The Mike Method cover art

The Mike Method

The Mike Method

By: Mike Desjardins
Listen for free

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

Welcome to the Mike Method, where we believe conversations with leaders matter. Join host Mike Desjardins, CEO of ViRTUS as he takes you on a journey through conversations with some of the most inspiring leaders he's had the pleasure of meeting over the past 25 years.


In each episode, listeners get to be a fly on the wall as Mike chats with leaders who are more than just that—they're mentors, coaches, and true inspirations. Imagine having coffee with them, diving into their stories, learning about their triumphs and trials, and discovering the lessons they've applied to achieve real success. These aren't run-of-the-mill media personalities; these are leaders who make a difference behind the scenes, whose impact is felt by those they lead and work with every day. As a B Corp committed to the triple bottom line, ViRTUS cares about everyone involved in their journey—partners, vendors, customers, employees, families, charities, the environment, and communities. Join the exploration of how leaders who think differently show up differently. New episodes coming to your ears every Tuesday.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Desjardins
Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • EP80 Lessons We’re Carrying Forward: Best of The Mike Method 2025
    Dec 30 2025

    As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to pause and look back on some of the moments from The Mike Method that stayed with us.


    Over the past year, we’ve had thoughtful conversations with leaders, founders, educators, parents, and creatives across a wide range of industries. While the topics varied, a few themes kept showing up again and again: leading with more awareness, staying grounded under pressure, strengthening relationships, and building meaningful work without losing yourself in the process.


    In this special year end episode, we revisit standout moments from conversations with Mo Jessa, Anna Brooks, Milam Miller, Lillie Desjardins, Jen Murtagh, Jayson Gaddis, Lisa Dion, Greg Smith, Zach Berman, Catherine D’Orazio, and Simon Bowen.


    If you’re reflecting on the year behind you or thinking about what you want to carry forward into what’s next, we hope this episode gives you a few ideas worth sitting with.


    Listen wherever you get your podcasts.


    Episode Resources:

    • EP64 Lessons in Presence, Gratitude, and Mindful Leadership with Mo Jessa
    • EP73 Nervous System Regulation and Staying Grounded with Anna Brooks
    • EP50 The Power of Charisma with Milam Miller
    • EP65 Father-Daughter Insights on Leadership, Resilience, and Connection with Lillie Desjardins
    • EP32 Breaking the Motherhood Penalty with Jen Murtagh
    • EP30 Navigating Conflict and Building Stronger Relationships with Jayson Gaddis
    • EP46 Regulation, Leadership, and High Performance with Lisa Dion
    • EP44 The Future of Learning with The CEO of Thinkific Greg Smith
    • EP71 Entrepreneurship, Resilience, and Reinvention with Zach Berman
    • EP52 The Pink Tsunami: Women, Wealth, and the Future of Capital with Catherine D’Orazio
    • EP69 The Secret to Scaling Your Business Without Losing Its Genius with Simon Bowen


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • EP79 Becoming Before Achieving with Dr. David B. Wolfe
    Dec 16 2025

    What if the most important measure of success is not what you achieve, but who you become along the way?


    In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Dr. David B. Wolfe for a thoughtful and wide ranging conversation on self realization, leadership, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. David is a counselor, coach, and seminar leader who has been working in human transformation since the early 1980s. He is the founder of the Sat Phatov Institute, the creator of the Vedic Personality Inventory, a leader in mantra meditation research, and the author of Relationships at Work and The Power of Conscious Living.


    Together, Mike and David explore what it means to encounter ourselves honestly and remember who we are as timeless spiritual beings living a very human life. They unpack why so many high achievers find themselves chasing goals, approval, and validation only to feel empty once they arrive. The conversation challenges the familiar pattern of have, do, be and invites a shift toward be, do, have, where goals become an expression of joy and purpose rather than a way to prove worth.


    This episode dives into why comparison pulls us away from ourselves, how integrity and example form the foundation of real leadership, and why the journey itself holds more meaning than any finish line. David shares practical starting points for discovering purpose, including powerful questions to reflect on and questions to ask the people closest to you.


    If you have ever reached a big milestone and felt unsettled afterward, or if you want to stay ambitious without losing yourself in the process, this conversation offers a grounded and refreshing perspective on success, leadership, and trust in the unfolding journey.


    Episode Resources:

    Books by David B. Wolfe

    Relationships that Work

    ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

    Sign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • EP78 Raising Kids and Leading Teams in an Anxious World with Monique Marcotte
    Dec 9 2025

    What happens when a child’s inner voice turns harsh before they even understand what it means to feel overwhelmed or afraid? And what can we do as parents, educators, and leaders to help rewrite that voice into something supportive and grounded?


    In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Monique Marcotte, founder of TRY, The Real You, a social emotional learning company that helps young people understand themselves from the inside out. With nineteen years in the classroom and powerful experience facilitating empathy based programs with Challenge Day, Monique has dedicated her work to helping kids build emotional awareness, resilience, and a healthier relationship with themselves.


    Together, they explore how emotions move through the body, why the vagus nerve matters more than most of us realize, and how simple frameworks like the balloon theory can give kids practical ways to calm their bodies and name what they feel. Monique also shares how effective apologies build trust, why early beliefs can shape self perception for years, and how adults can use the same tools to lead with more compassion at home, at school, and at work.


    This conversation is as relevant for leaders as it is for parents. It reminds us that emotional literacy is a learned skill, and that helping kids understand their inner world also teaches us how to navigate our own.


    And just a heads up — the first half of this episode has a few small audio glitches. Stick with it, though, because the conversation that follows is really worth it. Thanks for tuning in!


    Episode Resources:

    Monique Marcotte: Website

    Try - The Real You Workshops

    ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

    Sign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
No reviews yet