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

Podcast #114 – John Kim, Lean and Healthcare Senior Leaders

Episode #114 is a conversation with John Kim, of the firm John Kim & Associates. John is a recognized leader…

Podcast #113 – Aubrey Daniels, PhD, “Safe by Accident?”

Episode #113 is a discussion with Aubrey Daniels, PhD, the founder and chairman of his firm Aubrey Daniels…

Captain Sully and Patient Safety Lessons with Naida Grunden

Captain Sully and patient safety come together in this conversation with Naida Grunden, author of The…

Jeffrey Liker on Toyota's Crisis, Recalls, and the Real Test

Jeffrey Liker explains why Toyota's recalls were not a failure of the Toyota Way, but a breakdown in…

Dr. Jack Billi on Lean Thinking, A3 Problem Solving, and

Listen: Episode #110 is a chat with Dr. Jack Billi from the University of Michigan Health System and Medical…

Jim Morgan of Ford on Lean Product Development and Leading

Episode #109 is a discussion with  Jim Morgan, Director, Global Body Exterior and Stamping Business Unit…

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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.