Applied Leadership Podcast

Two friends. One question. Half an hour. Zero script. Fun and thoughtful conversations, answering your questions about life, business, and all things leadership. Timely topics. Timeless wisdom.

How to Deal With Uncertainty and Upheaval 11/02/2025

How to Deal With Uncertainty and Upheaval Within the ALPs team, with our families, friends, and business partners, we've been hearing a lot about how we're supposed to manage and deal with all the uncertainty, strife, upheaval, and stress swirling all around us. It can be difficult not to get lost in the infinite amount of information on the news and on social media and feel a sense of despair and hopelessness. It's one thing to try and stay informed, versus being absorbed by it all. We've found that what works for us is getting off our phones and spending more in-person time with those around us. Not putting our heads in the sand, but finding there's more value and reward in genuine connection with others to provide hope that all isn't lost. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/38884810

What's Worked For Us in Building a Leadership Business 10/20/2025

What's Worked For Us in Building a Leadership Business We get asked often about what we have done to kick our business off, keep it going and lessons learned from building leadership development business. We talk with people who feel they have something to offer and want to build a similar opportunity. In this episode we offer some considerations on what to think about before you get started -- Understand what you bring to the marketplace. You have to know who you are and who you aren't. -- Have a uniqe perspective. What value are you providing that others aren't? Provide a unique window on perspective and content so you aren't parroting others. -- Let the market speak to you. Who is your customer? Who do you want to serve? /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/38647030

Special Guest George M. Dougherty, author of "Beast in the Machine: How Robotics and AI Will Transform Warfare and the Future of Human Conflict" 10/05/2025

Special Guest George M. Dougherty, author of "Beast in the Machine: How Robotics and AI Will Transform Warfare and the Future of Human Conflict" Join us for a conversation with special guest, George Dougherty. We discuss the proliferation of AI, the effects of it on human performance, relationships, leadership and trust. George is a senior military leader, scientist, and business strategist. In his service as an active duty and reserve officer, he held the second-highest military position in U.S. Air Force science and technology. He is co-author of the Air Force’s current science and technology strategy, which established a renewed focus on transformational capabilities. He led technical programs and units, and helped develop cutting-edge systems including the F-22 stealth fighter. In his civilian career, he has served as an executive in two international management consulting firms, helping the senior leaders of Fortune 500 corporations and high-growth technology and life sciences companies to navigate strategic change in their industries. Dougherty holds a BS and MS in engineering from the University of Virginia, a PhD in materials science and engineering from the University of California-Berkeley, and an MBA from Cornell University. ----- Simon & Schuster link for George's book and links to all the online retailers: Audible for the audiobook version: Learn more about George and his work at his website: /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/38474130

Imposter Syndrome Part 2 - What If We Really Are Faking It? 09/21/2025

Imposter Syndrome Part 2 - What If We Really Are Faking It? Following up from our last episode, we continue our conversation on Imposter Syndrome. This week, we focus on the topic of what if we REALLY are faking it? What if we are acting like a true imposter in the role we are in? Here are some earnest questions to ask yourself: Do you understand what you're trying to be and what you're trying to do? Or are you focused on the idea of it? Are you just doing the moves or are you doing the work? Do you feel overlooked or needing attention? We hope you enjoy this conversation. If you've been struggling with a version of Imposter Syndrome, we hope you can be comfortable being yourself and trusting that who you are, and what you do, is enough. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/38296905

How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome 09/08/2025

How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome Every leader deals with Imposter Syndrome at some point in their life. You are not alone and it is so normal. And it can happen and pop up when you least expect it. There's a reason you're in the position that you're in - whether it's a management position, training people in a skill or speaking in front of a group, you do have relevant experience and skills to share. Get out of your head and into the space you've been asked to be in! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/38127520

Staying Encouraged and Steadfast During Times of Difficulty 07/27/2025

Staying Encouraged and Steadfast During Times of Difficulty Continuing our conversation from our last episode about quitting, today we want to discuss staying focused and steadfast during the hard times. Paying attention to what is happening around you and how you're feeling. The importance of bringing friends, teammates and mentors with you. Sharing responsibility for getting things done with those around you. What to do when you've been at it a while, and all you feel is discouraged. Adjusting the "hows" instead of the "whats" of our endeavors before we quit. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/37568180

