Colin Stevens, author of  Make Your Mark: Lessons from Legends for a Life of Fulfillment and Impact,  joins the show to share his inspiring story of chasing a dream that didn't pan out the way he thought it would and the lessons he's learned along the way.  Joe and Colin talk about the following topics: The importance of self-belief for achieving success Why we should study  the  "full game" over the "highlight reel". Leadership through transparency and owning mistakes.The impact of social...

Dr. Amishi Jha joins Joe to discuss her book, Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day . Amishi sheds light on the complexities of the brain's attention system to help us understand how we can navigate and enhance our focus in stressful and demanding jobs. In this episode Joe and Amishi discuss:  How our attention shapes everything from emotions to relationships Challenges in maintaining attention in an information-saturated ageHow the attention system works The...

Dr. Michael Norton joins Joe to discuss his new book, The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions.  In this episode, Joe and Dr. Norton explore the hidden power of rituals in our daily lives. Highlights from this episode include: Understanding the powerful impact of rituals The difference between a habit and a ritualHow to find and examine our own personal rituals The role of rituals in transitions (becoming a leader, returning from combat,...

Lieutenant General Christopher Donahue returns to the show to continue his previous conversation with Joe on culture and leadership. In this episode, they discuss: What LTG Donahue has learned since his last appearance on the podcastHow the culture of the 82nd Airborne Division held up during the evacuation of AfghanistanFour reasons leaders need to focus on physical fitnessThe importance of innovation in today's ArmyWhat LTG Donahue is reading right nowTips for successful...

The 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy A. George makes his first appearance on the podcast for a great discussion about leadership, his vision, and the lessons he's learned over the course of his four-decade career. General George and Joe cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing topics including: Encouraging professional discourseWhy leaders need to ask questionsThe training management program that's in the Chief's crosshairsWhy great leaders are great editorsWhat...

Matt Higgins,  author the Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential  joins Joe and shares his amazing story of escaping poverty and how his "Burn the Boats!" philosophy has guided his life. Joe and Matt also discuss: Changing our relationship with imposter syndromeAdopting a "burn the boats" mindset in various contexts, including the military, entrepreneurship, and personal challenges.Role of authenticity in leadership positionsDealing with anxiety and the pressure...

Author Steven Pressfield returns for his 3rd appearance on the show to discuss his latest book The Daily Pressfield . In this episode, Joe and Steve talk about: How small, daily passages can change our livesThe power of answering your calling and the potential consequences of ignoring this internal pullHow to face and overcome Resistance, the force that inevitably shows up whenever we try to improve our livesWhat happens when our inner and outer worlds come into alignmentStrategies to combat...

Army Colonel Dave Butler joins Joe to discuss communication for leaders in today's information environment. This episode is a must-listen for leaders at all levels because Dave and Joe tackle the delicate dance military leaders must perform on social media, navigating the fine line between engagement and overexposure. Dave and Joe also discuss: The pitfalls of social media engagementWhy senior military leaders have glass jawsWhat to do if internal memos and emails spill into the public...

International Bestselling author Terry Hayes joins Joe to discuss his remarkable career(s) and how they prepared him to write  I Am Pilgrim and The Year of the Locust. Terry and Joe also talk about: Terry's decision to leave Hollywood to write novelsFighting through self-doubt Being ready for the difficulties when pursuing your callingHow Terry leveraged his subconscious when stuck while working on a scene with Mel GibsonFocusing on the task at hand instead of getting overwhelmed by the big...

Anna Papalia, author of Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing,  joins Joe to discuss her new book and help leaders get better at interviews. Joe and Anna  talk about: The Four Interview Styles: Charmers, Challengers, Harmonizers, and ExaminersTop interview mythsWhy we need self-awarenessLeveraging your interview style and how to avoid the pitfalls that comes with it The importance of using the STAR method when answering questions...and much more! Anna Papalia is the CEO of...

Sergeant Major of the Army, Sergeant Major Michael Weimer joins the show to discuss what he's learned from his decades of experience in the Army and how family, mentors, and self-reflection have helped him grow into the leader he is today. Joe and Weimer also talk about: Why the military can be "the family business"Weimer's biggest obstacle in his careerThe importance of being present at work and at homeManaging the tension between family and professional obligationsBalancing accountability...

Juliet Funt, author of A Minute to Think, returns to the podcast to discuss tactics for leaders to integrate healthy work behaviors into their organizations and the surprising benefits of setting boundaries on our digital availability. Joe and Juliet also talk about: Disconnecting during vacations to be presentNegative impacts of reading and responding to work emails after hoursThe power of "wedges" in our daily livesLeadership and the power dynamic with weekend emails and after-hour textsThe...

