the Learn-It-All™ podcast

The right answer is free now. The better question is the one worth rewarding.

Dr. Vivienne Ming is a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author of Robot-Proof: When Machines Have All the Answers, Build Better People. After 30 years of building AI, she has found that most people switch their brains off when they use it, and a small group does something very different. In this episode, Vivienne breaks down what that group does, why the strongest candidate isn’t always the best fit for your team, and how leaders can reward interesting questions instead of right answers.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What the small group of “cyborgs” does differently to beat both humans and AI working alone
• Which human traits (curiosity, intellectual humility, and perspective taking) predict success with AI
• Why the most elite performers know their weaknesses, and how to build strategies around them
• Why you should hire for the team, not just the individual, and what “complementary diversity” means
• How praising interesting questions instead of right answers can raise curiosity
• How pairing people with different strengths can build resilience across your organization
• Why Vivienne asks new hires to pitch ideas that are “productively wrong”

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:04) What the Top 10% Do Differently

(06:34) Hybrid Intelligence: The Cyborgs

(08:09) The Human Traits Behind Hybrid Intelligence

(09:30) Knowing Everything vs. Understanding

(12:07) Knowing Your Weaknesses

(16:07) Hiring for the Team, Not the Individual

(21:30) What Is Meta Learning?

(25:18) Praising Questions Over Right Answers

(27:20) Why People Need Room to Fail

(30:46) The Marshmallow Experiment

(36:11) Pairing Peers to Build Resilience

(39:56) Investing in Potential

(44:52) “Pitch Me a Mad Science Project”

(46:22) Why Productively Wrong Ideas Matter

(53:41) Why Purpose Matters

Connect with Dr. Vivienne Ming:

Website:https://socos.org/https://socos.org/

Book, Robot-Proof:https://socos.org/robot-proof#book-anchor-pointhttps://socos.org/robot-proof#book-anchor-point

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienneming/https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienneming/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/neuraltheory/https://www.instagram.com/neuraltheory/

X:https://x.com/neuraltheoryhttps://x.com/neuraltheory

About the Guest:

The Atlantic once called Dr. Vivienne Ming a “professional mad scientist.” In more mundane terms, she is a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author. She is the Founder and Executive Chair of The Human Trust, a philanthropic “mad science” incubator, and the Chief Scientist at Possibility Sciences, where she is pioneering hybrid intelligence systems for the future of innovation.

Vivienne was an early pioneer in using AI for human potential. As Chief Scientist of Gild, she built machine learning models trained on 122 million professionals to predict human capability. Today, through The Human Trust, she has developed AI to treat diabetes and bipolar disorder, reunite orphan refugees, and help autistic children learn facial expressions. Her new best-selling book, Robot-Proof: When Machines Have All The Answers, Build Better People (March 2026), shares the stories of 30 years of using AI to improve lives.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren’t born. They’re always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader:https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit:https://www.learnit.comhttps://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/damonlembihttps://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://www.podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

Failure is an option. Accepting that may be the fastest way to perform at your best.

Dr. Haley Perlus is a performance psychologist who helps business leaders and elite athletes apply the mental strategies of top performers. When leaders insist that failure isn’t an option, they often tighten up, micromanage, and second-guess every move. Dr. Haley explains why that happens and what to do instead. She also covers how to tell the difference between discipline and rigidity, why the kindest thing a leader can be is direct, and why mental toughness is really about working with whatever shows up.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why trying to avoid failure drains the energy you need to perform
• Which words (“have to,” “must,” “need”) signal fear-driven leadership, and what to say instead
• How to be a “truth teller” instead of a “fortune teller,” and how a “now goal” keeps you focused
• The difference between discipline and rigidity, and why it matters as AI changes how work gets done
• Why being direct is often the kindest and most effective thing a leader can do
• Why you can’t jump from failure straight to a lesson, and how to make room for disappointment first
• How confidence and doubt can exist together, and what “doubt tolerance” means

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:07) Why Avoiding Failure Backfires

(02:03) “Have To,” “Must,” and “Need”

(03:19) Leading With Curiosity

(08:05) Fortune Teller vs. Truth Teller

(11:09) Outcome Goals vs. Now Goals

(12:58) Discipline vs. Rigidity

(16:11) How a $100 Bet Started It All

(18:25) Pressure Is an Invitation

(21:27) Kind vs. Effective Leaders

(23:53) Failing vs. Being a Failure

(29:14) Redefining Mental Toughness

(33:43) Why Vulnerability Builds Connection

(37:44) Sharing a Personal Story

(40:38) Confidence and Doubt Can Coexist

(43:48) What’s Next for Dr. Haley

Connect with Dr. Haley Perlus:

Website:https://drhaleyperlus.com/https://drhaleyperlus.com/

Book, Personal Podium:https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Podium-Maximize-Potential-Sport/dp/0988631938https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Podium-Maximize-Potential-Sport/dp/0988631938

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-haley-perlus/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-haley-perlus/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drhaleyperlushttps://www.instagram.com/drhaleyperlus

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@drhaleyperlushttps://www.youtube.com/@drhaleyperlus

About the Guest:

Dr. Haley Perlus is a Doctor of Performance Psychology, speaker, author, and coach. She applies sport-specific techniques to help athletes, business leaders, and high achievers optimize their mental game. With a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology and certifications in coaching, fitness, and nutrition, she combines her firsthand experience as an athlete and coach with advanced academic expertise. Within one year of earning her doctorate, she became a professor, sought-after speaker, published author, and consultant to Olympics, X-Games, national team, and Division I scholarship athletes.

She is the author of Personal Podium: How to Use Your Mind to Maximize Your Potential in Sport and Life. Her presentations and workshops have reached organizations including Marriott, Starbucks, and CU Buffaloes, and she has contributed content to outlets including Oprah, ESPN, One Life Radio, Thrive Magazine, and Beachbody. She also works directly with high performers across competitive sports as well as C-suite executives.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren’t born. They’re always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader:https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit:https://www.learnit.comhttps://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/damonlembihttps://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://www.podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

The goals you set on Monday can be irrelevant by Friday. Leading through that takes honesty, not certainty.

