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The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

TLP468: The Power of Doing Nothing with Jim and Jan

July 16, 2025

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In this episode, Jim and Jan explore the power of doing nothing and why it might be the most strategic move a leader can make.  They begin with a discussion on Jan’s Crucible® expeditions, and the consistent lesson is that you have to slow down to speed up.  For Jim, it means intentional time without…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, character, coaching, Conviction, Crucibles, discipline, Efficiency, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, Leadership Podcast, Quiet Time, reflection, solitude, strategy, Veteran Transition

TLPMM012: On Character with General Stanley McChrystal

June 18, 2025

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In this Mastermind episode of The Leadership Podcast, General Stanley McChrystal returns for a third conversation—his most personal and revealing appearance yet. Stan discusses the defining choices in his life, the moments that shaped his character, and the values that continue to guide his leadership. He talks about how his parents influenced his values through…

Filed Under: Mastermind Podcast, Podcast Tagged With: character, Decision-making, discipline, General McChrystal, integrity, leadership, mentorship, Military Leadership, moral courage, national service, Personal Growth, self-reflection, values, West Point

TLP407: Positive and Diligent With Justin Walker

May 1, 2024

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Justin Walker, a Navy veteran transitioning from solopreneurship, highlights his multifaceted hobbies like playing musical instruments, despite not being an expert. He introduces the concept of the “attitude and effort cycle,” underscoring the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and diligent effort, regardless of motivation levels. In discussing leadership, Justin stresses the need for self-awareness,…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: ambiguity, discipline, effort, entrepreneurship, environment, instruments, leadership, military, music, success, writing

TLP396: The Action Fallacy with Martin Gutmann

February 14, 2024

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Martin Gutmann, an author and professor at the Lucerne School of Business, challenges traditional views on leadership with his concept of the “action fallacy.” He argues that effective leadership often involves subtle, unnoticed actions rather than just visible, dramatic ones. Gutmann emphasizes the importance of historical skills in the digital era, particularly in scrutinizing and…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: crisis, discipline, emotional intelligence, historical examples, history, inaction, leadership, reaction, reactive actions, reflection, restraint, scrutinize, sources, Unseen Leader

TLP382: The Power of Conscious Connection with Talia Fox

November 8, 2023

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Talia Fox is the CEO of KUSI Global, Inc. A leadership strategist and a legacy builder, she has transformed thousands of executives over the last two decades in every sector, including major corporations in health, higher education, technology, and government. Talia shares her unique approach to leadership and her upcoming book, “The Power of Conscious…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: achievers, agility, alignment, ambiguity, change, choices, competence, competencies, competency, complexity, connection, conscious, cultural, customized, description, discipline, emotional, engaged, engaging, habits, implementation, intelligence, job, knowledge, leadership, listening, model, motivation, observing, pause, pivot, productive, skill, strategy, success, systems, thinking, uncertainty, understanding, values, variety, volatility, VUCA

TLP377: Why People Lie with Michael Reddington

September 20, 2023

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Michael Reddington, an expert at moving people from resistance to commitment. He is an executive resource, Certified Forensic Interviewer, President of InQuasive, Inc., and author of “The Disciplined Listening Method.” He discusses coaching, effective communication, and his Disciplined Listening Method. This method emphasizes patience, outcome-focused thinking, and emotional control. The conversation also covers hiring for…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Active, communication, discipline, leadership, listening, questioning, techniques

TLP165: We Have Two Choices

August 28, 2019

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Former NFL player, performer, and author – Bo Eason – discusses the one-man play he wrote and performed, Runt of the Litter; and his new book, There’s No Plan B for Your A-Game. Bo started his career as a top pick for the Houston Oilers and continued on with the San Francisco 49ers. He discusses…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: choice, decision making, discipline

TLP134: Keeping Promises

January 23, 2019

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We’re all a work in progress, and whether we call it a resolution, or an ongoing commitment, it’s all part of building character to consistently develop and grow. Today, Jim and Jan talk about making promises and resolutions, and why we seem to let our own goals die before helping others achieve theirs. They discuss…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: character, discipline, grit, productivity, Professionalism, trust

