The Leadership Growth Podcast

Hosted by Daniel & Peter Stewart

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Jun 2026

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Timely, relevant leadership topics to help you grow your ability to lead effectively. New episodes every other Tuesday since January 30, 2024.

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June 16, 2026Episode 6534 min

The Humanity Gap: What AI Can't Replace

What happens when you stop trusting your gut and let AI do your thinking?Today’s guest says that’s when people start to lose themselves inside AI. “Instead of coming to a problem with your own brief or with your own kind of institutional knowledge, you're letting AI drive your own narrative for you and then just accepting that as fact,” says Elizabeth Rosenberg.Elizabeth is the Founder of both The Good Advice Company and Chief Spiritual Officer. As an experienced PR and communications professional specializing in personal branding and intuitive intelligence, she joins Daniel and Peter in this episode to share her insights into how leaders can fully leverage AI without losing their humanity.Tune in to learn:How to set boundaries around AI usageHow to best leverage AI while building a unique personal brandWhat NOT to do in building a personal thought leadership brandAs a proponent of AI, Elizabeth says leaders shouldn’t hide from it. “Embrace it,” she says, but balance AI usage with an equal amount of time outside or connecting with other humans. “Nature and people and relationships and connection and community are the things that actually bring us into old age and keep us alive.”Questions, or comments? E-mail us at podcast@stewartleadership.com—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and LinksElizabeth Rosenberg LinkedInThe Good Advice CompanyChief Spiritual OfficerStewart Leadership Insights and Resources:3 Tips for Leading Through the AI Digital Transformation4 Mistakes Leaders Make with AI–and What to Do Instead3 Tips for Leading Through UncertaintyThe AI Integration RoadmapStrategic Planning for Unpredictable TimesThe Value of Wasting Time4 Ways “Green Therapy” Can Make You a Better Leader9 Ways to Live Longer and Lead Better5 Ways “Cloud Watching” Improves Your Leadership—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

June 2, 2026Episode 6432 min

Adversity Doesn't End Your Story, It Rewrites It

Everyone faces adversity. Today’s guest asks, “If something happens that derails your life, what is the initiative that you're willing to take to pave the road to make things possible?”After losing his sight in 2011, André van Hall learned first-hand what it meant to face adversity and reinvent himself. After a career in hospitality, he pivoted to become an author, speaker, and self-styled Curiosity Instigator.In this episode, André talks to Daniel and Peter about the circumstances that led to the loss of his vision, how he dealt with the obstacles his new reality presented, and what he learned in the process of reinventing himself.Tune in to learn:The role of curiosity in overcoming adversity and reinventing oneselfThe importance of humility in facing challengesThe difference between judging and assessingA rebuilt life is not a lesser life, says André. “Curiosity truly is the ray of sunlight that gives us the possibilities of what can be.”Questions, or comments? E-mail us at podcast@stewartleadership.com—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and LinksAndré van Hall TEDx TalkAndré van Hall WebsiteThe Curiosity of Change: How to Bring Light to the Dark Side of Change, André van Hall (Amazon)Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:How to Stay Relevant at Work6 Tips to Build a Learning Organization7 Ways Leaders Develop Themselves and Others5 EQ Lessons from a Leader Who Turned Criticism Into Growth7 Ways to Become a Servant Leader8 Characteristics of Servant Leaders—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

