In this episode of the podcast, Andrew speaks with Barney Singer, a social change leader with many decades of multidisciplinary experience in social development—in both the public and private sectors. Barney talks about his work, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how he brings a spiritual framework to his program, design, and delivery, as well as in his supervision of others. He shares a number of examples of the impact of his work and the impact of his belief system and approach on those whom his programs serve. Barney shares his wisdom very comfortably with the voice of both an expert and a “lifelong seeker."

What if finding purpose at work has less to do with discovering the perfect career and more to do with how you show up each day?

Could greater fulfillment begin by strengthening your relationships, recognizing your impact, and choosing to keep growing?

In this episode, Andrew Cohn welcomes Aaron Hurst, award-winning social entrepreneur, founder of the Taproot Foundation, and bestselling author of The Purpose Economy.

Aaron shares how his grandfather’s World War II experience shaped his belief in shared purpose, and how his journey through prison education, Silicon Valley, nonprofits, and workplace research changed his understanding of meaningful work.

Andrew and Aaron explore the myths surrounding purpose, why fulfillment is not limited to mission-driven careers, and how people experience impact at individual, organizational, and societal levels.

They also discuss purpose versus transactional mindsets, the role of reflection, and why leaders must support relationships, impact, and growth.

Key Takeaways

• Purpose is not a cause: Working for a nonprofit or meaningful industry does not automatically create fulfillment.
• Purpose is not a revelation: It develops through experience and reflection.
• Fulfillment belongs at work: Leaders cannot dismiss meaning as something employees should find only outside the workplace.
• Purpose looks different for everyone: People may be motivated by helping individuals, strengthening organizations, or changing society.
• Leaders must speak to different motivations: A vision that inspires one employee may not connect with another.
• Fulfillment requires three things: Meaningful relationships, a sense of impact, and continued growth.
• Mindset shapes meaning: A purpose mindset believes fulfillment can be created, while a transactional mindset focuses on rewards and exchanges.

Resources and Links

Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

Aaron Hurst

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhurst/
• https://Board.dev
• https://www.Almabrands.com/formacion
• https://www.Storying.ai
• https://SharedPurpose.live
• https://open.Spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

Andrew Cohn

• Website
• LinkedIn

Music: 

• Kodiak

In this episode of the Spirituality in Leadership podcast, Andrew Cohn welcomes Zhou Fang, an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) consultant, practitioner, and strategist, and the founder of The Intersectional Group, based in Portland, Oregon. Zhou draws on her background as an immigrant from China, a multilingual communicator, and a woman of color to bring a uniquely grounded and intersectional lens to leadership and EDI work.

Zhou shares how she once considered herself an atheist and never expected to connect with the word "spirituality,” in part because growing up in China, spirituality was culturally discouraged–if not outlawed. But over time, she discovered that spirituality, distinct from religion, is about the mind, the heart, and one's connection to the world and community around us. That realization has become central to both her personal life and her professional work.

Tune in to discover how intersectionality, spirituality, and equity-focused leadership can work together to help you lead from the inside out.

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Spirituality as connection to mind, heart, and community
• [01:50] Introduction to Zhou Fang and her work
• [06:36] Zhou Fang’s personal and professional journey
• [08:52] Growing up in China as an atheist and discovering spirituality
• [09:56] How her grandmother's shift from Buddhism to Christianity shaped her view
• [11:41] Why spirituality is bigger than religion
• [16:10] The roundabout metaphor
• [17:32] How intersectionality connects to EDI work
• [19:08] Why EDI work is intellectually and emotionally demanding
• [19:56] How spirituality reconnects her to her purpose and the why
• [22:30] Why compassion is at the heart of leadership
• [24:13] Compassion vs. intellect, and why both are necessary
• [27:04] An overview of Zhou's EDI services and approach
• [28:35] Why equity-focused leadership matters for business sustainability
• [30:24] How spirituality shows up practically in her client work
• [33:04] Where to find Zhou Fang and The Intersectional Group

Resources and Links

Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

Zhou Fang

• Website: https://www.intersectional.group/
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhoufang35

Andrew Cohn

• Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

Music: 

• Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

What happens when a meticulous financial controller leaves his comfortable corporate career to walk 500 miles across France with a donkey? And what could such a pilgrimage reveal about leadership, hope, and the sacred art of meeting another person without judgment?

