“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.
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…
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?
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…
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…
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
