People, Process, Progress with Kevin Pannell
Business & Economics Podcasts
People, Process, Progress is for anyone who wants to lead better, live healthier, and make real progress. Hosted by Kevin Pannell, a Navy veteran, father, IT PMO leader, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, each episode delivers practical lessons in leadership, project management, and fitness, along with insights from everyday life. Here’s what you gain: ● Tools to own your mind, sharpen your focus, and lead with clarity ● Practices to move your body, build resilience, and stay ready ● Perspectives to anchor your spirit, so you can stay grounded when life shifts Because hope ignites but hope alone is not enough. Plans guide, and action transforms. This show gives you what you need to move from ideas to execution, from stuck to moving forward, from trying to thriving. Progress is not perfect, so let's be imperfect together.
Location:
United States
Description:
People, Process, Progress is for anyone who wants to lead better, live healthier, and make real progress. Hosted by Kevin Pannell, a Navy veteran, father, IT PMO leader, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, each episode delivers practical lessons in leadership, project management, and fitness, along with insights from everyday life. Here’s what you gain: ● Tools to own your mind, sharpen your focus, and lead with clarity ● Practices to move your body, build resilience, and stay ready ● Perspectives to anchor your spirit, so you can stay grounded when life shifts Because hope ignites but hope alone is not enough. Plans guide, and action transforms. This show gives you what you need to move from ideas to execution, from stuck to moving forward, from trying to thriving. Progress is not perfect, so let's be imperfect together.
Twitter:
@pannellkg
Language:
English
Episodes
Facing the Numbers, Asking the Hard Questions
9/11/2025
In 2023, nearly 12,300 Black Americans were victims of homicide, accounting for more than half of all U.S. homicide deaths while making up just 13.7% of the population. This ad hoc episode was prompted by the murder of Charlie Kirk and by some challenging questions from someone I respect about why the deaths of thousands of African Americans are not called out with the same urgency. In this episode, "Facing the Numbers, Asking the Hard Questions," I examine the numbers, explore why some lives spark national outrage while others pass quietly, and highlight proven solutions that communities are using to reduce violence. Silence is not an option.
Duration:00:11:00
How to Align Any Team | S7 Ep2
9/8/2025
Most team problems come from unclear direction, not a lack of effort. In this episode, I share three practical tools: Leader’s Intent, a clear Definition of Done, and SMART objectives that bring clarity and speed to any project. You will hear a real example of how alignment turned a drifting team into one that delivered with confidence.
For more tools and "How to" get The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management on Amazon at https://a.co/d/4zpt5pz and visit the peopleprocessprogress.com website.
Duration:00:17:56
The Trifecta of Recovery - Reset Friday #1
9/5/2025
I’m kicking off a new weekly series called Reset Friday. Each Friday, I’ll share a short, practical way to reset your mind, body, and spirit. These episodes aren’t long lectures. They’re tools you can put into practice right away.
For our first Reset Friday, I’m sharing what I call the Trifecta of Recovery: Wim Hof breathing, yoga, and the cold plunge. Breathing primes your nervous system, yoga centers your body, and cold exposure builds resilience and focus. Together, they form a reset you can feel.
Take a listen, and then try one of the three this weekend. You might be surprised at how much better you feel.
Duration:00:07:42
Get Back in Balance with a September Reset
9/1/2025
September is a natural time to reset. In this episode, I share how I slipped on my own pillar maintenance and used reflection, family time, and a simple framework of People, Process, and Progress to get back on track. You will learn how balance does not come from perfection, but from correction and intentional resets, and how you can apply this principle in your own life and work.
Duration:00:04:18
The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management Book Release
8/23/2025
My new book, The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management, is now live on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. This book has been years in the making, and it pulls together over two decades of lessons from healthcare IT, public safety, and emergency management into a practical field guide for project leaders.
Get your Kindle, hardcover, or paperback copy at https://a.co/d/dsEDG87
Duration:00:02:57
Break Time, Book Time, and What’s Coming Next
7/28/2025
Kevin is taking a short break from the People, Process, Progress podcast until September. During this time, he's focused on publishing The Stability Equation audiobook, finishing his new project management book, and lining up future guests. Visit peopleprocessprogress.com for tools, resources, and ways to connect. Until then: own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit.
Godspeed y’all
Kevin
Duration:00:02:34
Build the Bounce, One Habit at a Time
7/18/2025
When your plan falls apart, your recovery starts with the habits you've built before things went sideways. In this Foundations Friday episode, Build the Bounce, One Habit at a Time, we focus on simple actions that help you reset, refocus, and respond, rather than react when life punches first.
This week’s anchor point is mindfulness and movement. It’s not about being tough. It’s about being trained.
Topics Covered:
Related Episode:
“When Your Plan Gets Punched in the Mouth” – Listen here: https://peopleprocessprogress.com/2025/07/14/when-your-plan-gets-punched-in-the-mouth/
For Stability: Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.
For leading: Hold on to hope. Make a plan. Take action.
Godspeed, y’all.
Duration:00:04:20
When Your Plan Gets Punched in the Mouth
7/14/2025
What do you do when your perfect plan falls apart?
In this episode, When Your Plan Gets Punched in the Mouth, I share how the concepts of tension and compression from Jiu-Jitsu can help you lead through pressure, adapt in real time, and still move forward.
Whether you’re leading a project, managing a team, or showing up at home, you’ll learn how to adjust without losing momentum.
Hope ignites. Plans guide. Action transforms.
