What if we trained our minds with the same dedication we bring to our bodies?

In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke sits down with Jack Preddey, founder of Optimize Mind Performance, to explore why mental skills training has become as crucial as physical preparation for peak performance.

Jack opens up about building a business that transforms how athletes and leaders approach resilience, focus, and mental health conversations. From his unique vantage point at the intersection of sport and business, he reveals how daily routines shape our mental fitness and why facing setbacks requires genuine courage.

The conversation weaves through practical insights on leadership styles, the trainable nature of mental skills, and Jack's curiosity-driven approach to performance optimization. He paints a compelling picture of a future where mental fitness isn't an afterthought—it's woven into the fabric of how we work, compete, and lead.

Luke connects these themes to previous conversations with cricket legend Mike Hussey and NRL coach Craig Fitzgibbon, two leaders who embody the principles of resilience and authentic leadership that Jack is championing in this new frontier. Be sure to go and listen if you haven’t already!

The Leadership Playbook in London on September 5, 2025

Discover leadership insights from two of the world’s most respected coaches. Aleda invites you to “The Leadership Playbook”, a live panel discussion with NBA legend Steve Kerr and Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta.

This exclusive 90-minute session will share raw, unfiltered insights on:

• Building teams that thrive under pressure

• Leading with authenticity and clarity

• Driving performance through challenges

These strategies translate directly into business and leadership, empowering you to build high-performing teams and lead with confidence in any environment.

Event Details

• Date - Friday, 5 September 

• Time - 3:30pm to 5:00pm 
• Location - The Londoner Hotel

Special Offer for listeners of the Empowering Leaders podcast

Enjoy 20% off General Admission and Front Row Tickets with code ALEDA20.

For tailored group discounts, please reach out to the team at Aleda via [email protected]

Book your ticket here 

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from two of the greatest minds in leadership and performance.

This session is being run as part of the Lead Better, Live Better Summit 2025, hosted over 4 and 5 September at the Londoner Hotel. The conference features many other incredible, high profile speakers from the world of leadership and wellness and spots are limited. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the conference, please check out the What's Happening page on Aleda's website. 

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a life devoted to shaping national conversations is suddenly interrupted by a diagnosis that changes everything?

Jamila Rizvi has spent her career steering the agenda on gender equality, parenting, politics, and power. A bestselling author, speaker, and advocate, she started out as a political staffer in the Rudd and Gillard governments, where she witnessed firsthand the challenges Julia Gillard faced as Australia’s first female Prime Minister.

At just 31, Jamila’s own life shifted dramatically when she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour. In this conversation with Luke, she shares the realities of living with a “broken brain,” the parallels with her friend Rosie Waterland’s mental health journey, and their collaboration on their new book - Broken Brains.

Jamila & Luke also reflect on why economic security for women must be part of her legacy, how clarity and predictability make her a stronger leader, and why community is essential for survival and success.

The Leadership Playbook in London on September 5, 2025

Discover leadership insights from two of the world’s most respected coaches. Aleda invites you to “The Leadership Playbook”, a live panel discussion with NBA legend Steve Kerr and Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta.

This exclusive 90-minute session will share raw, unfiltered insights on:

• Building teams that thrive under pressure

• Leading with authenticity and clarity

• Driving performance through challenges

These strategies translate directly into business and leadership, empowering you to build high-performing teams and lead with confidence in any environment.

Event Details

• Date - Friday, 5 September 

• Time - 3:30pm to 5:00pm 
• Location - The Londoner Hotel

Special Offer for listeners of the Empowering Leaders podcast

Enjoy 20% off General Admission and Front Row Tickets with code ALEDA20.

For tailored group discounts, please reach out to the team at Aleda via [email protected]

Book your ticket here 

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from two of the greatest minds in leadership and performance.

This session is being run as part of the Lead Better, Live Better Summit 2025, hosted over 4 and 5 September at the Londoner Hotel. The conference features many other incredible, high profile speakers from the world of leadership and wellness and spots are limited. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the conference, please check out the What's Happening page on Aleda's website. 

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to make life-or-death decisions when the world is watching? According to today’s guest - it’s every single thing that you have achieved, all the choices you have made and all the moments you have learned from in the years leading up to that moment.

In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke speaks with Dr Craig Challen - veterinarian, adventurer, and one of the cave divers who helped rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand. Craig shares what it was like to face impossible choices under water, how the boys decided their own order of exit, and why calmness - not fear - must lead in moments of crisis.

They explore leadership lessons forged deep underground, from the value of authenticity and trust to the role of curiosity in staying sharp. Craig also reflects on the impact of sudden fame, the mentors who shaped him, and the quiet power of collaboration when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The Leadership Playbook in London on September 5, 2025

Discover leadership insights from two of the world’s most respected coaches. Aleda invites you to “The Leadership Playbook”, a live panel discussion with NBA legend Steve Kerr and Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta.

