Read to Lead Podcast

Our streak of highlighting female authors in 2025 continues with this month's feature of Jenny Wood. She's a former Googler, turned full-time author and speaker (turns out she's amazing at both). In her new book, Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get it, she poses the question: What if the traits you need […] The post How to Go After What You Want and Get It with Jenny Wood – Episode 564 (M04) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Our third featured author of 2025 is stress and resilience expert, Paula Davis. She's the founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute, and she's spent her career helping people at every level—from CEOs to soldiers—to make work better. Her latest book, Lead Well: 5 Mindsets to Engage, Retain, and Inspire Your Team, delivers actionable […] The post A Holistic, Research-Backed Framework to Future-Proof Your Leadership with Paula Davis – Episode 563 (M03) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

It's time to unveil our second (of twelve) books we're featuring in 2025. That's right. In case you're late to the party, Read to Lead has moved from a weekly show to a monthly show. That means only a dozen books will get the spotlight this year. The next book in our line-up is Mindmasters: […] The post The Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior – Episode 562 (M02) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

This episode marks the launch of our new release schedule. Just 12 books are being featured this year, and the first of those 12 comes from an author who has made three previous appearances on the show. Her name is Dr. Margie Warrell. She isn't just a bestselling author—she's a globally respected speaker, coach, and […] The post Closing the Courage Gap with Margie Warrell – Episode 561 (M01) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Hey there, and welcome to another episode of Read to Lead! I'm Jeff, your host, and I am so glad you're here. Today's episode is going to be a little different—no special guests, just me, talking about some pretty major changes coming to the podcast in 2025. For the last eleven years we've had a […] The post Special Announcement: Changes to Read to Lead in 2025 first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

In this two part, year-ending series, I unpack the eleven book that should be a part of every leader's library. If there are any books on this list you haven't yet made time for, I suggest you carve out time in 2025 for each of them. In last week's episode, I covered books #11 through […] The post 560: Game-Changing Reads: 11 Books Every Leader Needs – Part 2 first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

In this two part, year-ending series, I unpack the eleven book that should be a part of every leader's library. If there are any books on this list you haven't yet made time for, I suggest you carve out time in 2025 for each of them. In that there are 11 books on the list, […] The post 559: Game-Changing Reads: 11 Books Every Leader Needs – Part 1 first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Craig Lemasters shares techniques he has used in a lifetime of helping Fortune 500 companies tackle the challenge of getting unstuck. The post 558: The 8 Step Blueprint To Building A Profitable Personal Brand Business with Mike Kim (E) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Business is hard, but the challenges that make business hard are more than just obstacles - they provide the foundation for building and strengthening a culture that attracts the best people to do the best work. The post 557: The Quest to Build a Culture That Rocks with Arnie Malham (an Encore Presentation of Episode 367) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Every single year, an estimated 1 billion people switch jobs worldwide. A lucky few stumble into the role of their dreams, but hundreds of millions are disappointed. What if, when looking for a job, you could make more informed choices to better select the opportunity you seize? What if the power to move along your […] The post 556: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career with Michael B. Horn and Bob Moesta first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

The essential guide to standing up for your values at work. Protect your integrity by committing to The Conscience Code. The post 555: Lead with Your Values to Advance Your Career with the Wharton School's G. Richard Shell (an Encore Presentation of Episode 381) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

How can we break out of the endless cycle of feeling rushed, overwhelmed, and perennially behind to create the kind of meaningful lives we all seek? We need to start playing The Long Game. The post 554: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short Term World with Dorie Clark (an Encore Presentation of Episode 389) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

I've been waiting for over a year to bring you today's conversation and episode. That's right. It was in the fall of last year that I got word on X about a new book coming out, all about the history of The Notebook. It indeed came out last fall…but only in the UK. It wasn't […] The post 553: The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper with Roland Allen first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

