Lean Blog Interviews Podcast

Leadership Conversations on Lean, Culture, and Continuous Improvement Across Industries

Lean Blog Interviews brings you honest, real-world conversations about Lean leadership, culture, and continuous improvement. Since 2006, host Mark Graban has interviewed leaders and practitioners who are doing the hard work of improving systems–not just talking about tools.

These conversations focus on practical experience: what helped, what got in the way, and what leaders learned along the path. Whether the setting is a hospital, factory, startup, or office, each episode highlights how respect for people, psychological safety, and better systems drive sustainable improvement.

If you believe improvement starts with respect for people–and that better systems beat blaming individuals–you’ll feel at home here.

What This Podcast Focuses On

  • Lean as a management system–not just a toolbox
  • Leadership behaviors that enable trust, learning, and improvement
  • Continuous improvement, Kaizen, and problem-solving at every level
  • Psychological safety and learning from mistakes
  • Lessons from Toyota, healthcare, startups, and beyond
  • Honest discussions about challenges, setbacks, and real progress

This is not a podcast about “Lean theater,” certifications, or chasing the latest jargon.

Who This Podcast Is For

  • Lean practitioners and continuous improvement professionals
  • Healthcare leaders and clinicians
  • Executives and senior leaders
  • Coaches, consultants, and facilitators
  • Anyone interested in building better systems–not blaming people

If you believe improvement starts with respect for people, this podcast is for you.

How This Podcast Fits with Mark’s Other Shows

Lean Blog Interviews
In-depth conversations with leaders and practitioners about Lean, culture, and real-world improvement across industries.

Lean Blog Audio
Short-form audio essays based on LeanBlog.org posts, read and expanded by Mark Graban.
leanblog.org/audio

My Favorite Mistake
Personal stories from leaders about mistakes, learning, and psychological safety–across all industries.
myfavoritemistakepodcast.com

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Recent Episodes

See all Lean Blog Interviews episodes

Navigating Organizational Change with D. Lynn Kelley — Discussing Her

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #488 of the Lean Blog Interviews…

Embracing the Lean Mindset in GE Aerospace: A Conversation With

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more My guests for Episode #487 of the Lean Blog Interviews…

Lean Transformation: Revolutionizing the Housing Industry with Mike Kaeding

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #486 of the Lean Blog Interviews…

Lean Interview with Erica Lee Garcia on Navigating Change, Suggestion

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #485 of the Lean Blog Interviews…

Reflections on GE’s Lean Mindset Event: Learning, Leadership, and Culture

This bonus episode captures an unscripted, post-event conversation with Jim Womack, Katie Anderson, Jamie V…

Interview with Keith Ingels on Developing Your People and Making

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #484 of the Lean Blog Interviews…

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Lean Blog Interviews has been published continuously since 2006 and is part of the Lean Communicators network.

Learn more about Mark Graban and his work at MarkGraban.com.

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