<p class="">In this special episode marking the 250th birthday of the United States, we sit down with David Zanotti, CEO of the American Policy Roundtable and creator of The Public Square, one of the longest-running daily audio programs in America.</p> <p class="">This is a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the perils of founding a country in 1776 to the challenges of leading in the age of AI in 2026. It turns out that some of the very same mindsets that fueled America's Founding Fathers are still what's needed to effectively lead organizations and families today.</p>

What makes a leader worth* following? That little asterisk next to "worth" is the answer. It references the hidden truth that lives at the very core of effective (and ineffective) leadership. The Be Worth* Following Podcast explores the surprising truth of what actually makes someone worth following and how it plays out in the lives of real leaders. Join host Tim Spiker, author of The Only Leaders Worth* Following, as he talks to leaders, thinkers, and researchers about what actually drives effective leadership across the globe and over time.