Second Life Leader

🎙️ Think Fast. Work Smart. Improv Your Way Through the Corporate Jungle.

What if the key to smarter, faster, more adaptive leadership wasn’t another MBA… but improv?

In this episode of Second Life Leader, I sit down with Andrew Davies, improv coach and founder of Artly Working, to unpack the unexpected power of improvisation inside the office jungle. We’re not talking about cheesy trust falls or drama class antics—we’re talking about real-world mental elasticity, team collaboration, and the kind of adaptable thinking that turns meetings from monologues into momentum.

We cover:

* Why most corporate meetings are a productivity graveyard (and how to fix them)

* How to train your team to actually think together instead of just perform individually

* The “Beastie Rap” technique that sharpens team focus and builds trust

* Why bad ideas are the gateway drug to breakthrough ones

* The real metric of meeting success (spoiler: it’s not attendance)

Whether you’re rebuilding after burnout or leading a team through chaos, this episode is your playbook for staying sharp when the plan falls apart.

🔥 This isn’t about followers. It’s about freedom. And freedom isn’t granted—it’s forged.

If you want to know more about Andrew, click below:

www.artlyworking.com/podcast

Call To Action

If this hit—don’t scroll past it. Take the Second Life Leader Quiz to see where you’re powerful, where you’re blocked, and what to do next: leaderquiz.app. Then share this with one man who’s rebuilding.

https://leaderquiz.app

When life overloads you with noise, you don’t need more information—you need a play sheet.

In this episode of Second Life Leader, Doug Utberg sits down with Brian Hurtak, corporate strategist and author of The Play Sheet, to explore how football coaches manage complexity—and how you can do the same in your career, relationships, or personal reinvention.

⚔️ Whether you're facing a divorce, a re-org, or just trying to reclaim your edge, this conversation breaks down how elite coaches condense chaos into clarity. We talk:

* Why a 400-play playbook is useless without a focused 28-play game plan

* How college football schemes teach the art of simplification under pressure

* What to do when your OneNote is a hot mess of forgotten insights

* The real reason most professionals never reach mastery (hint: it's not talent)

Doug also shares his observations from the West Coast offense, 49ers dynasty days, and why throwing before the break matters—in football and in life.

This episode is for sovereign men and rebuilders who don’t just want to survive complexity. They want to cut through it and execute with precision.

📘 Learn more about Brian’s work at myplaysheet.com🧭 Subscribe to the Second Life Leader newsletter at dougutberg.com

Because freedom isn’t granted.**It’s forged.**🔥

In this episode, Doug speaks with Ken Cox about how AI can be deployed in small businesses to generate tremendous value.

One of the biggest things most small businesses can do to increase their revenue is to ensure the phones are always answered. However, this is frequently difficult since business owners must choose between operating their business and answering the phone to potentially intake new clients who are responding to their advertising, referrals or a search listing.

As it turns out, this is a place where AI can create tremendous value since callers can be routed to an automated agent that will diagnose their needs and roll over to a virtual assistant who gathers information and sets an appointment for you to call them back.

This is one of many ways Ken and I discuss that AI can benefit small businesses.

If you want to know more about Ken, click below:

https://inlink.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kencox/

In this episode, Doug speaks with Kamran Loghman about how the ‘Warriors Mindset’ from eastern philosophy can be brought into the work and lives of people in the West.

In a world that worships comfort, distraction, and cheap dopamine, we stand for something ancient.

This isn’t your typical pep-talk on grit. It’s a deep dive into the timeless warrior mindset—drawn from the stoic sword of Japan’s samurai, the disciplined breath of India’s yogis, and the still waters of Zen monks.

We decode Eastern philosophies—Bushido, Taoism, Buddhist detachment—and forge them into practical, hard-hitting tools for Western living. No incense required. No chanting in Sanskrit you don’t understand. Just fierce mental clarity, emotional discipline, and the quiet, sovereign confidence of someone who knows who they are and what hill they’d die on.

Each episode arms you with a principle or story, then translates it into daily, actionable strategy—whether you’re building a business, navigating love, or fighting your own inner chaos.

Because true strength isn’t found in the gym or the boardroom. It’s in the mind.

If you want to know more about Kamran, click below:

https://www.riseofgiants.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamran-loghman-b1a50a24/

In this episode, Doug speaks with Giorgio Natili about the importance of trust when leading.

Our conversation took place specifically within the context of technology companies, since many engineers are promoted to management based on technical expertise. As it turns out, leading people requires a much different skillset, which is what we discuss.

If you want to know more about Giorgio, click below:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/giorgionatili/

In this episode, Doug speaks with Dale about the importance of adaptability in leadership.

In the world of leadership, one of the most important things we can do is ask ‘why’ and take our curiosity out to the people we are looking to lead and influence.

If you want to know more about Dale, click below:

https://leadadaptimpact.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daleturnbull/

If you’re a business leader who prioritizes people and the planet ahead of profits, please apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

https://forms.gle/VLTgHs8sjJJRZ7kj7

In this episode, Doug speaks with Elona Lopari about incorporating purpose into a profit generating business.

There is a tendency in the business world to emphasize the ‘bottom line’ to the exclusion of other value drivers. In this episode, we discuss how purpose is one of those key value drivers, and the way to integrate it into a business and make it even more successful.

If you want to know more about Elona, click below:

https://www.elonaloparicoaching.com/

If you’re a business leader who prioritizes people and the planet ahead of profits, please apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

https://forms.gle/VLTgHs8sjJJRZ7kj7

In this episode, Doug speaks with Jeremy Barker about his journey through two bankruptcies to tremendous success with Murphy Door and Murphy Ladder

Much of what our conversation revolved around was the difference between having access to resources and being resourceful. Many businesses stop trying to solve hard problems once they have resources, and Jeremy sees that as a big area for weakness. Because of this, he endeavors to continually operate with a mindset like he is still broke and needs to figure out how creatively solve problems.

If you want to know more about Jeremy, click below:

https://murphydoor.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-barker-02007648/

If you’re a business leader who prioritizes people and the planet ahead of profits, please apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

Guest Application Form

In this episode, Doug speaks with team leadership strategist Isabelle Fortin about human-centered leadership.

They discuss the distinction between leadership and management, emphasizing the importance of treating employees as unique individuals.

Isabelle highlights the need for leaders to support and empower their team members, rather than just managing tasks.

They also explore the lack of leadership training in organizations and the significance of personal connections in fostering engagement and productivity. T

The episode underscores that effective leadership involves a genuine commitment to understanding and supporting team members to create a positive work environment.

If you want to know more about Isabelle Fortin, click below: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellemfortin/

If you’re a business leader who prioritizes people and the planet ahead of profits, please apply to be a guest on the show HERE

In this episode, Doug speaks with Yosi Kossowsky about about transitioning from judgment to awareness in leadership.

They discuss how leaders can cultivate curiosity and self-awareness to manage challenges, reduce anxiety, and avoid binary thinking.

Yoshi emphasizes practical strategies over theory, sharing insights from his engineering background.

The episode highlights the importance of conscious responses to stress, practical solutions for immediate change, and engaging with the community for growth.

Doug encourages listeners to connect with Yoshi and participate in the podcast's community to foster a people-first leadership approach.

If you want to know more about Yosi Kossowsky, click below:

LinkedIn

If you’re a business leader who prioritizes people and the planet ahead of profits, please apply to be a guest on the show HERE.