Grappling Growth

What does growth really look like in a world shaped by rapid change, AI, and evolving narratives?

This week, we’re joined by Peter W. Singer—Author, Strategist, and Futurist—who brings a powerful perspective on how individuals and organizations can grow with intention.

In this episode, Peter explores:
1. The multifaceted nature of growth—why real progress comes from embracing new experiences2. The power of storytelling in business and how narrative shapes strategy and influence
3. The reality of AI’s impact—from job creation to disruption, and why we need balanced expectations
4. Why young professionals should pursue passion over trends in an increasingly noisy world
5. Insights into his work with Useful Fiction—where storytelling meets strategic foresight

This conversation challenges how we think about growth, innovation, and the stories we tell—both in business and in life.

If you’re navigating change, building your future, or leading in uncertain times—this episode is a must-listen.

EP Guest: Peter W. Singer
Website: https://useful-fiction.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/psinger2/

In this powerful episode of Grappling Growth, we sit down with Dr. Patty Delgado — CEO, Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, and leading expert on the Hispanic workforce.

Dr. Delgado shares her inspiring journey as a businesswoman, the challenges she faced along the way, and the lessons that shaped her leadership. From translating research into real-world impact to advocating for better understanding of the Hispanic workforce, she offers deep insights into the evolving workplace landscape.

We also dive into a timely conversation about the culture problem in the U.S. — what it means for organizations, leadership, and the future of work.

This episode is a thoughtful exploration of leadership, culture, resilience, and the importance of understanding the people who power today’s workforce.

Listen in as we discuss:• Dr. Delgado’s journey to becoming a CEO• The realities and opportunities within the Hispanic workforce• Translating research into real organizational change• The culture challenges facing the U.S. today• Leadership lessons from navigating business and advocacy

EP Guest: Dr Patty Delgado

The Bridgify Group: http://www.thebridgifygroup.com

El Puente Institute™: https://www.elpuenteinstitute.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-delgadothebridgifygroup/

In this high-impact episode, we’re joined by Josh Kohn, Founder & CEO of Meridian Performance Systems Inc., Army Veteran, and Business Strategist, as we explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the future of sport performance.

From military discipline to executive leadership, Josh brings a powerful perspective on what it takes to build high-performing systems — both in athletes and in organizations. He breaks down how AI is no longer just a tech buzzword, but a game-changing tool in optimizing training, reducing injury risk, enhancing recovery, and unlocking elite performance.

In this episode, we cover:

• How AI is reshaping athletic training and performance analytics

• The intersection of leadership, data, and decision-making

• What sports organizations are getting wrong about performance

• The competitive edge AI gives to teams and athletes

• Lessons from the Army that translate into business and sport

Whether you're a coach, athlete, executive, or entrepreneur, this conversation will challenge how you think about performance, preparation, and precision in the age of AI.

The future of sport isn’t coming — it’s already here.

EP Guest: Josh KohnMeridian KPS: https://meridiankps.com/Putt Meridian: https://puttmeridian.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-kohn/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putt_meridian/

We’re thrilled to welcome Curtis Sprouse to The Grappling Growth Podcast—a leader at the intersection of world-class team building and advancing science & technology.

In this episode, Curtis unpacks The Fabric of Unstoppable Leaders and tackles a question that can make—or break—your trajectory:
How important is picking the right partner?

From hard-won insights to real leadership moments, Curtis shares how alignment, trust, and shared vision create teams that don’t just perform—they endure.

If you’re building leaders, scaling teams, or choosing who to grow with, this one’s for you.

EP Guest: Curtis SprouseLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtissprouse/Shana Reed: [email protected]

In this special live, in-person episode of the Grappling Growth Podcast, recorded at Arma Jiu Jitsu, Joe sits down with legendary jiu-jitsu filmmaker and coach Stuart Cooper.

Stuart has spent decades embedded in the sport, documenting and training alongside some of the greatest athletes on the planet. In this conversation, he reveals the five greatest jiu-jitsu athletes he’s ever trained with, including Roger Gracie, Braulio Estima, Craig Jones and Ffion Davies — and breaks down what truly separates good from legendary. But this episode goes far beyond medals and highlight reels.

Stuart opens up about his battle with opioid addiction, the psychological weight of chasing excellence, and how jiu-jitsu became both an anchor and a mirror during some of the darkest periods of his life.

Filmed inside the academy where he coaches, this conversation explores:
• What greatness actually looks like up close
• The mindset traits elite competitors share
• The reality of addiction and recovery
• Lessons from training in Thailand, Brazil, Singapore and Australia
• How travel and culture shape identity
• The unseen side of building a creative career in a niche sport

Raw. Reflective. Grounded in experience.
This isn’t just about jiu-jitsu. It’s about resilience, mastery and rebuilding your life when everything looks stable on the outside but isn’t.EP Guest: Stuart Cooper Stuart Cooper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stuartcooperfilms

Stuart Cooper Instagram: instagram.com/stuartcooperfilms

Arma BJJ: https://www.armabjj.com/

Adapt Jiu Jitsu: https://adaptjj.com/

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In this powerful and timely conversation, we sit down with Damien Bruckard, Founder and Geopolitical Strategist, to unpack what leadership really looks like when the stakes are global.