This exclusive 90-minute session will share raw, unfiltered insights on:

• Building teams that thrive under pressure

• Leading with authenticity and clarity

• Driving performance through challenges

These strategies translate directly into business and leadership, empowering you to build high-performing teams and lead with confidence in any environment.

Event Details

• Date - Friday, 5 September 

• Time - 3:30pm to 5:00pm 
• Location - The Londoner Hotel

Special Offer for listeners of the Empowering Leaders podcast

Enjoy 20% off General Admission and Front Row Tickets with code ALEDA20.

For tailored group discounts, please reach out to the team at Aleda via [email protected]

Book your ticket here 

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from two of the greatest minds in leadership and performance.

This session is being run as part of the Lead Better, Live Better Summit 2025, hosted over 4 and 5 September at the Londoner Hotel. The conference features many other incredible, high profile speakers from the world of leadership and wellness and spots are limited. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the conference, please check out the What's Happening page on Aleda's website. 

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if our neighbourhoods are just as important to our health as our diet or exercise?

Urban futurist and tech entrepreneur Lucinda Hartley has spent her career reimagining the cities we live in and in this episode of Empowering Leaders, she joins Luke Darcy to explore what it takes to build places that truly support human wellbeing.

Lucinda has advised the United Nations, co-founded two tech startups, and worked across five continents. But her focus is deeply local: walkable streets, access to green space, connected communities, and housing that doesn’t leave people behind. She shares how better urban design can help us live longer, feel more connected, and thrive.

This conversation explores the housing crisis in Australia, the emotional toll of leadership, and the role of technology and lived experience in shaping our environments. Lucinda also reflects on purpose, curiosity, and the power of working across sectors to create cities and systems that care.

The Leadership Playbook in London on September 5, 2025

Discover leadership insights from two of the world’s most respected coaches. Aleda invites you to “The Leadership Playbook”, a live panel discussion with NBA legend Steve Kerr and Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta.

This exclusive 90-minute session will share raw, unfiltered insights on:

• Building teams that thrive under pressure

• Leading with authenticity and clarity

• Driving performance through challenges

These strategies translate directly into business and leadership, empowering you to build high-performing teams and lead with confidence in any environment.

Event Details

• Date - Friday, 5 September 

• Time - 3:30pm to 5:00pm 
• Location - The Londoner Hotel

Special Offer for listeners of the Empowering Leaders podcast

Enjoy 20% off General Admission and Front Row Tickets with code ALEDA20.

For tailored group discounts, please reach out to the team at Aleda via [email protected]

Book your ticket here 

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from two of the greatest minds in leadership and performance.

This session is being run as part of the Lead Better, Live Better Summit 2025, hosted over 4 and 5 September at the Londoner Hotel. The conference features many other incredible, high profile speakers from the world of leadership and wellness and spots are limited. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the conference, please check out the What's Happening page on Aleda's website. 

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if every conversation is a transaction - but connection is the only currency that matters?

In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke Darcy is joined by Todd Duncan - world-renowned mindset coach, NYT bestselling author and global speaker - whose work on transformation, leadership and culture has impacted millions around the world.

As the founder and CEO of the Duncan Group, Todd has authored 17 books and been dubbed by CNN as the "Tony Robbins of the mortgage industry."

Todd’s story is one of transformation. From battling burnout and depression to becoming one of the most sought-after voices on leadership and resilience, he shares the hard-won lessons that shaped his approach to life and business. The conversation also dives into why trust beats tactics, how self-leadership fuels everything, and the quiet power of emotional connection - in sales, in parenting, and in the moments that matter most.

According to Todd, emotional connection always outperforms pressure - whether you're making a sale or having a tough conversation with someone you love.

You’ll hear Luke reference his amazing conversation with Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson Part 1 & Part 2

The Leadership Playbook in London on September 5, 2025

Discover leadership insights from two of the world’s most respected coaches. Aleda invites you to “The Leadership Playbook”, a live panel discussion with NBA legend Steve Kerr and Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta.

This exclusive 90-minute session will share raw, unfiltered insights on:

• Building teams that thrive under pressure

• Leading with authenticity and clarity

• Driving performance through challenges

These strategies translate directly into business and leadership, empowering you to build high-performing teams and lead with confidence in any environment.

Event Details

• Date - Friday, 5 September 

• Time - 3:30pm to 5:00pm 
• Location - The Londoner Hotel

Special Offer for listeners of the Empowering Leaders podcast

Enjoy 20% off General Admission and Front Row Tickets with code ALEDA20.

For tailored group discounts, please reach out to the team at Aleda via [email protected]

Book your ticket here 

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from two of the greatest minds in leadership and performance.

This session is being run as part of the Lead Better, Live Better Summit 2025, hosted over 4 and 5 September at the Londoner Hotel. The conference features many other incredible, high profile speakers from the world of leadership and wellness and spots are limited. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the conference, please check out the What's Happening page on Aleda's website. 

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to lead at the highest level, consistently - across teams, cultures and continents?