May 19, 2026Episode 6336 min

The Friction Problem Nobody's Talking About

From food delivery to dating, much of modern life is designed to help us eliminate friction.But today’s guest suggests that we may have eliminated too much friction.Ross Blankenship is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and author who works with CEOs and senior leadership teams on the human side of leadership. In his forthcoming book, Friction: Uncover the Power of Leading Through Tension, Ross and his co-author, Maggie Sass, explore how leaders can lead through friction for better decisions, stronger relationships, and healthier performance.In this conversation, Daniel, Peter, and Ross discuss why the right amount of friction is key to learning and leading for long-term success.Ross points to studies that show when learning is more difficult, retention is higher. “If you take too much of the friction out of my thinking… then I’m not really thinking about it anymore,” he says.Tune in to learn:The different types of friction that affect how people work and leadWhy a little bit of friction is actually goodHow “sticking points” can help improve thinkingLike most beneficial practices, leveraging and navigating friction starts with habits. Find “the very simplest, smallest version of a task,” says Ross, and reflect or put energy into thinking about that friction. “That’s the kind of habit that can start to change your identity over time.”Questions, or comments? E-mail us at podcast@stewartleadership.com—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and LinksEveryday Leadership WebsiteRoss Blankenship’s Substack “Theory of Change”Tuesday AdvisorsRoss Blankenship websiteRoss Blankenship LinkedInFriction: Uncover the Power of Leading Through Tension (August 2026)Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:Why this One Skill is a Non-Negotiable for Your Next-Level Leaders8 Tips to Manage Critical Feedback5 IQ Lessons from a Leader Who Turned Criticism Into GrowthBurned Out vs. Bored Out: The Hidden Engagement Crisis6 Ways Leaders can Master Emotional Self-ControlHow to Increase Your Emotional Intelligence8 Keys to Managing Conflict Well—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

May 5, 2026Episode 6230 min

Don't Let Your Organization Fall Behind on AI

By the time you read this sentence, the AI landscape has already changed, says Bala Muthiah, Director of Engineering for Lyft.“It’s like A Tale of Two Cities,” he says, citing the tension between champions and skeptics. “There are dreamers, and we need them. And there is a realism when code goes to production.”In this conversation with Daniel and Peter, Bala shares his insights about how to balance aspirations around the great potential of AI with a healthy dose of realism about its capabilities and use cases.Tune in to learn:A framework to help apply AI with a “human first” approachWhat you should NOT do to promote AI literacyWhy leaders should let go of AI FOMOUltimately, Bala encourages leaders to be curious. “As a leader, the number one job is to help your team be their best,” he says. Being curious “is always going to be the winning formula.”Questions, or comments? E-mail us at podcast@stewartleadership.com—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and LinksBala Muthiah LinkedInStewart Leadership Insights and Resources:4 Mistakes Leaders Make with AI–and What to Do Instead4 Ways to Encourage a Healthy Failure CultureThe AI Integration RoadmapHow to Stay Relevant at Work6 Ways to Gain Support for Organizational ChangeThe 4 Steps for Managing Constant Change in the Workplace4 Ways to Develop a Strategy of Adaptation5 Signs You’re Ready for Digital Transformation—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

April 21, 2026Episode 6137 min

Strategic Resilience in the Age of AI

Resilience isn't a personality trait, says today's guest, Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier. "It is a state” that runs from high to low on a continuum.Dr. Pelletier, also known as MH, is a leadership psychologist, executive coach, and senior leader with over twenty years of experience across the corporate, insurance, and governance sectors. Her award-winning book, The Resilience Plan, was named a “Top Five Book to Read” by both Inc. Magazine and Forbes.In this episode, MH joins Daniel and Peter to examine what resilience means for today's leaders and how to apply strategic thinking to today’s challenges.Tune in to learn:Why resilience exists on a continuumThe three pillars for building resilience in the age of AIHow leaders can support team resilienceThe answer to facing the relentless pace of the AI-world isn’t heroic endurance, says MH. Rather, it's a calmer brain. With strategic thinking, leaders can strengthen resilience for both themselves and their teams.Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.—Listen to The Leadership Growth Podcast!https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and LinksDr. Marie-Hélène (“MH”) Pelletier websiteThe Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health (Amazon link)Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:https://stewartleadership.com/lead-in-uncertain-times/https://stewartleadership.com/leading-through-uncertainty/https://stewartleadership.com/improve-your-work-life-integration-by-managing-microstress/https://stewartleadership.com/how-to-zoom-out-and-manage-your-inner-chatter/https://stewartleadership.com/4-ways-to-encourage-a-growth-mindset-culture/#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

