• 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

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

TLP508: Your Scars Are Your Resume

April 22, 2026

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-508.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Matt Cavanaugh is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, PhD, former Army Athlete of the Year, and author of “Best Scar Wins: How You Can Be More Than You Were Before.” Leaders often treat failures, setbacks, and scars as liabilities to hide. Matt Cavanaugh argues the opposite — that the scars you’ve earned, physical and…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: ambition, army, army lieutenant colonel, best scar wins, emotional growth, failure, Growth Mindset, judgment, leadership, leadership development, Leadership Lessons, Leadership Podcast, leadership superpower, matt cavanaugh, Military Leadership, mission driven leadership, overcoming setbacks, Personal Growth, purpose driven, resilience, retired military, scars, self improvement, servant leadership, turning failure into success

TLP485: Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)

November 12, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-485.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Hal Elrod is the bestselling author of “The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM).” The book offers a practical morning routine that has transformed the lives of over 3 million people.   In this episode, Hal describes discovering the six practices that became the SAVERS method (Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise,…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: daily habits for success, habit stacking, hal elrod, how to change your life, life transformation, mindset transformation, miracle morning routine, morning motivation, morning ritual, morning routine, motivation podcast, motivation tips, personal development podcast, Personal Growth, positive habits, productivity habits, savers method, self improvement, success routine, the miracle morning

TLP482: The 100 Best Books for Work and Life

October 22, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-482.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Todd Sattersten brings over 20 years of experience in nonfiction book publishing, and is the author of “The 100 Best Books for Work and Life.” He’s also the publisher at Bard Press and has dedicated his career to helping leaders navigate the overwhelming world of business literature. In this episode, Todd reveals how he curated…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Atomic Habits, Badass, Bard Press, book publishing, business books, change, daily effort, Effective Executive, Good to Great, growth, habits, In Search of Excellence, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leaders, leadership, lifelong learning, mindset, neuroscience, Peak, Personal Growth, Professional Development, reading habits, Reboot, self help, stoicism, The Leadership Podcast, The One Thing, Todd Sattersten, Ultimate Question, work and life, Your Brain at Work

TLP474: Four Barriers that Stop Leaders with Anne Marie Anderson

August 27, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-474.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Anne Marie Anderson is a three-time Emmy winner with 36 years in sports television, including a decade as a producer at ESPN working with elite athletes and executives. She’s the author of “Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win” and has navigated multiple career pivots throughout her professional life.  In this episode, Anne Marie…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adventure travel, Anne Marie Anderson, athletic performance, audacious living, career transformation, coaching mindset, comfort zone expansion, courage building, cultivating audacity, decision making, elite performance, Emmy awards, ESPN, failure as learning, front row concept, Goal Setting, inner critic management, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, keynote speaking, leadership development, legacy thinking, media career, mentorship, motivation psychology, optimism, Overcoming Fear, parenting wisdom, Personal Growth, professional reinvention, rejection desensitization, resilience, risk taking, Self-Reliance, shape shifting leadership, sports broadcasting, Team Engagement, Vulnerability in Leadership, Work-life balance

TLPMM012: On Character with General Stanley McChrystal

June 18, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-MM012.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

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

TLP458: How to Build a Business that’s Smarter than You with Pippa Begg

April 30, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-458.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Pippa Begg, is the co-founder and CEO of Board Intelligence and co-author of “Collective Intelligence: How to Build a Business that’s Smarter than You.”  In this episode, Pippa discusses the mindset shifts required for leaders to let go of control and empower others, emphasizing the dangers of hubris and the importance of questioning one’s own…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, continuous learning, Decision-making, High-Performing Teams, leadership, mentorship, Personal Growth, resilience, setbacks, trust

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

March 26, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-453.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

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

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-451.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

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

TLP450: Finding Happiness and Harmony Wherever You Work with Kristel Bauer

March 5, 2025

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-450.mp3
Play in New WindowDownload

Kristel Bauer is a corporate wellness & performance expert, keynote speaker, TEDx speaker & the host of the Live Greatly podcast. She is the author of “Work-Life Tango: Finding Happiness, Harmony, and Peak Performance Wherever You Work.” Kristel shares a fresh perspective on work-life harmony, moving beyond outdated notions of balance. Using the metaphor of…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Employee Engagement, leadership development, mental health, mindfulness, Personal Growth, productivity, self-care, well-being, Work-life balance, workplace culture