Matt McClernan is the CEO of Augment Code, the leading AI platform for professional software engineers. Before that, he helped scale MongoDB from roughly $60M in revenue to over $1.2B. A year into his first CEO role, he shares what he’s learned about setting goals in a market that changes by the month, and why the best leaders ask for help early.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to set goals when your market changes faster than your quarterly plan
• What to say to your team when your goals stop being relevant
• Why asking for help is a strength, and who to turn to when the CEO seat gets lonely
• The right reason (and the wrong one) to step into a bigger role
• How a football career cut short by injuries shaped the way Matt leads under pressure
• How to bring AI enthusiasts and skeptics along on the same transformation
• A simple way to focus on your “big rocks” when everything demands your attention

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:54) When Goals Expire Mid-Quarter

(03:11) Owning the Mistake With Your Team

(04:37) Who a CEO Turns To

(06:08) Why Leaders Should Ask for Help

(08:03) Leading With Why, Not Fear

(10:28) “I’m Not Ready to Be a CEO”

(12:56) The Wrong Reason to Want the Title

(14:41) When to Trust Your Gut

(17:15) When the Pressure Follows You Home

(19:32) Augment’s Big Pivot

(24:00) Bringing AI Skeptics Along

(25:31) Finding Your Big Rocks

(27:29) Real Customer Impact

(30:20) Who Should Use Augment

Connect with Matt McClernan:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmcclernan/

https://www.augmentcode.com/

About the Guest:

Matt McClernan has spent nearly two decades in enterprise technology, building and leading world-class teams to tackle complex challenges at scale. Matt is currently the CEO of Augment Code, the leading AI platform for professional software engineers.

Prior to Augment, Matt served as SVP and GM of Workato’s Enterprise business. Earlier in his career, Matt held multiple leadership roles at MongoDB, helping scale the company from roughly $60M in revenue to over $1.2B and through its IPO.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren’t born. They’re always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader:https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit:https://www.learnit.comhttps://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/damonlembihttps://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://www.podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

Being good at what you do gets you the first call. It doesn’t guarantee the next one.

Kenny Aronoff has spent over four decades as one of rock's most in-demand drummers, recording with hitmakers like John Mellencamp, Elton John, and The Smashing Pumpkins. The best of the best keep coming back to him, and not just for his drumming.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Three skills that help you get to the top, and stay there, even if you’re not the most “talented”
• How to make yourself invaluable as a leader and a teammate
• Why turning down a sure thing for your passion can be the right decision
• Where to start if you're good at your job but don't love it
• How to connect with people when it doesn’t come naturally
• The four things that drive long-term success

Upcoming Event with Kenny: https://davesandersonspeaks.com/kenny/

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:05) Why the Best Keep Calling Him

(03:10) The Full-Circle Moment

(10:09) Classical Music Training

(15:06) How to Deal with a Tough Boss

(18:35) Leading with Fear vs. Love

(21:31) RPS (Repetition is the Preparation for Success)

(23:17) Turning Down a Good Opportunity

(26:49) Joining John Mellencamp

(30:53) Finding Your North Star

(32:51) Getting Fired and Fighting His Way Back

(38:42) The Road to “Jack & Diane”

(48:22) Can Your Purpose Change?

(50:50) Co-Elevation

(53:18) The Bill Clinton Lesson

Connect with Kenny Aronoff:

https://kennyaronoff.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@KennyAronoffOfficial

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyaronoff/

https://www.instagram.com/kennyaronoff

https://x.com/AronoffOFFICIAL

https://www.facebook.com/KennyAronoffOfficial

About the Guest:

Kenny Aronoff is one of the most influential and in demand drummers and percussionists in the world. He has entertained millions of people with his drumming, has played on thousands of records, and has been the “go to” drummer for the biggest stars in music while providing the beat of American culture over four decades!

He studied and played with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including world-renowned timpanist Vic Firth. He went on to study one year at the university of Massachusetts and four years at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, where among other honors, he was awarded the school’s prestigious performer’s certificate. After graduating, Kenny was offered timpani positions in several symphony orchestras, but instead said “no” because he still wanted to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band and be part of a team of musicians that recorded music and toured the world, just like The Beatles did.

Three years later in 1980, he joined the John Mellencamp band, recording 10 albums and toured with him for over a 17-year period. Kenny’s innovative style and solid back-beats became the driving force behind Mellencamp’s long run of definitive hit records in the ’80s and ’90s.

In addition, Kenny is an enormously successful studio musician recording over 300 MILLION records in sales with more than 1300 that were RIAA Certified Gold, Platinum Or Diamond. A true renaissance man, Kenny is also a best-selling author, television show host, and accomplished corporate speaker, having taken the stage for top universities, corporations, and organizations around the world!

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

When things go wrong, nobody cares about your title. They care whether you can make the call.

Dave Sanderson was the last passenger off Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson, where he and 154 other people had just six minutes to work together to survive. He's spent the years since turning what happened that day into a repeatable way to make decisions. Today, he works with leaders who have to act fast when the stakes are high, usually without every answer in hand.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Three ways to maintain your state in a crisis
• How much information you really need to make a call
• Dave's ASSESS framework for making a decision quickly
• What leaders lose when they freeze instead of making a call
• How to build connections that lead to collaboration
• What happens to your team when you step in too often

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:45) Miracle on the Hudson

(03:37) Turning Uncertainty Into Certainty

(05:07) Keeping Your Head Under Pressure

(11:34) How Much Info Is Enough?

(13:52) Trust vs. Competence

(17:20) Networking vs. Collaboration

(21:19) The Colin Powell Lesson

(24:46) How to Learn from Mentors

(29:07) Connecting in an AI World

(30:55) How to Gain Access

(33:46) Reading an Introvert

(36:11) His Mother's Lesson

(39:42) Why Your Team Needs Consequences

(43:04) "Do Not Let This Die with You"

(46:54) Moments That Matter Magazine

Connect with Dave Sanderson:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredavesanderson

https://resiliencepartnersgroup.com/

https://www.instagram.com/davesandersonspeaks/

About the Guest:

Dave Sanderson was the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson. He survived, then he made a decision: he wouldn’t let that moment be the end of the story.

With 38 years as a top sales producer and decades of experience leading under pressure, Dave founded Resilience Partners Group to help leaders and teams navigate crisis, uncertainty, and high-stakes change—without waiting for permission, perfect clarity, or a title. His work equips people to stay calm, make high-velocity decisions, and take the next best step even when the full path isn’t visible.

