UNBOXING OD: From Curiosity to Capability in Organizational Development
Unboxing OD is your guide to making sense of Organizational Development - one thoughtful conversation at a time. Hosted by Kenneth Pearson, seasoned OD practitioner and author of The Flow of Five Tiers, this podcast unpacks the complexity of organizational life with clarity, compassion, and a bit of edge.
Whether you're an early-career OD professional, a leader trying to navigate change, or simply someone who believes workplaces can be more human, you'll find grounded insights and actionable takeaways here. While most episodes are solo deep dives into the fieldwork and philosophy behind OD, we also feature voices from the field, bringing in experts, newcomers, and those who challenge the status quo.
No jargon. No endless theory. Just practical wisdom, lived experience, and a steady focus on making organizations better for the people who keep them alive.
Ready to deepen your OD practice? Connect with Kenneth on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson or visit the Pearson & Pearson LLC website at www.pearsonpearson.llc.
Episodes
22 episodes
Episode 22: When the Diagnosis Hurts - Telling the Truth in OD
In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson takes us into one of the most delicate and defining aspects of organizational development - what happens when your findings reveal something uncomfortable, something that leadership ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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8:23
Episode 21: Navigating the Transition from L&D to OD with Bethany Rios, MPH
In this guest episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Bethany Rios, Organizational Development Manager and L&D professional, for a candid conversation about stepping into the world of OD from a background in tra...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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29:55
Episode 20: The Silent Partner - Power in Organizations
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth explores the powerful presence of organizational power dynamics and the influence they carry in shaping culture, conversations, and decisions. These dynamics often live beneath the surface, guidi...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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9:48
Episode 19: Allyship in Action with Dr. Victoria Mattingly
In this powerful and personal conversation, Dr. Victoria Mattingly (Dr. V) - organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and CEO of Mattingly Solutions - joins Kenneth to explore what it...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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36:52
Episode 18: The Myth of the Quick Fix - Why OD Work Takes Time
We all love a quick fix - something that solves the problem, calms the chaos, and gets us back on track. But in the world of Organizational Development, quick fixes often don’t fix anything at all. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenne...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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8:32
Episode 17: From Idea to Impact - Designing Strategic, Human-Centered Interventions
What separates a one-time workshop from an intervention that actually changes the way people work together?In this episode of Unboxing OD, we explore what it really takes to design effective Organizational Development interventi...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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11:10
Episode 16: The Power of Storytelling in Organizational Development
Storytelling isn’t just a soft skill - it’s one of the most powerful tools OD practitioners have to navigate complexity, build trust, and move people through change. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson explores how stories ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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9:08
Episode 15: The Flow of Five Tiers - Seeing the Whole System
What happens when we pause, zoom out, and ask: What are we really building?In this special episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson introduces The Flow of Five Tiers - a reflective, systems-based framework ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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13:40
Episode 14: Building Trust & Credibility as an OD Practitioner
Trust and credibility aren’t just nice-to-haves in Organizational Development - they’re foundational. In this episode of Unboxing OD, we briefly explore how OD practitioners can build influence without formal authority, create psycholo...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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10:20
Episode 13: A Day in the Life - The Key Responsibilities of an OD Professional
What does a typical day look like for an Organizational Development (OD) practitioner? The short answer: there’s no such thing as typical.In this episode of Unboxing OD, we walk through the real-world responsibilities of OD prof...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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12:37
Episode 12: Followership - The Unsung Power Behind Great Leadership
What if the key to better leadership ... is better followership?In this episode of Unboxing OD, we’re flipping the script and turning our attention to a concept that’s often overlooked but absolutely essential - followership...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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10:53
Episode 11: Systems, Ethics, Balance, & Growth - The OD Practitioner Mindset
What does it really mean to think like an OD practitioner? It’s more than just knowing frameworks or designing interventions - it’s about embracing complexity, seeing organizations as interconnected systems, and balancing business outc...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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14:58
Episode 10: What Does an Organizational Development Professional Actually Do?
In this episode of Unboxing OD, we’re pulling back the curtain on a question that’s fundamental yet often misunderstood: What does an Organizational Development (OD) professional actually do? Today, we’re diving into the core responsib...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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12:09
Episode 09: Leading with Purpose - The Connection Between Leadership & Management (Bonus Episode)
Leadership and management - two words often used interchangeably, yet they play distinct and complementary roles in shaping organizations. In this special episode of Unboxing OD, we explore how leadership and management work together t...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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11:50
Episode 08: From Silence to Strength - How OD Practitioners Encourage Psychological Safety in the Workplace
Imagine a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, share ideas, admit mistakes, and challenge the status quo without fear of judgment or retaliation. That’s the power of psychological safety, and it’s not just a nice-to-have - it’s a criti...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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10:24
Episode 07: Leading the Way - How Leadership Defines the Success of Organizational Development
Leadership isn’t just a title - it’s the engine that drives Organizational Development. In this episode of Unboxing OD, we explore why leadership is the single most important factor in determining whether OD initiatives thr...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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11:12
Episode 06: More Than Words - Aligning Culture and Strategy for Real Impact
Culture and strategy - two forces that shape every organization. But what happens when they’re not aligned? In this episode of Unboxing OD, we explore the powerful intersection of culture and strategy, breaking down how these elements ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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10:23
Episode 05: From Metrics to Meaning - Evaluating OD Success
Success in Organizational Development isn’t always easy to define. Unlike tracking sales or profits, OD measures impact in areas like engagement, retention, and culture - elements that often resist easy quantification. In this episode of Un...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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13:21
Episode 04: The OD Practitioner - Detective, Architect, & Culture Shaper
What exactly does an Organizational Development (OD) practitioner do? You’ve seen them in action—or maybe just heard about them—but their role often feels elusive. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson demystifies the role of...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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12:47
Episode 03: Communication - The Heartbeat of Organizational Success
Effective communication is the foundation of every successful organization, but it’s often easier said than done. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson tackles the art of organizational communication—breaking down why it’s mo...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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8:59
Episode 02: The Human Side of Change - Keys to Leading Successful Transitions
Change is inevitable, but managing it effectively is where the real challenge lies. In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson dives into the key components of change management that can make or break any initiative. Drawing on hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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9:19
Episode 01: Introducing Organizational Development - The Human-Centered Approach
Welcome to the first episode of Unboxing OD! In this episode, we dive into the foundational concepts of Organizational Development, exploring what it is, why it matters, and how it aligns people, processes, strategy, and culture to cre...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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7:43