#0420 – The Success Trap: Why High Achievers Feel Empty at the Top with Keren Eldad
The Success Trap: Why High Achievers Feel Empty at the Top Success is supposed to make you happy… so why do so many high achievers feel trapped? In this episode of the Deep Leadership podcast, I talk with executive coach and author Keren Eldad about the hidden emotional cost of ambition. We explore why success and happiness often move in opposite directions, how leaders unknowingly build a “gilded cage,” and why perfectionism, hustle culture, and chasing the wrong goals can leave even the most accomplished people feeling empty. Keren shares practical insights on breaking free from the relentless pursuit of more, rethinking success, and leading from purpose instead of pressure. If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or high performer who feels like your ladder might be leaning against the wrong wall, this conversation will challenge how you think about success. Learn more about Keren Eldad and her book Gilded https://amzn.to/4bqmRPaSubscribe to Deep Leadership for more conversations that help build a world with better bosses Sponsors: Cadre of Men Farrow Skin Care Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#0419 – The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure with Scott Papek
The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure Why do talented athletes, leaders, and entrepreneurs sometimes lose confidence in the moments that matter most? In this episode of the Deep Leadership Podcast, I sit down with mindset coach Scott Papek to explore why even high performers struggle with pressure, overthinking, and self-doubt. Scott works with athletes from middle school through college, helping them build the mental skills needed to compete with confidence. Together they discuss how confidence is actually trained, why negative self-talk and fear of judgment sabotage performance, and how focusing on effort instead of outcomes can dramatically improve results. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why confidence comes from preparation and belief• The real reason people choke under pressure• How self-talk impacts performance• Why worrying about what others think kills confidence• How athletes train their minds to perform at their best If you want to perform better under pressure, whether in sports, business, or leadership, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, and building better teams. Scott Papek's Resources: https://www.maxoutmindset.com/ Sponsors: Cadre of Men Farrow Skin Care Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#0418 – If You Only Hear Good News, You’re Failing as a Leader with Phillip Wilson
If you’re a leader and you only hear good news, you may have a bigger problem than you think. In this episode of the Deep Leadership podcast, I sit down with Phillip Wilson, CEO of LRI Consulting Services and author of The Leader-Shift Playbook, to talk about one of the most overlooked leadership blind spots: power distance. Why don’t employees speak up?Why do teams hide mistakes?Why does bad news travel slowly… or not at all? We unpack the concept of approachability, the hidden cost of wide power distance, and what Phil calls the “hero assumption” — the mindset shift that transforms how leaders see their people. If you want more honest feedback, stronger trust, and a team that tells you the truth before problems explode, this conversation is for you. Phillip Wilson's resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbwilson/ https://yourleadershift.com/ https://amzn.to/4rAXDEq Subscribe for more conversations focused on building a world with better bosses. Sponsors: Cadre of Men Farrow Skin Care Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#0417 – When the Mission Fails: 5 Timeless Values Every Leader Must Live with Andy Crocker
What do you do when the mission fails? In this episode of Deep Leadership, I sit down with aerospace executive Andy Crocker to talk about what happens when a career-defining project collapses. After competing against SpaceX and Blue Origin for NASA’s Human Landing System, Andy and his team lost the contract — not once, but twice. For many leaders, that kind of loss can shake your identity. Instead of walking away bitter, Andy stepped back and asked a harder question: Who am I without the mission? That reflection led him to write The Unconditionals, a book built around five timeless values every leader must live: Love (yes, even in high-performance environments) Gratitude Integrity Accountability Endeavor We talk about why values aren’t “soft skills,” how trust is built and rebuilt, what accountability really means, and why humanity is more important than ever in the age of AI. If you’ve ever faced failure, questioned your leadership, or wondered what truly holds high-performing teams together, this conversation is for you. Leadership is a people business. And when everything falls apart, values are what keep you standing. 🎯 Get Andy’s book: https://andycrockerbooks.com/ 🎙 Subscribe for more conversations with top leaders 🔔 Share this episode to help us build a world with better bosses Until next time — lead well. Sponsors: Cadre of Men Farrow Skin Care Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#0416 – The Hidden Reason High Achievers Struggle in Marriage with Gabriela Embon
Are you winning at work but quietly struggling at home? In this episode of Deep Leadership, I sit down with Gabriela Embon, author of Becoming a Power Couple, to talk about why high achievers often succeed in their careers but fail to invest in the most important partnership of their lives. We discuss: Why work-life balance is a myth for driven leaders The difference between balance and integration How to think of your marriage as a co-founded enterprise The 4 Pillars that build resilient, high-performance relationships Why your relationship is the infrastructure behind your leadership If you’re a founder, executive, entrepreneur, or ambitious professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about success. Because leadership doesn’t start at the office. It starts at home. Your marriage should be an asset, not a liability. Listen in and learn how to build a power couple that multiplies impact instead of dividing energy. Subscribe for more conversations that help you build a world with better bosses. Learn more from Gabriela Embon here: https://gabrielaembon.com/ https://amzn.to/4tA6ZBP https://gabrielaembon.com/prologue-becoming-a-power-couple/ Subscribe for more powerful leadership conversations! Sponsors: Cadre of Men Farrow Skin Care Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices