In this episode, Michael and Vernon talk with longtime friend and colleague Jarred Truschke—designer, instructional leader, and the creator of MyPurpose, a journal and AI-powered app that helps people align goals with their identity and values.

Jarred shares the personal journey that led to the creation of the MyPurpose framework, which guides users through defining their purpose in eight life areas, clarifying core values, setting identity-based goals, and translating those into meaningful daily actions.

The conversation also explores how AI can support personal growth (without replacing your job), and how tools like MyPurpose empower both individuals and leaders to make progress with intention. Whether you're leading a team, mentoring students, or just trying to figure out your next steps, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and prioritize with purpose.

Order your copy of MyPurpose on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4oAfF8S

Storytelling is a leadership superpower—but too often, we don’t use it well. In this episode, Michael and Vernon dive into why stories matter, especially in leadership roles where influence matters more than control.

They share three of the essential story types every leader should have in their toolbox—value, founder, and purpose stories—inspired by Kindra Hall’s book Stories That Stick. You’ll hear: How Kindra Hall’s Normal–Explosion–New Normal model compares to the Hero’s Journey and the MACRO PPP (Problem–Path–Payoff) structure.

Real leadership stories told live on the podcast—with feedback from AI voices Sarah and Imogene!

Tips on how to craft your own leadership stories that connect with your team and inspire meaningful change. Whether you're a mid-level manager or a senior leader, this episode will challenge you to reflect, connect, and tell your own story better.

🎙️ Storytelling Challenge: This week, record a short version of one of your own leadership stories—value, founder, or purpose. Then share it with a colleague, your team, or even a voice memo to yourself. Not sure how to begin? Visit engagedbydesign.com to download our free storytelling prompts or reach out for a coaching session.

Affiliate Links:

Books referenced in this episode

• MACRO Leadership, by Michael Cottam: https://amzn.to/476zHRP
• Stories That Stick, by Kindra Hall: https://amzn.to/4lZ9Ksk
• Building a StoryBrand 2.0, by Donald Miller: https://amzn.to/4ocHGmG
• Storyworthy, by Matthew Dicks: https://amzn.to/4fbCxqN

The technology we used

• Shure MV7+ Microphone: https://amzn.to/4obxnPC
• Shure MV7i Microphone with Audio Interface: https://amzn.to/3GX0Jkb

In this second episode of our two-part series, Michael and Vernon explore what happens after unbundling: how faculty and other academic professionals are adapting, defending, and rebundling their roles in an AI-powered world. This episode outlines four irreducibly human responsibilities, three common defense strategies of professions under threat, and four emerging faculty archetypes for the AI era. Whether you're a professor, designer, advisor, or leader, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and offer a hopeful path forward. Stick around for a set of reflection questions you can bring back to your team.

These are the sources mentioned inside the episode’s dialogue as well as some helpful links.

• Smith, V. C. (2008). The Unbundling and Rebundling of the Faculty Role in E-Learning Community College Courses. University of Arizona dissertation. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194795

• Associated Press (2023). “Automated Earnings Stories Multiply.” https://www.ap.org/the-definitive-source/speaker-spotlights/applying-automation-in-the-newsroom/

• American Federation of Teachers (2024). “Resolution on Artificial Intelligence.” https://www.aft.org/resolution/artificial-intelligence

• American Federation of Teachers (2024). “AFT Launches National Academy for AI in Instruction.” https://www.aft.org/press-release/aft-launch-national-academy-ai-instruction-microsoft-openai-anthropic-and-united

• American Association of University Professors (2023). “Artificial Intelligence, Academic Freedom, and the Evolving Debate over Forgery and Truth in the Twenty-First Century.” Journal of Academic Freedom, 15. https://www.aaup.org/JAF15/artificial-intelligence-academic-freedom-and-evolving-debate-over-forgery-and-truth-twenty

• Freidson, E. (2001). Professionalism: The Third Logic. University of Chicago Press. https://books.google.com/books/about/Professionalism_the_Third_Logic.html?id=Tgn3sThG8QEC

• Abbott, A. (1988). The System of Professions. University of Chicago Press. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo5965590.html

• World Economic Forum. (2023). The Future of Jobs Report 2023. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2023

Welcome to Season 2 of the Engaged by Design podcast! In this kickoff episode, Dr. Michael Cottam interviews his co-host Dr. Vernon Smith—this time in the role of featured guest—to explore how artificial intelligence, economic pressures, and platformization are driving the unbundling of professional roles in higher education.

Drawing from Vernon's dissertation research and recent policy shifts, this episode dives deep into what’s happening behind the scenes of your course shell, syllabus, or advising software.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What “unbundling” means and how it applies to the faculty role
• Examples from other industries (like restaurants and healthcare) that mirror higher ed’s transformation
• The difference between Craft, Collegial, and Virtual Assembly Line course models
• How AI and automation are accelerating labor and capital substitutions
• What roles and tasks are most likely to remain “bundled”—and which will be offloaded or outsourced

🧠 Reflective Questions:

1. Is your role being unbundled as we speak?
2. Where do you see unbundling happening in your institution or department?
3. What parts of your professional bundle feel irreplaceable—and what could be supported or restructured?

