My guest today is making her third appearance on the podcast. That’s, in part, because I think she’s one of the best writers around. As I say in today’s episode: when I first hear she’s got something new coming out, I always look forward to it (and I’ve never been disappointed). I’m talking, of course, about Dorie Clark. She’s a consultant and keynote speaker who teaches executive education at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business....

I’ve been waiting for over a year to bring you today’s conversation and episode. That’s right. It was in the fall of last year that I got word on X about a new book coming out, all about the history of The Notebook. It indeed came out last fall…but only in the UK. It wasn’t slated to come out in the US until today, November 12th. Turns out, it actually ended up releasing in the US a couple of months ago, an update that I missed. But no matter. I’m still “on schedule” as...

You know when you go outside on a pleasant day and there’s that perfect breeze in combination with just the right amount of warmth from the sun on your face? That’s pretty much the same feeling you’ll get from hanging out with my guest today. Delightful, effervescent, fun, and cool (yes, cool) are all words I would use to describe her. Her name is Marianne Cantwell and her book is called Be a Free Range Human: Escape the 9-5, Create a Life You Love, and Still Pay the Bills. Marianne’s...

Every so often, someone reaches out to me and says, “You’ve gotta talk to so-and-so.” Sometimes I’m skeptical, but when it’s a good friend that is doing the talking, my ears perk up. That was the case when it was suggested I chat with today’s guest. His name is Nir Eyal and he did not disappoint. His new book is called Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. In it, he lays bare the secret of finally doing what you say you will do with a four-step,...

Today, we’re tackling a topic that’s often shrouded in mystery and perceived as exclusive to the corporate elite or military strategists: strategy. But as my guest argues, strategy is for everyone who desires to create positive change in the world. Seth Godin’s latest book, This Is Strategy, is a thought-provoking manifesto that breaks down this seemingly complex subject into digestible concepts, revealing the power of time, games, empathy, and systems in shaping our world....

In this episode of Read to Lead, I dive deep into the fascinating world of creativity and innovation. Challenging common myths about creativity being an innate gift reserved for a select few, this episode empowers listeners with scientific insights and practical strategies to unlock their creative potential. For more on this topic, and for a summary of the episode, simply scroll down. To listen, just click the play button below. Join in on our...

I find that I’m reading more and more books on the topic of AI these days. Why? Well, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that if you don’t want to be left behind, you need embrace the world of AI and embrace it ASAP. Today, my guest’s book is designed to help you do exactly that. His name is Pascal Bornet, and his book is called IRREPLACEABLE: How to Stand Out in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. With over 20 years of pioneering research at the human-AI...

This, for me personally, is one of the most fun conversations I’ve had with a guest. I so identify with the power of one’s voice to influence and impact. Arthur Samuel Joseph has an incredible background training world-class athletes, actors, and politicians in the discipline of Empowerment Through Voice. I’m fascinated by his work. It was one of those moments where I had the epiphany, “I’m cut out to teach this too!” Arthur’s latest book, released in 2014, is...

This month, inside the Read to Lead Community online, our theme is FEAR. How to act despite fear, to be even more specific. The fears we dive into today include failure, rejection, success (yes, that’s a fear too), inadequacy (aka imposter syndrome), change, judgment or criticism, discomfort or difficulty, and disappointing others. I also recommend a book to help tackle each of these with links below (you’re not surprised, are you?). In this episode, you’ll learn...

I am delighted to welcome Wayne Turmel to the show. A second edition of the book The Long-Distance Leader, co-written with Kevin Eikenberry, has been released, updated for a post-pandemic world. This new version also has a new title. It’s The Long-Distance Leader: Revised Rules for Remarkable Remote and Hybrid Leadership. When The Long-Distance Leader was first published, it was pre-pandemic and remote work was in its infancy, with 30% of managers leading at a distance....

It was more than a dozen years ago when a colleague of mine at the time, Teresa White, first introduced me to the work of today’s guest. I’m almost embarrassed to admit I hadn’t already been studying his work. You might say Teresa’s introduction makes this interview today possible. I’m talking about Tom Rath, author of StrengthsFinder 2.0, Amazon’s top-selling nonfiction book of all time, and How Full Is Your Bucket and several others. Today, we dive into two of his...

Today’s guest, you might say, takes what he does very seriously. Another way to say it might be that he’s a little extreme. However, no one can deny that he is very good at what he does. That’s why I love talking to him so much. His name is Tim Pollard and his new book is called Mastering the Moment: Perfecting the Skills and Processes of Exceptional Presentation Delivery. Tim first appeared on Read to Lead to talk about The Compelling Communicator: Mastering the Art and Science of...

I always enjoy welcoming a returning guest. In this instance, it’s been nearly six years since he last appeared. I’m talking about author Jay Samit, who wrote one of my favorite books of 2015. It’s called Disrupt You!: Master Personal Transformation, Seize Opportunity, and Thrive in an Endless Era of Innovation. The book we’re diving into this time around is another stellar read. It’s called Future-Proofing You: Twelve Truths for Creating Opportunity, Maximizing Wealth,...

Today’s guest makes his fourth visit to the podcast. That puts him in very elite company. Jon Acuff joins Jeff Goins and Todd Henry as the only guests to have appeared as many times. If you think that must mean I like his work, well, you’d be right. Previous books I’ve featured from Jon include: Start, Do Over, and Finish, all three excellent books, and Soundtracks is no exception. Jon says that “Overthinking is when what you think gets in the way of what you...

Welcome back to the podcast! Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s changing the way we live and work—artificial intelligence. Whether you’re in tech, education, or the creative arts, AI tools have transformed how we approach tasks and solve problems. They offer efficiencies and enhancements that were unthinkable just a few years ago. In this episode, we’ll explore how integrating AI into our daily routines can simplify our lives, boost productivity, and foster creativity....

Have you ever found yourself stuck with a book that just doesn’t seem to be going anywhere? You pick it up, hoping to power through, but instead, it feels like you’re wading through molasses. We’ve all been there, and it can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you have a pile of unread books waiting for you. But what if I told you that there’s a way to keep your reading momentum going without abandoning books altogether? That’s where the idea of interleaving books comes...

Today marks a first ever and a second ever. Let’s take the second, first. Today’s episode marks only the second time in the history of Read to Lead where the guest is not promoting a book but is, rather, here simply because of their expertise in a specific area. And the “first” is that it’s the first time I’ve ever invited on a guest that I attended high school with! That was a long time ago. In fact, we graduated 40 years ago this year. My guest is Jeff...

Mastery is considered by some to be an illusive concept. I hope to dispel that rumor once and for all with this short, concise, and easy-to-follow episode, all about mastery and self-improvement (our theme this month inside the Read to Lead Community). To join us for future AMAs and Guest Expert sessions, or to peruse our entire library free for two weeks, go here. Okay, let’s dive right in! Whether it’s a professional skill or a personal hobby, the journey to...

Welcome, welcome, welcome! You’re listening to the Read to Lead Podcast, and I’m your host, Jeff Brown. Today is an incredibly special day because we’re celebrating 11 years of this podcast! 🎉 Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of speaking with some of the brightest minds and discussing some of the most transformative books out there. So, in honor of our 11th anniversary, I thought it would be fitting to look back at 11 of the most influential books I’ve read since...

Adele Gambardella, a celebrated PR strategist and crisis management consultant, has worked with major clients like Facebook and President Joe Biden, and has been honored as a “Woman Who Means Business” by the Washington Business Journal. Chip Massey, a former FBI hostage negotiator, brings his expertise from 20+ years in law enforcement to the business world, teaching sophisticated negotiation techniques to leaders at companies like Goldman Sachs and Samsung. Together,...

Wouldn’t you love to sit down and have a chat with the person who was Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist? I know I would. Wait?! That just happens to describe my guest today. His name is Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt. And his new book is called What’s Next Is Now: How to Live Future Ready. Rather than bracing for what happens next, Frederik argues that you can be making what happens next. You can respond to unexpected challenges, big and small, by turning them into...

I’m a sucker for a well-researched book, especially when that book is on the topic of learning effectively. My guest today wrote a book you may have heard of. It’s the Wall Street Journal bestseller called Ultralearning. It’s a book that I often recommend to students of my Note-Making Mastery course. His name is Scott H. Young, and Scott’s got a new book out called Get Better at Anything: 12 Maxims for Mastery. Scott says that when we’re able to learn from the...

There’s productivity. There’s time management. And then there’s managing priorities. We often lump managing priorities in with these other areas but, in reality, effectively managing priorities is a discipline all to itself and one that, frankly, is rarely—if ever—approached holistically. Until now. My guest this week is Harry Max, author of Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions (use the code READ20 for 20% off at this link)....

I mean it when I say that today’s guest is easily one of my favorite authors in the world. But even more important than that, he’s become one of my friends and one of my mentors (AND, one of my favorite people on the planet). I’m talking of course about New York Times bestselling author Dan Miller. Dan is keeping his promise of updating – every five years – the book that started it all. That book is the 20th-anniversary edition of 48 Days to the Work (and Life)...