In this episode of the Spirituality in Leadership podcast, Andrew Cohn sits down with Jean-Christophe Normand, an executive coach, professor at a Catholic university, and ordained deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. Jean-Christophe’s journey from corporate finance to spiritual leadership is anything but conventional.

Raised in a culture where religion and public life are carefully separated, Jean-Christophe describes himself as “culturally and emotionally 100 percent French.” Yet around age 40, after navigating difficult adoptions, personal loss, and a growing sense that his career lacked deeper meaning, something shifted. With the support of a coach, he began exploring theology and gradually stepped away from his corporate role. When a devastating car accident left his mother tetraplegic, his search for purpose deepened even further.

Seeking clarity, Jean-Christophe embarked on a 700-kilometer pilgrimage from Paris with a donkey, traveling with little planning and trusting the path to unfold. The journey became a turning point that opened the door to a life devoted to coaching, teaching, and spiritual service.

Today, Jean-Christophe’s work bridges three worlds: leadership coaching, academic teaching, and spiritual ministry. Rather than seeing these roles as separate, he experiences them as deeply interconnected expressions of the same calling.

At the heart of his philosophy is a simple yet powerful belief: hope is a gift. Even in times of darkness, leaders can hold space for the possibility that light will emerge. Through presence, listening, and deep respect for the humanity of others, leadership becomes less about authority and more about walking alongside others in their journeys.

This conversation explores how faith can quietly shape leadership practice without imposing beliefs on others and how humility, curiosity, and compassion create space for transformation in individuals and organizations alike. Let’s dive in!

In This Episode:

• [00:03] Opening reflections on faith and hope

• [00:48] Podcast introduction and guest overview

• [02:24] Jean-Christophe’s early life and French Catholicism

• [10:10] Career beginnings and personal challenges

• [11:15] Turning point: coaching, theology, and pilgrimage

• [15:45] Integration of coaching, teaching, and deacon roles

• [18:20] Faith as a source of hope and calm

• [19:42] Daily rituals and respect for others

• [21:45] Path of wisdom and individual growth

• [23:01] Faith as the foundation (iceberg metaphor)

• [23:49] Hope and redemption in coaching

• [25:55] Navigating secular environments with faith

• [26:44] Building relationships and avoiding judgment

• [29:42] Connecting across social levels

• [31:18] Leadership, responsibility, and spiritual alignment

• [34:10] Daily commitment and self-awareness

• [37:37] Coaching practice and spirituality

• [40:32] Contact information and future projects

• [43:16] Book recommendation and positive narratives

• [44:58] Closing remarks and gratitude

Resources and Links

Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

Jean-Christophe Normand

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanchristophenormand/

• Website: https://rhinc.fr/en/

• Email: [email protected]

Andrew Cohn

• Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

Book 

• The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (2020)

Music: 

• Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

Did you know that in today’s chaotic world, even leaders can lose touch with the truth of the men they lead? The most vulnerable need a safe space to share their stories and connect with their feminine energy because that’s where real healing begins.

In this episode of the Spirituality in Leadership podcast, Andrew Cohn sits down with Sean Harvey, an interfaith minister, former Wall Street professional, and a pioneer in men’s healing work, as well as the author of Warrior Compassion: Unleashing the Healing Power of Men. Together, they explore what spirituality in leadership actually looks like when you strip away dogma and focus on being fully human.

Sean shares his unconventional path from corporate life to ministry and into some of the most challenging environments imaginable, including prisons, police departments, and hyper-masculine cultures. At the center of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: leadership begins with presence, safety, and the willingness to look inward. In a world that feels divided and overwhelmed, Sean talks about reconnecting with our inner “sacred compass” and learning to trust our own truth without needing to overpower someone else’s.

They dive into the role of storytelling as a healing tool, why creating psychologically safe spaces matters more than perfect messaging, and how compassion is often misunderstood as weakness when it actually requires courage and strength. Sean also shares insights from his book, touching on men’s unspoken suffering, the balance of healthy masculine and feminine energies, and the idea of courageous surrender.