April 7, 2026Episode 6037 min

Navigating Constant Change: A Strengths Perspective

“Change fatigue is real,” says today’s guest, Tiffany Harvey. “And everyone really navigates change very differently.”Tiffany is a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths® coach and client partner to Gallup. She led the CliftonStrengths program at Southwest Airlines for five years and now works as a Human Resources Manager at HOAM Ventures.In this episode, Tiffany talks to Daniel and Peter about what strengths really are, how they can inform your leadership style and approach, and why knowing your strengths can help you deal with a constantly changing business environment.Tune in to learn:How to deal with “strength envy”Whether it’s possible to overuse a strengthWhy curiosity could be key to understanding co-workers and direct reports in a whole new wayWhen faced with constant change, Tiffany says, it’s not about being fearless or embracing disruptive change. “It’s about being very mindful and intentional about selecting one or two strengths” that can help you navigate the changes you’re facing.Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.Listen to The Leadership Growth Podcast New episodes drop every other Tuesday!https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/Resources and LinksGallup CliftonStrengths® AssessmentTiffany Harvey on LinkedInStewart Leadership Insights and Resources:https://stewartleadership.com/5-ways-to-help-manage-your-teams-change-exhaustion-2/https://stewartleadership.com/leading-through-change-how-to-future-proof-your-team/https://stewartleadership.com/the-4-steps-for-managing-constant-change-in-the-workplace/https://stewartleadership.com/five-ways-to-test-your-ability-to-sustain-change/#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

March 24, 2026Episode 5935 min

Habit Building for Leaders

Between 45 and 50% of your daily actions are habitual, says today’s guest, Dr. Ron Dufresne.Dr. Dufresne is a Professor of Management and Director of the Leadership, Ethics and Organizational Sustainability Program at St. Joseph’s University. He focuses on leadership and ethics with a particular emphasis on the role of character in leadership.Daniel and Peter welcome Ron to discuss habits and their role in leadership. Ron suggests that habits aren’t all bad. They “take away a lot of the need for that deliberative, very cognitively taxing work that we need to do as leaders,” he says, and allow us to “focus our attention on the things that really matter.”But habits may not always serve who we want to be as leaders–or as humans.Tune in to learn:How to know when it’s time to change a habitHow to break a habit loop and start a new oneTwo essential leadership habits to start cultivating for long-term successAristotle suggested that habits are practices of character, says Dr. Dufresne. “We are what we habitually do.” When we approach our habits with intentionality and self-reflection, we can become the leaders we want to be.Questions, or comments? E-mail us at podcast@stewartleadership.com—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and LinksDr. Ron Dufresne LinkedIn ProfileDr. Ron Dufresne St. Joseph’s University page“Psychology of Habit,” Wendy Wood and Dennis Rünger, Reviews in Advance, Sept. 1, 2015.Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:https://stewartleadership.com/character-driven-leadership/https://stewartleadership.com/decision-making-impacts-executive-presence/https://stewartleadership.com/the-power-of-habits-what-leaders-can-learn-from-tom-brady/https://stewartleadership.com/4-ways-to-create-personal-change/https://stewartleadership.com/your-brain-at-work-four-strategies-to-maximize-your-most-powerful-asset/https://stewartleadership.com/6-ways-to-help-regulate-your-emotions-for-leadership-effectiveness/—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

