The Introvert Leader

Hosted by Austin Hopkins

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Build confidence. Take risks. Make an impact. The Introvert Leader Podcast shows professionals how to grow, lead with confidence, and stand out without selling out. Hosted by Austin Hopkins, each episode breaks down the real challenges of leadership, career growth, and big career moments without fluff or corporate buzzwords. New episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe and start leading your career on your terms. For inquiries, contact: theintrovertleader@gmail.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 14, 20260 min

I’ll Be Back Oct 28

Taking this week off. House leak, and I'm under the weather. Not the conditions for a good episode. I'll be back on October 28 with a full episode.

September 30, 20268 min

The CEO of Airbnb Hates 1:1s. Here's Why He's Wrong.

Brian Chesky, Airbnb's CEO, says 1:1s are a waste of time. He's wrong. In this episode, I break down exactly where he misses the point and what great 1:1s actually look like. Timestamps 1:28 – Who Is Brian Chesky: The CEO and co-founder of Airbnb, worth 11 billion, with nearly 10k employees. 1:45 – The Clip: Brian shares why he thinks 1:1s are a bad idea. Original Clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcn4yyfjlws/?stkn=N3JyNG1mZ2lxZGx2 3:07 – Why He's Wrong: 4 reasons Chesky is dead wrong about 1:1s. 7:30 – Challenge: Audit your 1:1s. Are they for you or your employee? Mastering 1:1 Meetings Episode https://www.buzzsprout.com/2115517/episodes/13415849 Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average. Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here The Brag Sheet (free Career Win Tracker): Here Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

September 16, 20268 min

Stop Caring So Much

Why do you care so much about work? Why do you let it overtake every aspect of your life? Does caring more mean a better career? In this episode I'm going off script talking about why we care too much at work and what we can do about it. Timestamps 1:53 – Caring Too Much Is a Lie: Hard work alone rarely translates to more money or faster promotions. 3:39 – Even Value Exchange: Are you giving more to your company than you are getting back? 5:11 – Risks of Caring Too Much: I started losing my hair because of work stress. This became the wake-up call I needed. 7:27 – Challenge: Ask yourself 2 questions. Will worrying about this detail change anything for my career? Can I choose not to care for the promise of less stress? Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here The Brag Sheet (free Career Win Tracker): Here Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

September 2, 202616 min

Stop Surviving Reorgs. Start Winning Them

So you are going through a reorg now what? Everyone is worried about their job. But a golden opportunity is hiding in plain sight. In this episode, I cover how to jump ahead of your peers during a reorg. Timestamps 2:33 – Don’t Resist: You can’t fight a reorg. Just embrace it. 5:58 – Reinvent Yourself: Use your reorg as a chance to break bad habits and take risks. 10:28 – Build Trust With New Leadership: The faster you build trust, the further you move up. 12:47 – Be a Vision Translator: Become a key influencer of the reorg and watch what it does to your career. 15:35 – Challenge: Ask yourself 3 questions. What is senior leadership trying to accomplish? Where is there currently a gap? What could I personally do to fill the gap? Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here The Brag Sheet (free Career Win Tracker): Here Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

August 19, 202613 min

The Real Reason You Feel Stuck at Work

You are stuck in a job you don't like. You're stuck at a company that doesn't fit your values. You're stuck on a path that doesn't feel right anymore. Being stuck feels heavy, but you may not know it yet; there is a way out. In this episode im sharing my 3-step framework for getting unstuck. Timestamps 2:25 – Figure Out Why You Feel Stuck: Sunk cost fallacy? Comfort? Fear? 4:50 – Decide If It’s Worth Changing: Until you decide to change your situation, nothing changes. 7:15 – Fully Commit: Committing to getting unstuck is what makes it actually happen. 12:10 – Challenge: Name the reason you're stuck. Then ask yourself if you'd choose this path again if you started from zero. Free Resources Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here The Brag Sheet (free Career Win Tracker): Here Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

