Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way

Join Alex in a compelling conversation with Dr. Jamie Pennebaker, an internationally acclaimed social psychologist and esteemed Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Pennebaker is a pioneering figure in education and behavioral psychology who is renowned for his extensive work on the intricate relationship between language, health, and social behavior. With a distinguished career and authorship of 12 books and over 300 articles, Dr. Pennebaker's contributions rank among the most cited researchers in psychology, psychiatry, and the social sciences. His accolades include membership in the Academy of Distinguished Teachers and the esteemed position of Regents Centennial Liberal Arts Professor.

Dr. Pennebaker created an innovative online teaching methodology that helps students get better grades by fostering enhanced study habits and improving their academic performance. His innovative approach has been adopted by institutions across the country. In this episode, Dr. Pennebaker shares valuable insights drawn from an experience trying to enact transformative change within a large organization. He candidly recounts the complexities of enacting systemic transformations and obstacles he faced along the way. He shares the inherent challenges of addressing self-interest and resistance within established systems, and highlights the pitfalls of assuming one's ability to successfully lead change efforts. Listeners will glean profound insights as Dr. Pennebaker discusses strategies to overcome resistance to change, and recognizing when to persist and when to gracefully step away. He underscores the power of journaling as a tool for problem-solving and personal growth. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Pennebaker encourages us to act despite the fear of failure, reinforcing the importance of courage when striving to make a difference. His wisdom inspires resilience and proactive engagement, encouraging listeners to engage in meaningful pursuits while acknowledging the inherent uncertainties.

Tune in to Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way for an illuminating discussion with Dr. Jamie Pennebaker, offering insights into navigating change, harnessing courage, and fostering impactful transformations in organizational dynamics.

Dr. Jammie Pennebaker Website
Books by Dr. Pennebaker

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith  is among the world’s foremost experts on leadership, a renowned executive coach, thought leader, and New York Times bestselling author. Marshall has been rated the world’s #1 executive coach many times over, with his clients including over 200 of the world’s most highly regarded CEOs. He is a member of the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame and the only two-time Thinkers50 #1 Leadership thinker in the world.  Marshall's 52 books have sold over three million copies and been translated into 35 languages. In 2023, Chief Executive Magazine listed his book, What Got you Here Won’t Get You There, as one of the Ten Best Business Books ever written. He has been recognized as one of the 50-greatest leaders in America from BusinessWeek, received a lifetime Achievement Award for Teaching from the Institute of Management Studies, been rated as World’s #1 business thinker by Harvard Business Review, and one of the 50 greatest thinkers who have influenced the field of management by the American Management Association. His life was featured in the documentary, “The Earned Life”, and in the The New Yorker  profile, "The Better Boss." Dr. Goldsmith received his Ph.D. from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management where he was the distinguished Alumni of the Year, and his MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He has served as Professor of Management Practice at the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business and received an honorary Ph.D. in Engineering from his alma mater Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Marshall joins Alex to delve deep into the nuances of self-awareness, leadership, and personal development. Marshall unveils profound insights into the habit of projecting our problems onto others, shedding light on the complexities of human behavior and the often difficult task of recognizing our own blind spots. Drawing from his wealth of experience, he shares poignant anecdotes and reflections, highlighting the challenges individuals face in realizing others can perceive faults that often elude our self-awareness. As an executive coach with a track record of working alongside top CEOs, Marshall offers a rare glimpse into the world of leadership at the highest echelons. He shares actionable coaching strategies honed through years of experience, emphasizing the significance of seeking guidance and "feedforward" to foster personal and professional growth. Join Alex and Marshall in this thought-provoking episode as they discuss Marshall's formative experiences, the pain of acknowledging personal faults, and transformative coaching approaches aimed at helping individuals realize their untapped potential.

