Podcast2025-02-12T08:59:16-05:00

THE LEARNING LEADER SHOW

Welcome to The Learning Leader Show. My mission is to have deep conversations with the world’s most thoughtful leaders and share their useful life stories and leadership wisdom. I speak with CEOs, Special Forces Operators, Entrepreneurs, Best-Selling Authors, Professional Athletes, and more. Our conversations are open dialogs where my guests share their most valuable experiences and learnings for the benefit of The Learning Leader Show audience. You will find links to each episode and the corresponding show notes at the bottom of this page.

The Learning Leader Show has been listened to by millions of people and was chosen by Apple Podcasts as an “all-time best-seller” in 2020. Forbes called it, “the most dynamic leadership podcast out there.” Inc Magazine said, “It’s one of the five podcasts to make you a smarter leader.”

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Episode List & Show Notes

All episodes are listed below, newest first. Each episode link has show notes with major topics discussed and links to books & other resources mentioned in the episode.

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Episode #673: Daniel Coyle – Opening Yellow Doors, Mastering Your Craft, World-Class Storytelling Techniques, Great Questions to Ask, Building Your Community, The Power of Curiosity, and How to Flourish in Life

Dan Coyle is a New York Times bestselling author who's spent the last two decades studying what makes great teams great. He wrote The Talent Code, The Culture Code, and now Flourish—books that have shaped how millions of people think about skill development, team culture, and meaningful connection. He works with the [...]

Episode #672: Brad Stulberg – The Neuroscience of Curiosity, Process vs. Outcome Goals, The Power of Consistency, Playing Like The Beatles, Focusing on Your WHO, and The Way of Excellence

Brad Stulberg is a bestselling author and leading expert on sustainable performance and well-being. He's written for The New York Times, Outside Magazine, and The Atlantic, and his previous books include Peak Performance and The Practice of Groundedness. His latest book, The Way of Excellence, is great. Brad's writing combines cutting-edge science, [...]

Episode #671: Jimmy Wales (Founder of Wikipedia) – To Get Trust Give Trust, Why Nupedia Failed, Assuming Good Faith, Walking the Walk, Transparency vs. Sharing Everything, Curiosity as the Ultimate Love Language, and Attracting Trustworthy People

Jimmy Wales is the founder of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. After his daughter Kira's birth faced medical challenges and he couldn't find reliable information online, Jimmy launched Wikipedia in January 2001. In this conversation, Jimmy shares why extending trust before it's earned creates better outcomes, how to deal [...]

Episode #670: Mike Deegan – Building a Championship Culture, Mudita (Joy for Others), Systems Thinking, Curiosity = Love, Getting Out of a Slump, and The DNA of Great Teams

Mike Deegan just led Denison University Baseball to their first College World Series appearance in program history. He's been named Coach of the Year in back-to-back years and is the all-time winningest coach in school history. In this conversation, Mike shares how he uses Mudita to build culture, how to help people [...]

Episode #669: Oz Pearlman (Oz The Mentalist) – Overcoming Rejection, Getting the Reps, Always Following Up, Living with Gratitude, America’s Got Talent, The Curiosity of Steven Spielberg, and Making Others Feel Seen

Oz Pearlman is the greatest mentalist in the world. After leaving Wall Street to pursue his craft full-time, he's performed for Steven Spielberg's family, for Nobel laureates, and Fortune 500 CEOs. He ran a 2:23 marathon and holds the record for most laps around Central Park in a single day. With five [...]

Episode #668: Brian Kelly (The Points Guy) – Building a Media Empire, Crafting a Big Vision, Relentless Leaders, Hiring Well, Scaling Up, & How To Win at Travel

Brian Kelly is the founder of The Points Guy, which he built from a side hustle blog into a travel media empire that he sold for $28 million. At 42, he's now an angel investor in 15+ companies, including Bilt (valued at $11 billion). In this conversation, he shares lessons on manifestation, [...]

Episode #667: Nick Gray – How to Host World-Class Events, Why Leaders Need a Personal Website, Writing Like You Talk, Mastering Introductions, the Viral Tokyo Trip, & Adding Value Before Taking It

Nick Gray is the author of The Two-Hour Cocktail Party and founder of Museum Hack. He's mastered the art of hosting events that strengthen networks and build genuine connections. In this conversation, he shares practical systems for hosting gatherings, why every leader needs a personal website, and lessons learned from his viral [...]

Episode #666: Angie Hicks (Founder of Angie’s List) – The Power of Selling Door-to-Door, Executive Presence, Being Told She Was ‘Too Nice,’ and Her 2-Question Career Filter That Kept Her at One Company for 30 Years

Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angie’s List (now called Angi). She started the company at just 23, going door-to-door as a self-described introvert and non-salesperson, and turned it into a national platform trusted by millions. During our conversation, we discuss what it takes to lead with authenticity and build lasting impact. Angie shares [...]

Episode #665: Pat Lencioni – Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Fear-Based Success, Working Genius, Anticipating Objections, and The Hidden Cost of Proving Yourself

Patrick Lencioni is the founder of The Table Group and a bestselling author of 14 books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The 6 Types of Working Genius. Behind his achievements (valedictorian, straight A's, business success) were childhood wounds that drove him to prove himself. In this vulnerable conversation, he [...]

Episode #664: David Adelman – Campus Apartments CEO and 76ers Co-Owner on Losing a Big Bet, Bar Mitzvah Real Estate Deals, His Grandfather’s Holocaust Survival Story, and Building Philadelphia’s New Arena

David Adelman is the CEO of Campus Apartments, founder of Darco Capital, and co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers. During our conversation, we discussed how losing a basketball bet at age 11 changed his life, investing his bar mitzvah money in real estate, becoming CEO at 25, his grandfather's Holocaust survival story, and [...]

Episode #663: Priya Parker – The Art of Gathering with Purpose: Power, Preparation, Magical Questions, and the Psychology of Bringing People Together

Priya Parker is a master facilitator, conflict resolution expert, and author of the bestselling book The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters. Priya has spent decades facilitating difficult conversations in boardrooms, communities, and conflict zones. In this conversation, she reveals the mechanics of meaningful gathering and why most [...]

Episode #662: Nicholas Thompson – The Atlantic CEO on Growing Up With a “Precariously Insecure” Genius Father, Hiring Leaders with an Edge, How Running Builds Discipline, and Why Moving at an Uncomfortable Pace Built a Million-Subscriber Media Empire

Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic and former editor-in-chief of WIRED. He's the author of the best-selling book (and one of my favorites of the year), The Running Ground. Nick shares why great leaders must balance being decisive with staying open to being wrong, how to build teams that challenge [...]

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