In this episode, Kevin and Robert Rhoton discuss:

• Why organizational efficiency often comes at the cost of human connection
• How unresolved trauma affects leadership capacity and relational intelligence
• Creating regulated leaders through intentional systems, not reactive behavior
• How mentorship, community, and curiosity drive lasting change
• Building trauma-informed cultures in corporate, clinical, and educational settings

Key Takeaways:

• Relational leadership requires emotional regulation. Without the ability to stay grounded in stress, leaders default to control instead of connection.
• Systems built purely for efficiency inevitably squeeze out innovation, empathy, and the human-centered values teams need to thrive.
• It’s not enough to teach leaders what to do — they must live it. Cultural transformation begins when leadership walks the talk with intention and consistency.
• Sometimes, the most “successful” leaders are the ones with the most unbalanced lives. Productivity without connection is not sustainable.
• Connection takes time and courage. In a world that rewards speed and output, choosing to slow down and genuinely relate is a bold, countercultural act of leadership.

“No change can be sustained in an organization if the leader isn’t leading.” – Robert Rhoton

About Robert Rhoton:

Dr. Robert Rhoton is the visionary CEO of the Arizona Trauma Institute and President of Trauma Institute International. With a footprint that spans the globe—from the U.S. and Canada to the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia—Dr. Rhoton is a driving force behind creating systems that don’t just treat trauma, but actively promote healing and resilience.

Before leading on the world stage, he was shaping minds in the classroom, serving as a professor in the Behavioral Sciences and Counseling Department at Ottawa University. There, he trained the next generation of counselors to navigate the complexities of child and family trauma, deeply rooted in the science of Salutogenesis—the study of what makes people well.

A sought-after consultant, a cross-cultural collaborator, and a passionate advocate for trauma-responsive systems, Dr. Rhoton brings rare clarity to conversations around healing, systems change, and human dignity.

Connect with Robert Rhoton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-rhoton 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AyFm3QSfU/  

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachkd63 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@coachkd63