The Marcel Podcast

Hosted by Marcel Schwantes

Business ManagementInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn Facebook Instagram YouTube

Episodes

300

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

The Marcel Podcast (formerly 'Love In Action') is where leadership meets human flourishing. Hosted by leadership coach, global speaker, and author Marcel Schwantes, each episode features bestselling authors, leading researchers, innovative executives, and inspiring changemakers who share practical, evidence-based insights for leading well and living well in the age of AI. Whether you're leading a team, an organization, or simply striving to become your best self, you'll discover ideas, tools, and conversations to help you flourish at work, at home, and in life. Because when people flourish, organizations thrive—and the world becomes a better place.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 1, 2026Episode 29046 min

The Inner Work That Fuels Purposeful Leadership with Justin Jones-Fosu

Episode recap If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 What happens when the success you’ve been chasing no longer feels meaningful? In this season finale, Marcel sits down with six-time book award-winning author Justin Jones-Fosu to discuss his new book, Stop Chasing, Start Creating. Using a fresh take on the Tortoise and the Hare, Justin explores the tension between external achievement and internal fulfillment—and what it takes to stop living by comparison and start living in alignment with your values. Bio: Justin Jones-Fosu is a 6x book award-winning author, 2x TEDx speaker, and CEO of Work. Meaningful, and Chairperson of the Work Meaningful Foundation. He helps leaders and high-achievers navigate information fatigue and shift from chasing external success to creating meaningful work and life. His latest book, Stop Chasing, Start Creating, is a powerful fable that reimagines success through the untold story of the tortoise. Timestamp: 00:00 Stop Chasing, Start Creating 04:18 Justin’s Story 06:36 The Tortoise and the Hare Reimagined 10:14 What Makes Life Meaningful? 13:13 Three Ways to Find Personal Alignment 18:16 Ambition, Values, and the Right Direction 21:14 Rethinking Success at Any Age 23:39 Breaking the Social Media Validation Cycle 25:37 The Meaning Journey Model 28:33 Building Meaningful Habits 31:07 Being a Tortoise in the Modern Workplace 35:14 Choosing Values Over External Success 38:42 One Step to Start Creating Meaning 41:30 Meaning, Burnout, and Peace 42:35 How Leaders Help People Flourish 45:22 Where to Find Justin and His Book About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/ Connect with Justin Jones-Fosu: Website: https://workmeaningful.com/ Book: https://stopchasingstartcreating.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iworkmeaningful Values Assessment Connect with Marcel Schwantes: Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ X: https://x.com/MarcelSchwantes YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

September 29, 2026Episode 28835 min

Solving the Human Challenge of AI Adoption with Gleb Tsipursky

September 16, 2026Episode 28715 min

Mastering Relational Presence with Marcel Schwantes

If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your managers and people flourish, there are two ways to do it: Join my growing Substack community for $8.00/month. https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/subscribe Book a call with me to explore partnership opportunities. https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 Episode recap Marcel explores relational presence—the ability to make people feel seen, heard, and valued through focused attention. He explains that strong leaders listen before acting, ask clarifying questions, and stay emotionally available rather than rushing to fix problems. As AI and digital communication grow, these human relational skills will become even more important for building connection, trust, and healthy workplaces. Do you have relational intelligence? Find out by listening to this short solo episode with a globally respected leadership authority. Bio: Marcel Schwantes is a leadership coach, speaker, author, and advocate for more humane workplaces. Marcel’s work includes: Leadership coaching Leadership development courses Keynote speaking, workshops, and offsite retreats Executive roundtables and culture strategy sessions Marcel is the author of Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss . Whether coaching a CEO or training a leadership team, Marcel’s #1 goal is the same: To help leaders and the people they lead flourish as human beings. Timeline: 00:00 The Communication Paradox at Work 01:01 What Relational Presence Actually Means 02:36 Why Available Doesn't Equal Present 03:27 The Sally One-on-One 04:50 Principle One: Attention Before Action 06:00 Principle Two: Emotional Availability 07:44 What Business Schools Get Wrong 08:20 Relational Intelligence in the Age of AI 09:00 The One-Conversation Challenge 09:37 Human Flourishing and Full Attention 11:04 Substack and Closing About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/ Connect/follow Marcel on: Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

