• Home
  • Episodes
  • Books for Leaders
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Our Sponsors
  • Blog
  • Our Newsletter
The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

TLP521: Why Traditional Networking Is Broken

July 22, 2026

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-521.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Donnie Boivin is the CEO and founder of Success Champion Networking, five-time bestselling author, and founder of the Badass Business Summit. Donnie argues that traditional networking fails anyone selling high-value services. Too many people spend their time collecting business cards from people who will never buy from them instead of building relationships with people who…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: AI in sales, AI networking, authentic leadership, B2B networking, business development strategies, business networking, Business Relationships, command presence, Donnie Boivin, entrepreneurship, leadership communication, Leadership Podcast, networking events, networking for business owners, networking skills, networking strategies, professional networking, referral networking, relationship building in business, sales networking, strategic partnerships, Success Champion Networking

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

May 13, 2026

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-511.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

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

TLP507: Disrupt or Be Buried: The Mindset That Changes Everything

April 15, 2026

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-507.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Patrick Leddin is an army veteran, entrepreneur, and NYT and WSJ Bestselling Author. He is the co-author, with James Patterson, of “Disrupt Everything—and Win: Take Control of Your Future.” Most leaders treat disruption as something to survive. Patrick argues that’s exactly the wrong frame. The gap between leaders who thrive in uncertainty and those who…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: army veteran, change management, disruption, entrepreneurship, fear vs growth, james patterson, leadership, leadership development, Military Leadership, patrick leddin, positive disruption, relationships, resilience, self awareness, timing

TLP473: Leading Those Who’ve Served with Barry Jesinoski

August 20, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-473.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

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

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

April 9, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-455.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

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

TLP407: Positive and Diligent With Justin Walker

May 1, 2024

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-407.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

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

TLP343: Just Start

January 25, 2023

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP_343.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Patrick Bryant is a serial entrepreneur, professional speaker, and co-founder and CEO of software product agency CODE/+/TRUST. After co-founding Go To Team, Patrick launched six multi-million-dollar companies, in media, and software. Patrick shares wisdom gained from his experience in start-ups, his origin as a journalist, what he accomplished in video, and the CODE/+/TRUST “BHAG” for…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: entrepreneur, entrepreneurial, entrepreneurship, growth, scale, software, trust

