Podcast

Lean Six Sigma for Good Podcast

Business, Education, Management, Self-Improvement

A business podcast dedicated to teaching and sharing how the popular business improvement methodologies of Lean and Six Sigma can be applied to environmental impacts (water, air emissions, solid waste, trash, rubbish, hazardous waste, toxins, and energy) and societal issues (homelessness, government agencies, education, healthcare, gender equality, poverty, etc). These techniques and principles can help businesses, nonprofit organizations, NGO’s, not-for-profit organizations and local communities save money, engage employees and residents, and become better stewards of the environment. Learn more at LeanSixSigmaForGood.com Keywords: Lean, Six Sigma, Environment, Sustainability, Green, Energy Reduction, Energy Conservation, Carbon Footprint, Triple Bottom Line, Eco-friendly, Environmental Sustainability, Water Conservation, Lean Six Sigma, Business Improvement, Process Efficiency, Zero Waste, Waste Reduction, Efficiency, Poverty, Donations, Homelessness, Healthcare

Episodes
25
Releases
Monthly
Typical length
44 min
On air since
2024
Latest episode
2 months ago

Episodes

25 episodes, newest first

  1. E137: Impact Evaluation for Nonprofits with Shenae Samuels

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Shenae Samuels, PhD, MPH with Map Data Studio. We met in Fort Lauderdale at a Social Impact event where I shared my experiences working with nonprofits, and we connected over our passion for helping nonprofits and using statistical analysis. She discusses her transition from an academic research

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    54 min
  2. E136: Facilitating Improvement Events with Evan Unger

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Evan Unger, who is a change leader with expert facilitator that helps leaders transform their virtual teams to dramatically increase collaborative decision-making, buy-in and results. He shares his professional journey from a leadership role at Merck to becoming an expert in collaborative leadership and facilitation. He introduces

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    41 min
  3. E135: Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures with Travis Keener

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Travis Keener (the “Spill Plan Man”) from November 2025. He is a licensed engineer specializing in spill prevention, control, and countermeasures (SPCC) for industrial facilities. He explains that federal EPA regulations require sites storing over 1,320 gallons of oil-based liquids to maintain rigorous spill plans and secondary containment systems, such as earthen berms or

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    36 min
  4. E134: Quality Improvement for Society with Dr. Yvonne Howze

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Dr. Yvonne Howze from December 2025. She specializes in Personal Mastery Leadership along with Organizational and Operational Excellence. She shares her remarkable journey from kindergarten lessons to becoming a nationally recognized leader in education, quality, and nonprofit improvement. With professional experiences spanning education, healthcare, transportation, and major

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    1 hr 1 min
  5. E133: Applications of Lean Six Sigma in Dermatology Clinics

    Show notes

    I share a presentation I gave in July 2025 at the Practical Symposium in Beaver Creek Colorado. The topic was titled “Operations Management – Make Practice More Efficient” which described my experience working with two dermatology clinics. In the presentation, I explain my background in healthcare improvement using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. I explain

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    20 min
  6. E132: Lean Six Sigma for Corporate Giving with Anthea Rowe

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Anthea Rowe, corporate communications and PR expert. She discusses her career trajectory and the application of Lean Six Sigma principles to non-technical fields like communications and philanthropy. She details a major project she led at 3M, where she utilized the DMAIC process and a Pugh Matrix to

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    1 hr
  7. E131: Agile and Sustainability in the UK with Mike Wrathall

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Mike Wrathall, where I explore his background in strategy, agile methods and sustainability. His early career involved building digital services, primarily for government and social housing organizations, such as streamlining the process for getting people who are homeless or victims of domestic violence into safe housing quicker.