September 4, 2026Episode 28637 min

How to Be an Inspired Leader and Build a Loyal Team Culture with Bruce Mayhew

Episode recap If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 In my latest conversation on The Marcel Podcast, I sat down with author, keynote speaker, and executive coach Bruce Mayhew to explore what it really means to become an inspired leader. Bruce’s own journey—from a quiet, introverted kid who often felt unnoticed to a trusted leadership advisor—shaped much of our conversation. We explored some very practical leadership questions: How do you balance care and accountability? What does it take to build trust and transparency on a team? How can leaders create a strong microculture, even when the larger organizational culture isn’t ideal? How can leaders better understand the goals and aspirations of the people they lead? One message stood out: Leaders don’t have to wait for the organization to create a great culture. They can begin creating one within their own team. Bio: Bruce Mayhew is a corporate trainer, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of The Path of an Inspired Leader. His leadership combines emotional intelligence with strategic vision, blending human-centered and forward-thinking approaches. Featured on major Canadian media, his insights appear in Fast Company, HuffPost, and The Globe & Mail. He lives in Ontario, Canada. Timestamp: [00:00:03] – Welcome and Introduction to Inspired Leadership [00:02:22] – Bruce’s Canadian Roots and Warming Up the Conversation [00:02:48] – From Quiet Introvert to Finding a Voice [00:05:09] – Discovering Human Skills at McDonald’s [00:08:26] – Curiosity, Growth Mindset, and Loving New Ideas [00:10:57] – Why Bruce Wrote The Path of an Inspired Leader [00:14:09] – What Is an Inspired Leader? [00:19:42] – Accountability as a Two‑Way Street [00:20:35] – Microculture: Culture at the Ground Level [00:24:48] – Transforming a Broken Team Culture [00:30:28] – Knowing People’s Stories and Career Goals [00:35:41] – Time‑Machine Advice to His Younger Self [00:36:43] – Book Recommendations for Leaders About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/ Connect with Bruce Mayhew: Website - https://brucemayhewconsulting.com/ Book: https://brucemayhewconsulting.com/book LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucemayhewconsulting/ Connect with Marcel Schwantes: Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ X: https://x.com/MarcelSchwantes YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

August 28, 2026Episode 28548 min

How to Boost Your Performance without Burning Out with Jay Abbasi

Episode recap If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 In this episode, Marcel talks with Jay Abbasi about resilience, conscious leadership, and navigating pressure. Jay shares lessons from Tesla, introduces his resilience formula of energy, space, and choice, and explains how leaders can handle conflict, empower others, and focus on what they can control. Bio: Jay Abbasi is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and coach specializing in mindfulness, resilience, and leadership development. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies and coached leaders from Google, Amazon, and Wells Fargo, combining corporate experience with deep psychological insights. His practical strategies help individuals and teams thrive under pressure. Timestamp: [00:00:04] – Reintroducing the Marcel Podcast and Guest Jay Abbasi [00:02:02] – From Burnout in Finance to a Wake-Up Call [00:03:49] – SolarCity, Tesla, and Learning Adaptability Under Pressure [00:06:00] – Inside Tesla: Chaos, Change, and Emotional Leadership Stories [00:09:09] – The Roller Coaster of Entrepreneurship and Trusting Intuition [00:16:48] – The Resilience Formula: Energy + Space + Choice [00:19:14] – EPAs: Energy-Producing Activities for Body, Mind, and Connection [00:22:23] – Creating Space: Boundaries, Mindfulness, and “Mind FREENESS” [00:30:00] – What Is Conscious Leadership? [00:32:17] – Be the Captain, Not the Hero [00:34:04] – How AI Fits into Human-Centered Leadership [00:36:31] – Navigating Conflict with Curiosity and Psychological Safety [00:45:37] – Letting Go of Control and Owning Your Power of Choice About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/ Connect with Jay Abbasi: Website - https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Follow Marcel: Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

