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The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

TLP473: Leading Those Who’ve Served with Barry Jesinoski

August 20, 2025

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Barry Jesinoski is the National Adjutant and CEO of Disabled American Veterans (DAV), leading an organization with over one million members. In this episode, Barry shares his unconventional journey from a young Marine who needed help to leading one of America’s most respected veteran service organizations, despite never completing a college degree.  He explains why…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: advocacy, Barry Jesinoski, collaboration, communication, Darley, DAV, Disabled American Veterans, entrepreneurship, integrity, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership, lobbying, Marines, mentorship, military service, Patriot Boot Camp, Rafty Advisors, remote work, Self Reliant Leadership, service-disabled veterans, The Leadership Podcast, veteran benefits, veteran employment, veterans, volunteerism, workplace culture

TLP471: How Fear Drives Behavior and Why Traditional Leadership Backfires with Kurt Gray

August 6, 2025

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Kurt Gray is a professor of psychology and neuroscience, and the author of “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.” In this episode,. Kurt explains why our workplaces have become battlegrounds of moral outrage. Kurt’s groundbreaking premise challenges the fundamental assumptions leaders make about motivation and conflict. While…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: communication, Conflict resolution, decision making, empathy, Employee Engagement, evolutionary psychology, human behavior, leadership, moral judgment, moral psychology, neuroscience, Organizational Culture, outrage culture, psychology, social media, Team Building, Team Dynamics, vulnerability, Workplace Conflict, workplace relationships

TLP466: Story Is The Vehicle, Not The Cargo with Dan Manning

July 2, 2025

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Dan Manning is the Chief Story Architect at Build The Story, and a former fighter pilot and U.S. diplomat. Dan digs into the difference between storytelling that entertains and storytelling that leads to decisions.  Dan breaks down how he helps people choose the right story for the right moment and how every story should reflect…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: communication, Dan Manning, decision making, emotional intelligence, fighter pilot, leadership, podcast, sales, storytelling, The Leadership Podcast, Transformation, trust

TLP461: Looking for Unicorns: The Hiring Dilemma with Jim and Jan

May 21, 2025

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In this episode, Jim and Jan dive into the critical aspects of leadership and talent development in today’s fast-changing work environment. They discuss how companies often seek “unicorn” candidates with unrealistic expectations—and why focusing on core traits like emotional intelligence, curiosity, and continuous learning is essential. Jim and Jan explore how hybrid work is reshaping…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, age bias, career advice, Career Growth, career narrative, clear expectations, communication, continuous learning, cultural fit, Curiosity, emotional intelligence, employers, feedback, hiring challenges, hiring expectations, hiring process, hybrid work, job seekers, leadership, relationship-building, small cities, talent development, team development, tech industry, Topgrading, trust, unicorn candidates, work environment

TLP448: The Five Talents that Really Matter with Sarah Dalton

February 19, 2025

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Sarah Dalton is the co-author of “The Five Talents that Really Matter,” and in this episode, she breaks down the five core leadership talents: setting direction, harnessing energy, exerting pressure, increasing connectivity, and controlling traffic, explaining how they shape effective leadership. She emphasizes the importance of identifying rare, innate leadership qualities over relying on traditional…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: business, coaching, communication, decision making, growth, hiring, influence, leadership, management, Organizational Development, performance, personal development, strategy, success, Talent Optimization, teamwork

TLP447: The Transformative Power of Curiosity with Debra Clary

February 12, 2025

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Dr. Debra Clary is a narrative scientist and author of “The Curiosity Curve.” In this episode, Debra discusses the transformative power of curiosity in leadership and organizational culture.  She shares her unconventional journey from aspiring stand-up comic to corporate executive at Fortune 50 companies, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, persistence, and storytelling in leadership. Debra…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: communication, Curiosity, engagement, innovation, leadership, Persistence, Self-awareness, storytelling, Transformation, vulnerability

TLP431: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life with Kwame Christian

October 23, 2024

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Kwame Christian, CEO, number one negotiation podcast,  two-time bestselling author, top booked negotiation keynote speaker shares his insights on negotiation emphasizing the shift from being a doer to an empowering leader.  Kwame discusses the importance of self-reliance in negotiations, advocating for vulnerability and honesty to build trust. He also highlights the need for preparation to…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, communication, Conflict resolution, difficult conversations, emotional intelligence, empathy, ethics, influence, leadership, negotiation, preparation, Self-Reliance, teamwork, trust, vulnerability

TLP416: Think Faster, Talk Smarter with Matt Abrahams

July 3, 2024

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In this episode, communication expert Matt Abrahams shares his insights on effective leadership communication through his “four I’s” framework: Information, Impact, Invitation, and Implications. He underscores the need for clear, audience-tailored communication, emphasizing empathy and curiosity. Matt discusses the balance between personal authenticity and team support, highlighting the crucial role of feedback and ongoing self-improvement….