Dave has delivered keynotes for Fortune 500 organizations, coached executives, and helped raise $14.8 million for the American Red Cross. Named one of Inc.com’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers, he is known for blending unforgettable storytelling with practical, immediately applicable tools. Dave’s message is simple: You don’t need a title to lead. You need clarity, courage, and conviction. He lives in Charlotte with his family—and speaks today with one goal: to help others lead when it matters most.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

What are the biggest pitfalls leaders face, and how can you avoid them? In this solo episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon shares 16 common leadership mistakes, from canceling one-on-ones to over-delegating to top performers. Through candid stories and actionable advice, Damon helps listeners build trust, empower teams, and steer clear of costly missteps. Listen through to the end for a special birthday giveaway!

What You'll Learn:

• How to empower others instead of being the "hero"
• Ways to address tough conversations sooner, not later
• The risks of overloading your best people
• Why presence and consistency matter in leadership
• The dangers of promoting high performers without preparation

In This Episode:

• 00:01 – The inspiration for this episode
• 01:01 – Hero vs. hero maker
• 02:01 – Avoiding hard conversations
• 03:47 – Canceling one-on-ones
• 05:13 – Lack of clarity
• 06:35 – Over-delegating
• 08:16 – Adapting your leadership style
• 09:20 – Sharing credit
• 10:15 – Allowing toxic behavior
• 12:09 – Not being present
• 13:45 – Promotions gone wrong
• 16:05 – Overpromising, underdelivering
• 17:23 – Moving underperformers
• 18:13 – Listening to understand
• 19:28 – Not connecting enough
• 21:18 – Not standing up for your org
• 23:04 – Being a "yes-man"
• 24:27 – Recap and giveaway

About Damon Lembi:

Damon Lembi is a 3x bestselling author, the host of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete's perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.

Resources Mentioned:

• Traction by Gino Wickman
• Damon Lembi on LinkedIn

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of the Learn-It-All™ podcast with Damon Lembi every week. Subscribe on YouTube

📘 Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit

Follow Damon Lembi:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Build the culture, and the culture builds everything else. Neglect it, and you’ll never get buy-in.

Jon Gordon is the author of 19 bestsellers, including The Energy Bus and his latest release, The Power of Positive Habits. In his work with leaders in pro sports and business, he's seen what sets the great ones apart — and how you can lead like them starting today.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Three traits of leaders that build strong cultures
• The first step to turning around a subpar culture
• How to support your team while driving results in the age of AI
• The habit that earns you the right to challenge your team
• How to stop being your own worst critic
• Why the hardest habit to practice is the most impactful

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:59) Three Traits of Top Leaders

(04:04) Turning Around Your Culture

(05:32) The Blueprint of a Strong Culture

(09:31) The Leader's Role

(14:10) Trust in the Age of AI

(17:18) Connect Before You Correct

(22:07) Become Your Greatest Encourager

(24:34) The Habit That Changed Jon's Life

(28:25) The Habit Before the Habit

(30:15) Dead Hangs & Squatting Like a Child

(31:22) Forgive Fast

(34:36) The Trust Tax

(38:16) Get Rid of Your Worst Habit

(39:31) Create an Amazing Funeral

Connect with Jon Gordon:

http://www.jongordon.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jongordon11/

https://x.com/JonGordon11

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jongordonenergy

https://www.facebook.com/jongordonpage/

https://www.threads.com/@jongordon11

About the Guest:

Jon Gordon is one of the most influential and sought after leadership authors and speakers today. He’s a consultant to numerous leaders, CEO’s, NFL, NBA, and MLB Coaches, championship teams and high performers and an inspirational teacher who has helped millions of people have a more positive mindset.

He is the author of 32 books including 19 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 3 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The One Truth and his latest release The Power of Positive Habits.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

Only one player scores the goal. But it's the team that wins championships.

Joanna Lohman played professional soccer for 16 years, including time on the U.S. Women's National Team. Now, she helps leaders build high-performing teams where every role gets the credit it deserves and no one settles for the bare minimum.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What happens when leaders only celebrate their star employees
• Why striving to be the greatest can keep you from being great
• How to reward the important work that often goes unnoticed
• Why your team is playing not to lose instead of playing to win
• What to do when a high performer struggles in a leadership role
• How to make the path to success clear for your team
• How to show up authentically in any situation

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:26) The Risk of Focusing on Superstars

(03:01) Celebrating Role Players

(06:58) Playing to Win vs. Playing Not to Lose

(08:17) Playing at the Edges

(11:02) From Her Peak to Rock Bottom

(14:46) Shedding a Performance-Based Identity

(18:20) Letting Go of What You Can't Control

(20:21) Authenticity and Performance

(22:59) Why Top Performers Struggle as Leaders

(24:56) Making Success Simple

(28:10) Dialing Authenticity Up and Down

(31:48) 7 Words That Changed Her Life

(38:24) What Parents Get Wrong in Youth Sports

(44:09) Season 39 of The Amazing Race

Connect with Joanna Lohman:

https://joannalohman.com/about/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalohman/

https://www.youtube.com/JoannaLohman

https://www.instagram.com/joannalohman15/

Get Joanna’s Book, Raising Tomorrow's Champions: https://rtcsoccer.com/

About the Guest:

Joanna Lohman is a former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team. She is the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired, honoring her 16-year playing career where she built a platform for social impact. She is the author of, "Raising Tomorrow's Champions", a global keynote speaker, and authenticity activator. She continues her influence as a Sport Diplomat and your new favorite celesbian.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

Most leaders think they're managing stress. A lot of the time they're managing fear.

Michelle "MACE" Curran is a combat veteran and former fighter pilot who flew lead solo for the Thunderbirds. Her book, The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower, outlines how fear isn't something to get rid of — but rather something to use to make better calls when the pressure is highest.

What kept her steady in the cockpit is exactly what leaders need on the ground.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why the self-doubt or anger you feel is actually hiding fear
• How to mentally rehearse difficult conversations
• A two-second reset you can use anywhere without anyone noticing
• How much pressure you need to be a high performer
• How to build trust quickly in your team (and then keep it)
• What to say when someone on your team makes a costly mistake

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:11) Fear That Lives in Your Mind

(02:51) Overthinking & Self-Doubt

(04:27) Self-Regulation Tools

(10:27) Too Little Pressure Is a Problem

(15:40) Setting the Standard for Female Pilots

(18:19) When the Room Turns to Look

(23:01) When Your Leader Believes in You

(29:27) Building Trust with 50% Turnover

(32:37) Debrief Without Blame

(35:54) The Right Way to Handle a Costly Mistake

(39:53) Thunderbirds Near-Death Experience

(44:27) Decisions Under Pressure

(50:54) The Pause Before You React

(53:37) The Impact of Her Book

(57:05) Feed Your Kid's Curiosity

Connect with Michelle “MACE” Curran:

https://www.instagram.com/mace_curran/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/macecurran/