New York Times Bestselling biographer Brian Jay Jones joins Joe to discuss George Lucas: A Life, Becoming Dr. Seuss, and  Jim Henson: The Biography. Brian and Joe talk about the lessons we can learn from Lucas, Dr. Seuss, and Henson: Overcoming self-doubt and leveraging the power of frustrationPaying attention to our life's purposeThe power of doing the work even the when the results aren't immediateAppreciating the creative journey, not just the end productInnovation and flexibility of...

Jacquelyn Lane and Scott Osman, authors of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Becoming Coachable: Unleashing the Power of Executive Coaching To Transform Your Leadership and Life  join Joe to discuss: The difference between mentoring and coaching (and why this matters)How power dynamics can impact leader feedbackUncovering your blindspots before they get you in troubleMisconceptions about executive coachingBeing prepared to be coachedWhy leaders need accountabilityHow to go from rising to...

Nick Hutchison, author of Rise of the Reader: Strategies for Mastering Your Reading Habits and Applying What You learn joins Joe to talk about the power of books. In this episode Nick and Joe talk about: Why reading helps us maximize our potential Ways to solve some of our most troubling problemsWhere to find the time to read each dayHow to create good habits and get rid of the bad onesHow to read over 25 books a yearStrategies for implementing lessons from books into our livesBook sex (Yes,...

New York Times besetselling author Austin Kleon joins Joe to discuss how all of us can become more creative people. In this episode Joe and Austin talk about: The importance of reading widelyWhy routines matterThe power inside of our old green notebooks"Scenius" is better than geniusTension makes us betterHow uniforms influence our behaviorBeing present in our personal and professional lives Austin Kleon is the New York Times bestselling author of a trilogy of illustrated books about...

Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga, the commander of United States Army Special Operations Command joins Joe to share lessons from his military career. Joe and LTG Braga cover a wide-range of  topics to include: Regrets and self-selecting out of opportunitiesNot being satisfied with the status quoWhere great ideas come fromThe performance triadManaging the tension between work and personal lifeGetting ideas from booksStaying curiousMyths about SOFLt. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga assumed command,...

Eduardo Briceño joins the show to discuss his book, the Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action.  He explains that if we  focus only on performing, our performance suffers, which is why he coined the term "the performance paradox." Joe and Eduardo discuss the difference between fixed and growth mindsets, how to avoid falling into the chronic performance trap, and what leaders can do to promote a culture of learning, experimentation, and feedback. Eduardo Briceño is a...

Massimo Pigliucci, author of The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us About Our Search for Good Leaders, joins the show to answer a three thousand year old question: Are we born with good character or can we develop it? Professor Pigliucci and Joe discuss how the ancient Greeks and Romans approached character development and how and their ancient teachings can help us live better lives today.    Prof. Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the...

General Wayne Eyre, the Chief of the Defense Staff for Canada, joins Joe to share over three decades worth of leadership lessons, including how reading, writing, and reflection have shaped his career. They also talk about what it means to be a professional in today’s military, the importance of holistic health and fitness for leaders, and why failure is a great teacher.   Gen Eyre joined Army Cadets at age 12 and has been in uniform ever since. Gen Eyre attended Royal Roads Military College...

Billy Oppenheimer joins Joe for a discussion about books and the positive influence they can have in our lives. Billy and Joe share the lessons they have learned from reading about Disney Pixar, Bob Dylan, General Patton, Dr. Seuss, The Lumineers, George Lucas, and many others. They also talk about the importance of writing and reflection for personal growth Billy Oppenheimer is the writing/research assistant to Ryan Holiday. He's also the author of the weekly newsletter, The Six at Six on...

Marshall Goldsmith joins Joe to discuss his latest book, The Earned Life  and what he's learned about life and leadership over the course his career as an executive coach. Joe and Marshall cover a wide range of important topics  to include why we need to understand what motivates us, the relationship between power and ego, and the difference between ambition and aspiration. Marshall Goldsmith has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Business Thinkers in the World and the top-rated...

Ben Milligan, author of By Water Beneath the Walls: The Rise of the Navy SEALs, joins Joe to discuss the history of the Navy SEALs, how they influenced special operations in the US Military, and why their history matters today.  Ben also shares his inspirational story of how he researched and wrote this book (his first one) while working a full-time job and raising a family.  Ben Milligan became a US Navy SEAL in 2001 and served until 2009. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star and other...

Oliver Burkeman, the bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals joins Joe to  discuss the problem of people not having enough time and the elusive work/life balance. He shares why most time optimization techniques make our lives worse off and offers a new way to approach time management that will help us live meaningful lives. Oliver Burkeman is a British author and journalist, formerly writing the weekly column "This Column Will Change Your Life" for the...