In this episode, Todd Bertsch sits down with Michael E. Krumpak to challenge the myth that “smart” leadership is enough. Together, they unpack a practical, story-driven roadmap for building legendary leaders through psychological safety, empathy, growth mindset, disciplined decision making, and intentional delegation.

If you’ve ever seen a “perfect on paper” leader struggle when pressure rises, this conversation explains why — and what to do differently starting now.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The difference between smart leadership and legendary leadership
• Why the bold title Why Smart Leaders Do Stupid Things resonates right now
• Disruption, burnout, and mindset as leadership data points
• The nine-vector Legendary Leader Flight Plan and how the vectors work together
• Liberation as psychological safety and its impact on culture
• Empathy as connection over correction
• Using 360s and assessments to uncover blind spots
• Decision-making lessons from Flight 401 and fixation under pressure
• Yielding, delegation, and how to truly elevate ownership
• How the book’s stories, black box reflections, and coaching questions create behavior change

You’ll walk away with actionable tactics, reflection prompts, and a clearer path from pressure to performance — from smart to legendary.

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/why-smart-leaders-do-stupid-things-with-michael-krumpak

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

The hardest part of change isn’t the plan or the platform—it’s leadership. In this episode, Todd sits down with Leslie Ellis, CEO of Meaningful Change Consulting, to unpack why transformations stall and how leaders can turn constant disruption into a durable advantage. Drawing from work across dozens of organizations and nearly a million stakeholders, Leslie shares a powerful truth: change doesn’t fail because people resist—it fails when leaders stop listening. Together, they explore how mindset, alignment, and simple micro-shifts build trust, reduce rework, and create lasting impact.

Topics Discussed

• Leslie’s origin story and shift from execution-focused change to change leadership
• Why leader habits and blind spots quietly drain momentum and create rework
• The myth of change as a one-time event and why alignment beats speed
• Psychological safety, fail-fast learning, and building a learning culture
• Practical micro-shifts: listening first, asking open questions, and embracing silence
• Using resets, better language, and vulnerability to engage people in change
• Conscious business: designing for systemic health, not just short-term profit
• Building a “change muscle” so future transformations get easier
• Recommended reads and the types of leaders and organizations Leslie supports
• How to connect with Meaningful Change Consulting

If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with someone navigating change—and help more leaders find the show by subscribing and leaving a review.

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/meaningful-change-leadership-with-leslie-ellis

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

Burnout is rising, trust is fragile, and the old playbook of perks over people is running out of steam. In this episode, we sit down with David Noe, a trusted voice in HR, to unpack what actually drives engagement today, and what leaders must rethink as we head into 2026.

We name the tension leaders feel every day: caring for people while still hitting targets. David shares the reset question every manager should ask, what makes your job harder than it needs to be, and how it quickly surfaces fixable blockers. From there, we explore why middle managers burn out first, how bloated spans of control erode trust, and why hybrid and flexible work are now baseline expectations, not perks. The throughline is clear: culture isn’t built by systems alone. Leadership behavior, clarity, and consistency set the tone, and when people feel seen, supported, and empowered, performance follows.

Topics Discussed

• Disengagement and burnout data framing today’s workplace reality
• The top HR trends shaping 2026
• Why trust and clarity are breaking down at work
• Balancing care for people with performance expectations
• Lessons from losing—and rebuilding—company culture
• The power of asking: what makes work harder than it needs to be?
• Manager span of control and why middle management burns out first
• Hybrid and flexible work as a baseline expectation
• Return-to-office pressure, tradeoffs, and role realities
• Using surveys effectively: cadence, follow-through, and transparency
• One-on-one questions that unlock insight and motivation
• Empathy, EQ, and tailoring feedback to different people
• Peer recognition and the ripple effect of saying “thank you”
• Why behavior beats systems—and what gives hope for the future of work

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/2026-hr-trends-shaping-the-workplace-with-david-noe

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

Season Two launches with Harvey Nelson, entrepreneur, mentor, and lifelong explorer, as we walk through the SPARK Framework (Curiosity, Mindset, Action, Growth, Impact) using stories that are funny, raw, and immediately practical. From hitchhiking across America to leading through real business crises, Harvey shares how small, repeatable choices build resilience, how focus and priority beat busyness, and why people-first leadership creates lasting success. You’ll leave with simple, doable moves: stack one-inch wins, take the next brave step, and let curiosity guide you to better questions and a bigger life.