August 20, 2026Episode 2849 min

An Evidence-Based Approach to Leading with Trust, with Marcel Schwantes

Episode recap: On August 26, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, I’m teaching a live Leadership Trust Workshop. Registration is open now. Go to the link below and reserve your place. Seats are limited. Register here: https://www.frombosstoleader.co/trusted-leader-workshop In this solo episode of The Marcel Podcast, Marcel challenges leaders to rethink workplaces built primarily for output and efficiency—especially in the age of AI—and instead design environments where people can genuinely flourish. Marcel closes with an invitation to his upcoming Leadership Trust Workshop for leaders who want stronger relationships, greater ownership, and healthier teams. Register here: https://www.frombosstoleader.co/trusted-leader-workshop Bio: Marcel Schwantes is a leadership coach, speaker, author, and advocate for more humane workplaces. Marcel’s work includes: Leadership coaching Leadership development courses Keynote speaking, workshops, and offsite retreats Executive roundtables and culture strategy sessions Marcel is the author of Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss . Whether coaching a CEO or training a leadership team, Marcel’s #1 goal is the same: To help leaders and the people they lead flourish as human beings. Timestamp: 0:00 – Welcome back, summer in Chattanooga, and invitation to connect on LinkedIn, X, and Substack 0:40 – Calling out the cliché “people are our greatest asset” vs. what the data really shows 1:10 – The real problem: workplaces optimized for output, not human flourishing (especially with AI) 1:45 – Are your people just surviving work or actually growing as human beings because of it? 2:10 – The fear-based belief that focusing on people will hurt performance 2:40 – Human-centered leaders: why putting people first drives better business outcomes 3:10 – The future winners: companies where people feel valued and challenged to become better humans 3:40 – Designing work differently: respect, dignity, and empowerment vs. transactional environments 4:10 – Human-centered conviction: every person matters, even when they’re not in the room 4:30 – Practical Step 1: Three questions to ask in your next leadership meeting 5:00 – Practical Step 2: Replacing control with trust plus clear expectations and accountability 5:35 – Showing up as a leader: intention, authenticity, and telling the truth (good, bad, and ugly) 6:00 – Practical Step 3: Defining what “great work” and “a good job” actually mean for your people 6:35 – Bigger vision: workplaces where people grow, heal, and become better versions of themselves 7:05 – The beauty of trust and why Marcel is committed to building flourishing workplaces 7:30 – Invitation: Live Leadership Trust Workshop – August 26, 12:00 p.m. Eastern on Zoom 8:05 – What you’ll get: diagnose breakdowns, learn trust-building behaviors, and leave with a 30‑day action plan About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/ Follow Marcel: Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