About the Guest:

Michelle “MACE” Curran is a combat veteran, former fighter pilot, and only the second woman in history to fly as the Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s elite demonstration squadron. Now on a new mission, she’s using her story to inspire others to take bold action and flip their fear. Mace has become a highly sought after keynote speaker for clients like Microsoft, PwC, and SpaceX, helping audiences build courage, trust their instincts, and take decisive action under pressure. Her latest book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, turns high-stakes cockpit lessons into powerful tools for life and leadership and recently landed in the Top 20 on the USA Today Bestseller list.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

In Business, "Got five minutes?" is almost never five minutes. And the impact on your team doesn't end when the task does

Shawn Vanderhoven leads the executive development practice at The Wiseman Group and wrote the USA Today bestseller Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World. His research found that there are two types of leaders: those who generate traction, and those who amplify distraction.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The leadership practices that help teams focus in distracting environments
• The five questions to ask before you hand someone work
• The digital wake you leave every time you hit send
• The eight-question quiz that shows how distracting you are to your team
• An exercise to find the hidden issues slowing your team down
• The AI habit that produces more work instead of better work

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:05) The #1 Thing Holding People Back

(02:18) Traction Leaders vs. Distraction Leaders

(03:31) Tune In Before You Jump In

(09:18) The Origin Story of Pause

(13:23) Your Digital Wake

(15:23) The Distraction Test and Your House Rules

(18:01) Turn Out Your Pockets

(21:11) Pausing Up With a Boss or Client

(24:28) Bias for Action vs. Bias for Impact

(27:49) Using AI for Better Work

(32:58) What a Real Pause Looks Like

(36:04) Two Bosses, Two Outcomes

(41:45) Clearing Emotional Distraction

(43:39) Writing the Book With His Wife

(48:34) Which Practices to Start With

Connect with Shawn Vanderhoven:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnvanderhoven/

https://www.pausebook.co/

About the Guest:

Shawn Vanderhoven is the author of Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World. He’s a Partner at The Wiseman Group, leading their development practice for senior executives and emerging leaders. He works with top brands like Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and Tesla, building strategies to leverage their greatest assets: talent. He lives with his wife, Anne, in Menlo Park, California.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

What if AI is not replacing people because it is smarter, but because too many businesses have become broad, vague, and easy to copy?

Matthew Whyatt, founder of Tech Torque and Authority RevUp, believes founders must “get known before they can get chosen.” In an emergency, nobody calls a generalist. They look for the specialist who understands the exact problem and can solve it faster than anyone else.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Matthew to unpack how founders can specialize without limiting their growth, identify their most profitable ideal customers, and build a repeatable B2B sales and marketing system. Matthew explains why a 90% close rate can signal a serious lead-generation problem, how to classify customers using his “absolute, beneficial, and convenient” framework, and why AI becomes jet fuel only after the underlying sales machinery works. They also explore how human taste, judgment, storytelling, and face-to-face relationships create trust in an AI-saturated market.

📘 Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

In this episode, you’ll learn...

• Why generalists become easier to overlook as AI makes basic knowledge and execution widely available
• Matthew’s “target, tolerate, and toss” framework for deciding which customers to pursue, accept, or avoid
• How job listings can reveal your ideal buyer’s education, responsibilities, performance metrics, and internal priorities
• Why your content strategy needs three distinct stages: growth, trust, and conversion
• Why an 80% or 90% close rate usually means you are not generating enough opportunities or taking enough calculated risks
• The difference between scaling from $2 million to $10 million and building the management structure required to reach $25 million
• Why AI is “jet fuel” for a working sales engine but helps broken companies “do more dumb stuff faster”
• How zero-based thinking helps leaders escape sunk-cost decisions: “Knowing what I know today, would I start this again?”

Timestamps

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 01:22 - The four foundations founders need before using AI
• 02:18 - Specialization makes you harder to replace
• 03:52 - Growth, trust, and conversion are not the same content
• 05:19 - Which customers should you target, tolerate, or toss?
• 09:24 - When your largest account becomes your greatest threat
• 11:28 - Building a software company at 22 without a real plan
• 14:13 - The franchise mistake that exposed a broken system
• 18:49 - Escaping an endless cycle of “got a minute?” meetings
• 23:01 - Why identifying as a problem solver can hold you back
• 24:53 - The $230,000 betrayal Matthew never saw coming
• 28:41 - Why 50/50 partnerships create dangerous deadlocks
• 31:01 - The red flags that reveal someone is taking you for a ride
• 32:29 - The zero-based question that kills sunk-cost thinking
• 36:49 - Why growing from $2M to $10M is a different game
• 39:18 - The business math behind predictable customer acquisition
• 40:19 - Why a 90% close rate should make founders nervous
• 40:59 - AI is jet fuel, but what happens when the engine is broken?
• 43:21 - The one human advantage you cannot outsource
• 46:50 - The speed of growth is the speed of transferred trust
• 49:09 - The sales books Matthew keeps coming back to
• 51:04 - Matthew’s most practical daily AI workflow
• 52:31 - How a podcast created an unexpected career opportunity
• 54:43 - Where to connect with Matthew

About Matthew Whyatt

Matthew Whyatt is the founder of Tech Torque and Authority RevUp, a two-time startup founder with more than 25 years of experience in B2B software, SaaS, sales, and marketing. After starting his first software business at 22 and scaling a company through the messy transition from founder-led hustle to professional management, Matthew now helps technology companies build clearer positioning, stronger demand-generation systems, and revenue operations that do not depend entirely on the founder. He is also the host of The CEO and the Salesman Podcast.

Resources and Mentions

Matthew Whyatt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwhyatt/

Tech Torque’s Website: https://techtorque.co/

Authority RevUp’s Website: https://authorityrevup.com/

The CEO and the Salesman Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCeoAndTheSalesmanPodcast

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: http://www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

Subscribe to the Learn-It-All Podcast: Youtube I Apple I Spotify

Follow Damon Lembi: Linkedin I Instagram I Facebook I X

You may be hitting goal after goal, but where is your ambition actually taking you?