It’s a thoughtful, grounded conversation about leadership, healing, and what it really means to lead from deeper humanity.

Key Takeaways

• Truth Begins Within: Leadership grounded in soul starts by listening to your inner compass rather than external noise or ideology.

• Create Safe Containers: Psychological safety and presence matter more than words or frameworks when inviting real transformation.

• Story as Medicine: Healing happens when we move from the wounding of our stories to empowerment without bypassing the pain.

• Compassion Is Strength: Fierce, unconditional love is not weakness but a powerful leadership capacity, especially in hyper-masculine cultures.

• Beyond Labels: Spiritual leadership can be practiced without spiritual language by focusing on deeper humanity, love, and connection.

• Courageous Surrender: True fulfillment comes from releasing ego, certainty, and control to follow a deeper soul mission.

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction

• [01:14] Introducing Sean Harvey and his work

• [02:21] Key themes in Sean’s work

• [05:36] Sean’s background and approach

• [07:48] Defining spirituality and soulfulness at work

• [09:23] Letting go and surrender in leadership

• [09:46] Discovering and accepting truth

• [11:21] Creating safe spaces and storytelling

• [12:53] Unpacking and healing stories

• [13:43] Unblocking wounds and unconditional love

• [15:12] The role of stories in identity and healing

• [17:33] Non-attachment to stories

• [18:40] Introducing spiritual themes without spiritual language

• [20:09] Compassion, masculinity, and universal truths

• [22:43] About the book: Warrior Compassion

• [24:49] Balancing masculine and feminine energies

• [27:31] Integration and the sacred masculine/feminine

• [28:42] Defining sacred masculine and feminine

• [30:38] Courageous surrender and the soul’s mission

• [32:31] Planting seeds and trusting the path

• [34:08] Humility, witnessing, and walking together

• [35:00] Closing and resources

  
  

  Resources and Links

  Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

  • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

  Sean Harvey

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanharvey/

  • WarriorCompassion.com

  • Book: Warrior  Compassion: Unleashing the Healing Power of Men

  Andrew Cohn

  • Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

  Music: 

  • Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

  
  

In this reflective solo episode of Spirituality in Leadership, host Andrew Cohn steps away from interviews to share some of the deepest insights he has gained from nine months of podcast conversations and nearly three decades in the leadership development space.

Andrew revisits the heart of why this podcast exists: the belief that long-term effectiveness in leadership is impossible without fulfillment. While stress, overwork, and dissatisfaction may be survivable in the short term, Andrew explains why they are unsustainable over time. He reflects on how spirituality in leadership is less about religion and more about presence, values, purpose, and the ability to listen deeply in a distracted world.

Through stories from his work with executives, his years of Aikido practice, and his experiential leadership work with Equus in Santa Fe, Andrew unpacks the power of presence as a practical leadership skill. He explains how awareness creates choice, how values shape behavior, and why inner work is not optional for leaders who want to serve well.

This episode is an honest and grounding reminder that leadership is not just about performance. It is about how we show up, how we listen, and how we stay human along the way.

Key Takeaways

• The "Why" Behind the Podcast: Created to host essential workplace conversations that connect effectiveness and fulfillment for long-term sustainability.

• Fulfillment is a Strategic Imperative: Short-term stress is manageable, but lasting leadership requires deep personal and professional fulfillment.

• Broadening the Definition of "Spiritual": Spirituality is framed as purpose, values in action, and higher motivation open to all beliefs.

• Presence as the Core Practice: Being fully attentive, undistracted, and available is the key bridge between spirituality and leadership.

• We Have 1924 Brains in a 2024 World: Our nervous systems lag behind modern demands, requiring new tools and practices.

• From Awareness to Embodied Change: Growth comes through awareness, choice, action, and reflection.

• Leadership as Responsibility: Leaders are accountable for the safety, growth, and development of others.

• The Goal is Inclusion: Spiritual language is used to invite, not exclude.
  

