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

John Toussaint on Lean Healthcare, Culture Change & Collaborative Care

In this early Lean Blog Podcast episode, John Toussaint reflects on how culture change and collaborative care…

Lean Management in Healthcare: Patrick Anderson's Vision in Chugachmiut

LeanBlog Podcast Episode #53 is a conversation with Patrick M. Anderson, the Executive Director of…

Dan Markovitz on Lean in the Office: Reducing Waste and

Podcast Episode #52 is a discussion with a good friend (and sometimes contributor) to the Lean Blog, Dan…

Randy Russell on Lean in Law Enforcement: Lessons from Jacksonville

Podcast Episode #51 is the first part of a two-parter (listen to part 2 here) with retired Lt. Randy…

LeanBlog Podcast #50 – Your Guest, Mark Graban – Celebrating

To celebrate the 50th LeanBlog Podcast, the tables are turned. Guest host Jamie Flinchbaugh chats with me…

Gwendolyn Galsworth on Visual Displays, Supervisors as Leaders of Improvement,

Episode #49 is another conversation with Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth, who you might remember from Episode #26 last…

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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.