
What if the greatest threat to today’s executives isn’t burnout or failure—but the crushing loneliness no one talks about? In a captivating conversation, bestselling author and executive well-being advocate Nick Jonsson sits down with host Adam Markel to expose a silent epidemic plaguing the corporate world: Executive Loneliness. From elbowing his way to the top of his career to a devastating rock bottom that cost him his job, health, and family, Nick shares the raw, vulnerable story of his V-shaped recovery. This episode is more than just a personal memoir—it's a critical look at the culture of invulnerability, the illusion of success, and the profound power of psychological safety. Discover why working hard isn't always working smart, how repressing emotions can lead to physical illness, and the surprising, instantaneous way a corporate culture can shift when a leader chooses to surrender the fight and speak the truth. If you've ever felt isolated at the top, burned out from the hustle, or struggled to ask for help, this is the essential guide to finding resilience, building trust, and leading with genuine purpose.Show Notes: 02:14 - The Burnout Experience: Not Knowing Any Better 04:12 - Day in the Life: The Insecure Overachiever Mentality05:55 - Reaching the Top: When Success Isn't Enough07:05 - The Epiphany: Losing Motivation and Starting the Resignation Path11:25 - Hitting Rock Bottom: The Psychosomatic Illness12:10 - The Game-Changer: The First Honest Conversation16:23 - The Surrender Moment: Acceptance as a Predicate to Recovery19:12 - Defining Executive Loneliness: Isolation and Fear of Judgment21:13 - Shifting Company Culture: The Need for Buy-in and a Champion24:04 - The Power of Vulnerability: A Story of Rehearsed Suicide and Cultural Change27:57 - Psychological Safety and Personal Transparency33:23 - Building Trust: Getting to Know Each Other as Human Beings35:38 - The Challenge of Remote Work: Loneliness and Social Health40:07 - Personal Definition of Resilience: Falling Forward and Sharing What You Learn
Feb 17
49 min

Reclaiming your vitality and optimizing your performance starts with understanding your metabolic health. Host Adam Markel is joined by Mauro Stara, founder of Six Pack CEO, a Peak Performance expert and trusted advisor to successful CEOs and business owners. Mauro, known as "The Last Resort," dives into prioritizing advanced blood work and personalized coaching to tackle the root causes of stagnation, such as hormones and poor metabolic function, which traditional approaches often miss. They explore the vital connection between understanding critical blood markers like homocysteine and lipoprotein(a) and making intentional, empowering choices—the powerful "why"—to achieve lifelong, sustainable transformations and reach your full potential as a leader.Show Notes: 03:10 - Understanding Metabolic Health: The Root Cause Of Disease06:28 - Taking Control Of Your Health: Beyond Acceptance10:30 - Advanced Testing Demographics: Why The 40+ Age Group Is Engaged17:29 - Critical Blood Markers Overlooked: Homocysteine & Lipoprotein(a)22:10 - Accessing Advanced Blood Panels: Ordering & Doctor Trust27:48 - The Awareness Factor: Knowing The "Why" Changes Everything31:02 - The "Why" In Health: Fueling Your Body With Intention33:19 - The Value Of Coaching: Beyond The Plan To Behavior Change38:46 - Connecting Health To Peak Performance: The Olympic Mindset44:32 - Legacy And Prevention: Mauro's Personal Motivation
Jan 20
51 min

