Expressions of Leadership

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry explores leadership through storytelling, trust, and creative courage with Jeremiah D. Higgins—radio host, executive producer, and director of programming at Radio Evolve Santa Barbara. With more than 20 seasons behind the microphone and a global audience through Radio Evolve Santa Barbara and the Evolve Entertainment Network, Jeremiah shares how deep listening, meaningful conversation, and a willingness to take creative risks have shaped his career.

They discuss building trust with guests and audiences, and creating spaces—on air and beyond—where people feel seen and heard. Jeremiah also reflects on bringing a people-centered leadership philosophy to hospitality, having led the design and management of more than 200 music venues, hotels, restaurants, and retail concepts worldwide through Evolve Hospitality Advisors.

Learn more about Jeremiah D. Higgins at:
https://linktr.ee/jeremiahdhiggins

www.TheJeremiahShow.com
 

Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.

Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with artist Flora Kao to explore a nontraditional leadership journey shaped by courage, persistence, and creative risk. From studying environmental science and public policy to working in strategy consulting—and ultimately choosing a life rooted in art—Flora reflects on redefining success, navigating rejection and personal upheaval, and grounding decisions in inner clarity rather than external approval.

Together, they examine leadership as an active, evolving practice: the role of mentorship, balancing intention with serendipity, and using art, public installations, and teaching to create spaces for healing, connection, and shared human experience. Flora also shares her vision for community-centered collaborations that invite reflection, beauty, and deeper relationships with nature and one another.

Learn more about Flora Kao at http://floratkao.blogspot.com and follow her at http://www.instagram.com/florakaoart

Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.

Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Dr. Diana Hoppe, board-certified OB/GYN, founder of Amazing Over 40, breast cancer survivor, and women’s health advocate, for a powerful conversation about leadership, self-care, and reinvention at midlife.

Drawing from nearly 30 years in medicine — and a personal wake-up call that reshaped how she lives and leads — Dr. Hoppe shares insights on listening to the body, navigating midlife transitions, and role-modeling wellness as a leadership practice. Together, they explore the Perimenopause Paradox, self-advocacy, and what it means to lead with intention through change.

Learn more about Dr. Hoppe and Amazing over 40: Website: https://amazingover40.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-hoppe-m-d-9685622a/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazingover40/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmazingOver40 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPbZf5YDuu4-VuwfzfPUDzg

Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.

Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry talks with Edie Higby, Scientist of Happiness Health, author of Joy by Design, and founder of Practicing Joy, to explore where joy and leadership intersect.

Edie shares her powerful journey from profound personal loss to resilience, reframing happiness not as a fleeting feeling, but as serious, intentional work. She introduces her Joy by Design framework, along with accessible practices that help leaders cultivate presence, trust, and emotional well-being.

Together, they discuss how leaders can support mental health, model vulnerability, and design small, meaningful interventions that create lasting change for individuals, teams, and organizational culture. This conversation offers practical insight for anyone seeking to lead with greater humanity, courage, and joy.

Learn more about Edie Higby and Practicing Joy:
Website: https://www.practicingjoy.net/
Instagram: @practicingjoy2day
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/practicingjoy/
                  https://www.facebook.com/edie.higby/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edie-higby-m-a-in-happiness-studies-a14aa493/

Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.

Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry is joined by educator, author, and storyteller Michael Hernandez to explore what learning can, and should, look like in an AI-driven world. Drawing on his background in film, journalism, and media arts, Michael challenges traditional systems built on control, standardization, and “right answers,” and offers a more human-centered vision of teaching and assessment.

Together, they explore how storytelling and creativity can turn classrooms into workshops for leadership, how rethinking rubrics and embracing self, peer, and audience evaluation builds agency and ethical decision-making, and why curiosity, risk-taking, and joy are not “soft skills,” but essential leadership capabilities. This conversation invites educators, parents, and leaders to reconsider not just how we learn, but what kind of leaders we’re preparing people to become.

Learn more about and connect with Michael:

Website: https://www.michael-hernandez.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hernandez-21a8195/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changing.the.narrative/
 
You can also check out his book, course and podcast:

Book: Storytelling With Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity https://tinyurl.com/4p3vyuj9

Course: Uncheatable Assessments https://storytelling-with-purpose-learning.thinkific.com/
 
Podcast:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/change-the-narrative/id1455984465
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5PYWfxPEyE3msMEMXwXOMY?si=dc80c7007bb1449d
Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsRxdUIrHR_QXTL7tVw1-rcyhjP4jX8Nu&si=YJQupnWfH6XZEpRk

Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.

Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.