For James "J.R." Reid, it took two years to notice his success on paper wasn't translating at home. While working with Hall of Famers, All-Star athletes, and Fortune 500 executives, he found the same problem: most underperformance can be traced back to one thing.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why the real problem isn’t your ambition (and what really is)
• Why you need someone you can be 100% honest with
• How to handle betrayal without becoming cynical
• The runner-up mindset holding you back
• The four questions behind his Diamond of Identity
• The habit that helps you reset before you get home

Topics discussed:

(00:00 Introduction

(00:58) Ambition Isn’t the Problem

(06:07) The New Leader Trap

(09:34) Hold Yourself Accountable

(15:37) Find Your 100% Person

(17:10) When Trust Gets Broken

(21:06)The Cost of Going Cynical

(24:36) Executive Athletic vs. Runner-Up Mindset

(27:43) One Change to His Pregame

(30:55) Identity in the Age of AI

(33:04) The Diamond of Identity

(35:47) Inside The Clutch Club

(43:10) Transition From Work to Home

(48:50) What "Made It" Looks Like

Connect with James Reid:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesjrreid/

https://jamesreid.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@jamesjrreid

https://www.facebook.com/jamesJRreid

https://www.instagram.com/jamesjrreid

https://x.com/jamesJRreid

About the Guest:

J.R.” is the Founder of the J. Reid Group and an International Performance, Mental Game, & Life Strategist, Podcast Host, and Author. His work is designed to help relentless pro athletes, public figures, and leaders master life, business, mental, and emotional strategies so they can make winning a lifestyle.

Since 2005, he’s empowered clients to excel in their pressure-packed careers while confidently upgrading their health and relationships. Some of his clients include World Series Champions, All-Stars, Hall of Famers, Fortune 500 Executives, and Award-Winning Entrepreneurs whose professional contracts have exceeded the hundreds of millions. By earning an M.B.A, J.D., M.S. in Human Performance, and a 9.8 average client satisfaction rating, J.R. has put himself in an elite category of trusted advisors.

After a life-altering car accident gave him a major wake-up call, J.R. devoted himself to mastering human performance and showing up bigger for his wife and three kids. As a result, J.R. has been featured by Focus on the Family and New York Times Best-Selling Author and Leadership Expert, Michael Hyatt, in Your Best Year Ever. He also co-authored the book W.O.W. Factor: How Defining Words Can Define Your Life and regularly speaks to athletes, entrepreneurs, and executives on overcoming failure, winning in your career and at home, and maximizing human performance.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

What if earning more money didn’t create freedom, but quietly made you a hostage to the life you built? Real estate expert, Keynote speaker, and business strategist Alexa DePaolo escaped poverty, became a national top producer, and created the financial security she once dreamed about. Yet even after the desperation was gone, she continued answering calls at 11 p.m., stepping away from her daughters’ activities, and sacrificing family time to protect a success she feared could disappear at any moment.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Alexa joins Damon to explain why high earners feel trapped by success, how a scarcity mindset can survive long after financial hardship ends, and why peace sometimes feels like laziness to high performers. She shares the boundaries that helped her stop operating from desperation, the 30-day hiring rule that prevents resentment, and why she now gives paying business away when a client’s values do not align with hers.

If you are financially successful but still feel overworked, guilty when resting, or unable to disconnect from your business, this conversation will help you redefine success around freedom, family, meaningful relationships, and work you actually enjoy.

📘 Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

In this episode, you’ll learn...

• Why Alexa felt happier when she was poor and how the fear of losing everything kept her trapped in a desperation mindset even after she became successful
• How scheduling family time like a client closing prevents empty calendar space from automatically becoming more work
• Why overgiving is not always generous and how giving to everyone else can quietly take time, energy, and presence away from your family
• How avoiding an uncomfortable employee conversation caused Alexa to build resentment and become the kind of leader she never wanted to be
• Why Alexa evaluates new hires at 30, 60, and 90 days and believes poor performance during the “honeymoon phase” rarely improves later
• How high performers can stop chasing every deal, choose relationships that align with their values, and accept that calm can sometimes be the goal

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:02 – Why Alexa was happier when she was poor
• 03:11 – Did ignoring an 11 p.m. call ever cost her a deal?
• 03:51 – The boundary that protects both business and family
• 04:43 – Growing up without water, electricity, or security
• 06:19 – The moment her daughter made change non-negotiable
• 07:20 – “I’ve survived worse than this”
• 09:52 – Learning to belong in rooms filled with wealth
• 11:35 – Giving value without giving yourself away
• 13:39 – When generosity becomes another person’s mess
• 15:39 – The people who showed Alexa what safety feels like
• 17:30 – Building a team where questions feel safe
• 19:08 – How kindness turned into resentment
• 21:37 – The 30-day rule that prevents bad hires
• 24:05 – Alexa’s no-bullshit approach to high performance
• 25:25 – Leaving a predatory leader and facing a lawsuit
• 28:47 – What broken trust taught her about leadership
• 31:13 – Why great leaders expect good people to leave
• 34:03 – The simple systems Alexa teaches from the stage
• 36:40 – The hustle-to-hostage trap high performers recognize
• 37:15 – Why peace can feel suspiciously like laziness
• 40:03 – Raising capable kids without recreating hardship
• 45:27 – Schedule family time before it is too late
• 46:42 – Where to connect with Alexa

About Alexa DePaolo

Alexa DePaolo is a real estate expert, business strategist, and national keynote speaker known for her authentic, no-fluff approach to growth. After rising from poverty and navigating single motherhood, she built a thriving career helping others turn grit into momentum. With almost 20 years in the mortgage industry, Alexa empowers real estate professionals, entrepreneurs, and sales teams to master their mindset, build sustainable systems, and create businesses they actually love. She is the founder of The Ripple Effect, both a live event and YouTube show where she sits down with professionals to hear their stories, business lessons, and real-world strategies for growth.

Resources and Mentions

Alexa DePaolo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexadepaolo/

Alexa DePaolo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealexadepaolo/

Alexa DePaolo’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexaCOHomeLender/

Alexa DePaolo’s Website: https://www.alexadepaolo.com/

The Ripple Effect: https://www.alexadepaolo.com/the-ripple-effect

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: http://www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

Subscribe to the Learn-It-All Podcast: Youtube I Apple I Spotify

Follow Damon Lembi: Linkedin I Instagram I Facebook I X

Most people think there are two ways to succeed: be talented, or get lucky — but there are two more no one talks about.