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, authenticity, collaboration, communication, Communication skills, connection, crisis, Culture Of Feedback, Curiosity, empathy, feedback, Intergenerational, leadership, listening, Martial Arts, Nonverbal, Pattern Recognition, Personal Growth, practice, Professional Development, PublicSpeaking, reflection, trust, Verbal Cues

TLP415: Saying “NO” Reduces Friction

June 26, 2024

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In this episode, Jim and Jan explore the importance of saying “no” in the workplace. They highlight how setting clear boundaries and aligning decisions with both personal and organizational values can help leaders manage their time and workload more effectively. Empowering lower-level employees to say “no” can also reduce friction and enhance organizational efficiency. Additionally,…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, balance, clarity, communication, Decision-Making Skills, delegation, Efficiency, Employee Development, focus, Goal Setting, growth, leadership, Mindful Choices, No, Organizational Success, Professional Growth, Relationship Building, Resource Allocation, Strategic Planning, success, time management, values, Work-life balance, Workload Management, Workplace Dynamics

TLP405: Stress Inoculation With Eric Kapitulik

April 17, 2024

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Eric Kapitulik, founder and CEO of the Program Leadership, highlights the dual roles of being an effective team member and leader across various teams. Stressing the importance of excelling in both, he notes that while organizational values differ, establishing clear values is crucial. He points out that effective communication and developing a culture of accountability…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: accountability, Challenges, communication, goals, hard, leadership, military, resilient, standards