August 14, 2026Episode 28319 min

How to Build Leadership Trust Across the Enterprise with Marcel Schwantes

Join Marcel for a live Leadership Trust Workshop on August 26 at 12:00 noon Eastern. Register here: https://www.frombosstoleader.co/trusted-leader-workshop Episode recap: Many leaders believe trust must be earned. But if you’re the leader, waiting for your people to go first may be exactly what’s weakening your culture. In this solo episode, Marcel Schwantes explains why trust begins when leaders take the first step. Drawing from his book, Humane Leadership, and the research, he explores three foundations of leadership trust—credibility, empathy, and consistency—and shares practical ways to strengthen each one. Bio: Marcel Schwantes is a leadership coach, speaker, author, and advocate for more humane workplaces. Marcel’s work includes: Leadership coaching Leadership development courses Keynote speaking and workshops Executive roundtables and culture strategy sessions Marcel is the author of Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss . Whether coaching a CEO or training a leadership team, Marcel’s #1 goal is the same: To help leaders become the kind of people others want to follow Timeline: 00:00 – Welcome & why trust is the foundation of effective leadership 00:40 – Blunt truth: If your people don’t trust you, nothing else will stick 01:25 – Compliance vs. commitment: why “doing what they’re told” isn’t real trust 02:05 – Do your people feel safe telling you the truth and making honest mistakes? 02:55 – Disrupting the belief that “trust must be earned”: why leaders go first 03:40 – How mistrust acts as a hidden tax on speed, innovation, and collaboration 04:35 – Making trust operational: how it changes ownership, decision-making, and purpose 05:26 – Pillar 1: Credibility – telling the truth about reality, not pretending to know it all 06:05 – Why small, broken commitments (not big betrayals) quietly erode trust 07:00 – Humility as a credibility builder: “I got that wrong” as a strength 07:40 – A weekly question: What commitment have I made that someone is still waiting for me to keep? 08:25 – Pillar 2: Empathy – assuming positive intent and leading with curiosity, not suspicion 09:10 – Shifting from judgment to curiosity: “Help me understand what happened from your point of view” 10:00 – Listening beneath the words: pressures, needs, and the human impact of decisions 10:35 – Story: A VP takes responsibility for lack of support and transforms the room 10:58 – Pillar 3: Consistency – being “predictably human” so people feel safe around you 11:30 – How mood‑driven leadership makes teams manage your emotions instead of their work 12:05 – Values under pressure: respect, honesty, and accountability when things get hard 12:45 – How patterns of kept promises and honest conversations compound into culture 13:30 – The 3‑part self‑check for any 1:1, team meeting, or tough conversation 13:50 – Question 1: What would credibility require from me here? 14:20 – Question 2: What would empathy require from me here? 14:45 – Question 3: What would consistency require from me here? 15:15 – You don’t need a new personality—just a repeatable practice around trust 16:00 – Invitation: Live Leadership Trust Workshop – August 26, 12:00 p.m. Eastern 16:40 – What you’ll get: deeper dive into the three pillars + 30‑day action plan 17:10 – Closing: When better humans lead, teams, organizations, and communities flourish About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (formerly the Love in Action podcast) ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed in 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/ Follow Marcel: Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

August 7, 2026Episode 28244 min

How Great Leaders Build Cultures That Scale with Mark Abbott

Episode recap: If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 Bio: Mark Abbott is the Founder and CEO of Ninety, which helps leadership teams build extraordinarily productive, humane, and resilient companies. He is a serial entrepreneur, investor, coach, and author who is widely regarded as a pioneering voice in modern company-building. Timeline: 00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Mark Abbott and Ninety 02:00 – Mark’s personal story and competitive drive 03:20 – “I help founders build great leaders” 05:00 – From banking and private equity to building Ninety 07:10 – Why culture really matters (beyond perks) 08:35 – Three types of culture: relationship, agreements, principles 12:30 – Matching culture to pace and ambiguity of your market 14:10 – What it means to build a “humane” culture 15:35 – Ideal employee profile vs. ideal customer profile 17:00 – The five elements at the soul of a company 18:00 – The global leadership deficit and self‑serving leaders 21:00 – How Ninety and AI support culture and leadership habits 23:00 – Quarterly conversations, feedback, and agreements 25:20 – When high‑growth companies “lose their way” culturally 27:00 – High care vs. high performance: getting the balance wrong 30:30 – The real job of every leader: helping the company win 31:50 – Complexity of leadership: leading, managing, coaching, mentoring 35:00 – Thinking in stages of development as you scale 38:00 – Advice for first‑ and second‑time founders 40:00 – Ego development and the inner journey of a leader 42:00 – One thing leaders must do to truly flourish today 42:56 – Where to find Mark and learn more about Ninety About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (previously the Love in Action podcast) is ranked in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed to 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Free tool: Discover how much employee turnover may be truly costing your organization. Get your free employee turnover cost calculator here: https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/ Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/

