Top Voice Podcast with Michael J. López
Each week, I sit down with leading voices in business, leadership, and transformation to unpack the issues that matter most. Together, we explore fresh insights, bold ideas, and real-world stories from the people shaping how we think about change, culture, and what's possible.
As a LinkedIn Top Voice myself and an expert in change and transformation, I bring a unique lens to every conversation—connecting each episode to powerful, science-backed strategies that help individuals, teams, and organizations navigate change with confidence.
Whether you're leading a company, driving culture shifts, or simply looking to level up in your career or life, these episodes are designed to challenge your thinking and expand your perspective.
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Episodes
72 episodes
The Not So Hidden Costs of Undertrained Leaders with Jennifer Dulski
Michael speaks with Jennifer Dulski, founder and CEO of Rising Team, about the hidden costs of untrained teams and how leadership development can be improved. Dulski shares her background across nonprofit work, teaching, and leadership roles at...
Why Drug Pricing Transparency Is Finally Disrupting Big Pharma's Stranglehold with Erin Albert
Michael welcomes Erin Albert, Chief of Pharmacy Relations, Network and Professional Affairs at Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, to explain why U.S. drug pricing is so opaque and how transparency can lower costs. Albert shares how she joined the co...
Leadership and The Future of Work in the Age of AI with Brian Elliott
Michael interviews Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward and former Google and Slack executive, about AI and the future of work through a human-centered lens. Elliott explains how his Future Forum research on workplace flexibility evolved into AI-...
How Generational Healing Changes What We Pass Down with Jasmine Escalera
Michael interviews Dr. Jasmine Escalera, founder of the nonprofit Institute for Generational Healing, about recognizing and breaking inherited survival patterns passed through families. Escalera explains generational healing, how cycles can pro...
Why Most Executives Don't Know They Have a LinkedIn Problem with Leslie Hughes.
Michael welcomes LinkedIn Top Voice, trainer, and author Leslie Hughes to discuss how LinkedIn has evolved from a job-search site into a networking and thought leadership platform, and why many executives underestimate their need for an active ...
The Creator Economy is Dead. Long Live the IP Economy with Bia Granja
Michael talks with creator-economy builder Bia Granja about her hot take that the creator economy isn’t dead, but the attention economy that fueled it is ending as reach becomes commoditized and organic reach declines. Bia argues creators must ...
How AI Is Reshaping Education Beyond the Classroom in 2026 with Christophe Zoghbi
Michael interviews Christophe “Chris” Zoghbi, founder and CEO of Zaka, about how AI is reshaping education and workplace learning, with a focus on the Middle East. Zoghbi shares his path from software engineering and early machine-learning work...
Lessons from Three Decades in the NFL with Tom Melvin, TE Coach Kansas City Chiefs
Michael welcomes longtime friend and former coach Tom Melvin, current Kansas City Chiefs tight ends coach and three-time Super Bowl champion, to discuss Melvin’s coaching journey from small college football to 14 seasons with Andy Reid in Phila...
The New Blueprint for Going Global with Your Personal Brand with Sandra Long
Michael interviews LinkedIn expert Sandra Long about building a global personal brand. Long shares how she moved from B2B sales to helping individuals and organizations leverage LinkedIn, and explains why global reach is easier post-2020 but re...
Overcoming the PMO and Project Manager Stereotype with Fola Alabi
Michael welcomes project and strategy leader Fola Alabi to discuss stereotypes about project managers and PMOs and why many are seen as process-heavy status reporters rather than value creators. Fola shares her 20+ year career across government...
Why Bias is a Luxury the Economy Can’t Afford with Katica Roy
Michael welcomes economist, data scientist, and Pipeline CEO Katica Roy to discuss why bias and inequity “sub-optimize” the economy, citing women earning nearly 60% of degrees while being promoted 21% slower and the large GDP and fiscal impacts...
The Judgment Gap: Why Lawyers Won't Be Replaced But Must Evolve with Colin Levy
Michael speaks with Colin Levy, General Counsel at Malbek and adjunct professor at Albany Law School, about how AI is disrupting the legal profession and what Levy calls the “judgment gap.” They discuss AI’s growing role in performing tasks for...