🎧 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Vernon's dissertation on course production models in community college e-learning
• The rise of OPMs (Online Program Managers) and revenue-share outsourcing
• William Baumol’s theory of cost disease and its relevance to education
• Real-world analogies from restaurants, healthcare, and gig-based platforms

🔗 Next Up:

In Episode 2, we’ll explore how to rebundle intentionally—focusing on human-centered leadership, MACRO strategies, and what should never be outsourced in the student experience.

💬 Share your thoughts or questions with us at EngagedByDesign.com and join the conversation on LinkedIn or your favorite podcast platform.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with colleagues navigating the future of learning and leadership!

In this final episode of the MACRO Leadership podcast series, Michael and Vernon take listeners on a practical journey through applying all five elements of the MACRO framework—Match, Assign, Coach, Reflect, and Ovation—to a high-impact institutional initiative: redesigning the First-Year Experience (FYE).

🎓 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why the FYE is a strategic project that demands cross-functional leadership
• How to match the right team members based on passion and perspective
• How to assign clear roles and responsibilities for momentum
• How coaching—not just supervision—helps people grow through complexity
• Why reflection is essential to course-correct in real time
• How meaningful ovation builds trust, recognition, and a culture of care

💬 Listener Challenge:

Choose one initiative you’re leading or supporting right now. Ask yourself: Where am I strong in MACRO? Where might I be skipping a step? Then use the worksheet to lead with intention.

In the final episode of the MACRO Leadership podcast series, Vernon and Michael explore the “O” in MACRO: Ovation—the practice of authentic, values-aligned recognition. They dig into Gallup research showing that only 27% of employees feel regularly recognized at work, despite the fact that frequent praise correlates with dramatically higher engagement.

Michael shares real stories from his leadership experience, like writing weekly handwritten thank-you notes, and explores how recognition practices can foster connection, morale, and momentum in higher education and beyond.

Whether you're managing from the middle or guiding change from the top, this episode will help you give recognition that sticks.

• 00:00 – Welcome and final stop on the MACRO Leadership journey
• 02:00 – Why Ovation brings closure and builds momentum
• 03:30 – Gallup Q12 insights: Only 27% feel regularly recognized
• 05:30 – How recognition affects retention and the bottom line
• 07:00 – Leadership behaviors that create a culture of gratitude
• 08:30 – Michael’s story: Friday handwritten thank-you notes
• 11:00 – Why specific, timely, and values-based praise works best
• 15:30 – Avoiding generic praise and tailoring Ovation to personality
• 18:00 – Peer recognition, CliftonStrengths, and 'catching people doing something right'
• 20:00 – Three ways to build better Ovation habits
• 24:00 – Reflection questions and next steps for leaders

• Recognition isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership responsibility.
• Specific, values-aligned Ovation builds meaning and momentum.
• Handwritten notes can have a lasting impact and inspire others to do the same.
• Public vs. private recognition should be tailored to individuals.
• Peer-to-peer Ovation strengthens team culture and trust.
• Systems don’t have to be big—they just need to be intentional.

1. When was the last time you were recognized for your work? What impact did that have?
2. When was the last time you recognized someone else? What happened as a result?
3. What one Ovation habit will you build into your leadership this week?

• Gallup Q12 Survey: https://www.gallup.com/394373/indicator-employee-engagement.aspx
• MACRO Leadership Book: engagedbydesign.org/macro-leadership
• Engaged By Design Consulting: engagedbydesign.com/consulting

Is your recognition strategy helping or hurting your team culture? We’d love to help you design an Ovation system that works. Visit https://engagedbydesign.com to schedule a consultation.

👉 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the Engaged By Design podcast. And tag us with your own Ovation practices—we’d love to celebrate with you.

In this episode, Vernon and Michael explore the fourth principle of the MACRO Leadership model: Reflect.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Why reflection is a leadership imperative—not a luxury
• Michael’s story of using Agile SCRUM and reflection cycles to improve student success and team alignment
• Understanding the Diffusion of Innovation curve and its role in leading change
• Creating a psychologically safe space for team reflection
• Ground rules for effective team dialogue
• Tools and frameworks including Plus/Delta and the Sailboat Exercise
• How to embed reflection into your leadership rhythm

📌 Reflection Questions:

1. What reflection tools and cadences might you use to reflect on your own leadership?
2. What would it take to introduce a Plus/Delta or a Sailboat activity into your next team meeting?
3. How do you create a culture where it's safe to reflect candidly and constructively?

Note: For a limited time, podcast listeners can get a free copy of the MACRO Leadership e-book by submitting a request at the website: engagedbydesign.com/macroleadershipbook

Music: The Buccaneer's Haul by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com