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Most companies reward CEOs for riding good markets Most companies reward CEOs for riding good markets and punish them for bad timing. Patrick Ryan says that's backwards. If the boom isn't your doing, the credit isn't yours. If the crash isn't your fault, the blame isn't either. Judge leaders on what they actually controlled. On the value they built. Not on the luck they rode. That changes how you hire, promote, and evaluate performance.Hear the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #ethics #performance #accountability #executiveleadership #moralcapitalism #leadershippodcast #businessethics
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
The problems we are facing in organizations and in The problems we are facing in organizations and in the world did not appear out of nowhere. Maria Brinck has spent years studying the connection between how we lead and the challenges we keep failing to solve. She traces the crisis in leadership back to something most people would rather not look at directly.If you have ever felt like something is fundamentally broken in the way organizations are run, this conversation will give that feeling a name. https://bit.ly/TLP-510?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TheLeadershipPodcast #OrganizationalCulture #Podcast
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
Debate isn't about winning. It's about thinking cl Debate isn't about winning. It's about thinking clearly when it matters.Meet Murshad Chowdhury: founder of Tech Duels, LogiCoach AI, and the Veterans Technology Conference. He's spent years teaching brilliant people how to actually communicate.In this episode, you'll discover:Why structured debate builds communication skills faster than traditional trainingHow competition strengthens your ability to listen (not just talk)Why the future belongs to people who combine tech with human judgmentThe communication gap costing talented professionals their careersNew episode drops now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-515?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersListen here - https://bit.ly/TLP-515?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipdevelopment #communicationskills #debateskills #executivepresence #theleadershippodcast #criticalthinkingg #techleadership #aiandhumanskills
Disruption is not always about blowing things up. Disruption is not always about blowing things up. Sometimes the most disruptive move in the room is refusing to follow the crowd. Patrick Leddin breaks this down in a way that actually reframes how you think about change and leadership.We went deep on this in Episode 507. Don't miss it. https://bit.ly/TLP-507?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #disruption #leadershiplessons #westudyleaders #disrupteverything #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoach #changeleadership #leadershippodcast
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
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
The leadership model most of us inherited was neve The leadership model most of us inherited was never designed for the world we are leading in now. Maria Brinck joins The Leadership Podcast to talk about what needs to change, who gets left out when it does not, and why this conversation is overdue. You will want to hear this one. Episode 510 is out now and it is one you will want to hear from start to finish. https://bit.ly/TLP-510?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersHead to The Leadership Podcast and give it a listen. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-510?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#TheLeadershipPodcast #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Purpose #Podcast
Most people only recognize disruption when it's ma Most people only recognize disruption when it's massive. Patrick Leddin says the small ones matter just as much. A hallway conversation. A bad performance review. An unexpected no. All of it counts. All of it is an opening if you're willing to look at it that way.This one is worth your commute. Episode 507 is out now. https://bit.ly/TLP-507?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #disruption #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #westudyleaders #disrupteverything #mindset #leadershipcoach #growthmindset
If you constantly tear down the system you're part If you constantly tear down the system you're part of, don't be surprised when people disconnect from it.That shows up inside teams too.Leaders set the tone. Not just through strategy, but through how they talk about the work, the mission, and the people around them. If everything sounds cynical or negative, that becomes the culture.And culture shapes who stays, who leaves, and how people show up every day.This one is worth the full listen. Go check out the whole episode of Dr. Bill Kline and tell us what hit you the hardest. https://bit.ly/TLP-509?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #teamculture #capitalism #businessleadership #tlp509
