Practice? Podcast

Hosted by David Fearon and Peter Vaill

Business

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

“Theory and practice” is a common phrase. We've seen a lot of writing on theory, but what about that other word? Peter calls it "the dark matter of the social sciences" - Practice. It applies to pencil-pushing, educating, heart surgery, sailing, golfing, and anything you can do with purpose. Peter and Dave take you into a world of thought that couples work and play, purpose and routine, life and legacy. In a world of white-water, On Practice is the raft. ]]>

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 31548 min

Episode 315: Episode 298 - Still Thinking Deeply About Teaching and Offering Bold Ideas (John Miller)

Dr. John Miller is one of the most revered and provocative Management Educators in Dave's field. John retired from Bucknell University decades ago, but still has much to say and write about, giving every emerging practitioner a chance to learn to manage. He created Management 101 to accomplish this at Bucknell. It continues after more than 45 years. He has submitted three journal articles just in the last few months. His earnest thinking and joy of sharing it ring out in this conversation.

May 4, 2026Episode 31445 min

Episode 314: Episode 297 - Uncertainty Invades Every Decision Arena (Tom Casey)

As the shock waves of chaotic national and global change shake the context for every managerial practice, Dave and Tom Casey have this conversation about what leaders and clients of his firm, Discussion Partner Collaborative, do in the face of unprecedented uncertainty about what is coming next. Sit tight or stand up, speak out?

April 13, 2026Episode 31344 min

Episode 313: Episode 296 - Conversation with a Positive Change Architect (Faith Addicott)

Dave and Faith Addicott become reacquainted on the verge of hopeful changes in the emerging, interdisciplinary fields of organization development. From Anthropology to engineering, Faith's vision is that creative approaches to changing how people experience organizational life in this global society are finally possible. She organizes at the confluence of these refreshing interactions between practitioners and researchers, sharing the purpose to invent new ways to guide positive change. Currently, she contributes to The Good Work Collective, which is spearheading the OD Out Loud Revival.

March 6, 2026Episode 3121 hr 26 min

Episode 312: Episode 295 - Shame, Social Bonds, and Internal Family Systems as shame social bonds (Dave Fearon, Jr.)

This is Part 2 of episode 288 in which we showed how, as human language and group life evolved, special social emotions developed that sustain the relationships underlying enacted social actions. These are the emotions of shame, guilt, and pride. This episode shifts from the social bonds maintained between self and others to look "inward" to the bonds among aspects of our own selves. We discuss Internal Family Systems therapy which shows how the Self splits into Parts during child development. Shame among internal parts can sustain mental health problems that can be resolved by a respectful therapeutic conversation, repairing bonds among parts. Join us for another layer to our explanation of how practice works.

February 8, 2026Episode 31146 min

Episode 311: Episode 294 - The Boomerang Comes Back: What Business Leaders Face Today (Tom Casey)

As Managing Partner of the Discussion Partner Collaborative, Tom Casey is not only watching the trends facing business leaders but also taking a stand. He speaks of the 'boomerang' of radical changes thrown at us last year, now coming back to confront leaders' values and their company's reputation.

January 18, 2026Episode 31044 min

Episode 310: Episode 293 - The Living Organization - He Sees a Better Way to Do Business (Norman Wolfe)

Dave meets Norman Wolfe https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfe/whose different way of viewing and guiding any organization is to see it as alive and very much like a human striving for results that matter. He consolidates this unique perspective in his bestselling book, The Living Organization: Transforming Business to Create Extraordinary Results.

January 4, 2026Episode 30958 min

Episode 309: Episode 292 - Socially Enacted Practice: Reflections and Ponderings

On the last day of 2025, Dave Jr. and his father, Dave Fearon Sr., take a moment to reflect on the key themes from their discussions throughout the year regarding socially enacted practices. They consider the socially and psychologically complex nature of these practices and recognize that there is much to learn together in 2026.

November 24, 2025Episode 30835 min

Episode 308: Episode 291 - Conversation with a True Promethean (Tom Bohinc)

Prometheans unlock the mysteries of the cosmos. Tom Bohinc is boldly going to where he and we colleagues can think of leadership in altogether different ways. Anchoring the Promethean Project: " dedicated to making leading clear and leaders common - and challenging institutional and social convention and complacency.", uniquely shapes Tom's executive coaching. Dave sees his and Peter Vaill's probing of the unexplored nature of Practice dovetailing with Tom's Promethean work.

November 16, 2025Episode 30739 min

Episode 307: Episode 290 - Her Copy Editing Practice Blends with her Collegiate Studies in Germany (Mahaska Stiegler)

Three years ago, Dave recorded a conversation with the young high school student who was providing surprisingly accurate and thoughtful copy editing for his book with the late Peter B. Vaill, On Practice as a Way of Being. He marveled at her love of the accordion. Wondering what she is doing now as a college student, he reached out to Mahaska Stiegler, who is now an exchange student at a German university. She is deepening her German language and cultural acumen while continuing her proofreading and copyediting services. Her accordion was too heavy to make the trip, so she is learning the accordina. All her practices blend into Mahaska's unique and promising way of being.

November 10, 2025Episode 30635 min

Episode 306: Episode 289 - Her Crocheted Sweaters Warm New Hampshire Children (Krisan Evenson)

Can a retired professor with a Phd in Political Inquiry, Comparative Politics, Political Psychology from Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs find retired happiness crocheting and selling children's sweaters? Krisan Everson says, "Yes". Residing in her home state of New Hampshire, Krisan creates distinctive (and warm) children's sweaters and sells them in weekend community markets. She explains how her academic background in Foreign Affairs illuminates the cultural significance of handmade crafts.