iTunes
Spotify
Audible
SoundCloud
iHeartRADIO

Instagram Feed

westudyleaders

#leadership #leadershiptraining #leader #westudyleaders

Leadership isn't a destination. The demands change Leadership isn't a destination. The demands change.Jim Vaselopulos points to a different way of thinking about leadership. The work is ongoing, and much of it comes down to balancing competing priorities, needs, and interests.That balance is not something a leader achieves once. It is something they continue to navigate.Listen to the full conversation on The Leadership Podcast. Link in the first comment.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #LeadershipMindset #DecisionMaking #TheLeadershipPodcast
There's a formula to building bravery. Jill Schulm There's a formula to building bravery. Jill Schulman, bravery expert and Marine Corps veteran, breaks down the three-stage framework. Stage one: master your mindset. Shift from fixed to growth. Stage two: take action before you feel ready. Confidence comes after, not before. Stage three: curate your tribe. Surround yourself with people who won't let you quit. The genius part? They reinforce each other. Each stage amplifies the next. Master the three-stage formula. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-518?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#bravery #leadershipdevelopment #personalgrowth #framework #mindset #courage #leadership #psychology
Most people treat networking like a numbers game. Most people treat networking like a numbers game.Donnie Boivin treats it like a business model.The shift from collecting contacts to building other people's success is what actually opens doors.Hear how he built an entire company around it in this week's episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #leadership #businessdevelopment #relationshipbuilding #salesmindset #entrepreneurship #leadershippodcast #b2bsales
Experience is invaluable. Until it convinces you t Experience is invaluable. Until it convinces you that you don't need to question yourself.David Robson calls this the curse of expertise. The more experience we accumulate, the easier it can become to trust our instincts without looking for evidence that might prove us wrong.His advice is simple: listen to your intuition, but interrogate it like any other piece of data.Ask yourself: What would I need to know to disprove what I believe to be true?That question may be one of the most useful habits an experienced leader can develop.#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #decisionmaking #cognitivebias #executiveleadership #selfawareness #davidrobson #leadershippodcast
Most leaders spend years perfecting self-awareness Most leaders spend years perfecting self-awareness and almost no time on other-awareness.Tom Rath, #1 New York Times bestselling author of StrengthsFinder 2.0 and How Full Is Your Bucket, joins the show to talk about his newest book, What's the Point?In this episode, Tom breaks down why purpose isn't a big moment you find once, it's a question you ask five times a day.Listen now to rethink how you spend your next hour. https://bit.ly/TLP-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #purposedriven #strengthsfinder #tomrath #leadershipdevelopment #workplaceculture #findingpurpose #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #meaningfulwork
Complexity doesn't announce itself. There's no sig Complexity doesn't announce itself.There's no sign on the wall.David Craig ran Refinitiv through some of the toughest years in financial services, and he says the first warning sign isn't in the numbers.It's in the answers. Ask three people what the company does. If you get three different answers, you've found the problem.David walks through what he actually looks for when walking into a struggling organization.Full episode is live now https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #davidcraig #organizationalculture #businesstransformation #leadershippodcast #executivecoaching #companyculture #leadershipdevelopment
He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He wa He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He was also a bully.She tolerated it. The results were good. Then he quit in a rage.A week later, the truth came out. Team culture lifted almost overnight.Kim breaks down what tolerating bad behavior really costs a team.Ask yourself who's costing you culture. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #teamculture #toxicemployee #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #leadershippodcast #accountability
Tribalism is part of human nature, but its role in Tribalism is part of human nature, but its role in modern organizations is more complicated than it once was. People still seek belonging and connection, yet those same needs can create division when groups begin defining themselves against one another.Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford explore how tribalism shapes leadership and organizational culture. They discuss four approaches to leadership: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication, and what each reveals about the way leaders influence the people around them.The conversation also examines fear in the workplace, the importance of psychological safety, and the ongoing tension between developing people and focusing on the work that matters most.At the center of the discussion is a question leaders cannot easily avoid - how do you create belonging without creating an "us vs. them" culture?Listen to the full episode. Link in the first comment.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #OrganizationalCulture #TheLeadershipPodcast
Being good at something can make you worse at maki Being good at something can make you worse at making decisions.The more experience and expertise we gain, the easier it can become to trust our judgment without questioning it.David Robson calls this the "curse of expertise."He argues that good judgment requires something that doesn't always come naturally to smart, experienced people: actively looking for evidence that challenges what we already believe.In our conversation, we explore what that looks like in leadership, along with the role of curiosity, vulnerability, communication, and self-compassion in becoming more effective.Listen to the latest episode of The Leadership Podcast.#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #decisionmaking #leadershippsychology #cognitivebias #executiveleadership #selfawareness #davidrobson
We cannot always choose the circumstances we begin We cannot always choose the circumstances we begin with, but we can choose how we move forward.In her conversation with Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford, Bouchra Danwra reflects on personal agency, the choices that shape our lives, and the importance of taking ownership of our direction, even when we cannot control where we start.Her perspective is a reminder that our beginnings do not have to determine our destination.Listen to the full conversation on The Leadership Podcast. Find the episode on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.#TheLeadershipPodcast #BouchraDanwra #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #PersonalAgency #LeadershipDevelopment #Mindset #PurposefulLeadership