Kyle Austin Young is a strategy consultant and author of Success Is a Numbers Game, which outlines his probability hacking framework for achieving your goals. He's spent a decade using it with leaders and their organizations: mapping out what has to go right, removing risks, and stacking the odds in their favor.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to calculate the real odds on any goal you’re chasing
• The averaging trap that leaves you blind to failure
• How to find the real threats to your goal
• Why "think positive" can lower your odds of success
• Two paths to success most people never consider
• What to salvage when a goal falls apart

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:47) #1 Predictor of Success

(01:56) The Success Diagram

(05:52) Get Good Advice

(07:53) Hired as a Director at 21

(12:01) Success Diagram for Hiring

(14:16) Four Paths to Success

(18:00) Probability Hacking

(20:10) Why Businesses Fail

(23:15) Think Negative

(27:22) Repurposing Failure

(30:40) The $6,000 Mistake

(38:28) Context Changes Your Odds

(40:02) Prioritizing Your Goals

(44:22) The Edison Story

(49:35) Success Diagrams for Sales

Connect with Kyle Austin Young:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleaustinyoung/

https://kyleaustinyoung.com/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760298/success-is-a-numbers-game-by-kyle-austin-young/

Resources Mentioned:

The JOLT Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision by Matthew Dixon and Ted McKenna

About the Guest:

Kyle is an award-winning strategy consultant for leaders and teams in a wide range of fields. At the core of his methodology is a powerful system for accomplishing big, meaningful goals that focuses on understanding and changing your odds of success. The nicest compliment Kyle has ever received happened unexpectedly when the phone rang during dinner. The biotech CEO on the other end was brief. “I just felt like I should tell you that you’re the first consultant we’ve ever worked with who did exactly what he said he was gonna do.” That was nearly a decade ago, and it has set the tone for everything since.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

When your company’s values are just words on the wall, trust crumbles—and so does your team.

In this revealing episode of The Learn-It-All™ podcast, Joe Machicote, veteran leadership coach and bestselling author, joins to unpack the hidden (and costly) gap between what leaders say and what they actually do. Joe pulls back the curtain on why culture begins at the top, how one word can transform blame into trust, and why needing to be “right” can destroy more than any honest mistake ever could. Through candid stories, ranging from boardrooms to personal tragedy, Joe offers a masterclass in owning your actions, rebuilding credibility, and creating environments where people want to show up, not check out.

You’ll walk away with tools to close the say/do gap, handle tough feedback, lead teams through conflict, and, most importantly, lead yourself with more humility and intention.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why as much as 50% of turnover stems from leaders whose actions don’t match their words, and how to fix it
• The science behind trust: what happens when there’s a gap between stated values and daily behaviors
• How to hold even CEOs accountable (hint: it takes “straight talk” and real relationships)
• The magic of shifting from “you have a problem” to “we have a problem”
• Why owning your mistakes publicly actually builds more credibility than always being right
• Joe’s most vulnerable story of shifting from “why me?” to “why not me?” and how it made him a better leader and person

‍In This Episode:

00:00 – The say/do gap: when visions & values don’t match employee experience

01:30 – Why up to 50% of people leave over leadership hypocrisy

02:49 – People “make stuff up” when behavior doesn’t match the wall

03:51 – How trust (or lack thereof) drives disengagement

04:40 – Can a CEO really shape a 150,000-person culture? (yes, here’s how)

06:47 – What happens when a leader “whispers”—the whole organization hears a roar

07:08 – How to deliver feedback up the chain and the power of straight talk

09:33 – “My bad”: Why quickly owning mistakes changes everything

11:38 – Joe’s early-career failure: choosing service over the need to be right

16:02 – The real price leaders pay for always needing to be right

17:59 – How to lead teams through collective mistakes and turn “you problems” into “we problems”

22:30 – Joe’s two life rules learned from his mother (and a dance studio metaphor you’ll remember)

37:14 – Pivotal life moments & leading through personal crisis

48:51 – Moving from “buried” to “planted”—the ultimate leadership mindset

54:20 – The impact you never see: how a single keynote changed a security guard’s life

56:10 – Why Joe’s company logo is a black steel butterfly

About Joe Machicote:

Joe Machicote is the Founder and CEO of Transformational Leadership Solutions Group and the #1 bestselling author of Own Thy Stuff. With more than 35 years of experience, Joe has helped CEOs and executives at organizations as large as 150,000 people build cultures where values aren’t just words, but daily realities. He’s passionate about closing the gap between what leaders say and do, reshaping trust, and leaving both people and organizations better than he found them.

Resources Mentioned:

• Joe Machicotehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-machicote-a3858a5/on LinkedIn
• Transformational Leadership Solutions Group
• Own Thy Stuff (Book by Joe Machicote)
• George Carlin on “Stuff” (YouTube video as mentioned)
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Background on trust & self-esteem)
• Southwest Airlines & Herb Kelleher (More on culture leadership)

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode! And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of the Learn-It-All™ podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube

📘 Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit

Follow Damon Lembi:

• ‍LinkedIn‍
• Instagram

8 in 10 AI rollouts go the same way: high hopes and minimal results.

Dr. Soren Kaplan, organizational psychologist and author of 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, has advised more than 30 Fortune 1000 companies and seen why AI adoption fails — it starts with people, not the technology.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Where most companies go wrong with AI adoption
• What experiential intelligence is and why it matters
• How to rebuild the strategic skills AI is quietly eroding
• Why even good AI experiments don't scale
• How to turn experimentation into real results
• The three abilities that separate leaders in an AI world

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:49) Impact on Future Leaders

(02:43) Experiential Intelligence

(04:19) Innovation Outside AI

(06:05) Why You're Losing Skills

(08:33) Build Skills Through Real Work

(11:20) The Ford Keynote

(18:05) Why Companies Don’t Get Results

(19:47) AI Adoption & Innovation

(21:46) Fractured Adoption

(24:27) What Leaders Can Do

(28:52) The Three Abilities

(31:20) What to Hand Off & What to Keep

(33:07) Develop Experiential Intelligence

(38:21) Using It to Your Advantage

(42:38) Vulnerability, Risk & Failure

(47:15) Your Challenge

Connect with Dr. Soren Kaplan:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sorenkaplan/

https://www.instagram.com/soren.kaplan/

https://www.youtube.com/@drsorenkaplan

About the Guest:

Dr. Soren Kaplan helps leaders make sense of disruption. And act on it.

A Wall Street Journal bestselling author, organizational psychologist, and innovation expert, he translates fast-moving shifts in business, technology, and society into clear strategic insight and practical action. He doesn’t just explain what’s changing. He shows leaders exactly what to do next.

