Everyone tells you to "just be yourself" at the top — but nobody warns you how exposed that can leave you, or how lonely it gets being the one who's supposed to have the answers.

In this episode of Naked at the Top, Leadernomics author, keynote speaker and 25-year Air Force veteran Seung Paik strips back the polished version of leadership and shares what it looks like behind closed doors. He makes the case that "authentic" might be the most dangerous word in leadership, opens up about the cost of looking unprepared, and walks through the "insurance policy" rule that makes it safe for your team to take risks — including the forty cleanup calls he made so one young officer would never know the mess she'd caused.

You'll learn:

- Why telling your team "it's safe to fail" means nothing until you've done the one thing that proves it
- The "insurance policy" rule for empowering risk-averse people — and the forty cleanup calls behind it
- Why "authentic" might be the most dangerous word in leadership, and the word Seung uses instead
- The difference between authenticity and consistency — and why being your "honest self" in a bad mood isn't honesty
- How sunk cost, ego and reputation trap leaders in decisions they know are wrong
- The early warning sign of burnout that shows up in your attitude long before anything else
- Why the most humble thing a high-achiever can do is build a small circle who'll tell them the truth
- What goes through his head alone in a hotel room after a keynote — and why praise is harder to take than criticism

By the end, you'll have a more honest picture of what leadership costs — and a few specific moves you can use the next time your team needs cover, or you catch your own ego making the call.

Don't forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe (it's completely free!) 🔔 for more honest leadership stories. Click the bell to stay updated on new episodes.

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(00:00) Intro

(00:45) Welcome Back — Our First Repeat Guest

(01:00) New Clothes: The Last Time He Felt Naked

(01:15) Flip-Flops at a Five-Star Wedding in Okinawa

(06:07) "It Gets Worse" — Handed the Mic for a Speech

(08:44) Why He Couldn't Shake It: What He Thought They Were Thinking

(11:24) Mirror Mirror: A Voice Note from His Son, Micah

(13:07) "Doing It the Right Way" — Hearing It Back

(15:49) When the Right Way Means Cutting Corners: Leadership vs. Compliance

(19:13) Risk, Reward, and Being Your Team's Insurance Policy

(23:21) "Go Crazy" — The Lieutenant Who Blew Up His Inbox

(28:40) Cleaning Up the Mess Without Killing the Courage

(30:30) Between the Lines

(31:06) The Leadership Word That Should Scare You ("Authentic")

(36:22) The Excuse He Manufactures (and the Yard Work Behind It)

(39:36) Talking Yourself Out of the Right Thing

(40:31) Four Months on Book Tour: Sunk Cost, Pride, and Ego

(45:30) Alone in the Hotel Room After the Keynote

(50:30) Where to Find Leadernomics + Seung

(52:11) How Did That Feel?

--

Thanks to YourHR for sponsoring this episode. YourHR works with 100s of businesses to cut the jargon, simplify the systems, and build workplaces where people genuinely want to be.  Find out where your business stands with their free HR Health Check in minutes: 
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Belonging, identity, power, and the courage to build something new.

In this episode of Naked at the Top, Aleyx sits down with Christopher Asahara for a deeply honest conversation about growing up between cultures, being told you are not quite one of “us”, and learning how to turn difference into advantage rather than disadvantage.

Christopher shares what it feels like to be an outsider in certain rooms, how global perspective reshapes the way you see leadership, and why narrow “America First” thinking often fails in a world built on connection, collaboration, and cultural intelligence. From community building and leadership during moments of social tension, to speaking up, taking risks, and trusting your own judgement, this episode explores what it really means to lead with both confidence and conscience.

The conversation moves through entrepreneurship, imposter syndrome, redundancy, reinvention, and the responsibility that comes with influence. There are stories of starting again, building teams, protecting people, and staying calm when everything around you is moving fast.

At its core, this episode is about identity, voice, and learning to stand comfortably in your own power — not by dominating, but by serving, listening, and building communities that last.

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sterclass in human-first leadership, honest business building, and why caring is not a soft skill — it’s a strategic advantage.

Aleyx Ward sits down with Damien Gooden, CEO of HR Central, to unpack what it really takes to build a business where people stay, trust grows, and leadership doesn’t hide behind titles. From accidentally becoming a CEO to navigating COVID, firing customers, and building deep loyalty inside teams, Damien shares real stories from two decades in business.

The conversation moves beyond textbook leadership and into the messy, human reality of running companies. Damien explains why subscription revenue nearly stalled growth, why referrals beat control, and why focusing on outcomes — not micromanagement — is the only way to scale without burning out.

There are powerful reflections on parenting, culture, authenticity, and mental health, including phone-free dinners, getting teenagers to talk, and why men need spaces where it’s safe to open up. Damien also breaks down Radical Candour with real-world examples that every leader will recognise.

If you’re building a business, leading a team, or trying to be a better human while doing both — this episode is for you.

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What does it look like when an entrepreneur applies business discipline to comedy – and comedy thinking to business?

In this episode of Naked at the Top, Morry Morgan shares the unconventional path that took him from an only-child upbringing and global travel, through China’s fast-moving business culture, and into building one of the most unexpected ventures in Australia: a comedy school and conference that shouldn’t exist – but does.

This conversation is about preparation, courage, and following ideas all the way through. Morry unpacks how five minutes on stage became the turning point for an entirely new career direction, why breaking comedy’s rules unlocked commercial opportunity, and how creating something niche can actually grow the wider economy.