David Gray calls it empathetic accountability. And David Gray calls it empathetic accountability.And it's the thing most leaders get wrong.You can hold people responsible. But only if you've connected with them first.Skip the connection? Accountability feels like harassment.David has spent 34 years learning this: exhausted people need to know they're valued before they'll respond to expectations.That doesn't mean lowering standards. It means raising empathy.Hear David's full philosophy on leadership in uncertain times. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#empathyatwork #leadership #leadershipphilosophy #podcast #davidgray #theleadershippodcast #managementskills #leadershipdevelopment
Your circle isn't static. It's a decision. Donnie Your circle isn't static. It's a decision.Donnie Boivin says your five prospects, five clients, and five closest people all shape where you plateau.Not walking away from anyone, just paying attention to who's actually pulling you forward.Dive deeper into the full conversation https://bit.ly/TLP-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #networking #personalgrowth #businessmindset #relationshipbuilding #entrepreneurship #leadershippodcast #successmindset
You have two deaths, not one. The first is physic You have two deaths, not one.The first is physical. The second is the last time someone says your name.Tom Rath says legacy isn't about what you build or leave behind. It's about what quietly outlives you in someone else's habits.You may never see the moment your influence shows up in someone else's life. That's the point.Listen to the full episode with Tom Rath now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #legacyleadership #purposeatwork #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #meaningfulwork #leadershipdevelopment
Steve Jobs is often remembered for his vision. Bu Steve Jobs is often remembered for his vision.But vision was not enough.After being pushed out of Apple, Jobs had to learn something he had not fully understood before: building a great product and building a successful business are two different things.He had to learn to listen to people who disagreed with him. To understand the market. To trust people with responsibilities outside his own expertise. And to recognize when persistence was becoming stubbornness.That period of failure and uncertainty may have been just as important to his leadership as the successes that came later.In this episode of The Leadership Podcast, Geoffrey Cain joins us to explore what Steve Jobs learned during those wilderness years, and why the lessons extend well beyond one famous leader.Sometimes the wall in front of us isn't failure. It's information about what needs to change.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #SteveJobs #LeadershipLessons #VisionaryLeadership #LeadershipMindset #BusinessLeadership #Adversity #DecisionMaking #TheLeadershipPodcast
This applies to families. It applies to teams. Mo This applies to families. It applies to teams.Most leaders and parents focus on outcomes. Lee Benson focuses on the environment.Get the environment right, and value creation follows, at home and at work.Learn how Lee builds that environment. #leadership #valuecreation #leebenson #familyleadership #executivecoaching #teamculture #podcast #theleadershippodcast
Patrick Emmons wasn't a great student. He'll tell Patrick Emmons wasn't a great student.He'll tell you that himself.But he's built and sold three companies over 25 years.His point: the hero story isn't the requirement people think it is.Hear Patrick's full story on episode 524. https://bit.ly/TLP-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #entrepreneurship #growthmindset #careeradvice
Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Boivin says it's a trap. One-sided giving just trains people to take advantage of you. His fix: give, give, get, give — mutual respect over martyrdom. It changes how you should be showing up in every relationship you're building. Catch the full breakdown on this week's episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #leadershipmindset #businessstrategy #relationshipbuilding #salesleadership #entrepreneurmindset #leadershippodcast #businessgrowth
Most networking advice is training you to waste yo Most networking advice is training you to waste your time in the wrong rooms.Donnie Boivin, CEO of Success Champion Networking and creator of the C3 Model, built a 30-chapter, 450-member organization on one reframe: networking means building other people's businesses, not collecting business cards.This episode breaks down his 30/30/30 framework, the Home Depot story that changed everything, and why give-give-get-give beats give-first-to-gain-everything.Listen now, then rethink your next room. https://bit.ly/TLP-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube -https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #networking #businessdevelopment #salesleadership #b2bsales #leadershippodcast #executivecoaching #relationshipbuilding #salesstrategy #entrepreneurship
Jim Brown watches this play out in every organizat Jim Brown watches this play out in every organization.Leaders who have all the answers don't develop leaders. They develop followers.Your job isn't to be the hero. It's to build heroes.The moment your team stops thinking for themselves, you've become a bottleneck, not a leader.Watch episode 517 for the full story. https://bit.ly/TLP-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipaccountability #leadershipdevelopment #organizationalhealth #teamleadership #leadershipcoaching #executiveleadership #theleadershippodcast #westudyleaders
Your people spend more hours with you than with th Your people spend more hours with you than with their families.That's not a business metric. That's a moral obligation.David Gray sees it as both privilege and responsibility. You're not just developing workers. You're developing humans—their skills, their confidence, their sense of purpose.Most leaders treat people like resources. David treats them like people entrusted to his care for a significant portion of their lives.It changes everything about how you lead.Explore David's complete philosophy on servant leadership. https://bit.ly/TLP-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipphilosophy #servantleadership #peopledevelopment #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #teamleadership #managementphilosophy #compassionateLeadership
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • TLP533: What CEOs and Young Graduates Can Teach Each Other
  • TLP532: Sheer Will: The Unlikely Path from Cuba to the Cabinet
  • TLP531: Tribalism, Belonging, and the Leader’s Role
  • TLP530: Leadership Lessons from Building the Apple Store with Ron Johnson
  • TLP529: How Steve Jobs Learned to Lead with Geoffrey Cain

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on TLP519: The Leadership Idea We Missed for 250 Years
  • Anonymous on TLP513: The Leadership Cost of Isolation with Nick Black
  • Anonymous on TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why It’s Not What You Think
  • Anonymous on TLP508: Your Scars Are Your Resume
  • Anonymous on TLP505: Why Leadership Coaching So Often Fails

Tags

adaptability assumptions athletics business change coaching communication corporate crucible culture Curiosity decision making education emotional intelligence entrepreneur Executive Coaching financial history humor innovation interview Jan Rutherford Jim & Jan Jim Vaselopulos leader leadership leadership development Leadership Podcast military neuroscience Personal Growth philosophy practitioner productivity relationships resilience speaker sports stories team development teamwork thought leader trust veterans workplace culture

Copyright © 2026 Rafti Advisors, LLC & Self-Reliant Leadership, LLC - All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy