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The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

TLP509: Capitalism Without Ethics Is Just Chaos

April 29, 2026

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TLP509: Capitalism Without Ethics Is Just Chaos
Dr. Bill Kline is a professor of business ethics and the Executive Director of the Academy on Capitalism. He argues that capitalism and ethics aren’t separate conversations. They’re the same system.
Without ethics, there are no property rights, no enforceable contracts, and no functioning markets. Strip that away and you don’t get capitalism. You get chaos with a price tag.
In this conversation, Bill discusses the difference between socialism’s ideals and capitalism’s outcomes. He also breaks down what leaders must do to rebuild trust with younger workers, and why one simple question keeps getting ignored: Do we actually understand what capitalism is?
If your organization is struggling to articulate why business and markets matter or you’re watching younger talent disengage from the mission, this episode gives you a clearer way to think about what’s really at stake.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: academy on capitalism, business education, Business Ethics, business leadership podcast, business philosophy, capitalism debate, capitalism explained, capitalism vs socialism, corporate ethics, economic systems explained, ethical leadership, ethics in business, free market system, leadership and values, leadership communication, leadership development, leadership in business, Leadership Insights, leadership mindset, Leadership Podcast, leadership strategy, management thinking, modern leadership challenges, trust in business, what is capitalism, william Kline, workplace trust, younger workforce trends

TLP506: Retention Is Dead: The Workquake Reshaping Talent

April 8, 2026

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TLP506: Retention Is Dead: The Workquake Reshaping Talent
Steve Cadigan is a global talent strategist, author of “Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working,” and LinkedIn’s founding Chief HR Officer.
Steve believes the world of work is going through a “workquake” — a fundamental shift that’s breaking the old employer-employee contract. At the core of it is a false premise: the idea of long-term loyalty that neither side can reliably keep.
In this conversation, Steve explains why many of the world’s most successful companies have surprisingly short employee tenure, why the workforce isn’t disloyal but loyal to growth, and why leaders should focus less on retention and more on creating meaningful development while people are with them.
For leaders navigating turnover and rapid change, this episode offers a more honest way to think about talent and what it actually takes to build teams that perform.
Find episode 506 on The Leadership Podcast, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Business Leadership, Career Growth, Employee Engagement, employee experience, Employee Retention, employee turnover, future of work, hr strategy, human resources, leadership advice, leadership development, Leadership Insights, Leadership Podcast, leadership skills, leadership training, management tips, modern leadership, Organizational Culture, steve cadigan, talent management, talent retention, talent strategy, workforce trends, workplace culture, workquake

TLP443: UNSTUCK: Purposeful Career Redesign with Helen Hanison

January 15, 2025

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Helen Hanison is the author of “Unstuck: A Smart Guide to Purposeful Career Redesign.” Helen discusses why many professionals feel stuck in their careers, emphasizing the ingrained societal pressure to persevere even in unfulfilling roles. She highlights how individuals often ignore their values and continue along a path that no longer aligns with their sense…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: career alignment, career redesign, getting unstuck, Helen Hanison, Leadership Insights, Leadership Podcast, professional transformation, Purposeful Work, Unstuck book, workplace stagnation

TLP439: Narrow Your Focus with Tony Martignetti

December 18, 2024

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Tony Martignetti is the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Inspired Purpose Partners. He is the author of “Climbing the Right Mountain: Navigating the Journey to An Inspired Life.”  Tony shares how meditation and therapy helped him rediscover purpose during a dark time, and he shares insights on leadership and self-awareness.  Through his “grounded leadership”…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Authentic Engagement, Climbing the Right Mountain, Compassionate Leadership, Grounded Leadership, Inspired Purpose Partners, leadership development, Leadership Insights, Meditation and Leadership, Navigating Change, Overcoming Fear, Purpose-Driven Leadership, Self-awareness, Tony Martignetti, Vulnerability in Leadership

TLP428: What Makes A Good Leadership Book with Jim and Jan

October 2, 2024

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Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford discuss what makes a great leadership book including the value of storytelling in making concepts relatable for the audience. They also discuss the importance of evidence-based concepts, and the significance of lasting and practical advice that transcends time. The best leadership books aren’t necessarily leadership books. “The books that help…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Books, Curiosity, Evidence-Based Leadership, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership, Leadership Books, Leadership Insights, learning, Pablo Neruda Quote, Personal Growth, Storytelling in Leadership, Timeless Leadership Advice

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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
Donnie Boivin doesn't work the room. He plants his Donnie Boivin doesn't work the room.He plants his feet and lets the room come to him.He calls it command presence, and it's a leadership skill, not a personality trait. The best leaders aren't controlling every conversation, they're guiding the room just by how they show up.Hear Donnie break down what that actually looks like in practice. Full episode is live now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #networking #executivepresence #personalbranding #leadershipdevelopment #salesleadership #leadershippodcast #businessgrowth
Everyone rushes to answer. That's why their answe Everyone rushes to answer.That's why their answers fall flat.Here's what Murshad Chowdhury teaches in his debate and communication training: pause."Let me think about that for a few seconds."That's not a weakness. That's clarity.It's the difference between a half-thought answer and a fully formed response.Master this in interviews, presentations, and conversations. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-515?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#publicspeeking #interviewtips #communicationskills #presentationskills #executivepresence #theleadershippodcast #careertips #leadershipskills
Chasing success can quietly become the problem, no Chasing success can quietly become the problem, not the solution.Tom Rath argues usefulness matters more than achievement, and the shift changes how you spend every hour of your day.It's a simple reframe with a big payoff: less hamster wheel, more contribution.Listen to Tom Rath's full conversation on the show. https://bit.ly/TLP-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #purposeoverperformance #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #findingpurpose #workplaceculture #meaningfulwork
Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conver Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conversation in one sentence. Most leaders see ethics as a constraint. A tax on profit. But that's the opposite of how markets actually work. Without moral foundation, there's no trust. No enforceable contracts. No real market. Just extraction dressed up as business. This changes how you think about your next decision.Listen to Episode 519. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #businessethics #moralcapitalism #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Culture isn't something you mandate from the C-sui Culture isn't something you mandate from the C-suite. It's built by the people doing the work.David built Fed Up Foods on this principle, and it's why his team stayed committed through disruption, crisis, and rapid growth.When you invite people to shape how you work together, they own it. When you tell them how to work, they comply.The difference is everything.Listen to David's full framework for culture-building that lasts. https://bit.ly/TLP-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#culturebuilding #leadership #teamculture #leadershipdevelopment #westudyleaders #peopleirst #theleadershippodcast #valuesdriven
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
Kim Svoboda was on a plane 85% of the time. Chasin Kim Svoboda was on a plane 85% of the time. Chasing the job title she thought she wanted.Then a simple values exercise stopped her cold. Family was #1 on her list. She wasn't living anywhere near it.That gap is what most leaders never stop to check.Hear what broke her wide open. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #executiveburnout #leadershipvalues #worklifebalance #careertransition #leadershippodcast #intentionalleadership
Leadership can become too focused on the person at Leadership can become too focused on the person at the top.But the real measure of leadership is what happens to the people being led.As Geoffrey Cain explains, leadership isn't only about the leader's vision or ambition. It's about the people, the environment, and the conditions that allow others to do their best work.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #LeadershipMindset #TheLeadershipPodcast
Picture a sideline full of parents yelling instruc Picture a sideline full of parents yelling instructions nobody can follow.Now picture your last team meeting.Patrick Emmons says it's the same problem.Bosses talk, but only 3% of the room actually understands what was said.He learned to fix it by coaching kids, not running companies.Watch the full episode to hear how Patrick builds a vernacular his team actually understands. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #teamcommunication #coaching #executivecoaching #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #businessleadership #patrickemmons
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
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
You can talk about work-life balance all day. You You can talk about work-life balance all day.Your team is watching what you actually do.Tom Rath says most leaders preach rest and recovery, then model the opposite. First in. Last out. Never fully off.If you want a well-rested team, be the first one to log off.Listen to Tom Rath's full conversation on the show. https://bit.ly/TLP-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #leadingbyexample #executivecoaching #workplaceculture #burnoutprevention #leadershipmindset #peoplefirstleadership
Most people wait until they feel ready before taki Most people wait until they feel ready before taking action. Jill Schulman's research in positive psychology proves that's backwards. Confidence doesn't come first. Action does. Every time you move forward despite fear, you're building the neural pathways that create real confidence. Move forward before you feel ready.Discover why action comes first. https://bit.ly/TLP-518?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#bravery #leadershipdevelopment #personalgrowth #psychology #fearless #confidence #mindset #actiontaker
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
You're not bad at networking. You just haven't lea You're not bad at networking. You just haven't learned the skill yet.Murshad Chowdhury, founder of Tech Duels, breaks it down simply: most people think you need to be naturally outgoing. You don't.Introverts, extroverts, ambiverts — doesn't matter. This is trainable.The barrier isn't your personality. It's knowing how to do it.Once you learn the framework, everything changes. Opportunities expand. Careers transform.Your biggest career breakthroughs are waiting on the other side of this skill.Full episode: https://bit.ly/TLP-515?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networkingskills #careerdevelopment #leadershipdevelopment #personalgrowth #theleadershippodcast #careeradvice #professionalnetworking #skillsbuilding
Only 7% of families fit the old nuclear mold. Le Only 7% of families fit the old nuclear mold. Lee Benson says that this changes how leadership works at home. Modeling healthy behavior is a leadership skill. So is modeling a healthy relationship between parents. On this episode of the leadership podcast, Lee Benson breaks down why 82% of families are blended today and why modeling matters more than ever.#leadership #parenting #leadershippodcast #familyleadership #blendedfamily #leebenson #modeling #leadershipdevelopment
Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it requires morality.Patrick Ryan is a chartered director, KYC Net founder, and author of The Moral Market. He spent decades watching executives justify corner-cutting as "following the rules."In this episode, he shares why modern capitalism abandoned Adam Smith's moral foundation. And how the impartial spectator fixes it.Go listen to the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersGo watch the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #moralcapitalism #businessethics #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Jim Brown spent 30 years with CEOs. Here's what he Jim Brown spent 30 years with CEOs. Here's what he keeps seeing:Leaders got promoted because they were great at doing. Now they're stuck trying to do everything.You can't scale yourself. You scale by equipping others.The shift from doer to leader isn't about working harder. It's about working differently.Listen to Jim Brown on episode 517. https://bit.ly/TLP-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipmindset #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipaccountability #organizationalhealth #executiveleadership #theleadershippodcast #ceoinsights #westudyleaders
You've been thinking about bravery all wrong. It's You've been thinking about bravery all wrong. It's not a trait you're born with. It's a skill you build. Jill Schulman is a Marine Corps veteran, keynote speaker, and bravery scientist with a master's in positive psychology from UPenn. This episode breaks down the myths holding you back, the science of the comfort trap, and the exact three-stage framework to push your team toward extraordinary performance. Discover what builds real courage. https://bit.ly/TLP-518?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-518?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#bravery #leadershipdevelopment #personalgrowth #stoicism #positivepsychology #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #fearless #coachinglife #leadershiplessons
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