Magic in the Room #167: Practices for Wellbeing
September 27, 2023
Every time we get on an airplane, we hear, “Put on your oxygen mask first.” This is good advice, even if we are not in an airplane emergency! In this Magic in the Room episode, Hannah, Luke, and Chris discuss wellbeing in the next part of our Intentional Leadership series. It is easy to deprioritize our wellbeing when we are busy or want to take care of others first. However, this is an instance where taking care of ourselves allows us to serve others more effectively. We have to put on our oxygen mask first.
Listen now on your favorite platform!
Credits:
- This episode was recorded remotely
- Music by Evan Grim. Find his music on
Apple Music

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.