Drawing from his lived experience as a Western diplomat inside Moscow, Damien offers rare, firsthand insight into:

• Leading under pressure in high-risk, high-uncertainty environments

• Navigating power, culture, and influence behind closed doors

• Decision-making when information is incomplete and consequences are real

• Personal leadership lessons forged in one of the world’s most complex geopolitical arenas

This episode goes beyond headlines and theory. It’s a candid look at character, resilience, and clarity—and how those qualities are shaped not in comfort, but in complexity.

Whether you’re a leader, strategist, or someone grappling with uncertainty in your own arena, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, perspective, and growth.

EP Guest: Damien Bruckard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damien-bruckard-b94079134/
Website: https://www.geopolitical-strategy.com/
Newsletter: https://www.geopoliticaldispatch.com/

In this episode of Grappling Growth, Joe sits down with Simon Court — coach to founder-CEOs, speaker, author of Founder’s Legacy, and co-founder at Value Partnership. Simon draws from decades of experience helping scale-up leaders navigate the shift from founder to CEO and shares powerful insights on what separates founders who thrive from those who stall.

Simon unpacks the core idea behind his book, Founder's Legacy - Fifty Game-Changing Leadership Lessons for Building a Great Business, and reveals why the most successful leaders focus first on working on themselves — not just their business. He also challenges one of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship: you don’t need to be right 100% of the time… you just need to be right 51% of the time to drive momentum and sustainable growth.

Tune in for practical wisdom on mindset, decision-making, resilience, and leading with purpose — especially when the familiar ways of thinking stop serving you.

EP Guest: Simon Court: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncourt?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Founder's Legacy Book: Founder's Legacy: 50 Game-Changing Leadership Lessons for Building a Great Business: Amazon.co.uk: Court, Simon: 9781639090297: Books

In this episode of Grappling Growth, we sit down with Jack Skeels—CEO, former RAND researcher, and trusted advisor and coach to executives—to unpack one of the biggest questions facing leaders today: Is AI really coming for our jobs?

Jack brings a rare blend of deep research, real-world leadership experience, and practical wisdom as he shares how project-based organizations can redesign the way work actually works in the age of AI. Instead of fear-driven narratives, this conversation explores what’s really changing, which roles are most at risk, and how leaders can future-proof their teams by rethinking systems, workflows, and human value.

If you’re a business leader, executive, or professional navigating uncertainty, this episode will challenge your assumptions, sharpen your thinking, and help you see AI not just as a threat—but as a catalyst for smarter, more meaningful work.

EP Guest: Jack Skeel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackaskeels/

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Jack Shade — CEO, former RAND Corporation researcher, and trusted advisor and coach to executives — to unpack what leadership really looks like when the stakes are high and the decisions truly matter.

Jack brings a rare perspective shaped by years of rigorous research, strategic advisory work, and real-world executive coaching. From advising senior leaders to helping organisations navigate complexity, uncertainty, and pressure, Jack shares what separates effective leadership from performative leadership.

We explore:

• How research-driven thinking shapes better leaders

• The realities of decision-making under uncertainty

• Why clarity, judgment, and self-awareness matter more than charisma

• Common leadership blind spots executives don’t realise they have

• What it truly means to lead people — not just manage outcomes

This conversation goes beyond buzzwords and frameworks. It’s a grounded, thoughtful look at leadership through the lens of experience, discipline, and deep reflection.

If you’re a founder, executive, or emerging leader looking to sharpen how you think, decide, and lead — this episode will challenge and elevate your perspective.

Tune in and enjoy.

EP Guest: Jack Shade
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackaskeels/
Loud Collective Website: https://www.loudco.com/
Infinite CXO Website: https://infinitecxo.com/
Email: [email protected]

Are small businesses actually leveraging AI effectively—or are they already falling behind?

With years of experience leading large-scale transformation across enterprises, Lauren brings a rare and grounded perspective on how leadership, culture, and strategy must evolve in an AI-driven world. This conversation goes beyond the hype to explore what real AI adoption looks like for small and mid-sized businesses—and why technology alone is never the answer.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why many businesses are “using AI” but not truly getting value from it

• The leadership mindset required to adopt AI without creating chaos

• How small businesses can compete with larger enterprises using smarter AI strategies

• Common mistakes leaders make when introducing AI into teams and workflows

• Practical ways to get ahead of the AI curve—without losing the human edge

This is a masterclass in leading change, embracing innovation, and building future-ready businesses—especially for leaders who want to move fast without breaking what already works.

Whether you’re a founder, executive, or operator navigating AI for the first time, this episode will challenge how you think about technology, leadership, and growth.

Tune in and learn how to lead on the edge—before the edge moves.

EP Guest: Lauren Ryder
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-ryder1/
Website: http://leading-edge.global