When Is The Right Time To....Quit? 07/14/2025

When Is The Right Time To....Quit? We don't like the Q-word at ALPs and it's hard to even say it. So, let's rephrase - how do we know when it's time to stop doing something - to stop a project, an initiative, a certain direction, etc.? It depends. If it's something that's harmful to you or others, the answer is probably now. If the answer is more ambiguous, then you should ask yourself more questions. How long have you been at it, in earnest? Is there solid data on the effort? Is it something that will be worthwhile down the road and you're called to finish it? What's the why behind your efforts? We wrestle with all these questions on our latest episode. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/37399065

Remote Work vs. In Person 06/29/2025

Remote Work vs. In Person Throughout our careers, we've worked both in offices and remotely, growing and building businesses with totally remote teams and in a brick-and-mortar location. Connection matters no matter what your workspace is like. Sharing space with people brings with it a certain value that cannot be reached virtually alone. Genuine connection, sharing stories, and time with each other are priceless. Working remotely takes more focus and intentionality, but can be just as rewarding. It all comes down to the nature of the business, of your people, and those you serve. There's no right answer for every business and every team. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/37208530

Special Episode from West Point 06/16/2025

Special Episode from West Point In this special episode, Blayne and Brandon talk about what it's like coming back to West Point and, overall, being rooted in a community that matters. Blayne graduated in 2001 and Brandon had an Active Duty assignment on the Superintendants Staff. They filmed this episode after leading a half-day workshop to an impressive group of 140 cadets, talking about how perseverance is greater than endurance and difficult conversations. Sharing this unique opportunity together to share stories with a group of future leaders in the Army on hallowed ground of West Point, was a special experience that won't fade anytime soon. We hope you enjoy it! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/37023690

Learning From History 05/18/2025

Learning From History One theme that is dominating our conversations with our partners, our colleagues, friends and family lately is common feeling of uncertainty. In this episode, we take our memory back to 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic, the last time we had a fairly high degree of uncertainty. What did we learn from our experiences in 2020-2021? Trying not to get lost in the fray of panic. Being discerning as to what you're allowing into your brain, consciousness and concern. Shrink your world down to what you can manage to make better Control the controllables /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/36617095

Distributing the Load of Leadership 05/05/2025

Distributing the Load of Leadership Leadership doesn't have to be a lonely place - when you have your peers and subordinates in the right spots. In this episode we dive deep into: Assembling the right team in the right roles How to delegate certain aspects of the business to the right people Consistent communications through all channels of the mission and strategy How unstated expectations will go unmet Giving your team opportunities to take on big responsibilities and ownership Putting your work in the proper perspective for our life for sustainability /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/36443230

Special Episode - Brandon's Fireside Chat for Perseverance Endurance :: Tattered Cover Bookstore 04/22/2025

Special Episode - Brandon's Fireside Chat for Perseverance Endurance :: Tattered Cover Bookstore We hope you enjoy listening to this special episode of the Applied Leadership Podcast. The Tattered Cover Bookstore in Aspen Grove, CO, hosted Brandon for a fireside chat, book reading, and signing to celebrate the launch of Perseverance > Endurance, written by Brandon and Blayne. During this chat, Brandon discusses his and Blayne's motivation to write the book, combining their experiences on the battlefield in Army Special Operations, and leading in corporate America and in the non-profit sectors. As Brandon says, "No one holds a monopoly over hardship." You don't need to wear a uniform to face hardship, challenges, or to persevere through them. No matter what you're facing in life, we hope this episode and the book provide you with some useful tools to persevere through adversity and grow for the better. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/36261080

Leading With or Without A Vision 03/23/2025

Leading With or Without A Vision When we talk about a vision, we mean an aspirational picture of a greater future. This is something that leaders need to consider with their teams. As leaders, we need our team to understand that they are a crucial part in the ultimate achievement of our team, so they can have ownership over their piece of the mission. Casting a vision must be made intentionally and invites people to be a part of greatness. And to be great. Here are some crucial questions that leaders should ask when they are creating and communicating a vision to their teams and stakeholders: What's missing? Where are we trying to go? Where are we presently? What are the downfalls if I don't cast a vision for my team? Intro Music: Into the Wasteland by The Wasteland Fathers /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/35840590