  • 1
  • 2
  • ...Next Page
iTunes
Spotify
Audible
SoundCloud
iHeartRADIO

Instagram Feed

westudyleaders

#leadership #leadershiptraining #leader #westudyleaders

Here's a framework worth borrowing from David Crai Here's a framework worth borrowing from David Craig, former CEO of Refinitiv.Meeting overload isn't the actual problem. It's a symptom of unclear ownership.When it isn't obvious who owns a decision or a budget, people default to scheduling a meeting to sort it out. David solved this at Refinitiv by documenting exactly who owns what, a reference guide his team nicknamed the Blue Book.He also questioned a habit most companies never examine: why every meeting defaults to 60 minutes. His team ran 25-minute meetings instead, built around what the meeting actually needed.Two practical ideas any leader can apply this week.Full conversation is live now https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #davidcraig #meetingculture #businessefficiency #leadershippodcast #organizationalculture #executiveleadership #productivitytips
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
Not every vision deserves to be protected forever. Not every vision deserves to be protected forever.Good leadership requires the judgment to recognize when persistence has become attachment, and the willingness to change direction when the evidence says it is time.Sometimes the most important leadership decision is not pushing harder. It is thinking differently.#Leadership #LeadershipLessons #LeadershipDevelopment #DecisionMaking #VisionaryLeadership #TheLeadershipPodcast
Trust is not built during the difficult conversati Trust is not built during the difficult conversation.Carlos Gutierrez describes it as a "warehouse of trust" that leaders build over years by keeping commitments, delivering on what they say, and building relationships across the organization.That trust becomes especially important when leaders have to make decisions people may not agree with.Leadership is not about always being liked. It is about having earned enough trust that people can believe in your judgment, even when the decision is difficult.Listen to the full conversation with Carlos Gutierrez on The Leadership Podcast.#Leadership #LeadershipLessons #TrustInLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TheLeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveLeadership
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
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
Most leaders blame the market, the deal, or the te Most leaders blame the market, the deal, or the tech when things fall apart.David Craig says look closer. The system is usually the real problem.David is the former CEO of Refinitiv and author of the Blue Book on business transformation and growth, having led a 25,000-person company through the financial crisis, Brexit, and Covid.This episode breaks down how to spot complexity killing your organization before it's too late, and what real conviction looks like when leading people through change.New episode is live now. https://bit.ly/TLP-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershippodcast #theleadershippodcast #businesstransformation #executiveleadership #organizationalculture #changemanagement #ceointerview #leadershipdevelopment #davidcraig
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
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
Belonging is more than being part of a team or org Belonging is more than being part of a team or organization. It is the sense that people matter, that they are cared for, and that there is a place for them in the group.For leaders, creating that environment is part of the responsibility of leadership. It shapes how people connect, participate, and contribute.Listen to the full conversation on Tribalism, Belonging, and the Leader's Role. Link in the first comment.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #OrganizationalCulture #Belonging #TheLeadershipPodcast
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
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
It's easy to chase the next title. Harder to ask w It's easy to chase the next title. Harder to ask what you're actually building once you get there.Kim's closing message reframes leadership away from status — and toward legacy and impact.Dive into the full conversation now. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #leadershiplegacy #intentionalleadership #executivecoaching #leadershipmindset #leadershippodcast #whatmatters
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
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
Everyone hits hard seasons. Not everyone responds Everyone hits hard seasons. Not everyone responds to them the same way.Lee Benson has survived health crises, financial setbacks, and a rough start most people never recover from.His reframe: every setback either builds you or defines you. You choose which.Hear how Lee turned his hardest years into his biggest advantage. #resilience #leadership #leebenson #mindset #growth #familyleadership #executivecoaching #podcast
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
Patrick Ryan names the practice most leaders never Patrick Ryan names the practice most leaders never do. Before you decide. Before you send that email. Before you justify it to yourself. Take a step back. Ask: What would a knowledgeable, impartial observer think of this? That's the impartial spectator. It's not philosophy. It's a daily tool. One question. Applied consistently. It changes everything.Watch the full episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #ethics #decisionmaking #adamsmith #leadershippodcast #corporateethics #executiveleadership #virtuouscapitalism
Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan says that's backwards. Morality isn't friction. It's the lubricant that makes markets actually function. Without it, you don't have capitalism. You have extraction. This is what modern business gets fundamentally wrong—and how it shifts everything about how you lead.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
A positive mindset isn't simply about feeling good A positive mindset isn't simply about feeling good.@shawnachor's research explores what happens when the brain approaches challenges from a more positive state. The result can extend beyond how we feel, influencing how we perform, solve problems, and respond to the situations in front of us.That makes positivity more than an attitude. It becomes a way of changing how we approach life and work.Learn how the brain's state can influence the outcomes we create.#Leadership #PositivePsychology #LeadershipDevelopment #Mindset #ShawnAchor #LeadershipPodcast
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • 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
  • TLP528: The Beliefs That Shape Success with Shawn Achor

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