GrowthReady Podcast with Steve Mellor

Hosted by Coach Steve Mellor

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270

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Jul 2026

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About the show

What does it mean to be ready to pursue growth? Should we pursue growth when we don't feel ready? And how do we achieve optimal growth by readying ourselves for everything that comes with it? The GrowthReady Podcast seeks to form a true appreciation for all facets of the growth process as we learn from high performers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Hosted by Steve Mellor, a seasoned high-performance executive coach and former US Olympic swim coach, each episode explores the pivotal moments that define true growth and the work that went into getting ready for it. Through candid conversation and detailed personal accounts, guests share their unique experiences of overcoming challenges, embracing transformation, and what it takes to get ready for every step of their growth journey.

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July 1, 2026Episode 32551 min

Episode 325: Leading Through Change Without Losing Yourself w/ Cindy Cohn

Steve sits down with Cindy Cohn, former Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, for a conversation about values, leadership, change, and knowing when it is time to make room for what comes next. Cindy has spent decades fighting for digital rights, privacy, free speech, and a better internet for the people who use it. Her career is a powerful example of what it means to stay grounded in your values while remaining flexible enough to adapt as the world changes around you. Cindy also shares a deeply personal look at her decision to step away from her leadership role at EFF. Not because the mission stopped mattering, but because she knew it was time to create space for the next chapter. In this episode, you’ll hear about: What it means to be “growth ready” Building a career around values instead of a fixed title Leading through constant change Why change should not be treated as a solo sport How to protect the work that gives you energy The importance of listening across an organization Cindy’s transition out of EFF and into what comes next Her book, Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance Whether you are navigating transition, leading through uncertainty, or trying to reconnect with the work that fuels you, Cindy’s story offers a thoughtful reminder: staying true to your values does not mean staying still. Listen now and ask yourself: What part of your work gives you energy right now? About the Guest: Cindy Cohn is a digital rights attorney and longtime leader in the fight for privacy, free expression, and civil liberties online. She served as Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for a decade and spent 26 years helping shape the organization’s work as the internet evolved—from early battles over encryption to today’s questions around platform power, surveillance, and AI. Cindy is also the author of Privacy’s Defender: My 30-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance (MIT Press). Proceeds support EFF. Connect with Cindy: EFF: https://www.eff.org Cindy’s book page (via EFF): https://www.eff.org (search “Privacy’s Defender”) Book retailers: available wherever books are sold (including audiobook) Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

June 24, 2026Episode 32449 min

Episode 324: Adaptability, Identity, and Choosing What Matters w/ David Hiler

David Hiler’s answer to “What does it mean to be growth ready? ”is simple—and hard-earned: adapt to whatever comes your way . A lifelong runner and hospitality entrepreneur, David’s life changed fast when a knee issue turned into cancer. Faced with two paths—an invasive rebuild with uncertain outcomes or amputation with a clear shot at living fully—he chose the decision that protected what mattered most: movement, presence, and the life he wanted to keep saying yes to. Then came the second wave: recovering during COVID while trying to keep multiple hospitality businesses alive. What followed wasn’t just a comeback story. It was a full reset. In this conversation, David shares what it looked like to let go of the “more, bigger, next” mindset, selling the house, exiting the businesses, and trading a life of constant pressure for a life built around freedom, health, and daily happiness. Along the way, he talks candidly about the hard days too: the frustration, the self-consciousness, the work of journaling when you don’t feel like it, and the discipline of choosing yourself before life forces the issue. About the Guest: David Hiler is a former hospitality operator who built and ran multiple businesses, including a restaurant and brewery, before stepping into a new chapter after losing his leg to cancer. Today, David works as a consultant for bed & breakfasts and country inns , while traveling full-time with his wife in an RV—building a life around movement, simplicity, and the places that make them feel most alive. He’s also an advocate for accessible mobility through So Everybody Can Move , supporting efforts to improve insurance coverage for prosthetic options that help amputees live fully (including water legs, running blades, and sport-specific prosthetics). Connect with David: Instagram: @dhiler Facebook: @drhiler Advocacy: https://soeverybodycanmove.org/ Adaptive Training Foundation: https://www.adaptivetrainingfoundation.org/ Amputee Coalition: https://amputee-coalition.org/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

June 17, 2026Episode 32348 min

Episode 323: Control Your Energy. Find Your Clarity. Get the Feedback You’re Missing w/ Jared Goralnick