Marshall on LinkedIn
Marshall's Books on Amazon
"The Better Boss" - The New Yorker Profile on Marshall by Larissa MacFarquhar
The Earned Life - Documentary of Marshall's Life

Alex Velto is an attorney at Reno, NV-based law firm Hutchison & Steffen Attorneys where he represents unions in collective bargaining, businesses in litigation matters, and individuals in pro bono civil rights cases. He was appointed by the Mayor of Reno, NV as a Planning Commissioner for the city and serves as a Governor on the Nevada Bar Board, as well as being a Board member for the Nevada Humane Society and MATER Academy of Northern Nevada. Previously, he worked as a law clerk for the honorable James W. Hardesty of the Nevada Supreme Court, a legislative policy extern for former Governor Brian Sandoval, and a research associate for the Center for Latino Prosperity. Alex is highly recognized for his civic engagement and legal prowess, being awarded a 20 under 40 winner by the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network, Volunteer of the Year by the State Bar of Nevada, and a legal elite and best up and coming attorney by Nevada Business Magazine. Alex received his Juris Doctorate from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas where he received the Deans Award, the National Order of Scribes Award from the American Society of Legal Writers, and served as president of the Public Interest Law Association.

Alex joins Alex to talk about the power of "No" and burnout faced by those who say yes to too many opportunities. They explore why people enjoy the feeling of staying busy and other internal and external pressures that create a fear of saying no. They discuss confidence, hustle culture, privilege, imposter syndrome, and self-advocacy in a wide ranging conversation relevant for all professionals. 

Alex Velto on LinkedIn
Alex Velto Legal Referral Page

Tianna Winters is the Founder of TW Media, a full-service consulting firm specializing in brand strategy, social media management, content creation, and email marketing with clients across the country that include politicians, restaurants, and manufacturers. She brings over a decade of experience as a social media expert, marketing guru, and writer and is well known for creating trusted partnerships that produce measurable increases in brand growth.

Tianna joins Alex to discuss knowing your worth as a person and professional and ways to overcome imposter syndrome. She shares the ups and downs of her journey as a business owner and entrepreneur which helped her gain confidence and be more successful. Tianna and Alex explore how good mentorship, proactive networking, and candid feedback help people better understand their strengths and celebrate their successes. They talk about the power of "no", building loyal teams, and how to take smart risks.

Tianna on LinkedIn
TW Media on LinkedIn
TW Media on Instagram
TW Media Website

Calvin Ng is a Senior Director for Talent and Organizational Development with Farmer Brothers Company. He has spent over 20 years as a Talent, Learning, and Organizational Development professional at public and private organizations across the country like Mars Inc., Pernod Ricard North America, King’s Hawaiian, and USC Auxiliary Services. Calvin specializes in developing leadership capabilities for employees at all levels through innovative instructional design and experiential learning. He served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Ryan’s Case for Smiles, a non-profit supporting children with terminal diseases and their families dealing with PTSD. Calvin has been a contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine and is a highly sought after guest for panels, speaking engagements, and mentor. 

Calvin joins Alex to talk about learning from bad experiences while letting go of the emotional baggage that goes along with failure. He identifies ways ego, anger, and the desire to prove others wrong can negatively affect performance and undercut self-worth. The pair discuss the importance of good mentors, how to find your “why”, and ways to achieve sustainable changes in behavior. Calvin goes through a lightening round to explain differences of major paradigms like leading vs. managing.

Calvin on LinkedIn

Steve Bernard is the founder and Chief Executive of Bernard Global consulting firm. Previously he worked as the Executive Vice President for Global Protection Services at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he oversaw staff in 150-offices across 50-countries around the globe. Steve is a highly sought after speaker, advisor, and confidant in the areas of corporate security, crisis preparedness, cyber security, resilience, leadership, and risk mitigation. He an active advisor to the International Security Management Association, the FBI’s Domestic Security Alliance Council, and the U. S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council. He’s been recognized by the CIA, FBI, Department of State, and the U.S. Army for his many contributions and great service to his country.

Steve joins Alex to discuss early life experiences which led to a career filled with seeking out and embracing change. He reinforces the importance of learning, adaptability, and willingness to make mistakes for leaders at all levels. Steve shares insights gained during his experience as Sony Entertainment's Executive Vice President for Global Protection Services leading the response to a massive cyberattack which attempted to block the release of the movie "The Interview" with James Franco and Seth Rogan. Steve and Alex talk about how to avoid the blame game, maintaining your integrity in the workplace, and how the best leaders know when to get out of the way.