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Over the last decade on The Leadership Podcast, Ji Over the last decade on The Leadership Podcast, Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford have spoken with CEOs, military leaders, entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, elite performers, and executives operating at the highest levels of responsibility.Across those conversations, several themes surfaced repeatedly:• Leaders aren't born. Leaders are learners.• Success always involves sacrifice.• Style without substance eventually gets exposed.• Adaptability matters as much as efficiency.• Great leadership begins with genuine interest in other people.One of the most striking observations across 500 plus episodes is that many of the leaders they respected were remarkably humble, reflective, and open about their mistakes. Not perfect, but intentional about growth.In Episode 511 of The Leadership Podcast, Jim and Jan reflect on what 500 conversations taught them about leadership, success, failure, relationships, and human behavior.Link to the full episode - https://bit.ly/TLP-511?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersLink to the YouTube episode - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-511?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipPodcast #BusinessLeadership #PersonalGrowth
Every leader who has ever complained about people Every leader who has ever complained about people leaving should sit with that for a minute. It is not a generational problem. It is not an attitude problem. When you stop offering growth, you stop offering a reason to stay. The ones who left probably told you that on the way out. Most organizations just were not listening. The full conversation with Steve Cadigan on Episode 506 of The Leadership Podcast is worth your commute. https://bit.ly/TLP-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #TalentStrategy #TheLeadershipPodcast #FutureOfWork #SteveCadigan
In this episode, Mark Crowley talks about belongin In this episode, Mark Crowley talks about belonging like it's an HR buzzword. But the data says it's the number one driver of well being at work. Not pay. Not perks. Not pizza Tuesdays. Connection. Are you actually building it or just assuming it happens on its own? Full episode out now. https://bit.ly/TLP-504?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#belongingatwork #leadershiplessons #markcrowley #employeewellbeing #hybridwork #teamcohesion #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #workplaceculture #humanconnection
Most people compare socialism's ideals to capitali Most people compare socialism's ideals to capitalism's reality. That's not a fair fight.Dr. Bill Kline shared something that sticks. When you live inside a system, you see every flaw. Every crack. Every problem.But the system you've never experienced? That one still looks perfect.That gap shapes how people think, argue, and lead.This is a conversation worth having. https://bit.ly/TLP-509?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersIf this landed, go listen to the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-509?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #leadership #businessethics #freemarkets #leadershipdevelopment #tlp509
One of the hardest things Nick Black ever faced ha One of the hardest things Nick Black ever faced had nothing to do with combat.One week after one of the most intense firefights of the deployment, one of those men took his own life.And a year later, Nick read something that broke him open completely.More servicemen and women were dying by suicide than in combat.He still does not fully know what to do with that.But it changed the entire direction of his life.What do you think leaders most often miss when it comes to the people right in front of them?The full episode is up now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-513?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #stopsolidersuicide #veteranmentalhealth #militaryleadership #podcast #mentalhealth #service #leadershipdevelopment #shorts
Dr. Bill Kline raises a simple but uncomfortable q Dr. Bill Kline raises a simple but uncomfortable question.Do we actually understand capitalism… or just think we do?Everyone has a take on capitalism. Hardly anyone has actually studied it. Dr. Bill made this point quietly and it hits harder than any political argument I've heard lately. 200 years old and we're still pretending we've figured it out.If this made you stop and think, the full episode will do even more. Go give it a listen. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-509?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #criticalthinking #businessethics #economics #leadership #shorts #tlp509
TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why I TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why It’s Not What You Think Our latest episode with Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford https://bit.ly/TLP-511?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP511%3A%20What%20500%20Top%20Leaders%20Taught%20Us%20-%20And%20Why%20It%27s%20Not%20What%20You%20Think #leadership #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipskills #management #executiveleadership #businessleadership #leadershipgrowth #leadershipmindset #leadershipcoaching #leadershiplessons #modernleadership #purpose #careergrowth #personaldevelopment #podcast #podcastlife #podcastrecommendation #milestone #learning #growth #success
As a leader, how you respond to disruption sets th As a leader, how you respond to disruption sets the tone for everyone around you. Your team is watching whether you treat change like a threat or an opening. Patrick Leddin puts a name to both responses and explains why the most disruptive thing you can sometimes do is refuse to follow the crowd. There's a lot more where this came from. Go watch the full episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-507?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #disruption #leadershipdevelopment #westudyleaders #disrupteverything #leadershipcoach #changeleadership #growthmindset #leadershippodcast #shorts
A lot of people talk about capitalism like it's ju A lot of people talk about capitalism like it's just an idea or a belief.Dr. Bill Kline brings it back to something more concrete. He explains that markets only work when there's trust, rules, and accountability behind them."Capitalism does not exist without ethics."No property rights. No enforceable contracts. No real market.Take ethics out of the system and what you're left with isn't capitalism. It's chaos with a price tag.Honestly one of the most grounded things said on this show in a while. Go listen to the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-509?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#businessethics #capitalism #leadership #freemarkets #leadershippodcast #tlp509
Nobody announces that they are struggling. They j Nobody announces that they are struggling.They just go quiet.Pull back. Stop showing up the same way.And by the time anyone notices, it is already too late.Nick Black has lost too many people to this pattern — soldiers who survived everything — and he is not done talking about it.The full episode is up now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-513?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #mentalhealth #isolation #veteranmentalhealth #stopsolidersuicide #militaryleadership #podcast #leadershipdevelopment #shorts
