Lead On with Greg & Mark (LOwGaM)

A roller rink decal sparks a cascade of memories... backward skating for Greg and arcades for Mark... before we steer into a surprisingly timely question: what stories from the 80s still shape how we think today?

Then we flip the mirror. Using the 11 cognitive distortions as a roadmap, we unpack the thinking traps that quietly bend reality: all-or-nothing thinking, mind reading, mental filtering, discounting the positive, magnification and minimization, emotional reasoning, catastrophizing, and personalization. We connect these patterns to our built-in negativity bias, explain why they feel so credible in the moment, and show how they sabotage performance, parenting, and leadership. 

If you enjoyed the ride, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves 80s deep cuts, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us. What’s your most quotable 80s line.. and which thinking trap do you want to retire this week?

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

A little 80s nostalgia opens the door to a bigger conversation: why curiosity beats certainty for modern leaders. After trading theme songs, fashion misses, and sitcom houses with secret passages, we shift into the practical work of building teams where people feel safe to question, challenge, and improve ideas without fear.

We unpack the deep link between curiosity, vulnerability, and authenticity. Admitting you don’t know isn’t weakness; it’s the fastest path to better data and smarter decisions. We talk about the pressure leaders feel to have answers, and why trading the performance of confidence for the practice of listening changes everything. You’ll hear concrete ways to create psychological safety, from setting clear norms to modeling the habit of asking real questions and reflecting back what you heard.

Then we tackle the HIPPO problem: the highest paid person’s opinion. When the boss speaks first, diversity of thought collapses. Our fix is simple and transformative—leaders go last. Let the room explore, get the edges on the table, then synthesize, stress test, and make the call. We share the “two-question pause” to slow fast reactions, plus a toolkit for balancing inquiry with decisiveness: define decision criteria, timebox debate, and tie choices back to mission and strategy. By the end, you’ll have a playbook to turn meetings into engines of clarity instead of echo chambers.

If you’re leading a team or hoping to shape one, this is your map for turning curiosity into an everyday habit that lifts trust, speed, and outcomes. Listen, share with a colleague who needs it, and tell us: what’s one norm your team will adopt this week? Subscribe and leave a quick review to help more people find the show.

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

How can leaders overcome their perfectionism?

Join us to chat about:

• Leadership traps that tie personal worth to appearances, 
• Leaders who won’t delegate, and 
• Teams smothered by micromanagement.

If you’re trying to move a team forward, launch a service, or just hit send on that email (you know the one!) without falling into a spiral, this episode gives you some food for thought.

Subscribe, share this with a colleague who over-edits, and leave a review with one habit you’re changing this week... 

Remember: The price of perfection is never worth the cost!

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

What does honesty look like when stakes are high and timing matters? 

This episode centers on a simple rule from Big Mike: Bad news doesn’t get better with age. We unpack the difference between truth, spin, and omission and why partial honesty with a slant can be just as damaging as a clean mistake. From leadership credibility to team culture, we explore how delays create confusion, why silence isn’t neutral, and how a one-minute feedback moment can change a career. 

If you care about honest leadership, crisis communication, feedback that lands, and building trust without theatrics, you’ll find practical takeaways here.  

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find it. 

Ask yourself: What truth do you need to say sooner?

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

What if your best ideas landed cleaner, faster, and stuck longer? 

Guided by mathematician and philosopher Giancarlo Rota’s 12 life lessons, we break down a toolkit for memorable talks and better leadership found on the Farnam Street Blog: https://fs.blog/gian-carlo-rota/

If this conversation sharpened your next talk or reset your priorities, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review telling us the one change you’ll make this week.

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

Join us, Greg and Mark, as we turn a literal dog bite into a clear roadmap for rebuilding trust, from personal pain to leadership practice. We compare trust mindsets, test a five-step repair plan, and draw clean lines between apology theater and real accountability.

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

Are you feeling the weight of workplace uncertainty? Join us, Greg and Mark, as we explore essential strategies to elevate your value and job security within your organization. 

Discover how to enhance your workplace value in this engaging conversation about perseverance and becoming an indispensable asset to your organization. 

Equipped with valuable insights and six actionable strategies, we explore the timeless principles that continue to resonate in today's unpredictable job landscape.

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for more insights and discussions on leadership!

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach to leadership. Tune in now, and don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review so others can join in on the conversation!

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

Leadership isn't just about being in charge; it’s about recognizing the invaluable contributions of those behind the scenes. In this episode, we discuss how empowering team members, mentoring, sharing credit, and embracing transparency are key to successful leadership.

• Importance of recognizing unsung heroes  
• Recap of the last episode on complaints  
• Personal anecdote about a movie experience  
• Empowering team members within a safe environment  
• Significance of mentorship and sponsorship  
• Promoting inclusivity and shared success  
• Fostering transparency and authenticity in leadership  
• The need for leaders to take responsibility for team failures  
• Celebrating collective achievements rather than individual accolades

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

This episode explores the critical value of employee complaints and how they are signals of engagement, indicating areas needing attention in the workplace. Leaders are encouraged to foster a culture of two-way communication and adopt practical strategies for addressing feedback effectively.

• Understanding that complaints reveal employee engagement 
• Creating a trusting culture for open dialogue 
• Acknowledging and validating employee feelings 
• Importance of avoiding quick fixes 
• Asking open-ended questions to encourage discussion 
• Focusing on future solutions rather than immediate fixes 
• Committing to follow-up actions and maintaining communication

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

Reclaiming joy isn't just a luxury—it's essential. In this episode, we explore the significance of fun as a lifeline to emotional well-being, inspired by insights from Catherine Price’s book "The Power of Fun."

• Exploring the meaningful role fun plays in our lives 
• Sharing personal stories of gatherings that emphasize community joy 
• Redefining what constitutes fun beyond entertainment 
• Discussing the neurological benefits of play 
• Encouraging intentional joy as a crucial survival strategy 
• Highlighting fun as a unique personal experience 
• Emphasizing the importance of fostering a culture of enjoyment in the workplace

Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA!

Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!