The John Eades Podcast

Hosted by John Eades

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

Follow My Lead is a podcast created for you, the young professional, millennial, or aspiring leader. If you are looking for tips, tricks, and hacks from experts about leadership, you are in the right place. Through our interviews we transfer struggles, stories, and best practices of today's leaders to the leaders of tomorrow.

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60 recent

May 28, 202630 min

Stop Watching the Scoreboard: Leadership Lessons from Coach Kenny Simpson

Coach Kenny Simpson has been on the front lines of leadership longer than most. He's gone 0 and 10. He's coached kids who needed a father figure more than a playbook. And somewhere along the way, he stopped watching the scoreboard — and started winning more than ever. In this episode, Kenny and I dig into what it really takes to build a winning culture, why accountability and love aren't opposites, and how the best leaders develop systems so strong they have answers before problems occur. Kenny also shares the story behind his new book, Iron Valley — a fictional account of a team that lost 27 games in a row and what it took to turn things around. It's part great story, part leadership curriculum, and it's available now on Amazon. 📖 Grab Iron Valley here: https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Valley-Football-Brotherhood-Chances/dp/B0GWQDTH9X

May 7, 202645 min

The Weight You Carry Alone with Tyler Dickerhoof

Most leaders believe intensity is an asset. And they are right. Until it isn't. Tyler Dickerhoof has spent years studying what separates leaders who build something lasting from the ones who burn everything down chasing results. In this conversation, we get into why your intensity might be driving people away, what happens when you reach the finish line and realize nobody followed you, and the thing most leaders are hiding that is quietly running their leadership. Tyler is the author of the new book The Things We Hide, a deeply personal and practical look at how our fears and insecurities build walls between us and the people we are trying to lead, and what it takes to finally put windows in those walls. "The weight that crushes us is the weight we carry alone." If you have ever felt like you were carrying too much, leading alone, or wondering why your team is not running with you, this episode is for you. Get Tyler's book here: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/store/p/the-things-we-hide

April 21, 202624 min

Your Next Level Requires You to Play Offense

Most leaders are good. Some are really good. But a lot of them are playing with a ceiling they don't even know they have. Not because of talent. Because of how they're choosing to show up. "Life rewards those who play offense. Not the most prepared, not the most talented, but the ones willing to step up, take the risk, and go for it." In this episode, John breaks down why leaders default to defense, how to build the skill and confidence to play offense in yourself and your people, and the three things that actually move the needle when your team is ready but still won't take the shot. Capacity is not the same as choice. This episode is about closing that gap. Learn more about thr Accelerate Leadership Program Grab John's latest book: Optimistic Outlook on Amazon

April 8, 202635 min

AI Fluency: The Skill Every Leader Needs Now

In this episode of The John Eades Podcast, I sit down with Charlene Li, author of Winning with AI, to unpack one of the biggest shifts leaders are facing right now. Not just how to use AI… but what it means for your role, your team, and your identity. At one point, Charlene tested AI against her own thinking. The results were uncomfortable. The AI was 80% as good as her. That moment forced a deeper question. If AI can do most of what you do… what actually makes you valuable? We talk about what AI really is, why so many leaders are either overestimating or underestimating it, and what it actually means to become "AI fluent." This isn't a conversation about tools. It's a conversation about how leadership is changing. In this episode, we cover: What AI is and how to explain it simply Why AI feels helpful… even when it's wrong The concept of "AI fluency" and why every leader needs it The fear employees have about working themselves out of a job How leaders should think about managing people and AI agents The difference between what AI can do and what only humans can do Why this moment is more about identity than technology You can grab Charlene's book here: Winning with AI If you're leading a team right now, this is not something you can ignore. Because the leaders who win won't just use AI. They'll understand how to think differently because of it.

February 25, 202616 min

The Length of Adversity

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:86105fae-90a7-4c7b-82a4-87293ee5f530-48" data-testid= "conversation-turn-20" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Adversity spares no one. It does not matter how disciplined you are or how well you prepare. At some point, you will face difficulty. The real question is not if. It is when. And often, how long. In this episode, John shares the powerful "coffee bean" lesson he learned from Damon West and connects it with insight from Kara Lawson about what we truly control during hard seasons. Adversity is the gap between what you hoped would happen and what actually does, especially when you cannot control how long it lasts. You cannot shorten the season. But you can strengthen the person in it. In this episode, you will learn: Why uncertainty is often harder than pain How adversity shapes identity and character Three practical ways to strengthen yourself this week How to become transformative instead of soft or hard under pressure 🟩 Key Quote: "The length of adversity is uncertain, but your response never is." 🎟 Join the Free Workshop As mentioned in the episode, you can register for tomorrow's free leadership workshop here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8KDhBUlFTxS_9WLtNyDseQ#/registration If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone walking through a difficult season. Use your gifts.