Jared Goralnick joins the GrowthReady Podcast with a deceptively simple definition of what it means to be growth ready: manage your energy and get clear on where you’re going. Jared Goralnick has spent 15 years building products that help organizations find, develop, and grow talent. He was Head of Product at LinkedIn Recruiter and VP of Product at Upwork, Go1, and Articulate, and previously founded SET Consulting and VC-backed AwayFind. He now leads Your360 AI, using voice AI to make coaching-grade, interview-style 360 feedback accessible beyond the executive level. The conversation goes deep into something most leaders avoid until it’s too late, feedback, not the vague “be more strategic” kind, but the kind that actually creates awareness, patterns, and a path forward. Jared shares why the most dangerous feedback problem isn’t harsh criticism, it’s being in the dark. And he breaks down what it takes to create the “door” for feedback to happen, how to make it useful, and why strengths deserve just as much attention as growth areas. If you’re a leader, founder, or high performer who cares about sustainable growth, this episode will help you: Build a practical definition of growth readiness: energy + clarity Understand why effective doesn’t mean being right Create a healthier relationship with feedback (giving and receiving) Turn vague feedback into something specific, usable, and actionable Use technology to support better leadership, without losing the human part Connect with Jared Website: https://your360.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goralnick/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

June 11, 2026Episode 32245 min

Episode 322: Pulled by Vision, Not Pushed by Pressure - The Will to Prepare with Patrick O’Donnell

Patrick O’Donnell is the founder of Ignite Five and a performance-and-growth coach who helps leaders and organizations build repeatable rhythms that drive results without sacrificing the human being behind the role. He’s known for translating “systems” into something practical, daily routines, clear expectations, and real accountability. In this conversation, Patrick shares how the 2008 real estate crash became a turning point that pushed him to study peak performers and build a framework for sustainable growth. He also breaks down the “Personal Compass” (the 8 F’s) and why leaders who invest in their people’s whole lives create better performance, retention, and culture. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing the right work… but doing it the hard way, this episode will land. You’ll hear: Why “growth ready” starts with preparation —the work you do before the moment demands it The difference between being pushed by pressure and being pulled by a clear vision A simple way to think about systems (no tech required): rhythms, routines, and disciplines The 8 F’s framework (faith, family, friends, finances, fitness, fulfillment, freedom, fun) and how it creates alignment in life and leadership Why great leaders don’t only manage output, they build people If you’re leading a team, building a business, or trying to create a life that still feels like yours while you chase big goals, this conversation will give you language—and a starting point. Connect with Patrick: LinkedIn: Patrick O’Donnell III Website: www.ignite5.com #leadership #highperformance #performanceunderpressure #mindset #systems #habits #executivecoaching #culture #teamperformance #growthready Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

June 3, 2026Episode 32150 min

Episode 321: The Growth Advantage: Awareness, Choice, and Change w/ Jason A. Sousa, The Performance Architect

Some conversations don’t just spark ideas, they put words to something you’ve been carrying for a long time. In this episode, Jason A. Sousa (Coach J), known as The Performance Architect, founder of Mental Edge Athletics, and creator of the Performance Architecture methodology, joins the show to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface when the stakes rise and you can’t access the level you know you have. Jason works with athletes and high performers to map the patterns that show up under pressure. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why endless growth is a stronger long-term driver than chasing achievement Jason’s definition of pressure: “Pressure reveals where your identity isn’t safe.” How the brain is wired for protection before performance Why surface-level tools can help in the moment, but won’t change the root pattern If you’ve ever felt any of these, this episode will hit: You can perform in practice… but tighten up when it matters. You know there’s more in you… but you can’t access it consistently. You keep repeating patterns (procrastination, perfectionism, overthinking) even when you “know better.” Connect with Jason Sousa: Instagram: @jasonasousa (Coach J / The Performance Architect) Website: https://GetYourMentalEdge.com #growthready #leadership #mindset #highperformance #sportspsychology #performance #executivecoaching Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

May 27, 202632 min

GrowthReady Replay: Jesse Cole on Competing Through Limitations

This is a Growth Ready Replay, rewinding back to Fall 2020, when Steve Mellor sat down with Jesse Cole , founder of Fans First Entertainment and the owner of the Banana Ball Championship League, including the world-famous Savannah Bananas. It’s a conversation about what real competitors do when the world gets smaller: they don’t complain about limitations… they lean into them. Jesse shares the story behind building a baseball brand that sells out games, creates lifelong memories for fans, and turns entertainment into a serious competitive advantage, especially when pressure hits. After a career-ending shoulder injury ended his playing dreams, Jesse pivoted into leadership and entrepreneurship, eventually helping build a fans first organization known for bold experimentation, unforgettable in-stadium moments, and a relentless commitment to creating joy. Competing when resources are tight and stakes are high Turning limitations into fuel (instead of excuses) Experimenting fast, learning faster, and staying accountable to a public vision Creating emotional connection as the real measure of success Connect with Jesse / Savannah Bananas Search Savannah Bananas on your favorite platform Watch the short documentary: “The Banana Story” Visit their website www.findyouryellowtux.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