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    41 min
  8. E130: Agile Sustainability Manifesto with Ines Garcia

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Ines Garcia, who is one of the creators of the Agile Sustainability Manifesto. She emphasizes the importance of adapting sustainable behaviors to individual lifestyles and advocating for change through personal example rather than pressure. She stresses that meaningful change starts with individual willingness to be part of

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    35 min
  9. E129: Reducing Malnutrition in South Sudan with Chelsie Azevedo

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Chelsie Azevedo, who has a masters in Public Health and is a Registered Dietician (RD), and was previously the Nutrition Technical Advisor for Rise Against Hunger. She shares the story of a powerful multi-year project she helped lead in South Sudan with students at Hope for South

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    1 hr 46 min
  10. E128: Transforming Lives Using Lean with Patrick Adams

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Patrick Adams, founder of Lean Solutions based in Michigan. We met virtually during the pandemic in the Lean Communicators Network, and later in-person at the Lean Six Sigma World Conference. He hosts an annual conference called Lean Solutions Summit that will take place in a few weeks

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    42 min
  11. E127: Applying Kaizen in Developing Countries with Sammy Obara

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Sammy Obara, Founder and Senior Partner at Honsha, a consulting firm made up of former Toyota employees. He recently presented a topic called “Kaizen without Borders” at the 2025 UCSD ProcessPalooza, and I invited him on the podcast. We discuss applying these powerful concepts to NGOs and

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    45 min
  12. E126: Using Lean Six Sigma to Make Wishes Come True with Kristle Bulleman

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an uplifting interview with Kristle Bulleman, Process Manager at Make-A-Wish. She shares insights into her process improvement role at this well-respected nonprofit, outlining the impactful work done by Make-A-Wish to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. We dive into her experiences in using Lean and Six Sigma tools to

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    31 min
  13. E125: Using Lean Six Sigma to Change Lives with Luke Chesla

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an inspiring interview with Dr. Lucas Chesla, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with Value Added 616, and founder of the nonprofit, Full Armor Ranch. In a world where continuous improvement leads to transformative change, he stands out as a master in blending Lean Six Sigma methodologies with meaningful purpose.

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    45 min
  14. E124: Applying Data to Food Quality and Safety with Eric Moore

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview with Eric Moore, Global Director of Food Safety & Industry Outreach at Testo Solutions, where we discuss Food Safety and Quality, Sustainability, and Innovative Data Monitoring. Eric delves into his extensive 25-year career in food safety, beginning with his education in hospitality at Penn State University and his

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    39 min
  15. E123: Driving Lean Leadership into Government with Andrew Rowe

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview I had with Andrew Rowe, former CEO and Executive Chairman of AllMed Healthcare Management in Portland, Oregon. After 20 years of leading AllMed through a Lean transformation, he is now focusing his time on bringing Lean and quality principes into the Portland metro area as a community service

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    44 min
  16. E122: Applying Lean at the City of Grand Rapids with Alen Ganic

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share an interview I had with Alen Ganic, an experienced Lean and Six Sigma coach who spent 14 years with the City of Grand Rapids implementing Lean and has also setup numerous volunteer groups and organizations to help those in need. He shares examples of project improvements he worked on in

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    44 min
  17. E121: Using Lean Principles for Non-Profits and NGOs – ASQ Lean Division

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share a webinar I gave to the ASQ Lean Enterprise Division I share examples of how Lean tools like process mapping, 5S, and Kanban boards helped improve efficiency and effectiveness for nonprofit organizations focused on societal or environmental challenges. I also share my favorite real-world examples from the City of Denver,

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    24 min
  18. E120: Tackling Green with Lean – Lean Global Connection 2024

    Show notes

    In this episode, I share a presentation that the Lean Sustainability Global Network (an unofficial team that I’m involved with) gave at the Lean Global Connection virtual conference in Nov 2024. We share how Lean principles can be applied to tackle pressing environmental challenges and improve processes. For example, Lean and Green expands the traditional

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    25 min
  19. E119: Applying Lean within Municipal Electric and Water Utilities – Interview with Jennifer Peterson

    Show notes

    In this episode, we interview Jennifer Peterson, the manager of Continuous Improvement at Muscatine Power and Water (MPW) in Muscatine, Iowa. She discusses how she got into continuous improvement (CI) and the impact it has had on MPW employees and customers. She highlights the importance of: Jennifer also shares several examples of successful CI projects

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    49 min
  20. E118: Supply Chains for Good – Interview with C.J. Nord

    Show notes

    In this episode, we interview C.J. Nord, a passionate supply chain manager and consultant, who shares her journey towards driving societal change through supply chain. As the founder of Supply Chains for Good, C.J. discusses her extensive career in supply chain management, her recovery from cancer, and how that inspired her skills to launch impactful

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    1 hr 7 min