Soren brings three decades of work with organizations across industries — including Disney, JPMorganChase, PepsiCo, Colgate, Visa, Medtronic, Nucor, and Ascension — and leads executive education programs at USC’s Center for Effective Organizations. He has written multiple award-winning books, contributes to Harvard Business Review, Inc. Magazine, and Psychology Today, and has built numerous AI-powered businesses including SmartCoach365.com.

Thinkers50 and Business Insider recognize him as one of the world’s top management thought leaders and consultants. He speaks on leadership, innovation, AI, organizational culture, and strategic change, always through the lens of what’s happening right now and what it means for the people and organizations navigating it.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit:https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

By the time your child turns 12, 75% of the time you’ll ever spend with them is already gone. So what are you doing with the time that’s left?

High-performing dads can be crushing it at work, providing for their families, and still feel that nagging sense that something is off at home. In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Jeff Wickersham, bestselling author, speaker, and founder of The Warrior Dad, to unpack what intentional fatherhood actually looks like when work, ambition, stress, and everyday life are competing for your attention. Jeff explains why the small “micro moments” matter more than most dads realize, why repeatedly saying no can eventually cause your kids to stop asking, and why one of the most powerful parenting habits is simply learning to answer the bid for attention.

Jeff also shares the personal losses and struggles that reshaped his approach to fatherhood, including the final conversation with his mother that made him think differently about legacy. He walks Damon through his 15-minute “Morning Fire” routine for becoming a better husband, father, and leader, why consistency builds trust inside a family, and how making daily deposits into your family’s “love bank account” can strengthen connection even when you travel constantly. They also explore how to raise resilient kids without snowplowing every obstacle out of their way, why your children absorb your energy and behavior more than your advice, and how one intentional father can change the family tree for generations to come.

📘 Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

In this episode, you’ll learn...

• How to answer your kids’ bids for attention so they keep asking you to spend time with them, even when they become teenagers
• Why crushing it professionally can still leave high-performing dads feeling disconnected at home, and why Jeff believes true fulfillment comes from leaning into your family
• Jeff’s seven-part Morning Fire Protocol, a roughly 15-minute routine built around hydration, movement, meditation, declarations, love notes, gratitude, and learning
• Why consistency is more important than intensity, and how repeatedly starting and stopping habits can slowly erode trust with your spouse, kids, and even yourself
• How to make daily deposits into your family’s “love bank account” through simple notes, messages, hugs, and moments of connection that may seem small but matter deeply
• Why parents should resist the urge to “snowplow” every challenge out of their kids’ lives and instead help them develop resilience, grit, ownership, and the ability to bounce back
• How your mood, language, habits, and relationship with your spouse shape your children because, as Jeff puts it, “more is caught than taught”
• How to become the dad who “cuts the anchor,” changes the narrative, and changes the family tree instead of unconsciously passing old patterns into the next generation

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:01 – Why winning at work can still feel empty at home
• 03:22 – The promise Jeff made to his mother before she died
• 05:34 – What happens when you stop running from pain
• 09:29 – The tragedy that gave The Warrior Dad its mission
• 13:13 – The inner voice high performers keep trying to numb
• 15:44 – What quitting alcohol taught Jeff about leading his sons
• 18:04 – Seven wins in 15 minutes: Jeff’s Morning Fire Protocol
• 23:59 – Why consistency beats waiting until you feel motivated
• 27:52 – The parenting rule Jeff wishes every dad would follow
• 31:36 – Why teenagers actually can still want to hang out with you
• 33:37 – Stop snowplowing the road in front of your kids
• 35:31 – How making excuses can quietly create a victim mindset
• 39:24 – How traveling dads can stay connected from thousands of miles away
• 40:45 – Your kids are absorbing your energy whether you realize it or not
• 44:10 – What Rocky II can teach fathers about refusing to stay down
• 47:27 – The surprising downstream effect of intentional fatherhood
• 49:04 – How one dad can change a family tree forever

About Jeff Wickersham

Jeff Wickersham is the founder of The Warrior Dad, where he helps high-performing fathers who are succeeding professionally become more intentional, present, and connected as husbands and dads. After the loss of his mother and his own struggles with alcohol, gambling, and feeling like he wasn’t living up to his potential, Jeff began experimenting with habits, routines, coaching, and personal development systems that transformed the way he approached his life and family. Today, his mission is to positively impact one million dads and more than two million kids by January 1, 2053, helping fathers lead from the front, build deeper relationships with their families, and create a legacy that lasts for generations.

Resources and Mentions

The Warrior Dad book: https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Dad-Children-Family-Legacy/dp/B0DW49YK12

Jeff Wickersham’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeff_wickersham/

Jeff Wickersham’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-wickersham/

The Warrior Dad Website: https://thewarriordad.com/

The Warrior Dad Blind Spot Assessment: https://blindspot.thewarriordad.com/

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: http://www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

Subscribe to the Learn-It-All Podcast: Youtube I Apple I Spotify

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Only 8% of people are on superteams. The rest lose hours every week sitting in meetings, answering messages, and doing work that gets them nowhere.

Ron Friedman, social psychologist and author of Superteams, researched thousands of teams to find out what high-performing teams do differently.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why most teams loses 29 hours every week
• How superteams handle wins and losses
• Why productivity hacks slow the whole team down
• Meeting rules that give your team its week back
• How superteams collaborate to get the best ideas
• The number one predictor of high performance

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:53) Three Factors of a Real Team

(02:33) What Makes a Superteam

(06:57) The Sunday Night Test

(09:42) Team-First Culture

(12:34) Why Teams Need to Fail

(16:38) Where Your Week Disappears

(18:23) Productivity Hacks That Backfire

(20:15) Meeting Rules of Superteams

(22:01) The Brainstorm Problem

(25:59) What Drives High Performance

(29:02) Best vs. Worst Teammate Traits

(32:37) Why 97% Of Feedback Fails

Connect with Ron Friedman:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronfriedmanphd/

https://www.instagram.com/ronfriedmanphd/

https://x.com/RonFriedman

https://www.threads.com/@ronfriedmanphd

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIFgRGcGjxXjmovUEBcnbXA

Book link: https://geni.us/superteams

Superteams Masterclass: http://superteamsmasterclass.com

Superteams Quiz: http://superteamquiz.com

Ron’s Website: http://www.superteamsinc.com/

About the Guest:

Ron Friedman is an award-winning social psychologist and bestselling author of The Best Place to Work and Superteams. His research on building high-performing teams has been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Harvard Business Review, where his article “How to Build a Superteam That Keeps Getting Better” is this month’s cover story.

To learn more about his work, visit http://superteamsinc.com.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com

What if the mindset that made you successful is also the mindset quietly pushing you toward burnout?