Michael Cheika has coached national rugby sides in Australia, Argentina and Lebanon, but his leadership journey began much earlier - shaped by the resilience, humility and drive of his immigrant upbringing in Western Sydney.

In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Michael joins Luke Darcy for a candid and powerful conversation on emotional intelligence, public pressure, and the challenge of building alignment in high-performance teams. He reflects on how he’s learned to balance vulnerability with toughness, what business can borrow from sport, and why defeat often teaches more than success.

With his trademark honesty and curiosity, Michael opens up about the influence of his family, the value of lifelong learning, and how great leaders never stop evolving - on or off the field.

The Leadership Playbook in London on September 5, 2025

Discover leadership insights from two of the world’s most respected coaches. Aleda invites you to “The Leadership Playbook”, a live panel discussion with NBA legend Steve Kerr and Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta.

This exclusive 90-minute session will share raw, unfiltered insights on:

• Building teams that thrive under pressure

• Leading with authenticity and clarity

• Driving performance through challenges

These strategies translate directly into business and leadership, empowering you to build high-performing teams and lead with confidence in any environment.

Event Details

• Date - Friday, 5 September 

• Time - 3:30pm to 5:00pm 
• Location - The Londoner Hotel

Special Offer for listeners of the Empowering Leaders podcast

Enjoy 20% off General Admission and Front Row Tickets with code ALEDA20.

For tailored group discounts, please reach out to the team at Aleda via [email protected]

Book your ticket here 

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from two of the greatest minds in leadership and performance.

This session is being run as part of the Lead Better, Live Better Summit 2025, hosted over 4 and 5 September at the Londoner Hotel. The conference features many other incredible, high profile speakers from the world of leadership and wellness and spots are limited. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the conference, please check out the What's Happening page on Aleda's website. 

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From busking in a bushfire-prone town in country Victoria to speaking on international stages like the UN, APEC and G20, Yasmin Poole has become one of Australia’s most compelling young voices for justice, inclusion, and systemic change.

In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke sits down with the award-winning speaker, writer, advocate and Rhodes Scholar for a wide-ranging conversation. Yasmin opens up about her upbringing in regional Victoria, how her mother’s experiences as a Muslim woman in post-9/11 Australia shaped her worldview, and the challenges that have forged her sense of identity and justice.

Luke and Yasmin unpack the mental load of advocacy, the power of bringing your whole self into leadership, and how anyone can move from apathy to agency when they have integrity, self-awareness, and, most importantly, the courage to refuse to stay silent.

For people who want to be seen - not just in the room, but at the actual table - Yasmin knows more than anyone about how to get there through the power of speaking up and making a difference, even when it's hard or inconvenient for others to hear.

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to stay calm under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and lead with humility?

In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke sits down with Mike Hussey, Mr Cricket himself, for a conversation that goes far beyond the boundary line.

Known for his resilience, consistency and quiet strength, Mike reflects on the long road to his debut for Australia, the mental demands of elite performance, and the routines that helped him thrive under pressure. Now a respected coach and commentator, he shares what he’s learned about leadership from his time in the IPL, the power of clear communication, and why values like respect, curiosity and humility matter more than ever.

Mike embodies the kind of growth that comes from showing up, staying grounded, and never losing the love of the game.

You’ll hear Luke reference his recent conversion with the incredible Dr Peter Rea - listen or re-listen here.

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aubrey Pleasant has worked with some of the biggest names in the NFL, but it’s his emotional intelligence, presence and care for people that really set him apart. 

In this conversation on Empowering Leaders with Luke Darcy, the NFL coach opens up about the path that shaped him: from the classroom to the locker room, from ancient wisdom to modern leadership. He shares why titles don’t mean a lot without trust, how listening transforms teams and how his background in teaching has informed his approach to coaching.

Aubrey talks about the power of trust, the importance of listening and why knowing who you are matters more than any title. He also reflects on self-care, curiosity and how to build the kind of connection that brings out the best in a team.

Producer’s note:

After we stopped recording, Aubrey told us he nearly cried listening to Luke reading his introduction. It was one of those quiet moments that stays with you - another glimpse into his humility and heart. He called it a good reminder to stop and smell the roses... to really stop take in the good, while it’s right in front of you. Just thought you'd like to know...

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Harrison is not your typical venture capitalist. A decorated US Army Airborne Ranger and West Point graduate turned founder of Scout Ventures, Brad now sits at the cutting edge of national security, investing in the technologies shaping our future—AI, space, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems.

But beyond the battlefield and boardroom, Brad’s leadership journey is just as much about inner work as outer impact. In this episode, he opens up about his shift from combat missions to meditation, from elite operations to yoga retreats. Brad shares how practices like breathwork, biohacking, and self-reflection help him stay grounded while navigating high-stakes innovation.

He unpacks the delicate balance between military deterrence and peacekeeping, and why technologies like AI and autonomy, when guided by ethical, empathetic leadership, can be forces for good. With a deep emphasis on authenticity, self-improvement, and community, Brad offers a unique perspective on what it takes to lead.

Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.

Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.