• Why curiosity lowers fear and opens doors.
• Hitchhiking lessons: people, discomfort, and learning fast.
• Small bets build risk tolerance and resilience over time.
• People-first leadership, even helping great talent move on.
• Crisis story: storm + freezer system failure and “next step” thinking.
• Mental fitness in action: pause, reframe, choose a micro-action.
• Priority over time: focus, say no, protect what matters.
• Self-awareness tools: gratitude, visualization, and “rambling” writing.
• Takeaway: one-inch wins and “be who you want to become.”
• Closing line: “Life becomes what you make it—so make it be grand.”

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-long-game-of-leadership-with-harvey-nelson

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

We cap season one with a best-of collection on growth, resilience, and people-first leadership, stitching together the most impactful insights from several candid conversations. We share tools to clarify purpose, break free from restraints, recover well, and design a life you truly choose.

Guests who were highlighted on this special episode:

• Dan Flanagan: Redefining success through small wins and setbacks
• John Geraghty: Clarifying purpose via values and natural gifts
• Scott Hubble: People‑first leadership and the contagion of care
• Kat Polsinelli: Solitude, self‑love, and belonging without silos
• John Bernatovicz: Becoming selfish to become selfless for impact
• Peter Rea: Weakening restraining forces to enable virtue
• Denise Logan: Defining success your way
• Greta Johnson: Rest and recovery as strength against burnout
• Ben Hatta: Grit, 1% better, and transferable discipline
• Frank Agin: Building real relationships
• Molly Ketcham: Curiosity for deeper influence and connection 
• Carolyn Cooper: Simplify to focus on what matters most
• Bob Burg: Bringing immense value to the lives of others
• Natalie Siston: Joy practices that raise satisfaction and output
• Kemp Boyd: Being before doing to guide authentic action
• Eric Collett: Brain health as hardware for focus and speed
• Justin Hilton: Design a life with intention and clear goals
• Dave Loomis: Customer outsight to serve before selling
• Sam Falletta: Dignity and respect driving loyalty and performance

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/best-of-the-bolt-season-one-part-2

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

We celebrate a season dedicated to growth and service with a curated highlight reel on mindset, habits, leadership, and fulfillment. Guests share tools for tiny wins, deeper listening, sober clarity, and the discipline that turns choices into lasting change.

Guests that were highlighted on this special episode:

• Kristoffer Carter: Coaching As Heart Set And Meditation - View full episode
• Todd Blyleven: Courage, Service, And Real Leadership - View full episode
• Tiffany Lewis: Fulfillment, Motherhood, And Ambition - View full episode
• Christine Hockman: One Degree Shifts Philosophy - View full episode
• Scott J. Allen: Who You Are Is How You Lead - View full episode
• Jason Winkler: Vulnerability, Ownership, And Trust - View full episode
• Tracy Jepson: Build A Business Not A Job - View full episode
• Travis Bornstein: Leadership, Advocacy, and Healing - View full episode
• Dr. Laura Aldape: Rewiring Mindsets At The Mental Gym - View full episode
• Kenneth Coach Jo-Jo Smith: Chase The Journey Not The Odds - View full episode
• Dr. Nate Salah: Servant Leadership: Listen, Empathize, Heal - View full episode
• Lori Saitz: Gratitude As Felt Joy - View full episode
• Janice Porter: Networking That Starts With Follow Up - View full episode
• Michael Levitt: Growth Over Comfort And Self Care - View full episode
• Dan Flowers: Character And Long Relationships - View full episode
• Amy Wong: Tiny Wins And Celebrating Momentum - View full episode
• Josh Phelan: Strategic Health And Risk Management - View full episode
• Lei Wang: Leadership Lessons from the Edge - View full episode
• Marc Majers: If You Stop Learning, You Stop Leading - View full episode

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/best-of-the-bolt-season-one-part-1

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

Sam Falletta went from a four-cubicle call center to president, owner, and leader of a values-driven sale. In this episode, he breaks down how he built an award-winning culture by focusing on what employees truly need: strengths-based leadership, real-life support, meaningful incentives, and coaching that shifts mindsets.

