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Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

Mark Graban
Continuous Improvement
Lean Management
Healthcare
Leadership
Lean
Physician Burnout
Trust In Organizations
Toyota Production System
The Human Margin
Rewiring Excellence
Psychological Safety
Podcasting
Manufacturing
Lean Accounting
Wiring the Winning Organization
Norm Bodek
Diversity In Lean
Toyota
Minor League Baseball
GE Healthcare

Since 2006, the Lean Blog Interviews podcast has featured in-depth, candid conversations with leaders, thinkers, and doers in the world of Lean and continuous improvement. Hosted by Mark Graban—author, consultant, and longtime Lean practitioner—the show explores how Lean principles are being applied across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and more.

What sets this podcast... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes594Founded19 years ago
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BusinessManagement

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Artwork for Lean Blog Interviews

Latest Episodes

Don Kieffer has spent more than fifty years redesigning how real work gets done. In this episode, he explains why so many improvement efforts stall—and how Dynamic Work Design offers a clearer, more practical way forward.

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My guest for Episode #539 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Darren Walsh, author of Making Lean and Continuous Improvement Work: A Leader’s Guide to Increasing Consistency and Getting Significantly More Done in Less Time.

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My guest for Episode #538 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Nelson Repenning, Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center and co-creator of Dynamic Work Design.

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In this special bonus episode of Lean Blog Interviews, Mark Graban is joined by C.J. Kaufman, Education Chair for the ASQ Cincinnati Section, to preview the ASQ Southwest Ohio 2025 Conference, themed “Excellence Through Quality.”

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Recent Guests

Don Kieffer
Co-author of the book 'There's Got to Be a Better Way', and seasoned executive, consultant, and speaker.
Episode: How Don Kieffer Applies Toyota Thinking to Modern Knowledge Work
Darren Walsh
Author of Making Lean and Continuous Improvement Work
Making Lean Work Ltd
Episode: From Firefighting to Flow: Darren Walsh on Lean Leadership Routines that Sustain Results
Nelson Repenning
Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center and co-creator of dynamic work design
MIT Sloan School of Management
Episode: How to Cut Through Workplace Chaos: Nelson Repenning on Lean, Flow & Dynamic Work Design
Caroline Greenlee
Lean and continuous improvement coach with rich experience in various sectors
Episode: Why Care: Building Respectful Lean Cultures with Caroline Greenlee & Chris Butterworth
Chris Butterworth
Award-winning author, international speaker, and certified Shingo Institute master level facilitator
Episode: Why Care: Building Respectful Lean Cultures with Caroline Greenlee & Chris Butterworth
Carlos Scholz
New CEO of Catalysis and experienced Lean practitioner with a background in both manufacturing and healthcare.
Catalysis
Episode: New Catalysis CEO Carlos Scholz on Lean Healthcare, Leadership, and Psychological Safety
Gregg Stocker
Author of Profitable at Any Price and expert in Lean thinking
Lean practitioner
Episode: Profitable at Any Price: Lessons from Toyota, Daily Kaizen, and Safer Workplaces with Gregg Stocker
William Harvey
Conference Workshop Chair for AME Annual Conference
AME (Association for Manufacturing Excellence)
Episode: Previewing the AME 2025 International Conference & Workshops with William Harvey
Cheryl Jekiel
Founder of the Lean Leadership Center and author of 'Let Go to Lead'
Lean Leadership Center
Episode: (Fixed) Building Independent, Empowered Teams Through 6 Transformational Leadership Habits, with Cheryl Jekiel

Host

Mark Graban
Host of Lean Blog Interviews and a seasoned Lean practitioner and author.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 74 ratings
  • Brilliant conversations

    I really enjoyed the episode where you talk with Michele Smith about Management behaviors that lead to the continuous improvement culture. I would highly recommend this podcast to anyone interested in Lean in manufacturing, healthcare, and startups.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I value the unique angle
    Austria4 years ago
  • Direct and Informative

    This podcast is always professional and business like. Mark is an excellent host who guides his guests with a very realistic approach to their subject matter. Lean Blog Interviews is straightforward, informative, and definitely worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TK21LL
    United States4 years ago
  • This was the first podcast that I ever listened to and it inspired me to start my own podcast. Mark always has interesting guests and asks really great questions that are engaging and entertaining. If you are interested in Lean, Continuous Improvement or leadership and management this is definitely worth the time to listen and be inspired!

