Karen Salmansohn – Your To-Die For List: What Matters When Productivity Isn't the Point
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What makes someone quit a six-figure advertising career to write books that help people think differently? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Karen Salmansohn—bestselling author, behavioral change expert, and the creative force behind NotSalmon.com—whose sharp wit and mortality-driven wisdom will make you rethink everything on your to-do list. Karen shares why fun isn't frivolous—it's fuel. She breaks down the science of why laughter literally shakes ideas loose, explains why her "e-pee-phanies" in the bathroom cracked more creative codes than...
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Stop Being So Damn Helpful: The Curse of the Over-Responsible Leader
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
Are you the person everyone turns to because you'll "just handle it"? The one replying to emails at 11pm, rewriting your team's work, or silently resenting the people you keep rescuing? In this solo episode, Cathleen O'Sullivan tackles a behavior that's as exhausting as it is common: over-functioning in the name of being helpful. Cathleen reveals why constant helpfulness isn't kindness—it's a control strategy that stifles growth, creates dependency, and keeps you small. She shares the story of a leader who was praised for being dependable but passed over for promotion because she...
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Darryl Stickel – Share, Don't Scare: The Science of Building Trust When the World Feels Broken
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What makes a complete stranger walk up to you on a bus and say, "I'm really having a hard time today"? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Darryl Stickel—trust researcher, founder of Trust Unlimited, and author of Building Trust—whose life's work reveals that connection isn't magic. It's a skill you can learn, practice, and pull off even when everything feels like it's falling apart. Darryl shares why trust isn't just about certainty—it's about being willing to get hurt. He breaks down the formula, explains why leaders who admit...
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Kate Grant – Listen to Your Inner Voice: Leading a Life of Impact Without Apology
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What does it take to lead with both purpose and perseverance? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O’Sullivan sits down with Kate Grant—CEO of the Fistula Foundation and author of No Woman Left Behind—whose remarkable journey from Madison Avenue to global health leadership reveals what can happen when compassion meets conviction. Kate shares how walking away from a thriving advertising career became the first step toward transforming the lives of more than 100,000 women suffering from obstetric fistula—a preventable childbirth injury that still affects over...
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Donzel Leggett – Transform, Don’t Just Change: The Mindset for a Destiny-Driven Life
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What does it really mean to design your own destiny? In this episode of Legendary Leaders Podcast, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Donzel Leggett—former Fortune 200 executive, author of Make Your Destiny Happen, and founder of Destiny Development Delta whose career has spanned three decades of transformational global leadership. From his Key West roots to the pivotal moment he walked away from professional football, Donzel shares how he turned missed opportunities and painful kicks in the butt into clarity about his calling. With warmth and honesty, he opens up about the weight...
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Lenya McGrath – The Compass Within: Leading with Purpose and Positivity
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What does it really mean to bring your authentic self to leadership? In this episode of Legendary Leaders Podcast, host Cathleen O’Sullivan sits down with Lenya McGrath—global brand strategist, creative leader, and award-winning marketer whose career has shaped some of the world’s most iconic brands. From her early days in Sydney’s ad world to leading high-performing teams across continents, Lenya shares how she turned “too happy” feedback into her leadership superpower. With warmth and humility, she opens up about authenticity in the workplace, building psychological...
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The Productivity Lie: Why Doing Less Makes You a Better Leader
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What if productivity isn’t about doing more—but doing less, with purpose? In this solo episode of The Legendary Leaders Podcast, host Cathleen O’Sullivan challenges one of leadership’s biggest myths: that constant hustle equals success. Drawing from her own journey and stories from the leaders she’s coached, Cathleen exposes the “productivity lie” that glorifies busyness and burnout. She reveals why intentionality—not intensity—is what truly sets great leaders apart, and how creating space to think, rest, and reflect can actually amplify your impact. ...