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction and episode intention

• [01:28] Solo episode and feedback reflections

• [02:32] Foundations of the podcast

• [04:42] Professional background and experience

• [05:59] Inviting meaningful conversations

• [07:11] Defining spirituality in leadership

• [08:13] Individual and organizational dimensions

• [09:18] The practice of presence

• [10:24] Managing modern pressures and distractions

• [11:29] Presence in leadership practice

• [12:37] Making presence actionable

• [13:39] Aikido, experiential learning, and leadership

• [15:44] Values in action and leadership responsibility

• [16:41] Bringing spiritual qualities to work

• [17:44] Inclusivity and broad definitions

• [18:21] Closing thoughts and invitation

Resources and Links

Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

Andrew Cohn

• Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

Music: 

• Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

In this episode of Spirituality in Leadership, host Andrew Cohn sits down with mentor, attorney, consultant, and longtime leadership practitioner James McPherson for a deeply grounded conversation on servant leadership, conviction, and living one’s faith with integrity in the workplace.

James reflects on a lifetime of leadership across diverse environments, including the U.S. Air Force, Fortune 500 companies, law firms, higher education, healthcare systems, and federal government service, and shares how his Christian faith has consistently shaped how he leads rather than what he preaches. From a pivotal spiritual awakening as a college freshman in the early 1970s to his belief in servant leadership long before it became a management framework, James describes leadership as an expression of love, stewardship, humility, and responsibility for others’ growth.

Throughout the conversation, James and Andrew explore what it means to lead without evangelizing, to stay rooted in values without imposing them, and to model spirituality through presence, patience, self-control, and genuine care for people. James shares vivid stories, from turning down career-advancing opportunities that conflicted with his values, to empowering frontline employees, to designing and teaching servant leadership programs that organically inspired others.

This episode is a powerful reminder that spirituality in leadership is not about labels or persuasion. It is about how we show up, how we treat people, and how deeply we commit to helping others flourish.

Key Takeaways

• Servant Leadership as a Way of Life: James embraced servant leadership through faith before it became a formal leadership concept.

• Conviction Over Career Advancement: Choosing values over promotion can open unexpected and meaningful paths.

• Faith Lived, Not Preached: Spiritual leadership is expressed through behavior, humility, and care, not evangelizing.

• Leadership Begins with Awareness: Knowing what drives us and what triggers us is essential for effective leadership.

• Humility Attracts, Ego Repels: People are drawn to leaders who put others first and remain grounded.

• Stewardship and Integrity Matter: Leaders are responsible for people, resources, and long-term impact.

• Empowerment Creates Excellence: Trusting and developing people leads to extraordinary performance.

• Inclusion Through Example: Making space for spirituality at work begins by modeling respect and humanity.

  
  

  In This Episode:

  • [00:00] Opening reflections and introduction

  • [01:24] Introducing James McPherson and his leadership background

  • [05:58] Spirituality as the foundation of leadership

  • [09:20] Love for people as a leadership throughline

  • [10:53] A spiritual awakening and choosing a life of service

  • [12:34] Learning servant leadership from Scripture

  • [15:39] Values-based decisions in the U.S. Air Force

  • [19:36] Choosing conviction over career trajectory

  • [22:46] Faith, humility, and leadership in secular environments

  • [26:36] Integrity, stewardship, and developing people

  • [28:18] Empowerment and leadership in practice

  • [31:37] Navigating faith in diverse workplaces

  • [36:41] Teaching servant leadership and its ripple effects

  • [41:30] Making spirituality easier to live at work

  • [45:06] Closing reflections and invitation

  
  

  Resources and Links

  Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

  • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

  James McPherson

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcpherson-6419673/

  Andrew Cohn

  • Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

  Music: 

  • Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

  
  

What if I told you that business, not government or nonprofits, has the greatest potential to change the world? And what if the secret to unlocking that power is not in working harder but in becoming more alive?

In this episode of Spirituality in Leadership, host Andrew Cohn sits down with Kirk Souder, a seasoned branding leader and executive coach, to explore how spirituality is the missing gear for unprecedented creativity and impact in the business world.