March 10, 2026Episode 5844 min

Creating Mentally and Emotionally Strong Leaders

What if the same drive that built your career is quietly eroding your relationships at home?When leaders ignore how their behaviors at work are affecting their most important relationships, it leads to exhaustion and burnout, says Lisa Skeffington. “It’s that constant pushing through the whole time, and it’s depleting your physiology without you even realizing that it happens,” she says.Lisa is a multi-award winning psychotherapist, executive coach, and author with over 25 years in private practice. She joins Daniel and Peter to discuss emotional wealth and how to bring your best self to both work and home.Tune in to learn:Key characteristics of a mentally and emotionally strong leaderThe three pillars of emotional wealthSome daily practices that can help develop emotional wealthLisa promotes a shift in mindset around success–away from “achieving more and having more” to “being fully present and connected to the life and the people we have around us so that we begin to regard emotional wealth as seriously as financial wealth.”Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/A weekly message from SL, sharing practical ways to grow your leadership.Resources and LinksHow to Connect with Lisa:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-skeffingtonWebsite: https://www.empoweredmomentum.com/Lisa’s Free resources: https://welcome.empoweredmomentum.com/Self-Esteem Reality Check AuditFree preview of Lisa’s book From Anxious to EmpoweredHandbooks for anxious teensStewart Leadership Insights and Resources:https://stewartleadership.com/6-ways-to-help-regulate-your-emotions-for-leadership-effectiveness/https://stewartleadership.com/five-behaviors-to-help-develop-your-emotional-intelligence/https://stewartleadership.com/increasing-your-emotional-intelligence-how-do-others-react-to-you-2/https://stewartleadership.com/fight-flight-freeze-our-brains-on-feedback/#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

February 24, 2026Episode 5737 min

What NOT to Do During Your First 90 Days

Whether it’s your first leadership role or one you’ve entered after decades of leading people, one thing is sure: your first 90 days in a new position can make or break your tenure.In today’s conversation, Daniel and Peter look at what leaders should and shouldn’t do during their first 90 days. “It’s not a standard checklist for everybody,” says Peter, “and not everybody’s going to come in and do it the exact same way.”Tune in to learn:Why you shouldn’t spend your entire 90 days listeningThe danger of focusing on your favorite aspects of your roleHow to cultivate a good working relationship with your bossPlus, a fun conversation about the origins of some of the most iconic American companies–and the lessons a huge pivot can offer leaders.Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.—Listen to The Leadership Growth Podcast New episodes every other Tuesday!https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341—Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:https://stewartleadership.com/ten-ways-to-successfully-launch-into-your-first-90-days/https://stewartleadership.com/10-tips-to-maximize-your-impact-in-your-first-90-days/https://stewartleadership.com/what-c-level-executives-need-for-their-first-100-days/https://stewartleadership.com/how-to-win-over-the-team-when-replacing-a-beloved-manager-2/https://stewartleadership.com/10-questions-to-help-you-manage-up/https://stewartleadership.com/changing-your-approach-leading-different-processing-styles/https://stewartleadership.com/the-power-of-imagination-in-planning/https://stewartleadership.com/manage-your-energy-not-your-time/—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcast #first90daysIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

February 10, 2026Episode 5634 min

How to Become an AI-Native Organization

When it comes to AI, just about everyone is experiencing some “fear of missing out” right now, says Melissa Reeve. “It’s not just executives. It’s not just your average individual. It’s even people who are writing the code.”Humans are “not equipped to absorb these changes so quickly,” she says.Melissa is the creator of the Hyperadaptive Model and author of Hyperadaptive: Rewiring the Enterprise to Become AI-Native. She spent 25 years as an executive and Agile thought leader, which led to pioneering work in Agile marketing and her role as the first VP of Marketing at Scaled Agile. She also co-founded the Agile Marketing Alliance.In this conversation with Daniel and Peter, Melissa discusses how organizations can shift into a 21st Century model with AI integration.Tune in to learn:What an AI-native organization looks likeWhat most organizations are missing when it comes to AI integrationWhat precedence can teach us about how to integrate AIUsing examples like McDonald’s, Unilever, and Moderna, Melissa shows that AI isn’t just for programmers–it’s a leap forward that can improve organizational operations and work environments for everyone.Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.—Listen to The Leadership Growth Podcast!https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341—Resources and LinksHyperadaptive: Rewiring the Enterprise to Become AI-Native (IT Revolution link) (Amazon link)“The Five Stages of Becoming AI-Native: The Hyperadaptive Model” (article)Hyperadaptive Solutions websiteMelissa Reeve LinkedIn“The Overlooked Key to Leading Through Chaos,” MIT Sloan Management Review “Sensemaking” Article #leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoachingIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.