Civility Matters: Conversations on Rudeness, Respect and Workplace Culture

Civility Matters is a podcast about workplace civility, incivility, rudeness and the human side of leadership. Hosted by psychologist and speaker John O’Brien, the show features guests from business, healthcare, education, and public life who explore why rudeness happens, how it affects people and organizations, and what we can do to build more respectful workplaces and communities.

Each episode offers research-based insight and practical steps for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone working to reduce toxic behavior and strengthen trust. The show provides a regular reminder that how we treat each other at work isn’t a soft skill, but rather it is a strategic advantage.

Contributors

Host

Dr. John O'Brien

John M. O’Brien, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, author, and expert in social behavior, with a particular focus on the psychology of civility and interpersonal communication. He is the author of Rudeness Rehab: Reclaiming Civility in the Workplace and Your Home Space, a groundbreaking book that blends psychological research with practical strategies to help individuals cultivate more respectful, empathic, and productive relationships. He received his degrees from Boston College (B.A), Tufts University (M.A.) and Michigan State University (Ph.D.) in psychology/counseling psychology.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. O’Brien is a sought-after speaker, trainer, coach, and consultant who delivers workshops and seminars on leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence. His work has been featured in multiple media outlets, and he is dedicated to fostering a more compassionate and considerate world.

https://activatesuccess.org/

Guests

Guest

Colt Briner

Colt Briner is a strategist, speaker, and creator focused on helping individuals and organizations reconnect with what makes them fully human. As the founder of an award-winning marketing agency and a senior marketing leader in healthcare, Colt has spent over two decades driving growth at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and purpose. His work challenges conventional, performance-driven models by introducing more relational, intuitive, and holistic ways of thinking.

Colt is the co-creator of Wayfinding, a reflective system designed to help people navigate life with greater clarity and alignment, and a leading voice behind the Invitation to Wholeness—an emerging body of work exploring the balance between logic and intuition, structure and flow, and the seen and unseen forces that shape our lives. Colt’s approach is rooted in a simple idea: the path forward isn’t something we force, it’s something we learn to sense, trust, and follow.

https://coltbriner.com/

Guest

Dr. Audrey Tang

Dr Audrey Tang is a Leadership trainer, TEDx Performer/Speaker, Chartered Psychologist and multi-award-winning business author who focuses on practical tools for Well-being. With 30+ years teaching practical well-being tools in person and for the media, her programs shine a spotlight on wellness and provide a visible opportunity and media support for academics and Thought Leaders.

Along with her coaching practice and mental/emotional fitness building workshops, she is the Founder and Chair of Trustees at CLICK Arts Foundation, a charity which gives grants to grassroots arts projects which build confidence, inclusivity and well-being. She created and hosted the podcast Retrain Your Brain for Success and The Well-being Lounge on NLiveRadio

She is a sought-after speaker, trainer coach and consultant who continues to give expert comment in the area of well-being to published and broadcast media.

https://www.draudreyt.com/

Guest

Dr. Dana Ackley

Dr. Dana Ackley is a psychologist who is an executive coach and author of the book “The Little Book to Save Humanity” published in 2024. In addition, he has a forthcoming book to be published soon, entitled “Emotional Intelligence for a Divided World (https://theeqpress.com).

Dana is an internationally recognized expert in Emotional Intelligence. He works as an executive coach to senior leaders in many industries. Much of his current work is devoted to helping society overcome toxic divisiveness.

https://theeqpress.com/about-dr-ackley

Guest

Dr. Rob Fazio

Dr. Rob Fazio is the Managing Partner at OnPoint Advising. His approach to advising combines original research on power, influence, conversations, and motivation as well as over 20 years of consulting to elite performers. Rob is a sought after keynote speaker or facilitator.
His book Simple is the New Smart (foreword by Neil Cavuto), features success strategies he has gleaned from over a decade and a half of working with people driven toward excellence. His second book BullyProof: Using subtle Strength to Influence Alphas and Strengthen Society is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Best Seller.
Rob developed the Motivational Currency® Calculator self-assessment reveals what drives people, how well someone can read another person’s motivators, and how effective someone is at using the best approach to tap into someone’s motivators.
He lives just outside Philadelphia with his wife Keli and daughters Reese and Rae and their adopted Great Dane, Cannoli.

https://onpointadvising.com/