Episode 6: When Strength Becomes Survival with Sylvester Williams
Release Date: 02/26/2026
Episode 8: Owning the Shadow with Dr. Max Klau
The Upside Down Leader
In this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Dr. Max Klau, creator of the Answering the Call program for the New Politics Academy, for a conversation that helped shape the ideas behind both the book and this podcast. Max has spent decades helping leaders wrestle with identity, ambition, ego, and purpose. In this episode, he shares the origins of the leadership framework behind Answering the Call, the role shadow work plays in leadership development, and why inner work is essential for anyone who wants to lead with integrity. Together, Billy and Max explore the tension...
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Episode 7: When Responsibility Becomes Over-Responsibility with Alyssia Palacios-Woods
The Upside Down Leader
In this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Alyssia Palacios-Woods, Executive Director of Capital IDEA and a longtime community leader in Central Texas, for a thoughtful conversation about the unique weight of leading in service to others. With more than 15 years in workforce development and nonprofit leadership, Alyssia shares what it means to represent not just an organization, but an entire community. Together, they explore how pressure can quietly shift responsibility into over-responsibility, leading leaders to internalize decisions, absorb emotional labor, and...
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Episode 6: When Strength Becomes Survival with Sylvester Williams
The Upside Down Leader
In this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Sylvester Williams, former NFL defensive tackle, first-round draft pick, and Super Bowl 50 champion with the Denver Broncos, for a powerful conversation about identity, pressure, and what happens when strength turns into survival mode. Sylvester reflects on growing up in poverty, being held back and kicked out of school, and the turning point that forced him to lead himself before he could ever lead others. He shares how his father shaped his leadership philosophy, the weight of tying identity to performance, and the...
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Episode Five: When Leadership Gets Heavy with Dr. Kurt Senske
The Upside Down Leader
In this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Dr. Kurt Senske, founder of CEO Board Services and former CEO of Upbring, for an honest conversation about leadership under sustained pressure. With more than two decades leading mission-driven organizations, Kurt shares what it means to carry responsibility when the stakes are high and people are counting on you. Together, they explore how stress subtly reshapes a leader, first through overwork and hyper-focus, then through cynicism, sarcasm, unhealthy habits, and isolation. Kurt reflects on seasons of self-doubt, bad...
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Episode Four: Serving in a Space Built for Power with Emily Cherniack
The Upside Down Leader
In this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Emily Cherniack, founder and CEO of New Politics, for a candid conversation about power, purpose, and the tension of leading in the political arena. Emily shares her journey as a reluctant founder who never sought the spotlight but stepped forward when no one else would. Together, they explore what servant leadership looks like in a space often driven by ego, ambition, and control. As they enter the Upside Down, Emily names her own shadow, defensiveness, jealousy, competition, and isolation, and reflects on how scarcity...
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Episode Three: Leading When the Mission Is Bigger Than You with Dr. Marco Clark
The Upside Down Leader
In this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Marco Clark, President of Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, for a deeply reflective conversation about purpose, calling, and the unseen weight of mission-driven leadership. Drawing from his journey in higher education, coaching, and faith-based formation, Marco shares what it looks like to lead when the work is bigger than personal ambition and success. Together, they explore how pressure can quietly pull leaders out of alignment, how detachment and control can surface in the shadow, and why neglecting self-care often...
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Episode Two: From Power to Influence with Yuen Yung
The Upside Down Leader
In this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Yuen Yung, co-founder and managing partner of Hal Bar Partners, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership under pressure and the subtle ways the shadow shows up over time. Drawing from a career that spans real estate, entrepreneurship, and high-stakes decision-making, Yuen reflects on how power, control, and ego can quietly creep into leadership, especially during seasons of growth and success. Together, they explore situational leadership, the cost of isolation, and why maturity often reshapes how the Upside Down looks...
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Introduction and Interview with Ashley Alaniz-Moyer
The Upside Down Leader
In the first episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with his spouse Ashley Alaniz-Moyer, Executive Director of Hispanic Scholarship consortium and coFounder of Refuerzo Collaborative, for an honest conversation about shadow work. Together, they explore what their initial thoughts on shadow work, how they have used it in practice as facilitators of New Politics’ Answering The Call program. Ashley shares her own personal shadow mission, what its like for her in the Upside Down, and what it looks like to move toward clarity, purpose, and more grounded...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Upside Down Leader, Billy Moyer sits down with Sylvester Williams, former NFL defensive tackle, first-round draft pick, and Super Bowl 50 champion with the Denver Broncos, for a powerful conversation about identity, pressure, and what happens when strength turns into survival mode.
Sylvester reflects on growing up in poverty, being held back and kicked out of school, and the turning point that forced him to lead himself before he could ever lead others. He shares how his father shaped his leadership philosophy, the weight of tying identity to performance, and the depression he experienced after retiring from football. Together, they explore ego, adaptability, the need for coaches over cheerleaders, and why leadership must be earned, not assigned.
This episode is a grounded reminder that survival may build resilience, but reinvention builds legacy. When leadership is rooted in impact, accountability, and generational change, the light becomes stronger than the pressure.