Kirk argues that business, as the most influential sector in society, has a profound potential to create change, but it is stuck in a lower gear of creation. He shares how moving from a paradigm of "availability" (what already exists) to one of "creation" (what's possible) unlocks a higher level of innovation. Drawing on wisdom from Howard Thurman and Joseph Campbell, Kirk makes a compelling case that the world does not need more hustle; it needs more people who are fully alive.

Throughout the conversation, Kirk shares powerful stories, including how a client at Mattel trusted her sense of aliveness to spearhead the diversification of the Barbie doll, a move that laid the groundwork for the cultural phenomenon of the Barbie movie. He and Andrew also delve into the practical neuroanatomy of creativity, explaining how shifting from fear-based "shoulds" to curiosity and aliveness activates the brain's "dispersed mode" for breakthrough ideas.

This episode is an invitation to run the experiment and see what happens when you trust your inner compass, let go of outdated identities, and lead from a place of genuine aliveness.

Key Takeaways

• Business as a Force for Change: Today’s corporations have unprecedented power to create transformation if they connect to a higher purpose.
  

• The Aliveness Compass: Spirituality, stripped of labels, simply means orienting around what brings you alive and allowing that energy to guide your work.
  

• Run the Experiment: Replace fear-based decision-making with curiosity. See what happens when you lead with trust and authenticity.
  

• The Barbie Case Study: True innovation begins when leaders align their personal purpose with their organization’s mission.
  

• Nature as a Teacher: Like redwoods letting go of lower branches to reach the light, leaders must release what no longer serves in order to grow.
  

• The Paradigm Shift: Move from scarcity (What’s available?) to creation (What’s possible?). That is where innovation truly begins.
  

• Spirituality in Action: It is not about rituals; it is a way of being that fuels creativity, purpose, and connection in every decision.

  
  

  In This Episode:

  • [00:00] Opening reflections on spirituality in business

  • [01:23] Meet Kirk Souder: from branding to coaching

  • [04:16] The intersection of spirituality and business

  • [06:55] Rethinking business purpose through aliveness

  • [09:57] Howard Thurman’s wisdom and inner guidance

  • [10:45] Running the experiment and leading with trust

  • [12:31] The Barbie story: purpose in corporate creativity

  • [16:31] Neuroscience of curiosity and innovation

  • [19:34] Creating joy as a driver of change

  • [22:39] Lessons from nature and redwoods

  • [24:29] Rethinking identity and organizational purpose

  • [29:03] Emergent strategy and natural systems

  • [31:27] From scarcity to creation paradigm

  • [34:06] Living vision and designing from feeling

  • [35:15] The “S” word (spirituality) and “F” word (feelings)

  • [37:39] Rediscovering purpose beyond success

  • [40:57] The Barbie effect and the Microsoft mindset shift

  • [44:33] Nature’s perfection in innovation and efficiency

  • [46:01] The call to live and lead from aliveness

  
  

  
  

  Resources and Links

  Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

  • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

  Kirk Souder

  • Website:https://kirksouder.co/

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirksouder/

  Andrew Cohn

  • Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

  Music: 

  • Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

  
  

What happens when spirituality stops being abstract and becomes deeply practical? In this episode of the Spirituality in Leadership podcast, host Andrew Cohn speaks with Marcos Cajina, leadership consultant, executive coach, and founder of Renewal Company. Born in Madrid and seasoned in corporate HR at Ford before moving into leadership development and executive education, Marcos bridges the worlds of business performance and spiritual wisdom.

Together, Andrew and Marcos explore how spirituality is not about retreats or caves but about ordinary, daily practices that shape how we lead and live. Marcos introduces what he calls a “scientific approach to spirituality,” testing, applying, and refining practices that work. From martial arts to Japanese archery, he shares how paradoxes like “hitting the target without trying” reveal powerful lessons for leadership.

The conversation covers the laws of spirit, including acceptance, cooperation, and understanding, and how they translate into everyday business situations. Marcos also emphasizes the role of compassion in leadership, reframing it as a critical executive competency. With humor, humility, and lived experience, he shows how leaders can let go of drama, embrace ordinariness, and make leadership a true team sport.

This episode is full of timeless insights for leaders seeking to integrate spirituality, practicality, and humanity in their work.

