How Great Thought Leaders Use Podcasts to Scale Influence | Ryan Estes | 673
Release Date: 10/16/2025
Leveraging Thought Leadership
What if the real growth problem isn’t strategy… but misalignment? In this episode, , the Founder of and bestselling author of "", breaks down what it takes to create growth that compounds—without relying on charisma, hustle, or a one-time “big moment” on stage. Frankie makes a clean distinction: a book is a platform, not the mission. Thought leadership is the movement behind the platforms—and the work is designing ideas that change behavior and drive measurable outcomes. A core idea he returns to is stakeholder-first growth. Customers, colleagues, and community aren’t...
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Are your top performers actually holding back your organization’s growth? Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick talks with , global keynote speaker, CEO of , and author of "". Eduardo is one of the leading voices on growth mindset in organizations, building on 16+ years of work with as co-founder of Mindset Works and two TEDx talks that have each passed 4 million views. Together, they unpack how leaders and companies can move beyond one-off inspiration and build true learning cultures that deliver sustained performance. Eduardo explains his core framework: the Learning Zone...
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What if every hard-earned lesson in your business came with a simple mandate: how dare you do nothing with what’s been given to you? In this episode, Bill Sherman talks with serial entrepreneur and systems strategist , author of "". Apple has spent decades in construction, manufacturing, home flipping, and retail. She combines operational grit with financial discipline to help entrepreneurs stop firefighting and start scaling with intention. Her core belief is simple and provocative: if you know something that works, you have a duty to share it. Apple walks through how she turned years of...
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What if innovation wasn’t reserved for a handful of “geniuses” in hoodies and turtlenecks? What if every person in your organization could solve real problems in bold new ways? Today's episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, I’m joined by to explore how to democratize innovation inside the enterprise. We dig into his practical framework from "" which was co-authored with to challenge the myth of the lone genius. Innovation stops being a mysterious black box and becomes a repeatable, teachable capability across the business. Rich explains why most organizations over-invest in...
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What if your thought leadership wasn’t just inspiring for 40 minutes on stage, but life-changing for years after the keynote? In this episode, Peter Winick talks with , CEO of , about how he’s evolving his father legacy into a modern, scalable thought leadership business. They dig into how to turn big ideas into programs, tools, and revenue streams that deliver real behavior change for clients, not just applause. Tom shares how Ziglar built an AI “digital brain” for Zig Ziglar by feeding in manuscripts and 50+ hours of audio. The result is Zig AI – a focused tool that gives only...
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What if your most valuable business asset isn’t your product, but the way you think? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with —one of the world’s top startup coaches, and award winner, author of "", and host of a by the same name. Together, they unpack what it really takes to turn expertise into a scalable thought leadership platform that attracts premium clients. Alisa breaks down what great coaching actually is at the top of the house. Not therapy. Not box-checking. It’s the disciplined work of helping senior leaders see where they are, where...
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What happens when pressure—not power—shapes the way leaders show up? That’s the question at the heart of this conversation with executive advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author . Sabina’s thought leadership centers on a bold idea: pressure can squeeze the humanity out of even the best leaders. And in today’s high-velocity business environment, every manager—from first-line supervisors to CEOs—is at risk. Her work helps leaders reclaim that humanity, especially when the stakes are highest. In this episode, Sabina shares the research behind her book " " , built on 12,000...
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What does it take to transform leadership into a calling — and build a business that transforms others? Today, Peter Winick sits down with , founder and CEO of , a pioneer in executive coaching and leadership development. Daniel shares how he turned the lessons from his early career in mortgage banking into a structured, scalable system for growing leaders — and why his success is rooted in helping others unlock their potential. Daniel’s approach to thought leadership isn’t about pedigree or credentials — it’s about proof. He took what worked in one high-performance environment...
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What if you could stop running on empty—and still perform at your best? That’s the question , author of "" (and host of a by the same name), invites leaders to ask. She challenges the old “time management” mindset that rewards burnout and box-checking, replacing it with a human-centered strategy of presence, choice, and renewal. Her message? Productivity doesn’t come from cramming more into your day—it comes from creating rituals that restore you. Erin works with executives and teams to help them shift from survival mode to sustainable performance. Through keynotes, workshops,...
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What happens when life forces you to stop—and that pause changes everything? , Principal at and author of "", knows firsthand. A medical crisis made her rethink what success truly means. Once a Wall Street professional turned retail design expert and author of "", Melissa built a thriving business helping brands tell their stories through physical spaces. But when her own defining moment arrived, she found a new story to tell—one about purpose, well-being, and the strength found in vulnerability. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Melissa joins Bill Sherman to explore how...
info_outlineWhat makes a podcast truly powerful — and worth your time?
In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Ryan Estes, co-founder of Wildcast and Kitcaster, to unpack what separates a great podcast guest — and host — from the rest. Ryan’s work connects CEOs, founders, and thought leaders to the right audiences through strategic podcast placement. His mission: to turn conversations into meaningful distribution.
Ryan explains why founder-led marketing outperforms brand marketing — by as much as 80%. He reveals how showing up authentically on podcasts isn’t just about exposure; it’s about building credibility, creating demand, and sparking conversations that open doors to your ideal clients.
Together, Peter and Ryan explore what makes a podcast worth appearing on. It’s not about chasing the biggest show or the biggest name — it’s about relevance. For many business leaders, the right niche podcast might be the only place where all their potential buyers are listening. Ryan walks through how to identify the right shows for your goals, the importance of energy and chemistry in a podcast conversation, and how to develop the skills — from delivery to lighting — that make you a guest worth remembering.
They also discuss the “guest hygiene” problem: why so many smart leaders fail to prepare properly, neglect to promote their episodes, or treat podcasts like disposable media hits. Ryan argues that building a personal distribution network — your own voice, audience, and presence — is an investment that carries over to every project, every company, and every new venture.
If you’ve been thinking about launching a podcast, or becoming a
sought-after guest, this episode is your roadmap to doing it right — and doing it with purpose.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Founder-led marketing drives results. When leaders speak directly to audiences through podcasts, their message builds far more trust and engagement than traditional brand marketing.
• Relevance beats reach. The best podcasts for business growth aren’t always the biggest — they’re the ones where your ideal buyers actually listen and engage.
• Consistency builds credibility. Thought leaders who prepare well,
promote their episodes, and keep showing up authentically develop a personal brand that outlasts any single company or project.
If this conversation inspired you to think differently about using
your voice and platform, take the next step by listening to our
episode with Srinivas Rao. He dives deep into how creativity,
curiosity, and personal expression fuel powerful thought leadership. Discover how to build an audience that connects with your ideas — not just your brand.