You know when you go outside on a pleasant day and there's that perfect breeze in combination with just the right amount of warmth from the sun on your face? That's pretty much the same feeling you'll get from hanging out with my guest today. Delightful, effervescent, fun, and cool (yes, cool) are all words […] The post 552: Escape the 9-5, Create a Life You Love, and Still Pay the Bills with Marianne Cantwell (an Encore Presentation of Episode 286) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Today, we're tackling a topic that's often shrouded in mystery and perceived as exclusive to the corporate elite or military strategists: strategy. But as my guest argues, strategy is for everyone who desires to create positive change in the world. Seth Godin's latest book, This Is Strategy, is a thought-provoking manifesto that breaks down this […] The post 550: This Is Strategy with Seth Godin first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

In this episode of Read to Lead, I dive deep into the fascinating world of creativity and innovation. Challenging common myths about creativity being an innate gift reserved for a select few, this episode empowers listeners with scientific insights and practical strategies to unlock their creative potential. For more on this topic, and for a […] The post 549: Unlocking Creativity: The Science of Brainstorming and Generating New Ideas first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

I find that I'm reading more and more books on the topic of AI these days. Why? Well, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that if you don't want to be left behind, you need embrace the world of AI and embrace it ASAP. Today, my guest's book is designed to help you do […] The post 548: Standing Out in the Age of AI with Pascal Bornet first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

This, for me personally, is one of the most fun conversations I've had with a guest. I so identify with the power of one's voice to influence and impact. Arthur Samuel Joseph has an incredible background training world-class athletes, actors, and politicians in the discipline of Empowerment Through Voice. I'm fascinated by his work. It was one […] The post 547: 7 Minutes a Day to Communication Mastery with Arthur Joseph (an Encore Presentation of Episode 253) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

This month, inside the Read to Lead Community online, our theme is FEAR. How to act despite fear, to be even more specific. The fears we dive into today include failure, rejection, success (yes, that's a fear too), inadequacy (aka imposter syndrome), change, judgment or criticism, discomfort or difficulty, and disappointing others. I also recommend […] The post 546: Overcoming the 8 Fears Holding You Back From Success first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

I am delighted to welcome Wayne Turmel to the show. A second edition of the book The Long-Distance Leader, co-written with Kevin Eikenberry, has been released, updated for a post-pandemic world. This new version also has a new title. It's The Long-Distance Leader: Revised Rules for Remarkable Remote and Hybrid Leadership. When The Long-Distance Leader was first […] The post 545: The Long-Distance Leader Second Edition with Wayne Turmel first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

It was more than a dozen years ago when a colleague of mine at the time, Teresa White, first introduced me to the work of today's guest. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I hadn't already been studying his work. You might say Teresa's introduction makes this interview today possible. I'm talking about Tom Rath, author […] The post 544: Discover How You Contribute to the World with Tom Rath (an Encore Presentation of Episode 304) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Today's guest, you might say, takes what he does very seriously. Another way to say it might be that he's a little extreme. However, no one can deny that he is very good at what he does. That's why I love talking to him so much. His name is Tim Pollard and his new book […] The post 543: Exceptional Presentation Delivery with Tim Pollard (an Encore Presentation of Episode 294) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

With the right mindset and insight, anyone can become a millionaire. The post 542: Future-Proofing You with Jay Samit (an Encore Presentation of Episode 369) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Soundtracks, the new book from Jon Acuff, offers a proven plan to change overthinking from a super problem into a superpower. The post 541: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking with Jon Acuff (an Encore Presentation of Episode 365) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Welcome back to the podcast! Today, we're diving into a topic that's changing the way we live and work—artificial intelligence. Whether you're in tech, education, or the creative arts, AI tools have transformed how we approach tasks and solve problems. They offer efficiencies and enhancements that were unthinkable just a few years ago. In this […] The post 540: The 4 AI Tools I Use Everyday first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Have you ever found yourself stuck with a book that just doesn't seem to be going anywhere? You pick it up, hoping to power through, but instead, it feels like you're wading through molasses. We've all been there, and it can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you have a pile of unread books waiting for […] The post 539: Why You Need to Read Multiple Books at the Same Time first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Today marks a first ever and a second ever. Let's take the second, first. Today's episode marks only the second time in the history of Read to Lead where the guest is not promoting a book but is, rather, here simply because of their expertise in a specific area. And the “first” is that it's […] The post 538: Efficiency Unleashed: Harnessing AI in the Workplace with Jeff Frownfelter first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Mastery is considered by some to be an illusive concept. I hope to dispel that rumor once and for all with this short, concise, and easy-to-follow episode, all about mastery and self-improvement (our theme this month inside the Read to Lead Community). To join us for future AMAs and Guest Expert sessions, or to peruse […] The post 537: The Mastery Blueprint: 3 Steps to Becoming the Best You first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Welcome, welcome, welcome! You're listening to the Read to Lead Podcast, and I'm your host, Jeff Brown. Today is an incredibly special day because we're celebrating 11 years of this podcast!