    Podchaser
    5
    Chris Burnham
    4 years ago
  • Empowering, insightful and actionable! 🙌

    Whether you’re well established as someone who can translate Lean energy into the impact you want to have on the world, or just getting started as a catalyst for change - this is a must-listen podcast for you! Mark does an incredible job leading conversations that cover a huge breadth of topics related to the ins and outs of building a Lean enterprise and life you can be proud of - with leaders who’ve actually walked the path. Highly recommend listening and subscribing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoshCrist
    United States5 years ago
  • It will make you think differently about work

    Mark’s interviews shares success stories and lessons learned with those who have studied and practiced Lean. I have not had formal Lean training, but Mark makes clear that you do not need certifications to apply the principles of Lean. Listening to episodes over the past two years has made me view my own work differently, and think about how to systematically improve.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    David Siegler
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The expert interviews are consistently viewed as engaging, providing a wealth of knowledge and inspiring stories from Lean practitioners.
Many find the content valuable for both beginners and experienced professionals, covering a spectrum of Lean topics adequately.
The discussions are recognized for their candidness, focusing on mistakes and learning experiences rather than just success stories.
Listeners appreciate the accessible, practical insights that can be directly applied to their work environments.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#196
Italy/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#123
Chile/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#132
Sweden/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#177
Ireland/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#182
India/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#193
Brazil/Business/Management

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Don Kieffer Applies Toyota Thinking to Modern Knowledge Work
Q: What would your hope be for the economy and businesses applying dynamic work design?
Don expresses that there is almost infinite potential for organizations applying dynamic work design to improve performance and enhance lives.
How Don Kieffer Applies Toyota Thinking to Modern Knowledge Work
Q: What is your Lean origin story?
Don talks about his journey from being a factory worker and solving problems, leading him to learn from Hajime Oba about Toyota's methodologies.
From Firefighting to Flow: Darren Walsh on Lean Leadership Routines that Sustain Results
Q: What are the common pitfalls organizations face in sustaining Lean initiatives?
Organizations often apply the wrong improvement approach, fail to recognize traditional management thinking as a barrier, and lack effective leadership routines.
From Firefighting to Flow: Darren Walsh on Lean Leadership Routines that Sustain Results
Q: How do you find the balance between working on pressing needs versus smaller improvements that matter to teams?
Use facts and data to identify the most pressing needs, while encouraging teams to also address issues that they deem important to them.
From Firefighting to Flow: Darren Walsh on Lean Leadership Routines that Sustain Results
Q: What advice do you have for creating a better foundation for improvement in organizations?
Focus on understanding the right problems, building a management system with effective leadership routines, and encouraging teams to engage in problem-solving consistently.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lean Blog Interviews

What is Lean Blog Interviews about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features in-depth conversations with influential figures in the Lean and continuous improvement community, offering insights applicable across various industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. Focused on real-world experiences, the episodes emphasize the importance of cultural transformation, leadership behaviors, and psychological safety while showcasing how Lean principles can lead to meaningful change and operational excellence. A unique aspect of the content is its blend of practical advice and personal stories, highlighting lessons learned from both successes and mistakes rather than just theoretical constructs or popular frameworks.

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How many listeners does Lean Blog Interviews get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Lean Blog Interviews?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lean Blog Interviews:

1. Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership
2. Coaching for Leaders
3. WLEI - Lean Enterprise Institute’s Podcast
4. The Lean Solutions Podcast
5. A Bit of Optimism

How many episodes of Lean Blog Interviews are there?

Lean Blog Interviews launched 19 years ago and published 594 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Lean Blog Interviews?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Lean Blog Interviews?

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What guests have appeared on Lean Blog Interviews?

Recent guests on Lean Blog Interviews include:

1. Don Kieffer
2. Darren Walsh
3. Nelson Repenning
4. Caroline Greenlee
5. Chris Butterworth
6. Carlos Scholz
7. Gregg Stocker
8. William Harvey

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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