Badass Softie

As a new year begins, many leaders feel an unspoken pressure to measure themselves against impossible standards — more growth, more output, more proof that they’re “enough.”

In this episode of Badass Softie, Dr. JJ Peterson invites listeners to pause and challenge the definition of success they’ve been handed.

Drawing from his own experiences launching businesses, leading teams, publishing a bestselling book, and creating work that mattered long before it was visible, Dr. Peterson makes a compelling case for redefining success as alignment, not achievement.

He introduces the concept of a Year of Enoughness — not as a lowering of ambition, but as a way to protect it. A definition of success that doesn’t demand burnout, self-abandonment, or the loss of creativity and joy.

Listeners will explore:

As leaders, we’re often taught that joy should wait its turn.

But what if that belief is quietly burning us out?

In this episode of Badass Softie, Dr. JJ Peterson invites leaders to rethink joy—not as a reward, but as a leadership practice. Through a simple, human story and research-backed insight, he explores why joy isn’t denial, irresponsibility, or distraction… it’s how emotionally intelligent leaders stay resilient, creative, and deeply human.

This conversation is especially for those who feel the tension between ambition and tenderness—who are carrying a lot, leading through uncertainty, and wondering if celebration is allowed when things still feel hard.

Because joy doesn’t erase the heavy parts of life.

✨ If this episode resonates, share it with someone you believe is a true Badass Softie—someone who leads with heart, carries responsibility with courage, and deserves permission to celebrate a little sooner than they think.

Ever been at a holiday party, networking event, or standing awkwardly near a charcuterie board when someone asks, “So… what do you do?”

And suddenly your brain short-circuits.

You ramble.

In this episode, Dr. J.J. Peterson breaks down why leaders dread that question—and how to answer it in a way that actually starts conversations instead of ending them.

Drawing from storytelling frameworks used in Hollywood, J.J. introduces a simple, human one-liner formula designed to help leaders explain what they do with clarity, confidence, and heart.

You’ll learn:

This episode is for leaders who are unapologetically ambitious—but still deeply human. The ones who want their words to open doors, not shut conversations down.

Because a great one-liner doesn’t pitch.

👉 Download the one-liner worksheet - https://www.drjjpeterson.com/one-liner

If this episode resonated, share it with someone you think is a Badass Softie—a leader who wants to lead with clarity, heart, and confidence.

Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with author and speaker Jen Hatmaker for a candid conversation about courage, integrity, and what happens when the life you’ve built no longer fits who you’re becoming.

Jen Hatmaker has navigated public success, private heartbreak, theological transformation, and the painful cost of choosing integrity over approval. Through every rise and collapse, she has remained tender, honest, grounded, and fiercely aligned with her values—modeling a different kind of leadership rooted in both strength and humanity.

Together, Dr. J.J. Peterson and Jen Hatmaker explore what unfolds when long-held roles begin to crack, when praised identities no longer fit, and when inherited values prove too small for the person emerging on the other side of growth.

This conversation explores:

There is humor woven throughout—AC/DC youth group myths, country music fangirling, and a Grand Ole Opry moment that lingers—but at its core, this is a conversation about truth, courage, and the lives leaders claim when they stop pretending.

The central reminder is clear:

In the end, this is the work of a badass softie—allowing courage and compassion to guide the way toward a more honest, expansive life.

Everywhere I go lately, people are asking me the same thing: How do I stay human when everyone is using AI? And honestly, I get it. We’re living in a moment where content is being produced faster and more generically than ever before and leaders are wondering how to keep their voice from disappearing into the noise.

In today’s conversation, I’m sharing something I’ve learned after years of helping leaders craft clear, meaningful messaging: AI can create, but only you can curate. AI doesn’t have a point of view. It doesn’t have lived wisdom. It can’t tell the story that shaped you or the moment that changed your leadership. Only you can do that and that’s exactly what makes your voice irreplaceable.

Inside this episode, I walk you through the two practices that will help you stand out in an AI-saturated world: personal stories and paradigm shifts.

I’ll show you how your stories build trust, how your perspective sets you apart, and how you can start developing a stronger point of view this week — not by being louder, but by being more you.

And because I want you to leave this episode with something you can use right away, I give you three simple assignments that will help you clarify your voice, connect more deeply with your audience, and create content that feels human again.

If this conversation resonates and you want help shaping your message or your thought leadership, you can always reach out at drjjpeterson.com — it’s the work I love most.

And if this episode speaks to you, share it with someone in your life who is both ambitious and deeply human — someone you’d call a Badass Softie.

In this episode of The Badass Softie Podcast, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with creative business mentor and coach Laura Higgins for a heartfelt, grounded conversation on what it really means to lead as a creative.

Laura opens up about her journey from “generalist” uni dropout to running a successful business coaching over 1,000 creatives — and the mindset shifts, courage, and leadership skills she had to build along the way.

Together, they explore the tension so many creatives feel:

Laura makes the case that leadership isn’t a personality type — it’s a learnable skill. And when creatives pair structure with soul, something powerful emerges: sustainable success without losing the magic.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Connect with Laura:

Send this episode to the creative friend who keeps saying “one day.” Today could be the day they finally go for it.

In this episode of Badass Softie, I sit down with my longtime friend and former colleague, Tim Schurrer — someone whose leadership shaped not only my career, but the culture and growth of StoryBrand itself.

Tim is the author of The Secret Society of Success, a book that gently dismantles the assumption that success means being the one in the spotlight. And trust me… I’ve watched him live out that message for over a decade.

During our conversation, we explore:

Tim and I both believe this with every fiber of our leadership bones:

And honestly? Most people aren’t wired for the spotlight anyway — and that’s not a shortcoming. It’s a superpower when you understand how to use it.

If this episode resonates with you, I’d love for you to subscribe, comment, or leave a review — it helps more people find conversations like this one.

For leaders who chase big goals but crave meaning just as much as momentum — this conversation is for you.

Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Amy Porterfield, New York Times bestselling author of Two Weeks Notice, to unpack how ambition can serve you without consuming you.

Amy shares how she went from corporate employee at Tony Robbins to building a multimillion-dollar business — and how redefining “enough” transformed both her leadership and her life.

Together, they dig into the leadership lessons that every high-performer needs to hear: how to bet on yourself, stop moving the goalposts, and lead with clarity instead of chaos.

You’ll learn:

This episode isn’t about slowing down — it’s about leading smarter.

📘 Grab Amy’s book: Two Weeks Notice

🎧 Subscribe, comment, or leave a review — and keep leading with both strength and softness at BadassSoftie.com.

You’ve been grinding nonstop: chasing goals, managing pressure, holding it all together. But lately, even the wins don’t feel like wins anymore. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan — when the roadblocks, losses, and grief feel like they’ve stopped you in your tracks?