Adele Gambardella, a celebrated PR strategist and crisis management consultant, has worked with major clients like Facebook and President Joe Biden, and has been honored as a “Woman Who Means Business” by the Washington Business Journal. Chip Massey, a former FBI hostage negotiator, brings his expertise from 20+ years in law enforcement to the business […] The post 535: Negotiating Tips From a Former FBI Negotiator and a TOP DC Publicist first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Wouldn't you love to sit down and have a chat with the person who was Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist? I know I would. Wait?! That just happens to describe my guest today. His name is Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt. And his new book is called What's Next Is Now: How to Live Future Ready. […] The post 534: How to Live Future Ready with Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

I'm a sucker for a well-researched book, especially when that book is on the topic of learning effectively. My guest today wrote a book you may have heard of. It's the Wall Street Journal bestseller called Ultralearning. It's a book that I often recommend to students of my Note-Making Mastery course. His name is Scott […] The post 533: How to Get Better at Anything with Scott H. Young first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

There's productivity. There's time management. And then there's managing priorities. We often lump managing priorities in with these other areas but, in reality, effectively managing priorities is a discipline all to itself and one that, frankly, is rarely—if ever—approached holistically. Until now. My guest this week is Harry Max, author of Managing Priorities: How to […] The post 532: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions with Harry Max first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

In this 20th anniversary edition of 48 Days to the Work (and Life) You Love, you will find everything you need to move you toward finding - or creating - work you love in just 48 days. The post 531: 48 Days to the Work (and Life) You Love with Dan Miller (an Encore Presentation of Episode 338) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Managing priorities is more than just making a to-do list. It's about understanding what truly matters, making strategic decisions, and effectively allocating your time and resources. So, let's dive right in! 1: Understanding Priorities First things first, what exactly are priorities? Priorities are tasks or activities that are more important than others and need your immediate attention. They're […] The post 530: Understanding What Truly Matters, Making Strategic Decisions, and Effectively Allocating Your Time and Resources first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Keeping our skills in sync with fast-changing markets is the biggest challenge of our time So says my guest today, Kelly Palmer, and her co-author David Blake. Kelly and David have written a brand new book called The Expertise Economy: How the Smartest Companies Use Learning to Engage, Compete and Succeed. They say that, in […] The post 529: How the Smartest Companies Use Learning to Engage, Compete and Succeed with Kelly Palmer (an Encore Presentation of Episode 234) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

My guest today asserts that we all want great ideas, but few of us actually understand how great ideas are born. Innovation, he says, is not an event, a workshop, a sprint, or a hackathon. It's a result of mastering ideaflow, a practice that elevates everything else you do. His name is Jeremy Utley, and […] The post 528: The Only Business Metric That Matters is Ideaflow with Jeremy Utley (an Encore Presentation of Episode 446) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

I love books on the topic of productivity. It's a topic about which plenty of books have written. Some might argue we don't need any more books on productivity. That is not the case for the latest productivity book I read. It's now at the top of the list of best all-time productivity books in […] The post 527: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive with Jordan Raynor (an Encore Presentation of Episode 422) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Much of the conversation around AI is overblown with regard to its capabilities. What's the truth about AI? Steve Shwartz has the answer. The post 526: The Truth About AI and the Future of Humanity with Steve Shwartz (an Encore Presentation of Episode 384) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

