Strength After The Breaking Point | Jodi Brown
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
In this episode of Counsel Culture, Eric Brooker sits down for a deeply human conversation about hardship, presence, and what it really means to show up for others. The discussion moves from personal crisis to professional leadership, exploring how adversity reshapes identity, relationships, and perspective. Together, they examine why small moments matter more than we think, how teams and families grow stronger through shared struggle, and what happens when leaders choose clarity, consistency, and care over avoidance. This is a conversation about resilience without bravado, leadership without...
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The Motive with Patrick Lencioni
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
In this episode of Counsel Culture, Eric sits down with organizational health pioneer Patrick Lencioni for a rich, honest conversation about work, faith, family, and why leadership is far more about responsibility than reward. Pat shares how, at 59, he hit pause to confront long-buried wounds, and how that season of healing reshaped the way he leads, loves his family, and serves the people around him. Pat traces the origin story of The Table Group, his longtime fascination with the workplace, and how his Catholic faith now sits at the very center of his work. From parenting moments that...
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Braving the Workplace with Dr. Beth Kaplan
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
This week on Counsel Culture, I sit down with Dr. Beth Kaplan, author of Braving the Workplace, for an honest conversation about belonging, leadership, and what it really means to show up as yourself at work. We explore the tension many people feel between authenticity and fitting in, and why so many professionals silently trade pieces of who they are just to feel accepted. Dr. Kaplan shares practical insights on self-awareness, boundaries, and the role leaders play in creating environments where people feel seen, not just managed. This episode is a reminder: belonging isn’t about...
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Leadership Lessons Learned with Coach Matt Doherty
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
In this episode of Counsel Culture, Eric sits down with national champion, former UNC head coach, and executive coach Matt Doherty for a candid conversation about leadership, culture, and the kind of personal transformation that only comes through adversity. From playing alongside Michael Jordan to being fired from his dream job at North Carolina, Matt opens up about identity, ego, and what it really takes to rebuild your life and leadership from the inside out. Together, Eric and Matt dig into why culture is king, why talent without character will eventually break your team, and how the best...
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Fail Forward with Jacob Brown
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
In this powerful episode of Counsel Culture, Eric sits down with former NFL athlete, author, and speaker Jacob Brown for a raw, vulnerable, and deeply inspiring conversation about redemption, resilience, and faith. From losing his NFL dream to rebuilding a life rooted in purpose, Jacob shares how failure became his fuel—and how being “laid off” can actually mean being launched. Together, Eric and Jacob unpack the lessons of accountability, fatherhood, and leadership through adversity, reminding us that the pressure, heat, and pain we face are what ultimately form the diamond within. As...
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Shine Brighter with Laura King
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
Today on Counsel Culture, I’m joined by Laura King, executive recruiter, coach, and now published author, who has conducted more than 30,000 executive interviews. Laura has a rare vantage point on leadership and identity: why so many high performers pin their worth to a title, and what changes when we shift from “What do I do?” to “Who am I?” She helps leaders trade burnout for alignment by doing the inner work that fuels real, sustainable impact. She’s here to share insights from her new book, Shine Brighter: The High Performer’s Guide to Purpose, Presence, and Peak Living....
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Signal. Opportunity. Choice. How to Lead with Emotional Intelligence
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
In today’s episode of Counsel Culture, we welcome the incomparable Cassandra Worthy, a former corporate executive turned global keynote speaker and founder of Change Enthusiasm® Global. Cassandra brings unmatched energy as we talk about real change, real emotions, and the real work it takes to grow through adversity. From navigating multi-billion-dollar M&A activity to facing her own battle with alcoholism, Cassandra’s story is one of grit, grace, and a powerful mindset that she now teaches leaders worldwide: Signal. Opportunity. Choice. We talk about: What it means to embrace the...
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Hurdling Adversity and Breathing Life into Others
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
From Olympic hopeful to Paralympic silver medalist, keynote speaker, and servant leader, John Register brings more than a story of resilience. He brings a framework for transformation. In this episode, we explore: Why John doesn’t believe in “overcoming” adversity and what he does instead The power of redefining your new normal as a launchpad, not a limitation His RE framework: Reckoning, Revision, and Renewal What it means to “amputate fear” and move forward with purpose How to lead teams with empathy, vision, and humanity, even through layoffs or transition Whether...
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The Art of Self Leadership with Heather Younger
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
Welcome to The Counsel Culture Podcast, where we explore the heart of leadership and the power of personal growth. Today, we’re diving into The Art of Self-Leadership with author and leadership expert Heather Younger. Heather shares the journey behind her latest book, emphasizing why self-leadership is the foundation for leading others. We’ll discuss the role of gratitude, empowerment, and accountability in shaping our leadership approach, both personally and professionally. In this conversation, Heather unpacks the dangers of comparison, the importance of self-care, and how fear can hold...
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The Power of Choice with Sylvie di Giusto
Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker
What is up? Hey everyone, Eric Brooker here. I am your host and welcome to Counsel Culture. By now, you know what we are all about. For those of you that are new, this is THE culture and leadership podcast. Today, I am thrilled to welcome Sylvie Di Giusto to the show. Sylvie is an international keynote speaker, 13-time award winner, and author who has captivated audiences worldwide with her groundbreaking insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, and personal branding. Drawing on two decades of corporate experience in Europe and the U.S., Sylvie has mastered the art of empowering...
info_outlineIn this episode of Counsel Culture, Eric sits down with organizational health pioneer Patrick Lencioni for a rich, honest conversation about work, faith, family, and why leadership is far more about responsibility than reward. Pat shares how, at 59, he hit pause to confront long-buried wounds, and how that season of healing reshaped the way he leads, loves his family, and serves the people around him.
Pat traces the origin story of The Table Group, his longtime fascination with the workplace, and how his Catholic faith now sits at the very center of his work. From parenting moments that involve teenage traffic tickets to power being shut off at home, he uses real life to illustrate why vulnerability, forgiveness, and humility are non-negotiables, whether you’re leading a company or a family.
Eric and Pat dig into two of Pat’s most influential ideas: meaningful conflict and vulnerability-based trust. They unpack why conflict-avoidant leaders quietly damage teams, how attachment styles show up in meetings, and why the simple words “I was wrong, please forgive me” might be the most powerful leadership tool we have. Pat also explains the Six Types of Working Genius, how his wiring differs from Eric’s, and why our gifts and gaps are designed to pull us toward deeper dependence on one another.
The conversation closes with a look at culture, both at work and at home. Pat connects his “chaos family” framework with The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, explains how to spot a company’s real values by watching executives, and revisits his book The Motive to ask why we pursue leadership in the first place. He finishes with the simple spiritual disciplines that now bookend his day and quietly anchor everything else.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
· What it looks like to surrender your career to God’s will and rediscover work as ministry
· How vulnerability, forgiveness, and “owning your stuff” build deep trust on teams and in families
· Why healthy conflict is about the pursuit of truth, not winning arguments
· How the Working Genius model reveals your gifts, your frustrations, and your need for others
· Practical ways to discern the real culture of an organization, beyond the words on the wall
· The five core responsibilities many leaders quietly abdicate (and how to reclaim them)
· Simple daily rhythms of prayer that can transform how you lead, love, and live
This episode is dedicated to Pat’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This, is Counsel Culture.
Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.thetablegroup.com