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The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

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

TLP469: A Leadership Pyramid Model with Ray Palumbo

July 23, 2025

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Retired U.S. Army three-star General Ray Palumbo is co-founder and senior partner of Venturi Solutions, having served 34 years leading conventional and special operations forces during peacetime and combat. A former 160th Squadron pilot and West Point graduate, he now serves on multiple boards and is passionate about supporting injured military veterans and Gold Star…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Afghanistan, Business Strategy, command responsibility, corporate leadership, Darley sponsor, duty honor country, generalship vs leadership, helicopter pilot, joint operations, leadership development, Leadership Podcast, leadership pyramid, mentorship, Military Leadership, military to civilian transition, military values, national security, Organizational Culture, political discourse, Ray Palumbo, scraps of time, special operations, Team Building, three star general, values-based leadership, Venturi Solutions, Veteran Transition, West Point

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

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She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable. She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable.Kim Svoboda is founder of Aspiration Catalyst, author of Bold Leadership, 20+ years leading sales orgs before walking away from it all.This week: what happens when you finally measure your life against your own values, and it doesn't add up.Listen to the full episode now. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #boldleadership #executiveburnout #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #employeeengagement #intentionalleadership #careertransition
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
Every high performer has been told some version of Every high performer has been told some version of the same lie.Push harder. Stay longer. Sleep when you're dead.Until they can't.What actually separates leaders who last is not toughness. It is the ability to recover before the tank hits empty.Full conversation withKaren Doll on The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-514?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #resilience #burnout #leadershipdevelopment #mentalhealth #psychologicalfitness #podcast
Karen Doll helps executives rebuild their psycholo Karen Doll helps executives rebuild their psychological fitness for a living. And for years she was quietly running herself into the ground.The belief buried so deep she did not know it was there.Self care is selfish.What finally broke it was not a book or a breakthrough. It was looking at her daughters and deciding she did not want to pass that on.Familiarity is one of the hardest things to walk away from.Full conversation with Karen on The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-514?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #burnout #selfcare #leadershipdevelopment #mentalhealth #psychologicalfitness #podcast #womenleaders
When you are stuck in your head the worst thing yo When you are stuck in your head the worst thing you can do is think harder.Karen Doll calls it a bottom-up strategy. Stop analyzing. Get up. Move.The body is not separate from the mind. And sometimes the fastest way out of a spiral is not another meeting or another framework.It is a walk.Full conversation on The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-514?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #mentalhealth #psychologicalfitness #podcast #leadershipdevelopment #mindset #burnout #executivecoaching #selfreliantleadership
Kevin Rice sold his company for nine figures. The Kevin Rice sold his company for nine figures.The deal closed. The wire hit. And he felt almost nothing.Not because the work was not real. It was. But he had been in robot mode for years. Performing at the highest level while suppressing every emotion just to keep functioning.When the victory arrived, there was nothing left to feel it with.He had been so focused on passion that he lost sight of purpose entirely.The rest of Kevin's story is the part most people never talk about. Go listen. https://bit.ly/TLP-512?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #entrepreneur #purpose #theleadershippodcast #fulfillment #CEOmindset #personalgrowth #worklifebalance #executiveleadership
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
They have interviewed four-star generals, Fortune They have interviewed four-star generals, Fortune 500 CEOs, and Olympic athletes. And after all of it, Jan keeps coming back to the same thing. The leaders who left the biggest mark on him were not the ones with the most impressive titles or the most polished answers. They were the ones who walked in curious about Jim and Jan. The ones who asked questions instead of just answering them. Be interested. Care about people. Be nice. It really is that simple and that rare. Clear 40 minutes and give this one your full attention. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-511?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #podcast #selfreliantleadership #leadershipdevelopment #executivecoaching #leadyourself
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
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
Karen Doll has assessed hundreds of executives. An Karen Doll has assessed hundreds of executives. And the same two patterns keep ending careers early.Not lack of skill. Not lack of drive.Defensiveness. And a victim mindset.The first one she will not even give feedback on directly. Because the moment you tell someone they are defensive they prove your point.These are not just hiring red flags. They show up in how people lead every single day.Full episode with Karen is up now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-514?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #executivecoaching #accountability #podcast #mentalhealth #psychologicalfitness
Most leaders say they prioritize people. David Gra Most leaders say they prioritize people. David Gray actually does it—and it's made all the difference.David Gray, CEO of Fed Up Foods, has doubled his team, scaled to become the largest functional beverage supplier to major retailers, and navigated Hurricane Helene without compromising his mission.In this episode, he shares the four-point crisis playbook he used when infrastructure failed, why connection must come before accountability, and what he learned about empathetic leadership.Listen now. https://bit.ly/TLP-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it here https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipdevelopment #crisisleadership #valuesdriven #empathyatwork #culturebuilding #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #missiondriven #davidgray #fedupfoods
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
Over the last decade on The Leadership Podcast, Ji Over the last decade on The Leadership Podcast, Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford have spoken with CEOs, military leaders, entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, elite performers, and executives operating at the highest levels of responsibility.Across those conversations, several themes surfaced repeatedly:• Leaders aren't born. Leaders are learners.• Success always involves sacrifice.• Style without substance eventually gets exposed.• Adaptability matters as much as efficiency.• Great leadership begins with genuine interest in other people.One of the most striking observations across 500 plus episodes is that many of the leaders they respected were remarkably humble, reflective, and open about their mistakes. Not perfect, but intentional about growth.In Episode 511 of The Leadership Podcast, Jim and Jan reflect on what 500 conversations taught them about leadership, success, failure, relationships, and human behavior.Link to the full episode - https://bit.ly/TLP-511?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersLink to the YouTube episode - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-511?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipPodcast #BusinessLeadership #PersonalGrowth
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
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 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
Purpose is one of the most talked about topics in Purpose is one of the most talked about topics in leadership right now and also one of the most misunderstood. Maria Brinck makes a distinction that reframes the whole conversation. She is not talking about finding purpose. She is talking about building it. And the difference between those two things changes everything about how you lead and how you live. Episode 510 of The Leadership Podcast is out now. This is one worth clearing your schedule for. https://bit.ly/TLP-510?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Purpose #Leadership #TheLeadershipPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #Podcast
Most leaders think tension is toxic. Jim Brown say Most leaders think tension is toxic.Jim Brown says they're wrong.Tension is normal. Predictable. Necessary.The problem isn't that your team disagrees. It's that they don't know what you're aiming for.When people lack clarity around shared goals, disagreements turn into arguments. Someone stomps out. Trust breaks.But when everyone knows what you're actually trying to build together? That same tension becomes energy. Ideas get challenged. Better decisions emerge.Productive tension is anchored in clarity, not comfort.Hear the full conversation on episode 517. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#productiveconflict #leadershipteams #organizationalhealth #teamdynamics #leadershipdevelopment #conflictresolution #theleadershippodcast #jimbrownorghealth
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
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