Why So Many Experts Sound the Same and How to Actually Stand Out with Christie Bilbrey
Michael welcomes strategic communications advisor Christie Bilbrey, founder of Stella Nova Media, to discuss why many professionals sound the same and how to stand out through clearer positioning and storytelling. Christie explains that credent...
Risk vs. Moat: How to Make Yourself Harder to Replace with Freda Thomas
Michael speaks with executive coach and LinkedIn Top Voice Frida Thomas about becoming irreplaceable by understanding “risk vs. moat” in today’s AI-driven workplace. Frida shares her background coaching senior leaders and explains how quickly c...
So What? Why? Who Cares? The Questions Most Marketing Gets Wrong with Doug Kimball
Michael welcomes Doug Kimball to discuss Doug’s new book, “So What, Why, Who Cares?”, a three-question framework Doug has used for 14+ years to improve messaging, positioning, storytelling, and strategic thinking. Doug shares how the framework ...
Who Gets to Transform Now? AI and the Democratization of Disruption with John Harrison
Michael speaks with John Harrison, co-founder of Luminar Global, an AI firm focused on “enabling trust with AI,” about how AI is shifting transformation from big-company, big-budget initiatives to individual and small-team impact. Harrison shar...
Sustainable Fitness: How Real Change Happens Through Habits, Effort, and the Power of identity with Joey Munoz
In this Top Voice Podcast episode, Dr. Joey Munoz, a PhD in nutritional sciences, shares how he helps people improve body composition and health markers through sustainable habit formation, education, and accountability rather than fad diets an...
How to Face an Existential Threat with Phil Ledgerwood
Michael interviews Phil Ledgerwood, co-owner of Integrity Inspired Solutions, about facing the existential threat AI and “vibe coding” pose to software careers and businesses. Phil describes how market perception and hype can be as disruptive a...
Blazing Your Own Trail: Rethinking Career, Work, and Life with Rakshit Kharbanda
Michael speaks with Rakshit Kharbanda about creating a non-linear life and career through repeated international moves and calculated risk-taking. Rakshit shares his background from New Delhi, completing a bachelor’s in technology (through 2022...
The Unexpected CEO: Leadership, Risk, and Reinvention with Sharita Humphrey
This episode of the Top Voice Podcast features Sharita Humphrey discussing her “unexpected CEO” journey from government auditor and analyst to entrepreneur and CEO. Humphrey shares that she initially had no desire to start a business, but felt ...
What Actually Happened in GenAI in 2025 and What Comes Next with Jason Saltzman
Join us for a fascinating episode of the Top Voice Podcast as we explore the AI market dynamics in 2025 with Jason Saltzman from CB Insights. Jason shares unique insights on the ecosystem of players, investments, and funding in the AI landscape...
AI for the Rest of Us: How Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Get Started with Vinicius David
In this episode of the Top Voice Podcast, we welcome Vinicius David to discuss AI adoption for small and medium businesses. Vinicius, an expert with 20 years in tech, shares her journey and provides actionable advice on AI implementation. Learn...
Why AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Cybersecurity with Matthew Rosenquist
Join us on this episode of the Top Voice Podcast as we dive deep into the world of AI and cybersecurity with industry expert Matthew Rosenquist. With 36 years of experience in cybersecurity, Matthew discusses the growing implications of AI on c...
Why Most Independent Consultants Get Stuck and How the Best Break Through with Mike Koziol
Join us for an engaging episode of the Top Voice Podcast as we delve into the world of independent consulting with expert Mike Koziol. Mike shares his journey from being a lawyer and fraud investigator to becoming a consultant's consultant. We ...
Why your job search strategy must evolve in 2026 with Valerie Martinelli
Join us for an insightful episode of the Top Voice Podcast as we explore the evolving landscape of job searching in 2026 with career leadership coach Valerie Martinelli. Discover how the job market has shifted since post-COVID, the importance o...