July 31, 2026Episode 28043 min

What High-Performing Teams Do Differently with Ron Friedman, PhD

If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 Today’s guest is award-winning social psychologist Dr. Ron Friedman, author of Superteams. After surveying thousands of teams, Friedman found that the most successful teams aren’t the ones that collaborate most, get along best, or put in the longest hours. What really sets them apart is the way they manage their energy and attention, bring out the best in one another, and keep improving over time. Bio: Ron Friedman, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist who helps leaders build high-performing teams. He is the bestselling author of The Best Place to Work and Decoding Greatness. His new book, Superteams, reveals what the best teams do differently. Ron delivers keynotes, workshops, and executive advisory to senior leaders around the world. Timestamps: [00:00] High Performing Teams And Introducing Dr Ron Friedman [02:45] Ron’s Background From Professor To Corporate Pollster [04:00] What Sparked The Research Behind Super Teams [05:15] How The Study Worked And Three Strengths Of Super Teams [08:26] Do We Work Best In The Office Remote Or Hybrid [10:21] The One Workplace Perk That Predicts High Performance [13:03] Why Leaders Overlook Quiet Focus And Single Tasking [14:49] How Personal Productivity Hacks Hurt Team Performance [16:09] Useless Meetings And How Super Teams Avoid Them [18:33] Look Forward Look Backward Stay Present For Better Days [21:41] How Super Teams Structure Their Time Proactively [22:03] The Three Ingredients Of Trust At Work [24:52] Beating Burnout By Cutting Meaningless Work And Using Off Hours Well [26:55] Why Most Feedback Fails And How To Focus On The Future [29:56] Conflict Disagreement And Using Pre Mortems To Improve Decisions [32:47] Turning A Struggling Leadership Group Into A True Team [35:53] The Biggest Misconception About High Performance And Long Hours [39:03] How Super Teams Use AI Without Fear And Share Prompts [40:55] Where To Find Ron And How To Bring Super Teams Practices To Your Organization About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (previously the Love in Action podcast) is ranked in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed to 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Free tool: Discover how much employee turnover may be truly costing your organization. Get your free employee turnover cost calculator here: https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/ Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/

July 24, 2026Episode 27851 min

Unlocking Your Full Leadership Potential with Dusty Holcomb

If you are a champion of human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you to explore partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02 In this episode of The Marcel Podcast, Marcel talks with Dusty Holcomb, founder and CEO of The Arcqus Group, about leadership in the age of AI. Dusty shares why leaders must not let AI distract them from the fundamentals: clear outcomes, self-leadership, accountability, and communication that keeps people connected to the work that matters. Bio: Dusty Holcomb is CEO of Arcqus Group, a keynote speaker, an executive advisor, and a catalyst for growth-focused executives. Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome back & podcast rebrand 02:05 – Meet Dusty Holcomb & The Arcqus Group 04:57 – Dusty's leadership journey and early influences 08:26 – The leadership lesson that changed everything 10:41 – Leaving corporate to launch Arcqus 12:30 – Leading in the age of AI 14:05 – Advice for first-time CEOs 15:49 – Why reflection is a leadership superpower 16:37 – Blind Spot #1: Lack of clarity 20:31 – Blind Spot #2: Chasing AI tools instead of outcomes 22:10 – Five questions every team member should answer 23:58 – From mercenaries to missionaries 25:03 – Why self-leadership comes first 29:56 – Two simple self-leadership practices 32:51 – Redefining accountability 36:10 – Why great leaders repeat themselves 40:31 – Living your organization's values 40:57 – A leadership habit that builds trust 43:40 – Leadership fundamentals in the AI era 45:46 – Give yourself grace and space to think 47:20 – Dusty's free leadership resource 48:21 – Where to connect with Dusty 49:22 – Final thoughts & closing About the Show: The Marcel Podcast (previously the Love in Action podcast) is ranked in the top 2% of all podcasts globally and is distributed to 160 countries. The show features deep conversations with the world's top leadership experts, authors, scientists, and thought leaders about what it means to flourish as leaders and human beings. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Free tool: Discover how much employee turnover may be truly costing your organization. Get your free employee turnover cost calculator here: https://marcel-schwantes-zvbpnt.subscribepage.io/ Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors: If interested in sponsoring an episode, contact Marcel here: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/contact/