Be Worth* Following

Hosted by Tim Spiker

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Jun 2026

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About the show

What makes a leader worth* following? That little asterisk next to "worth" is the answer. It references the hidden truth that lives at the very core of effective (and ineffective) leadership. The Be Worth* Following Podcast explores the surprising truth of what actually makes someone worth following and how it plays out in the lives of real leaders. Join host Tim Spiker, author of The Only Leaders Worth* Following, as he talks to leaders, thinkers, and researchers about what actually drives effective leadership across the globe and over time.

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60 recent

April 29, 2026Episode 8039 min

Owning the Rhythms That Shape Your Leadership with Sara Turner

Today on the Be Worth* Following podcast, we are joined by Sara Turner. She's an executive coach, facilitator, and consultant whose work centers on the inner life of leaders and how it shapes everyday successes and failures. She is both a leader and a person of depth, something we've experienced firsthand, because for over four years, she worked with The Aperio, most recently serving as our Director of Content and Experience. In this episode, you'll hear about the often underutilized—and uniquely powerful—ability leaders have to draw others toward their natural capabilities and maximum potential. You'll learn about a specific group of leaders Turner is especially passionate about inspiring. And you'll discover the single word Turner believes is foundational for sustaining effort over time. Join us for this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast with our friend and former colleague, Sara Turner.

March 18, 2026Episode 791 hr 1 min

No Better Than the People Around You with Bruce Weber

It's March on the Be Worth* Following podcast and that means one thing: leadership lessons from the world of college basketball. In this episode, we visit with former Division I head coach and current Big Ten Network analyst Bruce Weber. With more than four decades in coaching, nearly 500 wins as a Division I head coach, and a run to the 2005 National Championship game, Coach Weber shares his insights on the essentials of effective leadership. And don't worry if you're not a hoops fan because the wisdom Coach Weber shares applies just as much to boardrooms and living rooms as it does locker rooms. With practical examples and firsthand stories about greats such as Gene Keady, Phil Jackson, and Michael Jordan, you won't want to miss this episode.

February 11, 2026Episode 7930 min

More Than Just Getting Things Done with Stephen Shedletzky

What if leadership is about more than just getting things done? Stephen "Shed" Shedletzky joins us on this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast to talk about it. Along the way, Shed shares the three characteristics he sees present in every successful leader. He also digs into his perspective on leadership success over the long-term, the power of listening, and the compelling story connected to his grandfather and World War II that inspires his work today. Additional resources can be found HERE.

December 5, 2025Episode 7748 min

Nobody is Coming to Save You with Scott Mann

Retired Lieutenant Colonel and former Green Beret Scott Mann spent his career building trust in places where trust was scarce. Today he's an author, playwright, and actor who brings all of his humanity to help us find—and lead with—ours. In this episode, you'll hear the gut-wrenching story that inspired Mann's latest book, Nobody is Coming to Save You. You'll also get a sneak peek into the upcoming premiere of his play, 11 Days: The Story of Operation Pineapple Express. Join us for this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast as Scott Mann guides us through leadership lessons from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the battlefields within our own minds and hearts. Click HERE to explore additional episode details, including show notes, time-stamped chapters, and resources to help you dive deeper into our conversation.

November 12, 2025Episode 7633 min

Lead with (un)Common Sense with David Mead

We all know the leaders we love to follow—and the ones we simply have to. What's the difference? In this conversation, we sit down with speaker and author David Mead to dig into the human qualities that set great leaders apart. David introduces the simple yet transformative framework at the heart of his new book, Lead with (un)Common Sense, offering practical ways to lead with honesty, humility, and humanity every day. This episode is an invitation to lead from who you are, not just what you do. Click here to visit our website page for David Mead's episode. There you'll find show notes, time-stamped chapters, and additional resources to help you explore the ideas from our conversation more deeply. You can also learn more about David's work, writing, and leadership insights featured in his upcoming book, Lead with (un)Common Sense, releasing soon.