Cold Calling, Outreach, Intros, etc. 02/17/2025

Cold Calling, Outreach, Intros, etc. We've done a lot of cold calls with our time working in sales. As much as we've done it, it's still not our favorite thing to do at all. It's tough, it's uncomfortable. And it's necessary if we want to grow our business and reach new audiences that don't know what we're about. Some highlights from the episode, why this is hard, and why it's worthwhile to be earnest: -- Empathize: Put yourself in their shoes. We enjoy deep work, concentration and getting things done. We have some feelings about interrupting others, just as we don't like having our flow of work and thoughts interrupted. -- Put in Effort and be Earnest: Feel really good about what you're asking/proposing to someone. Put a lot of thought and work into your message. It will help raise your professionalism in earnest. -- Ask, don't manipulate: Ask if it's a good time to connect with them and why you're reaching out. If the answer is no, respect that, leave and follow up later. -- Be helpful, be specific, don't name drop: Have something to offer, be specific with your ask. Be interested, not interesting. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/35308010

What Do We Think About Self-Leadership 02/14/2025

What Do We Think About Self-Leadership We love this topic! At ALPs, we view "self-leadership" as "discipline." Here are some highlights of this episode: -- On a day-to-day basis, discipline is having command over yourself, doing what IS good, not what FEELS good. -- We all know that oftentimes, the thing we need to do is the thing we want to do the least. Which means we need to do it even more. -- When discussing self-discipline regarding leadership, we must have command over the content, the room, and ourselves. We keep the same thought process when we present to our partners and deliver leadership content to our partners. -- Habits and routines are great, but what do they lead us to? We must choose the proper methods of self-discipline that align us with a deep meaning and purpose in achieving a goal, whether it's personal or business. --A brief discussion of the Stoic Virtues - Wisdom, Justice, Temperance, and Courage as a framework for discipline and staying on the right path. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/35289095

Origin Story - How ALPs Was Created 12/08/2024

Origin Story - How ALPs Was Created We actually talked each other out of starting a leadership consulting business for the better part of 10 years! And then, all of our ideas came together and we couldn't deny what we need to create anymore. We're so grateful to have this opportunity everyday - and we have our family and many of our friends and colleagues to thank for supporting us. Our goal has always been to walk alongside our partners on the trail, pointing out the hazards ahead for them to avoid, as we've tripped over some of the same hazards in our careers. We truly want to be partners with those whom we work with - not just suits on a stage speaking to people. But bringing people into the ALPs family, helping teams truly APPLY solid frameworks and principles within their own business in order to overcome challenges and win. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/34339220

Managing the Stress of the Unknowns - In Our Lives and In the World Around Us 11/10/2024

Managing the Stress of the Unknowns - In Our Lives and In the World Around Us There are a lot of unknowns happening around us in our country and the world, which add to whatever is going on in our individual lives. All we can do is control what we can control and find the good where we can. Some highlights include: Humans crave and look for predictive patterns. When something happens out of the norm, it can be unsettling. Normalize your stress - feeling that way is okay, and uncertainty is normal. It can be tough to navigate your way through difficult situations when people don't know where to turn for solid information. Choose to lean on our own ability to understand what's going on with our families, in our communities and make assessments with what's going on around us and in our hearts. Control what you can control - your physical wellness with moving your body, your emotional/mental wellness with thoughtful conversations, internal work, genuine relationships and spiritual considerations. Say "No" where you can, do less where you can - Build in some margin to adjust, adapt and dial it up when it's time to sprint. Finally - be cool! Love each other. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33870937

How to Create a Culture of Initiative 10/20/2024

How to Create a Culture of Initiative Creating a culture of initiative within your team requires a few things; competence, confidence and an environment where initiative is rewarded and supported. Initiative also requires solid guidance, resources and parameters set by leadership so their people can run and create good work. If leaders can provide those elements, they can help foster courage and responsibility within their team. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33534347

How Do We Think About Q4? 10/07/2024

How Do We Think About Q4? The dreaded Q4 is upon us. It's hard for Q3 to come to an end and think that we've reached the summit. But that's a false summit, and we still have to persevere to the end of the year and truly hit the mountain top we aim for. It's an opportunity for greatness and to start the next year strong—stick with it! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33352997

How To Get Some Time/Margin Back Into Your Life 09/23/2024

How To Get Some Time/Margin Back Into Your Life We feel this one! We've worked in the corporate world, know what it's like to play calendar Tetris and try to make it all fit. You may have more control over your calendar than you think. Ask yourself, "Does it have to be this way?" It takes some thoughtfulness - fully understanding the goals and objectives, setting, and the priorities of work. It may require some dialogue and communication with the people at work and at home to get some cushion. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/33169292