Most people think capitalism and ethics are two se Most people think capitalism and ethics are two separate conversations. Dr. Bill Kline says they were never separate to begin with. Pull out the ethics and you don't have a market anymore, you just have chaos with a price tag.This one reframes everything. Go find the full conversation, it's worth your time. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-509?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #businessethics #leadership #freemarkets #leadershippodcast #shorts #tlp509
Most leaders can scale. Almost none can scale with Most leaders can scale. Almost none can scale without breaking what they built.Joth Ricci—CEO of LYBL, founder of Rafti Advisors, former CEO of Dutch Brothers—scaled Dutch Bros from 27 to 92 locations in three years without losing culture. In this episode, Joth talks about what actually breaks first when you grow fast, how to keep people's systems moving with your growth, and why discipline matters more than ambition.Watch now: https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersListen now! https://bit.ly/TLP-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #scaling #businessgrowth #dutchbros #organizationalculture #executiveleadership #westudyleaders
TLP509: Capitalism Without Ethics Is Just Chaos O TLP509: Capitalism Without Ethics Is Just Chaos Our latest episode with Dr. Bill Kline https://bit.ly/TLP-509?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP509%3A%20Capitalism%20Without%20Ethics%20Is%20Just%20Chaos #leadership #capitalism #businessethics #freemarkets #leadership #ethicalleadership #capitalism101 #economicfreedom #leadershipdevelopment #marketeconomy #virtuouscapitalism #youngprofessionals #businessleadership #capitalismvssocialism #propertyright #academyoncapitalism
Your instinct will be to take the ball. Resist it. Your instinct will be to take the ball.Resist it.When your team is struggling, when the pressure's on, your job isn't to score. Your job is to prepare them to score.Joth Ricci understood thisThe moment you solve it for them is the moment they stop growing.Learn the principle https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #coachingleadership #managementtips #leadershiplessons #teamdevelopment #executiveleadership #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast
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
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
This is the line that separates coaches from probl This is the line that separates coaches from problem-solvers.Most leaders take the ball when it matters most. When the stakes are high, they jump in and solve it themselves.But Joth Ricci teaches. He shows. He develops capacity in his people instead of creating dependency on himself.That's why he's mentored 12 people who are now CEOs.Discover the coaching framework: https://bit.ly/TLP-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #coachingleadership #talentdevelopment #leadershiplessons #personaldevelopment #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #jothricci
One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is that the people at the top somehow found a shortcut.After 500 conversations with CEOs, military leaders, entrepreneurs, and high performers, the opposite appears to be true.The leaders who create lasting impact usually make difficult tradeoffs that most people never see. They often trade off their:TimeComfortCertaintyConvenienceEgoNot because they are obsessed with work, but because meaningful growth almost always demands sustained commitment. And most conversations around leadership often skip over the cost.But mastery and long-term excellence rarely happen accidentally and without sacrifice.What do you think most people underestimate when pursuing meaningful success? https://bit.ly/TLP-511?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #selfreliantleadership #noshortcuts #executivecoaching #leadershipdevelopment #podcast
TLP506: Retention Is Dead: The Workquake Reshaping TLP506: Retention Is Dead: The Workquake Reshaping Talent Our latest episode with Steve Cadigan https://bit.ly/TLP-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP506%3A%20Retention%20Is%20Dead%3A%20The%20Workquake%20Reshaping%20Talent https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP506%3A%20Retention%20Is%20Dead%3A%20The%20Workquake%20Reshaping%20Talent #leadership #talentmanagement #futureofwork #workquake #stevecadigan #employeeexperience #careergrowth #leadershipdevelopment #organizationalculture #highperformanceteams #workplaceculture #hrleaders #peopleandculture #modernleadership #businessleadership #companyculture #talentstrategy #employeeengagement #careerdevelopment #learninganddevelopment #leadershippodcast
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Recent Posts

  • TLP520: Empathy Without Lowering the Bar with David Gray
  • TLP519: The Leadership Idea We Missed for 250 Years
  • TLP518: The Bravery Effect: Jill Schulman on Why Courage Is a Skill, Not a Trait
  • TLP517: The Accountability Gap: Why Leaders Misjudge Their Own Impact with Jim Brown
  • TLP516: The Leader as Teacher: Building Leaders, Scaling Companies, and Multiplying Impact with Joth Ricci

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