August 5, 202613 min

3 Things Making You Look Junior at Work (And How to Stop)

Have you ever noticed when someone looks junior at work? They seem like a kid trying to sit at the grown-up table. Acting junior can seriously derail your career. In this episode, I share the 3 things that make you look junior and what to do instead. Timestamps 2:00 – Why Looking Junior Is Holding You Back: Looking junior keeps you stuck, making less money, and working on less important work. 3:53 – Sharing Too Much Detail: Curate what you share to fit the audience. 6:18 – Not Prepared For On-the-Spot Situations: Every moment counts, so a little prep goes a long way. 9:00 – Overly Emotional: Big reactions don't have a place at work. 11:54 – Challenge: Watch the people around you and label when they look junior. Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources The Brag Sheet (free Career Win Tracker): Here Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

July 22, 202612 min

Your Boss Sucks. Here's What To Do About It

Toxic bosses are impossible to avoid. They drain your energy, kill your confidence, and make every day feel like survival mode. In this episode, I'm talking about 4 of the worst types of bosses and how to deal with them. Timestamps 2:40 – The Fear Monger: They use fear and control to get results. 4:35 – Absent Manager: You never see them unless they need something. 6:28 – The Jealous Manager: They compete with you instead of rooting for you. 8:43 – Incompetent Sheep: Corporate robot without a backbone. Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources The Brag Sheet (free Career Win Tracker): Here Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

July 8, 202616 min

The Career Questions ChatGPT Can't Answer

ChatGPT can't solve your nuanced career problems. But I can. In this episode, I tackle four real questions from real people who are scared, stuck, and not sure what to do next. My honest answers, no fluff. Timestamps 1:56 – How Do You Get Over The Constant Fear of Being Fired?: Irrational fears cause more harm than you imagine. 4:27 – How To Know If You Have What It Takes to Be a Senior Leader?: You are asking the wrong question. 7:20 – What Was The Exact Moment You Stopped Treating Minor Corporate Inconveniences As Life-or-Death Emergencies?: My boss called me on my honeymoon. This was the last straw. 10:25 – Is Anyone Else Terrified They Stayed In a Stable Career Too Long and Now Feel Completely Trapped? You aren't trapped if you can change at any moment. Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources The Brag Sheet (free Career Win Tracker): Here Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

June 24, 202613 min

The Two Questions That Saved Me From Burnout

You don't have to settle for being burnt out at work. It won't get better with time unless you do something about it. Most burnout advice sounds the same, but it doesn't work. 67% of workers are feeling some kind of burnout. In this episode, I give you a framework to get past it. Timestamps 2:19 – The Reframe: Most Burnout advice doesn't solve the root problem. 4:00 – Bored Burnout: Boredom is a quiet kind of burnout that eats at your soul. 6:31 – Depleted Burnout: Even if you love your work, devoting too many hours to it can leave you feeling depleted. Find your passion and never work a day in your life is a lie. 9:05 – The Two Question Test: Easy questions you can ask yourself when you are feeling burned out at work. 11:25 – Challenge: Ask yourself two questions before you work more hours or take on more work. Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint Course Waitlist) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

June 10, 202616 min

How to Get Anyone at Work to Say Yes

There is nothing more frustrating than needing something from someone who doesn't report to you. Technically, they don't have to listen to you, and it's maddening. In this episode, I share the 4 strategies I used hundreds of times in my corporate career to get anyone at work to say yes. Timestamps 3:12 – What’s In It For Them: Find something to offer in exchange for what you want. 6:14 – Recognize Them Publicly: People want their work to be noticed. Use this to get what you want. 9:27 – Tie Your Ask To Something Deeper: Make the ask connect to something that matters. 12:10 – When Nothing Else Works: Sometimes you have to bring in their manager. I'll show you how to do it with class. 15:40 – Challenge: Pick someone who isn't responding to your ask and try one of the 4 strategies. Introvert Leader Newsletter (Confidence Blueprint PDF) Get the free confidence guide & biweekly updates: Here Career & Leadership Coaching Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here . Free Resources The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here Engage New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe. Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air. Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins YouTube: Austin Hopkins Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com