How Do We Come Up With This Stuff? 09/20/2024

How Do We Come Up With This Stuff? We get asked a lot about how we come up with our content, modules, and ideas. We've always tried to ask ourselves, "What problem are we trying to solve? What is the need?" The creative process is a total collaborative effort between our team and our partners. We encourage you to set aside time intentionally on a regular basis to think and work on any creative ventures. And try to be genuine and useful, not brilliant! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32995452

Who Are ALPs Leadership Inspirations? 08/18/2024

Who Are ALPs Leadership Inspirations? Leadership inspiration and influential figures come and go throughout our lives - parents, relatives, teachers, peers and people we don't personally know. Blayne and Brandon share the individuals who have shaped their leadership style and inspired them at different points in their lives. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32626352

How Leaders Can Guard Against Pridefulness: w/ Special Guest Jan Rutherford 08/04/2024

How Leaders Can Guard Against Pridefulness: w/ Special Guest Jan Rutherford We are excited to have our friend Jan Rutherford on the show today. Jan Rutherford is a former Green Beret and founder of Self-Reliant Leadership® where he coaches executives, and leads Crucible® wilderness expeditions with executives and veterans. Jan has over 25 years of business experience and has held executive roles in business development, marketing, sales, training, product management, and as a CEO. He joins us to discuss how leaders can guard against pridefulness and shares insights from his upcoming book "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams" co-authored by Jacquie Jordan. Crafted from Rutherford’s Crucible® Expeditions wilderness experience, Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader is a practical guide that explores each step of the Crucible journey and how its lessons can be applied to today’s leadership challenges. Pre-order his book today at /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32430232

Recent Proud Moments 07/21/2024

Recent Proud Moments Blayne and Brandon rehash some victories so far in 2024 in Episode 25 of the Applied Leadership Podcast, "Recent Proud Moments." We hope you enjoy it and take the time to reflect on your own personal and professional wins so far. Celebrate with your team, friends, and family! /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32235872

I'm a Leader and Never Wanted to Be - Now What Do I Do? 07/07/2024

I'm a Leader and Never Wanted to Be - Now What Do I Do? We often get what we need, not what we want. You may not want to be a leader, but maybe you need to be one. It's where you're at now, so what do we do about it? It's worth digging deep into yourself and asking why you may feel the way you do. At the same time, you can feel like you don't want it, yet embrace it as a positive opportunity. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/32040057

Cool Breeds Cool 06/20/2024

Cool Breeds Cool Do you have to always have all the answers as a leader? What do you do when you feel stuck in the moment, and everyone is looking to you? Even as a leader, you cannot always have all the answers, even in a moment of crisis. However, you should always bring calm. Assess the situation and create the conditions for a good answer to emerge from the team. Calm is more important than always having the answer. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31825922

How Big Do We Want Our Business to Get? 06/10/2024

How Big Do We Want Our Business to Get? ALPs exist to share hard-earned leadership wisdom with leaders who are on the frontlines of missions that matter and are trying to get better every day. We're always thinking about how to responsibly grow the business, keeping our lives properly integrated as we want, and doing the work with people we love. There's a healthy tension within this that we wrestle with both in work and our family lives. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31673667

Getting the Work Done & Providing Ancillary Support 05/28/2024

Getting the Work Done & Providing Ancillary Support There's an inverse relationship between completing the mission and being positively involved in building workplace relationships and advocating for your teams. Sharing the good work that our team is doing and hoping that others find value in it requires building and maintaining relationships. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31488652

Social Media: Uses and Abuses 05/12/2024

Social Media: Uses and Abuses Social media is a tricky place, especially when you're a business. Companies have to be careful about posting too much on social media, yet they need to share intentionally to meaningfully attract the right partners and clients. This is something we wrestle with every day, both at ALPs and in our personal lives. Knowing the true motivation and why to use social media for your company is the key. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31253847

Presence and Whole Life Integration 04/28/2024

Presence and Whole Life Integration This is an episode everyone will relate to—as a leader, a teammate, a spouse, a parent, a family member, or a friend. We all wear different hats and have a myriad of responsibilities and interests that vie for our time. As leaders, we need to ensure that we are allowing our people the time to be the best versions of themselves in all aspects of their lives. As leaders, we need to make sure we are doing the same for ourselves. /episode/index/show/appliedleadership/id/31021438

Applied Leadership Podcast

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