Name: Episode 326: The Cost of Not Listening w/ Nick Montalbine
Uploaded: 2026-08-26T12:18:17+00:00
Description: Steve sits down with Nick Montalbine, founder of Inner Voice Analytics, for a conversation about growth, change, listening to the signals around us, and knowing whe…

Steve sits down with Nick Montalbine, founder of Inner Voice Analytics, for a conversation about growth, change, listening to the signals around us, and knowing when something needs to change before the cracks become chasms.

Nick’s career has taken him from Nike and the world of Lean Six Sigma to entrepreneurship, leadership, and helping organizations better understand what their people are really experiencing. Along the way, he learned that growth does not always begin with a big breakthrough. Sometimes, it starts with the small signals we are tempted to ignore.

Nick shares a deeply personal look at the signs he experienced before leaving Nike – diminished pride in his work, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, and eventually a moment when he realized he had been overwhelmed for far longer than he wanted to admit. Those micro moments eventually became a much bigger realization: something had to change.

Today, that same philosophy shapes his work with organizations through Inner Voice Analytics, where he helps leaders listen more closely to their people before small problems turn into much bigger ones.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:
• The difference between micro moments and macro moments of change
• Recognizing the signals that tell us something is no longer working
• Knowing when to say yes and how to apply your strengths
• How family, health, and personal values shape the decisions we make
• Finding balance between strategy, the day-to-day, and listening to your team
• The importance of hearing the hard truths
• How ignoring small signals can allow cracks to become chasms
• Why our feelings and physical well-being are important signals, even when things look successful on paper

Whether you are questioning your next career move, leading a team through change, or simply sensing that something in your life is no longer working the way it once did, Nick’s story offers an important reminder: the signals are often there long before the breakthrough.

Listen now and ask yourself: What is your life or work trying to tell you that you might not be listening to?

About the Guest:

Nick Montalbine is the founder of Inner Voice Analytics (https://www.innervoiceanalytics.com) , a consultancy that leaders turn to when something feels off, but the data says everything’s fine. He helps organizations surface what’s really happening beneath the surface using continuous listening and behavioral analytics to detect cultural cracks before they spread.

Nick’s work focuses on early signal detection, spotting disengagement before it turns into attrition, and helping leaders intervene before culture breaks. His approach blends behavioral science with AI-driven listening to build workplaces where people feel heard, valued, and motivated to stay.

With over 20 years of experience, Nick has led transformation efforts across Fortune 100 companies and complex systems in healthcare, retail, and finance. He’s held leadership roles at Nike and Legacy Health, where he helped guide large-scale organizational change by uncovering risks traditional metrics missed.

Leaders call Nick when performance dips, trust erodes, or culture starts to fracture, often before it shows up in turnover.

He lives in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with his wife and daughter, where they grow grapes and build a life with the same intentionality he brings to his work.

Connect with Nick:

Website: https://www.innervoiceanalytics.com

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

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