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The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why It’s Not What You Think

May 13, 2026

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What happens when you spend 10 years interviewing some of the world’s top leaders? After 500 interviews with CEOs, generals, founders, bestselling authors, athletes, and elite performers, Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford discovered a surprising pattern. The most successful leaders were NOT the most polished, they were the most self-aware, adaptable, and relentlessly committed to…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptive leadership, business leaders, Business Leadership, CEOs, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship, Executive Coaching, executive leadership, high performance, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership development, Leadership Lessons, leadership mindset, leadership myths, Leadership Podcast, leadership skills, Leadership Strategies, lessons from leaders, Personal Growth, self awareness, success mindset, Team Leadership, The Leadership Podcast, what makes a great leader

TLP504: Why Your Team Is Still Disengaged

March 25, 2026

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TLP504: Why Your Team Is Still Disengaged
Mark Crowley’s newest book is The Power of Employee Well-Being: Move Beyond Engagement to Build Flourishing Teams.
For more than a decade, organizations have chased employee engagement – through surveys, gamification, perks, and wellness apps – yet the results haven’t improved. Gallup now reports engagement at a ten-year low. Mark was one of the early voices questioning the engagement movement, and in this conversation he explains why the model itself is flawed.
We talk about what leaders have been measuring incorrectly, what employee well-being actually means, and why the strongest predictor of team performance isn’t compensation, perks, or pressure to produce. It’s belonging.
If you’re seeing burnout, quiet disengagement, or people simply going through the motions, this conversation offers a different lens on leadership—and practical insights you can start applying immediately.
Find episode 504 on The Leadership Podcast, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: belonging at work, emotional intelligence, employee burnout, Employee Engagement, Employee Motivation, employee well-being, flourishing teams, gallup engagement, hr leadership, human connection at work, hybrid work, lead from the heart, leadership, leadership development, Leadership Lessons, Leadership Podcast, manager accountability, mark c crowley, mark crowley, micromanagement, people management, power of employee well-being, remote work, team cohesion, team performance, we study leaders, work ethic, workplace belonging, workplace culture, workplace emotions

TLP481: The New Language of Leadership with Michael Ventura

October 15, 2025

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Michael Ventura is an entrepreneur, author of “Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership”, and advisor to leaders at organizations including the ACLU, Google, Nike, and the UN. He has taught emotionally intelligent leadership at Princeton, West Point, and Esalen. In this episode, Michael explores why our natural childhood empathy fades as adults due to…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Applied Empathy, business results, cognitive empathy, emotional intelligence, empathetic leadership, empathy training, Executive Coaching, GE case study, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership archetypes, leadership development, leadership skills, Michael Ventura, Organizational Culture, patient experience, retention strategies, team development, The Leadership Podcast, West Point

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

TLP462: Overcome Your Fear of Being Seen with Linda Ugelow

May 28, 2025

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Linda Ugelow is the author of “Delight in the Limelight: Overcome Your Fear of Being Seen and Realize Your Dreams.”  In this episode, Linda shares how fear often stems from past experiences, and how leaders can reframe internal narratives to demonstrate more confidence.  She dives into the power of self-acceptance and how it shapes leadership…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: confidence, emotional intelligence, empowerment, Executive Coaching, fear of speaking, Growth Mindset, inner voice, leadership, personal development, public speaking, Self-awareness, self-expression, vulnerability

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

TLP455: Break Free from Self-imposed Limitations with Kasey D’Amato

April 9, 2025

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Kasey D’Amato’s experience goes from launching a dermatology division and founding a global skincare brand to building a multi-seven-figure real estate portfolio. In this episode, Kasey shares her insights on how leaders can avoid burnout, overcome stagnation, and create a life that aligns with their true purpose.  She introduces her Holistic Leadership Mastery™ Framework, which…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: business growth, career transition, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship, leadership, leadership coaching, resilience, self-improvement, time management, Work-life balance

TLP453: Delegation Isn’t About Losing Control with Dr. Steven Stein

March 26, 2025

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Dr. Steven Stein, world-renowned clinical psychologist, best-selling author, and MHS founder, consults for military, corporate, and TV shows, specializing in psychological assessment and emotional intelligence. He also hosts the podcast Work Therapy. In this episode, Dr. Steven explores how EI has evolved since its early days and why some leaders still underestimate its impact. Steven…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Business Strategy, corporate culture, decision making, emotional intelligence, Executive Coaching, high-performance teams, leadership, leadership development, Military Leadership, Personal Growth, psychology, remote work, resilience, Self-awareness, team development, workplace culture

TLP451: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have with Elizabeth Lotardo

March 12, 2025

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Elizabeth Lotardo, author of “Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have (Despite Imperfect Bosses, Weird Economies, Lethargic Coworkers, Annoying Systems, and Too Many Deliverables),” is also a LinkedIn Learning instructor. In this conversation, Elizabeth offers valuable insights on self-leadership, personal accountability, and employee engagement, emphasizing the importance of…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: career development, emotional intelligence, Employee Engagement, leadership skills, mindset shift, networking, Personal Growth, professional success, self-improvement, self-leadership, workplace success

TLP446: How Mental Health and Leadership are Deeply Connected with Dr. Marie Helene-Pelletier

February 5, 2025

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Dr. Marie Helene Peltier is a leadership psychologist, and author of “The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health.” In this episode, she unpacks the science and practical strategies behind resilience, offering insights into how mental health and leadership are deeply interconnected. From creating personalized resilience plans to building…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: emotional intelligence, leadership, leadership development, mental health, resilience, Strategic Planning, stress management, Team Building, Work-life balance

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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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  • TLP517: The Accountability Gap: Why Leaders Misjudge Their Own Impact with Jim Brown
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