May 20, 2026Episode 3201 hr 5 min

Episode 320: You Have The Capacity To Handle Change w/ Ben Granger

What if the discomfort you’re trying to avoid is the very thing making you stronger? Steve sits down with Ben Granger, Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics and author of A Leader Worth Following, to unpack what growth mindset really looks like in the real world: under pressure, inside messy organizations, and in moments where you don’t feel ready. Ben shares how he grew up with a fixed mindset (“I’m just not good at that”), what neuroscience and practice actually prove about improvement, and why people who experience more change can end up psychologically better off than those who experience less. They also go deep on leadership... why trust isn’t built on competence alone, why “benevolence” is the most overlooked ingredient, and how you can build a healthy team climate even inside a tough culture. In this episode, you’ll hear: Ben’s definition of being GrowthReady: a mental orientation toward learning Fixed mindset in childhood (and why it’s so common in athletes and kids) The “internal bell curve”: how you can improve beyond your starting point A surprising global finding: more change → better psychological outcomes Why “knowing” isn’t the same as integrating (and how to make it your own) Learning vs performance orientations (prove / avoid / learn) How leaders can build trust: competence, integrity, and benevolence Culture vs climate and how to build psychological safety from the inside out Where to find Ben’s book (plus the playlist that goes with it) Connect with Ben: Website: benjamangranger.com (book + writing + podcast links + playlist) #growthready #leadership #mindset #personalgrowth #resilience #highperformance #performanceunderpressure Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

May 13, 2026Episode 31912 min

Episode 319: Coaching Corner: There's No Hope... When There's Insistence

Most people don’t quit because they’re incapable. They quit because they’re waiting for proof. In this Coaches’ Corner, Steve uses Abraham Lincoln as a case study in resilience, someone who lost elections, failed in business, navigated depression, and still kept moving forward when there wasn’t much evidence things were “working.” The core shift: hope sounds productive, but it can hide hesitation. Insistence is different. It’s the decision to keep going because it matters, whether it’s validated yet or not. Steve also shares a personal moment from his own transition out of elite sport: how “waiting to feel ready” can quietly become comfort, and why insistence is often inconvenient, uncomfortable, and misunderstood… but necessary. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why hope can look productive while still keeping you stuck The real difference between hoping and insisting How setbacks test your “response system” at higher levels each time What Lincoln’s life reveals about commitment without guarantees Why waiting for clarity is often choosing convenience A simple weekly challenge to turn hope into action Pick one area where you’ve been hoping things improve... and replace hope with one insistence-based action this week. Not perfect. Not massive. Just real. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

May 6, 2026Episode 31845 min

Episode 318: From NBC to Head of Community: Kendall Breitman on Hunger, Capacity, and Reinventing Success

𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕, 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆. - Kendall Breitman In this episode of the GrowthReady Podcast, Steve Mellor sits down with Kendall Breitman, former political journalist (NBC, Bloomberg) and now Head of Community at @Riversidefm , to unpack the real story behind career pivots, personal reinvention, and building community that actually feels human. Kendall shares how she went from chasing a clear career trajectory to embracing a more open (and more honest) version of growth, one built on trust, adaptability, and the courage to choose what fulfills you now, not what you decided years ago. In this episode: ▪️Hunger vs. capacity (and why both matter) ▪️Leaving a “made it” career behind ▪️Trusting yourself without needing certainty ▪️How community is built through real conversations ▪️Why overproduced brand content is fading ▪️Kendall’s next edge: influence, visibility, and starting a podcast 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒍: LinkedIn: Kendall Breitman Facebook Group: Conversation Creators by Riverside Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

April 29, 2026Episode 31749 min

Episode 317: Your Voice Is Your Edge: Dr. Leslie Gordon on Confidence, Presence, and Speaking Up

What if the thing holding you back isn’t a lack of expertise, but the fact that your voice hasn’t caught up to what you know? In this episode, Steve Mellor sits down with Dr. Leslie Gordon, a speech, voice, and accent expert who helps high-performing professionals speak with more confidence, presence, and impact. Leslie introduces the idea of the “growing edge,” a powerful replacement for the word “weakness,” and explains why real growth requires more than mindset. It requires action, repetition, awareness, and the willingness to step into unfamiliar territory. This conversation is for anyone who has ever left a meeting thinking, “I should have said something,” or who knows they have something valuable to contribute but struggles to make their voice match their expertise. Why “growing edge” is more useful than calling something a weakness Why high performers struggle to speak up, even when they know their stuff How self-evaluation can help growth or quietly block it How to work with the inner critic using Leslie’s “name it to tame it” strategy Why presence, breath, and body tension shape how your message lands Why confidence is built through action, not simply something you either have or don’t have Connect with Dr. Leslie Gordon: Website: https://www.leslie.gordon.speech/lesliegordonspeech.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with Growth Ready Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...