If there is a topic that has captured my attention more in the last three to four years, I don't know what it is. I'm talking about the art of note-taking or, as I like to call it, note-making. It's a phrase that makes a subtle distinction between notes we capture for learning (note-taking), and […] The post 525: Extending Your Mind Through Connected Notes with Jorge Arango first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

What an awesome and incredibly important discussion I have for you today! It's my long-awaited sit-down with none other than Marcus Buckingham. I first got the chance to hear Marcus speak fifteen, or maybe, twenty years ago at the annual Global Leadership Summit in Chicago. Marcus was captivating AND inspiring that day. His new book […] The post 524: How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do It for the Rest of Your Life with Marcus Buckingham (an Encore Presentation of Episode 417) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Today, I'm featuring one of the 9 books I'm most looking forward to in 2024. This marks the fourth author (or authors, in this case) of the nine I've manage to showcase so far. Who knows, maybe I'll eventually interview all nine! Today's guests are the coauthors of the book MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact. […] The post 523: Small Actions, Big Impact with Drs. Adaira Landry and Resa Lewiss first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Today's episode is a milestone episode in so many ways. It's episode 400, of course, but several other “yours, mine, and ours” type milestones are also at play. To hear about each one of them, click the play button below. Today's guest, Liz Wiseman, has been one of my favorite leadership authors for the better […] The post 522: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact with Liz Wiseman (an Encore Presentation of Episode 400) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

While technically today's featured book was released in 2019 (December 31 to be exact), I've dubbed it my favorite book of 2020! Upon reading it, I immediately wanted to share it and attempt to teach its concepts to others. That, to me, is the mark of a great book. What is this amazing book? Well, […] The post 521: The Future of Behavior Design with Dr. BJ Fogg (an Encore Presentation of Episode 324) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

What an honor it is to be asked to participate in the launch of the 30th Anniversary Edition of the #1 business book of the 20th century! And what a treat it is to talk to the son and namesake of the author himself, Mr. Stephen M. R. Covey. I can honestly say, if the […] The post 520: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – 30th Anniversary Edition (an Encore Presentation of Episode 319) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

A conversation with Seth Godin about his new book (his 20th) called The Practice and what goes into shipping creative work. (23 minutes) The post 519: The Practice and Shipping Creative Work with Seth Godin (an Encore Presentation of Episode 344) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

If there's a topic not talked about all that much, it's the topic of silence. The kind that says why speak up if you know that it won't be received well and often makes things worse? Today's guest, Elaine Lin Hering, explores how we've learned to be silent, how we've benefited from silence, how we've […] The post 518: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully with Elaine Lin Hering first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

As I say in today's podcast, I buy this author's books before I even know what they're about. There are only a few of these kinds of authors on my list, but Michael Hyatt is one of them. His latest effort is a book called The Vision Driven Leader: 10 Question to Focus Your Efforts, Energize Your […] The post 517: The Vision-Driven Leader with Michael Hyatt (an Encore Presentation of Episode 312) first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

One of my favorite people to watch over the years has been Scott Miller. He interviews tons of wonderful authors for his podcasts and other projects. I learn something new every time I watch him work. I'm thrilled to be able to welcome him back for the second time to Read to Lead. The first […] The post 516: Take Your Career From Accidental to Intentional with Scott Jeffrey Miller first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

Inside my online community, ReadtoLead+ members get access to a wide range of personal and professional development resources, including articles I publish not available anywhere else. One of those articles I published just yesterday and I've decided to share it here in audio form to help give you a sense of the kind of content […] The post 515: The Top 5 Traits of a Servant Leader first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.

For the second week in a row, I'm delighted to welcome a guest whose book made my list of the 9 books I'm most looking forward to this year. That guest is the University of Georgia's Malissa Clark. She's written a new book, released just last week, called Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture […] The post How to Fix the Always-On Culture of Business with Malissa Clark first appeared on Read to Lead Podcast.