Rhymes with Odd

Our guest today is a water scientist, author, and the 2026 Democratic nominee for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Chris Jones. For years as a research engineer at the University of Iowa, Chris used raw data to sound the alarm on agricultural runoff and industrial pollution—even writing the acclaimed book, The Swine Republic where he held few punches toward the current production agriculture model that has contributed to high nitrate levels in our water ways and the state with the highest rate of new cancer cases out of the US. Now, he’s stepped out of the lab and onto the campaign trail to take on multi-national corporate agribusiness, fix Iowa’s water quality crisis, and rethink the future of the family farm.

In this episode of the Rhymes with Odd Podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Dr. Nataliya Stone, Senior VP and Shareholder at Holmes Murphy, for a powerful conversation on resilient leadership, the human capital crisis, and what it truly means to lead with empathy.Born in Ukraine, Nataliya moved to the United States alone at just 16 years old with two suitcases and a fierce determination to achieve the American Dream. Over the last 20 years, she has broken ceilings and built an incredible career in the insurance industry—all while committing to lifelong education, earning an MBA, a PhD, and becoming an adjunct professor.Tune in as we deconstruct her 18-year climb to the top, the power of deep human connection in a disconnected world, and exclusive insights from her upcoming book, When Life Disrupts Work (coming Spring 2027).If you want to know what real, empathetic leadership looks like today, lock in. This episode is for you.00:06 - Introduction: Meeting Dr. Nataliya Stone02:17 - Is the American Dream Still Alive?03:07 - What Does an Employee Benefits Market Leader Do?04:44 - Growing Up in Ukraine & Lessons from an Independent Mother10:33 - The 14-Year-Old Exchange Trip That Changed Everything13:06 - Moving to the U.S. Alone at 16 (and Packing Too Much Contact Lens Solution)17:48 - The Trajectory of Chasing Fearless Dreams22:38 - Meeting Mentors & Navigating College Life at DMACC and Drake University26:56 - The Journey to an MBA, a PhD, and Becoming a Lifelong Learner32:28 - "You Can't Read the Label From Inside the Bottle" — The Importance of Network36:43 - Why Job Hopping Wasn't for Me: 20 Years at Holmes Murphy39:38 - Why True Leaders Must Be Plugged Into Their Community41:17 - Treating Employees Like Human Capital, Not an Expense Line Item43:12 - THE LIGHTNING ROUND (Favorite Ukrainian Dishes & Best/Worst Career Advice)45:12 - The #1 Trait of a Great Leader: Empathy51:40 - The 3 Non-Negotiable Pillars of Leadership Psychology54:32 - Transitioning from an Individual Performer to a Team Leader56:22 - Sneak Peek: Nataliya’s Upcoming Book When Life Disrupts Work (Spring 2027)58:49 - Doctoral Research: How Leaders Can Support Employees Through Personal Crisis1:01:34 - How to Connect with Dr. Nataliya Stone1:02:09 - Outro & How to Support the ShowWebsite: http://www.nataliyastone.com (Sign up for her newsletter and book updates!)LinkedIn: Connect with Nataliya on LinkedIn for coffee or lunch.📌 Episode Timestamps🔗 Connect with Dr. Nataliya Stone