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Neil Ghosh – The Power of Empathy: How Small Acts Create Big Change
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What does it really mean to do more good—and how can empathy spark genuine impact in our everyday lives? In this heartfelt episode of The Legendary Leaders Podcast, Cathleen O’Sullivan sits down with Neil Ghosh, social impact strategist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Do More Good, a book featuring voices from global icons like the Dalai Lama and Bill Clinton to everyday changemakers making a difference in their own communities. With over three decades of experience across 50+ countries and sectors, Neil has devoted his career to one question: How can we do more good together?...
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Jones Loflin - From Busy to Focused: Leadership Lessons from the Hive
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
What can honeybees teach us about leadership, focus, and living with intention? In this episode of The Legendary Leaders Podcast, host Cathleen O’Sullivan welcomes back Jones Loflin—speaker, coach, educator, and co-author of Focused as a Bee. Drawing from his beekeeping journey with his daughter Sydney, Jones reveals how small shifts in focus can create big changes in how we lead and live. Their book is both a practical guide and a heartfelt tribute to Sydney’s late best friend Alicia, reminding us that life is too short to glorify busyness. Jones opens up about co-authoring...
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Laura Venezia - Compassionate Leadership Lessons
The Legendary Leaders Podcast
Get ready for an inspiring conversation with our host Cathleen O’Sullivan and Laura Venezia, an educational leader whose passion for nurturing others has taken her across the U.S., China, Hong Kong, and now Germany. In this episode of Legendary Leaders, Laura reflects on her early love of teaching, the challenges and lessons of working internationally, and how her commitment to kindness and inclusion continues to guide her as a leader. She shares practical advice on balancing technology with real connection, building collaborative relationships, and embracing those everyday moments...
info_outlineHave you ever wondered what it takes to lead effectively in an uncertain, ever-changing world? Your host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Graham Wilson, a distinguished leadership expert and author of Wabi Zugi: The Art of Resilience for Everyday Warriors. Together they uncover the essential strategies and ideas that will help you thrive as a leader in complex environments. Learn why embracing uncertainty and fostering a culture of experimentation is vital for modern leadership. Let's explore how moving beyond traditional management can empower your teams and spur innovation. We'll be rethinking performance management to create a more empowered, innovative workplace. As you listen, consider reflecting on your own leadership practices. Are they helping your team to adapt and thrive, or are they holding them back? Tune in and get ready to transform your approach to leadership!
Episode Timeline:
07:22 Authentic and context-driven leadership skills
18:03 Challenging traditional education norms
22:28 Military Training vs. Corporate Standards
28:40 How values guide behaviours
40:06 Success doesn't require a degree, it requires work
43:25 Dedating research-based leadership in an ever-changing world
59:06 Focus on simplifying work by guiding essential skills and daily actions
01:11:57 Why authenticity and individuality drive success
01:24:22 Empowering and motivating teams
Key Takeaways:
Embracing Uncertainty in Leadership: Graham emphasises the importance of leading without having all the answers. Embracing uncertainty and fostering a culture of experimentation is essential for leaders navigating today's unpredictable environments.
Moving Beyond Traditional Management: Traditional micromanagement and rigid structures stifle innovation. Graham explains that leaders need to empower their teams by focusing on inclusivity and collaboration rather than controlling every detail.
Rethinking Performance Management: Graham highlights that many organisations are over-managed and under-led, and he advocates for focusing on what truly adds value to the customer and the business.
ABOUT Graham Wilson
Driven by the conviction that today’s turbulent business landscape demands extraordinary leadership, Graham Wilson crafts bespoke programs that empower leaders to achieve unparalleled results from both themselves and their teams and drive profound organizational change. At the heart of Graham's approach lies a deep understanding of the evolving nature of leadership in the modern world. By decoding the essence of effective leadership and championing a paradigm shift away from 'over-management', Graham equips leaders with the tools and mindset necessary to navigate complexity with confidence. Graham's passion for peak performance was cultivated during his military service and global corporate career and culminated in the founding of SuccessfactoryTM.
Connect with Graham:
Website: https://www.thesuccessfactory.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuccessfactoryTraining/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadershipwizard
Buy his book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wabisugi-resilience-everyday-warriors-Leadership/dp/0993139027
Connect:
Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan
Business: cathleenmerkel.com
Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/
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