October 24, 2025Episode 751 hr 3 min

Seeing Leadership as a Gift with Mike Matheny

Mike Matheny — Seeing Leadership as a Gift He caught thousands of pitches over 13 Major League seasons and went on to manage both the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals. Today, Mike Matheny is an author and executive coach helping leaders thrive in business. In this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, Mike and host Tim Spiker talk about the connection between leadership in the clubhouse, in the boardroom, and in life. 🎧 Listen now to hear insights from a leader who knows what it means to build trust, handle pressure, and lead with perspective. Click here for additonal resources on our website page.

September 24, 2025Episode 7452 min

A Lifetime of Cultivating Talent with Colonel Art Athens

Colonel Art Athens joins the Be Worth* Following podcast to share his insights on all things leadership, especially the cultivation of talent. And to be sure, he's sharing with us from a wealth of experience. Over the course of more than 30 years in the Marine Corps, Colonel Athens held command and staff assignments across all four Marine Aircraft Wings. He also served as an instructor and Academic Dean for the Marine Corps' equivalent to the Navy's "Top Gun" school. Following his military career, he became the Naval Academy's first Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership and later served for over a decade as the Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. He also served as Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and was selected as a White House Fellow under President Ronald Reagan. In this episode, you'll discover why Colonel Athens talks about Dixie cups and crystal glasses in relation to leading well. You'll see how attending a rainy high school soccer game significantly shifted one of his relationships up the chain of command. And you'll hear why benches and bullpens are important concepts in how we think about developing those we lead. Notable links: Guest: Colonel Art Athens: https://www.linkedin.com/in/art-athens-b210559/ Host: Tim Spiker: https://www.theaperio.com/tim-spiker The Only Leaders Worth* Following video series on Right Now Media: https://www.theaperio.com/right-now-media-series The Only Leaders Worth* Following book https://tinyurl.com/TOLWFbook The Only Leaders Worth Following book Discussion Guide: https://www.theaperio.com/discussion-guide-the-only-leaders-worth-following The Aperio: https://www.theaperio.com/

March 27, 2025Episode 7331 min

To Tell You the Truth with Matt Painter

Every year in March, the Be Worth* Following podcast gets its leadership lessons from the world of college basketball. And boy do we have a great one for you this year. Purdue University's Matt Painter joins us to talk about his leadership of one the nation's most successful men's basketball programs. When you look at the success Matt and Purdue have had, you might be tempted to think he has always confidently trusted his instincts. And you'd be wrong. Join us for a behind the scenes conversation with one of the nation's best coaches.

February 5, 2025Episode 7228 min

Joy and Energy with Will Graham

In this episode of Be Worth* Following, Will Graham takes us inside a reality many leaders wrestle with but few openly discuss—workplace dysfunction. Once a sharp critic of workplace culture, Will unexpectedly found himself in a leadership role, facing the very challenges he had spent years analyzing. That experience, along with a near-burnout moment, reshaped his understanding of leadership, productivity, and the power of aligning people with the work that fuels them. His journey—from frustration to insight—offers a compelling look at what it really takes to make work better. Click Here for a Free Copy (+ shipping) of Will Graham's book, Make Work Better

December 4, 2024Episode 7141 min

Capturing Hearts and Minds to Get Authentic Buy-In with Tria Deibert (throwback)

We've added to our subscriber list over the past two years. That means there are some great episodes that some of you have missed. So to finish up 2024 on the Be Worth* Following podcast, we are doing a throwback episode from October 2022. That's when we got to visit with Tria Deibert. As the Vice President of Culture at Hackensack Meridian Health, Tria says that her job sets her soul on fire, and that she's using the position to help others find the same excitement. Tria never expected to end up in the culture field. Her background is in marketing, but a leader saw potential in her, and she decided to take a big, bold leap. In this episode, Tria shares how her marketing experience enables her to use meaningful messaging to engage and inspire people in her organization. Listen in to learn more about how to elicit authentic buy-in and hear how that strengthens an organization from the inside out. When people genuinely love their work, they are able to achieve more and help businesses grow. How do we know this? Just give Tria a listen.