Steve on LinkedIn

David Stillman is a globally admired generational expert, strategist, author, and entrepreneur. His groundbreaking research brings a wealth of insights about the challenges and opportunities of a multi-generational workplace and marketplace. David is the author of three best-selling books, “When Generations Collide”, “The M Factor: How the Millennial Generation is Rocking the Workforce”, and “Gen Z @ Work.” His courses on LinkedIn Learning on how to manage Gen Z have over 350,000 certified users and are translated into five languages. David is a Partner at New World Ventures, where he and a boutique team do strategic planning, investing, and fundraising for pre-seed startups. He’s appeared on CNN, CNBC, and the Today Show, and was voted in the top 25 most influential speakers and authors by Success Magazine. He’s been featured in and contributed to publications like Time magazine, Entrepreneur, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.

David joins Alex to talk about overcoming a "ready, aim, aim, aim, fire" mentality and his desire for perfection. He draws from his experience as an author and organizational consultant to highlight ways he's learned to recognize and act on opportunities with urgency. David shares his expertise about generations and describes generational influences on a leader's decision making, approach to innovation, and willingness to take risks. In a wide-ranging discussion, David and Alex explore fear of failure, side hustles, and the interplay between ego, control, and vulnerability. They discuss strategies to foster workplace loyalty and a culture of ownership. 

David on LinkedIn
GenGuru
New World Ventures
"When Generations Collide" on Amazon
"The M Factor: How the Millennial Generation is Rocking the Workforce" on Amazon
"Gen Z @ Work" on Amazon

Frank Wagner is an executive coach, leadership expert, and successful author. After starting his consulting career at the Center for Leadership Studies with the great Paul Hersey, he went on to found Stakeholder Centered Coaching Ltd., which has trained thousands of successful coaches around the globe over it's 40-year history. Frank is recognized as a leading expert in the world of coaching, receiving honors such as the top 50 Global Leadership Coach from Thinkers50, a top 20 global mentor from the International Federation of Training and Development, and the president’s Award from the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches to name a few.  He holds his Ph.D. and MBA in Organizational Behavior from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Frank joins Alex to talk about the importance of being true to yourself instead of trying to be someone, or something, you’re not. They discuss how to better understand your true self and significant people in your life can shape your self image. Frank discusses ways he’s coached people to change how they see themselves and how they are seen by others. Frank talks about achieving sustainable behavioral change and discusses his experiences coaching successful leaders to become even more effective.

Frank Wagner on LinkedIn
Stakeholder Centered Coaching website

Carolina Aurora Márquez is a wellness and body positivity influencer, founder of the Caring Accountability and Mentoring  (CAR) Women’s Group, motivational speaker, and truly inspirational person. Carolina starred in E! Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian season 3 where she went through a transformative experience, becoming healthier in mind, body, and spirit. Carolina holds her Master’s Degree from University of Southern California (USC) in Executive Leadership and has worked at the University for the last 14 years in a variety of executive and administrative roles.

Carolina joins Alex in a powerful conversation about "learning the hard way" that you can't rush the process - personally or professionally. She discusses learning to be patient with her journey navigating grief, wellness, family, and ambition, all while trying to be kind to herself and others. Carolina recounts her moving story turning tragedy and pain into passionate purpose. 

Carolina on Linktree
Carolina on Instagram
Carolina on LinkedIn
CAR Women's Group

Erik Antons is Chief Security Officer of Whirlpool Corporation, where he leads the physical security risk and crisis management programs for the $22.3 billion dollar enterprise of nearly 70,000 employees across more than 170 countries. Previously, he was the Vice President and Chief Security Officer of Hyatt Hotels, Manager of International Security and Executive Services for Sempra, and served his country as a Special Agent with the Diplomatic Security Service in the U.S. Department of State. Erik is an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University, where he got his Masters degree in Homeland Security. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Security Foundation (ISF) and on the Associate Board of Directors of the Pat Tillman Foundation. In 2022, Erik was identified as one of the 12 most influential people in security by Security Magazine. 

Erik joins Alex to talk about "learning the hard way" the gifts and traps of instinct and intuition. They explore the difference between experience and expertise, how to recognize when it's time to make a change, and the importance of "listening to your gut", but not at the cost of critical thinking. Erik recounts his various career and management endeavors, reflecting on how his biggest challenges often led to his greatest successes. 


Erik on LinkedIn
"Thank you for laying me off: Companies come and go, but talent is forever"
The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
Amazon's Leadership Principles