February 11, 202646 min

Employee Engagement Isn't a Perk Problem, It's an Experience Problem

Jacob Morgan has spent years studying what actually drives employee engagement, and what leaders keep getting wrong. In this wide ranging conversation, we unpack why most engagement efforts turn into short term "dopamine hits" like perks and programs, and why they never solve the real issue. We talk about the difference between employee engagement and employee experience, the cost of disengagement for both the employee and the organization, and how AI is changing the pressure on performance and expectations. Jacob also breaks down a simple framework from his new book and explains how leaders can raise standards without creating burnout or coddled mediocrity. We close with a conversation about accountability, consistency, and the kind of leadership that earns trust when change is required. Jacob's new book is The Eight Laws of Employee Experience

January 28, 202639 min

Bring Your Own Pencil: The Discipline Leaders Forget First

In this episode of The John Eades Podcast, I sit down with Dan Casey and Griffin Brand, co-authors of Bring Your Own Pencil. At its core, this conversation is about preparation, discipline, and respect. Not as buzzwords, but as daily practices that quietly separate professionals from amateurs. Dan and Griffin share stories and principles behind the idea of "bringing your own pencil," the mindset of taking ownership before you're asked, and why leaders who prepare consistently earn trust faster and sustain credibility longer. We talk about: Why preparation is a signal of respect for others How leaders lose influence when they rely on talent alone The difference between showing up and showing up ready This is a practical conversation for leaders who care about standards, growth, and doing the work before the spotlight ever turns on. Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Bring-Your-Own-Pencil-Playbook/dp/B0GGC8JTL4

January 21, 202624 min

The Hard Conversation You're Avoiding Is the One You Need Most

Most people avoid difficult conversations because they believe silence will keep things from getting worse. In reality, avoidance almost always does the opposite. In this episode, John shares a powerful coaching moment with a young physical therapist who was struggling with unmet expectations, growing resentment, and the quiet cost of things left unsaid. That moment opens the door to a simple but uncomfortable truth: confronting in the short term is far better than resenting in the long term. You'll learn: Why motive, not wording, is what truly determines the outcome of a hard conversation The difference between being candid and being effective A practical 6-step framework for direct dialogue with your team How to use "magical feedback" to protect standards while strengthening relationships How to approach difficult conversations with peers and leaders without creating defensiveness This episode is for any leader, manager, or team member who knows they've been avoiding a conversation they need to have. If this topic resonates, it's one we go deep on through Accelerate Leadership and in Building the Best. To explore workshops, keynotes, and leadership development programs, visit johneades.com or learnloft.com.

January 7, 202626 min

Your Growth and Goals Exercise for 2026

Most people rush into goal setting without slowing down long enough to recognize the life they've already lived. In this episode, John walks through the updated 2026 Growth and Goals exercise, a reflective framework he uses with coaching clients and leadership teams to help them honor their growth and set intentional direction for the year ahead. Through a personal story and a guided, question by question walkthrough, this episode invites you to slow down, look honestly at how far you've come, and then define goals that actually matter. 🟩 Download the 2026 Growth and Goals Exercise: https://learnloft.com/annual-growth-audit/ Listen straight through, pause and jot down your answers as you go, or download the exercise and work through it on your own.

December 17, 202516 min

Speed in Leadership is Perpetually Underrated

Most people move too slowly. They wait for clarity, permission, or the perfect moment. High performers do something different. They take advantage of the moment at hand. In this episode, John explains why speed and urgency are perpetually underrated advantages in leadership, sales, and life. Drawing from real-world examples, including healthcare, sales, and high-performing leaders, he shows why speed is not recklessness but respect for the moment in front of you. You'll also learn how leaders can build a culture of urgency without burning out their teams by demonstrating speed, talking about it clearly, and celebrating it intentionally. 🟩 Quote of the Day: "Speed is not rushing. It is respect for the moment in front of you." 📘 Get the book The Optimistic Outlook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4R5VJH1/