Good morning, world — AJ here with another raw and reflective episode of The E1B2 Collective Podcast. Over the weekend, a few old mentors threw some soul-shifting questions my way, and today, I’m passing that energy to you.

We unpack why too many leaders still don’t understand that culture is strategy, not a side project. I go deep on the operational rhythms — shared language, cadence, and internal clarity — that actually build culture in scaling teams. No theory, just real frameworks.

We also explore a brutal truth: many leaders are lying to themselves about how strong their culture really is. I break down what great culture actually looks like and challenge you to step into the rooms, pods, and moments where the truth lives — because culture doesn’t live in slide decks. It lives in tension, in motion, in decisions.

Plus, a major guest is dropping later today — someone who’s shaped the way I see leadership, execution, and personal legacy. I’m nervous, I’m grateful, and I’m ready. This episode is just the warm-up.

As always, just a few thoughts. Just a few perspectives. Let’s build.