We explore the reality of fast-speed living, the mental cost of always being “on”, and the resilience required when momentum disappears overnight. Morry speaks candidly about burnout, anxiety, fasting, and the mindset shift that turned a breakdown into a breakthrough.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your strangest idea might actually be your most viable one – this episode will challenge how you think about preparation, energy, and commitment. This is a conversation for founders, creatives, and leaders who don’t fit neatly into one box – and don’t want to.

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Some careers begin with a plan. Others begin with a quiet decision made far earlier than anyone expects.

In this episode of Naked at the Top, Aleyx sits down with Colleen Callander — a leader who started working in retail at just 16 and went on to become CEO of two of Australia’s most iconic fashion brands. But this conversation isn’t about polished confidence or highlight-reel success.

Colleen speaks candidly about imposter syndrome that never truly disappeared, burnout that hit at the peak of her career, and the internal stories that quietly shape how leaders show up every day. She shares why confidence isn’t something you’re born with, but something you build through action, reflection, and repetition.

This episode explores leadership through a deeply human lens — kindness as a strength, values as decision-makers, and environments where people genuinely want to do their best work. From redefining success to rebuilding after burnout, Colleen offers grounded insight for anyone navigating leadership, ambition, or self-belief.

If you’ve ever looked capable on the outside while questioning yourself on the inside, this episode will resonate deeply.

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Alan Gill brings a rare mix of sharp business instinct and playful curiosity to this conversation. As co-founder of Choice Energy, one of the fastest-growing energy businesses in AsiaPac, he has lived through the chaos, pressure and exhilaration of scaling at speed. Yet beneath the targets and milestones sits a leader who still draws sharks in meetings, turns corporate stresses into comedy, and uses creativity as a tool for clarity, connection and calm. This episode reveals the human side of ambition, from startup survival to finding joy in the everyday.

Aleyx and Alan explore the early days of building a business with no safety net, raising a young family at the same time, and carrying the weight of responsibility when people are relying on you for their livelihood. They dive into leadership identity, humour as a resilience strategy, navigating growth, and why the best insights often come from childlike curiosity rather than boardroom bravado.

Through stories about sharks, toilet echo disasters, corporate lessons, cultural contrasts and the people who keep him grounded, Alan gives a refreshingly honest view of what leadership feels like behind the scenes. Not polished. Not filtered. Simply human. This is an episode for anyone building something meaningful while trying to stay connected to who they really are.

Alan’s reflections land with warmth, wisdom and a healthy dose of mischief. If you’re growing a business, leading people or simply trying to make sense of ambition while still living a life that feels like yours, this conversation will stay with you.

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Authentic leadership grows from the unseen parts of a life. In this episode, Seung Paik reveals the moments that shaped his identity long before he ever stepped into a leadership role. He shares the immigrant values that built his work ethic, the twenty-five years of military service that taught him discipline and humility, and the internal questions that guided him through purpose, crisis and transformation.

Seung speaks openly about identity over image, the privilege of leading others, how economics sharpens decision-making and the cost–benefit thinking that guides meaningful life choices. He explores the role relationships play in shaping markets, why transactional leadership falls short and how transformation always begins at the top. 

This episode invites you to slow down, go inward and see leadership as something built through service, gratitude, humility and truth delivered with compassion. It is a conversation for anyone searching for clarity, direction or a more authentic way to lead.

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When tragedy strikes, some people crumble. Others rebuild the system that failed them.

 Naomi from Care Advisory is one of those people. After witnessing first-hand how broken the aged care industry can be, she set out to create change – building a business grounded in ethics, transparency, and trust.

In this episode of Naked at the Top, Naomi shares how she turned heartbreak into purpose, defied expectations, and created a business model that puts people before profit. She opens up about the personal sacrifices behind her success – from single parenting and burnout to late ADHD diagnosis – and how she learned to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction.

If you’ve ever felt torn between doing what’s right and doing what’s easy, Naomi’s story will remind you what real leadership looks like.

🎧 Subscribe to Naked at the Top for honest conversations with leaders who are redefining success through authenticity, purpose, and heart.

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In this episode of Naked at the Top, host Aleyx Ward sits down with Stephen Luxmore, founder of Your HR Team, to explore how growth mindset, self-awareness and authenticity are redefining modern leadership.

From starting out as a gardener to becoming a respected HR consultant, Stephen shares how moments of doubt and stereotype shaped his purpose. He talks openly about creating psychological safety, breaking corporate conformity, and why simplicity wins when it comes to building a people-first culture.

Together, Aleyx and Stephen uncover what it means to lead with courage and kindness, how to stay authentic in a world of business buzzwords, and why humour, humility and curiosity always outlast control.

This conversation is packed with insight for founders, HR professionals and anyone leading teams through change — a reminder that leadership isn’t about power, it’s about people.

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Advisory boards might sound like something reserved for big corporates – but for founders and entrepreneurs, they’re one of the most powerful growth levers you’ve never used.

In this episode of Naked at the Top, we uncover how founders, leaders, and business owners can use advisory boards to sharpen decisions, strengthen strategy, and accelerate personal growth.

Our guest dives into the hidden psychology of leadership, exploring how loneliness, self-doubt, and risk-taking shape the entrepreneurial journey. From career pivots to neuroscience, EQ versus IQ, and the surprising impact of adventure on leadership, this episode gives a masterclass in how to grow both a business and a mindset.

You’ll also discover how boards can transform culture, expand thinking, and hold leaders accountable in ways that traditional management structures can’t.

Whether you’re scaling fast, starting fresh, or just feeling stuck – this is the conversation that’ll help you see your business, and your leadership, differently.

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