Passing The Torch with Martin Foster
Passing The Torch is a TORCH LEAP® long-form podcast exploring identity, purpose, leadership, and life after achievement.
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Hosted by Air Force veteran Martin Foster, each episode features honest conversations with leaders, elite performers, veterans, athletes, authors, entrepreneurs, and culture-shapers who have navigated success, failure, reinvention, and everything in between.
These aren't interviews about résumés. They're conversations about what happens after the medals, the promotions, the championships, and the uniforms, and the lessons worth passing on to the next generation.
Real Conversations. Lasting Impact.
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© 2026 TORCH LEAP®, LLC. All rights reserved.
Passing The Torch with Martin Foster
Ep. 131: Kate McKinnon - Redefining Company Culture, Conversations on HR, Sports, and Empathy
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Kate McKinnon is the former Head of Human Resources at Playfly Sports, a leading sports media and marketing company. There, she led the People function through a fast-paced, high-growth phase - helping the company earn recognition as both a Most Loved Workplace and one of the Best Employers in Sports.
Today, she leads her own consulting practice focused on empowering organizations by prioritizing their most valuable asset: people. Her work centers on:
- Leadership Development
- HR Strategy & Culture Building
- Personalized Career Coaching
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Quick Episode Summary:
Kate McKinnon shares Human Resource insights, Philly sports, and kindness stories.
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🔥 Torch Takeaways Include:
Kate shares hard-earned lessons on:
◼ Hilarious stories about being mistaken for the other Kate McKinnon
◼ Why exclamation points (and emojis!) matter in emails
◼ The myth that HR is just the “company police”
◼ Lessons from Philly sports, The Office’s Toby, and a memorable story of airline biscotti
◼ Her upcoming book, From Classroom to Career, for anyone navigating big career transitions
◼ Plus: Kate’s advice for young professionals, her take on evolving workplace culture post-pandemic, favorite Maya Angelou & Mr. Rogers quotes, and why we all need to give each other a little more grace.
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Podcast Chapters:
00:00 Experience with Playfly Sports
06:11 Email communication in organizations
08:21 Corporate culture misconceptions
11:16 Communicating career growth expectations
13:49 Post-pandemic workplace challenges
17:13 Flight attendant shares snacks
20:25 Discussing favorite quotes and insights
25:08 First impression of Connor Barwin
27:10 Iconic game and Eagles parade
29:42 Being a passionate Philly sports fan
36:05 Importance of giving grace and Billboard Message
Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin
More Amazing Stories:
Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You Insecure
Episode 81: Kurt Warner – Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way
Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel
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© 2026 TORCH LEAP®, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kate McKinnon is the former Head of Human Resources at Playfly Sports, a leading sports media and marketing company. There, she led the People function through a fast-paced, high-growth phase - helping the company earn recognition as both a Most Loved Workplace and one of the Best Employers in Sports.
Today, she leads her own consulting practice focused on empowering organizations by prioritizing their most valuable asset: people. Her work centers on:
- Leadership Development
- HR Strategy & Culture Building
- Personalized Career Coaching
-
Quick Episode Summary:
Kate McKinnon shares Human Resource insights, Philly sports, and kindness stories.
-
🔥 Torch Takeaways Include:
Kate shares hard-earned lessons on:
◼ Hilarious stories about being mistaken for the other Kate McKinnon
◼ Why exclamation points (and emojis!) matter in emails
◼ The myth that HR is just the “company police”
◼ Lessons from Philly sports, The Office’s Toby, and a memorable story of airline biscotti
◼ Her upcoming book, From Classroom to Career, for anyone navigating big career transitions
◼ Plus: Kate’s advice for young professionals, her take on evolving workplace culture post-pandemic, favorite Maya Angelou & Mr. Rogers quotes, and why we all need to give each other a little more grace.
-
Podcast Chapters:
00:00 Experience with Playfly Sports
06:11 Email communication in organizations
08:21 Corporate culture misconceptions
11:16 Communicating career growth expectations
13:49 Post-pandemic workplace challenges
17:13 Flight attendant shares snacks
20:25 Discussing favorite quotes and insights
25:08 First impression of Connor Barwin
27:10 Iconic game and Eagles parade
29:42 Being a passionate Philly sports fan
36:05 Importance of giving grace and Billboard Message
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Kate's Resources:
◼ Website: https://katemckinnonhrsolutions.com/
◼ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemckinnon/
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Episode Mentions:
Saquon Barkley – Sam Darnold – Connor Barwin
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Quotes to open episode:
“When I was a boy and saw scary things in the news, my mother would say, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’’ - Mr. Rogers
"Work should feel human. Leadership should be intentional."