Kevin Rice sold his company for nine figures. The Kevin Rice sold his company for nine figures.The deal closed. The wire hit. And he felt almost nothing.Not because the work was not real. It was. But he had been in robot mode for years. Performing at the highest level while suppressing every emotion just to keep functioning.When the victory arrived, there was nothing left to feel it with.He had been so focused on passion that he lost sight of purpose entirely.The rest of Kevin's story is the part most people never talk about. Go listen. https://bit.ly/TLP-512?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #entrepreneur #purpose #theleadershippodcast #fulfillment #CEOmindset #personalgrowth #worklifebalance #executiveleadership
Every time a leader complains about Gen Z being di Every time a leader complains about Gen Z being disloyal, Steve Cadigan has the same question. Are you talking about the children you raised? This generation grew up watching entirely new industries appear from nothing. Of course they want to explore. Calling that disloyal is like moving someone from their grandma's basement to a Vegas buffet and being surprised they want to try more than one thing. Steve does not hold back in the full episode. Catch TLP506 on The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #GenZ #TalentStrategy #TheLeadershipPodcast #SteveCadigan #FutureOfWork #WorkCulture
Most companies start the employment relationship o Most companies start the employment relationship on a promise both sides know they probably won't keep. Steve Cadigan built LinkedIn's culture from 400 to 4,000 people and says that false foundation is still the root of why talent strategy fails today. This episode covers why the fastest-growing companies on the planet have median tenure under four years, and what it actually looks like to care about someone's career beyond their time with you. Episode 506 is out now. Link in bio. https://bit.ly/TLP-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #TheLeadershipPodcast #TalentStrategy #FutureOfWork #SteveCadigan #Workquake #HR
Your leadership team is waiting for you to solve e Your leadership team is waiting for you to solve everything.Jim Brown watched this pattern destroy ownership.A woman entrepreneur realized her team had stopped thinking. Everyone just looked to her for answers.So she tried something simple. Stop answering questions. Start asking them."What do you think we should do?"That one behavior change made her meetings louder. More ownership. Shared responsibility.If you're carrying the weight of all decisions, your team isn't really yours—they're dependent on you.See the full conversation on episode 517. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipaccountability #teamownership #leadershipbehavior #organizationalhealth #leadershipdevelopment #theleadershippodcast #jimbrownorghealth #leadershipinsight
Think back to the biggest leap you ever took in yo Think back to the biggest leap you ever took in your career. Chances are someone pushed you into a role before you felt ready, and it turned out to be the moment that defined everything. The hiring system today is almost perfectly built to prevent that from happening. We screen for experience. We pass on talent. And then wonder why the best people aren't showing up. The full conversation goes even deeper on how to redesign work so you stop losing people at the worst possible moment. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #CareerDevelopment #TheLeadershipPodcast #SteveCadigan #TalentStrategy #Coaching #HiringStrategy
You have more technically qualified people enterin You have more technically qualified people entering the workforce than ever.You also have fewer people who know how to have a real conversation.This gap is costing you. It's costing every organization. It's being missed in every leadership development program.The most expensive credential in 2026 is something no degree can teach: the ability to actually connect with another human.Find what's missing: https://bit.ly/TLP-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #talentdevelopment #workforcedevelopment #peopleskills #teambuilding #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast
TLP510: Why Your Organization Keeps Getting the Sa TLP510: Why Your Organization Keeps Getting the Same Results (No Matter What You Change) Our latest episode with Maria Brinck https://bit.ly/TLP-510?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP510%3A%20Why%20Your%20Organization%20Keeps%20Getting%20the%20Same%20Results%20%28No%20Matter%20What%20You%20Change%29 #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #modernleadership #futureofleadership #leadershipmindset #organizationalleadership #businessleadership #managementskills #leadershipskills #workplaceculture #executiveleadership #leadershipgrowth #leadershippodcast #leadershipchallenges #leadershipstrategy
Kevin Rice was leading a growing company, adding o Kevin Rice was leading a growing company, adding over 100 people, navigating an acquisition, raising two boys alone, all during a pandemic.His coping mechanism was to shut everything off. No emotions. No processing. Just output.From the outside it looked like peak performance.His team and his kids were getting a version of him that was present in body but absent everywhere that mattered.That is the version of leadership nobody talks about enough.Episode 512 of The Leadership Podcast is a good place to start that conversation. Go find it. https://bit.ly/TLP-512?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence #theleadershippodcast #executiveleadership #CEOmindset #personalgrowth #parenting #entrepreneur #selfawareness
Kevin Rice built his agency straight out of colleg Kevin Rice built his agency straight out of college with no mentor and sold it 13 years later for nine figures. He says he felt almost nothing when it happened.On Episode 512 of The Leadership Podcast, he shares what it was like leading through a pandemic as a new single dad, growing a company by 100+ people, and going through an acquisition at the same time.He calls it "robot mode"—high performance, no emotion, just survival. It worked in business but cost him connection at home.He also shares what parenting taught him about leadership and why presence matters more than time.Listen to Episode 512 wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/TLP-512?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-512?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #entrepreneur #parenting #worklifebalance #leadershipdevelopment #ceo #personalgrowth #success #fulfillment
TLP512: Winning at Work, Losing at Home Our lates TLP512: Winning at Work, Losing at Home Our latest episode with Kevin Rice https://bit.ly/TLP-512?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP512%3A%20Winning%20at%20Work%2C%20Losing%20at%20Home #leadership #successvsfulfillment #worklifebalance #leadership #leadershipmindset #highperformancelife #burnoutrecovery #personalgrowth #emotionalintelligence #familyfirst #successmindset #ceolife #leadershipdevelopment
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