The Quiet Power of the Empathetic Leader...

Team Simon here! As we take a short hiatus, A Bit of Optimism will return with brand-new episodes on March 24, 2026. Until then, we’re revisiting some of the conversations you loved and we still think about long after the microphones turned off. This week, we’re rewinding to Simo ... Show More

Scott Galloway and I don’t always see the world the same way, but our friendly debates almost always lead us back to common ground. It’s probably why we enjoy talking to each other as much as we do. If you haven’t heard my friend Scott’s name before, he’s known for being brillian ... Show More

It’s often true that the most challenging conversations are often the ones most worth having. Conversations that bring up strong feelings, different experiences, and questions without easy answers. Policing, and how we can make it better, is one of those conversations.San Leandro ... Show More

<p>In this episode, our host Ash Bhardwaj speaks with CSgt Anwar Pitters, an experienced British Army leader whose career has been defined by his dedication to developing soldiers and maintaining the highest standards of leadership. With a wealth of operational experience and a p ... Show More

A trigger warning- this podcast discusses combat operations in detail, talks about injury, death and the psychological impact of combat, you may want to skip this episode if this will affect you. In this episode, our Host Ash Bhardwaj, speaks with WO1 Aidan O’Brien, Regimental Se ... Show More

Leadership can be a lonely business. They say you should be one with, not one OF the team. Leaders have so much pressure on them and it can be so difficult to navigate the journey on your own, especially as a new leader. I know, I have the battle scars to prove it. I spent the be ... Show More

Shandy Welch: Leadership Coach Shandy Welch is an executive leadership coach. Her coaching focus is around humanizing leadership and re-engaging individuals and teams to inspire change and innovation. She is also a Coaching for Leaders Fellow. Most leaders find themselves — at le ... Show More

What does it mean to be a truly incredible leader? Unfortunately, just because someone holds a position of leadership, doesn’t mean they should. Often times that leader has found themselves there because the leaders that put them there do not understand what actually makes a good ... Show More

For Robin Hills, emotional intelligence is the human aspect of leadership. He joins us to talk about how leaders can improve the emotional intelligence of their team without being too personal. He also breaks down several concepts, both familiar and unfamiliar. He tells us that o ... Show More

Leif Babin is a decorated former Navy SEAL officer who served for 13 years, including 9 in the SEAL Teams. He is a recipient of the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart for his service, which included leading major combat operations in the Battle of Ramadi as a SEAL ... Show More

Unlock the Secrets of Leadership Mastery with Ed Mylett and David Novak! Leadership isn't just a role; it's a journey of constant learning and adaptation. This week, I'm excited to host David Novak, the legendary co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, on a deep dive into the d ... Show More

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."Often leader candidates don’t receive proper people-centered leader training? You can learn to be a leader in a classroom, but you can’t become a leader in the classroom. There ... Show More

<p><strong>On this episode of Speaking to Influence, David Marquet shares how words impact team performance and why leadership should not be viewed as a product to sell. Listen in as Laura and David discuss David&rsquo;s experience as a Captain of a submarine and how it taught hi ... Show More