Dr. Michelle Johnston welcomes the legendary Garry Ridge to the Seismic Shift Podcast for a conversation filled with wisdom, humility, and tangible leadership tools. As the former CEO of WD-40 for 25 years, Garry shares how rethinking leadership through a servant lens created seismic results—both in culture and in the bottom line. Garry shares how servant leadership, purpose-driven values, and a culture of belonging transformed a legacy company into a global success story. He explains how redefining leadership roles from "manager" to "coach," embedding purpose into decision-making, and investing in people-first culture led to 93% engagement scores and a 10x market cap increase. Now in his next chapter, Garry reflects on his legacy, his book Any Dumbass Can Do It, and his mission to help leaders embrace humility, connection, and courage. This episode is a masterclass in values-based leadership. Whether you're a CEO, team lead, or just starting out, this episode will equip you to lead with more purpose, courage, and connection. Garry’s approach proves that when people feel like they belong and know their work matters, business transformation naturally follows.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introducing Garry Ridge
01:30 WD-40: From legacy brand to global leadership example
03:00 93% employee engagement: What drove it?
04:30 Why WD-40 eliminated the word “manager”
06:30 Culture equation: Values + Behavior × Consistency
08:00 Redefining company purpose as creating lasting memories
10:00 Value-based decision-making in action
12:30 How values protect and set you free
14:00 Purpose, values, and trust across global teams
16:00 You don’t manage people—you coach them
18:00 Building a Leadership Academy for real development
20:00 From micromanaging to empowering
22:00 Culture embedded in bricks and mortar
23:00 Happy people create a happy world
24:00 The deeper meaning behind Any Dumbass Can Do It
26:00 Marshall Goldsmith’s advice that sparked the book
28:00 Preparing to leave with purpose and legacy
30:00 Garry’s coaching pillars: Care, candor, accountability, responsibility
31:00 Final call to action: Lead people to the best version of themselves

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Michael Chernow joins Michelle Johnston to share his powerful journey from addiction and adversity to wellness and entrepreneurial success. With vulnerability and clarity, he opens up about childhood trauma, substance abuse, recovery, and the driving force behind his thriving businesses—including The Meatball Shop, Seymours, and Kreatures of Habit. He reveals how connection, emotional intelligence, and prioritizing relationships have been central to his transformation. Now, as he launches a sober coaching community for men—SoberFit Dude—Michael aims to help others strip life down to its essentials and rediscover their purpose. This conversation is about resilience, intentional living, and choosing heart-led leadership every step of the way.

00:00 Meet Michael Chernow
01:20 The journey from meatballs to mindfulness
02:45 Childhood trauma and early struggles
06:30 Cry for love: A suicide attempt at 12
08:50 Substance abuse and searching for identity
10:30 The overdose that changed everything
12:00 Finding a mentor and the daily recovery plan
14:00 Love, marriage, and intentional family life
16:00 Dinner table rituals that transformed connection
17:40 The birth of The Meatball Shop
20:00 Rapid success and growing pains
22:30 Launching Seymours and lessons in leadership
25:00 Food Porn, EQ, and media magic
27:30 Leaving restaurants to launch Kreatures of Habit
29:20 Connection as currency
31:00 The Harvard study on relationships and health
33:00 Heart-led leadership and learning the hard way
35:00 Launching SoberFit Dude
38:00 Ditching the smartphone for real life
41:00 The real seismic shift: reclaiming presence
43:00 Final reflections and staying heart-first

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Bestselling author and workplace culture advocate Mita Mallick joins Michelle Johnston to unpack why loyalty is dead in today’s workforce, what younger generations expect from employers, and how leaders must adapt to shifting cultural norms. Drawing from her new book The Devil Emails at Midnight, Mita shares powerful stories and practical advice on modern leadership, grief, working motherhood, and the importance of human connection in corporate settings. This honest and inspiring conversation highlights how good leaders are made—not born—and how self-care and vulnerability play essential roles in the workplace of the future. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating leadership in a post-pandemic, digitally-driven, emotionally exhausted world.

00:00 Welcome + Introducing Mita Mallick
01:17 Why Loyalty Is Dead in the Workplace
03:30 Gen Z vs Employer Expectations
05:50 Generational Disconnect and Work-Life Shifts
06:36 How to Earn Flexibility as a Young Professional
08:14 Why Managing Output Matters More Than Hours
10:23 The Origin of “The Devil Emails at Midnight”
14:20 Mita’s Personal Story of Grief and Burnout
18:09 How Grief Inspired Her First Book
18:59 Building Inclusive Workplaces for Working Parents
21:08 Equal Parental Leave and Support Systems
23:49 On Being Named Working Mother of the Year
25:32 Vision for a Healthier, Human-Centered Workplace
29:35 Alternatives to Midnight Emails
32:28 Reimagining Workplace Communication
33:24 Closing Words + Where to Find Mita

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/