10,000 Swamp Leaders

Hosted by Rick Torseth

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

10,000 Swamp Leaders is a podcast that wades into muddy Swamp in search of people who have built social impact movements.The world needs 10,000 more people in the next five years who are willing to lead on issues like climate change, income inequality, peace building, and gender equality. If you are one of these people, you have found a home. Rick Torseth and his guests will unpack lessons learned, why small wins matter more than breakthroughs and how failure is our wisest teacher. We continue to confuse leading with authority. Leading is not a role or a position. It begins when you raise your hand and intervene in a heated environment that matters to you. Our conversations will dig into what is at stake when the heat is high and the only way forward is wadding into swampy conditions. These are human stories that don’t always have hero endings. We want to understand how these leaders’ lives are turning out differently because they chose to lead. What are the rewards for all this exposure and risk? Each episode will be a little different, as each guest will be different. Hit subscribe so you can prepare to lead.

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60 recent

August 18, 202652 min

087_Mick Yates: Being In The World With Artificial Intelligence

Mick Yates makes a return visit to the swamp. This time he brings his deep knowledge and experience working inside the Artificial Intelligence movement. Mick has been a long-time student and teacher of AI. In our conversation, we discuss some of the many opportunities AI is bringing to our lives and work. But he doesn’t stop there. He shares his concerns about the power of AI to dominate our lives. This portion of the discussion also addresses ethics and the challenges that are bound to arise when so much AI power and control reside in a small group of wealthy individuals. Below are some links to Mick’s links to his own AI resources. Do check them out. Mick’s Website: The Studio LinkedIn 10000 Swamp Leaders Episode 54 Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

August 4, 202645 min

086_Josette de Goede: Leading Creates Obligation

086_ Josette de Goede comes to the swamp to discuss her 40 years of leadership coaching and consulting experience. She brings a vibrant source of energy, education and wisdom to helping leaders develop more human effectiveness inside their organizations. We discuss her work helping leaders know themselves better by understanding their human “force fields”. She has a forthcoming book that addresses Professional Mastery, Human Capacity and Moral Mastery. We explore these elements and how to use them in ways that support the work of leading. Josette offers leadership resources for each of us. Josette’s Links Josette on LinkedIn The Change Academy EPL Flink Veranderen debaak Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

April 22, 2026Episode 9533 min

085_Tracy Roberts: Art of Stroke

Tracy Roberts visits the Swamp and shares her story of building her graphic design business. There are lessons here for all of us about the work required to build a successful business. But this is just the beginning of her story. What came next was Tracy’s biggest life challenge. With candor, resolve and determination she reminds us to take nothing for granted. Enjoy the “Art of Stroke.” Tracy’s Links https://www.instagram.com/art_of_stroke/ https://www.michaeljfox.org/ https://www.parkinson.org/ Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

March 28, 2026Episode 8443 min

084_Dave Cooper: The Map That Wasn't

Dave Cooper returns to the Swamp to explore his Substack post “The Map That Wasn’t.” Dave's post caught my attention because he explores the real challenges the United States government faces as a result of going to war with Iran. Dave is uniquely qualified to comment on this topic. He brings over 20 years of service as a US Navy Seal that is followed up with two Master’s Degrees that focus on complexity theory and complex, adaptive systems. How he sees and speaks to the unfolding conflict offers a perspective most of us do not have. He then offers some ideas and moves that each of us could use to more effectively address the complex challenges we face in our lives and work. Dave’s Links The Map That Wasn’t Substack March 16, 2026 The Leader Is Not The Engine Substack March 25, 2026 Dave’s First Podcast Visit to the Swamp May 9, 2022 Dave’s Medium Page Contact Dave Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

January 23, 2026Episode 8344 min

083_ Janet Hawkes: Mastering Culture Change Inside UK Government

Janet Hawkes comes to the Swamp to share her insights and experiences from leading for 18 years inside Kent County Council in the United Kingdom. Leading inside Kent taught Jan the art and craft of navigating a political culture while providing services to the citizens of Kent. She managed significant culture change processes and programs. She speaks directly to what she learned from mistakes, how to develop future leaders and the importance of listening and responding to frontline staff. We end with Jan discussing her own personal and professional transition from Kent County Council to private life. Jan’s Links LinkedIn Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

December 4, 202544 min

082_Mau Espinosa: Let It Happen

Mau Espinosa joins me in the swamp to discuss his point of view on leadership and how he helps others through his “LET” approach to leadership development. Mau has travelled a challenging road to arrive at this moment. He is candid about his journey, how he learned from his mistakes and what he believes it takes to become a resilient leader of people and teams. Mau shares his Logic, Emotion, and Tactics approach to development and how it can work for all of us. Mau’s story of mistakes made, lessons learned, building resilience and finally achievement. Mau’s Links LinkedIn Mau’s Website G20 Mau’s Book Mau’s Instagram Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

October 30, 2025Episode 8143 min

Episode 081_Ryan van der Marel: Change Happens One Conversation at a Time

Ryan van der Marel comes to the swamp and brings his wisdom and experience facilitating group conversations for deeper understanding and shared meaning. He shares how he coaches, nudges and holds the space so that groups and teams get to the heart of their aspirations, address their blockages and produce new pathways for collective impact. Anyone who facilitates groups will come away with a few new moves that support group work. Links: Ryan’s Website https://ryanvandermarel.com North Shore Nomads blog: https://nomadsmoto.wordpress.com Radical Candor: https://www.radicalcandor.com/ 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: https://conscious.is/15-commitments Nonviolent (compassionate) communication: https://www.cnvc.org/ Ryan’s Contact Information: info@ryanvandermarel.com Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

August 20, 2025Episode 8045 min

080_Eula Rohan: Collaborative Change with Equine assistance

Eula Rohan visits the Swamp and shares how she walks alongside Australia's First Nation communities as they build cross sector leadership capacity. Eula is practicing the “harder craft” of large group facilitation processes that address layers of social complexity, difficult historical challenges and present day aspirations for healthy communities. Eula has a long history of training large horses. She understands that building a trusting relationship with an 800kg horse is similar to building trust with large groups of human beings. She tells us how that works. Eula’s Links LinkedIn What an 800kg Horse Taught Me About Power Dynamics Deep Collaboration | Platform C European Association for Horse Assisted Education . Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

July 30, 2025Episode 7953 min

079_Kelly Indira Buis: The Craft of Facilitation and Adaptation

Kelly Indira Buis comes to the Swamp to discuss the craft of group facilitation. Kelly is the founder of The Adaptation Company in The Hague, Netherlands. The work of facilitating groups of human beings is challenging. There are often multiple agendas and outcomes that need to be navigated for useful outcomes. Then there is the importance of getting all voices and ideas into the room and understood. Kelly has developed a clear process with four elements that help guide groups to outcomes they seek that lead to more helpful actions. I suggest you also check Kelly out on LinkedIn using the link below. She has mastered the craft of using the LinkedIn platform for sharing ideas, resources and her point of view. Kelly’s Links The Adaptation Company LinkedIN LinkedIn post Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp

July 30, 2025Episode 7838 min

078_Runa Sabore: Designing a New Frame of Society Through Architecture.

Runa Sabore was raised in a commune. She has carried the communal lessons of caring for community into her work helping design buildings that support how people can live well in the “age of aging.” Runa talks about the potential of “universal design” to keep people living at home and how she has learned to connect silos that form the basis for healthier communities. Runa's Links NORD Architects Healthy Ageing Explore Healthy Ageing Thanks for listening. Send me your feedback I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am. Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro Great music by Jazz Night Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp