Campsites and C-Suites

What can a backpacking trip disaster teach us about life and leadership? In Episode 1, two backpackers split up in the wilderness and one nearly drowns. I was part of that trip, and the lessons learned left an lasting imprint.

Welcome to Campsites and C-Suites! This is a leadership podcast that will explore stories from the outdoors, and how those experiences teach us lessons in leadership. We will take what we learn outside to give us insights on how we lead inside our organizations. 

Your host, Dr. Michael-Anthony Williams, a physician executive and former hospital CMO, has three decades of experience in both backcountry adventures and healthcare leadership. 

 If you enjoy this episode, please share it with someone, leave a review or drop me a line: [email protected]

Quote: “Whether you are out in the wilderness or inside an organization, we all make mistakes, we all get lost, and at some point or another, we will all fail. It’s what we do in those moments that truly matters.”

Key Takeaways: 

1. Information is only as good as your interpretation of it. Don’t confuse information for knowledge or wisdom.

2. Goals are important, but progress is not always linear. Keep the big picture in mind, and sometimes it’s ok to go backwards

3. Telling stories matters. In our own lives, in explaining our positions, and in providing a vision for the future. Tell stories that improve others, not just yourself.

Resources:

Nassim Taleb: The Black Swan

David Epstein: Range

Jordan Ellenberg: How Not to Be Wrong

Annie Duke: Quit

Daniel Kahneman: Thinking, Fast and Slow

Brené Brown: Dare to Lead

Simon Sinek: Leaders Eat Last

Adam Grant: Think Again

Laurence Gonzales: Deep Survival

John Steinbeck: East of Eden 

Disclaimer

Campsites and C-Suites is hosted by Dr. Michael-Anthony (M-A) Williams, a physician executive, and features conversations about leadership drawn from experiences in business, healthcare, and the backcountry. The host’s medical background informs his perspective, but nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes medical advice, and listening to or engaging with this show does not create a physician-patient relationship of any kind. No identifiable patient information is shared on this podcast, and when describing past medical experiences, we change or omit details to protect patient privacy

Listening to this podcast or contacting Dr. Williams or the podcast by email, direct message, social media, comment, or any other means does not create a doctor-patient relationship, and Dr. Williams does not provide individual medical advice through any channel. 

This podcast is intended for entertainment and educational purposes only and should not be treated as a substitute for professional advice. The stories used, including those in wilderness settings, are shared as personal reflections — not as safety, medical, or technical guidance for outdoor activities. Listeners should not rely on these stories as instruction and should consult qualified professionals for guidance specific to their own situations. Outdoor activities are inherently dangerous, and anyone who undertakes them does so at their own risk.

Dr. Williams speaks only for himself and his guests speak only for themselves, and their respective views do not represent the views of any organization, or current or former employer. Guest appearances on Campsites & C-Suites do not indicate that Dr. Williams endorses or agrees with a guest or a guest's business, products or services, or that any guest endorses or agrees with Dr. Williams. Dr. Williams does not independently verify guests’ statements, and statements by guests about health or medical topics are not medical advice.