Magic in the Room #145: What We Are Reading
April 25, 2023
Leaders must be intentional about the media to consume. In this episode of Magic in the Room, Hannah, Luke, and Chris share how they decide what books to read, videos to watch, and podcasts to listen to, and they share a couple of current resources.
Listen now on your favorite platform!
What Luke is listening to:
What Chris is reading:
- Axios NWA
- Axios Seattle
- Axios Denver
- Axios Dallas
- The 2023 State of Essential Workplace Communications
What Hannah is reading:
Credits:
- This episode of Magic in the Room was recorded remotely
- Music by evangrimmusic.com

In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room.

In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.