Key Takeaways

• Spirituality is practical: it belongs in meetings, feedback, and everyday leadership, not just retreats.

• Acceptance ≠ resignation: it’s about learning, course-correcting, and moving forward without drama.

• Action comes before understanding: leaders must act with incomplete information to gain clarity.

• Compassion is a leadership competency: both self-compassion and compassion for others unlock growth.

• Ordinariness is powerful: letting go of the need to be “special” allows authentic presence.

• Leadership is a team sport: true progress happens when giving and receiving support are both practiced.

In This Episode:

• (00:01) Introduction to practical spirituality
• (00:26) Marcos’ spiritual journey and ordinariness
• (01:00) Podcast introduction 
• (01:43) Guest introduction and episode overview
• (05:12) Marcos’ corporate and consulting background
• (06:20) Practicality of spirituality in business
• (08:14) Martial arts and shift to practical spirituality
• (10:00) Embracing ordinariness and authenticity
• (13:35) Tension between acceptance and ambition
• (14:51) Scientific approach to spirituality
• (15:48) Japanese archery and the paradox of performance
• (21:12) Spiritual laws: acceptance, cooperation, understanding
• (25:08) Action before understanding in leadership
• (28:41) Drama, mistakes, and learning
• (31:55) Compassion as a leadership competency
• (34:13) Inclusion, acceptance, and team support
• (35:24) Loving in business and reciprocity
• (37:07) Makers, takers, and fakers
• (39:17) Closing remarks and contact information
  Resources and Links

Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

Marcos Cajina

• Website: renewalcompany.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcos-cajina/

• Email: [email protected]

Andrew Cohn

• Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

Music: 

• Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe

• 
  

In this episode of the Spirituality in Leadership podcast, host Andrew Cohn welcomes his longtime friend and colleague Dr. James Smith Jr., an award-winning speaker, presentation coach, and expert in authenticity and leadership. Known for his electrifying presence and motivational wisdom, Dr. Smith shares deeply personal stories from raising his son to jumping out of a plane that illustrate what it means to live authentically and lead with vulnerability.

Together, Andrew and James explore how spirituality, listening, and curiosity open doors to connection across cultures, generations, and organizations. They discuss the metaphor of “front seat, back seat, and trunk” as a lens for understanding what truly matters to people, why possibility thinking is a spiritual practice, and how leaders can invite trust by sharing their own stories first.

Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a new manager, or simply someone who wants to live more courageously, this conversation will inspire you to “jump every day” into the opportunities life presents.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership Is Not a Beauty Contest: True leadership requires vulnerability, listening, and the willingness to get messy.

• Possibility Thinking as a Spiritual Practice: Where others see problems, great leaders see possibilities.

• The Front Seat Metaphor: Trust grows when leaders understand what matters most to people their “front seat” priorities.

• Fear and Authenticity: Many leaders hold back out of fear, but authenticity builds stronger teams and relationships.

• Jump Every Day: Whether skydiving or starting a tough conversation, growth comes from taking leaps that scare us.

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction and possibility thinking
• [05:06] Personal journey and spiritual foundation
• [07:09] Parenting and spiritual shifts
• [08:55] Navigating spirituality across cultures
• [10:31] Curiosity and cross-cultural connection
• [13:06] Childlike curiosity vs. adult inhibition
• [16:29] Authenticity, fear, and imposter syndrome
• [17:02] Goal-oriented vs. personality-driven leadership
• [19:25] People-pleasing and generational shifts
• [21:24] Meaning, advocacy, and shared goals
• [22:13] Openness to conversations on meaning
• [24:24] Leadership as inviting conversation
• [28:01] Spirituality’s place in the workplace
• [29:14] Choice, accountability, and personal maps
• [30:32] Access, connection, and remote work
• [32:10] Non-technological ways to connect
• [38:15] Conversations as relationship-building
• [41:51] Skydiving as a metaphor for growth
• [43:59] Closing and contact information
  Resources and Links

Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406




Dr. James Smith, Jr.

• Website: https://www.drjamessmithjr.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjamessmithjr/




Andrew Cohn

• Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/




Music: 

• Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe