Shows / Unconventional Leaders
Unconventional Leaders
Conversations with creators, storytellers, and thinkers shaping culture through their work, exploring the craft, perspectives, and deeper forces behind what we create.
Episodes
- Unconventional Leaders
What Are You Really Afraid Of The Fear Beneath the Fear
Sometimes the things we're most afraid of aren't what we think they are. After an embarrassing encounter with my own shadow and a childhood memory involving a…
- Unconventional Leaders
What To Do When You Are Misunderstood | Dr. Yael Schonbrun
Dr. Yael Schonbrun is a clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and assistant professor at Brown University whose work explores the science of human…
- Unconventional Leaders
The Power of Oral Storytelling | Sarah Quint
Sarah Quint is a traditional storyteller and citizen of the Mattaponi Tribe of Tsenacommacah in Virginia. Her work centers on preserving and retelling…
- Unconventional Leaders
Consciousness, Constellations, & Experiencing Spirit Through the Body | Fally Klein
Fally Klein is a Jewish educator, hypnotherapist, and breathwork facilitator whose work brings together Jewish mysticism, psychology, and constellations. In…
- Unconventional Leaders
Why Stories Can Change Minds When Arguments Can’t | Keith Giles
Keith Giles is an author and the co-owner of Quoir Publishing. He has spent years not only authoring nonfiction books around theology and deconstruction, but…
- Unconventional Leaders
How to Tell Stories Without Sounding Preachy | Pastor & Fiction Writer Zac Cannon
Zac Cannon is not only an award-winning storyteller, novelist, and screenwriter…he is also a pastor. His background is in film and fiction writing, but he has…
- Unconventional Leaders
Why Your Words Matter More Than You Think | Nigel Darius
On Nigel Darius’s IG bio, he says that he is “helping the world heal…with words.” As an artist, he uses storytelling and language to foster empathy, curiosity…
- Unconventional Leaders
How to Handle Criticism Without Losing Confidence | Doogie Horner
Doogie Horner is an accomplished author, illustrator, and stand-up comedian. Across each medium, he’s learned how to navigate the tension between making work…
- Unconventional Leaders
What Your Emotional Triggers Reveal About You | Catherine Plano
Catherine Plano is an executive coach, leadership expert, author, and host of The Catherine Plano Podcast. Drawing from psychology, emotional intelligence, and…
- Unconventional Leaders
How to Handle Being Misunderstood Without Defending Yourself | Jeremy Jernigan
Jeremy Jernigan spent two decades in ministry, eventually leading a megachurch before walking away from the role that had defined his entire adult life. Today…
- Unconventional Leaders
Why This Award-Winning Musician Walked Away From His U.S. Tour | Juno Award Winner Quique Escamilla
Quique Escamilla is a Mexican Mayan-Zapotec singer-songwriter, storyteller, and cultural advocate whose work explores identity, history, and the stories we…
- Unconventional Leaders
What Nature Teaches Us About Telling Better Stories | Professional Designer Tina Huffman
Tina Huffman is a landscape designer, educator, and viral content creator. After spending years building a successful marketing business, she returned to the…
- Unconventional Leaders
American Idol's David Francisco on Life After Paralysis
David Francisco is a singer-songwriter whose life changed dramatically after a devastating cycling accident left him paralyzed just weeks after moving to…
- Unconventional Leaders
Spiritual Trauma & Storytelling | Kristen LaValley
Kristen LaValley is a writer, speaker, and author whose work explores the intersection of faith, trauma, and belonging. Through her books, courses, and online…
- Unconventional Leaders
Attention vs Impact | Stone Stafford
Stone Stafford spent more than two decades in the music industry as an artist, songwriter, producer, and trusted advisor to creators with big dreams and even…
- Unconventional Leaders
Why the Person You Want to Become Might Be Holding You Back | Ana Urban | ADHD + Mindset Coach
Ana Urban is an ADHD coach, educator, and creator who helps people better understand their minds and build lives that work with their brains instead of against…
- Unconventional Leaders
God, Sex, and Rich People (& the Courage to Tell Your Story) | Mattie Jo Cowsert
Mattie Jo Cowsert is a New York-based actor, author, and storyteller whose work explores the stories we inherit (and what happens when they no longer fit)…
- Unconventional Leaders
The Story of God in the Garden | Ciarra Jones (The Garden Theologian)
Ciarra Jones, known online as The Gardening Theologian, blends theology, ecology, and storytelling to help people untangle inherited beliefs and cultivate a…
- Unconventional Leaders
Rituals For Heretics | Jeremy Steele
Jeremy Steele creates space for folks recovering from religious trauma to rediscover ritual, spirituality, and connection on their own terms. An ordained…
- Unconventional Leaders
Your Hero’s Journey | Awaken Your Myth with Erik Ireland
Erik Ireland is known online as “your queer mountain grandpa,” where he shares stories and mindfulness practices for folks who want a little more peace and…
- Unconventional Leaders
Quantum Theory and Spirituality | Keith Giles & Nish Dubashia
In this conversation, Keith Giles and Nish Dubashia explore the emerging idea of quantum theology, where modern physics, ancient mysticism, and religious…
- Unconventional Leaders
Drive Traffic WITHOUT Posting on Social Media | Cyndi Zaweski
Cyndi Zaweski is an award-winning journalist, storytelling marketer, and entrepreneur. A little over six months ago, she made a bold move: she stopped posting…
- Unconventional Leaders
The Confidence Lie: What No One Tells You About Success | Joshua Coburn
Joshua Coburn is a marketer, creator, and storyteller…but if you ask him what he does, his answer is simple: he makes people’s lives better. Joshua shares how…
- Unconventional Leaders
She Almost Died… Then Came Back With a New Purpose | Jesi Stracham
Jesi Stracham is an entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate who, after surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident and paralysis, discovered the power of…
- Unconventional Leaders
Dark Work | Anthony Trucks
Anthony Trucks is a former professional football player turned speaker, author, and transformational coach. Known for his “Dark Work” and “Identity Shift”…
- Unconventional Leaders
Finding Hope (When the World Feels Dark) | Shannan Martin
Shannan Martin is the bestselling author of Counterweights, Start with Hello, and The Ministry of Ordinary Places, as well as the voice behind the popular…
- Unconventional Leaders
Why Comedians Should Write What They Want to Know, Not What They Know | Joe Zimmerman
Joe Zimmerman is a stand-up comedian whose resume includes The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Last Comic Standing, and his own Comedy Central Half…
- Unconventional Leaders
You Did Everything Right… So Why Are You Still Struggling? | Patrick Murphy
Patrick Murphy is a somatic coach for high-achievers who feel stuck in anxiety, perfectionism, and overwhelm. Today, he shares how unresolved trauma shows up…
- Unconventional Leaders
Rethinking the Christian Response to LGBTQ+ People | Brian Nietzel
Brian Nietzel says he's always known two things about himself. One, Jesus is his hero. And two, he is gay. At one point, his faith and sexuality felt divided…
- Unconventional Leaders
True Crime to Healing: Collier Landry on Storytelling and Trauma
At just 12 years old, Collier Landry testified against his father in one of Ohio’s most publicized trials following the murder of his mother. His film A Murder…
- Unconventional Leaders
Everything You Need Is NOW | Kyle Cease
Kyle Cease had the sold-out shows, the Comedy Central specials, and the external success… but knew something was missing. Instead of doubling down on…
- Unconventional Leaders
Evolving Into Who You’re Meant to Become | Bishop Kevin Foreman
To reach the “next level” in our lives, we often have to break generational patterns, become beginners again, and learn how to make decisions from a place of…
- Unconventional Leaders
Weakness as the Key to Greatness | Jon Giganti
What if the thing you have been trying to hide is the exact thing that gives you work power? In this episode, I sit down with Jon Giganti, executive coach…
- Unconventional Leaders
Building an Online Community | Lucas Bean
Building an online community isn’t about platforms or posting more…it’s about intention. In this episode, I’m joined by entrepreneur and Community Market Fit…
- Unconventional Leaders
Christian Pastor: Women should not be afraid of PLEASURE | Pastor Kimberly Bulgin
Pastor Kimberly Bulgin is the author of The Sisters Stay Dropping Gems and the founder of The House of Women. She helps faith-filled women unlearn harmful…
- Unconventional Leaders
The Skeptic Pastor | Jeremy Steele
Jeremy Steele helps people healing from religious trauma find spiritual beliefs and practices that actually work for them. A deep skeptic and ordained pastor…
- Unconventional Leaders
Should You Have An Alter Ego? | The Solo Episode
If you’ve set the same goals over and over and still feel stuck, this is for you. In this episode, we explore why your results start with your identity, not…
- Unconventional Leaders
Professional Storyteller: How to tell Authentic Stories | Ron Chapman
Ron Chapman is a professional storyteller, novelist, and longtime guide for deep inner work. With nearly 40 years of sobriety, Ron has spent his life helping…
- Unconventional Leaders
Stop Undermining Yourself | The Solo Episode
If you’ve ever caught yourself shrinking your gifts or holding back because it feels “humble,” this is for you. In this episode, we talk about why undermining…
- Unconventional Leaders
Your Work Deserves a Life: Learning to Share Without Fear | Keith Giles & Matthew J. Distefano
Keith Giles and Matthew J. Distefano are authors, publishers, and co-owners of Quoir, a media company dedicated to publishing bold, thoughtful work from people…
- Unconventional Leaders
How To Show Up Daily On Video (Without Burning Out) | George Sidiropoulos
George Sidiropoulos helps creators show up on video in a way that's simple, sustainable, and fun. A former musician, he discovered video's power when Instagram…
- Unconventional Leaders
Exercises To Make You A Better Storyteller
Here are three practical storytelling exercises pulled from three brilliant creators: one to help you dig deeper, one to get more specific, and one to capture…
- Unconventional Leaders
4 Story EDITING Tips (From Experts)
I sat down with four master storytellers and uncovered a simple truth: if the edit is difficult, the input needs to be a bigger priority. TOPICS FROM THIS…
- Unconventional Leaders
Becoming A Pixar Writer | Matthew Luhn
Before Matthew Luhn became one of Pixar’s storytellers (with credits on Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Up, and more) he nearly lost the opportunity…
- Unconventional Leaders
Make What You Want to FREAKIN' MAKE | The Solo Episode
If you’ve ever caught yourself asking, “What should I make? What will work?” — this is for you. Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped creating from…
- Unconventional Leaders
Question Everything (& Still Stand for Something) | Glenn Lundy
Glenn Lundy and I shouldn’t be friends. He’s a Republican who trains and consults sales leaders in automotive; I’m a creative who cried in bed the day Trump…
- Unconventional Leaders
A Powerful Reframe for Your Fear of Being Seen | The Solo Episode
If you’ve ever worried that sharing your voice is “selfish” or ego-driven, this is for you. Today, we explore how your story, your perspective, and your…
- Unconventional Leaders
Should Creators CLONE Themselves? | Jim Carter III
Jim Carter III is an AI strategist to the world’s top creators, helping creators and thought leaders build digital clones…AI versions of themselves trained on…
- Unconventional Leaders
3 Best Books for Content Creators | The Solo Episode
If you’re tired of chasing tactics and hacks, and you want to create from a deeper place — this is for you. In this episode, we explore books that don’t just…
- Unconventional Leaders
Package Your Expertise so People Actually Listen | Mike Roderick
You can be talented… and still be ignored. Mike Roderick helps creators and thought leaders package their ideas so people actually get it. A former Broadway…
- Unconventional Leaders
Feel Stuck? Try This | The Solo Episode
If you’ve been feeling stuck, unclear, or like you’re spinning your wheels — this is for you. What if feeling “stuck” isn’t a sign to push harder, but an…
- Unconventional Leaders
How to Enter a FLOW State | Steven Puri
Steven Puri walked away from blockbuster films and high-level studio roles to follow a deeper calling: helping people make the work they were truly meant to…
- Unconventional Leaders
The Obstacle is the Freakin' Way | The Solo Episode
If you’ve been wrestling with something that feels like a disadvantage — the thing that makes you feel behind, limited, or not enough — this is for you. What…
- Unconventional Leaders
How to use SLOW Storytelling | Meg Hood (Meg’s Tea Room)
Meg Hood creates content that feels like a warm cup of tea in a chaotic digital world. As the voice behind Meg's Tea Room, she's built a community around slow…
- Unconventional Leaders
A Story About a Girl Who KICKED My Butt | The Solo Episode
If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind, or that everyone’s zooming past you while you’re just trying to keep it together — this one’s for you. This is…
- Unconventional Leaders
Why You Have to Lose Everything to Find Yourself (Dark Night of the Soul) | Jaxon Phoenix
When Jaxon Phoenix lost his best friend and uncovered a shattering family secret, he found himself on the edge wondering if life was worth staying for. But…
- Unconventional Leaders
Not Getting Traction? Try This | The Solo Episode
I know how discouraging it feels when you pour yourself into something, share it with your people, and then… nothing. No clicks, no support, no love. I’ve been…
- Unconventional Leaders
From Basement Bars to Big Dog Tour: The Energy of Authenticity | Comedian Soo Ra
When Soo Ra first stepped on stage in college, she wasn't trying to become a comedian…she was just the girl who loved to make people laugh. But twelve years…
- Unconventional Leaders
Imposter Syndrome Reframe | The Solo Episode
Imposter syndrome. I’ve had it. I still get it. And honestly? At the end of the day, it’s kind of selfish. This isn’t one of those “you’re amazing, you’re good…
- Unconventional Leaders
How to Create in Chaos | The Solo Episode
I had a gut-punch moment a few weeks ago when everything went sideways and suddenly my podcast felt… pointless. I remember thinking, who needs content about…