Duration:00:11:23
Let Them Lead for a Change | Anchor Points 01
7/11/2025
In this Anchor Points episode, I reflect on what it really means to recognize when it’s time to step back and let someone else lead. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or a project leader, there’s a moment when guidance turns into trust and support becomes space.
Inspired by the full episode released earlier this week, “The Day My Son Surpassed Me”, this short-form reflection focuses on the value of noticing and honoring transitions, especially when they catch you by surprise.
In this 5-minute listen, you’ll hear:
Mentioned in this episode:
Duration:00:04:23
The Day My Son Surpassed Me | S6 EP1
7/7/2025
There comes a moment when we realize our kids are no longer just following us, they’re leading in their way. In this episode, "The Day My Son Surpassed Me," I share the story of how my son surpassed me, not just in the gym, but also in emotional steadiness. I also share how that shifted my approach to parenting, leadership, and letting go.
Duration:00:07:21
Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office: What's the Right Fit?
7/1/2025
Since 2019, I’ve led major IT programs, including Workday ERP and the technology for a new children’s hospital, while mainly working remotely. In this episode, "Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office: What's the Right Fit?", I break down the pros and cons of remote, hybrid, and in-office work, drawing on real-world experience and leadership lessons.
Links:
Full article on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/remote-hybrid-in-office-whats-right-fit-your-work-life-kevin-pannell-kqvceRelated episode from 2020:
https://blubrry.com/peopleprocessprogress/83155078/how-to-transition-to-effective-teleworking-in-2020-ppp-12/
Duration:00:10:34
Span of Control in Team Design: Why 5 Is the Magic Number (and When It Isn’t)
6/23/2025
When leaders try to manage too many people directly, clarity disappears and momentum suffers. In this episode, I break down the importance of span of control across public safety, healthcare IT, and project teams. Whether you're building a department, spinning up an incident team, or planning a go-live, the rule of 3 to 7 direct reports still holds. Five is the sweet spot—but there are exceptions.
We’ll walk through how ICS uses structure to maintain speed under pressure, how project teams should plan their structure during resource alignment, and why we must review roles and objectives regularly to stay on track. Whether you lead full-time staff or ad hoc teams, this episode is your blueprint for sustainable team design.
People first. Combined process. Progress together.
Duration:00:14:26
How to Speak the Same Risk Language | Foundations Friday S5EP4
6/13/2025
On this Foundations Friday, How to Speak the Same Risk Language, we break down how project managers and emergency leaders can align around a shared risk language. Whether you're using a THIRA or a risk register, the goal is the same: identify what could go wrong, how bad it might be, and what to do about it. Real teamwork starts when everyone sees risk through the same lens.
Duration:00:03:15
How to Combine Project Risk Tools with Emergency Planning
6/10/2025
Warren Buffett said it best: “Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.”
On today’s episode, How to Combine Project Risk Tools with Emergency Planning, we’re focusing on how project managers and public safety leaders can speak the same language when it comes to risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, created the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment—also known as THIRA—to help communities anticipate and plan for the unknown. In the same way, project risk registers help uncover obstacles before they become blockers. Today, we’ll connect the dots between THIRA, stakeholder maps, and integrated risk matrices—so your team can prepare, prioritize, and progress, no matter the scenario.
Duration:00:20:05
Structure Before Action | Foundations Friday S5EP3
6/6/2025
In this Foundations Friday, Structure Before Action, we explore the importance of applying project structure to any event or initiative. Whether you're planning a community gathering, a training workshop, or a major deployment, structure is your best friend. Learn two quick strategies to lead with clarity and avoid chaos.
What You'll Learn:
Paired Full Episode:
Duration:00:03:38
Why You Should Treat the Planned Event Like a Project
6/2/2025
Planning a public event without structure is a risk you can’t afford. In this episode, Why You Should Treat the Planned Event Like a Project, Kevin Pannell shares how to apply project management principles and ICS tools, like RACI matrices, project phases, SMART goals, and SitReps, to plan safer, smoother public safety events. Whether you're leading a 5K, a drill, or a community gathering, treat the event like a project—and lead with purpose.
Topics Covered: event planning, project phases, stakeholder roles, ICS, SMART goals, emergency management, public safety leadership
Duration:00:16:19
Scan Your Project Like an EMT | Foundations Friday S5EP2
5/30/2025
This week, we apply an EMT’s trauma checklist to project leadership. Using the DCAP-BTLS framework, we explore how to scan your project for failure symptoms—before they spiral.
Key focus areas:
• Spotting early signs of project breakdown
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities
• Responding with intention, not reaction
Call to Action: Identify one “injury” in your project—like burnout, misalignment, or scope creep—and treat it today.
People first. Combined process. Progress together.
Duration:00:04:03
What EMTs can Teach Us about Failing Projects
5/27/2025
Welcome to the second full episode in our All-Hazards Project Management series, What EMTs can Teach Us about Failing Projects. In this episode, we apply a trauma checklist used in emergency medicine—DCAP-BTLS—to assess and stabilize failing projects.
Strategies shared include:
People first. Combined process. Progress together.
Duration:00:16:07
Start with One AI Use Case | Foundations Friday S5EP1
5/23/2025
This week’s Foundations Friday, Start with One AI Use Case, is a bit of a reset and reminder. If you’re in public safety or project management, you don’t need to become a coder. But you do need to understand where AI can help you lead smarter and deliver faster.
Duration:00:03:04
Can AI Revolutionize Public Safety and Project Management?
5/19/2025
In this episode, Can AI Revolutionize Public Safety and Project Management? We explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we plan, respond, and lead in complex environments.
Key takeaways:
People first. Process aligned. Progress together.
Duration:00:14:01