We explore why most engagement efforts fall flat, how culture changes in a remote world, and the personal reasons behind his decision to step back and choose presence over pressure.

We close with Capiches, his collection of bite-sized life lessons inspired by his dad. This episode is packed with practical insight for leaders who want to build trust, retain talent, and create workplaces that genuinely work.

What we discuss in this episode:

• Choosing a scrappy start over a safe path
• Leading with dignity and measurable outcomes
• Engagement vs turnover and Maslow’s reality
• Redesigning incentives to match real needs
• On-site counseling and appreciative inquiry
• Pay-for-performance and client-aligned metrics
• Remote work’s cultural costs and fixes
• How and why to choose the right buyer
• Capicias as a community for life lessons

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/sam-falletta-on-leadership-change-culture/

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

In this episode of The BOLT Podcast, Dave Loomis, founder of Loomis Marketing and author of Customer Outsight, shares powerful lessons from conducting over 10,000 customer interviews. Drawing from decades of experience with Fortune 500 companies, Dave explores how curiosity, empathy, and active listening can transform leadership and organizational growth. Together, we unpack what it truly means to lead with outsight—seeing beyond yourself to better understand, connect, and inspire those you serve.

What we discuss in this episode:

• Nonlinear career paths shaping service mindset
• Value of executive coaching and accountability
• Servant leadership as a growth advantage
• Customer Outsight and the four Fs framework
• How to plan and run open interviews
• Finding gemstones and using AI for analysis
• Turning insights into clear messaging and offers
• Leadership lessons on integrity and initiative

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-curious-leader-with-dave-loomis

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

In this powerful episode, Leadership Akron President and CEO Justin Hilton joins host Todd Bertsch to explore what it truly means to be a trailblazer. From his journey as the first African-American architect intern under Robert P. Madison to his leadership across higher education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, Justin shares lessons on courage, context, and curiosity. He opens up about vulnerability, faith, mentorship, and the power of designing not just a career—but a life. A conversation filled with wisdom, humility, and hope for the next generation of leaders. 

Discussion points from this episode:

• People over tasks as a transferable leadership principle
• Building a personal board for wisdom, peers, and service
• The legacy of Robert P. Madison and the gift of belief
• Reframing sleep disorder and limits into resilience
• Redefining success as who you become in pursuit
• Using design thinking to architect your life
• Art, vulnerability, and meeting your past self
• Practical steps to schedule your inner circle
• Mental fitness tools for stress, clarity, and growth

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/trailblazing-leadership-with-justin-hilton

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

What if what looks like “bad behavior” is really a brain problem, not a character flaw? In this episode, I sit down with Eric Collett, CEO of A Mind For All Seasons, to explore how energy, inflammation, and brain health shape our focus, mood, and leadership performance. We unpack why fixing your “hardware” matters more than adding new “software,” and how small, science-backed shifts—like improving sleep, managing stress, and fueling your brain right—can deliver life-changing results. Eric shares practical strategies anyone can start today, from “exercise snacks” and hormetic stressors to novel learning habits that forge new neural pathways. Whether you’re a caregiver, founder, or leader seeking clarity, this episode is your roadmap to peak performance now and lasting brain health for the future.

Topics from this episode:

• Reframing behavior as a brain health signal
• Defining brain and cognitive health with simple language
• Recognizing early symptoms vs normal aging
• Hope-oriented care for dementia and caregivers
• Hardware vs software: fixing energy before tactics
• Hormesis: cold, heat, fasting, strength for resilience
• Lifestyle pillars: sleep, exercise, novelty, stress mastery
• The hidden role of dental health and inflammation
• Biomarkers that guide nutrition and supplementation
• Balancing rigidity with flexibility for consistency
• Curiosity, better questions, and journaling
• Why great fiction sharpens leadership and empathy
• The enhanced protocol: measure, learn, apply, adjust

Thanks for listening! We appreciate you.

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⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com