Episode 69: Journalist Rob Polonsky: What Great Interviewers Know… and Leaders Forget

If you’ve ever wished leadership came with a “real-world settings” menu, this episode is your shortcut. Dr. Cindy sits down with Rob Polonsky—award-winning journalist, storyteller, and the guy who’s interviewed everyone and kept his sanity—to talk about leading with curiosity instead of ego. They dive into why transparency builds trust faster than strategy decks, how to stay human when the pressure gets loud, and the surprising connection between great interviews and great leadership. Rob brings the wisdom; Cindy brings the punchlines. Together, they deliver one of the most refreshing conversations you’ll hear all year.

In this episode, we cover:

• (4:00) Rob’s story about his suitcase and his dream!
• (7:00) Defining what a mentalist is and how it helps to further connect with people.
• (9:00) How Rob leans into his anxiety to showcase his gifts and talents.
• (16:00) What does it mean to show up with laughter?
• (19:00) How to use humor appropriately so it doesn’t cause self-destruction.
• (24:00) Adding a twist to the negative internal voice in your head to help shift your mindset.
• (26:00) Where do you go when you get out of your comfort zone?
• (36:00) Rapid-fire questions

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About Rob Polonsky:

Rob Polonsky is a comedy performer, mentalist, keynote speaker, and musical storyteller who believes that humor isn’t just for fun(ny); it’s a powerful tool for transforming disconnection into connection, self‑doubt into courage, and anxiety into action.

Throughout his 15+ years at Google, Amazon, and Disney, Rob led creative teams and used humor to build trust, foster belonging, and create environments where people felt safe to speak up, express themselves, and take bold action, resulting in deeply connected teams that collaborated with ease, pushed creative boundaries, and fully showed up for themselves and each other.

As one of YouTube’s early top creators with the channel Chad, Matt & Rob, Rob pioneered interactive storytelling and engaged hundreds of millions of viewers around the world through humor-driven videos.

And now, as a full-time performer, he regularly performs comedy mind reading, improv, sketch comedy, and character-driven storytelling, honing his craft as an advanced-level student at the renowned Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles.

Through Rob's signature Show Up with Laughter™ experiences, including dynamic keynotes, interactive improv-based team-building workshops, and unique entertainment shows, he helps people conquer fear and anxiety so they can fully show up for themselves and others so that they can thrive in work and in life.

After all, when we laugh together, we thrive together!

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