High achievers are rewarded for going, doing, achieving, and hustling, but leadership advisor, Keynote speaker, and bestselling author Mairin Moore Cane says there is a hidden cost when your identity and self-worth become tied to performance. You stop appreciating what you’ve already accomplished, failures start feeling personal, and slowing down can feel almost impossible. For Mairin, that pattern eventually became impossible to ignore. After years of pushing herself, people pleasing, and trying to show up for everyone else, chronic illness forced her from running nine miles a day to spending three years largely bedridden.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Mairin to explore the mindset shift high achievers and leaders need to make before burnout forces it for them. Mairin shares how to recognize when ambition has become misalignment, why knowing your values matters more than constantly proving yourself, and how her Root, Realign, and Rise framework helps people move through failure, pressure, identity shifts, and difficult seasons without letting those moments define them. Damon and Mairin also unpack authentic leadership, creating psychologically safe and connected teams, learning to say “I don’t have the answer,” and why some of the strongest leaders stop pretending they have everything figured out.

If you’re navigating leadership burnout, performance-based self-worth, people pleasing, chronic stress, or the pressure to constantly achieve, this conversation offers a more sustainable way to succeed without losing yourself in the process.

📘 Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

In this episode, you’ll learn...

• The warning signs that you’re living out of alignment, including saying yes when something inside you wants to say no, constantly trying to fit in, and ignoring the feeling that something isn’t authentic
• Why strong leadership does not mean having every answer, and how Mairin learned to tell her team, “I don’t have an answer,” while inviting them to figure out the next step together
• How leaders can create safer, more connected teams by admitting their own weak points, understanding where employees are struggling, and taking two minutes to genuinely ask, “How are you doing?”
• How the Root, Realign, and Rise framework helps you separate a difficult circumstance from your identity, return to what is true, realign around your values, and use adversity as a foundation for what comes next
• Why Mairin sees failures as “launching points into the next pivot,” and how learning to move before you have everything figured out can build stronger leaders and more resilient teams
• Why becoming matters more than appearing perfect, and how difficult seasons can deepen your roots instead of proving that you are failing
• How gratitude, intentional pauses, and acknowledging what you have already accomplished can interrupt the constant pressure to rush toward the next goal

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:12 The hidden danger of tying self-worth to achievement
• 02:35 Why high performers struggle to slow down
• 05:48 The moment Mairin realized achievement wasn’t enough
• 08:41 Where the need to please everyone really began
• 10:48 The warning signs you’re losing yourself
• 12:36 Why control can quietly run your life
• 14:28 The leadership lesson she learned from having no answers
• 15:37 How to rewrite your identity as a leader
• 19:33 What business failure taught Mairin about resilience
• 23:37 How great leaders make failure feel safe
• 25:46 The two-minute habit that builds stronger teams
• 27:50 The Root, Realign, and Rise framework
• 33:18 What happens when you stop resisting who you’re becoming
• 34:54 Why Mairin doesn’t want her old life back
• 37:48 You don’t have to be whole to lead
• 38:47 The story that brought Mairin to tears
• 40:51 Finding purpose in the pain
• 42:13 Damon’s challenge: Are you really showing up?

About Mairin Moore Cane

Mairin Moore Cane is a leadership advisor, keynote speaker, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and host of the Root, Realign, Rise™ Podcast. After more than two decades of leading businesses through growth, uncertainty, difficult decisions, and major transitions, Mairin now helps leaders navigate pressure, strengthen resilience, and make clearer decisions without losing themselves in the process. Her work centers on authentic leadership, identity, performance under pressure, and the belief that you don’t have to have everything resolved before you can lead well. She is also the author of Rooted, Not Rushed: Healing, Reclaiming, and Rising in a World That Told You to Shrink.

Resources and Mentions

Rooted, Not Rushed book: https://www.amazon.com/ROOTED-NOT-RUSHED-Healing-Reclaiming/dp/1968250751

Mairin Moore Cane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mairinmoorecane/

Root, Realign, Rise™ Podcast: https://mairinmoorecane.com/podcasts/

Mairin Moore Cane’s Website: https://mairinmoorecane.com/

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: http://www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

Subscribe to the Learn-It-All Podcast: Youtube I Apple I Spotify

Follow Damon Lembi: Linkedin I Instagram I Facebook I X

A million users in three months. Then the hardest three months of his life.

Colin Hodge, author of Outrageous Startup Growth, walked away from Microsoft and spent the next decade learning how to build a truly sustainable business — reaching a total of 100 million users in his career. But in between came an App Store ban, a major lawsuit, a co-founder's burnout, and a 3 AM breakdown that put his resilience to the test.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why understanding people beats better technology
• How to build empathy without becoming “soft”
• The Method Mindset technique for thinking like your customers
• How to grow through adversity and burnout
• Why removing all friction from your product can backfire
• The bias that shows up in nearly every negotiation
• How to keep your work human in the age of AI

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:51) Tech Isn’t Everything

(02:24) Why He Left Microsoft

(09:23) The Taboo Founder Trait

(11:02) The Method Mindset Technique

(15:38) When Your People Burn Out

(19:54) Empathy Without Going Soft

(21:37) Bang with Friends Origin Story

(26:07) 1M Users in Three Months

(30:04) Banned By Apple & Sued By Zynga

(32:47) Surviving Rock Bottom

(37:51) Sustainable Growth

(41:00) Good Friction vs. Bad Friction

(47:26) The Bias That Saves Thousands

Connect with Colin Hodge:

https://linkedin.com/in/ckbhodge

https://colinhodge.substack.com

https://instagram.com/ckbhodge

https://facebook.com/colin.hodge

Resources Mentioned:

Outrageous Startup Growth: Uncovering the Secrets of User Psychology to Scale Your Success by Colin Hodge

About the Guest:

Colin Hodge is a startup founder and national bestselling author who has led companies and growth teams responsible for over 100 million users.

He currently is co-owner of DOWN, a top 10 dating app in the US with millions in annual revenue – built on the growth principles and lessons shared in this book.

He achieved a successful exit for DOWN (then later reacquiring it) and 17Live, the top live-streaming video company in Asia. While chief growth officer at 17Live, Colin led data-driven initiatives in growth, global expansion, and marketing, then launched the platform in the United States as the first US CEO.

Let us know your key takeaways from the episode!

And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making.

New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week.

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com

Follow Damon Lembi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutiquehttps://podcastboutique.comhttps://www.podcastboutique.com