Ever wondered how to truly cultivate audacity in your life and career? Adam Markel dives deep with three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, author, and keynote speaker Anne Marie Anderson, who shares her inspiring journey through decades of sports television. Discover how her book, Cultivating Audacity, empowers you to dismantle doubt, embrace calculated risks, and achieve success by focusing on actionable resilience and playing to your unique strengths. Anne Marie reveals how to reframe "failure" as valuable data, understand the power of "sports specialization" in business, and navigate the four common barriers to risk-taking—fear, time, money, and your inner critic—transforming them into catalysts for growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to make audacious moves and build a "front row" of trusted advisors to propel them forward.Show Notes: 04:42 - Resilience Redefined: Data, Not Failure In Athletics 09:34 - Cultivating Audacity: Dismantling Doubt And Letting Yourself Win 12:12 - From Producer To Broadcaster: Anne Marie's Competitive Spirit 19:07 - Shape-Shifting Leadership: Lessons From Phil Jackson 25:25 - Sports Specialization In Business: Playing To Your Strengths 33:46 - Worth It Vs. Reckless Risks: The Front Row Advantage 38:54 - Embracing Imperfection: Anne Marie's First Live TV Experience
Dec 16, 2025
46 min

Dr. Sam Adeyemi is the CEO of Sam Adeyemi, GLC, Inc. and the founder and executive director of Daystar Leadership Academy (DLA), where he has trained thousands of individuals in leadership over the past two decades. He joins Adam Markel to share why our attitude is one of the most intangible ingredients in how our lives will ultimately unfold. Dr. Sam explains how attitudes are shaped by the things we consistently see and hear, which take root deep into our subconscious and directly impact our decisions. He also breaks down his SHIFTS framework, a six-step process on how senior managers can shape an equitable and sustainable culture.Show Notes: 01:12 - Why Your Attitude Matters More Than Facts 06:52 - Response-Ability: Harnessing Our Power To Respond11:45 - Improving Culture Through The SHIFTS Framework25:11 - The Role Of Attitude In Building A Resilient Self29:34 - Get In Touch With Dr. Sam And Get His Book30:52 - Episode Wrap-Up And Closing Words
Nov 18, 2025
39 min

Leadership resiliency isn’t built in comfort—it’s forged through failure, change, and the relentless pursuit of growth. Mike Lepper, CEO of Impact Networking, shares how his rise from entry-level sales to the C-suite was fueled by grit, adaptability, and a shift from a “driver” mindset to a “multiplier” approach that empowers others to succeed. In this conversation with Adam Markel, Mike unpacks the challenges of promoting great performers into leadership, the role of managers in retention, why culture thrives on transparency and trust, and how embracing change with clear communication builds both personal and organizational strength.Show Notes:02:37 - From Sales Driver To Multiplier06:15 - Navigating Leadership Challenges 09:33 - Unlocking Hidden Employee Potential 14:12 - Mastering Organizational Reorganization 22:29 - The Art Of Constructive Feedback28:17 - Building Team Resilience30:48 - Mike's Personal Resilience Journey 37:38 Cultivating Organizational Resilience
Oct 21, 2025
43 min

Step into the intriguing space where deeply ingrained experiences shape your present capabilities, and unlock the profound power of mental and emotional resilience. We're joined by Chris Edwards, MS, NCC, LPC, the insightful director and founder of Neurotherapy of Colorado Springs. He unveils eye-opening perspectives on neuroplasticity and the subtle yet powerful influence of childhood patterns on adult capabilities. Discover why the crucial, often-overlooked, art of recovery is paramount. It’s not just about bouncing back from adversity, but truly "bouncing forward" into peak performance across all facets of life, from the sports arena to the boardroom and beyond.Show Notes: 00:00 - Beyond The Bio: Chris Edwards' Pivot Journey03:14 - Wall Street Journal Insights: Neurotherapy In Action 07:25 - Visualizing Success: The Power Of Vision Boards11:55 - Crafting Your Future: Blueprinting Your Best Self 15:21 - The Pressure Cooker: Mastering Mental & Emotional Performance 21:21 - The Bounce Forward Advantage: The ArtOof Recovery 26:48 - Unlocking Potential: Identifying Performance Roadblocks 33:14 - The Recharge Revolution: Sleep, Hydration, And Tech Recovery40:16 - The Happiness Check: A Moment Of Self-Reflection 44:23 - Your Personal Resilience Playbook: A Snapshot
Sep 16, 2025
50 min

Ken Bogard is the founder of Know Honesty and author of the book of the same name. In this conversation with Adam Markel, he delves into his mission to help people create genuine connections and live the lives they truly want through effective communication. Ken explains why communication requires openness, honesty, and active listening, all while considering the interests and feelings of the person on the other end. He also discusses how to manage your ego to make it less about building walls for yourself, but more about creating meaningful connections amid today's world of individualism.Show Notes:02:11 - Ken Bogard Of Know Honesty05:01 - Being Comfortable With Discomfor09:45 - Writing ‘Know Honesty’ 14:11 - How To Achieve Effective Communication20:28 - Letting Go Of Your Ego Pursuit of Honesty Assessment 27:2338:39 - The Tool Called The Agreement 42:45 - Ken’s Rituals Of Resilience 45:47 - Episode Wrap-Up And Takeaways
Aug 19, 2025
48 min

Eric Hoplin is the CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors (NAW). He joins Adam Markel in this conversation about what it takes to deal with and thrive in a changing environment. Inspired by his experiences as a father and a leader in turbulent markets, he explores the importance of fostering integrity, resiliency, and flexibility. Eric emphasizes patience in decision-making processes, especially when faced when uncertainty, unpredictable trends and pressures from Wall Street. He also discusses how to handle cultural shifts within an organization to achieve transformation, excellence, collaboration, and maximum impact.01:08 – Eric Hoplin, CEO of NAW05:33 – Understanding The Why10:58 – Influence Of Wall Street Over The Market16:11- Developing Resilience In Leadership20:29 – Four Aspects Of Cultural Change And Transformation26:41 – Eric’s Rituals For Resilience30:38 – Why Integrity And Character Are Important32:37 – Episode Wrap-up And Closing Words
Jul 15, 2025
41 min

Step into the world of strategic foresight and dynamic execution as this episode unpacks the nuances of leadership in change. Join Adam Markel as he sits down with Suzanne Ogle, the astute President and CEO of SGA Natural Gas Association and Gas Machinery Research Council. With a career rooted in boardrooms and breakout sessions, Suzanne shares her unique insights as a "multiplier" leader, emphasizing the profound importance of maintaining a future-focused perspective amidst uncertainty. Discover how to effectively build capacity within organizations during times of rapid transformation and why embracing change with purpose is the ultimate currency for leaders today.Show Notes:01:29 Suzanne Ogle: From Bio To Purpose And Drive 09:56 - Entrepreneurial Spirit: Recognizing Leadership Instincts12:38 - From Driver To Multiplier: Suzanne's Evolving Leadership Style19:16 - Business As Nurturing: The Deep Responsibility Of Leaders26:14 - Pivoting To Success: Overcoming Resistance For Career Growth34:26 - The Art Of The Designed Pivot: Proactive Career Navigation37:07 - Workforce Dynamics: Redefining Employee-Employer Agreements42:21 - Resilience & Purpose: Suzanne's Keys To Navigating Change
Jun 17, 2025
56 min

Crystal Castille-Cromedy is the SVP of Talent and Head of HR Americas for Hines. She managed to perform well in her career for over 25 years by setting boundaries, knowing when to say no, and never letting herself be consumed by work. Joining Adam Markel, Crystal explains how to build a healthy workplace culture that allows everyone to set boundaries for themselves and feel free to work comfortably. She explains how leaders must actively show the path to success and create an environment where anyone can succeed and thrive. Crystal also emphasizes the importance of providing consistent feedback to your team and having those crucial conversations to guide them toward further improvement and growth.Show Notes: 00:00:47 - Introducing Crystal Castille-Cromedy Of Hines00:05:04 - Setting The Right Boundaries And Saying No00:18:59 - Choose Someone To Be Your Technical Mentor00:24:31 - Modeling Vs. Permission00:29:41 - Creating A Psychologically Safe Work Environment00:36:52 - Facing And Navigating Change00:41:37 - Get In Touch With Crystal And Episode Wrap-up
May 20, 2025
47 min
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