative Breakthrough Workbook – https://lnkd.in/gW6jp33P

• Connect with Caroline – Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference

  Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast

  Subscribe to Apple Podcasts

  📞 Schedule Your Call Here

  🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers

  👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance

  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, we tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in professional growth: networking is not a competition. Too often, people approach networking like a race for attention, influence, or opportunity. But the most impactful relationships are built through curiosity, generosity, and genuine connection, not comparison.

Kyle King explores why many professionals struggle with networking, how the wrong mindset can create unnecessary pressure, and what it looks like to approach relationship-building in a more authentic and strategic way. You’ll learn how to shift from transactional interactions to meaningful conversations, build trust within your network, and create opportunities through collaboration rather than competition.

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with networking events, unsure how to follow up with new connections, or like you’re “doing networking wrong,” this episode will help you rethink the entire approach and start building relationships that truly matter.

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Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference

Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast

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📞 Schedule Your Call Here

🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers

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👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King